SWNOVELXO Chapter 4 - A Goddess, But An Unreachable Woman For Me
Chapter 4 – A Goddess, But An Unreachable Woman For Me
Se-jeong approached with a smile.
“Oh, Se-jeong?”
Si-un swallowed hard.
And he stared at her blankly.
He seemed momentarily dazed by Se-jeong’s dazzling aura.
“Yeah, it’s not like you’ve only seen my face for a day or two. Did you forget what I look like since it’s the first time seeing me after military discharge? You punk!”
“But what brings you here?”
Si-un put down the book he was holding with a thud and asked with a puzzled expression.
“I came to clear my head. What else would I come for? But what are you doing in a bookstore? I’m shocked.”
“Well, I’m also clearing my head with some reading.”
“Come on… You’re clearing your head with reading? But why do you have so many books stacked up beside you?”
Se-jeong asked while scanning the books piled next to Si-un.
“I read all of these today.”
“Wha~at?”
Se-jeong snorted and added,
“After only speaking formally to male seniors in the military, you’ve developed a weird sense of humor since returning to society, huh?”
“No, I really read all these books today…”
But Si-un’s eyes were composed, as if he wasn’t joking at all.
Se-jeong scanned the books piled beside him.
“Introduction to Hunter Studies” “Basic Hunter Studies” “Principles of Hunter Studies”
“Top Hunter Park Tae-seok’s Autobiography” and so on…
They were all books about hunters.
And there were thirty-four volumes, all too thick to hold with one hand.
“You’re saying you read all of these? Right. I guess you’ve completely lost your sense of humor after being discharged. Our Si-un~”
“….”
“They’re all books about hunters? But what’s that one you’re holding?”
Se-jeong picked up one of the books he claimed to have read.
“Body Signal Basics.”
“Ah… I suddenly became interested in this field and was reading it. Body signals are…”
“It’s about psychological content dealing with automatic physical signals people send when experiencing emotions, right?”
“As expected… you know about it. Just like a Seoul National University student.”
“You developed an interest in this field?”
Cheon Se-jeong found Si-un’s serious tone since earlier suspicious.
Se-jeong had known Si-un since elementary school.
Their houses were close, and they had been in the same class many times from lower elementary through middle school….
Si-un was the one who never even glanced at books and only chatted with friends during class, getting scolded by teachers every day.
‘Did he mature after going to the military?’
Se-jeong sat down next to Si-un and opened a book.
“Anyway, it’s nice seeing you here at the bookstore. Let’s pass time together reading books.”
“So, Se-jeong, are you coming from work?”
“What else would I be doing besides work… I’m exhausted from shooting photos for a coffee brand’s main cover..”
Si-un knows well about Se-jeong’s situation, who is working as a model while taking a break from a prestigious university.
Standing in front of her, he feels inferior and shabby with just his high school diploma.
Flip- flip-.
Se-jeong watches Si-un turning book pages in a second.
“What are you doing? Are you reading some one-panel webtoon?”
“Why?”
“Why are you flipping pages without even reading the words? As I thought~ you didn’t come here to read. Did you run away from home or something? Is that why you’re hiding out here?”
It was understandable that Se-jeong found it strange.
‘Even if I honestly told her that I can read an entire book in just a few minutes, she wouldn’t believe me anyway.’
“This is how I read.”
“You call that reading?”
Flip-flip.
Si-un continues turning pages at the speed of a clock’s second hand, regardless of Se-jeong’s reaction.
“Sigh…”
Cheon Se-jeong lets out a sigh watching Si-un and starts reading her own book.
And then.
Si-un closed the hefty book about body signals with a thud.
‘This body signal thing is really interesting. Plus, now that I can see minute details that others can’t, if I use this well, it could be amazing…. For instance, among the parts about body signals, when people feel certain emotions..’
‘..if I catch people’s movements after understanding what physical signals they show, I can read what they’re thinking and what emotions they’re feeling….’
