Hate Girl — Chapter 24

FLAT AS AN OPEN CAN OF SODA.

IT'S ABSURD TO SIT HERE OBSESSING OVER WHAT KIND OF TWISTED MOTIVE KANG YOON-HYUK HAD WHEN HE APPROACHED ME.

YE-HEE CALLED ME TO JOIN THIS CLUB, AND BY PURE CHANCE, I JUST CAUGHT HIS EYE.

HONESTLY... I ACTUALLY ENJOYED ACTING OUT AND HANGING AROUND WITH HIM.

BEOM-SEOK CARES ABOUT ME.

JUNG DA-HYE.

WHEN I MADE A HUGE SCENE, TOLD HIM WE WERE DONE, AND PUSHED HIM AWAY, HE DIDN'T REACH OUT ONCE.

YET THE MOMENT HE SEES ME WITH YOON-HYUK, HE REACTS.

YOU GOT HERE FASTER THAN I EXPECTED.

IN THE END, I'M NO DIFFERENT—I JUST USED HIM, TOO.

LET'S TALK.

"KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. SOMETHING FEELS OFF ABOUT HIM."

IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS...

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HANDLE YOU SHOWING UP?

"DO WHATEVER YOU WANT"? YEAH, RIGHT. LIKE HELL I CAN.

I'VE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY WORRIED SICK ABOUT JUNG DA-HYE-I CAN'T FOCUS ON ASSIGNMENTS, CLUB MEETINGS, OR ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

ONCE AGAIN, I’M REMINDED OF JUST HOW MUCH ANGER I HAVE INSIDE ME.

JUNG DA-HYE. YOU GOT HERE FASTER THAN I EXPECTED.

LET'S TALK.

MY CHEST BURNS LIKE A RED-HOT BRANDING IRON.

NO. LATER.

HEY.

WHY DOES THIS FEEL SO SUFFOCATING?

WAIT UP.

WHY AM I...

HEY. JUST GIVE IT TO ME STRAIGHT.

...SO DAMN ANGRY?

WHAT AM I TO YOU, REALLY?

HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO CONSIDER THINGS FROM MY SIDE FOR EVEN A SECOND?

I'M PACING BACK AND FORTH LOSING MY MIND OUT OF WORRY, BUT DID YOU EVEN SPARE A SINGLE THOUGHT FOR ME?

I TOLD YOU TO WATCH OUT FOR THAT BASTARD! I BEGGED YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

WHY DIDN'T YOU PICK UP YOUR PHONE?

AM I REALLY SO MEANINGLESS TO YOU THAT YOU CAN JUST BRUSH ME ASIDE LIKE I'M NOTHING?

IN THE END, MY EXPLOSIVE TEMPER BURST OUT BEFORE THE FRANTIC WORRY I FELT FOR HER.

WHY...

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN WORRY ABOUT ME?

BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FAMILY.

MORE THAN THAT, WE NEVER KEPT SECRETS FROM EACH OTHER.

BUT OUT OF NOWHERE, YOU PULLED AWAY ON YOUR OWN TERMS. WITHOUT EVEN ASKING HOW I FELT.

YOU'VE BEEN ACTING WEIRD THE WHOLE TIME. EVER SINCE THE DAY AFTER THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM.

IF YOU'RE PISSED OFF AT ME, JUST COME OUT AND SAY IT!

STOP RUBBING SALT IN MY DAMN WOUNDS.

DEEP DOWN, I WONDER IF THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING FAMILY AT ALL...

...BUT JUST SOME UGLY, DIRTY OBSESSION BECAUSE IT'S YOU, JUNG DA-HYE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR FAMILY!

IT SENDS CHILLS DOWN MY OWN SPINE, BUT I CAN’T STOP THE WORDS FROM SPILLING OUT.

WHAT?

WHO CARES WHO I SEE? WHAT BUSINESS IS IT OF YOURS?! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S ACTING WEIRD!

YOU CROSS THE LINE WAY BEYOND BEING JUST A FRIEND!

BECAUSE I FELT HURT.

BECAUSE I COULDN’T STOP CARING.

EVEN AN ACTUAL OLDER BROTHER WOULDN’T GO THIS FAR!

NO.

IT'S BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND THE WAY YOU'RE ACTING RIGHT NOW.

SAY THAT AGAIN.

SAY WHAT?

I CAN'T CONTROL MY RAGE.

THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE FAMILY.

SAY IT ONE MORE TIME.

FINE.

I WON’T CARE ANYMORE.

YOU’RE SAYING EVERYTHING I DO IS JUST A NUISANCE, RIGHT?

I WON'T REACH OUT OR BOTHER YOU EVER AGAIN.

THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

...THAT'S NOT...

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT...!

IF THAT'S NOT IT, THEN WHAT IS?!

I DIDN'T MEAN YOU'RE A NUISANCE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT AT ALL...

I HATE TO ADMIT IT...

THEN WHY ARE YOU CRYING?

...BUT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE YOU BACK DOWN.

ARE YOU CRYING BECAUSE I TOLD YOU NOT TO SEE THAT GUY?

NO.

IT'S NOT THAT...

UGH, I'M SORRY...

I'LL... HIC, I'LL STOP CRYING RIGHT AWAY.

SO PLEASE... DON'T MAKE THAT SCARY FACE... HIC...

I'M SORRY.

DON'T CRY.