PTT - 38

The heavens were merciless. Raon had hoped Baek Siheon wouldn’t be the one to walk in, but that hope was cruelly shattered. Standing beside him were Ray and Rock, their expressions filled with bewilderment. Trembling lashes fluttered as Raon gazed at her teammates, and finally, she slowly lowered her hand.  

A dry swallow slid down her narrow throat. It was painfully clear how this scene must have appeared to them.  

She tried to suppress the rage bubbling up from deep within, closing her eyes and focusing on calming herself, but it was no use—her emotions refused to settle.  

“I asked what’s going on here. Diane, Raon.”  

“Ah, Team Leader. That is…”  

For Ah-young, there couldn’t have been a more perfect timing. The shooting range was so soundproof that not even gunshots could escape—it was impossible for anyone outside to have overheard their earlier exchange.  

In an instant, Ah-young shifted gears, pressing the back of her hand against her reddened cheek as her voice trailed off. Tears welled up in her large eyes, and the corners drooped pitifully. Mimicking the quintessential victim, she played on her colleagues’ sympathies without hesitation.  

“I was just having a personal conversation with Raon. Things got a little heated… but it’s nothing serious, so please don’t worry about it. I’m sorry and embarrassed for showing such behavior.”  

Her shameless act made Raon’s fists clench tightly, trembling with barely contained fury. Ten years ago or now, Ah-young still wielded her acting skills like a weapon, drawing people into her web effortlessly.  

With her serpent-like tongue, Ah-young whispered soft words designed to gaslight those around her. Despite the passage of time—long enough for mountains and rivers to change—nothing about her had changed.  

Siheon, narrowing his eyes as he stared directly at Raon, took measured steps forward. With long strides, he approached her and gripped her shoulder firmly with one hand—not painfully, but with undeniable strength.  

“Raon. Aren’t you going to answer?”  

“…”  

“I told you to explain what happened. Do my words mean so little to you?”  

“…Even if I explain, would you believe me?”  

Her voice carried a cold anger, suppressed but unmistakable. Raon already knew what Siheon thought—he hadn’t heard the full story, so naturally, he saw her actions as unprovoked aggression against Diane.  

It all felt so unjust. The same emotions she’d felt upon reuniting with Ah-young surged back, crawling up her throat like bile. Her stomach churned, threatening to make her vomit, but she forced herself to endure through sheer willpower, turning her head away.  

To fully explain the situation, she’d need to reveal her past with Ah-young—to Siheon, Ray, and Rock. From the bullying she endured to the humiliation of giving up her spot on the national youth team, everything would have to come out.  

But she couldn’t bring herself to spill those truths in front of her colleagues, not yet. Clamping her mouth shut like a clam, Raon fell silent. In response, Siheon raised an eyebrow slowly.  

“Rock, Ray. Take Diane and leave.”  

“…Understood.”  

“Don’t be too hard on her, Team Leader. It’s just… never mind.”  

Rock, maintaining a stoic expression while awaiting further instructions, gestured for Ah-young to follow. Ray, rolling her eyes nervously, exchanged glances before following them out.  

Finally, the heavy iron door closed with a dull thud. Breaking the sharp silence that hung in the air, Baek Siheon spoke first.  

“Yoo Raon.”  

“…This is the workplace.”  

“Haa. Fine. Raon. Are you ready to talk now?”  

Running a hand through his bangs, Siheon narrowed his brows and spoke in a clipped tone.  

“I’ve emphasized this clearly before: we need to maintain strong trust among our team members—at least enough to watch each other’s backs. So what exactly is this?”  

“…It’s a personal matter. It won’t interfere with the mission.”  

“Do you really think you can perfectly separate work and personal issues? Is this how someone who claims they can draw that line ends up slapping a colleague?”  

“…”  

Raon knew her answers wouldn’t satisfy him. Given the fragmented scene he’d walked in on, his misunderstanding was inevitable.  