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Se-jeong tapped Si-un’s shoulder with her index finger as he was deep in thought.
“Lee Si-un. What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re acting really strange today. Ah wait….”
Se-jeong trailed off, tapping her chin with her index finger as she started looking for a book to read.
Then she swiftly pulled out a book from the bookshelf.
“If you weren’t joking with me just now, read this book at that same speed.”
“What?”
She held out a book right in front of Si-un.
The Job.
Looking at the title written on the colorful cover, Si-un asked.
“What book is this? The Job? Is it about job hunting or something like that?”
“It’s a million-seller. A novel written by the famous novelist Douglas Kennedy.”
“……..”
When Si-un didn’t take the book she was offering, Se-jeong waved it back and forth in front of him.
“So it was a lie after all. You can’t read it, can you? I told you books don’t suit you….”
In response to Se-jeong’s mocking smile, Si-un gently took the book.
“What if I read this book in five minutes?”
“5 minutes? Write a novel.”
“If you can read it all in 5 minutes, you’ll buy me dinner later. Deal?”
“Well, that’s not difficult. I know this book’s plot already. After reading it, tell me the plot in detail. Though you won’t be able to read it, heh.”
Si-un looked over Se-jeong with serious eyes and put his index finger to his lips.
I’m going to read, so you be quiet.
That was the gesture.
Se-jeong laughed with a ‘kick,’ finding it ridiculous.
“Sure, sure. Go ahead and read~ But I remember that book being over 300 pages, good luck reading it in 5 minutes.”
Flutter.
Si-un silently opened the book.
‘It’s a novel…’
Se-jeong glanced at the Hermès watch wrapped around her left wrist.
“It’s 6:35 now. If you can read it by 6:40 and explain the plot to my satisfaction, I’ll acknowledge it. If not, no dinner for you.”
Flip-flip-
Si-un began turning pages like mad.
Se-jeong stood on one leg and observed him blankly.
‘What’s with him? Since coming back from military service, does he even play pranks this seriously? But his expression is really serious… I’ve never seen him like this.’
Thud-
Si-un closed the book and slowly raised his head.
“I finished reading.”
“What? You finished reading?”
Se-jeong immediately checked the time.
“It’s 39 minutes now. Only 4 minutes have passed. Fine, even though it must be a joke, I’ll pretend to believe you. Recite the plot point by point. If you’re just telling me the synopsis written on the book cover, I won’t accept it.”
Se-jeong quickly snatched the book away to prevent Si-un from using any tricks.
“Go ahead. Try it, silly.”
Si-un nodded, swallowed once, and spoke.
“This is interesting. It’s an intriguing thriller with a twist, I enjoyed reading it. It’s a first-person novel, and the protagonist Ned is a division head at a company called ComputerWorld, and here, this man named Ned… … … …”
For 30 seconds, Si-un rattled off the book’s plot like giving a speech.
Se-jeong’s pupils dilated as she covered her slightly opened mouth in shock.
“The ending is, after getting completely blindsided! Ned succeeds in his satisfying revenge by thoroughly punishing the traitor named Jerry!”
“Ah…”
Se-jeong couldn’t close her mouth for a while.
The plot Si-un had recited matched exactly with the plot of the novel ‘The Door.’
She couldn’t hide her amazement as he had coherently delivered the plot of this vast number of pages for about 30 seconds, just like someone who had actually just read the book.
“Surprised?”
“W-what? Did you really read it all? No way, right?”
“I did read it all. You just confirmed it.”
“That’s impossible. Did you already know the plot of this book?”
Se-jeong still looked unconvinced.
“Looks like I won our dinner bet.”
Drrrr.
A vibration sound came from the phone in Si-un’s pocket.
Si-un answered the phone.
“Hello.”
“Oh, Si-un. Where are you?”
It was Si-un’s mother.
“I’m outside right now. What is it, mom?”
