NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
Chapter 3 – Unidentified Sentences
—–CROW—–
Humans encounter countless obstacles throughout their lives.
From small, trivial ones to major hurdles that can shake their entire existence.
Countless events, under the guise of challenges, torment humans to test their limits. But…
“Hey, are you sick? Did you finally lose it after playing games all night?”
[What should I do? Si-woo looks really unwell.]
The ordeal unfolding before me could certainly be called a major hurdle, one that could shake my entire existence.
“…Sorry, my head’s a little dizzy.”
“So? What are you going to do? Take the rest of the day off?”
[Should I go to the hospital with him? He looks so pale…]
“No, I don’t need to go to the hospital…”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly talking about the hospital?”
[…What? Did I say anything about going to the hospital?]
“I’m not sick enough to go to the hospital! That’s what I meant!”
“So you were faking it? Ugh. Typical you.”
[That’s a relief. Looks like Si-woo isn’t too sick after all.]
If this couldn’t be called a major hurdle, then major hurdles probably didn’t exist in this world.
Now, let’s think.
To summarize my current situation, it’s like this:
On a normal day like any other, I rushed into the classroom after nearly being late, and suddenly, strange sentences started appearing next to my childhood friend, whom I’ve known almost my entire life.
“Hey, Seo Young-joo.”
“What is it, all of a sudden? And it’s Joo-young, not Young-joo…”
“Do you see that?”
“See what?”
“That, that thing! The weird sentences next to Han Seo-ah.”
“Did you eat something weird? What are you talking about?”
And these strange sentences were visible only to me.
That’s about it.
‘…This is like something out of a light novel from a neighboring country.’
I rubbed my eyes hard enough for Han Seo-ah, who was sitting next to me, to give me a strange look.
But the sentences that had clearly appeared next to Han Seo-ah remained, still visible only to me.
“Were you serious just now? You’ve really lost it, haven’t you? What’s wrong with you?”
“…No, I’m just seeing things.”
“…Seriously, what’s up with you today? Are you feeling unwell?”
Han Seo-ah wore a slightly worried expression.
An expression I’d only see once a year, if that, despite spending every day with her.
I was momentarily surprised that she was even capable of expressing worry.
“Huh?”
“?”
The sentences next to Han Seo-ah, which I had dismissed as hallucinations, vanished as if they had never been there.
“They were definitely there just now…?”
“Dude, seriously, what’s wrong with you today?”
“No, they were definitely there…”
“This is bad. Hey, Young-joo. I’m going to take him out for a bit, so take notes for us.”
Han Seo-ah stood up as if ready to leave immediately.
Only poor Seo Joo-young, struck by a bolt from the blue, cried out in surprise.
“Me? Now? All of a sudden? And my name isn’t Young-joo…”
“Have you forgotten that I took notes for you when you missed class last time?”
“Go ahead, noona. This Young-joo will diligently take notes until you return.”
“Okay, this noona trusts Young-joo and will somehow deal with this nuisance.”
“I believe in you, Seo-ah noona.”
“If the professor asks, tell him we went to the restroom.”
“Does Your Highness command anything else?”
‘…What kind of historical drama did they watch over the weekend to have that kind of conversation?’
After this exchange between Joo-young, who I suspected had been watching some historical drama, and the ever-consistent Han Seo-ah…
“Hey, get up. Let’s go out for a bit.”
“…”
I was dragged out of the classroom by Han Seo-ah’s hand.
[I hope I wasn’t too forceful. Should I have been a little kinder and gentler…?]
As a bonus, I could clearly see the strange sentences that continued to appear and disappear at will.
***
Normally, Hansol University’s campus would be filled with students after class.
But now, since we were out during class time, it was far from crowded; there wasn’t a soul in sight.
“Hey, Lee Si-woo.”
“…”
“What’s wrong with you today?”
Han Seo-ah, who had been walking ahead, let go of my hand and sat down on a nearby bench, then addressed me.
“You’re usually not normal, but today is too much.”
“…Is that concern? Or an insult?”
“An insult, obviously! Do you think I’d worry about you?”
[Of course, I’m worried, Si-woo. You’re not well, how can I not be worried?]
I wondered what the message, which was still appearing so dramatically, was trying to say.
At first, I briefly wondered if it was Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts.
