WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ My Girlfriend Returned as a Dragon ◈

Chapter 52: Oppa, You Must’ve Been So Startled

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“Noona.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry, but I’d prefer it if you didn’t come see me like this anymore, and if we kept in touch as little as possible.”

It was something he had to say eventually.

But until now, he had kept it buried because it had been difficult to bring up.

Now, it seemed the time had come.

Taken aback by Minjun’s sudden bombshell, Yuna blinked at him.

As if she had never imagined he would say something like that.

“What do you mean, Minjun?”

“It’s true we were close like an older sister and younger brother when we were kids. But that was a really long time ago. And maybe it would be different if I were single, but I have a girlfriend now. It isn’t really appropriate for me to meet female acquaintances alone when I have a girlfriend.”

Minjun had sensed that Yuna, though not as intensely as Sia, had romantic feelings for him and was subtly pursuing him.

He could not leave any more room for misunderstanding.

“I just, with you, Minjun…”

“I’m sorry. But I think this is for the best.”

At Minjun’s cold response, tears gradually began to gather in her eyes without her realizing it.

Ever since they were children, she had secretly harbored feelings for Minjun.

Those feelings had faded little by little over time, but they had never disappeared completely.

And though Minjun himself did not know it, he had continued to have a considerable influence on Yuna even after they lost contact.

Right after Yuna immigrated to the United States, she believed that someday, she would surely have a chance to meet Minjun again. Preparing for that day, she had resolved to become the perfect woman, someone Minjun would fall for.

A highly attractive woman with looks, ability, and personality.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that was why she had become who she was today.

She had been called a genius and made a name for herself as an A-rank Hunter at a very young age.

After retiring, she had continued down a successful path by running various businesses, including that Korean-Chinese restaurant.

And when she had jokingly told Minjun that she had opened a Korean-Chinese restaurant because he loved jjajangmyeon as a child, she had not made it up.

She had opened it because she hoped that someday, Minjun would eat the jjajangmyeon she had made herself.

Yuna’s feelings for Minjun had always been sincere.

‘When I finally met Minjun again as my perfect self, I was going to confess to him.’

But because Minjun already had a girlfriend, she had not been able to confess.

If they could not become lovers, she had wanted to remain close like an older sister and younger brother, as they had before.

It was regrettable, but she had thought she could be satisfied with that much and live while hiding her true feelings.

But then.

“…Why can’t I? Hm, Minjun?”

Faced with Minjun’s firm attitude, which did not seem likely to change, she finally began to reveal her true feelings through tears.

“Can’t we at least stay close like an older sister and younger brother? It’s not like I’m asking you to date me. I just like you as a person. I liked the time we spent together, so I wanted to take care of you. I worked hard because I wanted to become a dependable noona you could lean on…”

“…”

Minjun looked quite shocked. He had not expected Yuna to speak so honestly about what was in her heart.

Her tears might have shaken his resolve somewhat.

But Minjun did not change his decision.

If anything, learning her true feelings made him more certain of it.

“I’m sorry, noona.”

“I, I….”

Before your girlfriend, I had liked you first.

I could love you more, and do more things for you.

Unable to bring herself to say those words, she lowered her head.

“…No, I’m sorry. I understand. I’ll do that.”

There was no point in talking any further, and she knew well that nothing she said would change Minjun’s mind.

Giving up, she swallowed her tears with effort.

Then she left Minjun’s apartment.

Forcing down the overwhelming sadness, she returned home alone.

All the way back, memories of Minjun came to mind, deepening her sorrow.

And that sorrow soon began to take on a twisted form.

‘If it weren’t for that bitch.’

If Minjun had not been dating Sia in the first place, this would never have happened.

Believing wrongly that Sia’s jealousy had caused this situation, Yuna began to direct her anger at Sia.

How could she relieve this anger?

She came to one conclusion.

‘I should spar with that bitch.’

Yuna had retired, but she had once been an A-rank Hunter. Sia was, officially, a D-rank Hunter.

Knowing nothing, Yuna thought Sia was an ordinary D-rank Hunter. She believed the difference in their weight classes would let her vent all her anger on Sia during their spar.

As that thought reached her, an evil smile spread across her lips.

* * *

Because I was worried about Sia, I could not focus on anything all day.

It was not like I could comfortably look into B-rank Gates, and when I contacted Rokan to ask about Sia’s condition, he said there was nothing he could tell me right now.

