[Chapter 138]
[Another Strategy]
He wishes he could split his body in two.
Eunha had thought this many times since winter break started.
He could confidently say this was the busiest winter break he'd ever had.
...Why doesn't it feel like I'm resting even though it's break?
With school starting again soon...
Between training, dating Jeong Ha-yang, and meeting Han Seo-hyun.
Eunha's chances for leisure time during break could be counted on one hand.
Even then, he had to keep in touch with Ha-yang and Seo-hyun in between.
It wasn't enough even if he split his body into two, no, three or four.
It was so bad that—
'—So why don't we just make a new chat room? With you Seo-hyun, me, and Ha-yang, the three of us.'
'Are you crazy? Want to get punished?'
'...I was just saying.'
Chatting with both of them simultaneously was so time-inefficient.
So Eunha subtly suggested his idea to Seo-hyun a few days ago.
Of course, she didn't listen to his opinion at all.
In fact, Eunha himself thought it was nonsense too.
But isn't this different from the promise?
Then Eunha suddenly questioned his situation.
Didn't both Jeong Ha-yang and Han Seo-hyun say they absolutely wouldn't bother him?
But Eunha who had gotten used to them couldn't say anything belatedly.
"Hah... it's really over. I can rest somewhat comfortably for the next few days."
Fortunately.
It seemed Han Seo-hyun and Jeong Ha-yang had negotiated something without his knowledge.
He was granted a few days of freedom from the two.
Valentine's Day.
Eunha was only able to feel relieved after spending all day with Han Seo-hyun the day before, and staying out late with Jeong Ha-yang on the day of.
I never imagined I'd run into Ha-yang's father while taking her home...
That was somehow resolved too.
After the date ended.
Eunha happened to run into her father Jeong Seok-hoon while taking Ha-yang home.
Jeong Seok-hoon was smiling.
But Eunha got the impression he wasn't as favorable towards him as before.
Nevertheless, Jeong Seok-hoon brought up having a meal together soon.
Eunha couldn't refuse.
At this rate, it looks like I'll really be eating with Ha-yang's family soon.
I don't know how the food will go down.
Just thinking about it makes my throat close up.
Eunha was walking down a hill worrying about the future.
He planned to go straight home like this.
Just then, his smartphone vibrated.
"...She's calling again."
A call from Jo Ara.
She was one of the factors eating up his time recently.
He debated whether to answer but decided to ignore it.
Was it since that day he drank with her for the first time right before winter break?
Jo Ara's contact increased noticeably.
After somehow getting in touch by phone, calls continued occasionally from then on.
Then recently she seemed bored and often called.
Buzz
The call went to voicemail.
And not long after, she called again.
It meant hurry up and answer since she knew he was deliberately not answering.
In the end, Eunha raised the white flag.
"Why, again, why."
[—Yap yap! Why aren't you answering my calls? Didn't you say I could call anytime but now you're doing this?]
"I said you could call anytime but how can you call every night? Because of you I feel like I'm three-timing instead of two-timing."
[You're so mean. You should be grateful when I call you.]
"So why?"
[No, just... I wanted to hear your voice so I called.]
"You don't like me too, do you?"
[...You know you're being unpleasant right now, right?]
Jo Ara's voice sounding somewhat depressed.
Eunha noticed her mood wasn't good today.
So he silently sighed.
"Why. What's wrong?"
[No, it's just... Tae-yang...]
Eunha decided to listen to her troubles.
Then Jo Ara laid out everything that happened today in detail.
She says she made chocolates herself to give to On Tae-yang for Valentine's Day.
But On Tae-yang who returned home after training at the academy showed an indifferent reaction to the chocolates Jo Ara put her heart into making.
Because he had already received tons of chocolates from girls at the academy.
[Isn't that too much no matter what? 'Oh, okay, thanks. I'll eat it well.' Is this the end?]
"Yeah, On Tae-yang was too much."
[You're not listening to me right now, are you?]
"No, I heard everything."
Eunha zoned out for a moment in the middle.
Han Seo-hyun yesterday, Jeong Ha-yang today.
After spending all day with them for two days straight, he was mentally fatigued.
Especially today, he doesn't know how much Ha-yang talked.
He who was inwardly stung tried to calmly avoid Jo Ara's questioning as much as possible.
Anyway, you're saying you're not feeling good now so be my conversation partner and comfort me, right?
Eunha rubbed his eyes.
It's fortunate my schedule is empty tomorrow.
Eunha who had been letting her words flow by opened his mouth.
"—So where are you now?"
[...Me? This is... near Sangmyung University. I'm talking to you at a cafe now.]
"Is On Tae-yang there too?"
