By Zephyria 
Clutching my throbbing head, I got on the back of Jeon Jae-hyung’s motorcycle. I quietly ignored Min Si-hu whining about why I wasn’t riding behind him and Lee Beom twitching his eyebrows wordlessly.
At first, I intended to take the bus instead of a motorcycle, but the students swarmed the Four Heavenly Kings like a wave, screaming, making it impossible to board the bus, so I was forced to choose the motorcycle.
Even on the motorcycle, the crowd was still there. It was my mistake for forgetting that this world wasn’t normal either.
“Who’s that person riding behind Jeon Jae-hyung?”
“Hey!! You can’t possibly not know Seong Hae-jun!”
“Ah. Seong Hae-min’s sickly twin brother?!”
“Of course! Anyone who knows them knows. Seong Hae-jun is a rising star these days. He looks like Seong Hae-min, but somehow has that sickly, wistful aura…”
“Right, so it’s not that you want to protect him, but that you want to protect him! Ah~ a boy like a wilting flower!”
“Of course, Seong Hae-min is perfect on his own, but the Four Heavenly Kings are only truly complete when Seong Hae-jun is with them.”
“Speaking of which, Seong Hae-min isn’t at school today?”
“Well, we should be grateful just that the Four Heavenly Kings are gracing the school with their presence! To see those perfect looks!”
…
Even with my helmet on and my ears covered, the voices reached me clearly. I felt like I was breaking out in hives, starting from my ears.
“Let’s go quickly.”
It was my limit. I couldn’t stand hearing those teen romance novel-like remarks anymore. I urged Jeon Jae-hyung on. As we departed first, Lee Beom and Min Si-hu followed.
Jeon Jae-hyung drove more gently than Lee Beom, but considering his usual sluggish nature, he was driving quite wildly. I held onto Jeon Jae-hyung’s clothes, carried like cargo on the back of the motorcycle. Lee Beom and Min Si-hu rode alongside us.
Three motorcycles rode side-by-side, occupying three lanes. I didn’t know what a ridiculous sight this was.
Suddenly, Min Si-hu and I made eye contact. I was thinking, Did he say the name of that motorcycle was Lion’s Roar? It’s truly like a teen romance novel, when Min Si-hu suddenly lifted his helmet slightly and made a gun-shooting gesture at me. A million question marks popped up above my head.
…What is he doing?
With a “bang” shape of his lips and even a wink. Is this crazy guy trying to die?
I desperately shook my head back and forth to convey the message, “You crazy bastard, stop!” But that only seemed to excite the lunatic further, as he started blowing kisses.
To avoid exploding, it was best not to look. I quickly turned my face away.
My gaze met Lee Beom’s directly. I was bewildered. Why was he looking at me instead of concentrating on driving? Swallowing curses in my mind, I lowered my head towards the ground.
By the way, I don’t know why Min Si-hu likes kissing so much. Thinking about it, he was babbling this morning about giving me a kiss as a prize. Do friends usually try to kiss each other? I’ve never experienced that in my life!
But when I remembered it was Min Si-hu, it made sense.
If it’s Min Si-hu, he’d do that. In other words, Min Si-hu persistently trying to kiss me was within the range of plausible behavior. People are consistent, after all. In fact, I’d just nod and let it go if it were Min Si-hu, but what if Lee Beom acted like that?
The mere thought sent shivers down my spine, and I almost let go of Jeon Jae-hyung’s clothes. I tightened my grip.
If Lee Beom really did something like that, I might faint on the spot.
Maybe it’s a good thing it was Min Si-hu?
I pressed my forehead against Jeon Jae-hyung’s back and sighed. Indeed, other than meeting Ban Pyo-ran and getting the Four Heavenly Kings together with her, there seemed to be no way to resolve this situation. Perhaps their interest in me would wane once they met Ban Pyo-ran?
But when could I meet Ban Pyo-ran again?
Thinking about it again, I regretted missing her last time. In a situation where time was of the essence, procedures, order, and formality weren’t important. At the time, I thought it was fortunate I didn’t meet her, but as they say, a person’s feelings are different when entering and leaving the privy.
Now, my mind was set on escaping this situation, no matter what. I felt regretful about passing the buck to Ban Pyo-ran, but I couldn’t help it.
I have to survive too!
If Ban Pyo-ran and the Four Heavenly Kings meet, it will proceed according to the novel’s plot. I decided to think of it simply.
Well, if it doesn’t go according to the plot…
The surrounding scenery blurred rapidly, like wiped-away paint. Jeon Jae-hyung’s motorcycle, carrying me, continued to speed down the road without hesitation.
