I Wish They’d Just Leave Me Alone 67

Chapter 67

Could the term “hyung” ever feel this awkward?

It’s not like I haven’t heard the term often, but strangely, coming from Ye Han-seo, it felt odd.

He should only call his own brother “hyung.” Why suddenly “hyung” when he’s been calling me “you” every time he addresses me?

Even so, I was a bit worried that he might have called me for something serious.

Additionally, seeing how he spoke quietly so the two guys couldn’t hear properly, it seemed like he was asking me to come out alone…

I couldn’t quite figure it out.

I soon shook off my doubts. Well, I’ll find out when we talk later.

“Shall we go up a bit higher?”

“Up there?”

“Yeah. I think I can properly ride now.”

After lunch, I spent a long time just maintaining my balance, and now that I could slowly go down, I was feeling confident.

When I suggested going up, the two guys who had been with me on the beginner course all along looked pleased, their expressions brightening.

They must have been frustrated… What intermediate level? They’re both guys who could go straight to the advanced course and come down smoothly.

I need to practice quickly so I can properly ride with them.

Since neither of them wanted to go up without me, the only way was for me to get familiar with it so we could go together.

“I saw Ye Han-dam hyung taking the lift up earlier.”

“Really?”

“With Oh Ji-hyun.”

“…And Ye Han-seo didn’t go?”

“It was just the two of them.”

Even the triplets seemed to be hanging out together, but Yoon Seong-jin and Sun Cheol-ho were together, while Baek Da-hyuk looked busy taking care of his Guide.

After briefly thinking about the positions of the classmates, I shook my head.

My meddling tendencies. I should just take care of these two; I shouldn’t create more issues.

I picked up my snowboard and headed toward the lift going up to the intermediate course.

Ji Yeohoon chattered that I shouldn’t worry even if he looked like he was going to fall, while Yoon Cheong told me to ignore Ji Yeohoon and ride freely.

Just when they looked like they were about to fight, they naturally closed their mouths when I looked at them.

They’re listening well for now… I wonder if they’ll stop listening when they get a bit older.

“Earlier, what did Ye Han-seo say?”

Although I didn’t hear it, Ye Han-seo’s behavior must have bothered him.

Ji Yeohoon also clutched his board tightly and stared at me.

“He said he’ll see me later.”

I had no intention of hiding it.

Even if someone who liked me asked to meet, I would tell these guys.

We’ve been sticking together since they were young, so I can naturally tell them this much, right?

Besides, he said it loud enough for them to hear.

“I haven’t given up yet, big guy.”

I don’t know if he caught the reason for my words, but Yoon Cheong was quietly looking ahead, while Ji Yeohoon looked at both me and Yoon Cheong for a moment before chuckling.

“It’s so comfortable when you tell us~ Right?”

“Yes, yes.”

“No need to worry~”

“That’s right. But for now, move away. The board is heavy.”

Ji Yeohoon, who was trying to stick close to me while chattering, pouted at my words but properly sat back in his place.

The lift swayed because he was moving back and forth, and it was actually quite frightening.

After sitting quietly, when the lift finally stopped swaying, I briefly gauged the distance between me and him.

I was in the center, and both were holding their boards, so they were a bit apart from me.

Ji Yeohoon has definitely grown taller…

“Ji Yeohoon, it seems like there’s not much height difference between you and Yoon Cheong?”

“Now there’s only about a 3cm difference. Hyung, I’ve grown a lot, haven’t I?”

“Yeah, you’ve grown a lot.”

Anyway, you’re both over 180cm.

A jealous expression must have appeared on my face.

Yoon Cheong stared at me for a while before speaking.

“It’s okay, you’re cute.”

“That’s right. It’s okay because you’re cute.”

“…Shut up, both of you. Deceitful bastards.”

Even though I have a reasonably tall height that’s already above average, being among Espers often makes me feel small.

To begin with, in this school full of Espers, I was doomed.

“But it’s true. Hyung always seems not to believe it.”

“Do you want to be taller? You don’t need to be.”

Who called these bastards a wolf and a black panther?

They’re bears that dig into people’s hearts.

The lift heading to the intermediate course felt slow.

Ji Yeohoon, who was laughing with a mischievous voice, relaxed as if leaning his back.

“When you go to talk with Ye Han-seo later, I’ll be far enough away that I’m not easily seen or heard. You don’t have to worry too much.”

Was it obvious that I was continuously concerned about Ye Han-seo speaking quietly?

Ji Yeohoon, smiling with his green eyes almost hidden, firmly held my hand.

