By Zephyria 
“They’ll say it’s not now, but…”
I wondered what nonsense he was about to spew as he trailed off.
“They’ll realize it when the time comes. Well, it’ll be too late then. Because.”
“Ack!”
Yeon Su-hwan suddenly grabbed my wrist with surprising strength and pulled me towards him. Losing my balance, I stumbled in the direction he pulled. I was pulled into an embrace, my head resting against his chest. His other arm snaked around my neck like a serpent.
Yeon Su-hwan rubbed his chin against my head, chuckling softly. Goosebumps rose all over my body.
“Because I was the first to know. Right, our Hae-jun?”
“Sunbae.”
Lee Beom called out to Yeon Su-hwan coldly.
“Don’t drag Hae-jun into your strange games.”
“Oh really? Don’t come to me for advice later. I might throw a punch at a competitor.”
Sensing the atmosphere turning chilly, I glanced around. Yeon Su-hwan just smirked cheekily, making Lee Beom frown unpleasantly. Min Si-hu looked deep in thought, as if pondering something. Jeon Jae-hyung was gently stroking the head of the Bboongyi doll he held. I had no idea what was going on.
If you’re going to fight, fight outside. If not, please release my neck.
Perhaps it was because his arm was so strong, but my neck felt like it was being choked. I thought it was an embrace, but it might have been an attempt to strangle me. If Yeon Su-hwan tightened his grip, my neck bones would surely break.
I squirmed, trying to escape from Yeon Su-hwan’s embrace.
“Uh, please let go.”
“Ah, sorry. I got a little carried away. You’re just too cute, Hae-jun.”
He’s lost his mind.
I safely escaped Yeon Su-hwan’s embrace and settled into the chair next to Hae-min’s bed. As expected, everyone here was strange. Reinforcing that fact in my mind, I tidied my disheveled hair again.
For some reason, Min Si-hu was quiet. He suddenly said he needed to think about something and left the room. Then, like a string of sausages, Yeon Su-hwan checked his ringing mobile phone, said he had a brief errand, and left. Shortly after, Lee Beom followed suit and left the room.
“Jeon Jae-hyung. Keep an eye on Hae-min and Hae-jun.”
“…”
Jeon Jae-hyung nodded silently at Lee Beom’s request.
The room finally became quiet. In the single room, only Seong Hae-min, who had not yet woken up, myself, and Jeon Jae-hyung remained. Jeon Jae-hyung, who had fallen asleep holding the Bboongyi doll, and Seong Hae-min’s regular breathing filled the room.
“Haa…”
I let out a quiet, long sigh.
My head felt stuffy. I had rushed here and was still in my pajamas, and I had only splashed water on my face, so I wanted to wash up, but I had no clean clothes. There was nothing to do in the hospital room to pass the time. I didn’t know where the money came from to afford such an expensive room.
I rested my chin on my hand and looked down at Seong Hae-min’s handsome face, which bore a slight resemblance to mine.
Waiting for Seong Hae-min to wake up was a boring and anxious time. I told myself he’d wake up when he woke up, but then worries about him being in danger would suddenly surface.
I slowly fell into thought.
‘There was a time when I thought, whether Seong Hae-min lives or dies…’
But looking down at this face, I knew that would be difficult now. I had no choice but to make him quit his delinquent ways as soon as possible, or find Ban Pyo-ran quickly…
‘No, Ban Pyo-ran is also partly responsible for Seong Hae-min’s death.’
A new obstacle suddenly appeared.
Then, should I not find Ban Pyo-ran? Should I find the villainess Ban Seo-yi instead of the female protagonist Ban Pyo-ran? Or should I try to persuade the villain Do Yun-hyeok? But he was hopeless at understanding anything. My thoughts became tangled and disorganized.
The cause of Seong Hae-min’s death wasn’t just one or two simple things. That was why I had tried to cut ties with him rather than prevent his death. The problem now was that cutting ties was no longer an option.
At first, I just didn’t want to be involved in their narrative. Just leave me out.
I didn’t want to change them, nor did I have the concept of altering the future plot. In fact, not much has changed even now. While I felt I should try to save Seong Hae-min, I couldn’t change everything just because I wanted to. The world doesn’t work the way you want it to.
Frankly, they are the ‘protagonists’ of the novel. How could I, an extra, possibly change their lives and their flow? I’m just an outsider, and this is a novel. What am I supposed to do?
‘I just need to eat well and live well…’
My head throbbed as if a construction site had opened up inside it. I ran my hands through my hair.
