Just Twilight

Chapter 26

Seungwoon’s chopsticks trembled in his hand. The beet salad he had picked up fell, splattering across the tablecloth and staining it red. He looked at his mother with wide eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you two close? You were both involved in the last reflection paper, weren’t you?”

Seungwoon furrowed his brow as he set down his chopsticks and let out a sigh. Mihyang spoke softly.

“I told you, didn’t I? She says she doesn’t like him as much as she likes him. You can’t ignore the environment people grow up in. Do you know what it is about Junyoung that bothers me?”

“I don’t know. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t like her...”

“It’s that she’s foolish.”

Mihyang pointed a finger at him as she spoke. Despite not wanting to, Seungwoon let out a hollow laugh.

“Mom, you know Junyoung is the top student at our school, right? Her national ranking is even higher than mine.”

“Being foolish doesn’t mean being dumb. No matter how good she is at studying, she doesn’t understand that she can't stay on the same level as you. It’s always sad when a smart kid doesn’t get that, but she doesn’t know how to win sympathy from others, and she has no talents.”

“Don’t talk like that.”

“Seungwoon.”

Mihyang called him out sternly, shaking her head.

“I don’t dislike you being good-hearted. But for someone who’s going to rise high, they also need to be able to help others. But if that means getting involved with criminals, I can’t just sit back as a mother.”

It was clear that dinner was ruined. Seungwoon pushed his chair back and muttered angrily.

“I’ve never even had a proper conversation with Kwon Beomjin. I’m not close with him.”

“Then why did you call the police station and ask about the incident in such detail?”

Mihyang’s voice, soft as it was, sometimes made Seungwoon feel a chill. His gaze shifted to the side, landing on Manager Kim, who stood next to her. Kim stood upright, looking off to a vague point, avoiding Seungwoon’s eyes.

Mihyang gently tapped the table, as if to soothe him.

“Of course, if you need anything, you can talk to Manager Kim. But just know this: it’s less exhausting to prevent getting dirty in the first place than to try to clean up the mess later.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll eat later.”

Seungwoon stood up and headed to his room. His mind was a tangled mess, and his chest felt suffocating. He walked to the window, threw open the curtains, and opened the window. A lukewarm breeze flowed in.

It was to be expected. Manager Kim was his mother’s person. As her son, he showed respect, but he would not bow to her.

That wasn’t the only thing bothering him, though. He looked down at the darkened village, recalling the information Manager Kim had brought.

Seungwoon didn’t know what was in Junyoung’s heart, but Beomjin liked her. He couldn’t help but think that maybe Junyoung felt the same way when she showed signs of distress when Hye Soo talked to him. Seungwoon had been unable to focus on his studies because of her, just as she had been distracted by him.

Because, he too...

Liked Yoon Junyoung.

Seungwoon suddenly looked down at his hands, which were clenched into fists. He hadn’t realized how tightly he had gripped them, but the skin of his palm was turning white. With a sharp exhale, he turned away.

What should I do?

If I tell them that I saw Beomjin with his friend, and that they didn’t seem like they were about to part ways, the police would listen. After all, I’m the son of Hong Mihyang, who knows the police chief’s direct line.

Especially since I have no personal connection to Beomjin. Objectively, my testimony would be credible. And if Junyoung added her explanation of the events after that, Beomjin’s charges would be dropped immediately.

Of course, the nature of their relationship would also come to light.

“If I stay silent, and Beomjin stays silent...”

Seungwoon muttered absentmindedly before letting out a bitter laugh. But surely Beomjin wouldn’t really end up in prison. More than anything...

“Junyoung won’t stay quiet.”

With a long sigh, Seungwoon sank into the chair at his desk. Even if I don’t step in, Junyoung will reveal what happened that day. She trusted Beomjin’s innocence more than anyone else.

...But what if, for some reason, Junyoung doesn’t speak up?

Seungwoon absentmindedly twirled the pen on his desk, his brows twitching. Slowly, his lips curled into a loose smile, though he didn’t even realize it.

***

Junyoung stared at the building before her. It bore a familiar logo, but it was an unfamiliar place.

She had walked past here before, though, when she was younger.

It had been the day she first got severely beaten by her mother, when her lips had bled. That night, when her shoulders had bruised and her hands trembled.

But she couldn’t bring herself to go inside. She was afraid. Afraid that something might change, or perhaps, that nothing would change at all.

After wandering around for a while, she ended up returning home. She had learned how to endure alone.

But now, things were different. She needed information.

Beomjin had not returned home. He hadn’t come to school today. Her homeroom teacher said nothing, but a few loudmouths in class had spread rumors about it.

The situation was too grim for the kids to gossip openly. They whispered quietly. Junyoung, who didn’t have close friends, had nowhere to hear the news.

"Should I look into it for you? I could find out what’s going on with Beomjin."

Seungwoon’s words echoed in her mind. Yeah, if it were him, he could easily get much more information. Or more precisely, it wasn’t him, but Manager Kim.