In typical web novels and light novels, this kind of situation usually unfolds by revealing the person’s true feelings.
However, there was an obstacle preventing this line of thought.
There was a reason why my thoughts couldn’t continue and had to be withdrawn.
“Seriously, it’s funny that you think I’d worry about you.”
“…”
“It’s because I don’t like having someone who clearly looks unwell sitting next to me, so don’t get any ideas.”
Because it was Han Seo-ah.
Because it was Han Seo-ah, who, after spending so much time together, had become more of a nemesis than a real-life sibling.
I thought there was no way Han Seo-ah would have such thoughts.
I thought there was no way those sentences, expressing genuine concern and warm words, could be Han Seo-ah’s true feelings.
[Ugh, why can’t I say anything else…?]
‘…Then what is that?’
But the situation was too perfect for me to dismiss it entirely.
The strangest part was when I brought up the hospital earlier.
When I mentioned the hospital based on those bizarre sentences, she immediately showed a sentence questioning whether she had said anything about the hospital.
Considering this, the identity of those sentences had to be Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts.
– What? Late again? Sigh.. typical you.
– Hurry up! I’ve lost ten years of my life from waiting for you!
– Oh, you little rascal. What trouble have you caused now?
As I said before, the problem was that those sentences were too far removed from the Han Seo-ah I knew.
I mean, think about it.
Your older or younger sister, who you’ve fought with your entire life, suddenly starts speaking and acting warmly towards you overnight.
How could you believe it?
I’d rather believe that Young-joo’s name is actually Joo-young.
Anyway, that’s how unbelievable it was.
Lost in thought, Han Seo-ah looked at me with a strange expression.
“You’re really weird today.”
“…You said I was always weird.”
“No, that’s true, but today is even worse than usual.”
“…Would it be too much to ask you to choose between insults and concern when you speak?”
“Of course. Like I said, I’d never worry about you.”
[Did I say something wrong? I’m just worried about Si-woo…]
The difference between Han Seo-ah’s words and the sentences I saw was so drastic that I almost wanted to dismiss it as a hallucination.
“Even Count Asura wouldn’t be this bipolar…”
“Why are you suddenly bringing up Count Asura?”
“…It’s nothing.”
“Hmm…”
Han Seo-ah continued to look at me strangely.
But since my confused mind had calmed down a bit, I got up from the bench.
“Hey, why are you suddenly getting up?”
“I have to go to class. Don’t you feel bad for Young-joo, who’s stuck taking notes all alone?”
“Whose fault is it that we’re out here in the first place? I brought you out here because you weren’t feeling well.”
“So you want to just keep sitting here with me?”
“…Huh?”
“People will see us and think we’re a couple again.”
I just wanted to get back to class, and I felt bad for Young-joo, left alone to take notes. That was the only reason, nothing more.
I said it without thinking, to go back to the classroom and attend class.
“…It’s during class time, so there won’t be anyone passing by. What does it matter?”
“…Huh?”
“Don’t worry about that and focus on how you’re feeling. Like I said, I’m only out here because of you.”
That’s when I felt something was strange.
Han Seo-ah’s slightly flushed face, her body still seated on the bench even though I had stood up.
“…Where did it go?”
And the mysterious sentences had vanished without a trace.
The sentences that had been contradicting Han Seo-ah’s words were gone as if they’d never existed.
And at that moment, a hypothesis flashed through my mind.
“Han Seo-ah.”
“…Yes? What is it, all of a sudden?”
“What’s your least favorite type of game?”
Han Seo-ah was taken aback by the sudden question but answered quickly.
“…Horror games?”
“Really? Then how would you feel if I asked you to play a horror game with me?”
“Are you crazy? Of course, I’d be surprised and say no.”
[Horror games are scary, but… I think it would be okay to play with Si-woo.]
And with that, the vanished sentences reappeared.
“…This is it.”
“This is it? What? What do you mean?”
I could be absolutely certain.
Those sentences revealed Han Seo-ah’s inner thoughts, her true feelings.
But they only appeared when she spoke a lie.
“…This is like something out of a light novel.”
“Light novel? Are you reading light novels all night these days? Is that why you’re acting so strange today?”
“…Sigh.”
Why was this happening only to me?
It was a situation that truly made me sigh and lament.
—–CROW—–
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