“But I’m still worried because of past events, so will you allow me to watch over you?”

“I’ll be there without being noticed.”

Yoon Cheong also became of one mind and was looking at me.

Even without speaking so carefully, I was planning to tell them to come if they wanted to.

I haven’t easily forgotten what happened inside the Gate either.

No matter how quiet Ye Han-seo has been lately and how he hasn’t been acting on his own, isn’t it still insufficient for him to gain trust?

Even with recent events, it was difficult to erase his initial appearance and what happened at the first Gate.

“Hyung, let me carry Soo-young hyung’s board.”

“Alright.”

I could have carried it myself, but Yoon Cheong picked up both my board and his and stood up first.

Ji Yeohoon held his board in one hand and pulled me up with his other hand.

I’m neither particularly frail nor weak, but being among these excessively sturdy guys sometimes makes me wonder if I’m the weak one.

Even now, it’s the same. The board isn’t that heavy, but seeing them carry it, I understand that these guys see me as somewhat weak.

And I also understand that they worry a lot.

“I was planning to talk to you both anyway.”

“About what?”

“About what Ye Han-seo said, starting with why he asked me to come.”

Yoon Cheong, who had placed the board down in front of me, raised his head.

Ji Yeohoon, also looking at the board, released my hand.

“Since I know you two will worry. I was going to ask you to come along too.”

I put my foot on the board and secured it firmly.

Feeling it might be a bit difficult to stand up, I reached out to them.

Two pairs of eyes turned toward me.

Both naturally extended their hands and grabbed mine to lift me up.

I stood on the board, applying strength to my feet to prevent slipping.

“Who else would I trust if not you two?”

After spending years together, I should be able to talk to them.

This wasn’t something I was saying because of Yoon Cheong.

It was something I could say because I knew they would worry about me as much as I worry about them.

How could I not know how well they follow me?

My casual words made the two guys look dazed, which was puzzling.

“…We’ll do better in the future.”

“What?”

“In the future, we’ll do better.”

“No, I mean, what specifically?”

They seemed touched, but I wondered if it was okay to leave it at that.

Leaving behind the guys who seemed to be making a commitment, I set off downhill first.

* * *

I had dinner with the third-year middle school students.

We rented a restaurant and went in together, but with so many people, it was chaotic.

The portions were large, and the Guide students couldn’t finish them all, but we had more trouble stopping the Espers who volunteered to finish the leftover food.

“You can just order more of what you want, why are you trying to eat that?”

“It’s what Yoon-seo has eaten anyway…”

“If you keep doing that, Do Yoon-seo will be embarrassed.”

“Really…?”

“Ye Han-dam, you too. It’s good not to waste food, but use your own spoon.”

Leaving behind Ye Han-dam with his embarrassed face, I walked out of the restaurant.

It was tough having to watch the teachers’ romantic comedy on the way here in the car, and now these kids without self-awareness were acting like this—it was tiring.

I was looking around on my phone, thinking about ordering separate snacks when we get back to the room.

I wonder if this area has delivery service apps…

“Hyung, when are you meeting him?”

“Well… he just said evening and didn’t contact me separately. It’s not like I have Ye Han-seo’s number.”

For Ye Han-dam, as the class president and because we’d likely be in the same class until the third year of high school, I made sure to have his contact.

But for Ye Han-seo, I didn’t bother asking for his number as I didn’t think we’d have much more to do with each other.

If worse comes to worst, I could always find his room.

Despite my concerns, Ye Han-seo seemed to have been waiting for me, as he arrived at the front of the resort first and was staring at me.

I knew that Espers grow quickly after manifesting, but seeing how my gaze had to move upward to meet Ye Han-seo’s eyes made me feel unfairly treated once again.

Ye Han-seo in particular hasn’t been manifested for long, but he’s already surpassing me.

Damn this world…!

“Let’s move somewhere else for now.”

Yoon Cheong and Ji Yeohoon, who had come with me to the accommodation, waved goodbye, saying they’d see me later.

Though they said that, I knew they’d be watching nearby, so I just nodded.

I wondered where they’d be watching from, but since I’d only heard they’d be far away, I didn’t try to pinpoint them.

If they were going to watch without Ye Han-seo knowing, they’d be quite far away.

Rather than alerting Ye Han-seo to the fact that the guys were following, it was more advantageous for me to pretend not to know.

That way, Ye Han-seo would speak more frankly.

“What’s going on? I followed you because it seemed like you had something to say.”

The guy walking ahead turned around when we reached a somewhat secluded area.

There’s really nothing around.