I Became a Villainous Character with a Limited Lifespan - Episode 114

Episode 114

The reason “Han Seung-hyun” hated Tae-sung so much. It was clearly jealousy and longing for someone who had what he couldn’t.

The dominant alpha trait was unnecessary for Tae-sung, but Seung-hyun was furious every time he saw Tae-sung not even hiding that he didn’t like his own trait.

Every time he saw Tae-sung, who easily obtained without any effort what someone else wanted to death and couldn’t have no matter how hard they tried, not knowing how precious it was and finding it bothersome, it must have been painful enough to want to kill him.

‘Why was such a jerk born as a dominant alpha of all people? If I had been born with that trait, no, if only I wasn’t recessive, a jerk like that wouldn’t even be a match for me.’

It would have been even more terrible because his face looked sincere saying he didn’t need this position or trait.

He wouldn’t have wanted to acknowledge jealousy and inferiority, but he wouldn’t have been able to ignore it. So every time he saw Tae-sung, he would have become even more hostile.

‘He may not know, but I know what that kind of longing is.’

I don’t know how many times I had such thoughts while living in poverty. That longing didn’t turn into anger like “Han Seung-hyun,” but at least I knew what that emotion was like.

‘Ah, my mom says to go on an overseas trip for the whole break. I just want to hang out with my friends.’

‘Still, it’s a free overseas trip. Do you dislike it that much?’

‘It’s annoying. It’s only good for my mom, not for me. I’ve been many times, so it’s nothing special. Long flights just give me a headache.’

If it were me, I wouldn’t complain like that. It was a little enviable that someone could get annoyed by such a thing. I understood in my head that the friend who said that might have had his own difficulties, but I couldn’t help feeling frustrated.

“You probably won’t understand for your whole life.”

“If you’re going to say something, say it properly. Don’t beat around the bush.”

“Never mind. Just think of it like that.”

“What?”

At the words implying it wasn’t something he was involved in, Tae-sung grabbed Seung-hyun. He didn’t want to go back with a lingering feeling from a place he came to dispel his doubts.

“Say it straight.”

“Just think of it like that. Anyway, I’m just a villain who will disappear from your life.”

Seung-hyun said, shaking off Tae-sung’s hand. At least in front of him, he didn’t want to show a weak appearance. He knows that not all of “Han Seung-hyun’s” actions can be justified.

But this relationship wasn’t a tangle of threads that he, not “Han Seung-hyun,” could unravel, and even if he could, he didn’t want to. Now that he understood “Han Seung-hyun’s” heart, he wanted to take his side even once.

It’s not that Tae-sung is a bad person, but it doesn’t matter if he and “Han Seung-hyun” with an inferiority complex are pathetic.

In any case, since he would remain a villain to Tae-sung until the end, he wanted to say at least one thing that “Han Seung-hyun” couldn’t say in the end because of his pride.

“You probably think you’re a pitiful person. You think you were born with an unwanted trait and got caught up in bothersome things?”

“……”

“It’s annoying how you think you’re the only poor person like some ill-fated protagonist.”

Tae-sung made a startled face. It was hard to believe those words came out of Seung-hyun’s mouth.

The Seung-hyun he knew hated him to death, but after growing up to some extent, he tended to choose his words pretending to be noble. Especially when there were ears to hear.

However, the words he spat out now as if he didn’t care who heard them had no pretense or hesitation.

“I think we’re done talking. If you said everything you had to say, go now.”

“…You, what on earth…”

Seung-hyun, who finished speaking, swayed slightly with a throbbing head. Perhaps it was because he had too many thoughts. His physical condition seemed to have worsened compared to a little while ago.

Tae-sung blankly stared at Seung-hyun, not noticing the murmuring sounds or Seok-hyung approaching, and only came to his senses after he collapsed.

However, he was still in a dazed state as if a screw had fallen out in the unreal situation.

“…Please explain what this situation is…”

“Is that important in this situation?”

“……”

“Well, Executive Han Tae-sung has always been like that. I said something useless.”

Even after Seok-hyung took the collapsed Seung-hyun away, Tae-sung couldn’t leave that spot for a long time and only managed to move his feet much later and return to the car.

“Did something happen?”

Secretary Kang asked worriedly after seeing Tae-sung’s absent-minded face. He couldn’t tell what kind of conversation had taken place to make Tae-sung make that face. Secretary Kang started the car and said,

“You didn’t have high expectations for Director Han anyway, so just think of it as it is. As expected, there’s no need to even try to talk…”

“I thought I knew Han Seung-hyun completely, but it seems that’s not quite the case.”

