NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: Doubt (2)
Song Soo-yeon was secretly sending a message to Stella.
[Stella. Is my alibi getting ready?]
The words Jung-gyeom had said earlier kept echoing in her head.
'I hate them. Villains.'
She knew it, but hearing it directly sent a chill through her heart that she hadn't anticipated.
It was the first time she'd seen him, who was always warm, use such words.
Hate.
For a moment, it felt as if those words weren't his.
It might be premature to guess, but perhaps he has some unpleasant memories related to villains?
Then, the expression he wore when looking at Solace began to make some sense.
And, she realized once again that she must never let him find out she's a villain.
Of course, the risk of being discovered wasn't very high.
Once the alibi was prepared, everything would be perfect.
Soon, she would start to have a lot of money.
It meant she couldn't pretend to be poor forever.
If she wanted to give Jung-gyeom expensive gifts, she needed an excuse for all that money.
Stella replied.
[Yes. It's almost done. But you should take a day off too, Luna. We agreed to take pictures, remember? Speaking of which, are you free tomorrow?]
Soo-yeon glanced at Jung-gyeom.
"Mister, what are you doing tomorrow?"
"Me? I'm volunteering."
"..."
Why did the thought of him going somewhere she didn't know make her so uneasy?
She was afraid he might meet another woman without her knowledge.
But she knew that anything more would be obsession.
Acknowledging that he had plans, she nodded.
Then, she replied to Stella.
[I'm free tomorrow.]
[Then come to the hideout by 3 PM. Don't worry. The other members won't be there.]
After confirming the message, Soo-yeon put away her phone.
Then, as she stood up, she said,
"Mister, let's go see the studio apartment now."
I whispered into Soo-yeon's ear, as if persuading her.
"...Soo-yeon-ah, this isn't right. Why insist on this place? The first place you showed me was much better."
However, she firmly shook her head.
It was rare to see her so resolute.
"No. I've decided on this place."
"But the deposit and rent are expensive. The transportation isn't great either... it's between dark alleys... how will you come home at night?"
"I'll go with Mister. It's close."
"Let's not do that and choose the first place we saw. The deposit is cheaper, the rent is cheaper, and if you walk for just 5 minutes, there are shopping districts... oh, there's also a convenience store nearby."
Soo-yeon sighed deeply and looked up at me sharply.
"Why do you keep making a fuss when I've already decided to live here?"
"..."
I stroked my chin and straightened up.
We had been arguing back and forth inside the real estate agency for a while.
After narrowing down the choices, there were two options, but no matter how I looked at it, Soo-yeon's choice was wrong.
Of course, we'd have to visit the place in person to make a more accurate comparison, but there were things evident even from the documents.
One place was significantly better than the others, a fact even the real estate agent admitted.
However, Song Soo-yeon was insistent, throwing a fit that it wasn't the one.
The reason was clear.
"....Excuse me, are there really no other properties? Something closer?"
Soo-yeon asked the real estate agent, who shook his head with a troubled look.
Soo-yeon wanted a studio apartment closer to my house.
She argued it would be fun, having gotten used to the area, and stubbornly wanted to live close to me for that reason.
The reason she dismissed the recommendations from me and the real estate agent was the same: they were too far from my house.
Honestly, it was a bit cute... but I hoped she wouldn't regret her decision.
"Soo-yeon-"
"-It's okay. Then, I'll take this room."
Before I could argue further, Soo-yeon ignored me and spoke directly to the real estate agent.
The agent brightened up and asked Soo-yeon.
"Then, shall we go see the room once-"
"-No need. I'll sign."
"...."
I twitched my mouth from behind, then let out a big sigh.
It seemed she had made up her mind, so I couldn't say anything more.
The real estate agent glanced at me, then turned around to prepare the paperwork.
Soo-yeon then looked at me and stood up.
"What's bothering you so much, mister?"
"..."
"Do you wish I wasn't around? Want me to go far away?"
"...That's not it. I just want you to live more comfortably."
I replied with mixed feelings.
I only wished for her to live a bit more comfortably, as she was precious to me.
"It's hard when all the money you earn goes to rent."
"..."
Soo-yeon's expression hardened as if she was contemplating, then she blinked and looked around aimlessly before speaking to me in a small voice.
