I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 154

154.

“The first life ended like that, so what about the second life?”

I wanted to hear everything this time.

About Yoo Ji-an.

It suddenly felt new how curious I had become about him.

“You want to hear it?”

Fortunately, Yoo Ji-an didn’t seem too bothered.

‘Of course not.’

Because Yoo Ji-an also li…kes me.

The thought made my heart clench again, so Seo-ah quickly stopped thinking.

“The second life… you had already met me then.”

“Ah.”

“It ended even faster than the first life. When I think about it now, I didn’t even need the elixir that much, but I was so greedy back then. It was close to stubbornness. I wanted to beat a guy similar to me.”

Seo-ah, watching Yoo Ji-an quietly murmuring, replied in an embarrassed tone.

“I still feel sorry for some reason. It feels like I just took what Yoo Ji-an Hunter had already combined.”

“You don’t have to feel sorry. If you hadn’t killed me back then, that guy would have killed you and me. Even without the elixir.”

“Hmm.”

“Since we met in the gate [a type of dungeon or portal to another dimension], we were just monsters to each other.”

Seo-ah wanted to deny Yoo Ji-an’s conclusive statement, but she couldn’t think of a proper response, so she gave up.

Just then, an employee knocked and came in.

“If you’re done with your meal, would you like dessert?”

“What do you want to do?”

“Ah, I’m done eating.”

Yoo Ji-an nodded to the employee, and the food was cleared away, replaced with warm coffee, refreshing lemon madeleines, strawberry tarts, and fruit.

As the employee left, Yoo Ji-an lifted his coffee cup and lightly smelled the aroma. Seo-ah blankly watched him.

‘It’s like watching a coffee commercial.’

Was Kang Yoo the most famous coffee commercial model these days?

Seo-ah continued with her useless thoughts and gently lifted her own coffee cup with both hands. Warm warmth spread through her palms.

“Should I tell you about the third one too?”

Seo-ah looked out the window for a brief moment. It was completely dark outside, and the road was filled with cars leaving work.

If I go out now, I’ll just be trapped in that mess.

“Yes, please do.”

Why do I feel like it’s a good thing?

Yoo Ji-an nodded and began his long story again.

“Yes, the third life was the longest I’ve lived so far. It’s only been a year or two, though.”

Seo-ah quietly listened to his words. Yoo Ji-an’s voice, mixed with the soft music, was low and sweet, like music itself.

He was like a commercial earlier, and now he’s like music.

‘I’m really in deep.’

Seo-ah suddenly found herself laughing and dumbfounded.

The moment she lifted her lowered gaze, she met Yoo Ji-an’s eyes.

Yoo Ji-an was faintly smiling as he looked at her.

At that moment, the music faded away.

Seo-ah had a feeling that she would never forget that smile and this moment.

‘This is cheating.’

My neck felt ticklish.

***

“Move right away starting tomorrow.”

Yoo Ji-an said as he parked the car in front of Seo-ah’s officetel [a studio apartment that is also used as an office].

“I will. Anyway, tomorrow is the day I hear the results about Gun-woo and decide whether to discharge him….”

“Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry, but I have a schedule in the afternoon tomorrow. I don’t think I can go with you.”

“Yes? Ah, that’s… I see, it’s okay. It can’t be helped.”

Yoo Ji-an spoke as if he was sorry that he couldn’t go when he should have. Seo-ah felt it was a bit strange, but she didn’t point it out and replied as if she understood.

Yoo Ji-an got out of the car and walked with her to the entrance. Seo-ah was conscious of his every word and action.

Meanwhile, Yoo Ji-an, whom she glanced at, was so calm. Was it because of his four lives of experience?

Yoo Ji-an stood in front of the door and looked at the sky as if to stall for time.

As always, there wasn’t a single star in the dark Seoul night sky.

“It’s late.”

“I know, while listening to the story… time flew by.”

The two of them hadn’t done anything special today.

They went out to eat, ran away, sat in the Hunter Lounge, ate, drank tea, and chatted. But it wasn’t boring at all, and Yoo Ji-an spoke the most he had ever spoken since she had known him.

She even felt proud that she seemed to know a lot about him today.

‘I don’t want to say… goodbye.’

Pressing down on her ticklish heart, Seo-ah rubbed the bottom of her shoe on the ground for no reason.

