Mother, who had been leisurely reading a book, glanced outside for a moment. Already, several books she had read were stacked on the table. Perhaps because it was autumn, Mother had been reading a lot lately.
Today I almost forgot my pencil case too, and my mind was all over the place. Thanks to that, I was worried I might be leaving the house a bit late. I put on my bag and greeted her.
“I’ll be going now.”
I shoved my feet carelessly into my shoes and rushed out the door. In-sae, who had been waiting in front, jerked his head up at the sound of my hurried footsteps.
“Hi, you’re a bit late, right? I kept forgetting things today.”
“Not really late. Look at the clock here.”
In-sae showed me the time on his phone. I let out a sigh of relief.
“You’re right. Not really late.”
In-sae looked at my legs and asked.
“Did that scratch from back then heal completely?”
“Of course. It’s perfectly fine now.”
I answered nonchalantly and stopped in front of the crosswalk. The traffic light had just turned red. Just as I was thinking we’d have to wait a while, In-sae turned his body and said.
“Open the front pocket of your bag.”
I followed In-sae’s words and opened the front pocket of my bag. Something went inside the pocket. When I took it out, it was a bandage commonly sold at pharmacies.
“Take it.”
“Me? My wound already healed completely.”
I said in confusion and tried to return the bandage. In-sae forcibly pressed the bandage into my hand and said.
“You get hurt pretty often though.”
In-sae touched my forehead with one hand. It was that spot where I got hurt a long time ago from pulling the ‘I’m a bad fan club member’ stunt. Fortunately, it’s all healed now without a single scar.
“Use it when you get hurt later, not now.”
In-sae continued as he withdrew his hand. In-sae’s warmth was still vivid. I rubbed the spot where In-sae’s hand had touched and put a bit of distance between us. I was scared that I’d almost wavered for a moment. In-sae, regardless of what I did, stared blankly ahead without a care.
I hesitated about whether to say something or not, and only opened my mouth after we reached the school’s main gate.
“Okay. You don’t get hurt either.”
In-sae, who had been staring at me blankly, nodded. Large trees lined the big intersection in rows. As if autumn was truly coming, the leaves were sporadically turning red.
The schoolyard was bustling with students arriving at school. On one side of the schoolyard, the PE teacher was moving something, probably sports equipment.
“Looks like they’re preparing for the sports festival. Isn’t that heavy?”
I said while looking at the PE teacher. A kid who had been changing into indoor shoes up ahead saw In-sae and me and waved. I waved back to greet them too. I complained as I passed through the crowd.
“Just thinking about the sports festival already makes me annoyed.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to do it.”
In-sae agreed with me.
“That’s kind of unexpected. I thought with your personality, you’d be like ‘if we’re doing the sports festival, we’re doing it’ about this.”
“I hate it because there’s a lot to prepare. It’s annoying.”
“I knew it, right?”
I smiled brightly and responded enthusiastically to In-sae’s answer. Then, as I changed into my indoor shoes and entered the main building, I suddenly asked.
“But with you, I always go home together, come to school together. We’re together at school too, why do we stick together so much?”
“The longer you’re together, the more attached you get. And someone said that attachment changing into other feelings also happens in an instant.”
“You shouldn’t believe that kind of talk. Where did you hear that?”
I flinched and asked. I had a strange feeling like he’d hit the nail on the head. It’s true that I’ve grown attached because we’re always together. That’s why I can’t properly reject him and I’m like this.
“I’ve already succeeded quite a bit though.”
“I can’t hear you well. What was that?”
I pretended to cover my ears. In-sae stared at me for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
“Isn’t that right? You rejected the love letter without even giving them a chance. But you gave me time.”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Sometimes I regret giving all three of them a chance. I didn’t know I’d waver like this.
I bit my lip weakly. In-sae smiled faintly and turned his gaze away. Without realizing it, I must have tensed up because my body was tense. I relaxed my shoulders and walked down the hallway.
“It’s already over.”
In-sae said leisurely. I let out a hollow laugh. Unlike my confused feelings, the hallway was neatly organized. I let out a deep sigh.
The kids were gathered in one corner of the hallway talking. Right next to us, the PE teacher ran past while on the phone.
“Let’s change the storage room padlock. It keeps…”
If it’s a storage room, it can only be the storage room where the auditorium’s sports equipment is kept. I know there are already about two padlocks there, but I don’t know why they’re changing it.
‘But this isn’t the time to worry about such things.’
I glanced sideways at In-sae and opened the classroom door. It seems I thought wrong when I transmigrated.