"...I earn good money now."
".........What?"
I raised my eyebrows in confusion.
"What are you talking about? The pay is the same for loading and unloading."
Soo-yeon brushed her hair back.
The scent of the same shampoo we used wafted to me.
"...I quit the loading and unloading job. I'm doing something else now."
"Doing something else? Like what? No, why haven't you told me until now?"
"..."
She remained silent for a long time.
"Soo-yeon?"
At my call, Soo-yeon turned her head and replied.
".....I was embarrassed."
Now I was a bit worried.
"...What's there to be embarrassed about? Just tell me."
She sighed deeply as if making a decision and said.
"I'm working as a model, a model. For an online shopping mall...."
"...What?"
"...That's why I've been coming home late recently.......that's why."
She was so embarrassed that even this explanation came out in bits and pieces.
The sound was so soft it was hard to hear if you weren't paying attention.
"....You're working as a model?"
I struggled for a while to understand her words.
"....Modeling?"
I asked her repeatedly.
Song Soo-yeon nodded.
"...So don't worry. I earn a lot of money."
"You, showing your appearance..."
"Ah, I have to make money! Just like Solace unni..."
I couldn't understand why she suddenly brought up Solace.
Soo-yeon grabbed my sleeve in a moment, bit her lip, and said,
"......I don't want to do it either, okay?"
The atmosphere changed instantly. I placed my hand over hers, which was holding my sleeve, and asked,
"...Then why are you doing it?"
"But the money... it's really easy to earn."
She looked straight into my eyes, as if trying to convince me,
"It's not physically demanding, there's no stress, and it pays incredibly well."
"..."
"Shouldn't I endure it a bit if I dislike it? As much as I dislike it, there are many benefits... that's why I'm doing it...right?"
I sighed.
Why did she talk as if she had committed a crime?
"...You don't need to make excuses to me like this. If the benefits outweigh the drawbacks after comparing them, then go ahead. I'm just worried. You have... a complex about your appearance. You always wrap yourself up before going out."
"Even though I don’t like it...I’ll make a lot of money and repay your kindness, mister. I’ll buy you expensive things, take you to fun places..."
I shook my head.
"I appreciate the thought, but I don't need that."
"Why? You said it before, Mister. To buy happiness with money."
"I didn't say to buy happiness with money, but when you can, to do so. Having a lot of money doesn't mean you can buy happiness."
"That you wouldn't know. You've never had a lot of money. The more you have, the better money is."
"Soo-yeon-"
"-Ah, forget it."
Song Soo-yeon cuts me off irritably.
"...Can't you just be happy for me, mister? I'm making a lot of money...?"
After a moment of contemplation, I sighed and nodded.
Yes.
It's something to be celebrated.
Was it because she said she disliked the job itself?
I had reacted somewhat negatively.
Anyway, if she's doing it, she must have weighed her options.
I pulled her into a hug.
Partly because I felt sorry for not being purely happy for her, and partly because I wanted to do it.
I enjoyed the happiness this gesture brought.
"Yes. You're right. My response was a bit off."
Soo-yeon hugged me back reflexively.
Despite her anger, her body didn't reject me.
After a brief hug, I detached from her.
To change the atmosphere, I said,
"Then, show me the site. If the clothes are nice, I might buy some too."
"...They only sell women's clothes."
"Still, let's see your photos."
Soo-yeon hesitated for a moment, then spoke while rubbing the back of her neck.
"I'll bring you the photo book the day after tomorrow. You can look at it then."
"Really? That would be even better."
I smiled.
She too, finally relaxed her crumpled expression and smiled for me.
A few days later.
Song Soo-yeon observed all of Jung-gyeom's reactions in his studio apartment.
"Wow...."
Every time he expressed admiration, a smile spread across Soo-yeon's face.
She was covering that smile with one hand, but there was no stopping her eyes from curling up too.
"You're beautiful, really."
Compliments about her appearance, which he seldom voiced, were endless.
Jung-gyeom looked through the fake photo book Soo-yeon had given him with astonished eyes.
Soo-yeon had to admit it too.
The results were astonishing, perhaps because Stella had hired a female photographer who had put in an unprecedented amount of effort, taking the photos with such dedication.
Makeup she had never worn before.
