# Chapter 30
It was unfair.
Why am I always getting death flags planted on me? Fuck. It’s a complete mystery.
Oh Eundo, who had his face buried in my neck while embracing me, didn’t move. Having him stuck to my back like this felt strange, like a large whimpering dog, but one thing was certain—the anxious, unsettling feeling that my shoulder was getting increasingly damp from his tears.
“Haah—” A sigh like a lament escaped me.
“Let go of me before I flip you over.”
“…Huh?”
- Am. Not. Going. To. Die. I don’t die! I was just about to snap at him with this thought—
SLAM!!
The firmly closed karaoke room door opened.
…?
I reflexively squinted at the sudden bright fluorescent light and noisy arcade sounds that invaded the slightly dark, cramped enclosed space. And surprisingly, the person standing in the doorway was…
“Ha. What are you two doing?”
Kim Pyeonghwa, coldly sneering.
Ugh. Why is he here too?
I froze at the unexpected appearance of Kim Pyeonghwa. True to his first-place ranking, he was dressed in flashy casual clothes and was leaning against the karaoke room door frame, standing crookedly.
I awkwardly raised my hand. Hey there.
“Haha. Hi, Kim Pyeonghwa?”
“Fuck. Did you just say ‘hi’ to me, Gu Haejin?”
Look at this manner-less jerk I just greeted kindly. Kim Pyeonghwa always had an incredible aura, but today he seemed particularly foul-tempered. Almost savagely, like someone who’d witnessed an affair.
I was still in Oh Eundo’s embrace. This was undeniably a back-hug between two affectionate male bastards. Belatedly realizing this fact made me embarrassed about being caught in this state, and Kim Pyeonghwa’s mockery wasn’t incomprehensible, but even so, couldn’t he tone down the murderous intent? Huh?
“Oh Eundo. Stop hugging me.”
I spoke while tapping the arms he had wrapped around me. But this shameless guy just shook his head. What kind of game are you playing? Let go, it’s suffocating, you bastard.
“With Kim Pyeonghwa making such a jealous face, I absolutely can’t let go of these hands.”
Oh Eundo, who strengthened his embrace as if he’d never let go, deliberately provoked Kim Pyeonghwa, who already looked pissed. Crazy. Look at that aggro power. At his words, Kim Pyeonghwa’s handsome face turned indescribably cold.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Not at all.”
“Let go before I crush you.”
“I already said I don’t want to.”
“Let go.”
“No.”
“You won’t?”
“I can’t.”
BANG!!
I flinched. It was because Kim Pyeonghwa, enraged to his limits, kicked the innocent karaoke room door. Surprisingly, the door rattled with that single blow. From my perspective, their conversation was just childishly cringe-worthy, but the atmosphere was so savage that it felt like someone could die here without anyone noticing.
“You’re still wet behind the ears but acting so fucking cocky.”
“Maybe charging up to the first-place ranking would be a good method right now?”
Even at Kim Pyeonghwa’s words, which sounded like a final warning, Oh Eundo casually countered with a sneer.
A confrontation between the first-ranked Apex and the third-ranked Apex.
It was literally a powder keg situation, looking like they would fight at any moment. I don’t know much, but I absolutely refuse to get caught up in a fight between these two crazy bastards who could do anything.
“Come with me, Gu Haejin.”
“Huh?”
“This bastard has lost his mind right now.”
The one who stepped in front of me was Oh Eundo. Oh Eundo, pushing me behind him and confronting Kim Pyeonghwa. At that moment, I felt strange.
Oh Eundo is the third-ranked Apex. There’s no way he could beat Kim Pyeonghwa when his skills were below mine, the second-ranked. So what kind of confidence is he using to face a rage-filled Kim Pyeonghwa? Additionally, I felt annoyed. Oh Eundo’s actions toward me made it impossible to shake the feeling that he was treating me like Choi Marine, the novel’s female lead.
“Kuk. The prince on a white horse has arrived.”
“I always felt that I’d eventually clash with you like this, Kim Pyeonghwa.”
“Should I start by smashing that chattering mouth of yours?”
“Don’t touch Gu Haejin. …You know why, don’t you?”
CRASH!!
