The Applauding Extra 43

“Shi-dan! Want to go to the rooftop? The rooftop door is open.”

During the leisurely lunch break, Hee-ae burst through the classroom door and shouted. What’s with the sudden mention of the rooftop? It’s dangerous for a school to leave the rooftop door open. What if someone accidentally slips?

“Is it okay to just go to the rooftop?”

“Other kids already went. Let’s go too.”

Before I could even answer, Hee-ae grabbed my arm and led me. I ran along following Hee-ae. After climbing several stairs and opening the metal door, the rooftop appeared. It’s my first time going to the rooftop.

“It’s fascinating seeing it like this.”

I admired the view looking down from the rooftop. We continued watching the kids running and playing around. Hee-ae, who had been silent for a while, turned his head to look at me.

“Shi-dan. How have you been lately?”

He’s suddenly asking how I’m doing between us. I answered half-heartedly.

“I’ve been doing well.”

Hee-ae gently smiled while wiggling his fingers. I took my eyes off the view below the rooftop. Hee-ae looked at me and said.

“I… have a problem.”

It’s a calm tone. His voice is so small it seems like it might burn away in the sunlight. His gentle eyes droop down, making him look even sadder.

Is it a serious problem? I’m worried. While thinking about whether to ask what it is or not, Hee-ae continued speaking.

“The person I like doesn’t notice even when I show signs.”

It really is a serious problem. It must be upsetting if they don’t notice even when you show signs. I guess there are many people as clueless about romance as me. But wait, I was wondering if that person he likes is me? Don’t make my head even more cluttered.

Hee-ae tidied up his fluffy, disheveled hair and then suddenly approached forward. Hee-ae said calmly.

“So, they don’t know even if I do this?”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. I, who ended up in an embrace unexpectedly, only blinked my eyes.

I’m really bewildered and my mind is blank at this behavior I’ve never seen before. I never expected this kind of action at all. I don’t understand why Hee-ae is suddenly acting like this.

“Hee-ae, why are you doing this to me? You should go do it to that person.”

“…Even doing this, they don’t know.”

He spoke softly while touching my hair. I can’t tell if he’s stroking or twisting it. It was quite an affectionate touch, but I became even more confused.

This is really strange to say, but Hee-ae has a gentle scent. Does smell follow a person’s personality too?

I don’t understand why Hee-ae is acting like this right now, and I seem to be the only one who’s flustered. There’s no explanation for why he’s doing this to me unless it’s some kind of practice rehearsal before doing it to that person.

“You can’t keep not knowing, right?”

It’s a gentle and soft-spoken manner like talking to a child. Hee-ae is still brushing down my hair and the air is heavy.

“Stop it.”

I moved far away from Hee-ae. I questioned Hee-ae.

“Hee-ae, but why are you saying this to me? Why are you acting like this?”

“I hope that person notices.”

Hee-ae, who went back to looking at the view below the rooftop, seemed troubled. My head is dizzy. In-sae said he’d tell me properly after school today. Should I listen to In-sae’s words and then ask? I was scared to ask right now.

I greeted him as I left the rooftop.

“I’m going. The outside air is cold, so don’t stay outside too long.”

Hee-ae didn’t stop me from leaving first.

I passed through the hallway organizing my confused thoughts. The Five Great Kings were huddled in a corner whispering as if plotting something.

‘They’ve been looking at me suspiciously lately.’

Could the five of them be discussing how to deal with me? It’s a plausible guess. I wondered whether to eavesdrop or not.

I still don’t like dangerous things, but curiosity was greater than anxiety. I carefully hid behind a wall and approached close to the Five Great Kings. The Five Great Kings’ voices could barely be heard.

“Suspicious.”

“You mean that kid?”

If it’s ‘that kid,’ it must be me, right? I was right that they were talking about me. I’m really an extra, so you don’t need to be suspicious. Please, I just hope the Five Great Kings aren’t plotting to deal with me.

“You know, the one who goes around acting like a fan and strangely seems to know Cho-yeon.”

“Why does he go around pretending to be a fan?”

Because of you guys, because of you. Cho-yeon suffered because he didn’t pretend to be a fan. Should I continue the fan act?

‘The kids will be suspicious.’

Well, it would be strange if a kid who always praised and clapped suddenly became indifferent. There are also the eyes of the fan club kids, so I should keep clapping.

“He doesn’t seem to have malicious intent though…”

Yeo-wol, your voice is full of malice, so please spare me. If you stop being suspicious now and let me go peacefully, I’ll definitely repay this kindness. Remember the story of the swallow that repaid kindness. I shouted in my heart while watching.

Fortunately, there’s no shocking story yet. Just as I was feeling relieved, the Five Great Kings spoke up.

“You guys know this? It seems like Cho-yeon likes him.”

