In Between is a contemporary romance webtoon, follows the story of two reunited childhood best friends as they navigate the trials of college love, family abuse, and the fatal disease that is loneliness. Previously in In Between, Eunseo and Sihwa inch closer and closer together with his flirting. While visiting the hospital, Eunseo notices Hyeon and wonders if he is sick. Later, she sees the scary boy get into a fight with the upperclassmen. Will Eunseo and Sihwa finally get together? And will the elusive Hyeon finally reveal his secrets? Let’s find out in In Between Chapter 36-43!
In Between Chapter 36: Me, You, and Dead Silence Too!
In Between Chapter 36 begins as Eunseo buys a can of beer for Hyeon. When the shopkeeper refuses to let them eat inside, they make their way to a nearby park. Eunseo blushes; it was the same place where Sihwa had almost kissed her. She wouldn’t be able to focus now!
As Hyeon and Eunseo lounge on a park bench, an air of awkwardness settles between them like an opaque wall crippling their interaction. Hyeon, so distant and unresponsive, starts to make Eunseo wonder if he even wanted her company. Unsure of how to break the silence, she asks him the one question she was curious about. Was he dating Haerang? Immediately, Hyeon spits out his water. He blatantly denies having any romantic relationship with her and runs a perplexed hand through his hair.
The Latest Edition of Vague
Finally, Eunseo addresses the elephant in the room: why was he always fighting with the upperclassmen? A series of bad memories flash across Hyeon’s brain in a melancholic montage. He remembers an incident in his old school- a fight between students- that’d ended terribly. The others had bullied him for it, but his mother had wanted the best for him. Hyeon vaguely replies to the query, leaving Eunseo more confused than before.
Suddenly, Eunseo receives a call from Sihwa, who asks about her whereabouts. Within minutes of her reply, he shows up at the park, cutting Eunseo’s conversation with Hyeon short. “Thanks for today,” he says before leaving, shocking the other two; he didn’t seem like the type to express gratitude so easily. Sihwa watches him go with intense curiosity mingled with a hint of dislike, and asks Eunseo how they ended up hanging out. (Is that jealousy in the air?) In Between Chapter 36 concludes as he pulls Eunseo to come with him, saying, “There’s stuff I want to do at home.”
In Between Chapter 37: “I Like You”
In Between Chapter 37 begins as Sihwa purchases a delicate necklace for Eunseo. ‘Sparkly, just what Eunseo likes,’ he thinks with satisfaction, and then realizes, ‘I guess that’s why she likes me.’
Ever since they were young, Sihwa had always known her inside and out. In the past, he’d known that Eunseo would like the golden necklace he’d bought for her birthday. Just like he knew she’d love the one he’d bought now. He calls Eunseo up, asking her where she was. When he bounds off to her location like a happy-go-lucky puppy dog, he finds something that wipes the smile off his face. Eunseo was with Hyeon.
That night, while they watch a movie in the living room, Sihwa leans his head on Eunseo’s shoulder. Bored with the movie, he tries to fall asleep. But Eunseo pushes him away. ‘Maybe he just doesn’t see me as a woman,’ she thinks, noticing his unaffected state. Suddenly, he grabs her hand and entwines their fingers together. And just like that, he stops responding and falls asleep.
A Crescendo Of Emotions
Meanwhile, Eunseo furiously blushes. Her heart was hammering against her ribs, her mind was spinning, her palms were sweaty… how could he sleep?! They were practically cuddling! Was she the only one who felt the connection again? Eunseo’s brain whirls with theories. He had seemed strange lately… did that mean something? Did he reciprocate her feelings? Or was she just deluding herself? She clenches her jaw in exasperation; she couldn’t understand anything.
“You’re so frustrating,” she says to him out loud. When she tells him that he’d been acting weird, Sihwa mumbles an agreement. Eunseo forges on with her rant before realizing what he’d said, and that he’d woken up. Sihwa gets up and opens his eyes. Knowing that she was referring to his flirting, he asks, “Did you not like it?”
Immediately, Eunseo flusters and begins stumbling over her words. In Between Chapter 37 concludes as she accuses him of toying with her feelings. But Sihwa genuinely says (and blushes too!), “I like you. Let’s date.”
In Between Chapter 38: The Weak Spot
In Between Chapter 38 begins as Eunseo covers Sihwa’s mouth to prevent him from repeating his words. “You’ve made another mistake, right? Or are you joking?” she asks spitefully and storms away from him. Halfway to her room, she whirls around, hurt displayed as clear as day on her face. “Am I that easy?” she questions him with a raw voice. When Sihwa doesn’t deny the accusation, she quietly steps inside and locks her door with a simple click. Sihwa strides to her room, but hesitates before knocking. He stands that way- his fist hovering inches away from wood- while Eunseo cocoons herself into a blanket. Inside, they both felt miserable.
