Chapter 34
“Hmm… so that’s how it was…”
Noeul finally understood why Jiwoo had acted the way she did after hearing Hansol.
He understood, but…
“Hmm…”
What was this uneasy feeling he had?
Hansol spoke.
“When you see Jiwoo tomorrow, find a chance to casually tell her she looks pretty. That should clear things up quickly.”
“Hmm…”
When Noeul’s response seemed lukewarm, Hansol asked,
“Why?”
Noeul rolled his eyes around for a moment before answering,
“…Nothing.”
It wasn’t that he wanted to hide anything from Hansol. Noeul was simply unsure of his own feelings at the moment.
He knew why Jiwoo was sulking and even knew how to fix it. But for some reason, he didn’t want to do it that way.
His first thought had been, “Do I really have to go that far?”
They weren’t playing princess like kindergarteners. Why did everyone have to tell Jiwoo she was pretty? Of course, Jiwoo was pretty. But whether to say it or not should be Noeul’s choice. Was it really right for her to throw a tantrum at a friend just because they didn’t say she was pretty?
She grew up hearing compliments about her looks. Is it only natural to get upset if no one says it now? Noeul thought this was a perfect chance to correct that arrogant streak.
Yet soon, he wondered why he was so worked up about it.
It was just a single compliment—how hard could it be? He already knew Jiwoo could be childish. Why make it a bigger deal? He understood her feelings well enough. So why be petty?
Maybe it was because he understood her that he felt annoyed. He could guess the thought process she’d gone through. She had lived her whole life being pretty, so that beauty was the source of her self-esteem and identity. It was natural that if someone didn’t call her pretty, she’d feel upset and threatened.
Noeul felt irritated by that. All the compliments he ever got—about being cool or handsome—felt like mockery. He had never received a genuine compliment. Yet even he had to tell Jiwoo she was pretty to make her feel better?
Unbelievable. If Jiwoo was unhappy just because Noeul didn’t call her pretty, he wanted to withhold it to the end.
Of course, it was childish. Doing that would only be meeting her childishness with more childishness. Yet for some reason, he didn’t want to give Jiwoo what she wanted.
Maybe he wanted to be someone special to her by being the only one who didn’t give in. Or maybe he enjoyed knowing Jiwoo wanted his recognition.
He couldn’t say with certainty that he didn’t feel that way. If he did, then Noeul himself would be petty. In that case, it’d be better just to say she’s pretty and stop overthinking it.
Right. Just say she’s pretty. No need to act immaturely in return.
Jiwoo acted like a child, but Noeul would remain kind and generous, keeping his dignity intact. He was different from Jiwoo, after all.
When Jiwoo got home, she immediately tossed off her white T-shirt and jeans.
Then she put on her worn-out home clothes, stretched at the collar like someone had grabbed her by the scruff, and full of holes.
She went to the bathroom and scrubbed off her makeup with a cleansing foam, as if it could erase today’s shame.
Back in her natural state, Jiwoo flopped onto her bed.
“…….”
Staring at the ceiling, she suddenly sat up and grabbed the rabbit plush in the corner, hitting it repeatedly.
“Ugh, idiot, idiot. Jiwoo’s an idiot. Lee Jiwoo’s an idiot.”
After venting, she hugged the poor plush, feeling bad for it.
Jiwoo sat with a sulky expression.
Why did she feel so embarrassed?
She had only dressed up because she wanted to today. She had received countless compliments on her looks. Almost everyone she met said so. That should’ve been enough. So why was she still so angry?
The truth was, she knew why.
The real problem was that she couldn’t admit she was angry over something so trivial.
She recalled Noeul’s indifferent expression when he saw her.
“Arrrghhh~”
Jiwoo flailed her limbs in shame.
Her mother’s voice came from the living room: “Jiwoo, what are you doing?”
“…Nothing.”
Did everyone in the world have to tell her she was pretty? Was she really that much of a princess? She had never seen anyone prettier than herself, but that didn’t mean everyone had to treat her like a princess.
Then why was she so upset?
Was Noeul’s opinion that important to her? If everyone else had withheld compliments but Noeul had told her she was pretty, would she have been okay?
“…….”
Her expression grew more serious. The answer seemed to lean toward yes.
