Chapter 182. Liliana the One-Hit Instructor! (2)
Lucy returned to the dorm with a big smile on her face.
Because she had a blast hanging out with Lee Hoyeon after a long time.
"Hehe…."
Looking at the picture they took at the café, Lucy chuckled.
She was in the middle, with Lumi and Lee Hoyeon on either side.
She was going to keep this photo forever.
Humming a tune, Lucy took off her coat and lay on the bed.
Ding—
Ding—
Just then, a message came in.
It was from the group chat Lucy shared with her friends.
Before she could check it, several messages were already coming in fast.
- Lucy's boyfriend is out with Lumi~ lol
- Why, what happened?
- Saw the two of them walking together in an alley just now?
- Didn't you say the three of them were hanging out today? Maybe they just met first.
- Oh, maybe.
Lucy frowned as she read the messages.
Even though the three of them did hang out today, they were together the entire time without separating.
She quickly replied to the chat.
- When did you see them? The three of us were together today.
- About 5 minutes ago, on Academy Road #3. Where were you guys hanging out today?
Lucy froze, mid-reply.
"...Lumi said she was going shopping."
And Lee Hoyeon said he was going back to the hospital.
There's no way they could've met five minutes ago.
"Academy Road #3…."
A sudden wave of anxiety crashed over Lucy.
She got up and put her coat back on.
She wanted to check with her own eyes.
Lucy quickly left the dorm.
She hurried to the academy's shopping district.
'Academy Road #3….'
Academy Road #3 led from a wide boulevard into a narrow alley.
From the outside, the alley looked dark and gloomy.
It was Lucy's first time there, so she slowly scanned her surroundings and entered the dim alley.
Seeing red lights and flashy signs here and there, Lucy couldn't hide her confusion.
It was what people usually called the motel district.
Her friend had definitely said they saw Lumi and Lee Hoyeon earlier.
Since the friend was also from Class A, it was unlikely they mistook them for someone else.
But there was no reason for Lumi and Lee Hoyeon to be here.
Lucy's uneasiness grew stronger.
'Should I walk around… or maybe wait a bit? No, I should message Lumi first.'
She had been so shocked by the messages that she hadn't even sent a text to Lumi or Lee Hoyeon.
Now, finally regaining her senses in front of the motel district, Lucy messaged both of them.
But, of course, there was no reply.
'… No reply.'
Even if Lee Hoyeon didn't respond, Lumi always did—but not this time.
"Just a little longer… just a little."
Lucy aimlessly wandered around Academy Road #3.
Thirty minutes passed, then an hour.
She checked every restaurant, café, karaoke room nearby, but didn't see Lumi or Lee Hoyeon.
Maybe it's time to go back.
Maybe her friend just saw wrong.
Even so, the lack of replies on her smartwatch made Lucy's chest sting.
After wandering for two hours, Lucy eventually returned to the dark alley she'd started from and let out a deep sigh.
"What am I even doing… I feel so stupid."
Time to head back.
It's not that strange not to get a reply. She felt pathetic for wandering the streets for two hours over something like this.
Ding—
Just as she resolved to return, Lucy's smartwatch rang.
- From dear Lumi: Sorry Lucy. I replied late. I stopped by the market and I'm heading to the dorm now.
'Thank god. It was just a misunderstanding.'
"Whew…."
Relieved, Lucy let out a sigh and smiled as she sent her reply.
Ding—
But then another message from Lumi came in.
- From dear Lumi: Also, there's something important I want to tell you… Let's talk tomorrow.
"Huh?"
Something important? Lucy tilted her head but soon nodded.
Lumi said she'd explain tomorrow.
Feeling at ease, Lucy replied cheerfully and turned to leave the alley.
That was when a familiar man and woman exited a motel in the distance.
A petite black-haired woman and a tall man wearing a mask.
Even from afar, it was clearly Lumi and Lee Hoyeon.
Lumi had her arms hooked around Lee Hoyeon's as she giggled affectionately.
"Uh...?"
Lucy let out a short gasp.
No way. It can't be.
