Our Youth 37

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#037

Jiwoon turned his head toward Yechan. At the gazes that gathered while whispering, the person whose name was called had quite a stiff expression.

“Go on.”

Soon Jiwoon pushed Yechan’s back. He roughly guessed who it was. It wasn’t a place he could interfere.

“I’ll go first.”

“Ah… I’ll contact you after it’s over, hyung.”

“It’s okay.”

Jiwoon replied lightly and moved his steps. Yechan ran to the girl.

Jiwoon’s solar plexus tingled. Passing by the two who seemed to be having a conversation, Jiwoon confirmed the name tag saying Cha Yewon attached to the girl’s uniform.

Even after that, the image of the two stuck in his head like an afterimage all the way home. His insides gradually became heavy. He still had nothing he particularly needed to do, or could do.

Arriving home, Jiwoon threw down his bag and headed to the terrace. His insides felt stuffy.

* * *

“What are you doing?”

Since returning from the trip, Yechan had completely cut off contact with Cha Yewon. He had blocked her number, and when they ran into each other at academy, he had been caught once but immediately shook her off saying he was sorry and went his way.

“Ah, so now you feel like talking to me?”

“Ah… why are you like this?”

“Don’t talk like you’re asking why I’m being clingy. Do you know you’re fucking rude?”

Yewon was angry to the tips of her hair. At her rising voice, the surroundings that had gathered in a circle around them began to murmur.

Yechan gritted his teeth and dragged Yewon’s wrist toward a nearby park. Yewon, who followed stomping her feet while fuming, shook off Yechan’s hand trying to seat her on an appropriate bench. Then she stood and continued speaking rapidly.

“You! You ignored all my contacts, avoided me at academy too! How desperate must I have been to ask Yujin what time you finish and come here?”

“This is stalking.”

“Bullshit. Hey, then what you did to me is hit-and-run. Give back my math solutions. Do you know why I came all the way here? Because you seem to be fucking mistaken, I came to set that straight.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’ll tell you from now on, so listen properly. It’s true I was attracted to your face, but when you went on that trip, I really thought your personality sucked, you know? So I gave up right in the middle. I don’t like you. I have no intention of dating either!”

“So?”

“So? So what? But what did you say to me? You said sorry and let’s not contact each other, right? Hey, if you just say what you want to say and run off there, what does that make me? I already thought something was strange so I asked Yujin, you know? Wow, among Kim Minho and the guys, it’s like I’m floundering around in your fishing pond! It’s so embarrassing! So I tried to set it straight but you ignored all my contacts!”

“Ah…”

“I didn’t want to get this heated while talking, but hey. If you’re going to finish anything, shouldn’t you do it properly? I don’t know about you, but it’s important to me. My reputation.”

Seeing Yewon shooting words at him while grumbling, Yechan thought “oops.” After staying silent, he decided to think from Yewon’s perspective.

There was more to talk about, but the other person unilaterally cut off contact. And if that caused her reputation to hit rock bottom…

…She had reason to be angry. Yechan cleanly acknowledged it.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry. I was a bit… irritated then and wasn’t in my right mind. Anyway, I’m sorry for putting you in a difficult position.”

“Huh? Uh…”

“I understand well now that you’re not interested in me anymore. If you hadn’t told me that now, I almost would have misunderstood. Sorry.”

“Uh…”

“But you’re quite hot-tempered. Didn’t you think about what the kids would say seeing you standing in front of the school right now?”

“You think I didn’t think about it? But when you keep ignoring everything, what am I supposed to do? It doesn’t matter. You just need to go to school tomorrow and gossip in front of Oh Taehyun that ‘yesterday Cha Yewon said she wouldn’t take Seo Yechan even if he was given to her.’ He’s quite the local gossip network, right?”

At Taehyun’s name coming from Yewon’s mouth, Yechan obediently nodded. If he told Taehyun as Yewon said in the morning, probably by evening the entire school would know.

“Wouldn’t take even if given…”

“Yeah, I won’t take you. I found someone I like.”

Even though Yechan didn’t ask, Yewon turned on her phone screen and showed Yechan her wallpaper. A stage photo of a man who appeared to be an idol was visible.

Yechan unconsciously frowned.

“Why are you making a face? I’m going to marry our oppa. Just wait until I get into college. I’m going to enter his agency.”

Yewon said while trembling. Yechan, who found that sight a bit scary, took a step back.

“A Korea University graduate entertainer. Not bad, right?”

“Yeah…”

Yechan, who had nothing more to say, answered roughly. As if her mood had improved, Yewon hummed while looking at her phone for a few more seconds before turning off the screen.

“But I just thought of something.”

“What now?”