[Do you think I would have called you if I was with Tae-yang? Tae-yang went home first, I'm alone.]
"That's good. Come out. I'll listen in person."
[Are you asking me on a date now? Sorry, but I have Tae-yang...]
"I have a girlfriend and a fiancée. But do you think I'd do something to you?"
Jo Ara is really misunderstanding. She suddenly started stuttering.
Eunha was dumbfounded.
When he openly clicked his tongue and spoke, she seemed to gradually calm down.
[Ah, what. For a moment I was really surprised thinking you liked me when you suddenly struck. I almost fell for it... No, I'll just accept your feelings.]
"What are you saying?"
[It would be rude to the people you're dating if we meet at this hour. It's okay, thanks for listening to my story.]
"I'll tell the two of them separately so you don't need to worry. I was going to eat something anyway since I'm hungry."
[Huh? Really? Hmm... Then let's meet. But I'm telling you in advance, I have zero romantic feelings for you so know that. Don't misunderstand later. I just like you as a friend.]
"Who said anything? Why are you drinking kimchi soup by yourself?"
[Ugh...]
Eunha burst out laughing.
Imagining her groaning on the other side of the smartphone made him laugh automatically.
☆
Eunha and Jo Ara met in Gwanghwamun and entered a random visible store.
The store owner was troubled at first thinking the two were minors, but welcomed them gladly when they showed their academy student IDs.
And so, beef tripe and soju.
The two exchanged drinks.
"Looking at it like this... I guess what you said about getting engaged was true. That's an engagement ring, right?"
"That's right. Did you think it was fake?"
"You said you liked Ha-yang but got engaged to someone else not long after dating... You really were trash?"
"Yeah, I'm trash. So what?"
"Wow... why are you so shameless?"
"I've been cursed at so much I'm used to it now."
"...Somehow that's pitiful. Let's toast."
It was the first time meeting during break.
Though they had kept in touch, talking face to face was very different.
The two conversed while checking on each other's recent situations.
And he was cursed at again as expected.
"Ah, you know how Tae-yang went crazy after hearing about you?"
"Huh? Why him?"
Then as if suddenly remembering.
Jo Ara opened her mouth while poking at the food.
Eunha tilted his head.
Then Jo Ara said.
"Saying how can it make sense for a person to date multiple people when they should date one person they like."
"..."
"He has a point. Honestly, I was a bit shocked too when I heard you were two-timing. Well, since it's you Eunha there must be some circumstances. Also... Ha-yang and the person you're engaged to are people of completely different status from us. So saying you were blinded by power..."
"...What is this? The pot calling the kettle black?"
"Huh? What are you saying?"
"There's something like that."
On Tae-yang is complaining that him making a harem is undesirable.
Eunha was just dumbfounded.
Because he knew how many women On Tae-yang had taken as companions in his previous life.
It was ridiculous that such a person was criticizing him.
It was the pot calling the kettle black.
"So what is he doing during break?"
"Training every day of course. He runs around the neighborhood in the morning, prepares lunch with Tae-hee, then trains at the academy until evening after eating lunch, and goes home..."
Anyway, since the topic of On Tae-yang came up.
Eunha poured her a drink and asked about On Tae-yang's recent situation.
Jo Ara laid out what happened today again and talked about what On Tae-yang was doing during break.
Eunha was satisfied hearing he was diligently training, then—
"—Did you say Tae-hee? Is that On Tae-yang's younger sister?"
"Yeah, that's right. On Tae-hee."
"How old is she? If she's his younger sister she must be younger than us, so has she been at home with just her and their mother during the semester until now?"
Eunha suddenly thought about On Tae-yang's family.
His sick mother and young sister.
Until now, Eunha had been focused on creating a debt for On Tae-yang in exchange for making the elixir to treat his mother.
He hadn't been thinking much about On Tae-yang's home environment.
Because he thought everything would be over once he had the elixir.
Honestly, what's the need to know what kind of people On Tae-yang's mother or sister are?
To Eunha, his mother and sister weren't very important figures.
There was no need to know about them.
But thinking about it now, they weren't without other uses.
"She's 4 years younger than us. 14 years old this year, yeah, she's entering middle school next month."
"4 years? She's much younger."
"Yeah... so I'm really worried. I try to take care of her in various ways but honestly how much can a young kid do alone. Even I have a hard time cleaning my own room... Tae-hee does everything by herself."
"Why is that child doing everything alone? You said their mother is there too earlier."
"Ah, that's..."
"Why, what is it?"
"You can't tell anyone else?"
4 years.
Eunha murmured the number Jo Ara mentioned in his mind.
She was much younger.