‘Instead of thinking I shouldn’t get involved with the Five Great Kings, I should have asked not to get involved with anyone at all.’
Even though the three of them keep bothering me, I can’t push them away. I thought I just had to avoid the ‘love at first sight’ development. I didn’t know it would turn out like this after becoming friends and getting along well.
“Everyone, the sports festival is at the end of this month, so let’s try to get first place.”
The class president tapped the blackboard and strengthened their resolve. I sat down at my seat with a blank expression. When someone quietly raised their hand, the class president said with a serious face.
“The sports festival events are organized and posted here, so don’t ask.”
The kid obediently lowered their hand. As the class president was about to return to their seat, they pointed in my direction.
“And for after-school activities, Han Cho-yeon, Yu Shi-dan, Nam Hee-ae, Kim In-sae were selected like this. Close friends got picked together, you’re lucky.”
“Shi-dan, let’s check together later. But why do you look so out of it?”
Hee-ae smiled brightly and turned to look at me, then frowned. I snapped back to my senses and answered.
“I was lost in thought for a moment. I should stop having random thoughts from now on.”
Hee-ae let out a clear laugh. I took out my textbook and flipped through the pages quickly. Hee-ae, who had been watching quietly, found the page in one go. He spoke in a worried tone.
“Shi-dan, did you hear? The teacher said they’re going to change seats.”
“Seats?”
“Yeah. Well, if we’ve been in these seats the entire first semester, it’s about time to change them… but I still don’t want to.”
“Really? I hope I get a good desk partner. It’s really hard when you don’t match with your desk partner.”
For example, the Five Great Kings, or those five people sitting at the very back of the class. Hee-ae tilted his face slightly to the side and asked.
“It would be nice to be desk partners with you, right?”
“I’ll cheer for you?”
I answered awkwardly. Then curiosity arose and I asked.
“But there aren’t many days left of school, so why change seats now?”
“They said we should try sitting with other friends before the closing ceremony.”
Hee-ae muttered sullenly. I made a regretful expression. I’ve long since gotten used to this seat. If we change seats now, I think it’ll be hard to adjust. Soon the bell rang and the teacher came in.
“Is everyone here? Then let’s have class.”
The teacher checked the textbook and then began writing something all over the blackboard. In the meantime, Cho-yeon, who was sitting in the back seat, flew a paper airplane toward my seat.
I returned the paper airplane that landed on my desk back to Cho-yeon. Cho-yeon made a subtle expression, then flew the paper airplane back to my desk again. I said quietly so the teacher wouldn’t hear.
“That delinquent student over there? You know you shouldn’t keep flying airplanes during class, right?”
“Why do you think I’m specifically flying airplanes only to you during class? You really have no sense.”
Cho-yeon crossed his arms and made an exasperated expression. I didn’t argue further and unfolded the paper airplane.
“Deposit now. Loan limit up to 5 million won? What is this?”
“What do you mean what is it, it’s phishing. Did you think I’d write something serious to you?”
Cho-yeon leaned back obliquely in his chair and said. I tried hard not to show my exasperation. I’m annoyed that I fell for this. Cho-yeon held out his hand.
“Give it back.”
“No, spam should be thrown in the trash. I’ll throw it away later.”
I folded the paper neatly and put it in my jacket as I asked.
“Are you just folding airplanes because you’re bored?”
“Would class be fun if you were me? Think about it.”
It’s true that it would probably be boring to listen to first-year curriculum after listening to third-year curriculum. I agreed and sat up straight. The teacher, who had finished writing all the notes on the blackboard, began a long explanation.
The sound of pencils or mechanical pencils scratching could be heard. The teacher, who had passionately spoken at length, turned around again and erased the writing that filled the blackboard. This time, a small paper airplane landed on my desk.
“Is this one for real this time?”
“No, this one’s spam too. You can throw that away too.”
Still, I was curious about what he might have written. I unfolded the paper and read it. There were some indecipherable doodles and a few words written in scrawled handwriting. Cho-yeon snapped irritably.
“Why are you reading it when I told you to throw it away? What are you, some kind of contrary frog?”
“What did you write that makes you like this? It’s hard to read. ‘Yu Shi-dan’s crooked tie is bothering me’?”
I lowered my head. Indeed, my tie was slightly crooked. I straightened my appearance properly and said in a small voice.
“Thanks for letting me know.”
“Yeah, do things properly when you go around.”
Cho-yeon let out something close to a sigh. He already seemed half-resigned. I read the remaining writing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Hi, will you be releasing free episodes?