“Right, he doesn’t look at us and only stares at that kid.”

As expected, other people thought so too. I wasn’t making a strange guess for no reason. My happiness at my guess being correct was brief, as the fact that the kids seem to like me was confusing.

“To think he likes such a suspicious kid, and it seems like he has someone he’s dating.”

“Really?”

Fake!

Don’t spread false information. I’m not dating anyone. Aren’t you guys having too big of a misunderstanding? I really should have struggled through reading that “How Not to Be Misunderstood” newspaper article to the end.

“Wasn’t he dating those two who are always stuck together? They were blatantly showing they like him. Kek, kekkek.”

It’s Hee-ae and In-sae. Those two did show a lot of signs. It really must be true that they like me. I should tell those two now. I need to ask if that person is me. Why did I realize this so late?

“That guy… I hope he dates those two well.”

What, that’s heartwarming. You have a warm heart? In the midst of confusion, I suddenly noticed something strange. Don’t you guys think it’s weird to date three people at the same time? You really are incomprehensible kids.

“We’re not dating.”

I thought I was the one who said it. Ban Eun-gyeol said exactly what I wanted to say.

“Pfft, he… hasn’t even noticed yet.”

No, I was going to confront them today. I noticed too, I’m saying. I finally got the courage to ask. All the confused and flustered feelings disappeared. A strange courage arose.

“Mmm, I saw it too. They were betting that he wouldn’t notice until those two confessed their feelings first.”

Was that the bet they were making before? I stopped eavesdropping and ran. Is Hee-ae still on the rooftop? I need to go quickly and ask.

As I passed by the classroom, Cho-yeon was looking at a piece of paper. Cho-yeon also said he likes that person, so I should ask Cho-yeon. Whether it made a loud noise or not, I didn’t care at all and opened the door forcefully.

“Cho-yeon.”

“What? Coming here tactlessly again to get on my nerves?”

“When did I do that?”

“Many times.”

“No, wait. This isn’t the time to say things like that.”

I made an expression of almost dying from frustration. Cho-yeon asked sharply in annoyance.

“Then what should I be saying?”

“I’m going to ask directly, so answer honestly, don’t beat around the bush.”

I took a deep breath. Then I asked while covering my mouth.

“Is the person you said you like me?”

Cho-yeon slowly put down the paper he was looking at. I looked at Cho-yeon while breathing heavily.

“I thought there would be no kid as hopeless as you.”

Cho-yeon approached closer. I somehow became scared and stepped backward.

“I guess that’s not it?”

“What?”

I kept repeating only the word “what.” Cho-yeon, who had been looking annoyed, grabbed my tie. He brought his face close to mine and frowned.

“Do I have to specifically say I like you for you to stop stupidly asking ‘what’ like an idiot?”

“What?”

“Go ahead, test my limits. I told you to stop.”

“Ha, it really was me.”

I was completely deflated. Cho-yeon caught me as I staggered. He messed up his hair and got angry.

“Yes, I’ve liked you for so long and you’re just now noticing? There will never be another kid like you in this world.”

“Cho-yeon, you know that’s not right? Who gets angry while confessing?”

I timidly protested. Cho-yeon seemed to make his expression even more fierce, but then relaxed his expression as if dumbfounded. My head is dizzy and hurts.

“Don’t speak like it’s a joke in this situation. So answer me. What do you think?”

“Me?”

My head suddenly hurt badly. I frowned while clutching my head. I rambled incoherently, not knowing how to answer.

“Yeah. Cho-yeon, what do I think? I don’t know. I thought of you as a friend, so what should I do…”

“I knew you’d say that.”

“I really have never once been conscious of you in that way.”

I muttered quietly at first then gradually raised my voice. My mind went completely blank from being flustered. I had to reject him.

“I’m sorry.”

Even though I was the one who said it, it was a scary thing to say. Will we now become worse than friends? I was afraid. I sighed and said quietly again.

“I’m really sorry.”

“Right, to you I was just one of many friends.”

Cho-yeon answered in a light tone. I was completely terrified and dropped my gaze downward. Cho-yeon made the first move.

“Have you and I ever had a proper conversation at school? We’ve never even had everyday talk like ‘what did you do today, it was so-so,’ have we?”

Cho-yeon grabbed my shoulders. He shouted loudly.

“Other kids are always stuck with you, but when was it with me? I couldn’t even talk to you properly…”

I felt sorry for Cho-yeon. So that’s why he said he wanted to talk and spend time at school before summer vacation. Cho-yeon held my face and said stiffly.

“Try dating me and then decide. Are you going to end it like this without even giving me a proper chance?”

“…”

It was a strange proposal. I muttered in confusion.

“But I rejected you?”

“Who said you can reject me on your own? Attend classes with me, eat meals, spend time together at school and then decide. Can’t you even give me that much time?”