Whatever in Oh Eundo’s words irritated him, Kim Pyeonghwa mercilessly threw an arcade chair he had picked up. The chair rolled across the floor with a tremendous noise. Kim Pyeonghwa spoke in a fierce voice.
“Fuck. You won’t be walking out of here on two feet today, I promise you.”
The fight broke out in an instant.
Kim Pyeonghwa rushed at Oh Eundo and swung his fist. His punch, too fast and precise, had tremendous power. Oh Eundo, who narrowly avoided it by turning his head, immediately began to counterattack. When Kim Pyeonghwa cleanly dodged, Oh Eundo tried to strike with his elbow, but Kim Pyeonghwa seized the opportunity to drive his leg into Oh Eundo’s abdomen.
THUD!
“Urgh…”
Oh Eundo groaned from the blow to his solar plexus as he was pushed back. But as if there was no time to feel pain, he rushed at Kim Pyeonghwa again. After dodging Kim Pyeonghwa’s fist, he struck his neck unexpectedly and swung his fist at his face. THUD! Oh Eundo’s fierce fist hit Kim Pyeonghwa’s left cheek. His lip split from the impact, causing blood to spatter slightly. As if that didn’t faze him either, Kim Pyeonghwa grabbed Oh Eundo’s arm, twisted it, and mercilessly stomped on his back.
THUD! CRACK-! BANG!! THWACK!
The fight between Kim Pyeonghwa and Oh Eundo was literally a battle between the first-ranked and the third-ranked.
As Apexes leading their respective school gangs, they mostly avoided or blocked each other’s attacks smoothly and effortlessly, but each attack that did connect was no joke. However, there was clearly a difference in skill. Kim Pyeonghwa’s strength was said to be the top in the national rankings. His skill was superior by that much. That’s why gradually… Oh Eundo began to fall back.
“Haa… haa… fuuuck.”
“Is that all you’ve got?”
Unlike Oh Eundo, who was breathing heavily, Kim Pyeonghwa, still looking fine, taunted him.
CRASH-!!
Finally, Kim Pyeonghwa used a spinning kick to send Oh Eundo flying into an arcade machine. As Oh Eundo collided with a shattering sound and was about to fall, Kim Pyeonghwa strode over, grabbed him by the collar, lifted him up, and slammed him hard against the top of the machine.
“You got too cocky.”
“Kuk… I absolutely… cough. Won’t… give… up.”
“Your mouth’s still working, huh? Want me to fuck you up properly?”
“…Gu Haejin.”
“What?”
“That child, ugh… doesn’t have much time left. Cough-! With that damn stubborn personality… gak! You’ll regret… later…”
“……”
I couldn’t hear well what the two of them were talking about.
Above all, I was worried about Oh Eundo. With Kim Pyeonghwa as his opponent, it was obvious that Oh Eundo, no matter how skilled, would be badly hurt. Unable to just stand by and watch anymore, I approached the two of them.
“You guys…”
The scratches on both of their handsome faces were no joke. Oh Eundo, in particular, seemed amazing for even managing to stand. On top of that, their clothes were a mess with bloodstains and dust marks.
“Have you fought enough now?”
At my words, which came out like a sigh, Oh Eundo, despite being limply sprawled, chuckled. What’s so funny? Sheesh.
“Gu Haejin.”
Kim Pyeonghwa called my name.
“What.”
“Finish that excuse you were trying to make earlier.”
Huh? What’s he suddenly asking me to do?
Not understanding Kim Pyeonghwa’s words, I tilted my head for a while. And then I remembered what I’d done to him earlier—the punch to his chest.
Ah… that? Why did I do that again? I scratched my eyebrow.
Hmm. I saw his lips and thought of our previous kiss, then reflexively punched him because I felt creeped out and embarrassed… but I can’t say that. How can I explain it?! I absolutely can’t say it!
“Uh. Um. Well…”
“If you can’t say it, forget it.”
“Huh?”
“Instead.”
Instead?
Kim Pyeonghwa paused. It was new to see him pondering, unlike his usual self. What kind of major statement are you going to make? Making me unnecessarily anxious…
“Just stay in front of me, whatever happens.”
…..
It was unfair.
“Exist as Gu Haejin.”
Why am I always getting death flags planted on me?
And I had forgotten.
That there was another psycho who had disappeared for a month around me.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
