Chapter 79: Unhealed Scars

“I didn’t know.”

“What?”

“I didn’t know you were on the team playing against Baekyoung today.”

There was neither falsehood nor malice in Jitae’s eyes.

He wore a face that looked as though he was telling nothing but the truth.

But it really was the truth.

He knew the team facing Baekyoung Construction today was Yuseong Fire & Marine, but he only found out that Yoon Jaeyeon was on that team after arriving at the stadium today.

When the announcer introduced the players, the name called out sounded strangely familiar, and only after looking did he realize it.

He realized it was the guy he used to play with on the Wonjang High School volleyball team.

He was surprised, but that was all.

Yoon Jaeyeon wasn’t even a starting member; his only appearance was being subbed in during the middle of the third set, and since he hadn’t done anything extraordinary, he didn’t stand out much.

Even considering that Jitae’s eyes had only been following Wooju, it was true that Jaeyeon was barely noticeable.

Even after the match ended, he hadn’t really thought about Yoon Jaeyeon.

If Jaeyeon hadn’t blocked his path and struck up a conversation asking for an autograph like this, Jitae might have completely forgotten about his old classmate.

“You didn’t know?”

The smile that had draped over Yoon Jaeyeon’s face was long gone.

He clicked his tongue as if he found it absurd.

“I suppose. You wouldn’t know.”

“You don’t play volleyball anymore, after all.”

The eyes of Jitae, whose face showed he just wanted to hurry back to the car and rest, suddenly hardened.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Yoon Jaeyeon.

“Seeing you smiling outside the court while we were playing, and in front of cameras and the audience at that, was really fascinating.”

“It made me wonder if this was some kind of cruel joke of fate.”

The autograph paper in Yoon Jaeyeon’s hand was already crumpled up pitifully.

Only then did Jitae think he understood.

Why Yoon Jaeyeon was standing here blocking his path.

Why he had struck up a conversation while asking for an autograph he didn’t even want.

“Because back in high school, you and Kang Wooju were completely flying out there.”

“But seeing Kang Wooju on the court while you’re standing outside it made even me feel weird.”

“…What is it you want to say?”

Jitae let out a heavy sigh.

“Why are you getting so defensive?”

“I’m just saying it because it breaks my heart.”

“Seeing a once-promising player ending up like that.”

Yoon Jaeyeon shook his head from side to side as if it were such a shame.

It was obvious that his actions were fully intended to scratch at and mock him, and Jitae let out a chuckle without realizing it.

He was simply amazed at how absolutely nothing had changed even after all these years.

“Thanks for saying that.”

“But honestly, it broke my heart too.”

“You were just sitting on the bench the entire match today.”

“What the…….”

“I wanted to see my old teammate play too, so it was a shame I didn’t get to see much of it.”

Jitae curled up the corners of his mouth.

At that, Yoon Jaeyeon’s face instantly flushed red.

Jitae had put down the volleyball when he became an adult, but he had never let go of the news surrounding the sport.

It was the only way he could hear about Wooju and cheer for him, even from afar.

When Wooju advanced to the European league, he watched that, and when he returned to Korea, he never missed a domestic V-League game, even replaying Wooju’s best plays every single time.

It was a volleyball league he couldn’t possibly be ignorant about, so if Jitae hadn’t known much about Yoon Jaeyeon, there was only one answer.

A mediocre player who didn’t receive much attention.

That was Yoon Jaeyeon’s position, and that thought was only cemented after seeing his play up close today.

“Back then, both Kang Wooju and I were called geniuses, but what about you, Jaeyeon?”

“Have you ever heard such praise and evaluation even once while playing as a volleyball player?”

“Hey, you…….”

Hit where it hurts, Yoon Jaeyeon’s face twisted into an even more hostile scowl.

Jitae let out a laugh as if he found it ridiculous.

Normally, he would have just let it slide.

He had his position as an actor to consider, and he neither wanted to play along with the guy’s childish provocations nor had the energy to do so.

But perhaps the reason he was acting so emotionally now was because he had witnessed a scene at the stadium today of a future he currently didn’t have—and perhaps could have had.

“Yoon Jaeyeon, if you want to look down on someone, you need to climb to a position that allows it first.”

In other words, it meant that Yoon Jaeyeon’s current position was far beneath his to be ignoring and looking down on Jitae.

Whether his anger had reached its peak, Yoon Jaeyeon’s body was already trembling.

The autograph paper in his grasp was now completely crushed beyond recognition.

The fact that he couldn’t retort despite being so angry probably meant he acknowledged it himself.

Jitae suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion.

He couldn’t see himself maintaining a decent attitude if he stayed here any longer.

“I’m leaving.”

Without uttering empty words like ‘see you later,’ Jitae leisurely walked past him.

