A came back home and left again in less than 30 minutes. Siera and Red sat silently in the mess of a room.
Red, who asked A to step aside for a moment, was silent too, and Siera, unable to understand Red’s intention in asking A to leave, stayed quiet as well.
Though they didn’t speak, it was clear there was competition between them. Just looking at each other made the air feel icy, with neither showing any signs of backing down.
“What? If you have something to say, say it.”
Frustrated by Red’s silence despite having been asked to leave, Siera frowned and spoke. Letting go of her hostility, Red also relaxed the sharp tension.
“I’m your older brother’s girlfriend.”
“So what?”
Just because she let go of her hostility didn’t mean she wouldn’t provoke Siera. Hearing Red introduce herself so casually as A’s girlfriend, Siera’s expression darkened even more.
Feeling hurt that she had to say something unnecessary given the current situation, and even more hurt that Red seemed to be intentionally saying things she shouldn’t, Siera clenched her fists.
“Do you like my older brother?”
Unchanged in her thoughts and not seeing any problem with answering, Siera still didn’t want to answer. She remained silent, unaware that her silence was seen as an affirmative response to Red’s question.
Red didn’t ask this question out of wanting an answer from Siera. She could infer the answer just from Siera’s reaction.
She already knew the answer from observing A’s attitude before. There was no need to ask in the first place.
“I may not know what kind of relationship you and my older brother have, but I am his girlfriend, and that hasn’t changed.”
“Are you trying to start an argument?”
Looking at Red with a sharp gaze, Siera felt incensed. But Red showed no reaction. Instead, she sat calmly, almost daring Siera to continue.
“It seems unbelievable. I thought everything was fine, but when I looked back, I realized something unimaginable had happened.”
As Red said, Siera felt incensed.
Over countless years, Siera had watched A closely, always keeping a close watch on anyone who tried to get close to him.
Knowing that A disliked going out and preferred staying at home, Siera was sure he wouldn’t go out alone after moving to Seoul.
For the past 10 years in Seoul, nothing significant had happened to A, and Siera hadn’t worried about him.
But suddenly, a target she never imagined—a girlfriend—appeared, causing her hands to tremble and her eyes to waver.
Meeting her made her anger boil, and though she tried to suppress it, Red’s words cut deep, fueling her rage further.
“Yes, I’m angry. So what? Are you going to tell A to stay away from me?”
A’s girlfriend couldn’t be helped, and although five girlfriends were many, it wasn’t as if A was completely taken away from the HunterKiller members.
“What can I do? Unlike you, I have much more life ahead. Don’t get cocky just because you’re closer to A than I am. I’ve known A much longer.”
“And I’ve had a much deeper relationship with him.”
Hearing this, Siera clenched her fist, but fearing it might harm A, she only glared at Red with all her might.
Red was upset. Though she said she didn’t know A’s relationship with Siera, she was vaguely aware of Siera’s existence.
Before knowing A’s true identity, A had fabricated stories about his time at Spacystro, always mentioning a long-time friend who stressed him out.
Sensing A’s stress and frustration, Red empathized, and now facing Siera directly, she felt even more agitated.
When she first met Siera, Red had assumed she was just a high-ranking member of Spacystro. But knowing A’s position, she hesitated to attack, allowing Siera to strike first.
Even in their standoff, Red didn’t think their relationship warranted explanation to a Spacystro member.
A’s return brought some calmness, but realizing Siera was the one who caused him stress, Red felt even angrier.
The unusual relationship between A and Siera was obvious. It was clear that Siera had feelings for A.
“He doesn’t know, but he has a girlfriend now. And she’s the first among the members.”
Despite knowing how long Siera had known A, Red believed she was the closest to A now.
“Have you hurt him a lot with your words?”
Hearing this, Siera felt a sinking feeling. Red, someone she barely knew, seemed to know her most sensitive issues.
And Red had brought up her efforts to hide her feelings around A.
“What does that have to do with you?”
“It has everything to do with me. Do you know how much A has been hurt by your words?”
Angered but unable to refute, Siera recalled the day of the terrorist attack. A had lashed out at her, which was a shock to her.
Thinking everything would be fine, she realized her actions had been wrong.
“Is that why you’re mad? Because A is your boyfriend?”
