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Chapter 64
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The three of them stayed silent.
Each for a different reason.
Ji-woo was probably deep in thought after seeing Noeul wrap his arm around Hansol earlier. People normally didn’t step in for others like that. Even if they were friends.
He was probably replaying the comment about Hansol being pretty… and the fact that he had seen the graduation album.
Noeul was likely feeling conflicted too. He wouldn’t have wanted to act like that in front of Ji-woo. It would look like he and Hansol had something special going on. There was no way Noeul didn’t know that. Even so, he stepped in for Hansol anyway.
And Hansol kept checking both of their reactions.
What was Hansol even doing right now?
Hansol had promised to push Ji-woo and Noeul closer… and instead had caused a catastrophic mess.
He wanted to disappear immediately.
— She was pretty, though.
Hansol’s heart thumped.
Why was it pounding? Probably because it was tied to Hansol’s trauma. Someone who once called him ugly, someone who claimed this wasn’t his real face—yet Ji-woo had called him pretty.
That must have been the reason.
“Should we order individually?”
Ji-woo spoke in front of the kiosk.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s do that.”
Could they even eat sandwiches in this atmosphere?
It was torture.
Trying to act normal, they placed their orders.
Ji-woo and Noeul were probably doing the same.
They sat at a table.
One looked at their phone, another glanced at the order number board, another pretended to read the new menu posted on the table.
Hansol couldn’t remember the last time the three of them felt this awkward.
“That guy earlier—seriously, he wasn’t much. And the guy next to him too.”
Ji-woo grumbled cutely.
He must be uneasy inside, yet he spoke like usual. Hansol felt grateful and guilty.
Hansol let out an awkward laugh.
“Yeah… he was kind of… I didn’t really want to introduce him to you guys. But things just… happened…”
“It’s not like we see them often anyway. Just bump into them from time to time. Don’t worry about it. The people you see the most are us, anyway.”
“Yeah…”
Ji-woo really was a good person. Noeul too. Both were good friends. They stepped in for Hansol, cared about Hansol.
And yet Hansol only seemed to cause trouble for them.
Hansol fidgeted with his fingers.
Ji-woo asked cautiously:
“But Noeul… when did you see Hansol’s graduation album?”
“…….”
Hansol’s heart dropped.
Of course Ji-woo would be curious. People usually only showed graduation albums to very close friends. Ji-woo had never seen it. But Noeul said he had seen it—so naturally Ji-woo would want to know when, how, and why.
And graduation albums were usually kept at home…
What should Hansol say? Should he say he had taken a picture of it on his phone? Should he say he showed the photo to Noeul? What if Ji-woo asked to see it too?
He couldn’t show Noeul but refuse Ji-woo. It wasn’t possible.
Ugh…
His stomach churned.
He didn’t want Ji-woo to see it. Honestly, the only reason Hansol had been comfortable showing Noeul his graduation pictures was because Noeul wasn’t good-looking either. Ugly people laugh less at ugly people. They’re in similar positions.
But what about Ji-woo? Ji-woo would be shocked. He probably assumed Hansol was always pretty. Seeing the original face—how shocking would that be?
Pretty people were used to pretty faces. They reacted more strongly.
Could Hansol handle Ji-woo’s reaction?
“Oh, I saw it long ago when I visited his house. On the top shelf of his bookcase there was something that was obviously a graduation album. How could I not take it down?”
Noeul answered.
Hansol listened quietly.
“Ah…”
“But honestly, I regretted seeing it.”
“Why?”
“For one, he looked the same as he does now, so it wasn’t interesting.”
Hansol looked at Noeul.
Noeul continued:
“And because I saw it, he beat me up like crazy.”
“He beat you?”
“Yeah. He nearly killed me for looking at it. I think I apologized for like an hour.”
“Oh… Why? If he looks the same, why does he hate it so much?”
“Dunno. He says he looks ugly. Ugh, so annoying.”
“Ah… Well yeah, Hansol wouldn’t look ugly in a photo anyway.”
“Exactly. Just thinking about Park Hansol throwing a fit back then… I’m never asking to see his graduation photo again.”
Ji-woo nodded, but there was a sad look on his face.
Noeul casually went back to looking at his phone.
Under the table, Hansol picked at his nails.
Noeul had lied for him. Because he knew Hansol didn’t want Ji-woo to ask for the graduation photo. On purpose, he made it impossible for Ji-woo to request it.
To protect Hansol, Noeul made himself look like someone who goes through other people’s graduation albums without permission. And he also let it look like he was close enough to enter Hansol’s house.
Knowing Noeul’s personality, he wouldn’t bother explaining himself to Ji-woo. Explaining too much could reveal Hansol’s secret, so he’d avoid it.
Hansol clenched his teeth.
Noeul had done all that for him, and Hansol could only stay silent.
Showing Ji-woo the graduation photo… telling Ji-woo about his past… he couldn’t do it. His mouth wouldn’t move.
So in a way, Hansol was relieved that Noeul lied.
Truthfully, whatever happened between Ji-woo and Noeul didn’t matter. What mattered was that Hansol’s past stayed hidden. As long as Hansol wasn’t humiliated.
He couldn’t lift his head.
He stared at the center of the table.
He felt so pathetic. How could someone this pathetic talk like he knew anything about the world? Acting like he was mature and detached…
If only he had acted like the pathetic person he really was from the start, maybe he wouldn’t feel this ashamed now.