“Don’t you want to be friends with me?”

“…Suddenly?”

“Thinking about it, it’s been really long since I showed my bottom to someone else like this. What if you stab me in the media saying I have a bad temper when I become a celebrity?”

“I won’t stab you.”

“How do you know that? No, actually more than that, I just think it would be good to be friends with you. You study well and you’re aiming for Korea University early admission too. Let’s do portfolios together next year. I’ll help you with math solutions a bit. You share some good sources or information with me too.”

At Yewon’s rapid-fire words, Yechan thought for a moment. Yewon, who had been staring at Yechan looking at her intently, soon waved her hand.

“Ah, never mind if you don’t want to. And please, I’m begging you, don’t misunderstand. I’m really sick of your personality. Wow, I wondered who you could possibly date. You’re a complete romantic novice, right?”

At Yewon’s insight hitting almost exactly right, Yechan rubbed his arm. And separately from that, Yechan, who had been pondering Yewon’s proposal, answered.

“Okay. Let’s do it, friend.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It seems like it’ll be helpful.”

“Right? That’s what I’m saying! What early admission track are you thinking of? I can submit for special talent.”

“That’s enviable. I’m just general.”

“Still, portfolios mostly overlap so I think we can do them together. Is there anything lacking in your school records?”

“Not particularly. But I slipped once this time so from now on I think I need to keep taking care of my rank.”

“Ah… I messed up once in first year so I’m doing that.”

“But it’s special talent. Then it should be manageable, right?”

“I’m trying to believe that. Well, I have to try as much as I can.”

The two, united by the topic of Korea University admission, talked for a long time. The conversation with Yewon was quite substantial and satisfying. Being from another school with non-overlapping early admission tracks, she was much more trustworthy than the school’s second-place student whom he didn’t even know.

Yechan unblocked her contact in front of Yewon and parted ways. He had more stories to tell Taehyun and Minho tomorrow.

And the next day, when Taehyun asked why Cha Yewon had come yesterday, Yechan told him exactly what Yewon had said.

Taehyun’s big mouth was more amazing than expected. By lunch time, it seemed like the entire school knew what Yechan had said in the morning.

Yechan, who clicked his tongue, also told them that Yewon, who had absolutely no romantic interest in him, had said she would marry an idol, and that they had decided to become friends preparing for Korea University admissions together. Taehyun and Minho, who were listening to Yechan’s words, nodded.

Like Yechan had experienced, it seemed their own fantasies about Yewon’s personality had been shattered.

“I thought she was easygoing…”

Taehyun said regretfully. Minho bluntly spoke up.

“It’s prejudice to think that pretty girls have gentle personalities too. Everyone has their own individuality, Taehyun.”

“Yeah… I couldn’t let go of my preconceptions. I was being pretentious without even knowing her.”

Taehyun pursed his lips while saying he’d be careful from now on. Then he continued contacting Yeonna. Before they knew it, two of them were in talking stages.

Yechan prepared for class while gauging which of the two would get a girlfriend first.

* * *

“Yesterday Cha Yewon came to dump Seo Yechan, I heard?”

Kyungjun whispered while giggling. The third-year classroom during self-study was quietly settled except for the sound of air conditioning and page turning.

Jiwoon frowned at the noise that made his ears uncomfortable.

“No, but a fucking pretty girl came and went. Aren’t you curious?”

“So? Did Jiwoon, Jiwoon’s dongsaeng get dumped?”

Jukyung asked while spinning his pen. Kyungjun answered.

“Yeah. Originally there were rumors that Seo Yechan was leading her on. What we heard before. But because of yesterday’s incident, it got reversed to Seo Yechan being clingy with the pretty girl and getting dumped. Fucking funny.”

“That’s not right, is it?”

At Choi Min’s words, Jukyung answered with his eyes crinkled in laughter.

“What does the truth matter when the rumor is like that? It’s fine as long as it’s fun.”

He didn’t want to hear more. Jiwoon concentrated on the foreign language passage while wearing earphones. Even with the noisy beat ringing in his ears, his heart only sank further down.

A quiet sigh flowed out at emotions that wouldn’t follow his intentions. There had been no contact from Yechan since last night.

And that afternoon, Jiwoon’s parents arrived in the country without notice.

Me: Yechan-ah

Me: From today for a while, go home alone

Seo Yechan: ㅠㅠ Why?

Me: My parents came so I have to go in quickly

Seo Yechan: Wow congratulations hyung, that’s great

Me: ?

Seo Yechan: ?? Isn’t it good? It’s been a while since you’ve seen them, have a fun time

Me: Yes oppa

Seo Yechan: ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Seo Yechan: Hyung