About 2 years older than Eun-ae.
Eunha unconsciously asked about his family while imagining On Tae-yang's sister looking like Eun-ae in his mind.
He decided to try to grasp his family environment through Jo Ara's mouth.
Jo Ara hesitated to speak.
Soon she spoke smoothly with a face as if saying whatever.
...It seems worse than I thought.
According to Jo Ara.
When Choi Ga-in was alive, On Tae-yang received various sponsorships from Galaxy Group.
One of them was allowing his mother suffering from severe mana depletion to be hospitalized in Galaxy Hospital's top facilities.
"—But then that happened to Ga-in. So those Galaxy bastards pretended not to know On Tae-yang's face and made all the sponsorships given to him like they never happened!"
Jo Ara fumed.
She expressed regret that On Tae-yang ended up receiving sponsorship from Galaxy Group according to regulations.
Currently his mother has returned home and is being nursed by his younger sister Tae-hee.
"Actually that's why I'm worried. It's okay now since it's break so Tae-hee can nurse her, but from next month she has to go to middle school so there won't be anyone to nurse the aunt."
"What did they decide to do?"
"Tae-yang says it would be better for Tae-hee to postpone going to school until he graduates... Hmm... but I hope Tae-hee can at least go to middle school."
It was such a heavy story.
Jo Ara sighed deeply.
Jo Ara who was On Tae-yang's childhood friend said his younger sister On Tae-hee was like a younger sister to her too.
So she said she was also helping support On Tae-yang's family as much as possible.
"...I see."
With those final words.
Jo Ara downed the drink in her glass in one go as if to relieve her gloomy mood.
When she tried to pour herself a drink, Eunha stopped her hand and poured for her instead.
"...Sorry. Was that too heavy a story?"
"No, it's fine."
Silence fell.
Jo Ara fiddled with her glass looking at the floor, seemingly embarrassed.
And Eunha—
—The situation is quite appropriate?
Maybe it could help put a leash on On Tae-yang.
I can use this.
Eunha harbored such thoughts.
Currently On Tae-yang was in a tight spot with his sponsorship greatly reduced.
On Tae-yang's precious mother and sister were trapped in a cycle of misfortune.
If at that time, he extended a helping hand—
"—Not bad..."
Would they really not feel goodwill towards him?
Also, could On Tae-yang act arrogantly towards him?
He could assert they couldn't.
The more leashes the better.
Create a debt for On Tae-yang with the elixir, and win the favor of On Tae-yang's family too so that bastard can never defy me.
Bestow grace.
Also make him economically dependent.
Eunha decided to aim for this time when Galaxy's shadow had disappeared.
"—I'll look into it."
"What?"
"I said I'll help. I'll ask the groups I have connections with. Probably Eternal Group or Sirius Group, maybe even Alice Group could help."
"...Is, is that really okay?"
"What do you mean is that okay?"
"Ah, no... Isn't that burdensome for you?"
"Do you think that would be burdensome for me?"
"..."
"Who is my friend Yoo Do-jun?"
"...Eternal Group's direct descendant."
"My girlfriend is."
"...Alice Group's direct descendant."
"Then my fiancée is."
"...Sirius Group's direct descendant. Wow, daebak."
Jo Ara raises her head.
She is frozen with her mouth open.
Eunha giggled seeing her shocked appearance.
Though it wasn't actually his own power.
The names of his friend, girlfriend, and fiancée made his shoulders broaden.
"You... Come to think of it, you lived in a different world from me."
"What different world... I'm no different from you."
"Wow, looking at you now you're so relaxed. Because you're eating beef tripe and soju with me... I didn't think about it sometimes when eating cup ramen at the convenience store..."
Jo Ara blinks her eyes repeatedly.
Eunha discovered goodwill towards himself in her eyes.
It seemed to be brimming with goodwill.
Then she came to her senses and—
"—But why are you going that far? Tae-yang treated you badly. So why are you trying to help despite that?"
Jo Ara made a suspicious face.
Eunha shrugged nonchalantly.
Though he couldn't tell her everything, to be honest—
"—I want to become close with On Tae-yang."
"Is that all?"
"I told you once before. I want to recruit both you and On Tae-yang to the party I'll create."
"..."
"So I need to make a good impression. Don't you think?"
"Wow... Why doesn't it sound unpleasant even though you're saying it unpleasantly? Why do you seem so different today?"
"What did I do?"
"Thank you. For not hiding your true feelings and speaking honestly."
Jo Ara's face brightened.
Eunha frowned at Jo Ara's out-of-the-blue words.
However, she seemed impressed by what he said regardless of his expression.
