Transit Love After Revenge – Chapter 18

Author: amourtentia

A laugh slipped out before Haeyoung could stop it. She quickly covered her mouth, but Minji’s expression turned cold.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m just happy you think so highly of me. But it’s not jjapsae—it’s baepsae. You know, ‘A baepsae ^[1] trying to follow a stork’? Jjapsae is… well, isn’t that a slur against the police ^[2] .?”

“I-It is baepsae! That’s what I said!”

“Oh, I thought so. I must have misheard it. I mean, no way Minji-nim wouldn’t know a basic proverb even elementary schoolers know, right?”

Minji’s face turned red.

“Anyway, thanks for the compliment. But what should I do? I’m not as good as you seem to think I am.”

“No? I can see it in your eyes. You’re really kind.”

“Is that so? If you don’t believe me, maybe I should do something bad to prove it.”

Haeyoung laughed brightly and stood up first. Displeasure flickered across Minji’s face.

‘Why? I’m serious. Look forward to it.’

* * *

After a while, it was time to leave.

Haeyoung got in the car with Dojin, while Seongjun and Taeri shared another. Minji hadn’t come down yet, but it looked like she would be riding with Jaeyoung.

After about two hours of driving, they arrived at their destination.

A high autumn sky, warm sunlight gently heating the air, a cool breeze, and green hills stretching far and wide, it was perfect weather for an outdoor shoot.

Perhaps because of Minji’s warning, everyone had come in comfortable athletic wear. Everyone except one person.

Minji stepped out of the car wearing a white dress that fluttered around her calves and a pair of pristine white Mary Janes.

A thick cardigan draped over her petite frame, making her look even more delicate. She was stunning.

Right, this was exactly the look from that viral photo of Minji online, the one people gushed over, saying she looked like a dream girlfriend come to life.

“Minji-nim, you came dressed like that?”

“Yes!”

Taeri asked in surprise, but Minji answered brightly.

“You told me to wear comfortable clothes, so why are you wearing a one-piece dress?”

“This is comfortable for me.”

“You’re going hiking wearing that?”

“Yes.”

“No way…”

“Why not?”

Minji tilted her head, eyes wide with innocence. Taeri was speechless, her gaze dropping to Minji’s shoes.

White Mary Janes. They were luxury brand shoes that cost well over a million won. nd she was going to hike on a dirt road in those?

Never mind the shoes getting ruined, her heels would be shredded in minutes. But since she claimed they were comfortable, pushing the issue would only make things awkward.

Is looking pretty really more important than walking properly?

Taeri dismissed it with a scoff. That is, until the staff came over to announce the day’s schedule.

“You’ll be heading up to the sheep ranch at the top of the hill to feed the animals. You’ll take the gondola up.”

“Wait, the gondola? Not hiking?”

“That’s right.”

The staff pointed upward. The gondola cars were gliding peacefully through the sky. The other female cast members, especially Taeri, failed to hide their expressions.

Taeri glanced back at Minji’s outfit. It was, honestly, perfect for a gondola ride and a casual feeding experience at a ranch.

The moment the staff disappeared, Taeri stormed over to Minji, fuming.

“Minji-nim, you specifically said it would be hiking, so we should dress comfortably. What’s going on?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

“Did you lie on purpose? No wonder Minji-nim the only one dressed up.”

“No, I really thought it was hiking. I guess I misheard… And you look pretty too, Taeri-nim!”

“That’s not the point right now.”

As Taeri’s voice dropped, the atmosphere instantly grew tense. Even the male cast members, who weren’t sure what was going on, began watching the two warily.

Haeyoung observed the situation in silence.

The moment she saw what Minji was wearing, she figured out why Minji had lied. She wanted to stand out. She lied to make herself the only one dressed differently. Then she played innocent.

Haeyoung had thought maybe things were different now compared to what she saw on TV back then. But they weren’t.

Back then, Minji must have done the exact same thing, dressed to stand out while everyone else wore casual clothes. Thanks to that, Minji got the spotlight during filming. The part where she lied probably never even made the final cut.

So the rise in Minji’s popularity… it had all been built on petty, sneaky lies.

