NOVEL WEB chapter 22
22 – 8. Memories that are deeply embedded like thorns -3
The story of Lee Tae-hwa, who sat across from me, began. A story comes out that matches what Noah said.
And the situation in question.
The story of a situation where Lee Tae-hwa spat harsh words at Noah.
“So. Why did you do that to Noah then?”
“…I felt so bad.”
“How do you feel?”
Lee Tae-hwa slowly nodded her head.
“How do you feel?”
“…”
“My close friend ended up like that because of me.”
Saying that, Lee Tae-hwa took a sip of his drink. My stomach seemed to be boiling.
I looked closely at the guy’s expression. I felt a variety of emotions, but the strongest of them were regret and sorry.
Lee Tae-hwa stared at me and asked a question.
“Uncle. What do you think it would be like if you were an uncle?”
“What?”
“What if Noah tries to help you and gets hit in the face and falls down?”
“…It must be like a dog.”
“Me too.”
Kwaak.
Lee Tae-hwa’s hand holding the cup gained strength.
“It’s because of me that Noah went through something like that. So…If he wasn’t close to me, he wouldn’t have gone through something like that. That’s why I did it on purpose. If Noah becomes distant from me, they won’t mess with him. ..Do.”
“There’s no guarantee that will happen.”Yes, you’re right. “Those guys actually did more.”
He had a look of resentment.
It looked like he wanted to punch those guys right away.
“He was very vicious. From then on, he only tormented Noah as if he was showing off.”
“…”
“No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop them all.”
“Have you tried to apologize to Noah?”
“I tried. I knew what I did didn’t work, so I did it several times.”
“But Noah didn’t accept it?”
“It’s not a matter of not accepting it. Noah kept avoiding me.”
The situation has been somewhat resolved.
Lee Tae-hwa did that for Noah.
She became very emotional when she saw Noah getting hit, and she thought it was all because she was close to her.
If you stay away from me, this won’t happen. Lee Tae-hwa, who decided that way, deliberately said harsh words to Noah…
Noah was so angry about the incident that he started avoiding Lee Tae-hwa, and the matter ended up here… I guess.
I couldn’t help but sigh.
“…Ha…Are you two idiots?”
“Yes?”
“Let’s talk, have a conversation! No, if we had met and had a straight talk, it would have been resolved a long time ago!”
“That’s…Right.”
“You’re dragging this simple thing over so far? I’ll have to say something to Noah later. Noah, if you get upset, it lasts a long time.”
Most problems are like this. Problems can be resolved by meeting, talking, and understanding each other.
If Noah and Lee Tae-hwa had also talked, the problem would have been solved a long time ago.
… Well, it’s kind of cute to see that they can’t do that and end up in a war.
“So, Noah is still a dear friend?”
“Of course! Noah…Ha…I don’t know why I did that. Like a fool.”
“I guess I did it because I was thinking about Noah. I thought that if I did that, Noah would be able to live well.”
“It didn’t go well.”
“It’s a consequential story. Anyway, Noah is a precious friend to you, right?”
“Yes. He is a very, very precious friend of mine.”
I heard a confident voice, and I took out my cell phone from my pocket.
I raised my voice towards the mobile phone that was busy talking.
“Is that so? Noah.”
“Huh?”
Lee Tae-hwa’s eyes widened when he saw my actions. She wasn’t acting.
“Wait a minute… Are you Noah?”
“Uh.”
“Were you talking to Noah!?”
“Well, I forgot to turn the phone off.”
“Believe that now-“
“I’m actually a person who doesn’t care about the method.”
Tuk.
The phone hangs up and a message arrives.
[Noah]
[I’m waiting there, man. I’ll go right away]
“Oh.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“I guess you’re planning on coming in person?” “Uh…What should I do?”
“Whatever. We’ve already said everything, so we should take this opportunity to properly reconcile.”
The board is set. At this level, we can say that we have faithfully kept our promise.
Now what matters is what we say on this board. That will settle the relationship between Noah and Lee Tae-hwa.
‘I should get out.’
I did everything I could. It would be nice if Noah could reconcile here, but…
‘Even if you don’t do it, that’s Noah’s heart.’
Anyway, this is a matter for Noah and Lee Tae-hwa to take care of. I sucked my coffee through a straw and waited for Noah.
The cafe door opens and a white-haired girl comes in.
It was Noah.
He is now.
“Wow…”
“…Hi…”
He had a cold expression that sent a chill down my spine.
‘Be scared…’
It was a face that made you understand why she was nicknamed Snow Woman. I looked back at Lee Tae-hwa.
It was the look in the eyes of prey waiting to be eaten.
+++++
“Well… Then, you two can talk. I’ll leave you alone.”
Shinhyeon disappeared as if running away, and Noah took his place.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…Ha.”
My throat burned.
