Impossible Romance - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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24.

“The weather’s been so nice today. Sitting cooped up in the office was suffocating.”
He approached Jun-hee with long, purposeful strides, his elongated legs carrying him forward with ease.
“Wait—did you happen to overhear what I was saying?”
The thought that someone—and of all people, the one person he most dreaded—had heard his confession made Shim Hyun-sung’s face burn even hotter. He desperately wished, even if it meant lying to himself, that Kwon Seok-ha hadn’t caught a word.
“You confessed to Ahn Joon-hee that you like her? But Ahn Joon-hee’s got a crush on someone else. I think I caught that much.”
“How could you have heard that! You’re exactly the same as always, and—ugh….”
It was hopeless.
But he lacked the courage to say it aloud. More than anything, Shim Hyun-sung was mortified.
Jun-hee felt similarly.
“You should at least make some noise when people are having a private conversation.”
Jun-hee glared at him with displeasure.
“Then you should’ve confessed somewhere other than the street. When you two are confessing to each other, should I blast an announcement telling pedestrians to take a different route? That’s ridiculous.”
Kwon Seok-ha remained audacious and shameless even after overhearing someone else’s confession.
“Then, why don’t you go inside first? I still have something to say to Jun-hee.”
Shim Hyun-sung gathered what little courage remained. It wasn’t the first time he’d been humiliated in front of Kwon Seok-ha, and today’s sudden confession was partly his own fault anyway.
At least he’d confessed to Jun-hee—he wanted to hear a proper answer from her. When she’d said she liked someone else or wasn’t in a position to date, it was clearly an excuse.
“Ahn Joon-hee, do you have more to say to him?”
Kwon Seok-ha turned toward Jun-hee.
Jun-hee actually felt uncomfortable being alone with Shim Hyun-sung. Until moments ago, he’d been a comfortable friend, but after suddenly receiving his confession, she felt awkward.
Being alone with Kwon Seok-ha would’ve been easier—which was somewhat absurd—but at least it was preferable. With Kwon Seok-ha, they’d been fighting all along anyway, so there was nothing to worry about. Things couldn’t get worse, and if they did, that would almost be a relief.
“No.”
“Then let’s go.”
Kwon Seok-ha tilted his head to one side with a subtle gesture.
“Jun-hee!”
Shim Hyun-sung called out to Jun-hee urgently as she stood beside Kwon Seok-ha.
His expression was hollow, like a dog that had chased a chicken only to stare at the roof. He felt wronged, as if all his effort had been stolen by Kwon Seok-ha.
Memories resurfaced of when Jun-hee lived at the Villa—how Kwon Seok-ha had always interfered at critical moments. Ever since Kwon Seok-ha had come to the Villa, it had been difficult for him and Jun-hee to even go to School together.
Kwon Seok-ha had constantly sent Jun-hee on errands. So Hyun-sung would wait for her, only to eventually head to School alone. Later, he’d find that Jun-hee had already arrived with Kwon Seok-ha.
“Hyun-sung, let’s just pretend today didn’t happen. We drank a lot today anyway. It was a joke, right?”
Jun-hee lifted the corners of her mouth slightly as she spoke. She seemed to be using the alcohol as an excuse to move past this moment. It was her way of suggesting they package the confession as a joke and continue as friends.
“It wasn’t a joke. And….”
This time, Shim Hyun-sung refused to back down. But even that was immediately cut short by Jun-hee.
“I’m not in a position to date anyone right now. Let’s just forget it happened.”
As Jun-hee finished speaking, Kwon Seok-ha stepped closer to her side, as if to escort her away.
“Let’s go.”
Kwon Seok-ha, now positioned directly behind Jun-hee, began walking. Jun-hee, eager to escape this situation, naturally matched his pace.
“But why are you two leaving together?”
Shim Hyun-sung asked with a puzzled expression as the two of them walked in the same direction. Perhaps it was a last-ditch effort to salvage his wounded pride.
“Well, that is….”
“What’s the point of knowing? Are you coming too?”
Kwon Seok-ha interjected before Jun-hee could finish speaking.
“Oh, no! Please go ahead, Hyun-sung.”
The moment I saw Kwon Seok-ha’s face, a refusal tumbled out of my mouth. The thought of heading home with Kwon Seok-ha sent shivers down my spine.
“Right, take care.”
Kwon Seok-ha offered a casual farewell and turned to leave.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do. Just moments ago, I’d walked naturally alongside Kwon Seok-ha, but it suddenly occurred to me that Shim Hyun-sung might find it strange.
“Do you have more to say to Shim Hyun-sung?”
Once again, I received unintended help from Kwon Seok-ha.
“No.”
I followed him quietly. There was nothing more to say to Shim Hyun-sung, who had suddenly confessed his feelings out of nowhere.
Kwon Seok-ha walked out of the Park and stopped at a quieter spot. As I stood beside him, the Driver soon appeared with the Car.
When the Driver got out and opened the rear door, Kwon Seok-ha gestured to me to get in. Normally, I would have refused, but today I lacked the energy for such resistance.
Shim Hyun-sung’s unexpected confession had completely drained me. And the fact that Kwon Seok-ha had witnessed the entire scene weighed on my mind as well.
So instead of bickering about whether to get in the Car or not, I simply slipped inside.
When I entered without complaint, like an obedient child, Kwon Seok-ha’s expression brightened noticeably as he took the seat beside me.

