Mixed-Blood in a Gender Role Reversed World - Chapter 61

Chapter 61 :

Even without the heater, a warm breeze filled the car.  

The weather was so hot that turning on the air conditioner would be necessary once leaving the parking lot.  

Yet, this summer moment melted Sia’s icy heart, as cold as a winter wind. A heart frozen solid, with frost swirling within.  

Sia closed her eyes.  

In her chest, she pulled out the preserved body of her friend, along with memories.  

If only she knew the exact date of her friend’s passing.  

Since she didn’t, she found herself revisiting her friend every day lately. Was it a small mercy that she at least knew roughly when this period would end?  

Sia touched the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, intending to conclude her mourning. When her friend’s playful voice echoed vividly in her ears, Sia smiled.  

“You look like a courtesan, so you must be great at charming guys. But what now?”  

Since childhood,  

her delicate, cat-like appearance made her seem fragile, despite towering over the average woman’s height. Because of this, she spoke as curtly as possible and acted tougher than anyone else.  

No one looked down on her anymore.  

Over the years, this became Sia’s signature, eventually shaping her very personality.  

It was an asset even when she worked under Seong Yujin…  

“…The problem is that men are scared of me. I don’t get why. Shouldn’t they like a strong woman? Anyway, do you get it now, Soyeon? I still haven’t even held a guy’s hand…”  

Sia paused, a sudden memory halting her words. Suppressing an unfamiliar emotion, she continued.  

“…Now that I think about it, I did have someone’s back against mine.”  

During that unexpected sparring match with that boy.  

Ryu Sehwa.  

On the surface, he seemed cold, devoid of blood or tears, but inside, he was the complete opposite.  

…A walking contradiction.  

Sia, deceived by his exterior, furrowed her delicate brows and pressed her forehead against the car horn.  

*Beeeep*  

The unpleasant sound reverberated through the underground parking lot.  

All she wanted was to protect the club, where a handful of memories with Soyeon remained.  

But did she have to throw that boy into the den of debauchery for Seong Yujin, acting like a pimp?  

And yet,  

why did she feel contempt and disgust but do nothing about it?  

She had prepared many countermeasures for when she came, but none involved removing Sehwa from the club.  

Because she couldn’t afford to lose the club by getting on Seong Yujin’s bad side a pathetic reason.  

She’d already groveled on the cold floor once before, begging for forgiveness.  

Even though she’d fired a man before she arrived.  

That’s when she realized what kind of person she was.  

Unable to even take revenge on the Russian beast who caused her friend’s fate, she was just a useless person, clinging to faded memories alone.  

“What would you think of me like this?”  

Was she speaking to her departed friend or to Sehwa?  

Sinking into the depths of self-loathing, Sia bit her lip, forcing herself to snap out of it.  

“It’s… too late to turn back now. But I’ll try to stop it the first few times. After that…”  

Sia stopped mid-sentence.  

After that?  

How long would she keep doing this?  

The questions pressing on her mind were unbearably heavy.  

Rubbing her temples, Sia suddenly felt something strange.  

“…?”  

She barely knew him.  

She hadn’t even seen him much, yet here she was, tormented over a boy.  

Tilting her head in confusion, Sia sighed and gave a small laugh.  

“Sorry, friend. I keep wavering. I just want to give it all up.”  

With another deep sigh, Sia stopped her thoughts and opened the car door.  

Stepping out with her long, sleek legs, she grabbed her bag and headed to her destination.  

(Strain Mixed Martial Arts Academy.)

---

(Academy Building)

As the elevator doors began to close with Sia inside, someone slipped their hand in. Startled, Sia pressed the open button, and a familiar face entered with a dramatic groan.  

“Phew, that was close. Thanks, Sia.”  

The burly, rough-faced head coach greeted her warmly.  

Feeling the acrid smell of cigarette smoke, Sia returned the greeting with equal warmth.  

“No problem.”  

“Alright, alright. Here to train today too?”  

“Yes.”  

“You’ve been consistent since way back love to see it. Kids these days come for a bit, half-ass it, then quit. Gotta coddle them, too. No different from guys.”  

The coach, grumbling, made a crude gesture with her fingers.  

Sia frowned but smiled, reminded of her friend’s vulgar humor.  

That’s why the coach felt so familiar her personality was just like her friend’s.  

“You seem in a good mood, though.”  

“Yeah, that boy showed up again. Some girls just stare at him instead of training… Oh, right, Sia. You got a boyfriend?”  

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Sia faltered, and the coach grinned slyly.  

“Don’t play innocent. With that body and face? You’re too much. If I were you, back in my day…”  

“I don’t have time for guys.”  

“Just kidding. I know you’re walled off from men.”  

“…”  

“Lighten up, don’t look so glum. That boy you sparred with last time? He’s the real deal. Not like most guys.”  

“…You mean Sehwa?”  

“Yeah, that handsome member. Or, what, pretty these days? Anyway, you know his name… Got a little interest, huh?”  

“What? No, it’s not like that…”  

*Ding!*  

The elevator opened, and the coach stepped out, her grin growing even more mischievous.  

Thinking the coach was unusually chatty today, Sia followed and asked,  

“Why’d you bring up Sehwa?”  

“You live like a monk, it’s pitiful. Sia, a woman’s gotta protect the guy she’s set her sights on.”  

The coach patted Sia’s shoulder as she opened the academy door.  

“Don’t let him get snatched up. Guys like that are rare. You know how athletic guys are… at night, they…”  

“No, it’s not like that with Sehwa…!”  

“The tattoos make him seem rough? It’s fine. Who’s innocent these days? As long as he’s handsome and kind. Go talk to him before someone else does.”  

“…?”  

