Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 15

“Haeyoung-nim.”

 

Haeyoung opened her eyes with effort. Taeri was gently shaking her shoulder.

 

“Are you feeling okay? They said we should gather soon, the text vote is about to begin.”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

“You look tired.”

 

She checked the time and was startled. Three hours had already passed.

 

Was she not feeling well? It was a disaster. She had meant to talk to a few people before the vote.

 

“Maybe I didn’t sleep well last night. Let’s head down. Everyone’s probably waiting.”

 

“Have you decided who you’re voting for?”

 

“Mm, yeah. What about you, Taeri-nim?”

 

“Honestly, I really don’t know. Today’s date was fun, but I can’t tell if it was fun because he was funny… or because I felt something romantic.”

 

‘Hmm… Was her date Chanwoo?’

 

Jaeyoung wasn’t exactly the entertaining type, especially with Taeri. Their vibes didn’t match at all, and there was no sign of anything romantic developing.

 

It couldn’t be Dojin either. It hadn’t been revealed to the rest yet, but he and Taeri were longtime friends who joined the show together. That would change later on, but not yet.

 

“What about the others? Is there anyone you want to vote?”

 

“Hmm… no one, really.”

 

“Then maybe don’t overthink it. If you had fun today, that’s enough, isn’t it?”

 

“Keep it simple?”

 

“Yeah. Just focus on one thing, who made your heart flutter today?”

 

Taeri’s mouth dropped open in realization.

 

“You’re right. No need to make it complicated! We’re just getting started! Thanks, Haeyoung-nim. I feel so much better now.”

 

“I’m glad I could help.”

 

As they walked down to the first floor, Taeri kept chattering away, saying it was so unlike her to get so in her head about things. Haeyoung just nodded along.

 

When they arrived, the other contestants welcomed them. The mood was already lively, as if they had had a round of drinks while she was out.

 

Seongjun was laughing it up with Gaeun, while Minji was clinking glasses between Chanwoo and Jaeyoung.

 

“Haeyoung-nim, are you not feeling well?”

 

All eyes turned to her when Dojin asked. Minji, in particular, stared at her a bit too intently.

 

“No, I just rested a bit because I was tired. I’m feeling much better now.”

 

“Thank goodness. Come sit over here.”

 

Dojin handed her a glass and asked if she had any plans for tomorrow. She had no intention of drinking, so she just brought the glass to her lips and set it back down.

 

“We’re going to a sheep ranch with people who don’t have plans, so let’s go together!”

 

What? They’re going to the sheep ranch already? That was faster than expected.

 

“Sure, sounds good.”

 

Of course she would go. Skipping it wasn’t an option. Haeyoung made up her mind, she would  go even if she had to crawl there half-dead.

 

The moment Haeyoung answered, the logo of <Friendship Romance 2> appeared on the screen.

 

「Who made your heart flutter today?」

 

* * *

 

[You seemed really tired today. Please get some rest. Let’s go on another date when you’re feeling better.]

 

As always, Haeyoung sent a text to Seongjun. The kind that subtly reminded him of how uninterested he had acted on their date.

 

On the other hand, she doubted she would be getting any texts in return.

 

First date, on the first day. Unless someone had a major crush on someone else, people usually texted their date partner.

 

No doubt, Seongjun wouldn’t be texting her.

 

After sending their messages, the contestants resumed chatting. But the air had shifted, there was a certain stiffness in everyone’s expressions.

 

As Haeyoung scanned each face, her phone buzzed silently in her hand. A new message.

 

[Tomorrow’s going to be fun!]

 

Who could it be?

 

She hadn’t spent any real time with the others since dinner.

 

Haeyoung glanced at Dojin, who was sitting next to her. Just then, he turned to meet her gaze and smiled.

 

So it was Dojin.

 

Right then—ding! A notification chimed..

 

The screen flickered.

 

「Dojin – 1 vote」

 

The display format had changed. Now, names popped up one by one, as if to deliberately provoke stronger reactions.

 

「Chanwoo – 1 vote」

 

Looked like Taeri had followed her advice.

 

Then, two names appeared at once on screen.

 

「Seongjun – 2 votes

 

Jaeyoung – 0 votes」

 

The results were conflicting. All the guests became quiet.

