Transit Love After Revenge Chapter 8

Seongjun, looking frustrated, ran a hand through my hair, messing it up.

 

“Don’t do that. You’ll ruin it.”

 

Haeyoung blocked his hand and straightened her hair again. Her messy hair quickly became neat.

 

Seongjun gave her a flat look as she fixed his hair, but when their eyes met, he looked away

 

“…What’s with the look?”

 

“What?”

 

“Did you go to the salon or something?”

 

“I did.”

 

“Honestly, I barely recognized you at first.”

 

“Is it that bad?”

 

“You should’ve done this from the beginning. You always looked like a mess whenever you met me, made me feel embarrassed to be seen with you.”

 

‘Would things have turned out differently if I had dressed like this before? Would you still have looked down on me?’

 

‘No. Maybe you might have changed for a moment, but in the end, it would have all ended the same.’

 

“Sure. I’ll look like this from now on. You won’t see the old me again. Ever.”

 

 * * *

 

After the grocery run, the people left at the house started preparing dinner.

 

Haeyoung went into the dressing area in the back of the closet to change into something comfortable. That’s when Minji suddenly barged in.

 

‘First Seongjun, and now you.’

 

It didn’t even surprise her anymore.

 

“I heard from Seongjun.”

 

“That was fast.”

 

“Eonni, did you really come here to help Seongjun?”

 

Minji was watching her with clear suspicion. She didn’t seem to believe what Seongjun had said.

 

“Yes.”

 

Minji stared hard at Haeyong, as if trying to figure her out. It must have seemed strange that Haeyoung, who had always played the pushover under the guise of being the ‘nice one’, was suddenly acting out of character.

 

‘But what should I do? I don’t want you to find out my true intentions.’

 

Haeyoung blinked slowly. Minji tilted her head in confusion.

 

“Then why did you say you wanted to share a room with me?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be nice if I helped you too? It’s easier to help you if I’m by your side.”

 

“You’re going that far? Just for Jo Seongjun?”

 

“Of course. Seongjun has to succeed this time. That’s the only way we can get married.”

 

Minji’s brows tensed. Her eyes flickered with open contempt, like she had just witnessed something revolting. With her smile gone, her expression looked much colder than expected.

 

“Eonni… Seongjun really hates it when you act like this.”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“You came here because you were afraid he might meet someone else, right? Because he’s dating other girls and spending so much time with me? You were jealous, so you chased him all the way here.”

 

She was speaking in a tone she didn’t use around others.

 

Haeyoung had noticed it before too. When Minji was around Seongjun or anyone else, she’d chirp out ‘eonni’ with cutesy affection. But when they were alone, you could feel the subtle shift, Minji looked down on her.

 

This was probably Minji’s truest self, the one that surfaced when she felt no need to keep up appearances.

 

“I’m only telling you this because I care, but… Seongjun says he gets really tired and annoyed when you’re like this. He says even when he tries to be nice, he just can’t bring himself to anymore when you act this way.”

 

Haeyoung had never once obsessed over Seongjun.

 

When he said he was busy with acting practice and went days without calling, she let it slide without a word. Even though Minji’s presence had always bothered her, she had hardly ever opened up about it.

 

She thought that was just how understanding long-term couples were supposed to be.

 

“Even as another woman, you come off clingy and unattractive.”

 

If she had still been in love with Seongjun, those words would have hurt her deeply. She would have spent days agonizing over what she did wrong and what made him sick of her.

 

But now that her feelings were completely gone, she could hear Minji’s words more objectively than anyone.

 

‘No matter what I did, Seongjun would’ve changed anyway. That’s just who he is.’

 

“So please leave the show. If you get caught, it won’t just hurt me and Seongjun, it’ll be a nuisance to the entire production team.”

 

Haeyoung lowered her head. Minji’s lecture droned on above her bowed crown.

 

“There isn’t much time left. You know this is basically airing live, right? The first episode drops in a few days. Once it’s out, there’s no taking it back. The viewers will rip you to shreds. Please… I really don’t want to see you get hurt. Just make up some excuse and leave before it’s too late.”

