Chapter 693

Maru looked at Yuna who had approached him. She was wearing formal attire that seemed a little too large for her.

“Is that your costume?”

“Yes. I play the role of a new employee that is a bit of an airhead.”

“You definitely do look airheaded.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Probably?”

Yuna smiled.

“Thankfully, you look like you don’t seem that nervous.”

“Yes. I was really nervous until we got here, but I’m feeling okay now.”

“I’m supposed to be a compet.i.tor, so I’d like you to be a little nervous. I can applaud if you make a mistake on stage.”

“Are you serious?”

“We should win the grand prize at least once, don’t you think? Hwasoo High isn’t here, so as long as Myunghwa High slips up, I think we can make it.”

“That’s going too far.”

Maru smiled and looked around. Since Myunghwa High’s performance hadn’t begun yet, it was likely that the actors were together. It would be the same for the 3rd year students as well.

“Are you looking for Gaeul-s...o...b..e?”

“Yeah. I tried to call her in the morning, but the call was hung up so suddenly.”

Maru took out his phone. There wasn’t a missed call. Was she busy to the point that she wasn’t able to check?

“Uhm.”

Yuna’s voice became a pitch lower. Even though she was smiling just moments ago, she looked hesitant to speak.

“Did something happen?”

From the way things looked, Yuna seemed to know something. Yuna nodded.

“I talked to Gaeul-s...o...b..e in the coach for a bit.”

“About what?”

“A-about you, s...o...b..e.”

“Me?”

Maru was unable to understand, so he waited for Yuna’s next words. She licked her lips slightly and spoke after a bit of hesitation,

“Gaeul-s...o...b..e talked to me first. She told me that I can’t help my feelings of liking someone. She also told me that I shouldn’t feel sorry for her and even worse, avoid my feelings.”

“Gaeul said that?”

“Yes. Honestly, before I heard her say those words, I felt scared. I did say I confessed due to a mistake, and I tried my best not to show it, but it looks like Gaeul-s...o...b..e noticed that.”

Yuna fidgeted.

“Gaeul-s...o...b..e is amazing. I wouldn’t be able to do that. I would have scolded them, asking why they did that, and tell them not to do that anymore, yet she consoled me instead.”

“She has a bold side to her. If she was born as a boy, she would have been a general.”

“You’re right, she really would have been.”

Maru scanned Yuna’s face. After a refreshed expression, there was a hint of disappointment on her face. Maru could tell what kind of feelings were going through Yuna’s heart right now, but he did not mention it. It was just as Gaeul said. Time would solve it.

“Both of you, you really suit each other.”

“It’s kinda embarra.s.sing to get told that to my face. Uhm, while we’re at it, can you tell me where Gaeul is right now?”

“Gaeul-s...o...b..e? She should be in the parking lot right now. I saw her go down to check on the costumes before practice was over.”

“Really?”

“Over there, you should go over to our school’s coaches.”

Yuna pointed at the coach with her finger before speaking,

“I’ll get going now.”

“Good luck with your performance.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best to win the grand prize.”

“Don’t do that well.”

Maru waved at Yuna before walking towards the parking lot again. On his way, he called Gaeul on her phone. After a few signal sounds, the call connected.

“It’s so hard to see your face, huh. I’m going to the parking lot right now.”

-You’re coming here?

“Yeah, can I not?”

-No, it’s not like that.

“You’re starting to make me feel disappointed. Are you perhaps busy? If you’re not okay with seeing me right now, we can meet later.”

-It’s not like that.

“Then let’s meet. I’m standing in front of your school’s coaches,” Maru said as he looked at the coaches that said ‘Myunghwa High’. There were seven coaches in total. After calculating how many students they delivered all the way here, he started laughing. The treatment of Myunghwa High’s acting club was totally different from what Woosung High’s acting club got.

“Han Maru.”

Maru turned to the source of the voice. He saw Gaeul poke her head out through the coach window. Maru walked over.

“You’re such an aristocrat that it’s hard to see you.”