 

Seongjun had received two votes—one from Haeyoung and the other likely from Gaeun. That would mean Gaeun’s date was Jaeyoung. With that, everyone’s pairings could be figured out:

 

Haeyoung and Seongjun, Taeri and Chanwoo, Gaeun and Jaeyoung, Minji and Dojin.

 

Seongjun briefly glanced over at Jaeyoung. He looked like a man basking in the smug satisfaction of having stolen a vote from the ‘perfect guy’.

 

‘Seongjun… This is when you need to be careful. Keep it up and you’ll get edited into the villain.’

 

Next up were the votes for the female contestants.

 

「Haeyoung – 1 vote」

 

Gaeun – 1 vote」

 

‘Wait, didn’t Seongjun definitely vote for Gaeun? Then who did Jaeyoung vote for? Could it be… Minji already?’

 

Jaeyoung became a ‘straight for Minji’ type after the sheep farm episode. Just like Gaeun, maybe his feelings were already heading in the predetermined direction.

 

Would it be impossible to change anything, no matter how hard she tried? Anxiety crept in.

 

At that moment, the screen changed.

 

「Minji – 0 votes

 

Taeri – 2 votes」

 

Haeyoung doubted her eyes. Minji didn’t get a single vote today either.

 

Even Jaeyoung, her date for the day, had chosen Taeri instead. The same Taeri who also got zero votes yesterday.

 

“….”

 

Minji’s expression turned cold. She always smiled so brightly, but now she looked like a completely different person.

 

Haeyoung let out a small breath of relief. ‘It’s working. I can change this.’

 

Right now, Seongjun’s ego was probably through the roof. Minji, meanwhile, was likely simmering with rage. Whether it’s elation or humiliation, when it reaches an extreme, it’s easy to explode.

 

Haeyoung silently observed the stark contrast between Seongjun and Minji’s expressions. Everything was going according to plan.

 

The shock of the vote results didn’t last long. Soon, the contestants were back to clinking glasses and chatting loudly.

 

“Haeyoung-nim, you should go up and rest.”

 

“Oh, right. You said you weren’t feeling well. Go on, get some rest. So we can hit the sheep farm together tomorrow!”

 

Taeri, remembering Haeyoung’s earlier fatigue, gave her a gentle way out. She was just about to take it when—

 

Minji stood up, holding her glass with both hands.

 

“Ah… I feel dizzy…”

 

She staggered and dropped the glass. It shattered loudly.

 

Jaeyoung, who was seated beside her, immediately stood and caught her arm. The room went silent, all eyes turning toward Minji in concern.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“No… Could you hold me up for a moment?”

 

“Take it slow.”

 

While Jaeyoung helped her onto the couch, the others quietly cleaned up the broken glass.

 

Minji took a sip of the water Dojin brought her. Barely a sip, just enough to wet her lips, before setting it down.

 

Her long lashes cast shadows beneath her eyes. Her complexion was pale, her shoulders trembling faintly. At that moment, Minji looked delicate and fragile.

 

“Do I have a fever? I feel so cold and have chills. I think I overdid it…”

 

Minji opened her slightly reddened eyes wide and looked up at Jaeyoung.

 

Haeyoung understood what this was. She had seen this too many times to mistake it.

 

Minji was often sick. No, she often ‘pretended’ to be sick. Especially on important days. Haeyoung’s college graduation, her anniversary with Seongjun, Christmas, New Year’s Eve.

 

Everyone was focused on Minji, but Haeyoung looked at Seongjun instead. Normally, he would have jumped up to help her. But this time, he just sat and watched like everyone else.

 

“Seongjun, today’s our five-year anniversary. You’re really going with her?”

 

“She’s sick, what do you want me to do?”

 

“You’re not a doctor. Just tell her to go to the hospital.”

 

“If you hate someone for being sick, that makes you a terrible person.”

 

Woo Minji was always the one causing trouble, but in those situations, Haeyoung was always cast as the villain. The jealous girlfriend who abandoned a sick girl because she’s jealous.

 

But now, Seongjun wasn’t rushing to Minji’s side. He just watched.

 

Because here, there was no need to win her favor. He’s the popular one now.

 

Just as Haeyoung had always been second to Minji, now Minji was the one being left behind.

 

“What should I do? Haeyoung-nim and Minji-nim both look so worn out today.”

 

Taeri said it with concern. A crack appeared in Minji’s downcast expression.

 

The others didn’t notice.

 

But Haeyoung did.

 

She didn’t miss a thing.