On the day I promised to meet with In-sae, I wasn’t coughing and was perfectly fine. It would be terrible if I was just coughing while we were together, so it was really fortunate. As soon as I met In-sae, I shouted.
“Right, the fan club homework.”
Seeing In-sae reminds me. That fan club homework I put off saying I’d do it later. There isn’t much vacation left now, so I should do it quickly.
“What was the homework content?”
“A thousand-character praise for the Five Great Kings-nim.”
“What?”
I asked again, hoping I had heard wrong. Did they give me a pile of papers because I had to write a thousand characters? When I asked again, In-sae answered again.
“A thousand characters.”
“I’m not doing it. I think this can’t be helped.”
I gave up immediately. Don’t they get tired? What kind of homework is to write a praise essay? Even at my declaration of giving up, In-sae didn’t particularly try to stop me. I swept back my disheveled hair while walking down the street. I asked In-sae.
“What exactly is your position in the fan club?”
“Member.”
“But you send out announcement texts and stuff.”
“I only send announcement texts to Nam Hee-ae and you.”
I see, and I thought he was texting a few dozen people. I guess he personally texts us because we’re close. In-sae, who was walking beside me, briefly observed my reaction.
“Let’s sit down for a bit before we go.”
I said, pointing at the park that happened to be visible before us. In-sae and I sat on a park bench. It’s a small, well-decorated park. Even though it’s midsummer, I can see a few couples sticking together. I was leisurely spacing out when I asked.
“But In-sae, don’t you have to write a thousand characters too?”
“Seo Lee Seung exempted me.”
“How do you get Lee Seung to exempt you from homework?”
“Blackmail.”
In-sae answered nonchalantly. What do you blackmail him with to get that Seo Lee Seung to exempt you from homework? It seems like he got a good photo or something and tried to make a deal. No matter how I look at it, he’s insincere about fan club activities. In the past, he used to go to meetings without fail, but now he doesn’t really go much.
I’m curious. It doesn’t seem like In-sae really joined the fan club because of the Five Great Kings. Then why did he join?
“How did you end up joining the fan club?”
“Seo Lee Seung blackmailed me.”
So it wasn’t just In-sae, it was mutual. I can’t tell if Lee Seung and In-sae’s relationship is good or bad.
“Why do you two only blackmail each other?”
I let out a hollow laugh. While we were sitting in the park like that, five people with familiar hair colors entered. I was surprised for a moment and looked at their faces closely. They’re kids I’m seeing for the first time, though their hair colors are exactly the same as the Five Great Kings I know.
“The Fake Five Great Kings?”
What is that now? One person who had been exercising cried out.
“Aren’t those the notorious gang that suddenly appeared and goes around imitating the Five Great Kings-nim?”
Passersby on the street stopped walking and started explaining. There are kids impersonating the Five Great Kings, so what are they doing not catching them?
“This park… we’re taking over as of today. This place is ours now!”
Doesn’t the park belong to City Hall? Should I call to report them? Someone is occupying a public place and claiming ownership. The Fake Five Great Kings shouted loudly.
“Everyone bow your heads and show respect.”
“In-sae, let’s go.”
This place is a bit weird. I took In-sae and got up from the bench. The five people, who had good eyes and noticed we were escaping, approached closer.
“Why aren’t you two showing respect? …Aha, were you running away?”
I’m used to this kind of thing by now. I wasn’t even surprised and spoke in a calm tone.
“No, how could lowly me stay in this noble park? I should quickly leave without dirtying the place you five have taken over.”
Oh my, what a humble person in such a precious place. I made excuses while smiling with my eyes.
“You know how to read people… That’s right! Don’t dirty this place and leave quickly… that would be good.”
Why are they drawing out their words so long? I’m frustrated listening. I left the park while smiling until the end. As soon as we came out, In-sae touched the corners of my mouth and made me expressionless. I looked back at the park and said.
“I should report that to Lee Seung right now.”
In-sae seemed to look at his phone for a moment, then put it down.
“I did it.”
“You type fast.”
He spoke while closing the screen where he had been writing a text. In-sae went ahead first. It somehow seems like he’s smiling.
“Kim In-sae?”
Oh, I guess they’re someone who knows In-sae. In-sae also knows quite a lot of people.
“I wondered why you weren’t looking at texts today. Have fun playing.”
In-sae gave an answer closer to “ㅇ” than a proper “yes” and passed by. I bowed my head in greeting.
“Anyway. So quiet.”
I heard the sound of muttering something from behind. It didn’t seem like they were particularly hurt since it wasn’t the first or second time. I called out to In-sae who was going ahead.
“In-sae.”
“Yeah.”
