This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 425

Yoonseo’s sudden interjection at an utterly unexpected moment was enough to change the atmosphere in the hospital room.

‘No…’

If you’re going to be so embarrassed that you feel like dying, why not just say something?

Why did Yoonseo, with her face turning as red as a ripe persimmon, manage to actually get those words out after all that embarrassment? What kind of play is that?

As I watched Yoonseo, groaning with a face like a perfectly ripe persimmon, that thought began to dominate my mind. Yet, alongside this, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this situation felt almost dreamlike.

Honestly, it was hard not to feel that way.

From my standpoint, I naturally felt that way… I never expected a day like this to come again.

To be more specific, it was moments like just now—squabbling with Yoonseo that I never thought would happen again.

After all, I thought our relationship had ended three years ago when Yoonseo suddenly started to distance herself from me.

And who would’ve believed it would continue like this again?

Could this be the power of some ridiculous attachment?

‘Then again…’

It’s been over ten years, and yet everything from kindergarten to now feels like it happened just yesterday with all the absurdities we’ve faced.

No wonder it turned out like this… For a brief moment, as I gazed at Yoonseo’s face seated across from me, I wondered if my calm demeanor was irritating her, who looked like she’d die from embarrassment.

“Why, what?”

“Nothing, just… you haven’t really changed that much since back then.”

“What do you mean… I’ve changed a lot!”

“Well, true… compared to your balloon fish days, you’ve certainly improved.”

“You… how many times have I told you not to call me that balloon fish nickname?”

Speaking of which, Yoonseo really hated the balloon fish nickname I gave her.

To be precise, it was after she found out what a balloon fish looked like that she truly began to dislike it.

“Why? What’s wrong with balloon fish?”

“They look a bit… gross!”

“Really? I thought they were cute.”

“Ugh… is that so?”

Maybe she was swayed by my compliment.

A slightly bewildered expression surfaced on Yoonseo’s face.

“Especially when you’re mad, your cheeks puff up like a balloon…”

“Ah, seriously!”

Even as I spoke, it felt like my words dissipated like dew facing the sunlight.

Thus, while desperately trying to make Yoonseo feel better, I thought it was time for me to get up from my seat.

No sooner had I stood up than Yoonseo’s question flew towards me—not “Where are you going?” but rather—

“…Going to Bora?”

With a noticeably lower voice compared to what I’d just heard a moment ago.

Thanks to that chilly tone, a shiver ran down my spine in a way that shocked me; however, I still answered Yoonseo’s question.

“… Yeah.”

At that, Yoonseo’s expression soured even more.

“Do you really have to go?”

Do I really have to go?

If you ask me that, my answer is clear.

“Should I just leave it as it is?”

And Yoonseo, knowing that, wouldn’t it be true that she actually wanted to leave it just like that, but also knew she shouldn’t?

Perhaps that’s why Yoonseo didn’t say anything more about it.

Maybe she decided it wasn’t worth trying to argue any further.

“Then… I’ll be back quickly, so just keep an eye on this place.”

“Fine, do what you want.”

“Don’t go seeing anything weird while you’re alone.”

“Ah, I won’t look at weird things!”

“Do I have your trust?”

“Ugh… seriously…”

Having left the grumbling Yoonseo behind, I set off to find Bora, leaving the hospital room.

.

.

.

At that moment when Dogun had just exited the hospital room, Bora was not far from where he was.

In a garden-type space specifically created for those considered VIP, it was here that Bora was crouched down.

Since it was indoors, unlike the outside gradually turning autumn in hues, the space maintained an unusually deep green.

I wondered when they had become so close—when I’d thought it was just playful banter between Yoonseo and Dogun, but… deep down, I knew.

That couldn’t possibly be just banter.

How could it be playful when they were embracing like that, in that position?

Even so, I’d spoken like that in front of Yoonseo because I didn’t want to admit it.

That once again, I had fallen behind Yoonseo.

Now that I think about it, Yoonseo has always been like that.

She hadn’t been from there but transferred in one day…

While I was clueless on how to approach, she was the one who playfully nudged up to me…

This made me wonder how she managed to do that every time even though her journey started later than mine…

Maybe the memories of kindergarten are vividly etched in my mind, unlike other moments I’d rather forget.

When dealing with Yoonseo, such thoughts would sometimes bubble up like acid reflux…

But frankly, I didn’t think much of it.

Not long ago, or rather, before I saw them together like that, it had been like that.

How it happened, I couldn’t tell, though since about three years ago, I had seen a distance growing between them.

To put it accurately, Yoonseo had started distancing herself first.

I didn’t know why, but that’s how it was.

Thanks to that, I had been able to feel more at ease.

And that didn’t change even as Yoonseo and Dogun’s relationship began to thaw.

It was unavoidable; unlike objects, human relationships can’t return to what they were once broken. I already knew this well enough.

How did I know, you ask?

Because I experienced it firsthand.

I witnessed every bit of how two people who seemed inseparable drift apart and fall apart, so why wouldn’t I know?

That’s why even though it looked like they had reconciled, I was still able to act with some composure…

However, now that things had developed this way, I had no choice but to recognize it, whether I wanted to or not.

So… I realized how negligent I had been.

‘By the way…’

Well, it looks like they’re not coming, huh…

I had hoped just a little, but…

I guess that’s right.

From Dogun’s perspective, it must feel much more urgent.

From his view, it would make sense, since he found himself sandwiched between them.

What about me?

We only shared the fact that we had been friends since kindergarten and that we lived in the same vicinity—there wasn’t much else.

Comparing that to Yoonseo?

‘If they’re doing stuff like that…’

It’s practically safe to say they were in a relationship.

So surely, that must feel a lot more urgent to him.

‘Seriously…’

How did it come to this?

When did I fall so far behind?

I thought it would be fine.

I thought for once, I could get ahead…

‘Wait, could it be…’

Not just Yoonseo, but others as well…?

Was it because the reality I’d held on to without a doubt was completely shattered due to this incident?

As soon as doubt began to sprout in my heart, thoughts began to rise—things I had never once imagined during normal times that would normally get immediately erased from my mind.

Even amidst this chaos, what drove me mad was… it didn’t seem entirely like just speculation.

No matter how many times I thought about it, it still felt that way.

The more I thought about it, considering how close Dogun was with Seolhwa or Chae-rim…

But if that connection wasn’t merely friendship… but something different…?

That was when my thoughts reached their peak.

With the sound of the glass door sliding open—

“Ah… there you are?”

Dogun appeared from between the trees.