"—Okay, good. Then I'll try to somehow make Tae-yang approach you favorably too."
"Okay, please do. Oh, and."
"Yeah, what? Tell me."
"Their mother and younger sister. I want to see them in person."
"Hmm... Tae-yang would hate that..."
"That's why I want to meet them secretly. I need to know how those people are living too, right?"
"...You're responsible."
"Didn't you know I was that kind of person?"
"Ah, what is this. What's wrong with my eyes. Why does the person look so different even though you're acting arrogant?"
On Tae-yang would be shocked if he knew.
So Eunha decided to build a relationship with his family without his knowledge.
☆
They decided to end after the first round.
Just before midnight, Eunha and Jo Ara who left their seats moved towards the subway station.
"Ah, there's a convenience store over there. Want to buy an ice cream each? Since you bought the beef tripe, I'll buy the ice cream."
"Oh, ice cream is good after drinking."
Jo Ara suggested first.
Though it was a cold season, ice cream was good for sobering up.
Of course, Eunha wasn't drunk.
The drunk one was Jo Ara whose face was slightly flushed.
Her face had a light red tinge contrasting with her ivory hair.
"What do you want to eat?"
"I'll have this."
"Yeah? Then I'll get the same. No matter how I think about it, isn't ice cream 1+1 the greatest happiness for mankind?"
"Over just one ice cream..."
"Hey, I'm buying this."
"Thanks, I'll eat it well."
"That's right, you should. Wait outside first. I'll pay and come."
Eunha chose a chocolate flavored ice cream and went outside.
A moment later, Jo Ara finished paying and came out with a bag.
"Here."
"Thanks."
He unwraps the ice cream plastic.
Eunha threw the plastic in the bag Jo Ara had on her wrist.
A rich chocolate flavor spread in his mouth.
Eunha savored the ice cream taste.
Just then—
"—Huh? What's this?"
Jo Ara suddenly thrust a chocolate in front of Eunha's eyes.
He tilted his head seeing her hold out a cheap chocolate that could be commonly seen anywhere.
"Here."
"So what is this?"
"Come to think of it, today is Valentine's Day. I remembered while paying, it hasn't been a day yet."
"So?"
"What do you mean so? So take it. Here, a Valentine's Day gift."
"...Thanks."
Jo Ara taps Eunha's stomach with the chocolate.
Eunha put the chocolate in his pocket.
"Just in case, I hope you don't misunderstand. That's just chocolate given as a friend, okay?"
"...What did I say? Why are you flustered?"
"Anyway!"
"Okay. But you said you made and gave it to On Tae-yang yourself, so why are you giving me this?"
"What I give to Tae-yang and what I give to you have different meanings. I told you. You're a fri-end."
"Still, the discrimination is severe."
"Okay. I'll give you slightly more expensive chocolate next year."
"I'll look forward to it."
"I'll look forward to White Day too."
"What?"
Eunha stopped walking on the street.
He asked her who was walking alongside him with ice cream in his mouth.
She was also tilting her head while eating ice cream.
"Huh? Isn't it obvious?"
"What's obvious?"
"If you received chocolate on Valentine's Day, you have to give a return gift on White Day."
"You gave me chocolate for this reason."
"No way. Even if you say you'll return it now, it's already too late. A day has passed. Today isn't Valentine's Day."
"You're really persistent..."
Eunha let out an exclamation.
Jo Ara walked briskly forward without saying anything.
In the end, Eunha gave up and moved his feet to follow her.
"Okay, I'll give you something. That's fine, right?"
"Yes!"
"I'll just give you a lollipop sold at convenience stores or something."
"You bastard! Don't do that when you have a lot of money!"
"Yeah, Chupa Chups."
☆
The morning after Valentine's Day.
The smartphone rang.
"...What is it?"
The morning call rang just then.
Eunha who opened his bleary eyes checked Fine Talk from inside the blanket.
There were quite a lot of messages piled up.
It seemed his friends were chattering away last night too.
Eunha checked Ryu Yeon-hwa's message that seemed to have just arrived among them.
"...Huh?"
Ryu Yeon-hwa sent a gift card.
It's chocolate.
Eunha made a confused face when she suddenly sent a gift card after no contact recently.
Then he chuckled.
"Why is this noona doing this again?"
When he clicked the gift card message.
The screen moved.
It's a chocolate that looks like a trash bag.
Eunha burst out laughing seeing the bizarre design.
Then he sighed seeing the message she sent with the gift card.
"Yeon-hwa noona": ...Two-timer ( ￣＾￣)(08:58 AM)
It really seemed the two-timing rumors had spread all over the neighborhood.
He might end up getting a nickname at this rate.