Read Just Twilight Novel Translation Chapter 4

(Just Dawn | 그저 여명일 뿐 )

Romance, Drama, Slice-of-life, Josei, Mature

Original: Woo Jihye | Translation: Genie

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“This is so childish, I can’t believe it.”

Her breath felt hot as it escaped her lips, and Junyoung wondered if she was running a fever. She tried to insert herself into the game, moving toward the ball, but every time, she was shoved and jostled by the other kids, whether intentionally or not. The ball she so desperately wanted never came her way.

Maybe I should just collapse, even if it means getting stepped on and kicked a few times.

Panting heavily, Junyoung stopped walking for a moment. Her vision blurred. It wasn’t easy finding a spot to lie down amidst the frenzied movement of the other students.

As she glanced around, her eyes suddenly met someone standing in front of her. It was Seungwoon, holding the ball he had just caught, looking directly at her.

She opened her mouth, about to say something, but before she could, Seungwoon swung his arm, and the ball, travelling at a considerable speed, struck her shoulder. The impact made a louder sound than she expected.

It wasn’t enough to knock her down, but its unexpected nature made her knees buckle. Surprised and overwhelmed by the pain, Junyoung sank to the ground, eventually collapsing backwards.

“Junyoung!”

Amidst the gasps of the other students, Seungwoon’s panicked voice cut through. His pale face came sharply into focus as he ran toward her.

It was the first time she’d heard him call her name. The first time she’d seen him so flustered, and from such close proximity.

As Junyoung struggled to catch her breath, her gaze drifted beyond Seungwoon’s shoulder. Standing upright nearby was a tall, dark figure she couldn’t ignore even if she wanted to.

He’s awake during gym class for once. What a surprise.

…Maybe I’ll need to use the second floor today. I wonder if he’ll let me borrow it.

That was her last thought before her eyelids closed, and all the surrounding noise faded into silence.

***

The dream was brief. She walked and walked toward a bright white sun far in the distance, but the gap between them never narrowed. Occasionally, darkness would sweep over her, obscuring the light ahead.

The sun was blindingly bright, and she instinctively felt she had to keep moving toward it. Yet the rare moments of darkness felt oddly comforting. Still, she couldn’t allow herself to stop and kept walking. Am I even moving? That question lingered until she awoke.

Her back was drenched in sweat. Maybe it was just the heat—the air in the infirmary was stifling.

Junyoung blinked blankly, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. Her mouth felt parched. Sitting up slowly, she glanced toward the window and frowned.

What the…?

The bed was positioned where sunlight should have poured in, but the window was completely covered with large sheets of paper. Not just one—it was plastered with a world map, anatomical charts, and several sheets of newspaper.

Junyoung had frequented the infirmary before, but the teacher had never shown any signs of having such a quirky habit. The teacher’s desk was far from the window, and they hadn’t even noticed that a student had taken the curtains home at the start of the semester to wash them, only to never return them.

Rubbing her throbbing head, Junyoung stared at the anatomical chart and world map, which weakly blocked the fading sunlight. The sound of the door opening broke her train of thought.

“Ugh, why is it so hot in here? Who put a heater in the room in the middle of summer?”

The teacher entered, arms laden with a pile of papers, and immediately grimaced.

So that’s why it’s so warm.

Junyoung’s eyes followed the teacher’s gaze to the heater by her feet. Then came the second outburst.

“And what is this? Who plastered all this on the window? Junyoung, did you do this?”

Maybe if I had a sleepwalking habit.

Junyoung didn’t respond, merely blinking slowly as she stared at the teacher. The teacher sighed and marched to the window, quickly tearing down the papers.

With each sheet removed, sunlight flooded Junyoung’s face in bright bursts. She winced, raising her hand to shield her eyes. Her head still felt fuzzy.

“Are you feeling any better? You’re drenched in sweat. Let me take a look.”

The teacher pulled a chair close to the bed and placed a hand on Junyoung’s forehead, muttering, “This heat… I can’t tell if it’s a fever or just the temperature. How long have you been feeling unwell? You should’ve told someone during gym class and taken a break.”

“I thought I’d be fine,” Junyoung rasped, her voice dry and cracking.

The teacher clicked their tongue in disapproval. “Class is almost over. Go home and rest for today.”

People assume ‘home ‘is a place where everyone can rest, Junyoung thought but kept silent.

Casting her a side glance, the teacher stood and said, “I have a meeting to attend, so take a fever reducer if you think you need it. Make sure to tidy the bed before you leave.”

