Absolute Threshold — Chapter 39. Rumors

Translator: Atlas

Weekly Chapter 6/6

His words were an order. It seemed that everything had been planned, so he arrived in a car to take her to the exhibition. Besides, his subordinates followed him. Wooseok has never had so much protection before. Did he want to stop Kyung from slapping her again?

She thought it would be comfortable for them to take her, but when she saw a subordinate watching the surroundings with a twinkle in his eye, she thought it might not be a good idea.

The vehicle was moving along the road where the snow had melted.

She wanted to contemplate how beautiful his paintings were. When she liked Kim Junghyun, there was a day when she was excited because she had asked him to meet next week because she would confess her feelings.

She said this to Hyeseon, a schoolmate. Hyeseon really figured it out. She didn’t know how to handle her emotions, so it was hard for her to hide her feelings. Hyeseon did not hesitate to tell her tips on how to attract men.

On the day she was supposed to meet Junghyun, whispers spread throughout the school suggesting Choi Jumi was involved with a contracted teacher. Most people did not care about veracity. The photograph that came into Junghyun’s hands, a proof that she had met alone with the professor, originated from the semester’s closing celebration. Rumors about the photograph circulated unchecked.

That day Junghyun comforted Jumi, told her not to worry because he trusted her. But he could not look her in the face. Jumi knew. This man suspected. She didn’t want to blame him. Their relationship was not yet that deep.

In the end her love was not reciprocated.

The rumors even reached the school steering committee, but the only proof was a photograph. Moreover, as both denied the rumors, everything went back to normal. The only change was that Junghyun never approached her again.

It was probably her father’s intervention that was responsible for bringing the situation back to normal. Although she didn’t clearly remember that time. Perhaps she had blocked her memories so as not to feel hurt.

Naturally they distanced themselves. She never asked him to meet because it brought back bad memories. She met him at a school festival when her thoughts had become somewhat organized. It had only been two months. It was a coincidence.

—Jumi, I’ve considered those rumors to be untrue. I was honestly a little scared. You are very pretty, it’s hard to imagine you being romantically involved with a teacher.

—I can’t imagine that old fox with our Jumi.

—You’re right.

When other students spoke, Junghyun sipped on an alcoholic beverage.

—We all cursed that teacher. But I can understand it when I look at your body. I would even like to t#ste it. I’m weak visually because I’m a man. Girls with big br#asts like you are the target.

—Why don’t you shut up?

—Junghyun, when the head of the student council for the art department inquired about my presence… Incidentally, you had feelings for Choi Jumi as well. My advice is that there is no one with a good b#dy who won’t be t#uched…

Junghyun started the fight. Soon the tavern turned into chaos.

Jumi couldn’t do anything.

—Stop. Junghyun. Please stop.

Her efforts were useless. Some deflected punches hit her. Jumi, who shot out, landed on the table. When Junghyun punched the man’s face, his breathing became short because a broken soju bottle was stuck in his side.