We decided not to cross the line (Season 2)

Episode 49. Fight practice

As soon as I finished speaking

Hoonji gently pulled me out of his arms.




And he wiped away the tears streaming down my cheek

with his fingertips and asked.





"Are you saying that seriously?"




I nodded.



After confirming my answer,

he hugged me tightly again and said,





"Okay.

I'll make sure this kind of thing never happens again,

I'll take care of it."





"I won't ever make you cry again.

I promise."





Hearing his words,

I felt the strength that had filled my whole body

seem to drain away in an instant.





"Hoonji-ssi."






"What is it?"





"I'm sorry

for coming all this way."






"Don't say that."





He looked at me

and continued quietly.






"I'm the one who's sorry.

I'm the one who made you

come back like this.

I'll never make that mistake again."





After holding me in silence for a long time,

he slowly pulled away from me.





"Go wash up.

I'll leave after I see Junga-ssi fall asleep."





"Will you really do that?"





"I thought you'd feel uneasy."





At those words, my chest suddenly grew tight.




"Actually... I was worried about how I'd sleep alone...

that's why."





"If I leave and someone comes by or anything,

don't open the door, just call me right away.

Okay?"





"Yes."





When morning came,

he was already gone.




As soon as I got up,

I sent him a message.





[Hoonji-ssi, when did you leave?

Thanks to you, I slept peacefully.

Thank you.]




A little while later, a reply came back.




[I thought you were snoring really loudly.]





[Really?]





[Just kidding. Heh

I'll call you later after the shoot.]





I was scared to go to the cafe.



When I was alone,

I worried about what I'd do

if that woman came again like yesterday.




After arriving at the cafe,

I finished preparing to open

and opened the door.




Every time the door opened,

I jumped and

checked the customer.




Then the door opened,

and Woojin-ssi came in.





"Woojin-ssi!"





"Did you sleep well yesterday?"





"Yes. Thanks for worrying about me."


"Oh, and yesterday's baseball game was so

fun.

Let's go again next time!"






"I'm not sure I can go next time."




he answered with a troubled expression.




"Why? Woojin-ssi, is something wrong?"





"I think I might go back to Spain."





"When? Why?"





"After my mother's funeral,

I applied again to work in Spain.

My heart feels empty too...

I think I'll go there for a few years and come back."






"Really...?

I'm sad that I have to part ways with a good friend

like Woojin-ssi..."






"I'm the one who's worried, leaving behind

a friend like Junga-ssi, like a flower in a greenhouse...

"A flower in a greenhouse?"





"Junga-ssi! You have to get stronger!






That way you won't get hurt."

'A flower in a greenhouse...





Taehyung-ssi said the same thing

before too...'

After Woojin-ssi left,





I called Suyeon.

"Junga, why? What's wrong this early in the morning?"





"Suyeon, teach me how to fight.





""What? What are you good at?"





"I mean, teach me the skill to win a fight."





"What are you talking about this early?





Who are you going to fight?"

"Well. I might have to.





But it has to look like I clearly won.

Not half-baked.

It has to look like I definitely won."

"Hmm... who is your opponent?





Are they older than you?"

"They're younger than me."





"A girl?"





"Yeah, a girl."





"Are they good with words?"






"Yeah. I think so."





"First, if you avoid eye contact, you're already





starting off at a loss there.

Don't look away.

And don't raise your voice.

You have to speak calmly for the other person to get more flustered.

A trembling voice is even worse.


Slowly, gracefully, with a relaxed tone

that's what's important.

'I'm not even a little scared right now'


With that kind of mindset."

"Not scared at all!! With that kind of mindset!!"






"And don't make big gestures either.





Until the other person turns their back first

and disappears from your sight,

it's not over.

Got it?"
 
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind!"





After I hung up with Suyeon,





I took a deep breath.

Ji-seong-ssi went to work,




and I was doing translation work.

Then it happened.





The cafe door opened,




and the woman

who had slapped my cheek yesterday came in.

"You'll see who has more to lose."