After a long night, Eunseo awakens with puffy, red eyes and a pounding head. She hurriedly gets dressed for class and ignores Sihwa on her way out the door. But when he sincerely apologizes after her, she falters in step. Sihwa catches up to her and hugs her from behind. “I really like you, Eunseo. It’s not a mistake or a joke,” he says, instantly melting her heart to butter against her will. His hand grazes hers, and she becomes dizzy with doubt. She turns around, and Sihwa clutches her to himself in a tight embrace. ‘I hate that I’m so easily swayed like this,’ she thinks, letting herself forgive him.
Nothing Is Sweeter Than Maple Syrup
In class, Eunseo blushes when she remembers Sihwa’s words. She shyly buries her head in her arms while Haerang watches on. After the lecture finishes, Eunseo tries to escape without running into Sihwa. However, when Haerang suddenly lights up with excitement and puts her hand up in a friendly wave, Eunseo’s stomach drops. Her friend’s reaction meant only one thing…
Yu-an and Sihwa walk towards the girls from the opposite direction, and Haerang immediately runs to the golden-haired boy. Meanwhile, Sihwa explains that he wanted everyone to hang out before Haerang’s club officially began. He mouths something to Eunseo (a tidbit concerning waffles, apparently). In Between Chapter 38 concludes as Sihwa whispers in her ear.
In Between Chapter 39: Drinks with A Side Of Distaste
In Between Chapter 39 begins as Sihwa pleads with Eunseo. He whispers a sincere request into her ear: Please don’t be mad. He makes puppy dog eyes- the same way he’d begged as a teenager- and asks her not to be angry. When Yu-an interrupts their secret conversation, Eunseo announces that Sihwa will pay for all of them (she doesn’t forgive without a price). Suddenly, Haerang remembers to call Hyeon too. Hearing his name, a shadow passes over Sihwa’s face- and Eunseo catches it. Wait… did Sihwa not like Hyeon?
Later, the odd group of five gathers for drinks at a restaurant. ‘Someone’s going to explode for sure,’ Eunseo thinks, noting how everyone was linked to each other in a chaotic network of relationships. She brings up the next day’s exercise to release the awkward tension. Yu-an and Haerang begin to discuss the club, surprising Eunseo with their friendliness.
When Haerang shifts to the topic of the upcoming college camp, Sihwa looks up with interest. Hurt, he accuses Eunseo of not telling him about the trip before. Yu-an watches them, remembering that Sihwa had confessed to him about liking Eunseo. He wonders if they’re dating, and Haerang asks the same question… out loud. Eunseo abruptly spits her beer out, and Sihwa simply says, “Not yet.” She excuses herself to the bathroom, and Haerang follows. When they leave, Hyeon speaks up. “Why do you keep messing around with her?” he says, concluding In Between Chapter 39.
In Between Chapter 40: A Fatal Blow (To The Heart)
In Between Chapter 40 begins as Sihwa asks Hyeon if he is interested in Eunseo. With conviction, he denies ever messing around with her and tells him to mind his business. After dinner, he walks back home with Eunseo and asks her if she was close with Hyeon. She suddenly goes silent with the realization that he was in her department, yet somehow she’d never seen him. Her silence is misinterpreted by Sihwa. ‘So they are close,’ he thinks with annoyance.
The next day, Eunseo runs into Hyeon at the boxing ring. When Haerang doesn’t show up, she waits with him. While they sit side-by-side, Eunseo admits to having seen him in the hospital before. Hyeon, quietly fidgeting with his fingers, confesses that it was because of his grandmother. She wonders why he’d gotten into a fight with the other boys. However, she doesn’t say anything out loud and offers her sincerest apologies.
Necks Run Wet, Noses Run Red
Hyeon decides to get started- Haerang or not- and gears up. He lets Eunseo take the first round and puts the foam pads on. With Eunseo in boing gloves in front of him, he braces himself. However, Eunseo’s first punch barely grazes the padding. He tells her to stop being ‘considerate’ and to hit him as hard as possible. When he asks her to picture the face of an enemy, Eunseo imagines Sihwa and takes her best shot. ‘She’s good,’ Hyeon thinks, as Eunseo rains punches on the padding. Suddenly, she aims a little too far left and clocks him right across the nose. Wham!
Hyeon’s nose starts dripping red, and Eunseo rushes around to find a tissue. In the middle of her full-blown panic session, he catches her hand and asks her to calm down. She simmers down, but it doesn’t stop her from profusely apologizing. Without thinking, she reaches out to check the damage. He moves away from her contact, making Eunseo shamefully realize that she’d gotten too close. Soon after the mishap, it starts getting too hot for Eunseo in the gym. She has to fan herself to stay cool. A trickle of sweat moves down her neck, and Hyeon, noticing it, wipes it away, concluding In Between Chapter 40.
In Between Chapter 41: The Beloved Youngest… Outcast?!
In Between Chapter 41 begins as Hyeon abruptly snatches his hand away from Eunseo. What was he thinking?! At the same time, Eunseo’s cheeks turn pink- why was she so embarrassed all of a sudden? An awkward silence descends on the duo.
Breaking the delicate moment, two guys suddenly appear beside Hyeon. They begin asking him about his new ‘girlfriend’ with a strangely violent form of friendliness. As Eunseo watches him, she realizes that he doesn’t seem scary anymore. He seemed normal and nice, even. They ask her what relationship she had with Hyeon, and she confirms that they were platonic; they were just friends. The word ‘friends’ seems to crack them up. No one saw Hyeon as a ‘friend’! Eunseo’s smile widens as she watches the ‘beloved youngest of the group’ getting teased by the other guys.
