I Became a Villain’s Hero - Chapter 45: Once in a Lifetime Opportunity (7)

TL/Editor: Raei

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Illustrations: Here

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The stadium shook with a cheer louder than when a player scored a home run.

My ears become numb, unable to hear anything.

…No, it’s just that what was before my eyes was unbelievable, making everything else blank.

Everything other than Jung-gyeom and Solace faded from her view.

Solace was still continuing her long peck on his cheek.

Song Soo-yeon just blinked silently.

But no matter how much she blinked, the reality in front of her did not change.

Why was another woman kissing his cheek?

…….I was going to nod my head.

I had no intention of refusing.

I was going to allow a kiss on the cheek.

I covered my face and hesitated…. but not because I disliked it, but because I was too excited.

The emotion called love, new to her, was so powerful that it was more than enough to freeze her.

It was just that she needed time to prepare her heart as it was her first time.

It wasn’t that I disliked it.

To be honest, I was too happy just imagining it.

If I put aside how I would react or how my expression would change, it was a kiss I desperately wanted.

I was filled with an unbearable sense of anticipation, trembling nerves, and a happiness so intense that it felt like my head would explode just from the thought of it.

My life, which had seemed like a cesspool, had changed so dramatically that it was hard to believe.

It wasn’t that I disliked it, not at all.

But now, that happiness was no longer mine.

‘Waaaaah!!’

‘Solace!!’

‘Insane, damn it!!’

Solace showed no signs of stopping.

And as she continued, the crowd’s cheers only grew louder.

Her arms tightened, pulling Jung-gyeom even closer to her.

Jung-gyeom’s cheek flattened under that force, their two faces pressing tightly together.

Jung-gyeom, who had always maintained a kind smile even when his face appeared unexpectedly on the scoreboard, now floundered in confusion.

Song Soo-yeon wanted to scream for them to stop.

But her throat felt blocked, and no sound came out.

She couldn’t even breathe.

No matter how much she struggled, the best she could do was barely move her mouth.

The cheerleader shouted.

“Ah! Solace! How long will you go on? Are you trying to set a record!”

“Haah…!”

Finally, Solace lifted her lips from Jung-gyeom’s cheek.

Still seated on his thigh, Solace turned towards the camera, one arm still wrapped around Jung-gyeom’s neck, smiling with her eyes, while her other hand waved high in the air as if asking for support.

The crowd’s cheers continued at this.

Amidst the noise, Solace’s shy laughter burst out.

She looked at Jung-gyeom tenderly.

In a situation where they’re completely pressed against each other.

As if they were the only two in the world, Solace whispered in a very soft voice.

Song Soo-yeon could hear it.

“Oppa, sorry for being so sudden.”

“…Uh..”

Taken aback, Jung-gyeom couldn’t even respond properly.

At this, Song Soo-yeon was infuriated.

Wasn’t this the moment to be furious and outraged?

Was he really planning to let it go after being sexually harassed?

But Solace didn’t even care look at Song Soo-yeon.

She didn’t seem to care about how Song Soo-yeon felt.

“But let’s talk later. Remember not to act like you know me. It’s for your sake, oppa.”

Solace’s long assault finally ended.

She floated up into the air again.

With a bright smile and a wave to everyone, she gracefully said goodbye and then disappeared somewhere.

The camera now only focused on Jung-gyeom’s expression.

His dazed expression was broadcasted on the scoreboard.

The cheerleader teased Jung-gyeom.

“Pull yourself together, man! Though I must say, I’m jealous… Really. Oh, and I’m sorry for the misunderstanding! It seems you really have nothing to do with the lady next to you, seeing how she stayed quiet until the end.”

“…..!”

Unable to come to her senses, Song Soo-yeon realized she hadn’t reacted at all.

She blinked slowly and lowered her head.

Her heart, gone cold, showed no signs of warming up.

Song Soo-yeon didn’t know how the rest of the game went.

She just blankly stared at the scoreboard.

Two emotions coexisted in her.

One was anger.

This anger, showing no signs of cooling down, condensed and settled deep in her heart instead of erupting outwardly.

Instead of showing it, she lost her smile.

Her face, hardened, didn’t change until the game ended.

She was slowly crafting curses to hurl at Solace.

She pondered over how to hurt her the most.

Worthless woman.

Sly fox.

A woman who only flirts with men.

