Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 24

“No, I’m not upset or anything.”

 

Minji quickly denied it, not wanting Haeyoung to stop her. Haeyoung gripped her hand tightly.

 

There was no escaping now. Minji was officially that mean member one who orders around other women and even accepts apologies for being a little late.

 

“But it really sounded like I upset you. Especially since you made a request first and I didn’t respond to it properly. That was totally my mistake.”

 

“That’s not what I meant–!”

 

“No, I’m really sorry. But I still brought this, so… will you take it and forgive me?”

 

Haeyoung awkwardly forced a sheet mask into Minji’s hand and gave a smile.

 

“It wasn’t intentional, so please forgive me.”

 

* * *

 

Minji ended the conversation with a visibly uncomfortable expression and used the sheet mask Haeyoung gave her to cool her face.

 

Thanks to that, maybe her double eyelid had come back a bit, because before long she was downstairs, laughing and chatting with the others.

 

“Jaeyoung-nim, do I look super puffy?”

 

“Hmm, a little? But it’s still cute.”

 

“Hmph, liar! I look awful.”

 

Minji buried her face in both hands. The other cast members smiled fondly at her like she was adorable.

 

It was hard to argue. A pale green skirt, a white cardigan, and twin braids trailing down. she looked lovely again today.

 

Soon after, Yoonhyuk came downstairs. Minji’s face lit up like someone had flicked on a spotlight.

 

“Yoonhyuk-nim!”

 

Yoonhyuk gave a quick nod in greeting and walked straight out the front door. Minji hustled after him with her short legs working double time.

 

Through the window, they could see Yoonhyuk open the car door and Minji hopping into the passenger seat. He got into the driver’s side, but the car didn’t pull away for a while, they seemed to be talking.

 

Haeyoung couldn’t take her eyes off them. Only after the car finally drove off and disappeared from view did she turn her head.

 

The way Minji had looked at Yoonhyuk, and the way he had looked standing next to her, lingered in her mind like an afterimage.

 

They’ll do fine. It’s nothing.

 

The night before, it was Yoonhyuk who told her last night to wait for him like a loyal puppy. But now that she had actually let him go, it felt like she had left her beloved puppy to a complete stranger. She felt uneasy.

 

One by one, the others left the house for their own plans. Those who had made arrangements in advance went on private dates.

 

Haeyoung also started getting ready to go out with Jaeyoung.

 

“What are you planning to wear today? Should we match?”

 

Jaeyoung peeked his head into her room and asked.

 

“Sure. It’s a little chilly today, isn’t it? How about a denim jacket?”

 

“Oh, I actually had mine out already. Sounds good.”

 

With their outfits coordinated down to the color, they looked like a real couple on a date. Haeyoung felt a twinge of guilt toward Jaeyoung, knowing she had come here with different intentions.

 

Jaeyoung took Haeyoung to a Japanese restaurant he had reserved. It was a bar-style restaurant where the chef cooked and delivered the food right in front of them.

 

“You really eat so well, Haeyoung-nim.”

 

“No one is ever said that to me before.”

 

“Really? That’s surprising. I always find myself watching you eat. I kind of want to film you and play it back when I’m eating alone.”

 

“Why would you eat alone? Next time, call me. I’ll eat with you.”

 

“Is that okay?”

 

“Of course. I don’t usually eat with just anyone, but if it’s Jaeyoung-nim, I would make an exception.”

 

It was a pleasant meal. Jaeyoung was kind and considerate. When Haeyoung Looked thirsty, he handed her water before she asked. When she seemed to be looking for a napkin, he brought one over right away.

 

Why is someone this nice interested in Minji…?

 

In her mind, she saw the Jaeyoung from the broadcast before, just watching from the sidelines as the girl he liked grew closer to someone else.

 

After their meal, they grabbed coffee from a nearby espresso bar and returned to the house. Evening had settled in.

 

As they returned home one by one, they gathered at the living room table. They chatted about what they had done today.

 

“Minji-nim and Yoonhyuk-nim are back!”

 

“Welcome!”

 

The house buzzed with greetings.

 

Minji came in first, her face flushed, followed by Yoonhyuk.

 

They really did look like a picture-perfect couple. The stark height difference between them would definitely be one of the points that viewers like.

