Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 25

「Tonight, everyone’s occupation and age will be revealed. 」

 

“Finally!”

 

“Wow, guess we don’t have to speak formally anymore!”

 

“If their ages are revealed, won’t it be possible to guess their friends?”

 

“Not necessarily. If you look at Season 1, there were male and female friends with age gaps up to four years.”

 

Everyone seemed excited. But Gaeun swallowed nervously.

 

‘I’m probably the oldest, right? At least among the women… I don’t think any of them are in their thirties except me.’

 

Even Seongjun, who things were going well with right now, was surely younger than her. A year or two wouldn’t be too bad, but what if the gap was bigger?

 

She asked just in case.

 

“Seongjun-nim, what’s your age range when it comes to dating?”

 

“As long as we can communicate well, it doesn’t matter. But older… maybe just a year? I did date someone older once, and it wasn’t a great experience. I would rather date someone younger now.”

 

‘So if my age gets revealed… will things with Seongjun fall apart too? It’s not like I’m that popular to begin with.’

 

“Minji-nim totally looks like the youngest, right?”

 

Minji, who had been clinging to Gaeun’s arm with her head resting on her shoulder, flinched and waved her hands. With her hair braided into two pigtails and a pink ribbon perched on top, she looked younger than usual.

 

“I’m actually older! From what I can tell, both Taeri-nim and Gaeun-nim seem younger than me.”

 

“Huh? M-me?”

 

Gaeun looked startled. Minji stared at her with wide, innocent eyes.

 

That’s ridiculous. Anyone could tell that Minji was younger than her. Not just one or two years, but much older.

 

Gaeun hadn’t even tried to pretend she was younger, but somehow the situation had turned that way. She felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.

 

“I’m telling you! By this time tomorrow, Gaeun-nim will be calling me eonni.”

 

“Minji-nim… please…”

 

“Why? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. Honestly, I’d say Gaeun-nim is, um… in early twenties?”

 

If there were a mouse hole, she would dive into it.

 

Everyone around the table just smiled awkwardly, unable to agree with Minji’s comment.

 

‘See? They’re all uncomfortable. They just can’t bring themselves to say I look older.’

 

“No way. That’s impossible.”

 

“No, everyone agrees with me, right? Now, look at us. Who looks more like eonni here?”

 

Minji even leaned her face up next to Gaeun’s. Gaeun tried to pull back, but Minji’s grip on her arm was too strong. She broke out in a cold sweat.

 

‘Why is she pushing this so hard? Does she not realize I’m uncomfortable? Or is she doing this on purpose…?’

 

Before going down to the living room, Minji remembered how upset she had been by her words.

 

Surely, she wasn’t trying to get revenge for what happened earlier? Oh. No way.

 

“Dojin-nim, what do you think? Be honest—who looks younger?”

 

“Uh… well… I guess…”

 

Even Dojin, who had been roped into the question, looked awkward. That’s when it happened.

 

“Shall we stop now?”

 

A calm voice brought the whole situation to a halt.

 

Everyone’s attention turned to Haeyoung, the owner of the voice. To Gaeun, it felt like a lifeline.

 

“There’s no need for us to rank each other by age or appearance, right?”

 

Haeyoung offered a soft smile. Her gentle, composed tone made it sound more like she was sharing a thoughtful opinion than scolding anyone.

 

However, the content was sharp. In other words, ‘Minji, what you’re doing right now is lining people up by looks. It’s rude and completely unnecessary.’

 

Haeyoung had experienced Minji pull the same tired tricks countless times.

 

She overpraised the other person to actually bring them down. It’s even better when the one she is comparing herself to ends up looking worse.

 

That way, she gets to play the kind who praises others while subtly knocking someone down.

 

‘But guess what? I’m here now. That little trick of yours won’t work in front of me anymore.’

 

“Oh my, Haeyoung-nim… I wasn’t trying to rank anyone! I was just saying Gaeun-nim looks really young. It was a compliment.”

 

“A compliment? But if Gaeun-nim really is younger than Minji-nim, then it’s not a compliment, it’s just a fact. Are you saying you think she’s older than you?”

 

Minji blinked. She seemed to realize that she had made a slip of the tongue.

 

“Then why did you ask so persistently?”

