Chapter 29: A Beautiful Lie

Seulbi began to open up to the other students. She told them that famous Korean actors like Lee Min Ho and Dong Jae Woo often acted in films with her. The students were amazed, whispering to each other in awe.

But, as usual, I didn't care. For me, becoming a lawyer was the ultimate goal in my life. I just focused on my studies. My indifferent reaction annoyed Seulbi.

After school, I saw Seulbi arguing fiercely with someone in Korean. When I approached, the man immediately left.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked Seulbi.

"It's nothing, just a small problem between us. Besides, it's none of your business," Seulbi said, trying to leave.

But I held her arm. "Wait. I know you're lying. I can read a person's body language when they're lying, and you're one of them."

Seulbi looked at me, then sighed in resignation. "You really are a very strange person, Akira-kun!"

I invited her to get a drink and talk about the problem. We sat on a park bench, eating sandwiches.

"What was the problem that made you two argue like that?" I asked.

Seulbi sighed. "I guess there's no point in keeping it a secret anymore. That man was named Lee. He's my boyfriend. The real reason I came to Japan was to find out about the case of him being married. That information was what brought me here." She gripped her drink can, her voice trembling.

"He's a truly bad and irresponsible man!" I said.

Seulbi gave a bitter smile. "But besides that, he's a good person, Akira-kun. Besides, that information could have been fake, couldn't it? Just to bring me down..."

She then asked for my contact information, and I gave it to her without hesitation. To me, Seulbi wasn't the threat I thought she was.

"What's clear is that Lee is a very good person," Seulbi said, her eyes welling up with tears. "I can't wait to apologize to him for accusing him of cheating."

We both went home. I returned to my apartment, where Yui asked me to make her favorite pancakes. After I was done, I got a call from Seulbi.

"Akira here. What's wrong, Seulbi?" I asked. I immediately heard her muffled sobs.

"Akira-kun, can you come pick me up now?" Seulbi's voice was shaky with tears.

It turned out that an hour ago, Seulbi wanted to make up with Lee. But Lee kept making excuses that he was busy and couldn't come out. Seulbi was resigned. As she walked home through the night market, she saw Lee with another woman, walking hand in hand. The news about her boyfriend being married was true; the woman was wearing the same ring as Lee.

Her heart was broken. Seulbi cried, leaving the area. She called me, because I was the only one who understood her at that moment.

I found Seulbi crying under a tree, her shoulders shaking. I knew this wasn't my business, but seeing a woman so sad, I couldn't just stand by.

Suddenly, Andou arrived. I explained everything to him. Andou took Seulbi home, but as she accidentally held my hand, Seulbi felt something. A warm touch that she had been looking for since she was a child.

The person I've been searching for has been in front of me all this time.