In-sae immediately answered and stopped walking. I also quickly walked next to In-sae. Is it my imagination that the temperature is subtly different when dealing with other people? When I didn’t say anything, In-sae asked.
“Shi-dan, why.”
“No, I called you so we could go together.”
In-sae’s expression was always the same and calm. In-sae deliberately grabbed my wrist and walked. I suddenly posed a question.
“What is Yu Shi-dan to In-sae?”
“A good person.”
“That was a very textbook answer.”
I shook off the subtle feeling. As I thought, the thought I just had seems to be a misunderstanding. In-sae narrowed his already narrow eyes.
“I don’t know.”
So In-sae talks to himself too. My self-talk has increased lately too. I sighed. In-sae, who had been walking quietly, suddenly brought up the homework topic again.
“I don’t want to do the homework.”
“Of course? A thousand characters is already exhausting.”
After hearing my answer, In-sae made a phone call on his mobile phone. I asked while looking at In-sae’s inscrutable expression.
“What are you doing?”
“Blackmailing Seo Lee Seung.”
“No, it’s homework. You have to do it.”
[Hello.]
Lee Seung’s voice could be heard faintly from the phone. I was horrified and stopped In-sae.
“Don’t do it.”
“Why?”
“No, there’s no need to go that far. I’ll try doing it once.”
[Try what?]
Lee Seung asked, but I focused on stopping In-sae. He’s really calling to blackmail him. In-sae does a lot of extraordinary things too.
“I really just said that.”
“You said it was already exhausting.”
[Am I the only one who doesn’t understand the situation? What are you doing, making some kind of bet?]
“I was just saying, just saying.”
[No, explain. You call me and then talk between yourselves.]
“Ah, our President Seo Lee Seung, it’s nothing much. I just whined a bit about having a hard time writing the praise essay.”
[A thousand characters can be written quickly. If you can’t write it, it’s your lack of fan spirit.]
“Yes, I’ll try my best. President, please go in now.”
[Suddenly using formal speech…]
In-sae, who had been listening to my conversation with Lee Seung, hung up the phone. He read my mood then said.
“A mistake.”
I don’t think so, but I decided to believe him for now.
***
“The Five, Great Kings-nim are. Light. And.”
I gave up while writing and put down my pencil. Then I looked at Cho-yeon sitting on the floor.
“Come to think of it, they didn’t say excluding spaces. If I include spacing… it’s 1,027 characters, so I won’t do it.”
“Good job. Yeah, rest.”
My brain only works well at times like this. I smiled with relief and sat on the chair. My eyes were dazzled by the sunlight coming through the wide veranda window.
My mind has been troubled lately so I couldn’t sleep. Last night, I walked around in front of the bookshelf several times. Then, like the day I possessed this body, I pulled out all the books and reorganized them. Actually, I dropped books several times because I was worried I might return to the original world.
It was one of the things I did as soon as I realized I had entered inside an internet novel. I had already failed before, but I tried once more thinking this time might be different. As expected, the surroundings were fine and there was no returning.
It was a tropical night. Even after the anxiety subsided, I couldn’t sleep because it was hot.
I closed my tired eyes. Then I said to Cho-yeon.
“Tomorrow is the start of the new semester.”
Ugh, Cho-yeon made a horrified sound as if he hated it. I don’t want to go to school either. Vacation passed by quickly even though I didn’t do anything. It’s late summer now but it was still hot. I wish it would quickly become September and autumn would come.
“This is your first time at my house, right?”
I opened my eyes again and asked. Cho-yeon nodded. It seems like we always meet at Cho-yeon’s house, so this time I invited him to my house.
“Then of course it’s the first time.”
“What are your impressions of coming to my room?”
“What are you trying to do?”
Cho-yeon frowned and was flustered by my out-of-the-blue question. He thought for a moment then answered.
“Would there be impressions or something? I just didn’t think anything.”
“I see.”
“Why that kind of response? You don’t believe me?”
“No, I believed you. Do you have somewhere that’s pricked?”
I came down from the chair. Cho-yeon made an unnatural expression. He spoke with a flushed face.
“No, I mean…”
“The room is messy, right? I know. Especially that bookshelf.”
I pointed at the strangely organized bookshelf. The books are inserted, but somehow they’re inserted strangely and messily.
“…Ah, yeah. Live more organized.”
Cho-yeon was flustered for a moment and trailed off, then scolded me. It’s because I randomly inserted books yesterday. Originally I live with things well organized. Cho-yeon suddenly tapped my forehead.
“Why? Is there a mosquito?”
“Don’t only say annoying things. Really.”
Cho-yeon, whose reddened face color had returned to normal, said sharply. I just blinked my eyes blankly then lay down prone. Cho-yeon nagged me not to lie down.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
