I am not a Yandere chapter 76

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“Are you not going to say anything?”

“He’s probably acting like that because he feels guilty about something.”

“Seo Jihoon.”

A firm voice called out Jihoon’s name.

But even within that firmness, there was a hint of kindness, which made Jihoon hesitate, and he finally chose to speak in a roundabout way.

“That guy was talking badly about you….”

“What are you talking about? He was the one who overreacted all on his own.”

Haemin shrugged, putting on an expression of sheer innocence, as if he had never done anything wrong.

His act was so convincing that even Jihoon, who knew Haemin’s true nature, almost fell for it.

“Really? What did that guy say about me?”

“Well….”

Jihoon couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud. It was harassment—how could he say that?

As Jihoon hesitated, unable to speak, Haemin seized the moment to press him further.

“See? He can’t say anything because it’s a lie.”

Yeongdeok listened to Haemin’s words and recalled the character profile of Seo Jihoon.

Despite his foul mouth, Jihoon was known to be honest and hardworking, not the type to lie.

And beyond the character traits, the Seo Jihoon Yeongdeok had come to know wasn’t someone who would lie to him.

But if what Haemin said was true, then Seo Jihoon had fought with Park Haemin even though it wasn’t his business.

Why would he do that when he had nothing to gain?

This question kept nagging at Yeongdeok.

But then, he remembered what Jihoon had said after his grandfather’s party when they returned home.

“I didn’t do it for any benefit. And if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have gone that far.”

‘Could it be that Jihoon stepped in for my sake again?’

As Yeongdeok stared intently at Jihoon, Jihoon misunderstood the look in his eyes and turned his head, biting his lower lip.

“Let’s go.”

Thinking that Yeongdeok was speaking to him, Haemin sneered confidently but quickly turned obsequious toward Yeongdeok.

“Yes, let’s go, hyung.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Let’s go, Seo Jihoon.”

With no reason to stay any longer, Yeongdeok spoke firmly, fixing his unwavering gaze on Jihoon.

Jihoon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Hyung, are you taking Seo Jihoon’s side? He was the one who started it by…!”

“That’s not something I’m particularly interested in. Do I really need to know the truth?”

Yeongdeok didn’t care about the details; he simply chose Seo Jihoon over Park Haemin.

When he told Jihoon once more to come with him, Jihoon nodded awkwardly and followed behind Yeongdeok.

As the two walked away, Haemin could only watch them with a growing sense of bitterness as he realized that, once again, Yeongdeok had chosen Jihoon.

Again, it’s Seo Jihoon.

‘If it weren’t for Seo Jihoon, I could’ve had everything—Seulgi, Jihae, all of them.’

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Haemin pulled out his phone and sent a message to Yeongdeok right away.

As they exited the game center, a notification sounded on Yeongdeok’s phone.

It was a message from Haemin, seemingly his last desperate attempt.

[Park Haemin: If you’re going to ignore me, then give me back the gift I gave you. Do you know how much that cost?]

How petty, making a big deal out of such a small thing.

Yeongdeok had never even worn the luxury watch item Haemin gave him as a birthday gift.

Since he had no use for it, he transferred the money to Haemin without hesitation.

“How much could that gift even be worth that he’s clinging to it like that?”

“Why? Did Park Haemin ask for his birthday gift back?”

“Yes, so I threw in the medical expenses and sent it to him.”

Jihoon felt a pang of guilt upon hearing that.

He had thought of Yeongdeok as a friend candidate, at least.

If he had let things slide, there might have been a better way to separate Park Haemin from Yeongdeok.

But now, Jihoon regretted that his choice seemed to have driven them apart in a bad way.

“…I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“For everything… Deduct the money you just sent to Park Haemin from my part-time wages.”

Jihoon’s voice lacked strength, like someone who’d lost his spirit.

As Yeongdeok walked calmly ahead, Jihoon felt like he was being given a chance to explain himself.

“But I just didn’t want to hear him talk badly about you.”

“…….”

“I get all weird whenever I’m around you. Why is that? Yeongdeok.”

Yeongdeok stopped in his tracks at Jihoon’s self-deprecating question.

When he turned to look at Jihoon, he saw his brown eyes reflecting the red sunset sky.

The trembling irises looked like the sun flickering in the sky.

“Hyung.”

“Now even you’re calling me hyung?”

“But why did you take my side?”

Jihoon’s voice trembled with vulnerability as he asked.

Yeongdeok took a moment to consider the question.

Why did he side with Seo Jihoon?

Maybe because Seo Jihoon was one of the main characters in this story.

Compared to Park Haemin, Jihoon seemed to have more value.

After thinking it through, a peculiar light softened in Yeongdeok’s eyes.

He didn’t know exactly why, but he simply wanted to take Jihoon’s side.

“Just because. I wanted to.”

“…….”

“And you don’t seem like the kind of guy who would lie to me.”

Jihoon felt a tender feeling swell up inside as he sensed the trust in Yeongdeok’s words.

“Then… could you grant me one request?”

Jihoon held out his hand to Yeongdeok.

Not understanding the gesture, Yeongdeok tilted his head.

“Just hold my hand, once.”

Right in the middle of a busy street, out of nowhere, Jihoon was asking to hold hands.

Yeongdeok didn’t understand why, but Jihoon’s face was so flushed and bruised that he couldn’t help but move his hand.

However, instead of reaching for Jihoon’s hand, Yeongdeok placed his hand on Jihoon’s cheek.

Jihoon covered the warmth of Yeongdeok’s hand with his own.

Despite his cold demeanor, his hand was surprisingly warm.

Jihoon couldn’t tell if his face was heating up because of his own rising emotions or because of the warmth of Yeongdeok’s hand.

But in that moment, he found comfort in the warmth.

“Are you okay? You’re not hurt badly, right?”

“I’m fine.”

At that moment, a clear emotion surfaced within Jihoon, shattering all his doubts.

He finally understood the name of the feeling he had for Yeongdeok.

“Don’t get into any more fistfights. That’s not how a civilized person behaves.”

“Okay. I won’t do it again. I’m sorry….”

Yeongdeok was puzzled by Jihoon’s apology.

He wasn’t the one who got hurt, so why was Jihoon apologizing to him?

Jihoon’s eyebrows softened with tenderness as he looked at him.

“Hyung, you’re really… unfair.”

“What’s unfair?”

“I used to really dislike and find you annoying.”

Jihoon, who had been muttering complaints, curled his lips into a faint smile, as if it could crumble at any moment.

It was a smile filled with mixed emotions, yet it also seemed as if he had finally solved a problem that had been troubling him for a long time.

Yeongdeok found it impossible to take his eyes off Jihoon as he smiled.

Thump, thump.

The beating of his heart seemed to stand out, almost as if it were announcing its presence.

The crimson sky behind Jihoon, the floating clouds, and the buildings with lights flickering on one by one looked like a scene straight out of a photograph.

Was he caught up in the mood?

Yeongdeok knew it wasn’t like him, but in the end, he softened towards Jihoon.

“The money I gave to Park Haemin was because I wanted to, so you don’t have to pay me back.”

“What?”

“And surprisingly, it doesn’t feel too bad to be called hyung by a rascal like you.”

With a faint smile tugging at his lips, Yeongdeok resumed walking.

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