As soon as I let out words purely admiring Hee-ae’s skills, Hee-ae stumbled in his steps and was eliminated. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, it’s a bit strange how the timing matched up so well. I spoke at a volume that wouldn’t have been heard unless concentrating, but did he hear it?
“You can’t hit Han Cho-yeon-nim hard though.”
Lee Seung agonized while grabbing his head. In-sae, who was next to him, snatched the ball Lee Seung was holding and threw it.
“Kim In-sae, you heartless bastard.”
Along with the fan club members’ screams, the ball flew. Cho-yeon was eliminated with an absurd expression.
“Right, it’s a game so….”
When Cho-yeon didn’t seem particularly upset, the kids tried hard to rationalize. The even-numbered team that had been surviving somehow was eventually wiped out.
“In-sae’s good at dodgeball. Hee-ae was good too, what a shame.”
“Guys, let’s do one more round!”
“I forfeit.”
I answered as soon as the class president shouted, but we ended up doing several more rounds. I wish they’d ban dodgeball. Still, I’m glad the Five Great Kings weren’t there. If they had been there too, I probably wouldn’t have walked out intact.
***
“Delivery is here.”
The inside of the door placed in front was still quiet. I knocked on the door again while speaking.
“I said it’s a delivery.”
“If you play weird pranks, I won’t open it.”
Cho-yeon flung open the door and said. His expression brightened for a moment then he pointed with an angry expression again. When I pretended not to know and entered the house, Cho-yeon closed the door hard.
I headed to the living room of the very spacious house. Should I say already, or should I say still. The current date is passing the middle of May. The gaze of the Five Great Kings who suspected me as part of the same gang has already been distant for a long time.
Cho-yeon’s house is nice because it’s spacious. I lay down on the floor instead of the perfectly good sofa. I give this house’s floor five stars.
“Tomorrow is the weekend.”
“So what.”
I thought he’d naturally say “so what do you want me to do about it,” but he’s become much more mild. When I was impressed, Cho-yeon glanced sideways while flipping TV channels.
“Oh, you got a TV.”
I said while looking at the house interior that had been filled with quite a lot of furniture before I knew it. Cho-yeon stopped flipping channels.
“Continue what you were saying.”
“I want to sleep over.”
“What?”
Cho-yeon immediately threw the remote control and asked. It’s too extreme a reaction, why is he like this?
“You said it wasn’t allowed before.”
“Because it’s been a while?”
I answered nonchalantly and picked up the remote control. Fortunately it’s fine.
“Poor remote control.”
Cho-yeon threw a cushion again today. I hope he gets a job as a baseball player soon. His strength has gotten stronger while I haven’t seen him, so it’s hard to catch the cushion flying at my face. I barely caught it but it was already after the cushion had struck my face.
“I was surprised!”
Cho-yeon screamed loudly.
“Can you remove that hot gaze? We’ve already been making a lot of eye contact lately anyway.”
The surprised look was erased from Cho-yeon’s face. When did he stand up, Cho-yeon sat back on the sofa. I swept down my stinging face and went back to lie down on the floor. Cho-yeon moved his leg and kicked my back as I was lying down.
“If it’s not okay, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Sleep over. Do it.”
Cho-yeon eventually gave permission. I was spacing out for a moment then brought up a topic.
“The Five Great Ki…”
“Don’t even talk about them.”
Cho-yeon cut off my words while grinding his teeth. I tried to recall how the Five Great Kings and Cho-yeon have been lately. Even if the atmosphere isn’t harmonious, they just look like friends who bicker often, so I don’t know why he’s like this. By the way, looking at the original work’s genre, it should be a sweet atmosphere, but I wonder if the twins’ aegyo was too fatal for Cho-yeon.
“Why, you’ve been getting along well as friends lately.”
“Talk about something else, just.”
“Has Hee-ae changed to be more confident lately?”
I said proudly. Is this the feeling you get when you raise a child well? Hee-ae has been showing much less hesitation lately. It was probably last week. When Cho-yeon saw my happy expression, he said sourly.
“Are you happy?”
“I’m proud.”
I smiled brightly. Because it’s summer, the lengthened sun is only now setting. I looked at the airplane passing by, rising high opposite to the sun setting through the large veranda window. Cho-yeon stared at me as my attention was briefly stolen by the outside scenery.
“Did you eat dinner?”
“I ate beforehand. Cho-yeon, did you eat?”
“I don’t skip meals like someone.”
But did Cho-yeon cook and eat alone? Did he at least order delivery? I took my gaze off the window and asked.
“Do you have side dishes at home?”
“Then would I not have any?”
“That’s true. Did you make them yourself? That’s amazing, just how old are you?”
“Originally nineteen.”
I was 18 years old, my words are completely blocked. I quickly closed my mouth. At my suddenly quiet appearance, Cho-yeon turned his gaze and asked.
