Chapter : 13
“I hate when someone who isn’t handsome gets told he is.”
“……”
For a reason like that…?
“Hey… Seo Jaegyeom is handsome.”
I said that because it was ridiculous, but the reply came back firm.
“And that’s why I hate you too.”
“Ha…”
Uh, thanks for telling me on purpose?
“Why would you call someone not handsome handsome?”
“No, but…”
Because he actually is handsome…
I muttered to myself in disbelief.
“Looks like Jung Eunsung will never like me in my entire life.”
“Yeah.”
Seriously?
“Well I hate you too, Jung Eunsung.”
“I hate you more.”
“Nope, I hate you more~”
“Think again~ Try Jae.”
“Oh my god, seriously…”
I’m heating up here!
“You gonna keep Jae-jae-ing?”
“I’ve got a mouth so why can’t I talk? You little Jae-tator?”
Trading nonsense, we were suddenly already at our classroom.
This time I got there first and tried to close the door, but Eunsung noticed and slipped out the back door. Failed.
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue and looked around the room.
Clusters of kids chatting or finishing homework— and Do-yeon sitting alone, reading.
I pulled out all my textbooks from my unlocked locker, stacked them under my seat, and walked over.
“Hi.”
Startled, Do-yeon lifted her head.
She must’ve never imagined someone would talk to her—
but maybe she was secretly hoping for it.
A complicated expression flickered across her pale face, then vanished.
“What’re you reading?”
“The Maze Runner.”
“Ohh. Is it finished now?”
“No, not yet.”
“Oh.”
(I’ve read it to the end! I know everything!)
“At the end everyone turns infected.”
I dropped a fake spoiler and scanned the classroom.
A room full of early-semester excitement.
Kids greeting each other—awkward or happy—
but no one came anywhere near us.
“Don’t talk to Woo Do-yeon.”
That unspoken rule already ruled the class.
When you’re stuck together all day every day,
staying with the majority matters more than anything.
Going against that is harder than death for teenagers.
I know— I used to be one.
One friend isn’t enough to pull her out.
To get Do-yeon free from isolation, someone besides me needs to reach out.
Just one person. One extra hand would change everything.
And that chance came sooner than I thought.
Break time before geography.
Do-yeon and I were previewing the lesson when I heard a timid voice.
“Um… Dahye.”
“Yeah?”
A girl with light brown hair held out her workbook, cheeks red.
“Could you help me with this problem?”
“Oh, sure! Ask anything.”
Uh… what was her name again…
Gyeong Se-in.
The one who watched me break my locker lock yesterday.
I remember she got along with everyone—
kind, easygoing.
But she wasn’t really the bold type…
Yet she came to me— now— of all times.
Just to ask a question, but her lips were pressed tight like she’d worked up courage.
It’s not like she’s nervous about me.
Then could it be—
“I’m not really sure about this either… Can I ask Do-yeon?”
She’s better at math than I am, I added.
Sein hesitated, then nodded— just a little.
Oh my god!!
“Sit here!”
I happily offered the seat.
I nudged Do-yeon, who was staring at me with her mouth slightly open.
“You heard her. Help us.”
“…Oh. O-okay.”
Do-yeon blinked and slowly picked up her pencil.
Sein sat stiff as a board, hands clenched into fists under the desk.
Way too serious for a single math question.
Gulp.
Not sure which of us swallowed.
“This one’s easy once you know the pattern…”
“Oh…”
“Oooh…”
Forced social reactions floated awkwardly in the air.
“If you get stuck, just plug in each answer. For multiple choice that’s faster.”
Do-yeon drew a star by the answer and finished her explanation.
“Got it?”
“Yeah! Thanks… Do-yeon.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Sein said it softly.
Do-yeon replied even softer, shaking her head.
Silence.
Like a blind date awkward pause…
Meanwhile I was ready to kiss Sein from gratitude—
but had no idea what to say next.
My eyes wandered—
to a photocard tucked behind Sein’s phone.
A member of a boy group—
rookies now, practically separated by the future I came from.
“Oh, you like him?”
“Yeah! Do you?!”
Correct guess— her voice jumped up a level.
She asked me if I was #( )$# (must be the fanclub name)
then shoved her gallery at me—
endless pictures of eyelinered boys.
“I seriously wanna marry him. But the problem is—”
“What’s the problem?”
“He’s way too old for me.”
“You mean you’re too young and worried?”
“Yeah. I don’t think he’d see me as girlfriend material…”
“Oh don’t worry about that.”
He’s going to marry someone seven years younger than you.
Age is a problem.
But you’re the one who’s too old, girl!
“And I have another dilemma…”
Sein pulled up pictures of her guy being affectionate with another member—eyes blazing.
“I swear they’re totally dating.”
“So the guy you want to marry is dating a fellow member right now?”
Knowing who both will actually marry later,
I could only laugh,
but Do-yeon listened seriously.
“At this level, insiders definitely know.”
“That’s what I’m saying! And so…”
Sein suddenly glanced to the corner—at Jung Eunsung.
Lowered her voice, whispered:
“Dahye, by any chance are you close to Jung Eunsung?”
“No? Not at all?”
I also lowered my voice and peeked at him.
He had a liter of milk on his desk and was putting on hand cream.
From here, I could clearly see girls stealing glances his way.
“Really? But you guys were messing around in class.”
“Messing around? He attacked me unilaterally.”
“But still. You’re the only one who’s talked to him.
I wanna get close and ask him stuff about my boys, but…
he doesn’t look like the talkative type.”
He talks plenty.
“So? Is he nice?”
“He’s a total psycho.”
“That’s so cute…”
“Eh…?”
“Speaking of which, there’s a hot guy on the 12 bus…”
“Oh! I know!”
“Oh, want a MyChew?”
“Yes!”
Suddenly all the awkwardness between us three had evaporated.
—Things high-school girls need to become friends—
- MyChew candy
- A handsome guy
“So Dahye, you don’t go to cram school?”
“Nope. I study alone.”
“Lucky. You must be smart.”
“Nah, I was gonna ask Do-yeon about math too. It’s hard.”
“Right? She explains really well.
…Hey guys, if you’re stuck, ask Do-yeon.”
Sein suddenly turned to other kids.
One sat in front of me, the other in the fourth group.
Sein’s friends, probably.
From her serious expression, they’d clearly already spoken about me and Do-yeon.
Friend 1 looked uncomfortable and stayed silent.
Friend 2 cut her off immediately.
“I’m good.”
If the bell hadn’t rung at that moment,
the carefully warming atmosphere would’ve frozen solid.
Sein grimaced and whispered:
“Sorry. She’s cranky lately. Didn’t sleep.”
“No worries! It happens.”
And then silence again…
“Why isn’t the teacher coming?”
“Seriously.”
Why isn’t he coming?