Taeri forgot the cameras and confronted Minji outright.

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?!”

“N-No! I swear! I really didn’t mean to. I was just trying to help… I shouldn’t have spoken when I wasn’t sure. I should’ve just stayed quiet. Taeri-nim, Gaeun-nim, Haeyoung-nim… I’m really, really sorry.”

Minji folded her hands and bowed her head.

Calling out every other woman’s name here was no accident. She was painting the scene, one girl being ganged up on by three others. People always sympathize with the underdog.

As expected, Seongjun intervened without noticing.

“Aw, come on. Minji-nim probably just misunderstood. Don’t be so hard on her, Taeri-nim. You’re scary when you’re mad. She’s gonna cry at this rate.”

“No, Seongjun-nim. It’s my fault.”

Minji grabbed Seogjun’s arm. Tears welled up in her eyes as she raised her head. Minji pretended to be surprised and quickly wiped away her tears.

“Oh my, you ended up crying. Over some clothes? Isn’t that too much?”

Just like always, Seongjun, Minji’s loyal, long-time guy friend, cast her as the pitiable victim, and the other women as the cruel aggressors.

Watching someone else be the victim this time instead of herself gave Haeyoung a strange sense of deja vu.

Taeri’s face flushed bright red with anger. She looked like she might explode and really fight with Minji on camera.

That wouldn’t work. The edit would never be in her favor.

“Then—”

The person who had been watching quietly the whole time, Haeyoung, finally spoke. Everyone turned toward her. She just shrugged.

“Why don’t we all hike up together?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, we all came expecting to hike, right? Nothing wrong with doing it the way we thought it would be.”

There was a brief silence as people processed her words. Then Taeri’s eyes lit up.

“Yeah! Good idea, let’s hike!”

Just earlier at the house, she had complained about hiking. But she understood Haeyoung’s intent better than anyone.

Minji froze. She even forgot to keep up the teary-eyed act.

“B-But… we have the gondola. Isn’t that easier?”

“Why? You want to take the gondola? Though… those shoes might not survive the hike, huh? Can’t really say your outfit looks comfortable for hiking.”

“No, it is! I’m going hiking too! Why won’t anyone believe me?!”

“Then let’s walk up together. It’s perfect weather for a stroll! Unless you want to admit the truth and take the gondola–”

“Fine! I’ll walk too! What’s there that I can’t do?”

Cornered by Taeri, Minji had no choice but to agree.

Of course she did. If she refused now, it would just prove she had been faking it.

While everyone got ready to head up, Minji sighed and stared up at the hill.

* * *

“Heh, ugh!”

Minji moved her heavy legs while grumbling.

Her breathing was ragged with frustration. Her thick cardigan kept slipping off her shoulders with every step, forcing her to tug it back up again and again.

Not only that, her hair was disheveled from the wind blowing all the time, and her heels were chapped, so she limped.

“Minji-ssi, should we slow down? Are your feet okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It feels so good. It’s refreshing and feels great!”

Haeyoung turned to check on her, and Minji beamed as if she had never once frowned.

But so what? Her face was drenched in sweat, and her hair clung to her skin, making her miserable state plain as day.

“That’s good. Do you want a hair tie, by the way? Your hair’s kind of…”

Haeyoung subtly glanced at the camera. Minji followed her gaze and seemed to realize what she meant.

She seemed to be contemplating. Was it better to keep her pride and look like a mess, or give up her pride and stop looking so pathetic?

“If you don’t need one, that’s fine.”

“G-Give it to me!”

Minji held out her hand. Haeyoung smiled and slipped her hand into her pocket.

Fumbling, she put the hair tie she could find in her hand back in, then pulled her hand back out empty.

“Oh no, sorry. Thought I had one, but I guess not. Should I ask the other girls for one? I’m sure they would be happy to help if you told them your hair’s bothering you.”

“No, it’s fine! I’ll just… keep going!”

“Alright. Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll borrow one for you any time.”

Haeyoung walked on ahead, leaving Minji behind.

‘Why would I give you a hair tie? Even if I were buried alive under a mountain of them, not a single one would be for you.’