 

She was pretending to care about others, about Haeyoung, but really, she was just afraid she would be forced to leave with her.

 

“…Now that you mention it, you’re right. Thanks for worrying about me. You’re so sweet.”

 

“…I’m glad you understand—”

 

A flicker of relief softened Minji’s face.

 

“But I’m not leaving.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Haeyoung’s lips curled up. She gave a sweet, harmless smile.

 

That smile that scraped your nerves raw yet left you too winded to fight back… she had learned it from Minji.

 

“Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

 

Minji’s voice pitched higher. She sounded genuinely upset that Haeyoung had rejected her advice.

 

“Oh, I understand perfectly. You dressed it up nicely, but you’re basically telling me to shut up and get lost before I drag you down with me.”

 

“Wha–what? I never—! That’s not what I meant, I’m doing this for Seongjun—”

 

“Huh? That’s weird. Seongjun seemed pretty happy to see me. Even asked me to help support him.”

 

Minji’s jaw dropped open, speechless. Her face turned red, then pale. She looked like someone who had just lost her biggest excuse.

 

It must be embarrassing. The Haeyoung who had always danced in the palm of her hand… suddenly flipping the script.

 

“If you don’t want me here, don’t instigate others and do it yourself, Minji. Ah, but if you try anything, you might get kicked out too. In that case, sorry. Guess you’ll just have to endure it.”

 

Haeyoung gave Minji a light pat on the shoulder.

 

“You’ll be fine. I had someone I hated so much, I felt sick just seeing their face, but you know what? I held it in. For six whole years.”

 

Minji’s eyes narrowed. She must be wondering if it was long. Six years… That’s how long Haeyoung and Seongjun had been together.

 

However, she couldn’t be certain Haeyoung was talking about her. After all, Haeyoung had always played the pushover. No way she would dare insult her to her face.

 

‘But yeah. I am talking about you.’

 

‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure there’s no more room for confusion from now on.’

 

Haeyoung brushed past Minji, who stood frozen in place.

 

* * *

 

Dinner naturally turned into a drinking party. Beer, whiskey, wine, bottles of all kinds piled up on the table.

 

As the drinks kept flowing, the once-stiff atmosphere loosened. Laughter grew louder, and chatter filled the air.

 

Just then, the common room monitor chimed with a ‘ding!’ 

 

The heart-shaped logo disappeared, replaced by text.

 

「The friend’s introduction has arrived.」

 

“Wow!”

 

“Oh my god, finally!”

 

Excited squeals broke out. Jaeyoung walked in holding a thick stack of envelopes.

 

“Ugh, what should I do with this? What if it’s super cringey?”

 

“I’m scared. What if it’s just them roasting us?”

 

Everyone laughed at Chanwoo’s comment, and the tension eased. Soon, each of them held an envelope with their own name on it.

 

Minji stepped forward. She clapped, “let’s cheer each other on!” then cleared her throat. As if the icy confrontation with Haeyoung earlier had never happened, her tone was sweet and full of charm.

 

“Why is my heart pounding? Whew, okay, I’m gonna read mine. ‘My friend Woo Minji is just like a baby chick.’”

 

“Wow, she really does have chick vibes,” someone chimed in.

 

Minji blushed and kept reading from Seongjun’s letter.

 

“With her round eyes, tiny lips, and button nose, doesn’t she look absolutely adorable? Especially her chubby cheeks! They’re so soft and squishy you just wanna pinch them. Minji looks delicate and cries easily, so if something sad happens, her big round eyes well up with tears. But she hates being a burden to others, so even when she’s hurting, she tries to endure it on her own. I hope someone out there will treat my precious friend Minji like the princess she is.”

 

Minji looked up bashfully.

 

“Is this really from a friend? This is way too flattering.”

 

“You can feel the love in every word.”

 

“But Minji is so cute. It makes sense.”

 

“Nooo… I think my friend just made it sound good because he was worried I won’t get any dates.”

 

Minji wriggled shyly, voice soft and sweet.

 

Haeyoung propped her chin in one hand and watched Minji with an affectionate smile.

 

Though in her head, she was thinking: ‘God, what a performance. You two are exhausting.’