Chapter 13: Shared Ambitions and a Helping Hand

Shared Ambitions and a Helping Hand

Having been abruptly called back from America by his mother, Yoon Heesung had undoubtedly left all his friends behind. To make matters worse, he hadn’t even had a chance to adjust to his new school in Korea before the bullying started, preventing him from attending properly.

I resolved to offer Yoon Heesung some encouragement. Given the circumstances, I truly hoped he would excel, perhaps by achieving stellar grades and attending a good university. Regardless of whether it was college or something else, I simply wished for his success.

“From now until the Suneung, focus solely on your studies, no games. Your grades seem promising; it would be a shame to waste that potential. Unless… are you planning to attend university outside of Korea?”

It was entirely possible he might pursue his higher education in America. After all, he had mentioned that both his older brother and sister were currently living abroad.

However, Yoon Heesung simply shook his head.

“I haven’t given it much thought yet. What about you?”

“Me, I suppose…”

My words caught in my throat. I hesitated, then stammered my answer.

“I’ll just attend whatever university my scores allow…”

“Where do you *want* to go?”

“…”

Yoon Heesung asked a question my own mother had never bothered with. I hadn’t realized it until now, but being asked such a thing truly felt good. To be curious about me implied he wanted to understand me better. Even if his inquiry held no deep meaning, I had never encountered anyone who showed such interest before.

“Considering scholarships, Joowon University.”

“And if scholarships aren’t a factor?”

Indeed, Yoon Heesung was the sole person who had ever shown me such genuine interest.

“If I didn’t need a scholarship… Seolhan University.”

Joowon University was situated in the provinces, while Seolhan University was in Seoul. Realistically, for both living and studying, Joowon University seemed like the far more practical choice. Although Seolhan University was a national institution, relocating to Seoul and maintaining a student life there would undoubtedly incur significant expenses. Since I couldn’t rely on my mother for financial support, I would need to manage all my affairs independently once I started university.

Even setting aside financial concerns, I might not be able to attend if my Suneung scores fell short. Still, if the opportunity arose, I yearned to go to Seolhan University.

“Seolhan University.”

Yoon Heesung echoed my words, then nodded his head in affirmation.

“Then I’ll go to Seolhan University as well. You should do the same, and don’t even consider scholarships.”

“What?”

‘Did he truly believe Seolhan University was just around the corner? It was, after all, consistently ranked among the top five universities in the entire country.’

Yet, Yoon Heesung didn’t strike me as a poor student. For some inexplicable reason, I felt he could achieve anything he set his mind to. A university enrollment, for instance, seemed well within his grasp, and he’d likely surpass expectations. It was as if he possessed an immense, inherent store of good fortune. If my total luck amounted to a mere hundred, Yoon Heesung’s would surely be in the thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands.

When such a Yoon Heesung,

“It would be wonderful if we could attend the same university.”

uttered those words, my spirits couldn’t help but soar in response.

‘How long had we known each other to be discussing attending the same university?’ I almost chided him, but then thought better of it. It wasn’t as if his words were unwelcome. Instead, I firmly clasped Yoon Heesung’s shoulder, speaking with a serious tone.

“Then… you need to start coming to school tomorrow. Not just to show your face for a moment, but to actually attend consistently.”

Whenever I’d told him to come to school before, Yoon Heesung would genuinely appear for a mere instant before leaving. I wasn’t sure if such brief appearances counted as official attendance, but it was clear that at this pace, he would undoubtedly fall short of the required attendance days and be unable to graduate.

“You need to attend school to graduate, and to even think about university.”

Just as Yoon Heesung had extended his help to me, I, in turn, wished to assist him.

“If… you encounter any difficulties, please tell me. I might not be able to offer significant help, but you never know what good might come of it.”

“…”

“Even if not every single day, try to come as frequently as you can.”

It simply felt unjust that he couldn’t attend school due to those malicious individuals. I truly hoped Yoon Heesung would return to school and thrive, as if to prove them wrong.

Yoon Heesung remained silent for a moment. I cautiously looked up at him, and soon, he offered a nod.

“Alright. I will.”

I had been fretting, so it was a pleasant surprise when Yoon Heesung readily agreed. I nodded repeatedly, convinced that this was an excellent decision. Speaking up had truly paid off. Given that he hadn’t explained his previous absences, I had feared he would simply refuse, even after my plea. It was a genuine relief.

Though our acquaintance was brief, Yoon Heesung didn’t strike me as someone who would lie. There was no specific reason; it was just a feeling that he wouldn’t. He seemed like the type to uphold his promises, making me believe he would genuinely start attending school.

Just as I felt a wave of relief, a thought struck me: ‘What kind of meddling is this, really?’ My mother, the lady of the house, and even my homeroom teacher had been so relentlessly persistent that I felt I was becoming oddly pushy myself. He wasn’t a child, after all. Though, admittedly, he did possess some rather concerning traits.

We had merely idled away the time, completely neglecting our studies, and soon evening descended. I was just pondering whether we should order some food when, at that very moment, Yoon Heesung informed me that dinner had already been prepared.

“You just need to take it out and warm it up.”

