I Don’t Want to be a Villainess

“Unravel/Clarify.”
Sohi spoke directly.

Sooah, having just finished her shower, joined in on the situation as if it was natural.

Yoo Ha-neul, Shin So-hee, and Lee Soo-ah were seated around the table, forming the corners of a triangle. Meanwhile, Sara, who was unconscious, lay still on the bed.

“Unravel? What do you mean?”

Yoo Ha-neul spoke with a poker face.

Of course, that poker face wasn’t very thick. Sohee and Sua were, after all, friends with Yoo Ha-neul. At the same time, they were friends with Sara too.

Maintaining this relationship was something Sara wished for. It wasn’t a relationship that could be shattered as she pleased.

…Yoo Ha-neul didn’t want to do that even a little bit.

However, that doesn’t mean she could reveal her reasons here.

It was a personal matter of Sara’s. It wasn’t something others could just spill.

Of course, she was the one who created this situation.

Yeah, she had no thoughts. That would be the accurate way to phrase it.

Hugging Sara felt nice. Bringing their faces close was nice, too. If they could even kiss, it’d probably feel even better. And if they could promise to be together for a lifetime, Yoo Ha-neul would probably burst out in joy.

But even after making up her mind, Yoo Ha-neul couldn’t confess her feelings to Sara.

She was scared.

Scared that Sara might not accept her feelings.

Moreover, there were definitely reasons why she thought she couldn’t do that.

Inside Sara, there was also ‘Sara’. Of course, Yoo Ha-neul thought of ‘Sara’ as her friend too… but there was a big problem here.

Every time she made a provocative move, Sara and ‘Sara’ switched places.

She had a thought like starting an action when ‘Sara’ was in control, reaching a climax with Sara, but even so, it was questionable if Sara would actually like that.

For Sara, the most important existence right now was ‘Sara’. Sara cherished ‘Sara’ enough to willingly give up her own place for her.

In that situation, would there be room for Sara to accept a confession of love?

That action would place a heavy burden on Sara’s heart, whether she accepted it or not. That’s why she couldn’t confess carelessly.

But she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
She liked Sara.
She wanted to be together for a lifetime.
She wanted to be closer, more intimate.

So, quite cowardly, she decided to ‘use’ her strengths.

Even while always feeling a sense of guilt in the corner of her heart, just a moment ago, when her thoughts had failed, she couldn’t help but feel a bit ‘regretful’.

…But all those words couldn’t be spilled here.

Thus, Yoo Ha-neul had to keep her poker face on for now.

“…About what happened earlier. Unravel it.”

Honestly, Sohee had no reason to say such a thing… but Yoo Ha-neul felt competitive yet empathetic towards Sohee. In the end, Sohee, Sua, and Yoo Ha-neul were in the same situation.

They liked Sara but couldn’t see a way out.

“Are you two dating or something?”

“……”

Yoo Ha-neul was at a loss for words at that remark.

“…No.”

For a brief moment, she hesitated on how to respond, but in the end, she decided to remove the mask covering her face.

Wearing it wouldn’t be of any real use here, after all.

“Is there really a situation where we’re not dating but that happens? Sara getting on top of you directly? Don’t tell me you did something bad to Sara…?”

“No.”

But that she answered sharply.
…In truth, she didn’t feel any guilt about hearing that. She was clearly using the situation to her advantage. It could be considered a bad thing depending on the perspective.

However, it was also a necessary action in this moment.
It seems that Sara had built up some immunity by hugging Yoo Ha-neul several times.
At the last moment, just before their lips touched, ‘Sara’ managed to return, likely because a shocking situation overlapped—meaning that someone caught Yoo Ha-neul and Sara in a bed, almost kissing.

The more such actions repeated, the more extreme the necessary actions would likely become.
…Perhaps by then, she might need these children’s help.
Even if Sara might think otherwise, Yoo Ha-neul thought it was unappealing.

“We’re not dating, and I’m not coercing her.”

Though she did try to force it at one point.
…Thinking like this, Yoo Ha-neul reflected on herself.
To justify, ‘Sara’ had provoked first.