They weren’t the kind of alumni who needed to promise a next time anyway.

“Hey, I forgot to ask you this.”

Jitae slowly brought his steps to a halt.

When he turned around, Yoon Jaeyeon was glaring with wide eyes and a despicable smirk.

“Is your mother doing well?”

“…….”

“My mom asks about her sometimes too.”

“I was really worried as well.”

“The last time I saw her was probably back then, right?”

With every word he spat out, madness increasingly clouded Yoon Jaeyeon’s face.

It was the expression of someone desperate to inflict pain no matter what.

Conversely, Jitae’s face froze over coldly.

It was fundamentally different from the annoyed and lifeless expression he had worn until now.

“It was when she was sobbing her eyes out because she ruined her son’s volleyball career.”

“Do you know how much I…….”

“You piece of shit……!”

Jitae roughly dropped Wooju’s bag and reached his arm straight toward Yoon Jaeyeon.

He grabbed him by the collar and raised his other hand.

His tightly clenched fist was menacing.

Jitae held his fist right next to Yoon Jaeyeon’s face.

As if hinting that he still had some rationality left, he didn’t immediately smash his fist into him.

“Hey, hey, watch that shoulder.”

At Jaeyeon’s words, Jitae’s eyes glinted even more sharply.

As if a fuse had completely blown, he lost all rationality and was just about to throw his fist squarely into Yoon Jaeyeon’s face.

“Won Jitae!”

A familiar shout rang out from behind.

Kang Wooju stood there panting with a shocked expression.

It seemed he had witnessed the scene from the front entrance and sprinted straight over.

“…….”

“What are you doing! Stop!”

Wooju quickly stepped in to block the two of them.

Jitae’s fist dropped powerlessly.

The hand gripping the collar fell shortly after.

“Won Jitae, you…….”

Jitae’s jawline bulged slightly, his teeth clenched as if suppressing his rage.

He soon slowly lowered his head.

Wooju still had a confused expression, completely clueless as to what was going on.

“I’ll go wait in the car first.”

Jitae picked up the dropped bag and turned around.

Wooju stared blankly at his back as he quietly disappeared toward the parking lot.

“Man, thanks. You saved my life. I would’ve been a goner if that punch landed.”

Yoon Jaeyeon opened his mouth with a sly snicker, patting down his crumpled clothes to straighten them.

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“…Huh?”

A low voice flowed from the back of the person who was still staring blankly at the spot where Jitae had disappeared.

Wooju slowly turned around.

And at the expression facing him, Yoon Jaeyeon flinched in panic.

Kang Wooju was scowling as hard as he could, glaring intensely at Yoon Jaeyeon.

It was on a completely different level from the unique, sensitive expression Wooju usually showed during matches.

He was staring his opponent down as if he were ready to throw a punch himself.

To a terrifying degree.

“I asked if you provoked him on purpose. Why? So you could tip off a reporter that a famous actor hit you?”

“Or were you trying to get a passerby to take a picture?”

“K-Kang Wooju, why don’t you calm down a bit?”

Flustered, Yoon Jaeyeon waved his hands as if telling him to calm down.

“Why would I go that far?”

“You used to have an inferiority complex toward Won Jitae.”

“…….”

“Am I wrong? Because that’s how I remember it.”

Yoon Jaeyeon’s smile vanished instantly.

Both Kang Wooju and Won Jitae were saying nothing but words that struck right at the heart.

“Anyway, don’t do anything stupid.”

“You heard us, didn’t you? What we were talking about.”

“…….”

Wooju slowly turned his back.

It was like a silent signal that he wouldn’t speak any further.

“Kang Wooju, it seems like you don’t know, but aren’t you curious?”

“About the reason why Won Jitae quit everything and what exactly happened?”

“…Even if I am curious, I don’t want to hear it from you.”

Wooju slowly walked away.

As he did, he thought of Won Jitae.

The sight of his back disappearing into the darkness had looked somewhat sorrowful.

Wooju’s steps toward the parking lot quickened more than usual.

He hadn’t particularly intended to eavesdrop.

He had just finished showering and come out, but when he couldn’t find Jitae—who he had vaguely assumed would be waiting inside the building—he had stepped outside helplessly.

He was wondering if he had made a mistake somewhere, or why Won Jitae’s mood had suddenly hit rock bottom, when he heard a murmuring noise from afar.

Turning his head, two familiar figures entered his line of sight.

Won Jitae and Yoon Jaeyeon.

Thinking they might be catching up after a long time, he figured he shouldn’t interrupt them.

In his memories, their relationship hadn’t seemed close enough to warrant a touching reunion after so long, but sometimes time had a way of sorting those things out.

Besides, he also remembered Yoon Jaeyeon mentioning something about an autograph earlier.

So he had been about to take a different path to turn around, but…