“Go in now, I’ll be going.”

As Yoo Ji-an said his farewell and turned around, Seo-ah unknowingly grabbed the hem of Yoo Ji-an’s coat.

Yoo Ji-an looked back with a puzzled expression.

“…Ah! That, that.”

“Why, do you have something left to say?”

“Uh….”

There was nothing in particular to say. But she had to squeeze something out to avoid awkwardness.

Seo-ah, who had made eye contact with Yoo Ji-an, blinked a couple of times. She had thought of something to say.

“That….”

Yoo Ji-an patiently waited for Seo-ah to continue.

“It must have been… a difficult time. I don’t know what kind of comfort to offer, or if comforting is even the right thing to do.”

“…….”

“I hope many good things happen to Yoo Ji-an Hunter in this life. And if it’s okay with you, I’ll listen to your stories a lot in the future too.”

Yoo Ji-an’s pupils, which had been looking at Seo-ah, slightly trembled.

Yoo Ji-an’s face, which had been making eye contact with Seo-ah, slowly approached her.

‘Oh, oh…?’

His feelings, thick and very thick, flowed into her through his eyes. Seo-ah tightly closed her eyes to cut off the wave of emotions she couldn’t handle.

Then, something warm and soft briefly touched her forehead and fell away.

“Thank you.”

And when she opened her eyes, Yoo Ji-an was already turning around and heading to his car.

Seo-ah remained frozen like a stone until Yoo Ji-an got into his car and drove off. Only after the car had completely disappeared did she finally come to her senses.

“…Crazy, really. Who are you trying to kill?”

After standing there for a while, Seo-ah patted her chest and barely moved her stiff legs to enter the building.

Looking in the mirror in the elevator, she saw a burning sweet potato [meaning her face was flushed and red].

“…….”

Only then did Seo-ah become embarrassed and ran into her room.

The series of actions of closing the front door, taking off her clothes, washing up, and changing into pajamas were carried out without a hitch even in a dazed state. It was almost mechanical.

Only after getting into bed did her cheeks burn up again. Seo-ah lightly rubbed her forehead.

‘What does it mean?’

After calming down a bit, Seo-ah began to sort out her thoughts calmly.

‘Park Seo-ah likes Yoo Ji-an, a lot at that.’

True.

Now, regardless of whether she admits it or not, it’s true. Of course, she’ll try not to show it as much as possible. No, why shouldn’t she show it?

The fundamental reason Seo-ah tried to hide her feelings was because she was afraid it would be a one-sided love.

‘Yoo Ji-an likes Park Seo-ah…?’

The feelings she glimpsed with [Emotional Transference] were certain. And the kindness he showed, which Yoo Ji-an had never shown to anyone else, must have stemmed from affection.

‘But that doesn’t necessarily mean he wants to date me.’

He cherishes her, thinks she’s cute and lovely, but she didn’t know if that was romantic or closer to the feelings of seeing a younger sister.

And even if he did like her romantically, he might not want to start a serious relationship.

‘Well, even for me.’

Dating Yoo Ji-an… is not easily imagined. It’s not just because it’s Yoo Ji-an, but also because Seo-ah’s life is tough.

Becoming an S-class hunter and having many worries disappear thanks to the kindness around her, the fact that Seo-ah is the head of her household remained unchanged.

And Yoo Ji-an was even more so.

‘He said he doesn’t even know the reason for his regression [reincarnation or time travel].’

How frustrating and difficult must it be, even if he pretends to be calm? Experiencing the death of loved ones and experiencing his own death three times is too much for an ordinary person to handle.

Where would he have the mind to have a carefree romance?

‘So….’

She’s confirmed that he cares for her, so she’ll be satisfied with that.

Seo-ah pulled the blanket over her head.

Even though she had sorted out her thoughts to some extent, her emotions were not so easily sorted out.

The moment his lips touched her forehead kept swirling in her head.

“Ah… I can’t sleep.”

Seo-ah threw off the blanket and jumped up again.

She began packing for the move tomorrow.

She slowly put her few belongings into her bag, but not much time passed.

“Ah, right. I almost forgot something important.”

As soon as something came to mind, Seo-ah grabbed the phone rolling around on the bed at the speed of light.