BJ Villainess

Drip, drip, drip.

Instead of risking a bike ride in the rain, I walked home, drenched. It was a 20-minute walk, but I arrived in a daze before I knew it. I pressed the doorbell and waited. A housekeeper who checked the CCTV opened the door.

“Oh gosh, why didn’t you call, Jiwoo?” The housekeeper, surprised, handed me a towel.

“Thank you.”

As I dried off and crossed the lounge, a sharp shout pierced my ears.

“I told you I didn’t do that!’

I turned and saw Umi and Bohyeon fighting. They never got along well, and seeing them fight like this was not unusual.

I tried to walk past, but Umi suddenly pointed at me. “It wasn’t me, it was her, you idiot! You’re accusing the wrong person.”

At her words, Bohyeon glared at me with angry eyes. “Was it you? Did you break my metronome?”

“No.” Exhausted from dragging my bike in the rain, I answered more coldly than intended.

Knowing Bohyeon would go crazy if anything related to his piano was involved, Umi quickly shouted. “Don’t lie! I saw you break it!”

“When?”

“La-Last night!”

“Do you have any proof?”

In my previous life, I had awkwardly tried to act like a kind and gentle older sister. Back then, I didn’t realize that the more I acted that way, the more ridiculous I looked at them. In fact, I was used to having a blank face. It was comfortable to speak in an even, emotionless voice.

“Umi, you always play the piano in the living room when Bohyeon isn’t around.”

“When did I do that?!”

Bohyeon, who hated anyone touching his piano, looked furious. “Hey, Chae Umi. Are you crazy?”

“I told you it wasn’t me! Do you want to die?”

Bohyeon threw the broken metronome he was holding at Umi.

“

!” Umi screamed and burst into tears as the wooden metronome hit her.

Mom, who had just returned home, rushed over with a surprised look. “What happened? Umi, why are you crying? Who did this?”

“I-I didn’t break the metronome, but Chae Bohyeon,

!”

Bohyeon, still fuming, said as if he was about to pounce on Umi. “Chae Umi broke my metronome! I can’t practice without it!”

Mom, looking troubled, promised Bohyeon she would get him a replacement metronome immediately. But Bohyeon, not satisfied, continued to demand an apology from Umi.

“Umi, you should apologize to Bohyeon.”

“I didn’t break it! I didn’t break it! She broke it, so why should I apologize?”

Umi always had a habit of blaming me for her mistakes. I couldn’t remember when it started, but now I know. It had been that way from the beginning.

Mom immediately glared at me sharply. “Jiwoo, did you do it?”

“No.”

“Tell the truth. Did you do it? If you tell the truth, I’ll forgive you. But if you lie, you’ll be in more trouble.”

… I remembered this happened before in my past life too. I had cried, insisting I didn’t do it, but ended up locked in my room after hearing Mom say she couldn’t stand to see me. Back then, I resented Mom for believing Umi over me. But now I understand.

“Mom, you know Umi did it, don’t you?”

“…What?”

I finally understood why Mom acted that way. She had to please Umi and Bohyeon. That’s why she used me as a scapegoat. Because I was good enough. And because Mom was the only guardian I had.

“You want to blame me to easily settle the situation.”

“Chae Jiwoo!” Mom yelled, abandoning Umi and approaching me to hit my arm. “Who told you to speak like that! Do you think you can talk to your mother like that? Where did you learn to speak so rudely!”

She dragged me to the back door, where the housekeepers entered and kicked me out. Even in her fury, she was careful to ensure the neighbors or stepfather didn’t see, which was typical of her. Mom glared at me with cold eyes.

“Don’t think about coming back in until you’ve reflected on your actions.”

The door closed with a heavy sound.

Should I have just admitted it was my fault like she wanted? No. That would only make things worse later.

Umi would continue to blame me for everything, and even if Bohyeon later realized it wasn’t my fault, he would still take it out on me. I had already been through it all. So, this was the right choice.

“It would have been fine if it weren’t raining….” A sigh escaped my lips, visible in the cold air.

The weather was unusually chilly. The door frame overhead kept me from getting completely soaked, but I couldn’t avoid the windblown rain.

How long had I been standing there? I felt my body shivering. I was especially vulnerable to cold, making this day particularly tough. Maybe if I fainted, someone passing by would see me and call for help.

I absentmindedly took out my phone from my pocket. At least I had some friends.

Ding!

[Sender: Over Immersed Otaku]

[

… It’s driving me crazy! Why is there no one supporting Jiwoo here?]

Ding!

[Sender: Let’s Watch Broadcast Just as Broadcast]

[Just say it’s a script, damn it]

Ding!

[Sender: Born From Jiwoo’s Heart]

[Jiwoo, you’re just having a bit of bad luck now. We all know how lovely and amazing you are. Don’t let it get you down.]

What’s this? They’re overreacting. I’m fine. I expected this. It’s really nothing. It’s really nothing…

“

.”

My phone’s battery, which was already low, died, and the screen went black. I pressed the power button frantically, but it was unresponsive. I had felt a warmth, like a matchstick girl, melting the ice lodged in my heart, but now it was gone, replaced by a cold emptiness.

It was when I was feeling particularly sad.

“…”

“…”

Of course, Ozworld saw me at my most pathetic moment. He stood there, neat and composed, holding an umbrella. The shame made my cheeks burn.

I wished he would just pretend he hadn’t seen me and go away, but he didn’t. He spoke calmly, without pity. “Do you want to come in?”

Despite my teeth almost chattering from the cold, I stubbornly said, “No.”

Ozworld, as if he expected that, turned around without hesitation. His cold attitude made it feel like all his previous kindness was a lie.

Feeling even more wretched, I stared blankly at the rain-soaked asphalt when a pair of tidy sneakers came into view. Ozworld returned, holding a bright red umbrella. Ignoring my refusal, he opened the umbrella and put it over my shoulder. It was the kind of forcefulness I desperately needed.

“…I’m fine, take the umbrella.” My voice cracked and shook even though I didn’t cry. “Can you leave me alone?” If Mom saw me with the umbrella, she might get even angrier.

Ozworld sighed. “Throw it away if you don’t need it.” With that, he went back inside, leaving me alone.

I finally got what I wanted. Strange. Everything I wanted was happening today, but I wasn’t happy at all. I felt more miserable.

It was getting darker. The normally eerie alley grew even darker without traffic. Mom still hadn’t come.

“It’s cold…”

Stubbornly, I opened the umbrella Ozworld had given me. At least it could block the wind and rain.

I should have followed him inside from the start. Regret overwhelmed me. My pride crumbled in the face of cold and loneliness. Tears I had held back finally fell down my cheeks.

I was sure Mom wouldn’t look for me. Maybe she hoped I’d disappear.

“Jiwoo.”

Startled, I looked up with a tear-stained face. Ozworld stood there, having approached without me noticing.

“I’ll ask you for the last time. Do you want to come in?”

The black umbrella half-covered his face, making his eyes hard to see. It gave him a cold aura.

A faint rational thought told me not to accept, but it quickly faded. I was cold. I was miserable. I didn’t want to be the pitiful kid no one cared about.

I took Ozworld’s outstretched hand. Only then did I clearly see his angelic face. Ozworld, looking kind again, pulled me close, eager to take me inside. The feeling of being crushed lifted slightly. At least he wanted me.

“Let’s go.”

Holding his hand tightly, I went into his house.