“Don’t get started on that. But didn’t Woosung High’s performance just begin?”

“It should be about halfway through now.”

“Is it okay for you to be here when you’re a third-year senior? You should be helping them.”

“Daemyung’s with them, so I’m not worried. Also, I can’t exactly help when I haven’t been partic.i.p.ating in practice. The only thing I can do is to carry the luggage and clean up afterwards. What are you doing here?”

“One of the b.u.t.tons on a costume got loose, so I was sewing it back on.”

“You can sew too?”

“Why? You never thought I could?”

“Your hands are vicious, so I thought the only thing you could do was. .h.i.t people.”

Maru raised his arms as soon as he said those words. It was to defend against the oncoming hit. Strangely, Gaeul just faintly smiled and stayed still. Maru looked up at her.

“What is up with you today? You’re strangely merciful.”

“Nothing.”

“That makes me feel suspicious. Are you sure you don’t feel bad somewhere?”

“No, I feel really good right now. I’m so itching for something to do that I can’t sit still.”

“But you are standing still right now.”

“I’m resting.”

Gaeul rested her elbows on the window sill and her chin on her hands.

“How was the drama shoot?”

“Barely sc.r.a.ped by the first episode. The set was large.”

“Was it fun?”

“I’ll see when the viewing rates are out. This is the first work that I’ll be doing as a main character, so I hope it does well, but that’s not really up to me.”

“You’ll do well.”

“Is today April Fool’s Day? Your words are so kind that I want to suspect you.”

Maru took a step closer to the window. There was less than a foot between the two. Gaeul, who was looking down from the bus, stretched her arms suddenly and leaned back.

“I feel a little tired. Is it because I have been tense since morning? It’s more tiring to look after the others than actually going up on stage, right?”

Gaeul’s eyes did not stay fixed in one place. They moved everywhere. Maru saw that and spoke,

“Do you want to take a walk?”

“Sorry. I’m a bit tired right now.”

“Then should I go inside? Just because it’s Myunghwa High’s coach, doesn’t mean that students from other schools aren’t allowed in, right?”

“There are a lot of personal items of our members here.”

There was no leisure in her voice. Her emotions were excluded from her answer as though she was saying the answer to a mathematical question, and she quickly gave her answers. Maru scratched his eyebrows and spoke,

“I know that being roundabout is usually better for not injuring people’s feelings, but I have heard some things, so I’ll ask. Is it because of Yuna?”

Maru saw that Gaeul had fallen silent. She did not put on a stiff expression and just stayed still without panicking. Maru thought that it was a sign that he was indeed right on the mark. Thinking that he had to set things straight, he was about to speak, but Gaeul spoke first,

“What, you’re on about that too?”

Gaeul made a cheerful smile that did not look different from usual. Maru looked into her eyes. He had a strange confidence that he would be able to read what she was thinking if he did so. However, there was a limit to reading people’s feelings from their eyes. There was no way he could see through the heart of someone else just by looking.

She didn’t look like she was lying. Maru trusted his senses. They had known each other for a long time. He had been by her side when she was sick, and they shared feelings when she cried as well. While he didn’t know what she was thinking deep in her heart, he thought that he would be able to see what she was thinking on the surface at least. She was emotionally stable right now, that was the conclusion Maru came to.

“Both you and Yuna are like this. If you keep talking about that, I’m gonna get angry, okay?” Gaeul said with a frown.

“If it’s not because of that, then why are you acting like this?”

“Geez, why can’t you notice with those good wits of yours? It’s that day of the month! Okay? I feel sick right now, and that’s why I’m here without moving. Did you really have to make me say that?”

She chopped down mercilessly. Maru was able to block that, but he let her hit him. There was a sharp pain along with a small thud.

“Really?”

He smiled faintly and looked at Gaeul. She narrowed her eyes and had pouty lips. Her expression was proof that she was the Gaeul of usual.

“Go over to your juniors. It’s your duty as a senior to watch their performance.”