…If it doesn’t go according to the plot?
I blinked, my gaze lowered. My school uniform vest flapped in the strong wind. My delicate skin felt even stinging. My ears buzzed.
How could it not go according to the plot?
This was a novel.
Look at what they’re doing. They are characters in a novel. I’m the only one with any sense here.
Even though, contrary to the original plot and my wishes, I’ve unexpectedly formed a friendship with the Four Heavenly Kings, it would be different when I meet Ban Pyo-ran. Even if not at first, it was bound to proceed according to the plot in the end.
Because that’s how novels are.
But just in case, if it doesn’t go according to the plot… I don’t know how that’s possible, but if it doesn’t go according to the plot.
Then at least Seong Hae-min won’t die, right?
My mouth tasted bitter.
It would be good if the plot changed and Seong Hae-min didn’t die, but changing a predetermined plot to my liking seemed close to impossible. No matter how hard I tried, it was uncertain whether I could change the story.
If they are the protagonists, I am an extra. There’s not much I can do.
Me changing others? Especially novel characters with set actions and dialogue? It was absurd. I wasn’t someone who was moved by others either. Everyone must have their own worldview and life goals.
Therefore, the best I could do was not to commit the actions of the original Seong Hae-jun.
Snap out of it, Seong Hae-jun.
Just live my own life. What does a novel character have to do with my life? Ignore it and live my life. I reaffirmed the resolution I had made countless times.
Regarding the novel’s plot, I would only try to save Seong Hae-min, as much as I could. If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing I can do. Even as I concluded this, my chest felt heavy.
I was a character destined to play an antagonist in the latter half. I wasn’t dropped here by choice, and I didn’t have any special abilities to change the world. In the first place, this situation was a disaster for me too.
I don’t need any of this, I’ll just focus on studying.
According to my research, the curriculum was completely different, so there were many new things to study. Especially since I intended to switch to science.
After passing the GED, I could study intensely for the college entrance exam for about one to two years and take it quickly. I wanted to attend high school properly, but if that was difficult, then so be it. I tried to erase the image of Seong Hae-min that kept popping into my head.
As I was lost in complex thoughts that troubled me, we arrived at the hospital. I parked the motorcycle and headed for the lobby.
The further I went towards Seong Hae-min’s room, the more my mood sank. Perhaps it was because I was thinking about Seong Hae-min earlier, but my heart felt restless, and I felt drained by the thought that I didn’t know what to do now. In the first place, what was the point of such worries in a novel?
No choice. This is the best I can do. So, as I initially thought, I’ll find Ban Pyo-ran, introduce her to the Four Heavenly Kings, and then I’ll distance myself.
As I walked, self-hypnotizing myself, the Four Heavenly Kings were unusually quiet. As I passed the lobby and headed towards where Seong Hae-min was hospitalized, I looked up to check on them.
And by chance, a familiar face came into view in the distance.
Huh?
I squinted, thinking I might have misseen, and looked intently at the person.
That person…
Isn’t that Ban Pyo-ran?
The moment I stopped in my tracks, the other person seemed to sense my gaze and looked at me.
“Huh?”
“Ah.”
It was definitely Ban Pyo-ran. Ban Pyo-ran seemed to recognize me too. She must have remembered me from when we met in the hallway.
“What’s up?”
As I suddenly stopped walking, the Four Heavenly Kings also stopped and turned their eyes in my direction. The people who appeared to be Ban Pyo-ran’s companions also looked this way, following Ban Pyo-ran’s surprised gaze. The eyes of the two groups met.
Beside Ban Pyo-ran stood her best friend Kim Yi-dam and a man I had never seen before. Min Si-hu, recognizing Kim Yi-dam’s face, jumped up and greeted him.
“Ah, the person from the blind date!”
Min Si-hu paused for a moment, scratched his forehead, and tilted his head.
“Kim Yi-sam?”
It’s Kim Yi-dam.
“…Manhae High’s Kim Yi-gyeong?”
Lee Beom raised one eyebrow and murmured softly. Only then did I realize who the man beside Ban Pyo-ran was. Manhae High’s Kim Yi-gyeong. He was definitely Kim Yi-dam’s older brother. It seemed Lee Beom knew him from some national ranking competition.
This is not the time. I quickly waved at Ban Pyo-ran and walked towards her, as if happy to see her.
I couldn’t miss this golden opportunity. I had just been regretting not meeting Ban Pyo-ran, and I never imagined I’d run into her so quickly. Moreover, the Four Heavenly Kings were with me now, so the timing was truly divine and perfect.
As expected, this is a novel.