Sia’s face flushed as she tried to hush the coach, but her expression turned puzzled.  

(Sehwa being here to train makes sense, but who’s the other person? He came with someone? Mina quit, so…)

Tilting her head, Sia followed the coach into the academy.  

She slowly scanned the room. Near the entrance, a woman hitting a punching bag kept glancing somewhere.  

Following her gaze, Sia spotted two striking figures.  

A girl with short silver hair down to her shoulders… and a tall boy with jet-black hair flowing like a mane, darker than any typical East Asian.  

Muttering to herself, Sia instinctively crept toward them.  

*Pow!*  

“This is how you hit properly. Hitting like you did earlier will hurt your wrist. I’ll teach you more later. Next, raise your guard.”  

Sehwa demonstrated a clean strike on the bag and moved behind Mina.  

Despite Sia’s suspicious approach, he focused solely on coaching Mina.  

Even from a brief glance, Sehwa’s serious gaze was striking. His form, as he guided Mina’s shoulders, was so precise it made her wonder if he was secretly a professional athlete.  

“Relax your strength, like this…”  

His instructions were spot-on. Looking around, Sia noticed countless women enviously watching Mina, who was practically glued to Sehwa.  

Even if Mina was her friend, Sehwa seemed unfazed touching a woman’s body so closely.  

Unless he’d opened his heart to her… had they reached that stage? A fling, maybe?  

(Hm.)

As her heart softened at the pure, youthful scene, a forgotten question resurfaced.  

Hardening her expression, Sia strode forward with purpose.  

Before she could speak, Sehwa turned around.  

“Hello, Team Leader.”  

“…How’d you know? I didn’t make a sound.”  

“I felt your presence. Also saw you just now. But… your expression changed? You looked happy earlier.”  

(…He noticed. He wasn’t ignoring me?)

Feeling oddly guilty despite doing nothing wrong, Sia opened her mouth to explain, but Mina, startled, spoke up.  

“Unnie?”  

“Yeah, hi. You doing okay? But… why is Sehwa coaching you? Didn’t you quit?”  

“She was sneaking around here, hitting the bag alone. Poorly, too, and dangerously.”  

Sehwa’s tone sounded cold, but his narrowed eyes betrayed concern.  

Catching on, Sia let out a playful smile.  

Her precious little sister Mina was clearly lovesick and out of her mind.  

Sia slung an arm around Mina’s shoulders and whispered.  

“Where’d you learn to pull this off? Seems like it worked.”  

Before Mina could respond in shock, Sia released her and teased Sehwa.  

“Hope it works out. You two look good together.”  

“Works out? She’s got a long way to go.”  

His unexpected response sparked Sia’s competitive streak, but she quickly realized he was playfully countering her, and she let out a defeated laugh.  

Her expression soon darkened, though.  

If she didn’t change… this lovely scene would soon shatter.  

Sehwa and Mina would both get hurt, and all the resentment… would fall on her.  

If that’s the case…  

“Team Leader.”  

“…?”  

Sehwa’s words cut through her thoughts. When she looked at him, he shrugged.  

“Wanna spar once? We didn’t finish properly last time.”  

“…You already won. Why bother?”  

“A win by luck feels unsatisfying. Plus, it’ll be good for Mina to watch.”  

Luck, huh. If she hadn’t been distracted by… unfamiliar physical contact, the outcome might’ve been different.  

But still.  

“Not really in the mood…”  

“You need this, Team Leader.”  

---

Sia shook her head.  

Not at the situation, but at Sehwa’s question about needing a headgear, which she refused.  

Before she knew it, she was standing in an unfamiliar ring.  

Below, Mina watched with a serious gaze.  

(…Why did I fall for this? It’s like I was bewitched.)

His words "You need this" had dragged her here in an instant.  

She knew he didn’t mean it that way, but…  

“Let’s do this properly this time.”  

“…Don’t worry. I’ll end it before you can mount me.”  

Despite her bold words, Sehwa was formidable.  

His long reach felt like facing a spear with a dagger.  

Even when she tried to close the distance, his precise attacks relentlessly targeted her guard.  

He slipped away with agile movements.  

If this weren’t a ring, the outcome might’ve been different, but for a guy, he was impressive.  

A sudden sense of relief washed over her.  

If he’s this strong, maybe he could overcome that crisis…  

But no, that was wishful thinking. It was a separate issue, unrelated to personal strength.  

Suddenly, her body staggered from an impact.  

Sehwa’s kick had landed on her raised guard.  

As the match mirrored their last encounter, Sia sighed and repeated history.  

She charged, knocking Sehwa down and mounting him.  

Determined to stay focused, Sia tightened her legs around his waist.  

“See? When you get serious, I’m done for.”  

Despite his resigned words, Sehwa twisted beneath her, trying to escape.  

To pin him, Sia tightened her thighs further.  

Naturally, their lower bodies rubbed together something neither noticed.  

As the match solidified in her favor, Sia, impressed by how far he’d come, raised a corner of her mouth.  

“Good job. Now surrender. There’s nothing you can do—”  

“…Hold on. I lost, so can you get off now?”  

Sehwa’s flustered voice cut her off.  

Sia froze, suddenly aware of the sensation beneath her.  

Her face flushed with heat. Instinctively, she glanced at Mina, who was watching everything.  

…In those blue eyes, she read a faint sense of betrayal and trembling pupils.  

Here she was, flushed and straddling Sehwa, whom Mina liked… Damn it.  

She knew it. She shouldn’t have done this from the start!  

As Sia scrambled to get up after a fleeting moment of regret, Mina bit her lip, as if steeling herself.  

(…Why?)

In a corner of Sia’s heart, a subtle sense of guilty pleasure flickered.  

_______________________________________

Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id  

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