But reconciling rational understanding with emotional turmoil wasn’t easy. Accused solely based on partial information, Raon felt a pang of hurt toward Siheon’s judgment.  

Standing rigidly with her hands clasped behind her back, Raon exhaled a shaky breath. Could she explain the situation using only objective facts? Closing her eyes briefly to compose herself, she attempted to steady her emotions—but Siheon’s next question shattered her efforts.  

“Did you know Diane from the past?”  

“…How do you know that, Team Leader?”  

Startled, Raon instinctively looked up to meet his gaze head-on. She had never mentioned anything about her relationship with Ah-young to him.  

“…So it’s true.”  

Sighing deeply, Siheon pressed his fingertips firmly against his brow. Raon’s defensive question inadvertently confirmed what Diane had claimed. The bitter taste of betrayal lingered in her mouth.  

“Diane told me. The day you left early.”  

“What did she say?”  

“She said you two were middle school classmates…”  

He paused momentarily. Repeating someone else’s words didn’t sit well with him.  

“And that you continuously bullied her. Is that true?”

“…Haa.”  

“I didn’t want to believe it, and I still don’t. We haven’t known each other for that long, but at least the person I know isn’t someone who would do something like that.”  

In his mind, the scene from five minutes ago replayed like a broken video on loop—the hardened expression as Raon raised her hand to strike Diane’s cheek. Could there really be enough pent-up emotion to justify lashing out physically at a colleague she’d only recently joined?  

“So tell me properly. What happened? Did you really use violence against Diane back then? Is that why your relationship is strained now?”  

Though he still wanted to trust Raon, as the team leader, he bore the responsibility of resolving conflicts within the team. Even if it meant hurting her feelings, he had no choice but to maintain a firm stance. The discomfort of having to press her so coldly weighed heavily on him.  

“…Team Leader, do you believe I bullied Diane?”  

“Raon.”  

“No matter what I say, you won’t believe me anyway.”  

A deep sorrow welled up inside Raon, threatening to overflow. She had never imagined being doubted by Baek Siheon of all people, or facing such a disappointed gaze from him. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she bowed her head to hide them.  

Logically, she knew she needed to face the situation and clear up his misunderstanding. But in this moment, words refused to leave her lips.  

If this continued, it could escalate into an even bigger issue—but opening her mouth further felt like inviting an emotional breakdown.  

“…I’ll explain later. If you want to punish me, go ahead.”  

“Yoo Raon.”  

“I’m leaving.”  

Without waiting for a response, Raon turned her back and walked away, her head still bowed. Her refusal to engage further drew a bitter smile from Siheon.  

Thud. The thick iron door closed behind her once more. Only then did she exhale deeply, burying her face in her hands. The accumulated stress felt suffocating, as though it was tightening every muscle in her body.  

Just then, Ray’s voice called out softly nearby.  

“Unnie Raon.”  

“Ah… Ray.”  

“…Are you okay? Did the Team Leader scold you harshly? He looked pretty pissed.”  

Whether she had been waiting or not, Ray approached cautiously, leaning off the wall where she had been standing. Uncertain how to phrase her words, she awkwardly patted Raon’s arm.  

“I don’t know what happened, but I’m on your side, Unnie. You know that, right?”  

“…”  

“I don’t know why, but you feel like my real older sister. So… if there’s anything you need help with, anytime, just ask. Even personal stuff is fine. Ugh, this is so embarrassing. I’m going now. See you later.”  

With an embarrassed flush, Ray quickly blurted out her words and fled the scene. Had she waited just to say that? Watching her awkward retreating figure, Raon’s rigid expression softened slightly.  

“…Thank you.”  

She murmured softly under her breath, glancing around. The hallway was empty now, save for her. After standing frozen in place for what felt like ages, Yoo Raon finally moved, each step heavy with anguish. A gnawing sorrow ate away at her insides, leaving her feeling utterly hollow.