 

When they left earlier, Haeyoung had brushed it off as a fleeting feeling. But now, seeing them side by side again, she felt a pang, it felt like dust got caught in her eyes, and it was uncomfortable to look at them.

 

She quickly turned away and started a random conversation with Jaeyoung. They talked about something or other, but none of it stuck in her memory.

 

“…Haeyoung-nim.”

 

“Haeyoung-nim?”

 

“Yes?”

 

When she turned around, Yoonhyuk had stopped and was calling her. Haeyoung suppressed her uneasy feelings and smiled politely.

 

“You’re late. I guess you had fun today!”

 

“It was fun.”

 

She had asked hoping he might say no, that it wasn’t fun at all, but Yoonhyuk just nodded without hesitation. Although, his expression was unusual.

 

What’s that look?

 

It was a smile she hadn’t seen before.

 

How to describe it? It was like a mischievous kid who stole a box of cookies and gave them all to the birds.

 

And yet no one else seemed to notice, except Haeyoung.

 

“Yesterday, when you said Minji was nice, I wasn’t sure. But after spending time with her today, she really is.”

 

Minji?

 

What on earth happened between them?

 

Speaking of which, where is Minji?

 

She must have gone straight upstairs. Gaeun had also disappeared from the living room, maybe they were talking?

 

“But you look pretty today. Your outfit.”

 

Yoonhyuk enunciated each word slowly. His sharp  gaze lingered just a moment too long on Haeyoung and Jaeyoung matching outfits.

 

“Oh, this? It’s just…”

 

Haeyoung instinctively tried to explain, then stopped herself. There was no need to do that.

 

“You two look good together.”

 

Yoonhyuk added a compliment that didn’t quite sound like one.

 

Haeyoung left Yoonhyuk behind and headed upstairs. Gaeun and Minji were deep in conversation.

 

Minji and Gaeun?

 

From what Haeyoung remembered on the show, the two had been close. Or… maybe ‘close’ wasn’t the right word. It was more like Minji saw Gaeun as someone she could walk all over.

 

Gaeun wasn’t great at expressing herself, which made her the perfect prey for someone like Minji, someone who needed an easy opponent.

 

She remembered how Minji had started out being sweet, then gradually treated Gaeun with less and less respect. Was it still like that now?

 

* * *

 

“Gaeun-nim! Gaeun-nim!”

 

Gaeun, who was fixing her makeup at the vanity, turned her head. Minji came running with her arms outstretched.

 

Her bouncing hair and radiant smile looked straight out of a sports drink commercial.

 

“How was your date?”

 

“It was sooo good and exciting. Seriously, my heart was racing.”

 

“Really?”

 

“I swear, the moment I saw Yoonhyuk-nim yesterday, I just knew. Like, ‘he’s the one, I have to make him mine!’”

 

Minji let out a squeal and squeezed her eyes shut. Her giddy excitement was genuinely adorable.

 

“Do you think Yoonhyuk-nim has feelings for you too?”

 

“Yes! Of course!”

 

“I’m glad. You’ve been through a hard time lately, and it’s nice to see someone finally recognizing Minji-nim’s charm.”

 

Gaeun smiled warmly. But Minji’s expression suddenly turned cold..

 

“I haven’t been through anything. Why would you say that?”

 

“Oh… you just seemed a little down because of the text messages.”

 

“Huh? Ahaha.”

 

Minji laughed brightly, like it was hilarious.

 

“It’s not a big deal. So what if I didn’t get a message? It’s not like there was anyone I particularly liked anyway. It didn’t bother me at all.”

 

“I think I would be pretty upset if it were me.”

 

Minji stared directly at Ga-eun.

 

“So in your eyes, I seemed… pitiful, Gaeun-nim?”

 

“Huh? No, that’s not what I meant!”

 

Minji was still smiling, but something about her seemed… different. Did her own words upset her?

 

“I’m sorry if that upset you. I really didn’t mean–”

 

“It’s fine! Why would I get upset over something like that? I really like Gaeun-nim. Let’s head downstairs, okay?”

 

Minji linked arms with Gaeun.

 

‘Yeah… there’s no way someone as sweet and kind as Minji would get upset over something like that.’