At the abruptly blurted out words, Secretary Kang was so startled that he almost turned around while holding the steering wheel. What on earth did they talk about to get that reaction?

“…Check if I can meet Professor Kim tomorrow. No, even if there isn’t, adjust the schedule as quickly as possible.”

“Professor Kim… Do you mean Director Han’s attending physician? Why him…?”

“……”

“Don’t tell me… You don’t mean Director Han is really sick or something, right?”

Secretary Kang said while gauging Tae-sung’s reaction through the rearview mirror. Isn’t he someone who wouldn’t bleed a single drop even if you stabbed him? Of course, that’s just a saying, and since he’s human, he can get sick, but Tae-sung’s expression was unusual.

‘If someone saw this, they’d think Director Han has a terminal illness or something.’

“I understand. I will try to arrange the schedule as quickly as possible.”

Secretary Kang didn’t ask any further questions, thinking he probably wouldn’t get a proper answer even if he asked, and Tae-sung’s absent-minded face was too unfamiliar for him to focus on driving.

Although he had an ominous feeling that something was going wrong, he tried to ignore it and the way back to the company felt longer than usual.

***

“I have to… tell him…”

The informant who had brought news of Seung-hyun brought a confirmation that he was hospitalized at A Hospital. However, Jaeseong only hesitated, unable to easily decide whether to tell Jae-young this news or not.

‘We couldn’t find out the exact diagnosis… but he looked terrible. It didn’t seem like he was hospitalized just to stay in seclusion.’

As much as he hated to admit it, Jae-young was obsessed with Seung-hyun. He had never shown such an appearance even with his first love that had lasted since a much younger age.

‘How can he be so obsessed with a person like that?’

Jae-young’s appearance telling him not to speak ill of Seung-hyun was so shocking that he couldn’t forget it. He was afraid of what reaction Jae-young, who made such a face just for saying a few harsh words, would show if he delivered this news.

But he couldn’t ignore it after saying he would look into it. After agonizing, Jaeseong made up his mind while tapping the phone screen.

‘Right. Let’s not worry and just tell him this much and stop caring. He said he would tell me when everything is over.’

After a long deliberation, Jaeseong picked up the phone. Earnestly hoping that this one call would be the trigger for Jae-young to let go of his lingering feelings for Seung-hyun and cleanly give up on him, Jaeseong wished for the call to ring a little longer.

However, as if he had been waiting, the call was quickly answered, betraying Jaeseong’s wish.

―Did you find him?

At the question Jae-young asked without even a greeting, Jaeseong let out a small sigh. Why was this guy, who had been acting annoyingly leisurely, being impatient about this?

“Yeah. But… I don’t know what to make of this.”

―Where is he?

At the urgent voice that sounded like he would rush over right away, Jaeseong calmed Jae-young down. After taking a deep breath, he said to Jae-young,

“I don’t know why he’s there. Or what condition he’s in…”

―Is it a hospital?

Jaeseong was rather surprised and couldn’t answer the reply that came before he had even properly brought it up. Did he have something on his mind?

“How do you know that?”

―……

Although he had wished so much for it not to be the case, why was he there of all places? Faced with the reality he wanted to deny, Jae-young fell silent for a long time.

He thought it wouldn’t be, that it wouldn’t be anything serious, he hoped for that, but the ominous words he had heard from Wonho were ringing in his head.

Unable to endure the awkwardness of the long silence, Jaeseong spoke first.

“I heard he’s hospitalized at A Hospital. I don’t know exactly what the problem is. Just…”

Should he also convey that he didn’t look well? Jaeseong hesitated for a moment. As the answer was delayed, Jae-young let out a small sigh.

―…Thanks.

It seemed he was going to go straight there. Jaeseong tried to say something, but soon gave up and asked one thing.

“Keep the promise that you would properly tell me when it’s over. I’m holding back even though there’s a lot I need to hear now.”

―Yeah. I will.

Although he wanted to deny the news Jaeseong had delivered, time was just passing in vain while he was doing this. Now that he knew Seung-hyun’s whereabouts, all that was left was to confirm his face in person and finish the unfinished conversation.

He had to find out what he was hiding. Earnestly hoping that his secret wasn’t the worst he was thinking of, Jae-young hurriedly prepared to leave.