“Why.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
He’s one year older than me. Unconsciously I naturally thought Cho-yeon would be younger than me. I absolutely won’t subtract my age. It’s strange to think he was of an age to be called hyung, it feels like losing somehow. I waved my hand while emphasizing the meaning that it’s nothing.
“How old are you?”
“Not buying. Not selling. Won’t tell you.”
I quickly changed the topic. The photo In-sae gave me on the way home from school just came to mind.
“The kids gave me a photo thinking I’m your fan.”
From what I heard, it’s very difficult to get permission so there aren’t many photos, where did they get it from? Hee-ae also brought me several last time. I annoyingly held the photo right up to Cho-yeon’s nose.
“Let me see. This photo was taken inside the classroom, huh?”
Cho-yeon kept backing away. I looked at the photo and displayed the skills I had praising the Five Great Kings.
“The silver hair with the classroom fluorescent light shining on it is truly wonderful. Is this the dignity of the noble Prince of the Full Moon? What about those eyes containing the ocean, I’ve ended up falling in completely.”
Cho-yeon covered his face with his hand. I expected him to be extremely annoyed but it’s just an embarrassed reaction. I was hoping for a disgusted reaction, what a shame. I lowered the hand holding the photo and said.
“What, you like it.”
“What are you saying? Me? Just go to sleep.”
“It’s still 8:30 PM.”
I said while pointing at the clock but Cho-yeon glared at me so I closed my mouth. The homeowner’s word is the law of this place, yes. I quietly put away the photo and decided to be obedient. I quickly surrendered then went to look around Cho-yeon’s room.
“Look how empty it is. You slept without even a bed until now?”
“What’s wrong with the floor?”
“Well, I like the floor too.”
“What are you trying to do?”
Cho-yeon took out blankets from the wardrobe standing alone. I was really flustered and asked.
“Are we really sleeping now? This is too upright living.”
Originally sleeping at dawn is my instinct but Cho-yeon just ignored that. Cho-yeon spread out the blankets on his own and even organized them. I grabbed Cho-yeon and said.
“If you live this sincerely, you’ll be nothing but a model child of the new nation.”
“Get a grip.”
Cho-yeon frowned heavily. He slowly removed my hand and lay down on the blanket. I quietly turned off the lights.
“I’m immoral so I’m going to stay up all night.”
I ended up getting caught and Cho-yeon even covered me with a blanket. Cho-yeon deliberately slept quite far away. After spreading out the blanket early, Cho-yeon tossed and turned more.
***
When I woke up, when was it that he slept far away, Cho-yeon had rolled all the way next to me. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. I removed Cho-yeon’s leg draped over my body and got up.
A little later Cho-yeon woke up and walked over staggering. I looked at Cho-yeon’s swaying gait and asked.
“You don’t seem fully awake. You’re not going to fall, right?”
“I’ll absolutely not fall.”
Cho-yeon growled in a heavily sleep-laden lowered voice. I was startled for a moment by the husky voice.
***
“Wasn’t it June just now?”
“It’s hot….”
Hee-ae flapped his clothes. Hee-ae wore summer uniform and even unbuttoned several shirt buttons. Despite that, he acted like a completely melted person saying it was hot. It seems it was true that he gets hot easily.
June means early summer. In the already sweltering weather, we’ve long since turned on the fan. In the midst of it all, I’m really envious that only the Five Great Kings are fine.
“As expected, the Emperor of Summer, Two Hearts-nim.”
Let’s ignore it. I pretended not to hear and frantically flipped through my textbook. Now that it’s summer, the kids are going wild saying the red-haired twins’ hair is just like summer.
“What are you going to do in midsummer?”
I said while fanning Hee-ae with a hand fan. Hee-ae smiled innocently and lay face down on the desk.
“Still, I like coming to school.”
“You’re a model student. Really amazing!”
“No, it’s not because of studying.”
Hee-ae urgently denied my words. Perhaps flustered, he even stopped lying face down on the desk and sat up straight.
“Then why do you like it?”
Hee-ae smiled without saying anything. Ah, it’s because of that person he said he wanted to look good to during the school trip. As soon as I realized, I waved my hand saying I got it now. He really must like that person.
Ding, I’m getting attached to that bell sound from hearing it often too. The chattering kids closed their mouths and opened their books. The teacher who came in soon asked for the date.
“It’s June 3rd.”
“Should we prepare for final exams?”
“There’s still a long time left. Are you already talking about it?”
Kids made groaning sounds here and there. The teacher smiled and hit the board.
“It’s too hot, I don’t want to have class.”
“It’s only June, what’s hot? The fan is even on.”
The kids’ ploy didn’t work. We’re not even taking a test in this subject anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to play a little? Perhaps the kids think the same as they started protesting here and there.
“Just 10 minutes.”
“Teacher, tell us about your first love!”
The regular comment that never fails was heard. The teacher half brushed off the kids’ words then turned around and said.
“What first love? You guys tell me about your first loves.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