The lighting and clothes.
The composition and poses.
Even Soo-yeon thought she looked beautiful.
She even dared to think arrogantly,
'Who would he date if not me?'
"...Pretty, right?"
She begged for the explicit praise she wouldn't usually seek.
But Jung-gyeom, lost in his thoughts, endlessly complied with her wishes without resistance.
"Yeah, really pretty. So beautiful, really."
As Jung-gyeom was absorbed in the photo book, Soo-yeon bit her fingers.
She was too happy.
Thrilled.
If she could just endure the guilt of deceiving him, everything was fine.
"Better than Bom unni?"
"...."
"Mister, better than Bom unni?"
"...Both are pretty, why compete?"
A childish rivalry flared up instantly.
"...I put so much effort into dressing up and taking these photos, and you say it's similar to Bom unni?"
"...You're prettier."
Eventually, Jung-gyeom gives.
Soo-yeon smiled again.
Though it felt like she had won a reluctant concession, she was still satisfied.
"You could earn a lot of money looking like this."
"........."
"This photo is my favorite, Soo-yeon."
Jung-gyeom showed her a photo.
It was a photo of her wearing a black tank top and baggy pants, sitting on a wooden stool with one arm seductively placed on her head.
Pressured by Stella, and with the thought of making a photo book just for Jung-gyeom, she had put in some effort, but now looking at it like this, she felt embarrassed.
The fact that that one armpit was fully exposed made her feel suddenly embarrassed.
"..."
But since Jung-gyeom liked it, Soo-yeon kept quiet.
Then he went one step further.
"I should cut this out and hang it in my room."
"What??"
"Because... I really like it..."
Soo-yeon was startled and raised her voice, causing Jung-gyeom to shrink back and glance around nervously.
"...Is that not okay?"
"..."
Soo-yeon pondered for a long while.
After all, the photo book was meant for Jung-gyeom.
The sexy expressions she usually didn't show, or the seductive, cute expressions were all efforts to reveal herself through the excuse of a photo book for him.
Even when taking photos, Soo-yeon made an effort, thinking of how Jung-gyeom would see her.
....Thus, eventually, Soo-yeon nodded.
"...Go ahead and hang it."
Only then did Jung-gyeom look through the rest of the photo book with a bright, beaming expression.
Soo-yeon watched him for a long time.
Soo-yeon entered her new studio apartment.
It was less than a 5-minute walk from Jung-gyeom's place.
Soo-yeon looked around her room from the entrance.
It was her own space she had always wanted, yet for some reason, it felt much more desolate than Jung-gyeom's studio apartment.
She took a shower and lay down on the bed.
Then, as usual, she turned on her phone and looked at photos of Jung-gyeom.
The photos had become so numerous she wondered if she needed to change her phone.
The storage space was disappearing.
Jung-gyeom's photos were becoming essential to Soo-yeon.
She remembered the events of earlier, replaying Jung-gyeom's compliments and his expressions.
And even the way he carefully cut out and attached the photo to the wall.
Soo-yeon burst into laughter.
She couldn't help but laugh.
Jung-gyeom, now entering his room, would always see her.
Could there be anything more joyful than this?
It was her, not Solace.
She felt a bit ahead of her, somehow.
Lately, Solace had been too busy, unable to spend much time with Jung-gyeom.
There was a time it seemed like they might start something, but now it seemed to have fizzled out.
....And even if it hadn't fizzled out, she could keep Solace busy through her villain activities in the future.
"....Sigh."
Soo-yeon sighed.
Looking at Jung-gyeom's photos, she suddenly thought.
What if she filled this desolate room with photos, just like Jung-gyeom did?
Printing out the photos of Jung-gyeom she had taken over time and sticking them in this room.
"....That sounds good."
She murmured.
Then, a message arrived.
It was from Stella.
[Luna. The next plan is set. It's this weekend. Is that okay?]
Soo-yeon nodded.
She felt much better than when she was passively watching Min-bom take Jung-gyeom away.
She felt it was an improvement and that she would continue to move forward.
Also, there would come a time when the villains of the alliance would join forces to grant her wish.
Soo-yeon could easily imagine that things would go even better then.
[Okay.]
She replied.
Dreaming of a future with Jung-gyeom.