“Where are you wandering around again? Come home now. Your aunt and cousins are here.”
“What?”
Si-un frowned deeply.
“You never told me about this!”
“I knew you wouldn’t want to come. But the adults came to see us, so you should at least show your face.”
“I have things to do outside.”
“What could you possibly have to do outside? Just come home quietly.”
“Haa…”
Si-un hung up the phone irritably and scratched his head while grimacing.
‘To think I have to see those insufferable people’s faces again. Damn it!’
He was utterly dejected.
His cousins who always pestered him whenever they met.
Si-un knew better than anyone how awkward it was to face them.
“Why do you look like that? Who was on the phone…”
“Nice seeing you, Se-jeong. I think I need to go urgently.”
“Oh? Must be something important.”
“I’ll contact you later.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Got to go. Don’t forget about dinner.”
“Okay.”
Si-un irritably brushed himself off, stood up, grabbed a book, and headed toward the exit.
Se-jeong watched with blank eyes as Si-un walked away with a book in hand.
‘No way. He must have known the original plot.’
***
Si-un arrived at his home’s entrance.
Before pressing the doorbell, Si-un hung his head low.
“Sigh…”
He was reluctant to go in.
Having to share a table with those damned people again.
Though he didn’t want to, he pressed the doorbell.
“Is that Si-un?”
“Yeah, Mom, it’s me.”
When the door opened with a click-
The sizzling smell of meat stung my nose.
Si-un, with a hardened face, takes off his shoes, enters, and bows to the relatives sharing the table.
“Hello. It’s been a while since you visited.”
“Yes, it has been a while. Your cousins are here. Come and eat.”
The eldest uncle-in-law greeted Si-un with a cold voice.
“Yes.”
Though he had no appetite, he sat down anyway.
On the large table, Korean beef ribs were grilling to a golden brown on the hot plate, with various side dishes adorning its sides.
“Have you been well?”
Asked his cousin Kim Tae-seok, who was eating next to Si-un while patting his head a few times.
“Yes. Have you been well too, brother?”
“I’m doing fine. But where are you coming from?”
“Just went out for a bit.”
“You must have been out playing again. Hey, aren’t you going to college?”
“….”
Here it begins, as expected.
It’s always been like this with these people called relatives.
Tae-seok, looking Si-un up and down unpleasantly, speaks again to the speechless boy.
“Get your act together! How old are you now? Isn’t it time you started living more responsibly?”
It was difficult to maintain a composed expression.
Kim Tae-seok.
Working as a lawyer at a major law firm, he had a sky-high ego.
And sitting next to him, coldly smiling, was Tae-seok’s older brother Tae-hoon, an elite employee at a major corporation earning hundreds of millions of won.
Sitting across from them was their cousin Lee Hye-won, a doctor at a university hospital, and next to her was Dae-hwan, a student at one of Korea’s most prestigious universities.
It was inevitable for his shoulders to droop in front of such people.
Tae-seok, displeased with Si-un’s tight-lipped silence, took a sip of soju.
“Hey, I’m saying this because I care about you as your brother. Don’t take it the wrong way…”
Tae-seok paused, looking Si-un up and down before continuing.
“If you only graduated high school, you should at least think about learning a trade now. Pull yourself together, if not for yourself, then for your parents.”
“Yes.”
Si-un picked up his spoon with a sense of shame.
The cousins, including Tae-seok, shook their heads disapprovingly at Si-un’s response.
“Si-un, Brother Tae-seok is giving you life advice. Why are you responding so half-heartedly? Oh my…”
Tae-seok’s mother, Si-un’s eldest aunt, joined in with criticism.
“I will go to college,” Si-un said calmly.
“How? You who only knows how to stay cooped up at home, eating food and taking dumps without studying? Haha! Do you think just anyone can go to college?”
This time it was Hye-won, not Tae-seok, who chimed in.
He felt he couldn’t take it anymore.
He felt like he needed to shoot back with a response.