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Chapter 04
“How does it taste?”
“It’s good.”
“No, I mean… can you actually taste it?”
“Yeah. It’s spicy and salty.”
“……”
As soon as I said it, I realized it was a stupid question. Just because he couldn’t feel emotions didn’t mean he couldn’t taste food.
‘…Wait.’
Does Seo Jinhyung really not feel emotions? Sure, he’s a sociopath and a future murderer, no doubt about that, but…
“……”
This was crazy.
Had I started to see some humanity in Seo Jinhyung after spending a little over a week with him? Or was I just being emotional at dawn and losing my mind?
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
It was late at night. Seo Jinhyung sat across from me, eating the ramyeon I had cooked. For some reason, he looked like an ordinary person.
Like he had that day on the bench.
“About your dad… how did he pass away?”
“……”
After a brief silence, Seo Jinhyung continued, still smiling.
“He killed himself. I don’t know why.”
The answer was heavier than I expected, and it became hard to control my expression. But my mouth kept moving on its own.
As if I wanted to confirm something.
“…Don’t you miss him?”
I lowered my gaze to my small plate and added,
“I still miss my dad. He shows up in my dreams…”
“I see.”
“So maybe that’s why I was so against Mom remarrying… Now that I think about it… Huh. That’s it. That’s right… I…”
Yeah.
It wasn’t just because I didn’t want to get involved with Seo Jinhyung, the hidden villain, that I opposed Mom’s remarriage.
Only now did I admit the truth I hadn’t even realized myself.
‘And I figured it out at 2 a.m. while eating ramyeon with Seo Jinhyung.’
I had been rambling to myself before suddenly coming to that realization and falling silent. Seo Jinhyung, who had been watching me, put down his chopsticks.
“…It’s completely understandable to oppose remarriage out of love for a deceased parent. It can feel like betrayal.”
“You think so too? That leaving your original family and becoming family with… someone else feels like betrayal…?”
“……”
For once, Seo Jinhyung stopped smiling.
But I was too lost in thoughts about my dad to notice.
“I think… I do feel that way. I feel so sorry toward Dad. I miss him, and I resent Mom…”
Tears streamed down before I could stop them.
Setting aside the problem of becoming the little sister of a murderer, I simply hated the idea of Mom remarrying.
“Dad… hngh, Dad…”
Once I started crying, it wouldn’t stop, like a broken faucet.
Seo Jinhyung watched quietly for a whole hour.
I thought he might try to comfort me or calm the situation… but he just watched in silence. That was unexpected.
* * *
I had a dream last night.
In it, I was a young Seo Jinhyung who had lost his only family and ended up living in a strange house.
“…Why would I dream something like that?”
I tried to shake off the uneasy feeling and furiously washed my face and brushed my teeth. After the late-night ramyeon and crying combo, my face was swollen.
‘Maybe it’s because I saw a strangely human side of him.’
If you ask whether silently staring at someone who’s crying for over an hour is human behavior, it’s debatable.
But if it’s Seo Jinhyung?
‘Isn’t that kind of human… for him?’
“Ha, damn. This is confusing.”
More and more, I was leaning toward the theory that he became a sociopath later in life—because of the shock of losing his father.
‘If it’s a defense mechanism caused by trauma… maybe treatment could help.’
Still thinking, I took off my top to change clothes and stepped out of the bathroom.
And then, right as I opened my bedroom door—
I ran straight into Seo Jinhyung, who was just coming in.
“Oh.”
“Ah.”
We both let out short exclamations at the same time. Silence followed.
“I-I-I-I-I—”
Get out!!! You idiot!!!
Before I could scream, Seo Jinhyung had already shut the door and left. I had stuttered too long in my shock.
At least I was wearing underwear.
I hurriedly pulled on a T-shirt, my face burning red, and went outside. Seo Jinhyung was standing there with that awkward smile of his.
“Sorry. You didn’t answer when I knocked, so I came in. I guess I wasn’t considerate.”
Why does this guy keep barging into my room without permission? If someone doesn’t answer, just go away.
“…Just remember that. Knock and wait for permission next time.”
He nodded lightly.
“So what did you want?”
“Oh, Father and your mom will be here in about ten minutes. I was going to wake you if you were still asleep.”
“Yeah. I’m definitely awake now. Thanks.”
Bang!