Later, Eunseo finishes up at the gym with Haerang (so she did show up after all). Wondering how anyone could be so superhumanly strong, Eunseo walks back home alone against her tireless-even-after-so-much-exercise friend’s wishes. When Hyeon watches her go, Haerang excitedly accuses him of liking her.
Later, Sihwa drops Eunseo off for her college trip. Chivalrously carrying her bag for her, he wishes her bon voyage and leaves. Echoes of his three words- I like you– bounce around in her brain. However, for the whole trip, he doesn’t text Eunseo even once, and Haerang notices her visible frustration. When Eunseo asks where Hyeon was, the whole student body goes quiet at the mention of his name. One of them finally pipes up and cures Eunseo’s confusion. After Hyeon had hit a senior, he’d become an ‘outcast’ in the department. Eunseo registers the words with some shock, concluding In Between Chapter 41.
In Between Chapter 42: Warning! Communication Malfunction Detected
In Between Chapter 42 begins as the students gossip about Hyeon and Sanghyeon, the senior he’d hit. No one seemed to know the full story- or even half of it- and everyone comes up with their own theories. Hyeon was the instigator. Hyeon was the victim. Hyeon was a bully. Sanghyeon was a bully. They explain how he’d taken two semesters off just to avoid Sanghyeon after the incident. “Some people can really surprise you,” someone says. However, Eunseo doesn’t seem convinced; Hyeon wasn’t a bully.
Soon, dawn fades into the night. Yet the lack of texts from Sihwa remains constant. In the light of a single streetlamp, under the twinkling stars, Eunseo scrolls through the dead chat. At that moment, as if on cue, she receives a call from Sihwa. He tells her that he’d come to see her. When she looks around for him, he surprises her from behind in his bright pink hoodie.
Losing System Control
Sihwa hugs her and explains how much he missed her. He even goes far enough to accuse her of not contacting him. Sadly, she tells him that he was the one who was radio silent. Sihwa leans his head onto hers. He comes closer and closer and closer, until Eunseo closes her eyes in anticipation. But nothing happens. Sihwa abruptly moves away from her and decides to talk in the car instead.
With Eunseo inside, Sihwa waits for a brief moment to collect himself. Had he almost kissed her?! Blushing fiercely, he clamps a hand around his mouth. Deep breaths, compose yourself. In the car, Sihwa nonchalantly confesses that he’d already told Haerang- they were close now, apparently- that they were living together. Shocked at first that she had no idea, Eunseo starts to feel a little grateful. In Between Chapter 42 concludes as he admits that he couldn’t wait two nights to see her; that’s why he’d shown up suddenly.
In Between Chapter 43: An Endless Onslaught Of Questions
In Between Chapter 43, Eunseo abruptly asks Sihwa to visit her again tomorrow. Without taking his eyes off her, he kisses her hand. “I will if you wait for me,” he says, and Eunseo blushes. When she plays it off, Sihwa teases her for hiding her feelings. She’d already admitted to missing him; she couldn’t back off now!
When it’s time for him to leave, Eunseo hesitates to let him go. For some reason, she wasn’t ready yet. A question burns inside her- did he really mean to visit tomorrow?- but she barely gets the words out. She dashes away after mumbling it in humiliation. Sihwa watches her leave and then drops to the ground. He runs a hand through his hair and says, “I’m losing it.” Hitting himself for almost ruining things, he blushes and orders himself to get his act together.
The Wise One Speaks
Later, Eunseo finally updates Haerang on the situation. She hadn’t opened up to her best friend in ages; she’d been so wrapped up in her own life. Deciding to be more communicative, Eunseo tells her how Sihwa had confessed, and how they still weren’t dating. When Haerang, shocked, asks her if she liked him, Eunseo explains the whole story. She’d always liked him, and he’d always known. But, despite her feelings, she just wanted to be friends. And more than anything, she wanted to move on. Even after his confession, she still wondered if he was being sincere. “I’m a fool, right?” she says miserably, “I’m sure he thinks he has me wrapped around his finger.”
Haerang advises Eunseo to stop thinking that way. In her opinion, Sihwa really did like her. Besides, this was a golden opportunity; she shouldn’t waste it because of a simple suspicion. Eunseo admits her real fear: what if they broke up and were no longer friends? However, Haerang, with her limitless optimism, discourages her from negative thoughts.
As they walk back in, Eunseo asks her about Hyeon. Haerang promises that he was the victim and a good man. Her mind starts racing with questions about him. She couldn’t stop thinking about the idea of Hyeon’s innocence. Of course, she knew it the whole time. But why were there so many baseless rumours? Why did she care so much? In Between Chapter 43 concludes as Sihwa asks Eunseo what she was thinking about so seriously (spoiler: it’s not you!).
What do you think about In Between Chapter 36-43? Subscribe to AnimeMangaToon to know what happens next!