Hansol couldn’t even remember how he ate his sandwich.
He parted ways with Noeul and Ji-woo and went to class.
He couldn’t focus on the lecture at all.
What did Noeul and Ji-woo talk about after he left? Did they fight? Did it get awkward?
Would Noeul resent him for stepping in? What was Ji-woo thinking? Would this make him give up on Noeul?
Hansol kind of regretted not telling Ji-woo the truth.
It was just an old ugly picture—so what? Just embarrassment for a moment. Why had he tried so desperately to hide it?
Even if Ji-woo laughed at him inwardly—so what? Hansol had surely judged Ji-woo inwardly before too. Everyone does, yet they still stay friends. Why was Hansol so terrified of Ji-woo laughing at him?
But even while thinking this, Hansol knew: if a similar situation came again, he would still keep his mouth shut. Yes. He would. And then he would regret it again later.
Deep down, another thought surfaced. As sorry as he was to both Noeul and Ji-woo… as long as Noeul didn’t resent him, Hansol hadn’t really lost anything today.
He got back at Junhee, hid his secret from Ji-woo, and learned just how far Noeul was willing to go for him.
That thought lingered until class ended.
He left the classroom.
While walking home, he called Noeul.
[Hello.]
“…Where are you?”
[Home.]
“What about Ji-woo?”
[You went to class, and Ji-woo said he had plans and left.]
Did Ji-woo really have plans?
His expression wasn’t good even until they parted. Maybe he didn’t have the emotional room to stay with Noeul.
Or maybe they actually argued. And Noeul was lying to spare Hansol from worrying.
Hansol wondered, but didn’t ask.
“Ah… I see. …Um… earlier… I’m sorry.”
He needed to explain what he was sorry for, but didn’t know where to start.
While he struggled, Noeul spoke first.
[What are you sorry for? You didn’t do anything wrong.]
“…You protected my secret for no reason…”
[I didn’t want to see that guy’s face either.]
“…And making you lie to Ji-woo about the album… I’m sorry for that too…”
[What do you mean make me lie? I just said it.]
“…….”
The more Noeul talked like that, the more shameless Hansol felt.
So instead of thanking him, he kept apologizing. He felt too ashamed to say thank you.
“I’m sorry… I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”
[You don’t have to go that far… Is your class over?]
“Yeah.”
[Heading home?]
“Yeah.”
[Okay, get home safe.]
“Okay… you too, rest well…”
He hung up.
He felt like he hadn’t managed to say what he wanted to say.
But he told himself: Noeul must know what I meant.
Should he call Ji-woo too?
Noeul wouldn’t explain anything to Ji-woo, so maybe Hansol should. Just as Noeul stepped in for him, Hansol should step in for Noeul.
Maybe Noeul quietly hoped he would.
Ji-woo could be more hurt than Hansol realized. He might have thought he was the only one who had romantic feelings toward Noeul, only to think now that Noeul might like Hansol instead.
And if Ji-woo really gives up on Noeul… and Noeul realizes… would he blame Hansol?
Hansol sighed deeply.
Should he tell Ji-woo everything? Or at least tell him that Noeul and Hansol were just friends?
But was Hansol the right person to say that? Wouldn’t it only make Ji-woo feel worse? Maybe this was something Noeul needed to tell him himself.
Then… should he convince Noeul to talk to Ji-woo?
Convince him to explain things clearly?
Noeul was stubborn; persuading him would be hard. Maybe Hansol would need to be firm: Ji-woo might turn away completely. Maybe that would give Noeul a sense of urgency.
Hansol fiddled with his phone.
But when he tried to call Noeul again, he hesitated.
What was stopping him?
If Hansol convinced Noeul, Noeul would think of Hansol as a good friend. Even if things fell apart between Noeul and Ji-woo later, there’d be less chance of him blaming Hansol. That would benefit Hansol.
So… why hesitate?
If Noeul listened to Hansol and told Ji-woo the truth—that he and Hansol were just friends—then Noeul and Ji-woo might grow much closer.
This whole incident could become a blessing in disguise.
And after hearing Noeul’s explanation… Ji-woo would realize it.
That Noeul liked him.
And if they really ended up together?
Wasn’t that what Hansol had wanted?
— She was pretty, though.
“…….”
His heart pounded again.
…Could it be…
Did Hansol want to keep Noeul to himself?
“…….”
He stood blankly at the crosswalk.
The light turned green.
But he stayed still.
Bzzz—
Bzzz—
Startled, he looked at his phone.
[Ji-woo]
He hesitated.
Should he answer?
But something told him he had to.
Ji-woo must have so many questions. He must be upset, confused, hurting.
Ignoring the call would make Hansol feel like a terrible person.
“…Yeah, Ji-woo.”
[Hey Hansol, class ended, right?]
“Yeah.”
[I called right when your class ended, but your line was busy.]
“Ah… yeah. I was on a call.”
[…Was it Noeul?]
“…Yeah.”
[Hmm… I see. Um… it’s nothing big, I just… had something I wanted to ask.]
Hansol tensed up.
“…What is it?”
[…I’ll just ask honestly. …What exactly are you and Noeul?]
“…….”
Hansol’s heart dropped.
He didn’t expect Ji-woo to ask so directly.
His mouth felt dry.
He hesitated, resisted… but there was only one answer he could give.
He opened his mouth.
“…Of course… we’re just friends.”
