By Zephyria 
Considering how distant he had lived from his mother, it was remarkable that he decided to try and improve their relationship, even if the situation now required it.
They say hating someone takes more effort than loving them, but shedding long-held resentment isn’t as simple as it sounds. Yet, he made such a resolution with just a single mention of needing the press.
Curiosity piqued, I stared intently at Min Si-hu, and his face flushed red like a tomato.
“Why, why? Is something on Si-hu’s face?”
“No, nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Min Si-hu tilted his head. Before he could obsessively pry further, I quickly changed the subject.
“We can use school group projects as an excuse to gather at your place.”
“Mhm.”
“So, who else is going?”
Just me and Min Si-hu?
A terribly awkward silence was expected.
All Five Heavenly Kings joining, making it five people?
An even more dreadful silence was expected.
The thought of five boys, all with such dark natures, sitting together amicably sent shivers down my spine. What if they were all quiet and awkward? The situation could devolve into the worst possible outcome, with their relationships crumbling further.
What was needed now was a ray of sunshine.
“It would be good if someone bright and cheerful came along.”
It seemed the same person popped into everyone’s mind. I had thought of the same person when I said it.
“What do you guys think?”
“Are you planning to explain the whole situation to Pyo-ran too? I trust Pyo-ran, but…”
“That’s for you to decide.”
I merely shrugged at Seong Hae-min’s question.
Whether to go with Ban Pyo-ran to Min Si-hu’s house, whether to share the overall situation, including the third-year Sunbaes, with Ban Pyo-ran, or just bring her along, or handle it among ourselves.
More acquaintances meant more burdens. It meant more mouths to keep quiet.
However, even if things had changed from the original novel, Ban Pyo-ran was the female protagonist, and in the novel, she became the spiritual anchor for the Four Heavenly Kings. Moreover, she and Lee Beom liked each other, despite his strange misunderstanding about me. Honestly, I thought it was natural to go with Ban Pyo-ran. Ban Pyo-ran was like a secret ingredient in my plan.
But the reason I didn’t explicitly advocate for bringing Ban Pyo-ran was that I didn’t want Min Si-hu to misunderstand me again, which he was prone to doing.
Indeed, as soon as Ban Pyo-ran was mentioned, Min Si-hu started sneakily observing my expression. Even though we had cleared up the misunderstanding last time, he seemed bothered. It was annoying how he kept checking my mood, like a dog.
The boys, who had been watching each other, passed the decision-making power back to me.
“Seong Hae-jun, you decide.”
“It concerns you guys, and you want me to decide alone?”
“We’ll follow whatever you decide.”
“I’ll do whatever you guys want.”
A petty argument ensued with Lee Beom. Why were they being so yielding over something like this!
Min Si-hu suddenly raised his hand.
“Si-hu has an opinion!”
“What is it?”
“Let’s go without Pyo-ran!”
“The reason?”
“Um…”
Min Si-hu rolled his eyes. It was clear he wanted to separate me and Ban Pyo-ran with another nonsensical reason. Didn’t he say he wouldn’t misunderstand? My expression involuntarily contorted like a withered branch.
“…Then just bring her along.”
Lee Beom, unable to watch any longer, made a simple decision. Everyone nodded. How much better it would have been if they had just spoken honestly from the start.
I contacted Ban Pyo-ran for the first time in a while.
❖ ❖ ❖
I decided to explain the situation to Ban Pyo-ran only in brief. Putting aside the complicated talk about Yeonmyeong High’s Top Dog and the press, I just told her it was a visit due to my relationship with my mother.
Fortunately, upon hearing the circumstances, Ban Pyo-ran not only readily agreed but also showed enthusiastic motivation. In that regard, she was similar to Min Si-hu. Since Ban Pyo-ran was also close to the Four Heavenly Kings, she seemed to know more about Min Si-hu’s family affairs than I did.
On Saturday, the day we were supposed to go to Min Si-hu’s house, it was decided that only Ban Pyo-ran and I would go, as the Four Heavenly Kings themselves concluded they would be more of a hindrance than a help.
“Hae-jun!”
“Ah, you’re here?”
I greeted Ban Pyo-ran warmly as she waved from a distance. Ban Pyo-ran was as spirited and lively as ever today, dressed in the fashion of this era. Baggy denim shorts and a layered t-shirt. It wasn’t stylish, but it made her look even more vibrant.
We headed straight to Min Si-hu’s house.
Min Si-hu’s house was located in a very affluent neighborhood. I knew he was rich, but I didn’t expect this. As we walked up the road, Ban Pyo-ran, looking around in wonder, suddenly called out to me as if she’d remembered something.