Besides, it was the first time Sia had ever shown me that side of herself while we were dating, so I could not help worrying even more.

So I spent the whole day thinking about how I could lift Sia’s depressed mood.

It would have been nice if I knew why she felt that way, but since I did not even know the reason, I decided to do the best I could.

I picked out clothes for Sia at a nearby department store. Thinking that was not enough, I made tteokbokki for her and put it in a large container.

As I was about to put the freshly made tteokbokki into the refrigerator, I noticed the containers of side dishes Yuna-noona had left behind.

‘This bothers me.’

For a moment, I wondered if I had been colder to her than necessary. But for the peace of the three of us, Sia, Yuna-noona, and me, it was a choice I had no choice but to make.

Still, what was I supposed to do with the side dishes noona had given me?

Some of them were packed for me, so I was grateful, but I felt uneasy about eating them.

But throwing them away without eating them did not feel right either.

I decided to worry about that later. There was another, more important problem.

When I got in touch with Sia soon, should I tell her what had happened today?

Or would it be better to wait until she felt a little better and then tell her everything?

All those miscellaneous worries ended up wasting my entire day.

Sia contacted me around the next morning.

At around ten in the morning, just as I was wondering whether I should contact Rokan again, Sia video-called me.

“Sia!”

My voice rose without me realizing, out of relief and happiness.

[Oppa, I’m sorry. Yesterday, I wasn’t in a situation where I could call you. You were really worried, weren’t you?]

I studied Sia’s expression.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but it looked like she had faint dark circles under her eyes, as though she had been through too much since the day before yesterday.

Other than that, she did not look much different from usual, but it was too soon to feel relieved.

“No. I’m just glad you look okay.”

[I’m sorry I only made you worry. You must’ve been so startled, right?]

“No. Everyone has days like that sometimes, don’t they? There are days when you’re incredibly happy, and on the other hand, days when you feel too depressed to bear it. Still, I’m glad you seem okay.”

Rather than asking what had happened, it was more important to say things that could support Sia right now.

Instead of asking what had happened yesterday, I told her about myself first to lighten the mood.

I started with a more detailed account of the rank reassessment I had not been able to tell her about before. Then I moved on to small episodes from when I had gone out to choose her present, things that were easy to listen to and laugh about without thinking too hard.

Of course, I did not mention Yuna-noona.

It felt a little too early to tell her about that now.

Sia enjoyed my stories and responded to them as she usually did.

But.

Perhaps because of what had happened, Sia’s expression did not seem completely bright.

It was as if she was still bothered by it, but was forcing herself to act okay because she did not want me to worry.

I wanted to ask what had happened, but I should not bring it up first.

After we chatted for over an hour.

[Oppa.]

Perhaps she had finally prepared herself, Sia looked at me with a complicated expression unlike before.

[I guess when you gain something, you lose something too.]

Just as she had during our last call, Sia opened with a meaningful remark.

[It feels like the world is determined to tear us apart. I felt that the day before yesterday, too.]

“What happened?”

Remembering that day, Sia fell silent for a moment. Then she answered with a bitter smile.

[I’m sorry. It’s something I still can’t tell you, oppa. You might find out someday, but I think it’s too early right now.]

We were honest enough with each other to know all of each other’s secrets, yet even Sia had something she could not help hiding from me.

I did not know what it was, but there had been a reason she had brushed it off the day before yesterday too.

I had no idea what might have happened, and my curiosity only grew.

[But there is something I can tell you, oppa.]

After taking a moment to compose herself, Sia continued with a serious gaze.

[Neither you nor I have lived doing things that would make people hate us. But there are people who hate us for no reason.]

I did not know who those people were, but Sia squeezed her eyes shut as if the mere thought of them made her teeth grind.

[Maybe someone will use every possible method to try to separate us. So…]

Sia could not continue.

I did not know exactly what she was thinking, but she seemed to be imagining the worst possible thing that could happen.

“Don’t worry. If someone tries to separate us, I’ll grit my teeth and endure it. And I’ll work hard to become strong enough to do that.”

Just like you did, Sia.

I was confident I could do anything.

I did not know what had her worried, but the way to dispel that anxiety was to give her certainty.

Though she seemed to have more to say and moved her lips, Sia covered her face with both hands, lowered her head, and began to sob silently.

“I don’t know what happened, but I’ll make sure nothing like what you’re imagining happens. So don’t keep it in your heart anymore.”

Unfortunately, that was all I could say to Sia right now.

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