“Yes.”
The teacher was someone who, even when they knew a student’s circumstances, refrained from unnecessary interference. Junyoung found that approach comforting. After sifting through some papers at their desk, the teacher opened the door to leave but paused.

“Oh, what’s up? Are you here because of Junyoung? Go on in.”

Junyoung, who had been rubbing her aching neck and slumped shoulders, suddenly lifted her head.

Someone came looking for me?

If she had to pick someone who might do so… well…

“You’re awake?”

But the face that cautiously stepped in wasn’t the one she expected, leaving her unable to hide her surprise. Seungwoon, looking slightly awkward, cleared his throat as he approached.

Of all times, why now?

Her sweat-stained body reeked, and her dishevelled hair looked like a bird’s nest. Pulling the blanket up to cover herself, Junyoung snapped sharply, “What do you want?”

She lowered her head, self-conscious of her flushed face. Her tone, laced with rejection, seemed to stop Seungwoon a few steps away.

“I came to check if you’re okay. I stopped by during every break, but you were always asleep. I was worried you might need to go to the hospital. I’ve never seen anyone collapse like that before.”

A wry smile tugged at her lips. I didn’t expect to collapse like that either. Should I thank him for letting me sleep deeply for a few hours?

“This is all because of me, isn’t it? Because my ball hit you?”

When she glanced up, she saw Seungwoon’s smooth face clouded with guilt. She almost laughed out loud.

It’s not your fault. If anything, he was like someone who accidentally stepped on an already injured person without noticing, just unlucky enough to make things worse.

Junyoung rubbed her still-sore shoulder. This ache wasn’t from a rubber ball but from the aftermath of being hit with something as heavy as a granite ashtray. She’d noticed the bruise forming that morning.

Still, you were unlucky enough to hit an already bruised spot.

As her hand moved, Seungwoon’s guilt deepened, visibly etching itself into his features. She hadn’t meant to, but it didn’t feel bad.

“Were you really scared?”

His voice was gentle, as though he were addressing a frightened animal that might bolt at any moment. Junyoung lowered her gaze and replied in a biting tone.

“Why bother coming after throwing so hard? Were you here to check how injured I was? Like a killer returning to the crime scene?”

“No! That’s not… I’m not a killer!”

Seungwoon’s eyes widened in panic at the harsh analogy. He may look like a prince, but inside, he seemed as delicate as a greenhouse flower.

Well, I suppose your world is warm and safe. No pests to trouble you, I bet.

“You didn’t look well from the moment you arrived at school today. During dodgeball, it seemed like you were chasing the ball on purpose as if you wanted to get hit. I thought maybe you were planning to collapse and finally get some rest. I threw it thinking I’d help you.”

Junyoung’s lips, which had been curled in displeasure, slowly softened. Seungwoon let out a quiet sigh of relief and cleared his throat.

“I think I threw it harder than I intended because I was in a hurry. I’m really sorry.”

He bowed his head in a sincere apology. The honesty in his gesture stirred something inside Junyoung.

Can people really be that straightforward? I can barely get a “thank you” past my lips.

“It’s fine. Doesn’t seem like anything’s broken.”

Her brusque reply brought a quick smile to Seungwoon’s face as though a weight had been lifted. Seeing him visibly relax, Junyoung found herself saying more.

“The bruise will fade soon enough.”

“A bruise? You got a bruise, too?”

His soft eyes widened again. Junyoung neither confirmed nor denied it. She pushed the blanket aside and climbed out of bed. Seungwoon reached out as if to help her but hesitated, his hand lingering awkwardly in midair.

“Oh.”

As Junyoung brushed off the wrinkles in her shirt, her eyes fell on the heater. “You brought this, didn’t you? It was way too hot.”

Seungwoon blinked nervously, caught off guard.

“I, uh…”

“Still, thanks. For covering the window, too.”

Even Junyoung was surprised at how easily the words left her mouth. She had never spoken like this before.

But seeing Seungwoon’s slightly stunned expression made her neck heat up again. She hurriedly walked past him, but her head spun, and she stumbled.

“Junyoung!”

The voice, filled with concern, was strangely familiar. A firm arm steadied her back, and the hand that caught her wrist was warmer than the heater.

The cool, clean scent that wafted toward her almost made her bite her lip. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest.

“You okay? You shouldn’t move so quickly.”

His voice was soft, almost soothing as if wrapping her in a warm cocoon. Junyoung wanted to dissolve and disappear. Seungwoon stood silently, holding her securely, gazing down at her.

The odd tension between them was broken by the sudden sound of the door opening. Junyoung turned her head toward it, startled, and her lips parted slightly as her gaze met sharp, slanted eyes.

“Oh, Kwon Beomjin.”