Chapter 67

Where does a person’s growth stop?

In truth, growth isn’t tied to age.

Whether it’s physical growth or mental growth, the former typically ends during school years, but the latter might never happen, even in adulthood.

For example, puberty doesn’t always arrive in one’s teenage years.

It can come in one’s twenties, thirties, or even later.

But having a late puberty isn’t exactly a good thing.

‘I think it just means I haven’t matured mentally.’

If puberty comes at the right age, it spares you a lot of trouble later.

If it passes at the right time, it resolves potential problems for the future.

Typically, puberty happens in the mid-to-late teenage years.

‘Still… calling my personality “puberty” seems like a bit much.’

In my past life, I never experienced puberty.

It made sense, given the pressure and gazes from those around me.

All of it weighed me down.

Because of that, I never went through the same puberty that others experienced.

I had simply brushed it off, thinking I just skipped it.

But maybe it had already passed at the time—without me even noticing.

‘Even so, calling my current personality puberty feels off, doesn’t it?’

Honestly, I’d prefer if this were just puberty. If not, I might end up as a full-fledged social misfit.

I really needed to figure out the cause, and soon...

‘The most likely culprit is [Angel]. Ugh. Too bad it’s in another country…’

I’ll have to wait for winter break to address it. What else can I do?

I let out a long sigh and stared out the window.

‘The leaves are already falling. Time really flies.’

Resting my chin on my hand, I shifted my eyes lazily.

The trees around the field looked sparse in places.

They’re lucky. Even if they go bald, they’ll grow back.

Why can’t human hair regenerate like that?

‘…Why am I going off on a tangent?’

A string of odd thoughts crossed my mind, but they didn’t last long.

Thunk.

“Ow.”

A jolt on my head snapped me out of my daydreams.

Who was that?

I turned my head slightly upward to see who it was.

“You should just take a nap, kid. Your sighing is disrupting the class.”

A muscular man frowned down at me.

Looking around briefly, I realized he was right.

Everyone was staring at me.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my head and bowed slightly.

“Sorry. I’ll be more mindful.”

“Oh? Uh… okay, thanks for that.”

The teacher gave me a puzzled look before returning to the podium.

‘Guess I’m used to this by now.’

That teacher must’ve been new this semester.@@novelbin@@

Apparently, my newly adjusted personality was hard for others to accept. Every time I apologized, they looked bewildered.

It made me want to sigh again, but I held it in. After all, I’d already been warned.

“What’s up?”

Hong Ye-Hwa, sitting next to me, leaned in and whispered.

“It’s nothing, really.”

It was hard to put into words, and besides, it felt like a personal issue I didn’t want to drag her into.

But my answer didn’t seem to satisfy her, and she narrowed her eyes.

“Spill it. Tell me everything.”

“…It’s nothing big.”

Still, since she seemed so insistent, I reluctantly started to explain.

After hearing my story, Hong Ye-Hwa appeared thoughtful for a moment.

Then she asked, “Did you tell Yul and Ye-Seo about this too?”

“No? Not yet.”

She seemed momentarily pleased to be the first to hear about it, but her expression quickly turned serious.

“Let’s tell them. I think it’ll help if they know too.”

“Hmm.”

I wasn’t sure how much help it would actually be, but just having someone listen might make a difference.

With a small nod, I conveyed my agreement.

Then, shifting my eyes back to the window, I noticed something.

‘Looks like it’s going to rain.’

The weather had grown gloomy and overcast.

It was the first rain since the start of the semester.

***

“So…?”

Choi Ye-Seo asked cautiously, tilting her head. I shrugged.

“That’s it. But there’s no solution.”

Well, there is one, but they wouldn’t believe me anyway.

Who’d believe in past lives? They’d just think I’m insane.

“We’ll find something if we keep looking.”

Hong Ye-Hwa, frowning slightly, shook her head as she tapped furiously on her phone.

On her screen, I caught glimpses of her search history:

Solutions for ADHD teenagers.

Can puberty mutate?

Would hitting them fix it?

That last one was a bit concerning. I turned my gaze away from her phone and glanced around the workshop.

Nothing had changed in the room.

This place felt the most comfortable—it was a space just for me.

‘Well, not anymore.’

It had become a shared space where friends visited and where I worked with Ms. Lee Ah-Reum.

Still, I felt at peace here.

“Eun-ie, anything I can help with?”

Ha Soo-Yul, who had been sitting quietly beside me, leaned her shoulder against mine, her eyes sparkling.

When I shook my head to decline, her cheeks puffed up slightly.

‘She’s getting more… cutesy, isn’t she?’