“I would prefer to spend a sweet time with my girlfriend over that.”

“Do you need another beating?”

Gaeul reached out the window and swung her arms. Maru stepped back.

“I’m glad to see that you have the energy to do that. It looks like it’s not driving you crazy, huh?”

“It’s not that bad, that’s why I’m talking to you like this. But I’m not good enough to move around. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t say that. Get some good rest. I’d love to be in pain in your stead, but that’s not something I can do. You know that right? In many ways.”

“If I sue you for s.e.xual hara.s.sment, you’ll get sentenced to a decade in jail.”

“Looks like I’ll have to watch my mouth in the future. Do you want me to buy you something warm?”

“I have water here.”

“Should I hold your hand?”

“Just get going so that I can get some rest.”

Maru nodded. Gaeul, who was staring at him quietly, said something rather random all of a sudden.

“You’ll always be like that even if you are forty-five. You can’t read the mood and you always play jokes.”

“What a pity. I’m going to be a gentleman when I grow up so that won’t happen. But why forty-five of all ages? That’s a rather random age.”

“Nothing. I just felt like it had a good ring to it.”

Gaeul stared at him. Maru was confused but did not avoid her gaze. After looking at him for a while, Gaeul smiled.

“Get going.”

“Fine, I’ll get going.”

Maru waved at her. Gaeul smiled and reached out her right hand when Maru was thinking that she would just wave. Maru looked at the hand that was right in front of him. It was open as though she wanted him to grab it. Maru grabbed the hand.

“I love you,” she said.

* * *

Gaeul looked away from Maru, who was getting distant, and closed her eyes. After the sensation of being sunken into the deep sea, a stage unfolded before her eyes. There was a white rabbit standing on a round chair. It was the ‘her’ that lived within her.

“Why did you do that?”

-Do what?

“Why did you say ‘I love you’ by yourself?”

-Isn’t that what you wanted? Also, you had me take your position because you didn’t have the confidence to talk to Maru, didn’t you? Well, I guess Maru would have noticed otherwise. He was already suspicious of you after all. If it wasn’t for my acting, he would have noticed that something did happen between you and Yuna, and he would have asked questions. If he did, then you would have acted like an adult again while trying to maintain your façade.

Gaeul became quiet. The rabbit was right. When Maru asked if it was because of Yuna, she asked the rabbit to replace her for a bit. She didn’t have the confidence to face Maru. She didn’t want him to find out that she was a narrow-minded person who was jealous of a feeble junior. She hid inside because she wanted to maintain the cheerful ‘Han Gaeul’.

-You’re a kid who wants to act like an adult. Ever since your father pa.s.sed away, you kept acting like an adult because you thought that you don’t want to drag down your mother and because of the expectations placed on you by the people around you. Ultimately, when you saw Maru cry, cry like a child in the cinema, you were no longer able to give up that position as the ‘adult’. It’s a false image that you put up out of your greed.

“I wanted to be of help to Maru! That’s not a bad thing, is it?”

-Yes, that is the case. It’s not a bad thing. But remember. Lies will become bigger. They might not grow fast, but they will grow steadily. And ultimately, the lies will replace you. By that time, you will play the role of the shadow of your lies, and your lies will replace you.

“No, it won’t be like that.”

-Let’s see about that, shall we?

“You don’t know anything about me.”

The rabbit suddenly became quiet. A moment later, she nodded.

-You’re right. I don’t know anything. So, I’ll stop here. If you want my help, call me any time. If it’s about acting, I’ll help you for free. Even if it’s for something special like that just now.

The stage started collapsing. Gaeul felt like the rabbit, who was the owner of this s.p.a.ce, was telling her to leave.

“I’ll ask you just one thing. Why did it have to be I love you out of all things? I didn’t want that.”

The stage collapsed completely, and she was dragged into a world of white. At that moment, she heard the rabbit’s voice, which had turned faint,

-Because I’m a child too. I’m a child who still wants to check on things.