WTFUDLS 59

Chapter 59

That’s how Noeul felt.

Like she had expected to drink a glass of ice water so cold it’d sting her temples, but it turned out to be just mildly cool.
Like she was the worst student in class, yet had to comfort the kid who cried for dropping from fifth to tenth place.
Like she’d bonded with someone over being “poor kids” in class, only to later find out that the other girl lived in a luxury apartment in Gangnam.

In other words…

She just felt off.

From Hansol’s point of view, it might’ve been a touching, emotional moment. After all, she’d been hiding the truth from everyone — including Noeul — for so long. It must’ve been stressful, living in fear of being found out, feeling guilty, wishing she hadn’t lied in the first place.

And now, with Noeul telling her it was all okay, Hansol must’ve felt a certain sense of release, freedom from all that guilt that had been weighing her down. So Noeul tried to play along — half jokingly, half sincerely.

But honestly…
She felt like a dad playing house with his daughter. Pretending the plastic hamburger was real, pretending the toy sink’s fake water was real — fully committed to the role, but knowing deep down it was all make-believe. Doing it only to keep his daughter happy.

Of course, Noeul didn’t think Hansol’s feelings were fake. She didn’t think Hansol was exaggerating her pain either.
Her wounds were real, and so was the hurt she’d felt.
Being called ugly leaves a scar — on boys and girls alike. But for a teenage girl, that scar cuts much deeper.

So yes, Noeul understood.
She really did — in her head.
But that’s where it stopped.
Her heart just picked its nose and scratched its stomach, watching everything unfold with detached indifference.

Have you ever listened to a successful person talk about their painful childhood? You know they’re not lying — they really did suffer.
But still, it doesn’t tear your heart apart, does it? Because that little kid grows up to succeed in the end.
Their hardship only makes their success shine brighter.

Now, imagine someone who lived a miserable childhood and stayed miserable until the day they died. That’s the kind of story that truly breaks your heart — the kind that makes you ask, “Why does life have to be so cruel?”

So in this situation, Hansol is the successful person.
And Noeul… is the one who stayed miserable.

If someone who got a paper cut complains about the pain to someone who’s lost a finger, the fingerless person might be shocked — but not sympathetic.
That’s how it felt.

Hansol had simply chosen the wrong person to seek comfort from. So wrong.
Was it really fitting for Noeul — who’d once been plain but now looked like a goddess — to comfort someone who used to be ugly but had become beautiful?

Still, Noeul didn’t want to pour cold water over Hansol’s emotional moment.
It was clearly a turning point for Hansol — a confession, a release from guilt, a long-awaited unburdening. And being there for that moment gave Noeul a strange sense of satisfaction.

It wasn’t the kind of connection she’d wanted, but still, it made them closer.

She was also touched that Hansol trusted her enough to confess.
It made her proud to know she was that important to her friend.

But still…
She couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

And that was something she could never show Hansol.
How she’d felt almost excited hearing her friend’s tragic backstory, only to lose interest when it turned out to be less tragic than expected.
How her sympathy had turned sour.

She couldn’t let Hansol see that.

Right before opening the photo album, Noeul had been eager — How ugly had she been, really? — and now that felt disgusting.
She’d been ready to boost her own ego with someone else’s misery.
The classic hallmark of a shitty human being.

She used to say, all wise and detached, “Everyone takes pleasure in other people’s misfortune.”
But now, when it was her and Hansol, she acted like she only wanted her friend’s happiness.
It was laughable.

Then again, that’s just human nature, isn’t it?
Everyone thinks, “Sure, people are like that… but I’m not.”

Ding-dong.

Ding-dong.

“She’s here.”

Hansol jumped up and left the room.
Noeul followed.

Noeul carried the sweet-and-sour pork; Hansol carried the black bean noodles and a bottle of soju.

As Hansol tore off the plastic wrap, she said,
“Let’s just eat on the floor?”

“Yeah.”

Soon they had pickled radish, soju poured, chopsticks split — and suddenly it was like nothing had happened.
Just two friends chatting and drinking like always.

The only difference was:
Hansol looked light — relieved.
Noeul felt… neither bad nor good — just vaguely uncomfortable.

They clinked their mugs filled with soju.

Hansol squinted one eye and said,
“Ahh, damn, it’s been forever since I had tangsuyuk.”

“Yeah.”

Noeul reacted politely, but she wasn’t really into it.

Hansol, with her appetite back, stuffed a huge piece of pork into her mouth and chewed happily.

Even when her cheeks puff up like that… she’s still gorgeous. And she’s talking about being ugly? Please.

Noeul felt… used.
Like she’d been played by a friend who’d been in emotional chaos.
She’d said everything Hansol needed to hear, everything that would make her feel better.

And now Hansol did feel better.
But did she ever think about how Noeul might feel?
Was Hansol really that self-centered?

Noeul knew she wasn’t — but still, she felt a pang of childish resentment.

Noeul said,
“I thought you’d done your nose, too. And your eyes.”