Feeling awkward, I turned my head away, just in time to see Choi Ye-Seo’s contemplative expression shift to sudden excitement.

“Maybe we should just bash Eun-ie’s head—!”

“Denied.”

What kind of thought process leads to turning someone into a vegetable?

Still, just having them listen to me made me feel lighter.

“Thanks, though. For listening to my mess of a story.”

As I scratched the back of my head and bowed slightly, they waved it off with big smiles.

“Don’t mention it! That’s what friends are for.”

Choi Ye-Seo raised her shoulders confidently, grinning.

“If anything’s bothering you, just tell us. We’ll help.”

“Only if it doesn’t become a problem because of me.”

Hong Ye-Hwa smiled gently and stood up, heading toward the canvas.

Looked like she was planning to paint.

“Eun-ie, just a sec.”

Hearing her call my name, I turned toward the sound.

Ha Soo-Yul, with her usual neutral expression, was pointing toward the door.

“I’m heading to the convenience store. Need anything?”

I didn’t know her intent, but it seemed like she wanted us to be alone for a bit.

“I’ll come along too,” I said.

Ha Soo-Yul nodded and stood up.

“See you later~,” Choi Ye-Seo waved lazily.

“Bring some Matdongsan snacks!”

The two girls waved us off, clearly not interested in coming along.

Click!

The sound of the door closing marked the start of our quiet walk.

The rain slowed our steps, our shoes splashing softly on the wet pavement.

We had one umbrella, just big enough for the two of us.

We walked in silence for a while. I could sense her glancing at me, and I thought about breaking the silence first.

But then—

“Eun-ie.”

“Yeah?”

Ha Soo-Yul spoke before I could.

We stopped in our tracks. There wasn’t a single soul around us.

Her crimson eyes met mine.

‘They look like rubies.’

She hated her eyes, called them creepy, but to me, they were just beautiful.

“Eun-ie, you’ve always been… strange.”

“Uh… Yeah? I mean, sure, I guess I have been.”

The sudden comment caught me off guard, but I found myself replying instinctively.

My voice cracked a little, but it didn’t matter.

“You’re the first person, aside from my parents, to treat me so casually.”

Her gaze softened, and her smile carried warmth.

“You don’t know how grateful I was. You were my first real friend, Eun-ie.”

“That so? Same here, though. You were my first friend too.”

Blinking, I smiled faintly.

Her smile widened as she continued.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m so happy. Even now, I’m glad I was your first friend.”

“Uh… thanks? So, when are we heading back?”

Why was she acting like this? Maybe the rain was messing with her head.

“What, don’t you have anything to say?”

She pouted slightly, her face showing mild annoyance.

But before she could finish, something caught my attention.

A car sped by on the road.

It wouldn’t have been an issue, except it was raining.

The car was sure to splash water all over her, so I quickly pulled her toward me.

Whoosh!

‘Tsk. Couldn’t they slow down a little?’

Thankfully, neither of us got wet. At least I had quick reflexes.

“Ugh…”

A muffled groan came from my arms.

“Ah, sorry.”

I apologized and loosened my hold, but she didn’t step away.

Why wasn’t she letting go? I needed both hands for the umbrella.

“Hey, holding the umbrella is kind of—”

As I lightly patted her head, strands of her hair brushed against my nose.

And then—

“……”

Our eyes locked, and a boundary seemed to form.

Soft warmth brushed against my lips.

The distance between her crimson eyes and mine was barely a centimeter.

Her eyes curved gently, forming a crescent shape.

Three seconds.

Those three seconds felt like an eternity, as if the world had stopped.

When the warmth withdrew, a strange sense of longing lingered.

Ha Soo-Yul stepped back slightly and gave me a small smile.

“So, how was it?”

I stared at her blankly, lost in thought, before letting out a faint laugh.

I had suspected it for a while, but I decided to leave it for now.

At least, now I knew for sure.

‘Love, huh? It really doesn’t suit me.’

If it was a blessing, then so be it.

Not just for Ha Soo-Yul, but for the others too.

Today was just the beginning, with her as the spark.

I could already imagine how things might unfold in the future.

Smirking, I closed the distance between us.

Close enough that our shoulders touched.

Close enough to hear each other’s breaths.

Heading back to the workshop would probably feel bittersweet.

But this moment could happen again anytime.

“How was it? Like getting bitten by a shark or something.”

My answer must’ve been the right one.

Seeing her smile like that made it clear.

The tickling sensation in my chest had turned into the steady thumping of my heart.

I wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer.

Before I realized it, we’d reached the convenience store.

It felt... a little disappointing.

***

[010-XXXX-XXXX: Please come to the Chairman’s office for a moment.]

The good mood from yesterday was officially ruined.