Unrequited Love Obsession Diary - Chapter 47

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 47

 

“…Because fighting is bothersome.”

 

Dohan answered halfheartedly. However, it was the first time he had responded to Hyeonoh’s words since telling him to get lost.

 

Hyeonoh snorted as if finding it ridiculous.

 

“You have to fight against unfair things. If you just stay still, those guys think they’ve won. Isn’t that the most frustrating thing?”

 

At that moment, for some reason, a wind blew through Dohan’s heart. Avoiding things because they’re bothersome was always the easiest method Dohan chose.

 

But there were kids in the world who willingly endured bothersome things and faced them head-on.

 

The type of people Dohan could never become.

 

That’s why. This time, Dohan spoke first.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“Where to.”

 

“You said let’s hang out.”

 

It was winter.

 

That day, Dohan went to Hyeonoh’s house and learned hockey in the backyard.

 

It was only later that he learned hockey held the same status in Canada as kids kicking a ball during every break time in Korea.

 

Dohan returned to Korea as soon as the vacation ended.

 

When they parted, Hyeonoh said simply.

 

“Come again.”

 

Dohan went to Vancouver again during the next summer vacation.

 

This time, he pestered his parents first.

 

Even though custody was confirmed to go to his father and there was no longer any need to go to Vancouver, Dohan bothered his dad.

 

“I want to go to Vancouver this vacation too.”

 

From that day on, he went to Vancouver every vacation.

 

As he found out later, Hyeonoh wasn’t the type to pay much attention to others. There were many friends who wanted him, but there were rarely friends he wanted first.

 

Dohan wondered why he had become an exception to Hyeonoh.

 

When he grew up a bit more, he asked Hyeonoh why he had spoken to him back then.

 

They were bouncing a ball on the basketball court. As the sun set, long shadows stretched across the court.

 

Hyeonoh bounced the ball meaninglessly a few times, then threw a shot, and the ball hit the metal rim and bounced far away.

 

Ah, damn.

 

Hyeonoh muttered and answered a beat late.

 

“Just because.”

 

It was an answer so simple it was bland.

 

In the end, Dohan couldn’t hold back and asked one more thing.

 

“Did the director tell you to?”

 

It was a question the usual Dohan would never have asked due to wounded pride. Hyeonoh picked up the rolled ball and bounced it on the floor again, answering nonchalantly.

 

“My mom doesn’t care what other people’s kids are doing.”

 

“Then?”

 

“I don’t know. I don’t even remember.”

 

That’s when Dohan understood.

 

Hyeonoh had instinctively felt sorry for the lonely elementary kid he met in a foreign country.

 

Usually, peers met through language study programs had parents who were at least passionate about their children’s academic achievement.

 

Those kids either couldn’t stand their parents’ excessive attention or simply couldn’t adapt to unfamiliar environments.

 

Dohan was in a somewhat different category from those kids at the time, and perceptive Hyeonoh clearly knew that fact.

 

Even so, he simply didn’t want to hurt him by speaking honestly. Even if it would reach a time when such things no longer mattered.

 

That was Kang Hyeonoh’s essence.

 

Later, he even did homestay at Hyeonoh’s house.

 

As he entered middle school, Dohan no longer had the time to come to Vancouver every vacation.

 

On the last day leaving Vancouver, Dohan rode in Hyeonoh’s father’s car to the airport.

 

Even while getting out of the car and carrying luggage together, there was no elaborate farewell.

 

As they got closer to the departure gate, there were more people, and they went separate ways without time to realize the parting.

 

“I’m going. Come visit Korea.”

 

Only then did Hyeonoh open his mouth.

 

“Lee Dohan, when you go to Korea, don’t just stay still. Don’t run away either.”

 

It was a tone without any emphasis, as if just asking about everyday well-being.

 

At that moment, Dohan had an unexpected premonition.

 

Throughout his life, he would never be able to beat this kid.

 

* * *

 

The weekend that came back was the day Yeon-jae was supposed to meet Hyeonoh.

 

According to Hyeonoh’s logic that weekend mornings should be for deep sleep, the two made an appointment for 3 PM.

 

Yeon-jae, who came out much earlier than the appointment time, refined the template she had prepared the night before at the cafe.

 

And at the appointed 3 o’clock.

 

Hyeonoh didn’t come.

 

At first, Yeon-jae didn’t think much of it.

 

‘He must be running late.’

 

But usually, if Hyeonoh was late, he would at least leave a message saying he’d be late, but Yeon-jae’s phone was quiet.