“Nope, just jaw surgery. Look.”
Hansol pinched her nose and twisted it to prove she hadn’t had anything done.

Noeul said,
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I mean, you’re just that pretty now. You’ve got such solid, natural features.”

Hansol smiled awkwardly.
“What do you mean, ‘solid features.’”

“With a face like that, you really thought you were ugly?”

“You saw the pictures. I was a disaster.”

A disaster?
If that’s a disaster, then what the hell am I?

Did she even realize?
Hansol was doing exactly what they both used to mock people for doing when they got drunk.

Noeul rolled her eyes.
“Wow, I’ve never seen such a neat, well-organized disaster before.”

“Shut up,” Hansol laughed, averting her gaze.
Her cheeks and neck were flushed from the alcohol.

She reached over with her chopsticks to grab a slice of radish in front of Noeul.
Her wrist was so slender it looked like it could snap if you tapped it.

Noeul said,
“Your bones are tiny. You must’ve always had a delicate frame. Some girls lose weight and still look stocky.”

“…Come on, that’s normal. All girls’ wrists are like this.”

“…God, you’re annoying.”

“What? What’d I say?”
Hansol laughed and flicked a piece of onion at her.

Noeul widened her eyes.
“Hey, if you throw stuff in this tiny room, it’s your loss. Ugh, where’d it go? Probably on your bed.”

Hansol just laughed harder.

Then, out of nowhere, Hansol stretched her left leg out toward Noeul.
She pulled her shorts up a bit and lifted her hips, showing the back of her thigh.

Noeul gasped.
Her vision filled with the soft beige of Hansol’s bare thigh.

For a moment, her heart even forgot to beat.
She quickly looked away.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name… Thy kingdom come…

Hansol, oblivious, said cheerfully,
“See these lightning-like stretch marks? I gained, like, ten kilos in high school. That’s from then.”

So… am I supposed to look? I mean, she’s showing me, so I should… right?

Noeul forced herself to look — as blankly as possible, like she was examining a frog in biology class.

Her heart, which had just stopped, suddenly went into overdrive.
Just like Hansol said, faint stretch marks traced across her smooth skin.

Okay, I’ve looked. Now what? What do I even say?

The situation was painfully awkward.

Then Noeul suddenly barked,
“Oh my God, what’s with you showing your thighs like that? You’re a grown woman! Have some shame!”

Hansol burst out laughing.
“Come on, I barely showed anything!”

Noeul waved her hand like a scolding auntie.
Hansol laughed so hard she teared up, and that made Noeul feel oddly proud.
There’s something so satisfying about making a pretty woman laugh.

Hansol fanned her face, then lifted her shirt slightly.
“Hey, I’ve got stretch marks here too. Wanna see?”

“Oh my—seriously? You’ve lost your mind, girl.”

What, she’s gonna flash her armpit now?

Hansol cracked up again.
“Ahahaha!”

Bzzz—
Bzzz—

Then came a vibration.

Both of them looked toward the sound.

[ Lee Jiwoo ]

The laughter died instantly.

Noeul picked up her phone and met Hansol’s eyes before answering.

“Hello?”

[ Having fun? ]

It took Noeul a few seconds to process what Jiwoo meant.
She remembered telling Jiwoo she was meeting an old high school friend today.
Since Hansol wasn’t ready to reveal her secret to Jiwoo yet, Noeul had lied to keep Jiwoo away.

“Yeah, I guess. Just drinking with the guys.”

[ Oh, so you went to an all-boys’ school now? ]

Oops — it wasn’t an all-boys’ school. Why did she say that?

“No, it’s co-ed. But all the friends who came today are guys.”

[ Huh. Well, if it gets boring drinking with guys, you should’ve hung out with me instead. ]

“Come on, it’s been a while. I couldn’t just ditch them.”

[ True… fair enough. Did you drink much? ]

“Huh? No, not really. Just a few shots of soju.”

[ Hmm, not much, huh. But why’s it so quiet? ]

“…What?”

[ You said you’re at a bar, but it’s dead quiet. I can’t hear anything. ]

A cold bead of sweat slid down Noeul’s back.

“Ah… it’s one of those izakaya places with private rooms. Maybe that’s why. The others went out to smoke.”

She hadn’t meant to lie this much.

Her heart was pounding, especially because Hansol was watching her the whole time.

[ Ohh, okay~ Got it. Have fun then. I was just bored. ]

“Yeah, you too.”

[ Mmh~ ]

She hung up and exhaled in relief.

What the hell was that?
Why did I just lie like that? It’s not even something bad!
I’m just protecting Hansol’s secret. That’s all.

Her heart slowly returned to normal.

Damn Jiwoo, why’d you have to pry like that? Should’ve just ignored the call…

It felt ridiculous — drinking at a girl’s house, then lying to another girl about hanging out with guys.
It almost felt like cheating, even though she wasn’t doing anything remotely like that.

“I mean, come on…”

Hansol suddenly said,
“Why does this feel like we’re cheating or something?”