Her pupils trembled violently, and she placed a hand on her chest, closing her eyes.
Maybe she saw wrong.
Lumi said she was heading to the dorm.
She would never lie to me.
Lucy took a deep breath and opened her eyes.
Right there in front of the motel stood Lumi and Lee Hoyeon.
Lumi was still holding his arm.
Then the man raised his hand, removed his mask, and his side profile became visible.
That face… was undeniably Lee Hoyeon.
And then the two of them slowly kissed.
"What… the hell…."
Lucy stared blankly at their kiss, then slowly took a step back.
This was a place she didn't belong.
She should've gone back earlier.
If she hadn't foolishly wandered for two hours and had just returned to the dorm… she wouldn't have to feel like this.
Regret washed over her as she walked away.
Her head ached.
It felt like every brain cell was stabbing her brain with a spear.
"…."
Without even thinking, she eventually found herself in front of the dorm again.
Ding—
Her smartwatch buzzed with a message, but she didn't want to check.
Back in the dorm, Lucy took off her coat.
Suddenly her whole body felt cold, and she realized she was drenched in sweat.
But the discomfort didn't matter right now.
Feeling dizzy, Lucy collapsed onto her bed.
"Ah… Ugh… Hng…"
Now that she had escaped the noisy street and was back in the quiet dorm room, the emotions she had suppressed surged all at once.
Tears quickly welled up in Lucy's eyes.
She clutched the soft blanket tightly and quietly sobbed.
"Why… why did it have to be those two… whyyy…."
Lucy and Lumi, who had lost their parents at a young age, were raised in an orphanage.
But because Lumi couldn't adapt to the orphanage and was bullied, the two of them left the orphanage at a very young age.
From then on, Lucy and Lumi started fighting their way through the world.
It was a tough road for two young girls.
But Lucy didn't want Lumi to go through anything hard.
Because she was the older sister.
Without parents, it was her job to protect Lumi.
Even when she worked part-time alone after middle school.
Even when Lumi messed up at a job and Lucy had to bow and apologize on her behalf.
Even when she had to comfort a crying Lumi who clung to her, saying she was sorry.
She endured it all.
Because the desire to live happily with Lumi gave her strength.
Even when the head of the support center, who had approached them with promises of aid, demanded Lucy's body in return—she rejected the offer.
Because she had to stay proud in front of her sister.
Lucy turned down the support and took on more jobs. She slept less to make up for Lumi's share.
At the same time, she tried harder to block shady people from getting close to Lumi.
Because pure-hearted Lumi could easily be tricked by bad people.
Thankfully, they both qualified as ability users when they entered high school and received support to attend the academy.
That was when Lucy was finally able to quit her jobs and live more comfortably with Lumi.
That's why the bond between Lucy and Lumi was special.
They understood everything about each other.
That's why… she could never come between them.
She knew how much Lumi liked Lee Hoyeon.
"Lumi…."
Lucy sobbed as she said Lumi's name.
Her precious little sister, Lumi.
Her family, whom she loved more than words could express.
Even if they argued sometimes, deep inside, she loved her sister more than anyone.
And then there was Lee Hoyeon.
The person who saved her life.
The one who always stood by her side, no matter how foolishly she acted.
The one who made her realize that not all men were disgusting and dirty.
And… the man she liked.
If only it had been someone else.
If Lee Hoyeon had ended up with anyone else…
She'd still have Lumi.
But if those two ended up together, Lucy would be left with no one.
"Ah… ugh, haah…."
Struggling to breathe, Lucy placed her hand over her chest.
Her head hurt so much that she started having thoughts she shouldn't.
Lumi and Lee Hoyeon.
She loved both of them so much that it hurt even more.
Now, the things she didn't understand started to make sense.
The sense of isolation she felt when the three of them were together.
The lies from Lee Hoyeon and Lumi.
Lumi's sudden change in behavior.
The times the two of them vanished while hanging out.
What were they doing every time they disappeared?
"Urgh…."
Lucy clutched her aching head and closed her eyes.
Right now, she just wanted to shut her eyes.
And think of nothing.