When I’m unsure, the answer is to keep doing what I was doing before. So, for now, I just needed to find Ban Pyo-ran. I decided to stop thinking. I didn’t want to think anymore.
“Ah, damn it…”
But it wasn’t me who should find Ban Pyo-ran; the Four Heavenly Kings should meet Ban Pyo-ran. If I, who wanted to stay out of the novel’s plot, were to form a relationship with Ban Pyo-ran, it could be even more troublesome. So, it might be fortunate that I hadn’t met Ban Pyo-ran yet.
As I lay awake in the hospital room, bathed in the lazy morning sunlight, trying to think of various things, sleepiness washed over me. Jeon Jae-hyung and Seong Hae-min were both fast asleep, breathing rhythmically. Listening to their regular breaths, I drifted off without realizing it.
I woke up again, clutching my empty stomach, long past lunchtime. I woke up because I was hungry. My whole body ached from sleeping on my stomach. Jeon Jae-hyung seemed to have left in the meantime, as only Seong Hae-min and I were left in the room.
I rubbed my eyes and stretched. It was so peaceful without those Four Heavenly Kings around. It was serene. Comfortable. It was a freedom and leisure I hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Seong Hae-min was still asleep. As I examined his face, I suddenly realized I hadn’t heard the details of how he had his accident. It was probably related to his delinquent activities, but still.
Why continue this showy delinquent act when it’s so dangerous? If they had that much energy, they should study.
I decided to ask about the reason for the accident later and turned my gaze to the hospital room window.
I opened the window a little. The gentle late spring breeze flowed into the room. Leaning my arms on the windowsill, I felt the breeze brush against my skin. Closing my eyes, I savored the warmth on my cheeks and nose.
From outside, the murmuring voices of people drifted up through the walls.
A child calling for their mother, a grandfather’s hearty laughter, perhaps due to some happy event…
Among them, the clear voices of young women resonated particularly loudly in my ears.
“I couldn’t say it, but thank you every time…”
“There’s nothing to thank me for, silly. Your business is my business, and my business is your business. What’s there to thank between us?”
“Haha, that’s true.”
“So, what are you going to do from now on?”
“I’m thinking of dropping out of school and just earning money…”
“What? You silly girl!”
“But…”
“Still, no! I’ll lend you as much money as you need, so go to school. Quickly, promise me quickly!”
“…”
“Hey… hurry!”
As their emotions grew more intense, one of them, who had been speaking calmly, eventually cried out as if sobbing. The sound of her weeping was so heart-wrenching that even I, a third party who didn’t know the situation, felt pity.
“Promise me! Ughhhh!”
“…Yi-dam-ah.”
“No, sob, dropping out of school is absolutely not allowed! Ughhh, what about your mother’s wish…! To graduate from a good university, get a good job, and live happily like ordinary people…! Ughhh, sob, Ban Pyo-ran, you’re supposed to live happily…!”
While listening blankly, thinking it was like a movie scene, I was startled by the name called at the end and clung to the windowsill. I quickly scanned the direction of the sound and saw a familiar face.
‘Kim Yi-dam!’
It was definitely Kim Yi-dam, whom I had seen at the meeting. Then, the person Kim Yi-dam was talking to right now…
I narrowed my eyes to confirm the other person.
“Whoa.”
My first reaction was one of disbelief. I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but it was indeed clear. It was the girl who had handed me a handkerchief this morning!
Grabbing my clothes, I hurried out of the hospital room and headed outside. To meet Ban Pyo-ran.
‘But what am I going to do after meeting her?’
The thought suddenly struck me, but I knew from experience that it was best not to miss an opportunity when it arose, so I didn’t stop running. I’d think of something to say when I met her, maybe thank her again… I could create a reason. If I really had nothing to say, I could just pass by.
I ran, stumbling several times as my legs gave out, but I managed to regain my balance and staggered onward. At the elevator, I impatiently mashed the button, but unable to wait for the slowly rising numbers, I dashed down the stairs. Every time I nearly slipped and tumbled, I clung to the handrail, barely managing to stay upright.
My body must have weakened considerably, as my lungs felt like they would burst from running this distance, but I didn’t slow down. I passed through the crowded reception area and lounge, heading outside the building. I quickly scanned the surroundings, looking for the flower bed I had seen from the hospital room.
However, they must have left in the meantime, as I couldn’t find Ban Pyo-ran or Kim Yi-dam. Thinking I might have missed them, I looked around other areas, but they were nowhere to be found, as if they were a mirage.