No way… It couldn’t be. If that actually happened, her feelings would be much worse. Right now, she was upset because only Noeul hadn’t said she was pretty. Her obsession with him was just too strong.
Otherwise… maybe it was because she trusted his judgment too much.
Others often said empty compliments, but Noeul didn’t. When had he ever told her she was pretty?
-
Hansol, aren’t these earrings pretty?
-
Yeah, they suit you.
Yes. Back then, she said “yeah.” Was that “yeah” about Hansol being pretty, the earrings being pretty, or Hansol wearing the earrings being pretty?
Then why hadn’t he said it to Jiwoo? If someone asked, “Jiwoo, does this outfit look good?” would he have said “yeah”? How could one ask that so openly without it feeling desperate?
…Actually, the answer might be simple.
Noeul thought Hansol was pretty, but Jiwoo, not so much.
Well… everyone has their preferences…
Jiwoo tried to accept it, but her pride hurt. Always being second-best to Noeul was infuriating.
Did Noeul always think like this? “Wow, Hansol’s really pretty today. Look at those long legs. Jiwoo… just Jiwoo.” “Jiwoo’s wearing jeans, but Hansol would’ve looked better.” “Hansol’s the prettiest in the world. Ugh, Jiwoo’s blocking her face, move.”
Thinking about this made Jiwoo’s heart ache. She had been arrogant, thinking everyone considered her the prettiest.
Of course, she envied and admired aspects of Hansol’s appearance. But if appearances were ranked, Jiwoo assumed she would be first.
She had never thought, “I’m the prettiest in the world!” It was a conceited thought, yet unconsciously, she felt that way.
And to Noeul, she was second.
Maybe others thought the same—Hansol was prettier. But Jiwoo had mistakenly believed she was prettier. She had likely lost objectivity about her looks. Even with clothes, she thought she looked good, while others might think otherwise.
Suddenly, Jiwoo doubted her own judgment.
“Have you made up with Jiwoo?”
Hansol asked as she entered the café and sat across from Noeul.
“…No.”
“Still?”
“Yeah.”
“Even though you said she’s pretty, it didn’t work?”
“…I didn’t say it.”
“Why not?”
“Just saying it out of the blue feels weird.”
“…Maybe.”
“Exactly.”
Hansol tilted her head.
“If it were me and I had to say someone’s pretty, how would I say it when entering a café?”
“Hmm… maybe, ‘Your outfit’s nice, it suits you’?”
“You could say that to Jiwoo too.”
“Hmm… yeah…”
Noeul had several chances to tell Jiwoo, but didn’t.
At first, he thought he didn’t want to say she was pretty because he still felt annoyed.
Even after deciding he should, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Noeul rarely commented on others’ appearances. He noticed changes—new hairstyles, accessories, clothes—but never voiced them.
Compliments felt meaningless, like a low-ranking student praising him for studying well. It wouldn’t feel genuine, only irritating.
Saying “pretty” carried more than appearance—it implied attraction, admiration, and evaluation of character and attitude.
Who would feel good receiving that from Noeul? Probably creeped out. He didn’t want to seem like a sleazy admirer. So he rarely said anything about looks, outfits, or accessories.
If necessary, he replaced “pretty” with “looks good” or attributed it to general consensus: “Everyone thinks she’s pretty.”
Maybe he had overanalyzed it.
Anyway, trying to say such unfamiliar words to Jiwoo felt awkward and impossible. His feelings for her were clearing up, but not completely, making it harder.
He realized he had been holding onto a trivial problem too long.
He thought, Stop overthinking and just finish this.
Noeul said,
“Next time, I’ll really say it. Just like earlier: ‘Your earrings are pretty. They suit you. Your outfit is nice. It fits well. Oh, today looks good!’ Something like that.”
“…Right.”
“Got it.”
Still, Lee Jiwoo… not an elementary kid. Did it really have to come to this?
Noeul shook his head and turned to his laptop.
“…Hey.”
Hansol suddenly called him.
“Yeah?”
“You speak so casually with me, though.”
Noeul sensed a subtle awkwardness in her tone and expression.
“…What do you mean?”
“…Nothing.”
Hansol pouted and looked out the window.
Noeul blinked.
…What’s with her now?