 

Well… maybe he forgot to leave a message beforehand because he was rushing out.

 

She left messages and missed calls, but there was no answer.

 

However, when 30 minutes passed, and finally an hour had gone by.

 

Yeon-jae had doubts for the first time.

 

Could it be… a no-show? Surely not a same-day disappearance?

 

Is this the free ride I’ve only heard about?!

 

Of course, if it were someone else, she would naturally think it was a free ride. But if the other person was Hyeonoh, it was different.

 

‘He has surprisingly diligent aspects.’

 

Though it was a short time if you could call it short, the trust built between Yeon-jae and Hyeonoh during this short time was quite thick.

 

So Yeon-jae decided to trust Hyeonoh.

 

‘There must be something he can’t talk about right away. At worst, he’s probably still sleeping.’

 

While thinking this, her phone screen lit up.

 

It was Hyeonoh.

 

“Hello?”

 

-Uh…

 

“Senior Hyeonoh…?”

 

-Sorry. You’re waiting…

 

A low, hoarse voice with a cracking end.

 

Yeon-jae, who immediately noticed his poor physical condition, asked.

 

“Why does your voice sound like that, senior? Are you sick somewhere?”

 

Hyeonoh didn’t answer for quite a while. Like someone who was quite embarrassed to admit being sick.

 

“Senior. It’s really okay if we don’t do the assignment today.”

 

-No, sorry. I accidentally fell asleep and just woke up. You’re still at Jungdo, right? I’ll come.

 

“No, it’s not like the presentation is next week. If you’re sick, you should rest. Just rest a bit.”

 

-…No, you came all the way to in front of the school on a weekend. Let’s definitely do it today…

 

“Senior, it’s really okay! If you don’t rest when you’re sick, you’ll get sicker…!”

 

-No, even so.

 

“Anyway, since it’s late, there are no seats in the seminar room, and it’s really okay…”

 

-…Then do you want to come to my house?

 

As soon as the words fell, the call went silent.

 

Hyeonoh coughed quietly from the other end of the receiver.

 

-No, you said there were no seats in the seminar room. It’s close from there.

 

“I know. You live in front of the school, senior…”

 

-And I’m not alone at home either. My younger sister is here with me too.

 

“Ah… you mentioned you have a younger sister, senior.”

 

-She came to Korea briefly from Canada. She’s staying here for a few days.

 

“Oh. I see…”

 

Silence fell once again.

 

-…If you don’t feel like it, never mind. I think I said something unnecessary. We can work on the assignment together another time.

 

“Um… if I come over, won’t your sister feel uncomfortable?”

 

-She probably won’t think anything of it.

 

Yeon-jae bit her lip briefly. However, her hesitation didn’t last long.

 

“I’ll come now. Just give me the address.”

 

* * *

 

She could have declined Hyeonoh’s suggestion.

 

But she chose to go because she was worried about Hyeonoh.

 

Aside from occasionally looking sleepy, Hyeonoh had never shown signs of poor condition before.

 

So when that same Hyeonoh said he was sick in a half-dead voice, it concerned her somewhat.

 

Even though his younger sister was temporarily in Korea, she wondered if he would receive proper care.

 

Feeling awkward about going empty-handed, Yeon-jae stopped by a porridge shop in front of the school and ordered an abalone porridge to go.

 

While sitting quietly waiting for her ordered abalone porridge to come out, Yeon-jae suddenly realized.

 

The reason why Hyeonoh had specifically mentioned that his sister was staying with him.

 

‘It’s a house where a man lives alone.’

 

Her face flushed hot in an instant.

 

Yeon-jae was also an ordinary person who had lived her entire life in Korean society. Therefore, she had conventional perceptions about male-female relationships.

 

In Yeon-jae’s way of thinking, freely coming and going to a member of the opposite sex’s house was impossible unless they were quite intimate.

 

‘Senior Hyeonoh might think differently since he lived abroad for a long time, but…’

 

Yeon-jae fell into belated contemplation.

 

‘I can’t back out now and say I won’t come…’

 

What should I do… But well, his sister is there too.

 

“Your takeout porridge is ready.”

 

Only then did Yeon-jae snap out of her chain of thoughts. Her contemplation wasn’t long.

 

Having already bought the porridge, there was only one choice left. Yeon-jae let out a light sigh and resolved herself.

 

“Don’t be nervous…!”

 

But nervous about what exactly?

 

Yeon-jae found her excessive nervousness strange, but convinced herself it was because this was her first time visiting a member of the opposite sex’s home, and walked forward spiritedly.

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