I shut the door and flopped onto my bed.
My heart was still pounding. And when I remembered the way his light brown eyes had widened slightly, it felt strange.
‘…So Seo Jinhyung can look surprised too.’
It was such a subtle change that most people wouldn’t notice, but I’d been watching his poker face long enough to know.
He had been surprised.
‘So he doesn’t completely lack emotions?’
Then… maybe he could be fixed?
Honestly, I desperately hoped so.
‘If he never starts killing in the first place, then I won’t have to witness it—or die by his hands.’
My thoughts tilted further and further.
And finally, I made up my mind.
I sat up in bed and clenched my fist.
Seo Jinhyung wasn’t the type to obediently go to a hospital if I suggested it.
So I’d do it myself.
‘Do what?’
Treat his mental illness!
* * *
After solidifying my determination, I went downstairs to greet the middle-aged couple who had finally returned.
“You’re back.”
Mom and the man looked thinner than before.
The past ten days hadn’t been easy for them either.
“Did you get along well with your brother?”
“Yeah. We even ate ramyeon together last night.”
“With Jinhyung?”
That wasn’t Mom. It was the man staring at me in surprise.
“Yes. He made me cook ramyeon. Bossed me around, told me to bring him water… It was so scary.”
It was a lie, but Seo Jinhyung didn’t bother correcting me.
“Haha… You must’ve gotten pretty close, then…”
For a father hearing accusations about his son’s behavior, he looked far too pleased. What is this? Is he a sociopath too?
Before my expression could sour further, Seo Jinhyung stepped in, acting like a good son.
“You must be tired. Please go in and rest.”
“We should. Oh, right. Seyun… actually…”
“?”
Without even resting, they sat me and Seo Jinhyung down at the table.
Then, after a long explanation, they made a proposal.
“That’s fine with me.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, you can really refuse…”
I stared at the man as his voice trailed off.
‘It’s not even a big deal.’
His request was simple.
Instead of attending the high school I was originally supposed to go to, would I consider enrolling in the private high school he regularly sponsors—the same one Seo Jinhyung attends?
They sounded so serious that I got nervous for nothing.
‘In the original story, Kim Seyun went to a different school than Seo Jinhyung…’
But going to the same one might have its advantages.
The man seemed to read my gaze and nodded happily.
“I’ll make sure you won’t have any inconvenience at school.”
Why is he declaring corruption so proudly?
Still, I didn’t care. He probably just wanted to impress me for Mom’s sake.
“If it’s uncomfortable for your family situation to become known, you and Jinhyung can commute in separate cars…”
“We can take the same car.”
His face brightened even more, clearly misinterpreting my words as something positive.
‘That’s not it.’
I only agreed to commute together for the treatment plan I had decided on this morning. If I seemed less resistant to him, it might help.
“Are we done? Can I go now?”
“Yes! Of course.”
I bowed slightly and went straight upstairs.
I was about to lie down for another nap when I heard a knock.
Knock, knock.
Neat, polite knocks. I already knew who it was.
“Come in.”
The door opened. As expected, it was Seo Jinhyung.
“Can I sit for a moment?”
“Do whatever.”
Thud.
He closed the door and sat right next to me on the bed.
A little too close.
‘Wouldn’t most people sit on a chair?’
Whatever. I can’t possibly understand a psychopath’s thought process.
“Why are you here?”
“About taking the same car to and from school. Are you really okay with that?”
“I don’t care. It’s not a big deal.”
He lowered his gaze slightly.
“No matter what you say, rumors at school might get exaggerated.”
“Let them.”
He gave a small laugh, though nothing was funny.
“If you’re uncomfortable, tell me. We can ride separately.”
“No. Let’s go together.”
I nodded and pulled my legs up onto the bed, leaning back against the headboard.
This position gave me a better view of him—his expressions, his mood.
Earlier, he had been too close for me to even look at him properly.
“Is that all you came to ask?”
“Yeah. And… you cried a lot yesterday. I was worried.”
“I wasn’t crying. Something just got in my eye.”
“Really?” he asked.
I was about to ignore him when a thought crossed my mind.
‘…Should I do it now? The treatment.’
The mood wasn’t bad.
‘Strike while the iron’s hot, right? Is that the right phrase? Whatever.’
Without hesitating any longer, I called his name.
“Seo Jinhyung.”