But Red shouldn’t be involved in this issue, which was between A and her.
“I know. As his girlfriend, why should I be nice to someone who hurt him?”
Red pressed Siera with aggressive words, yet she couldn’t fully calm down. Despite A’s absence, she couldn’t shake the idea that Siera was a bad person who hurt A.
“What do you expect me to do? If I don’t say anything, A will always rush into reckless actions. Can you stop him?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen A act recklessly yet.”
Silence fell. To Siera, Red seemed to be lashing out without understanding the situation.
Red continued, acknowledging Siera’s perception.
“But I won’t talk like that.”
Siera’s gaze wavered, while Red’s fierce red eyes remained unyielding.
“If A acts recklessly, I’ll try to stop him. If I can’t, I’ll wait until he returns.”
Siera must have gone through countless situations unknown to Red. But Red acknowledged that A and Siera had a long history.
Even though A and Siera had a long history, Red stood firm in her belief that she had a deeper connection with A.
“There are countless choices. You don’t need to keep hurting A with your words.”
Siera began to regret the past 10 years. Why did she speak so harshly to A? Why didn’t she realize A was hurt by her words?
Thinking she knew A best, she now questioned what she truly knew about him.
“You don’t know anything!”
“Don’t raise your voice. What if A hears you?”
Though Siera raised her voice, Red’s calm tone subdued her.
The relationship with A didn’t ease the strained relationship between Siera and Red, who held a leadership role in Spacystro.
Thinking she needed to express her feelings toward A, she asked for a space for conversation.
But there was another reason.
Seeing Siera’s affection for A, she created a situation where they could talk alone.
Knowing A was hurt by her words, Red harbored negative feelings toward the person who said them.
Siera claimed she acted to prevent A’s reckless behavior, but Red took offense.
“All you’ve done is hurt A with your careless words. Trying to justify it now won’t change the past.”
It seemed childish. Like a boy expressing his feelings through pranks when he can’t articulate them properly.
But excessive pranks become bullying, and bullying is a wrong action.
Though upset, Red didn’t want A present during this confrontation.
Understanding the situation and knowing Siera’s long-standing affection for A, Red showed minimal respect as a woman.
“You thought A’s constant presence meant everything was fine. That’s why you settled into this unchanged situation.”
Siera, as Red pointed out, hadn’t felt any urgency about A’s unchanged state. Assuming A wouldn’t change since he showed little interest in dating, she felt secure.
Siera had kept other women from approaching A, ensuring his consistent state.
Luche being A’s girlfriend was unknown to A.
While thinking they could be together in the future, Siera excluded, other women around A grew closer to him.
“I told you I’m A’s girlfriend. I asked why you said that. And you explained your reasons yourself.”
“What?”
Red’s expression was indifferent, as if stating an obvious fact.
“Don’t eye A.”
Knowing Spacystro’s views on love and marriage differed from Earth’s, Siera might not view harems as complex.
However, Red was certain that even without complexity, the order matters.
Even if Siera accepted multiple girlfriends, Red insisted on her warning because she wanted to emphasize her precedence as A’s girlfriend.
Of course, Red, who opposes harems and disapproves of meeting all HunterKiller members, had no intention of accepting Siera’s acceptance.
“Hey.”
Seemingly deep in thought, Siera stood up and looked at Red with a detached gaze.
“What can I do if I’m his girlfriend?”
Red’s expression tightened. She knew Siera was A’s girlfriend. Yet, hearing Siera’s dismissive tone, Red doubted they could have a proper conversation.
Meanwhile, Siera continued to think.
Her words were true. As Red said, Siera had been complacent in A’s unchanged environment and used excuses to hurt A with her words.
The evidence was A’s outburst at her on the day of the bombing.
Siera knew this. Yet, she couldn’t see any reason to listen to Red’s lecture.
As they faced each other, the sound of the door lock entering a password was heard. The front door slowly opened, and A cautiously peeked in.
“When can I come back inside?”
Inside, Siera and A’s girlfriend were in a tense standoff. Clearly, the situation was dire, and A could guess the situation from experience.
They wouldn’t physically fight, but they were engaged in a fierce mental battle, similar to when they were together a few days ago.
“Ah…”
Only a sigh escaped. Thinking she had invited this situation, she entered the house.