True to Yoon Heesung’s words, when I opened the refrigerator door, it was brimming with an array of pre-cooked dishes. Beyond the typical side dishes, there were also abundant fruits and various snacks. The meticulously organized interior clearly bore the mark of someone adept at household chores. Given that the kitchen was on the first floor, it appeared that others were indeed coming in to manage these tasks. Having grown so accustomed to moving about this house as if it were my own, I had momentarily forgotten its true nature.

“You’re here as a guest, so just relax.”

“How could I? Should I help move these?”

“You really could just sit there.”

Despite his words, Yoon Heesung, as always, didn’t insist. I picked up a dish and stole a glance at him. He was serving the food with remarkably practiced hands; it certainly didn’t look like this was his first or second time preparing a meal.

“…”

‘He truly seemed far too accustomed to it.’

Separate buildings for family members, a kitchen devoid of any lived-in feel, employees who didn’t venture to the second floor, and Yoon Heesung living in solitude both at school and at home.

When I considered all these aspects, it struck me as profoundly peculiar.

“Who prepared all of this?”

“I’m not sure. All the staff who manage the household chores changed when I arrived here.”

Yoon Heesung didn’t even know the identity of the person who prepared his meals. It seemed he wasn’t particularly close with any of the household staff.

“…”

‘So, while he’s in the annex, does he truly not speak to anyone? His mother, he’d mentioned, resided in the main house, and even then, she frequently left the villa vacant. If I weren’t to visit, would he never even utter a single word?’

I frowned, a sense of unease settling over me. I couldn’t understand why I felt such a pang of pity for Yoon Heesung every time I looked at him. Nor could I explain why I felt so drawn to him. I found myself wanting to fill the emptiness I perceived within him.

‘…Who am I to even think such a thing?’

Regardless of their separate living arrangements, his mother clearly adored Yoon Heesung. This much was certain. There was simply no place for me to interfere with that profound affection.

I sternly reminded myself of my place. I had already meddled quite enough, and it felt wrong to push it any further. Hastily, I cleared my mind and picked up the dishes.

Perhaps it was because my mind was elsewhere, causing me to pick up two dishes simultaneously. In an instant, the strength simply drained from my hand, and the plate slipped.

“Ah!”

It wasn’t a mere ‘clink,’ but rather a resounding *CRASH* that tore through the air. The plate, inherently heavy, collided with the unyielding floor, cracking from its center and splintering into fragments with a deafening reverberation. I stared, utterly bewildered, at the shattered crockery and the soup splattered in every direction. It had happened… in an instant. Too shocked to move, I simply remained frozen, gazing at the floor.

It was Yoon Heesung, not I, the perpetrator of the accident, who reacted with remarkable composure.

“Are you hurt?”

He swiftly grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back with a firm tug. I didn’t stumble, however, because Yoon Heesung’s grip on my shoulder was exceptionally steady.

Yoon Heesung took the dish I was holding in my other hand, moved it to the table, and then meticulously checked my hand. Seeing him ensure I wasn’t hurt, I belatedly came to my senses. I was only slightly startled by the loud noise, not injured.

I mumbled weakly, “I’m so sorry… What should we do about this?”

Trying to help had only resulted in an accident. Sensing my dejection, Yoon Heesung spoke kindly. “It’s a good thing you’re not hurt. Just sit down.”

“No, I’ll clean it up.”

“Yunwoo. It’s fine.”

His tone, though chiding, was quite firm. About to do something, I awkwardly sat down at the table. Then, I watched with wide eyes as Yoon Heesung, whom I expected to fetch a broom, quickly began picking up the shards with his bare hands.

“Hey, if you touch that with your hand—!”

I had just started to caution him, seeing him carelessly grasp a large shard, when disaster struck. I shot to my feet, yelling,

“Hey!”

A red streak appeared on Yoon Heesung’s index finger. The line instantly deepened, swelled, and then a trickle of crimson liquid flowed down. The moment I saw the blood tracing his palm, my hair stood on end.

“Ah…”

Yoon Heesung, the one actually injured, merely let out a slow sigh or groan, then tore off a piece of paper towel nearby and wrapped it around his finger. The entire process unfolded with a practiced, fluid motion.

I, however, couldn’t remain so composed. Seeing the pristine white paper instantly stained scarlet, a sudden fear seized me. I cautiously stepped closer.

“What do we do about this…? Shouldn’t you go to the hospital?”

“It’s not that bad.”

Yoon Heesung asserted this with the confidence of a doctor. Unlike my flustered state, he remained perfectly calm, treating his own injury as if it were someone else’s. He removed the towel, bent his finger a few times once the bleeding had mostly stopped, then washed the wound under running water. Afterward, he tore a fresh towel and continued to staunch the blood. Every step was carried out without a hitch, like someone who had been hurt many times before.

“…”

Watching him, my heart felt heavy. If I hadn’t been so eager to help, Yoon Heesung wouldn’t have been hurt. If I hadn’t been so distracted, we would be safely eating dinner right now.

“…Do you have any ointment?”

My voice, tinged with self-reproach, was barely a whisper.

“Ointment… It should be in the last room on the first floor. Why?”

“You’re hurt. You need to put some on.”

“I’ll go get it.”

I shook my head. That much, at least, I had to do. “How can you get it with that hand? I’ll go.”

“Then… it’s in the very back of the second drawer.”

Yoon Heesung’s tone was somewhat doubtful, but I headed to the last room on the first floor as he instructed.