This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 423

What in the world is this atmosphere?

It might be just my mood, but it felt like the air was tinged with a slight electricity, as if something was on the verge of exploding.

The atmosphere was, frankly, stifling.

Literally, it felt like something was about to burst at any moment.

I don’t know if that’s why I felt that way, but the air flowing inside the hospital room strangely reminded me of an inflated balloon on the edge of popping.

And while expressing that feeling felt somewhat peculiar, thanks to it, I was able to behold quite a rare spectacle…

You know how in cartoons or animations, they show an angry character with veins popping on their forehead?

Honestly, up until now?

I thought that was just some kind of ridiculous artistic liberty that couldn’t possibly happen in real life.

Because even if someone was deeply enraged, would veins really bulge out like that?

I definitely thought that until now… and here I was, surprisingly witnessing just that.

It must have been right after Yoonseo’s provocation, questioning whether I had already forgotten everything after having seen it all.

I was already feeling overwhelmed with a myriad of thoughts for various reasons, and then to be provoked like that, I could no longer control my emotions.

If someone working in dentistry had heard it, they would have been thrilled, thinking a new customer was about to walk in, as the sound of veins popping resonated above Bora’s forehead.

Thanks to that, I was left trembling, unable to decide who I should talk down first amidst the chaos unfolding between the two.

And… I guess it was only fitting to say, that was the beginning of it all.

In a situation where I had been provocatively called out, I probably thought I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut.

“Ah… the other thing from before? I thought you two were just messing around.”

Bora’s counterattack had begun.

“After all, until three years ago, you two used to do that often, didn’t you?”

And surprisingly, Bora’s retort, which I thought wouldn’t have much impact, was much more effective than expected.

As evidence, right after those words left Bora’s lips, Yoonseo, who had been smirking with a raised corner of her mouth, suddenly twitched and convulsed her cheeks.

I don’t know what exactly from Bora’s words had gotten under Yoonseo’s skin, but that was the case.

And perhaps it was that provocation that stirred things mightily.

“Really? You could think of it that way… that’s interesting…”

Yoonseo’s voice had turned a bit colder than before.

“Ah, well…”

And with that icy tone—

“Well, Bora, you haven’t experienced that sort of thing yet, so it makes sense it would look that way from your perspective.”

Yoonseo launched a second provocation.

It was, indeed, war time.

Honestly, at this point?

I hated to admit it, but I couldn’t deny it.

That is… the Bora sitting across from me was not as easy a target as I might have thought.

No matter how I looked at it, that was undeniable.

If she had truly been an easy opponent, when Yoonseo had provoked as she did before, she wouldn’t have been able to retaliate like that.

What exactly had been said before?

–Kind of odd, considering you two used to do that frequently until three years ago, right?

Yeah, she definitely said that.

But I had no idea how that statement had sounded to Dogun who was sitting close by.

He couldn’t help but be an innocent party in this matter, after all.

So the more important aspect was how those words had sounded in my ears.

And when those words flowed out from Bora’s mouth… it echoed in my ears like this:

–Seriously? You distanced yourself from Dogun first, and now after three years, you suddenly act like this? Do you think that makes sense?

–Excuse me, where’s your conscience?

Sure, that might not have been the case, but was that not a bit too far-fetched?

Perhaps that could be possible.

In reality, there indeed might be quite a bit of truth in that possibility.

However, that’s how women’s language works, right?

You can’t just look at the surface; you must see the deeper meanings embedded within.

And thanks to years of consistent use, I had naturally become adept at understanding the subtleties of women’s words, and that recent comment from Bora held just such meaning.

It was precisely that kind of meaning.

Because honestly, to see that scene unfold and think they were merely messing around was hardly logical.

Even if they had brought a ten-year-old kid instead of Bora, any rational being would think the same.

Let alone an adult who knows all too well…

And what that means is?

She must’ve known it was nonsensical to say that, but Bora chose to say those words solely to respond to the provocation I had made.

The problem was…

The material deploy… was nothing less than the past three years’ stories.

Because, from my standpoint, it was like a dark history I was actively trying to avoid recalling, and yet she had chosen to bring it up.

She had to know I was trying to steer clear of that topic, so it had to be an intentional act.

Perhaps because I realized that fact once more.

I could suddenly feel something swelling up from within.

“Really? You could think of it that way… that’s interesting…”

It wasn’t just me and Bora; with Dogun sitting right next to us, I knew I needed to rein it in to some extent, yet I could hardly suppress those words from slipping out.

“Ah, well… Bora, you haven’t experienced that sort of thing yet, so it makes sense it would look that way from your perspective.”

And that provocation had far more impact than the previous ones had.

Well… thinking it over, it was only natural.

As for the words that came out from my side, they probably sounded to Bora like, ‘Ah, you’ve never been with Dogun, so that makes sense, right?’

What basis do you think that might have been interpreted in that way?

Well, I guess… it was phrased to be read that way.

Just look at the evidence.

The depth of the furrow between Bora’s eyebrows had deepened significantly from before.

And in all honesty, at this point?

I thought Bora would just back down on her own.

Perhaps if it was Chae-rim’s Sister or Baeksulhwa, it’d be a different story, but of the three I saw as rivals, Bora didn’t seem to display much of that sort of feeling toward Dogun.

Perhaps that’s why she appeared a bit less desperate compared to the other two.

So I figured she’d give up by now…

“….Yoonseo, do you know?”

Honestly, at this point, it was probably time to surrender, so why wasn’t she giving up?

“This is something I heard somewhere… they say usually those lacking confidence in their charms throw themselves out there.”

And then came the kicker…

“Ah, I’m not talking about you, Yoonseo, so don’t misunderstand.”

So girls lacking confidence in their allure throw themselves out there, huh?

“My point is, that’s just how some people think… just putting that out there.”

Look at that, throwing around everything she could think of while skillfully making her escape.

Perhaps she was even overwhelmed by the situation unfolding right in front of her, knowing Dogun, who had been mysteriously quiet, was watching.

That’s why I had been feeling somewhat stirred inside.

Honestly, after hearing something like that, how could I possibly hold back?

“I don’t know… I see it a bit differently…”

And above all…

To end it with just me taking all those hits was against my nature.

Even if the opponent was Chae-rim’s Sister or Baeksulhwa, I would have felt the same, let alone Bora, the one I thought of as the weakest of the competitors.

So…

“Isn’t it necessary to have some charm to even seduce someone in the first place?”

I decided to push back as much as I had taken.

“And above all… the important part has to be personal experience, right?”

—Yep, if you don’t know, then keep quiet.

Of course, Bora wasn’t going to let that stand.

“That might be the case, but… I really think just throwing yourself at someone without thought is a bit… if I’m honest, it seems a tad vulgar, doesn’t it?”

—In the end, you still used your body to lure them in, so what’s your deal?

Though it felt like they were about to roll over and surrender, Bora jumped right into counteracting…

“I don’t know… isn’t that something that varies for each person? You know how nowadays some say ‘sex comes after romance’?”

—So you’re saying you’ve done it and I haven’t?

Either way, it was endless drivel from a defeated party desperately trying to resist.