“Let’s go.”
At Kwon Seok-ha’s command, the Driver responded with a brief “Yes” and began driving.
Familiar classical music drifted softly through the Car. I surrendered my thoughts to the melody and gazed quietly out the window.
“So you have someone you like?”
As expected, Kwon Seok-ha asked.
“Don’t worry. It’s not the Executive Director.”
I answered while keeping my gaze fixed on the window. If I faced Kwon Seok-ha while intoxicated, I couldn’t predict what might come out of my mouth.
“I heard that already. That’s why I’m not worried.”
Kwon Seok-ha chuckled softly and gazed at the window I was looking at. My reflection appeared clearly in the glass as the Car sped through the dark streets at night.
When our eyes met in the window’s reflection, I lowered my head slightly and looked away.
Watching my reaction, Kwon Seok-ha’s lips curved into a slight smile. Perhaps because he was crazy, he found it endearing when I wore that sullen expression.
“You seem to contact Shim Hyun-sung often?”
“Yes.”
“Why, did you borrow money from him? It seemed like you’d drop everything and rush out whenever Shim Hyun-sung called.”
“No! Kim Hyun-sung is my classmate and my savior. You must repay kindness, even if you can’t repay enmity.”
I flared up in anger before softening my voice.
“Ah, from high school?”
“Yes. That day when you suddenly went to the Seoul Main House. If Kim Hyun-sung hadn’t called the Police when I was unconscious on the Neighborhood Back Mountain, something terrible would have happened.”
“Ah, so you rush out whenever Kim Hyun-sung calls, feeling indebted to him?”
“I don’t rush out anymore. And please stop talking about Kim Hyun-sung.”
Embarrassed, I covered my cheeks with both hands.
A smile settled on Kwon Seok-ha’s face as he watched her.
He remembered vividly the day Jun-hee collapsed on the Back Mountain. How could he forget? It was the day his eyes went mad for the first time because of her.
When he realized Jun-hee was in danger, he lost control and beat those delinquents so badly he ended up with twelve weeks of injuries. The problem wasn’t the boys—it was his mother.
His mother was furious that her precious son had gotten into a fight over nothing more than the Villa caretaker’s daughter.

“You fool! What is Jun-hee to you! Your mother is worried sick about your school record, and you don’t even see it!”

Unaware of his mother’s feelings, he had only focused on Jun-hee’s situation, so her anger was justified. That’s why he went to the Seoul Main House without complaint and stayed quiet, fearing what his mother might say to Jun-hee.
When he returned after his period of reflection, Kwon Seok-ha didn’t tell Jun-hee the truth either. As long as Jun-hee was safe, that was all that mattered—and that brought him more joy.
But emotions were another matter entirely. Even though he was no longer a thoughtless high school student, they weren’t easily controlled. Anything involving Jun-hee still wasn’t.
On his way home from work, seeing Jun-hee sitting face-to-face with Shim Hyun-sung had put him in a foul mood.
He’d thought the two of them had cut off contact long ago, but discovering they were still in touch actually bothered him.
The reason he’d asked Jun-hee to arrange a meal with the three of them was to assess Shim Hyun-sung’s current situation.
In other words, it wasn’t about finding out where Shim Hyun-sung was or what he was doing—it was about confirming whether he still harbored feelings for Jun-hee.
He was irritated that they’d met without him, but having established his presence in front of Shim Hyun-sung had actually worked out well. Now Shim Hyun-sung would surely understand that he was the one by Jun-hee’s side.
‘How dare he even think of overstepping.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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