 

Haeyoung tilted her head slightly, as if genuinely curious.

 

‘Well? What now?’ 

 

Haeyoung laughed inwardly.

 

Minji opened her mouth a few times. She tried to say something, but eventually shut her mouth tightly again.

 

‘Yeah, you had nothing to say. Even with that barely functioning brain, you couldn’t find a way out, huh?’

 

“I–I’m sorry!”

 

Minji’s big eyes welled up with tears.

 

How dull.

 

So she’s going for the easiest way out, playing the victim to smooth things over.

 

“I-I really meant it nicely. Honestly! You believe me, right, Gaeun-nim?”

 

Minji clung to Gaeun now.

 

She knew Gaeun had a soft heart. She knew Gaeun wouldn’t say she was uncomfortable, even if she was.

 

And she was right. In reality, that’s exactly how it went on the show Haeyoung had watched until the very end. Minji constantly dismissed and used Gaeun, and Gaeun, even as she grew suspicious of Minji’s intentions, kept giving her the benefit of the doubt and letting herself be swayed.

 

In the end, she realized it after the broadcast ended, and it seems they cut ties.

 

But if they were going to fall out anyway, if Gaeun was going to realize she was being used by Minji, maybe it’s better she finds out a little earlier this time.

 

“Ah, um…”

 

Gaeun faltered, about to say she was fine, even though she wasn’t. Haeyoung cut in before she could.

 

“Of course. We all know Minji-nim didn’t mean it that way. I mean, who would be dumb enough to pull a see-through mean-girl act like that these days? It’s so unsophisticated and pathetic.”

 

Min-ji’s face turned pale. Haeyoung had just insulted her. To her face.

 

‘Unsophisticated? Pathetic? Dumb?’

 

She had been outright insulted. But if she got angry now, it would be as good as admitting everything.

 

Fury boiled in her veins, her fingers trembling. Minji clenched her fists and hid them under the table.

 

“That’s right. I don’t know about things like that. Anyway, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Gaeun-nim…”

 

Minji lowered her head. Gaeun, as gentle as ever, said it was fine and tried to comfort her. but it didn’t make Minji feel any better.

 

“Come on, don’t do that. Let’s just be friends.”

 

“Let’s drop the age talk, okay?”

 

“Okay. We’re all friends here anyway!”

 

With a few quick comments and clinking glasses, the mood turned lighter again.

 

Haeyoung gently put some food onto Minji’s plate, who was still keeping her mouth shut.

 

“Eat a lot.”

 

She smiled affectionately, as if comforting her. Minji squeezed her hand under the table, which was not visible.

 

* * *

 

After that, they became careful about mentioning their ages. Instead, they started guessing each other’s jobs, some thought artists, some engineers, even a rapper got thrown in the mix.

 

Then finally, a message flashed on the monitor:

 

「 Please reveal your age and occupation.」

 

Going around the table, they introduced themselves in order.

 

In the end, Gaeun was 30 years old, the oldest among the female contestants. But maybe because of what happened earlier, Minji only showed a slightly surprised expression and reacted cautiously.

 

She knew that if she messed up again, her image on the show could take a serious hit.

 

Haeyoung introduced herself as a translator and interpreter. Minji said she was a model. Seongjun introduced himself as an actor, and Yunhyeok said he worked at Baeho Motors.

 

Since it was not yet revealed who was whose friend, they continued to give each other appropriate reactions and exaggerated compliments.

 

The shoot wrapped up after that. Some went back to their rooms to rest, while others stayed behind to hang out and drink.

 

With ages now out in the open, people switched to casual speech and seemed to be enjoying the newfound ease with each other.

 

Meanwhile, Haeyoung followed behind Gaeun, who was trudging up the stairs looking exhausted.

 

“Are you tired?”

 

“A little. I’m gonna head to bed early tonight.”

 

Gaeun smiled weakly.

 

She was probably caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. Wondering whether Minji really did it with impure intentions or not.

 

Even if she felt suspicious, thinking back to Minji’s teary apology would make it hard to believe she meant any harm.

 

“That….”

 

Even if she felt suspicious, thinking back to Minji’s teary apology would make it hard to believe she meant any harm.

 

“You helped me earlier, right? Thank you.”