BJ Villainess Chapter 291

The officetel wasn’t far away, so I arrived quickly. I entered, dripping wet from the rain, after punching in the door lock code.

 

“It’s clean.”

 

Being a fully furnished officetel, the interior was quite nice. I unpacked the few belongings I had hurriedly brought and quickly dried off the rainwater. Exhausted, I leaned back against the bed to rest and started jotting down what I needed immediately when my phone buzzed.

 

Bzzzz!

[Sender: Professional Instructor]

[What are you going to do now?]

 

“I don’t know.”

 

I was extremely tired from not getting enough sleep and making my way through the heavy rain to this unfamiliar place for refuge. Even though this place was fully furnished, there were no blankets, towels, or kitchenware, so I had to go back home and bring my stuff when the rain blew up. I also have to go to class tomorrow.

 

“Should I just skip it?” I flopped down on the bed, sighed heavily, and dozed off.

 

When I woke up, it was noon. The rain, which had been pouring down as if trying to flood the world while I slept, had weakened considerably.

 

“I’m hungry.”

 

After grabbing a simple meal of instant noodles at a convenience store, I took a bus back to my studio apartment to pick up the things I hadn’t managed to bring in my rush. There was an expensive sedan parked in front of the building where I lived.

 

“Don’t they know they can’t just park anywhere here?”

 

Just then, the car door opened, and Ozworld stepped out of the driver’s seat. I froze, not expecting to see him again so soon, and he approached me silently and handed me a paper bag.

 

“What is this?”

 

“I thought you’d like it.”

 

Why? Is it something we ate together in a time I don’t remember? I wanted to say something sarcastic but held back and spoke coldly. “I told you I’d contact you. Don’t just show up like this without notice.”

 

“Sorry, I won’t do it again… But could you please take this?”

 

Despite my harsh words, Ozworld persistently held out the paper bag. If it had been my old self, I would have answered lightly, ‘Really?’ and left without looking back.

 

“You’ve mellowed a lot.”

 

It wasn’t easy to maintain my cold demeanor when the other person was being humble. Reluctantly, I accepted the paper bag he offered.

 

With a faint smile, Ozworld asked. “Are you coming from somewhere?”

 

“There was a sudden leak in my studio apartment.”

 

Upon hearing about the leak, he asked with a serious expression. “Where are you staying now? If it’s okay, I could—”

 

“It’s fine. I found a place through a senior I know.” I cut him off decisively before he could suggest finding a place for me.

 

Silence fell between us, and it was incredibly awkward.

 

“…I should go pack my things.”

 

“I’ll help. If we load everything into my car, it’ll be quick.”

 

That was true, but I wasn’t shameless enough to accept help so brazenly in this situation.

 

“It’s okay. I can do it myself.”

 

I hurried towards the studio apartment. The door was open.

 

“They said it would take a while, but is it already being fixed?”

 

Without any suspicion, I opened the door and walked in, only to make eye contact with a man wearing a cap pulled down low. A robber. The moment our eyes met, I instinctively knew.

 

“…Oz!”

 

Instinctively, I shouted his name and tried to open the door to run. But the man was faster.

 

“Ack!”

 

He grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. My body was thrown onto the damp floor in an instant.

 

Am I going to die like this?

 

I tried to fight back with all my might. Pow! But there was no need to. Ozworld struck the man with a punch.

 

The man let out a single cry, slammed into the wall, and collapsed. But Ozworld grabbed him and forced him to his feet again. I could easily predict what would happen next. An unrelenting and brutal assault would follow, just like in the park back in high school.

 

The noise from the sudden commotion brought the other tenants out in a clamor. Hearing them stirred something within me, and I sprang up, rushing to Ozworld and holding him back. “Stop it.”

 

Ozworld paused as if he were about to kill the now-unconscious man. Our eyes met, and I realized what it felt like for your blood to run cold.

 

The Ozworld I saw in the park that day, who had made Lee Jonghyup a bloody mess, wasn’t even that angry. This must be what he looks like when he’s truly furious.

 

I felt my teeth clench involuntarily, but I forced myself to speak. “Calling the police should be the first step. Continuing the violence here won’t be considered self-defense.”

 

Ozworld, who seemed like a savage beast, instantly softened his gaze as he listened to me.

 

“You’re right.” He sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. “Sorry, I got emotional. Are you hurt?”

 

“No, I’m okay.”

 

He took off his thin jacket and wrapped it around me. Even while tying up the robber and calling the police, he couldn’t take his eyes off me. Being scrutinized to see if I was hurt made me feel awkward.

 

Just then, a man in a suit appeared and politely bowed. Ozworld explained as he led me out of the studio.

 

“He’ll take care of everything here.”

 

“Okay.”

 

He put me in his car. “Stay here and rest. I’ll get your things.”

 

“…Thanks.”