“Then why, exactly…?”

Sooah asked.

“…That’s… because it’s a personal issue for Sara…”

“……”

Sooah’s eyes narrowed.

“Is it about ‘memories’ again this time?”

“……”

Yeah, back when they hugged in front of Sohee last time, that was the justification. It was indeed related to memories. The two personas inside Sara held different memories. Of course, they could somewhat read each other’s memories and interfere with thoughts.

Yoo Ha-neul nodded for now.

“……”

At those words, Sohee and Sua fell silent.
It felt like they were somewhat relieved.
Of course, the atmosphere wasn’t completely light. Regardless, both of their expressions remained serious.

That was only natural. If the current situation continued, it meant that every time they had to bring up the ‘past memories’, Yoo Ha-neul and Sara would have to be in such close proximity.

And… if two people, who at least had minimal affection for each other, repeated acts similar to displays of affection, it was likely that such feelings would arise.
It couldn’t be denied that it wasn’t just a matter of a guy and a girl, but between girls.

“How long are we going to keep bringing up that memory? Didn’t we just do it last time?”

“Well…”

Yoo Ha-neul hesitated for a moment. How would she explain this?

As Yoo Ha-neul mumbled, Sooah and Sohee’s gazes focused on her.

“Well, so… that’s…”

“I’ll explain.”
Yoo Ha-neul slowly opened her mouth, but at that voice, they all turned to look over with surprise.

Not just Yoo Ha-neul. Sooah and Sohee also shifted their gaze toward the source of the sound, which was the bed.

Sara, who had been lying quietly on the bed, was now getting up.
No, ‘Sara’ was getting up.
With a frown, ‘Sara’ placed her palm on her forehead, then fully sat up at the edge of the bed.

“Well… even if I hide it, I feel like it’ll be discovered eventually anyway.”

‘Sara’ sighed deeply.
Then she started to speak.

“What Ha-neul said about ‘memories’ is true. When I face the most shocking memory of my life, in other words, the most stimulating memory, I can bring that specific ‘memory’ back.”

“That stimulating event is you rubbing against Yoo Ha-neul?”

Sohee asked, slightly furrowing her brows.
But that expression changed to one of bewilderment shortly after.

“Yeah. If it’s not a level of rubbing against, then it would need a shocking experience like meeting my mother again.”

‘Sara’ said it without a care.

“Uh… Ah, sorry…”
Sohee spoke with a slightly deflated tone.

“Well, it’s fine. You’re just expressing your fondness for me, right?”

“…Huh?”

At ‘Sara’s’ bombshell confession, Sohee’s face shot up. Her expression was one of shock. And embarrassment. All sorts of feelings were wrapped up in her reaction, as if someone had uncovered her hidden feelings.

“Sara, you…!”

Yoo Ha-neul gasped and tried to interrupt ‘Sara’, but—

“No, to be precise… it’s not me but ‘Ye Sara’ that I like.”

—Before that, ‘Sara’ said it like that.

“Uh…?”

Sohee let out that voice once more.
This time, it was a tone that couldn’t quite grasp the situation.

“It’s not just Sohee. Sua, you too. And Ha-neul, you too. You all like ‘Ye Sara’.”

The mouths of the three hung open in shock.

“But there’s nothing to worry about. Since ‘I’ know. The ‘Sara’ you all know still doesn’t. She’s incredibly dull. Even when being openly hugged and expressed with the whole body, she can’t notice it. In a way, it’s a relief, right?”

Though pretending to be nonchalant while saying that, ‘Sara’s’ face flushed a little more with each word.
Of course, the actions of those three were also actions towards ‘Sara’. After all, the persona that existed in this body first was ‘Sara’.

“Uh, ugh… Ah…?”
Sohee stammered, turning red in the face, like a broken doll. She seemed to want to say something, but perhaps it couldn’t form into words.

“……”
And Sua lowered her head, then—
“Then,”
—there wasn’t anything.

“That means you’re not the ‘Sara’ we think you are?”

“That’s exactly right.”

‘Sara’ finally collected herself and said.

“To be precise, I’m the ‘original owner’ of this body.”

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