Song Soo-yeon repeated the harsh words she once despised hearing.

The other emotion was regret.

Or more precisely, a sticky longing.

It felt like having a gift snatched away just as she was receiving it.

His peck… no.

It could have even led to a kiss if she had just decided sooner.

The excitement and fluttering she would have felt at that moment were now forever out of reach.

She imagined hundreds of times that the scoreboard would light up again and focus on them, but such a thing never happened.

The opportunity to kiss him had passed.

“…..Ha.”

And when that fact settled in her heart, an incredulous laugh burst out.

Song Soo-yeon coldly glanced at Jung-gyeom.

He, too, was blankly watching the game, seemingly unable to get over the shock.

Irritation welled up in her.

The thought that Solace might still be lingering in his mind.

“…Mister, aren’t you angry?”

Finally unable to hold back, she asked.

“……Huh?”

“Aren’t you angry?”

He erased his dazed expression and smiled as usual.

“What about?”

But his smile only strengthened Song Soo-yeon’s emotions.

It was more irritating that he seemed genuinely clueless.

“Are you an idiot? Aren’t you angry about being sexually harassed…!”

She even resorted to insults, something she hadn’t done in a while.

She couldn’t bear it otherwise.

It was the first time she learned what jealousy felt like.

Now she understood why other girls had been jealous of her and tormented her.

It was impossible to bear such anger.

“What’s there to be angry about? I know why Solace did it.”

But Jung-gyeom was relaxed.

He seemed genuinely unbothered.

Song Soo-yeon was about to scream, but then she remembered something she once said.

‘….If you like a guy, just confess. I don’t understand why you’re jealous now. Is it my fault that he confessed to me?’

Her own words came back to silence her.

“…..Ha.”

All she could do was suppress her frustration, biting her lip.

She crossed her arms, waiting for this awful baseball game to end.

Song Soo-yeon looked down at her hands.

….Still, having an awakened ability, it somewhat eased her frustration.

—

—

On the subway home, Song Soo-yeon couldn’t respond to Jung-gyeom’s words.

“My throat’s sore from cheering. Soo-yeon, are you okay?”

“………….”

Seeing her silent, Jung-gyeom leaned in.

He carefully asked, looking at her face from the side.

“Soo-yeon….? Are you tired?”

“……….”

Despite his efforts, Song Soo-yeon didn’t open her mouth.

She felt like she would just get angry.

The kinder he was, the more it reminded her of what she had missed.

So even keeping her mouth shut took effort.

The emotions Jung-gyeom taught her were all intense and stimulating.

Knowing she still couldn’t control these feelings, she chose silence to avoid making a mistake.

She didn’t want to make any more mistakes.

She didn’t want to be hated.

Even though she was angry, she had to hold back.

“…..Haah.”

Jung-gyeom sighed.

At that sound, Song Soo-yeon looked at him coldly.

She loved him, but at this moment, a warm expression was impossible.

“….Is it because of what happened earlier?”

“Yes…?”

At his words, Song Soo-yeon finally spoke.

“….Sorry….I got carried away too.”

“Sorry…?”

She listened calmly to Jung-gyeom’s words.

She didn’t expect Jung-gyeom to apologize.

In truth, he hadn’t done anything wrong.

It was all because of that trashy hero, no, Solace, that fox.

……Yet.

He hadn’t done anything wrong, but somehow, she felt that if he apologized for not kissing her, she might feel better.

If he said he was swept up in the situation and couldn’t push Solace away, her anger might subside.

Jung-gyeom said,

“…..If I knew you, I wouldn’t have asked if it was okay to kiss you on the cheek.”

“……………What?”

A dumbfounded sound escaped her lips.

She doubted her own ears.

“But because of Bom, we were able to pass it smoothly. I didn’t kiss… Could you overlook it just this once?”

He didn’t apologize for not pushing Solace away.

Instead, he defended her.

“……………….”

Song Soo-yeon couldn’t respond again.

It wasn’t that she was holding back her anger.

She genuinely couldn’t find any words to say.

Jung-gyeom spoke in a low, serious voice.

“….I’m sorry. I guess I’ve become too… comfortable. I won’t make such a request again…”

At those words, all her pent-up anger chilled and dissipated.

“Ha….”

She didn’t even have the energy to be angry anymore.

…..Instead, her lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

She bowed her head.

A hollow sadness enveloped her.

It just felt like tears would start flowing.