 

I didn’t refuse further and quietly did as he said. Being caught up in such an unexpected event made an already tiring day feel even more exhausting.

 

Ozworld loaded my belongings into the trunk and got into the driver’s seat. Seeing Ozworld drive was the moment when the fact that he had become an adult hit me. Perhaps that’s why I found myself watching him absentmindedly. I hadn’t had the time to properly look at how he had changed due to the chaos of the past few days, but now I had a chance to scrutinize him closely.

 

Ozworld was more handsome than I remembered. The youthful look from my memory was almost gone, replaced by a distinctly masculine aura.

 

So, this is what 23-year-old Ozworld looks like.

 

When he turned his head, our eyes met before I could look away. It was then that I realized with a start that I had been staring at him too openly.

 

“Oh, uh, thanks for driving me.”

 

I hurriedly unbuckled my seatbelt, and Ozworld reached out.

 

“Hold on.”

 

He got out of the car first, opened an umbrella, and came to open the passenger door. I awkwardly accepted his escort as I got out of the car. After bringing me to the officetel, Ozworld moved all my stuff in by himself.

 

Is this okay? I’m not anything to him anymore, yet this is happening. Even though I felt unsettled, I couldn’t bring myself to say it was enough.

 

Ozworld placed something next to me and spoke, possibly having stopped by the pharmacy. “This is for the flu, so take it after dinner.”

 

“Huh? Are you leaving?”

 

That was a mistake. Absent-mindedly, I let slip something that sounded like I was whining.

 

Ozworld seemed slightly surprised too but soon regained his composure. “Should I stay?”

 

“W-What would you do if you stayed?”

 

Flustered, I stammered as I asked, and he answered with a serious face.

 

“I’ll just make sure you’re asleep before I leave… Is that okay?”

 

The awkward pause between ‘making sure you’re asleep’ and ‘Is that okay?’ made me acutely feel how much he wanted to do that.

 

At this point, I hadn’t sorted out my feelings about him yet. I was confused, sad, and angry. However, among those emotions was a clear sense of relief and happiness that I’d met him again. So I hesitated. My inner thoughts were clashing.

 

What’s the right choice? What should I do?

 

He told me not to refuse and to accept him, so this must be right. Justifying myself, I replied. “Okay. You can do that.”

 

* * *

[Ozworld: Can I pick you up today?]

 

[I had an appointment with Senior Seonga today, so I was going to have dinner with her.]

 

[Ozworld; If you’re okay with it, I’ll take you home after your appointment.]

 

[Alright.]

 

I put my phone down after sending the last message. At that moment, Senior Seonga squinted her eyes and asked. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You seem to be in contact with someone a lot these days.”

 

Ozworld wasn’t my boyfriend but my ex-boyfriend, so it stung a little.

 

“No, it’s not like that.”

 

“Hmm. Really?”

 

Senior Seonga kept probing me suspiciously all the way to the BBQ restaurant. I kept playing dumb, refusing to reveal anything about Ozworld.

 

The restaurant, known for being cheap and tasty, was filling up as it geared up for the dinner crowd.

 

“Oh? There’s Jin Wonwoo!”

 

Upon seeing a familiar face, Senior Seonga waved enthusiastically. I awkwardly smiled when I made eye contact with Jin Wonwoo, someone I was deliberately keeping at arm’s length.

 

“Hello.”

 

Jin Wonwoo chuckled as he looked at me. “Hi. Are you here to drink with the senior?”

 

“She wanted to have some BBQ.”

 

Senior Seonga greeted the other guys sitting with Jin Wonwoo warmly and then suggested to me with a delighted face. “Let’s join them. I’ll pay, so let’s merge tables!”

 

We’re classmates, but not really close.

 

“Wait, Senior Seonga!”

 

At that moment, other people entered the restaurant and flocked towards us. Only then did I realize there was a significant issue with our choice of location. Coming to a BBQ place near the university with one of the most sociable seniors was like a death wish. What was I thinking?

 

Senior Seonga was overjoyed to see the bustling crowd. She sure loves people.

 

Initially intending to thank her for lending me her officetel by treating her to a meal, I found myself caught in the middle of an unexpectedly large drinking party. Although it was an awkward setting for someone like me who couldn’t drink well or socialize easily, seeing a few familiar juniors made me feel a bit relieved. Freshman-like newcomers and girls who seemed eager to tease me for some reason swarmed around me.

 

“This is crazy. I never thought I’d drink with Senior Jiwoo.”

 

“Have you decided to mingle with us mere mortals, Senior? Have you resolved to hang out with us primitive humans?”

 

“What are you talking about….”

 

“Don’t you know there’s a rumor you’re a fairy, Senior? People say Shin Jiwoo exists, but no one knows where, hiding out of human sight.”

 

It was a rumor I had no desire to know.