Noah finished the coffee that Shinhyeon was drinking. As the coffee poured through the straw, she felt like it had quenched her thirst a little.
Nevertheless, his expression was still as cold as ice.
“Noah, did you hear everything?”
Nod.
“Why did I do that then?”
Nod.
“Um…Are you still very angry?”
Dori Dori.
“…It’s only a little bit.”
“I guess I’m bad…”
Instead of answering, Noah shut her mouth.
Lee Tae-hwa, who became anxious at that sight, could not bear it and started putting it on.
“…I’m sorry. I guess my methods were wrong.”
“…”
“I shouldn’t have done that to you.”
“…”
“I did it for you! But I hurt you. Don’t I look like a fool?”
Dori Dori.
As Noah shook her head, Taehwa smiled without realizing it.
“…No.”
It felt like the ice had slightly melted.
Once the mouth opened, it was clear water after that.
Taehwa bows his head several times and Noah quietly maintains a blank expression.
A sincere apology and her true feelings.
It was only a little, but tears welled up in Noah’s eyes.
It was water created by melting ice.
“Why are you crying?”
“…”
“It hasn’t changed.”
“…What?”
“It’s the same. It was like that in the past. She looks like an ice witch on the outside, but she’s soft on the inside and cries a lot.”
“I’ve never done anything like that.”
Noah’s voice was wet as he said that.
“I was just a little upset.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I did that for you. Then, you shouldn’t have said that.”
“It was my mistake. I thought if I did that, they wouldn’t mess with you.”
“…You’re stupid.”
“You idiot.”
Noah laughed to himself even as he said that.
Who is calling whom an idiot?
The words of the man I just heard came to mind.
‘Let’s talk, have a conversation! No, if we had met and talked straight, it would have been resolved a long time ago!’
“…Sigh…I’m sorry for pouting and running away too.”
“Me too…I’m sorry for saying that for no reason…”
The two girls continued their conversation after that. Things that made me feel sad or sorry.
As a result, the conversation continued naturally. It was an amazing thing.
It had been almost two years since they had had a proper conversation, but the two were still good friends.
It makes me wonder why I didn’t do this a long time ago.
It even felt a little vain.
“Why have we been like this all this time?”
“Well…No, I’m not angry yet?”
“I’m sorry, Noah…What should I do? Should I pay back with this body?”
Taehwa lowers the neck of his top slightly.
Noah made a disapproving look on his face.
“I don’t like it.”
“Ah…I see you had a boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?”
“You mean uncle? He’s your boyfriend?”
Now that the conversation was over, Lee Tae-hwa asked what she wanted to ask.
“That guy is really your boyfriend, right?”
“…”
“Noah, is that guy your first love?”
I did not understand well.
First love? Boyfriend?
After thinking for a while, Noah immediately remembered something. The first day she met Tae-hwa again, she introduced him as her boyfriend.
‘You idiot!’
She had to explain quickly.
If she did something wrong, she would really end up being a lover with that guy.
‘Huh…?’
But why wouldn’t you want to deny it?
This…It shouldn’t be like this. It would just be like a good uncle and a young nephew.
While she was hesitating for a moment due to a strange feeling, Taehwa’s eyes sparkled.
It seemed like he took the silence as an affirmation.
“First love and lovers… It’s romantic.”
“…It’s not my first love.”
“Huh? Then?”
“I haven’t had my first love yet. So, I’m not a lover. He’s not my boyfriend.”
Taehwa looks surprised at those words.
“You stroked it. You put food in your mouth and you looked very happy.”
“Isn’t that what everyone who is close friends does…?”
“Noah.”
“Huh?”
“Where have you gone? Tell me quickly.”
Noah felt the offense and defense change in an instant.
Noah begins to be embarrassed by those persistent eyes.
After hesitating for a while, she reported her meeting with him to Taehwa.
“…We stroked and hugged each other and even laid in the same bed, but you’re saying we’re not dating?”
“…Uh.”
“Noah, is he really okay?”
Taehwa started to worry about Noah.
He seems to suspect that there may be some dark intention behind it.
If you think about it, it was natural.
He did something like that to a minor and now he goes to my house often. Also, didn’t they say that they even slept in the same bed yesterday?
“Joe…He’s a good person.”
“Be specific.”
“He took care of me when I was sick, bought me soup and rice, and patted me often…”
“Again.”
“When I cried yesterday, you even gave me a pillow!”
“Did you like it?”
“…It was good. My heart was racing and my body felt like it was floating above the clouds…”
“But aren’t you your boyfriend? Not your first love?”
“…Yes.”
Taehwa heard those words.
He looks at Noah and says.
“We decided to call it love.”
“Love…Love?”
“Yes, Noah’s first love is that uncle.”
Wow.
Noah’s face turned red like a strawberry.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“My first love will never be that man.”