“Oh, right, Hae-jun.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve completely given up on Beom!”
“What?”
“Whoa, careful!”
At the sudden, shocking declaration, I stumbled. Ban Pyo-ran firmly caught me as I was about to fall.
“Be careful! Are you okay?”
“Uh, uh…”
What did Ban Pyo-ran just say? Unaware of my bewilderment, Ban Pyo-ran stuck out her tongue and smiled brightly.
“Ah~ It feels so much better to get it off my chest! People really need to clear their minds periodically. Hae-jun, you should open up too. It’s so freeing and nice!”
“Uh…”
“Are you very surprised? Don’t worry! I’m not just saying it. I’m meeting someone else introduced by Dam-i.”
“Mhm…”
I could only respond vaguely, unsure how to react. I firmly held back my facial muscles from twisting strangely. Ban Pyo-ran shouted towards the sky.
“The world is wide! And there are many people!”
“……”
I had never considered the butterfly effect that Ban Pyo-ran’s misunderstanding could cause. That made it even harder to control my expression.
I had intended to change the novel, but it had changed this much? I had merely given up on clearing Ban Pyo-ran’s misunderstanding…
‘Is this okay?’
My mouth felt dry, like I had eaten an unripe persimmon.
In the novel, the female protagonist, Ban Pyo-ran, was indeed strong and resolute, but she couldn’t always be positive. Ban Pyo-ran also experienced frustration, despair, and sadness. And each time, it was the male protagonist, Lee Beom, who quietly stayed by her side, helping her to recover and stand up again.
The happiness bestowed upon the female protagonist, Ban Pyo-ran, was completed through the male protagonist, Lee Beom.
‘And Lee Beom too…’
He liked Ban Pyo-ran. Lee Beom also received significant emotional support from Ban Pyo-ran.
They liked each other, and because of me…
I felt suffocated.
‘Did I deprive them of their happiness?’
I often felt uneasy about occupying Seong Hae-jun’s place as his twin, as it was no different from deceiving Seong Hae-min. Even if I could somehow act as Seong Hae-jun for him, what about Ban Pyo-ran? And Lee Beom? Their eternal happiness?
If I had ended up like this while saving Seong Hae-min, who was supposed to die in the process of them finding happiness, then I would have accepted it as an unavoidable outcome, as Seong Hae-min’s life was more important to me.
But if it was all due to a mere misunderstanding? If it was something that wouldn’t have happened if I had handled it better?
‘What should I do now?’
My mind was a mess. I remained awkwardly silent in front of Ban Pyo-ran’s smile.
Leaving my confused feelings behind, we arrived at the house Min Si-hu had given us the address for. Standing in front of the house, we checked the address several times.
It couldn’t be helped…
‘Isn’t this too rich, even for rich people?’
It was a magnificent house, like something out of a movie. Even just the exterior peeking over the high walls looked grand. I couldn’t dismiss the joke about a chandelier the size of a table hanging from the living room ceiling. Not to mention the ornate wrought-iron gate.
We exchanged glances wordlessly, like generals facing an impregnable fortress.
Gulp.
The sound of someone swallowing was loud.
After a moment, when we rang the bell, a voice from the intercom asked who it was. As we had agreed, I introduced ourselves as Si-hu’s friends, here for a school group project.
Shortly after being told to wait, we heard the sound of the door opening from inside, and a middle-aged woman with a calm demeanor opened the ornate wrought-iron gate.
First impressions are important!
To appear as polite as possible, I bowed deeply and greeted her. Ban Pyo-ran followed suit, bending at a perfect right angle.
“Hello!”
“Welcome. You must be the young master’s friends, right? Please come in carefully.”
Young master?
I awkwardly straightened up. I had been trying to make a good first impression, thinking she was Si-hu’s mother, but she seemed to be a housekeeper. Politeness wouldn’t hurt, but it was embarrassing because I hadn’t expected it. Just how rich was Min Si-hu’s family?
We followed the housekeeper. The spacious garden was meticulously maintained, clean and tidy, like a separate paradise. Even to my eyes, which knew nothing about gardens, there were beautifully shaped pine trees and rocks placed here and there. Ban Pyo-ran, with her eyes as big as saucers, couldn’t help but gasp “Wow…” as she looked around.
We were led to the entrance and stepped inside the mansion, where we were greeted by a middle-aged woman with a cold, business-like demeanor.
I knew instantly that this was his mother. She looked exactly like Min Si-hu would if he were a middle-aged woman. I figured Min Si-hu’s good looks must have come from her.
‘Why would she greet her son’s friends if she hates him?’
I temporarily set aside the sudden question and bowed deeply. This was my chance to make a good first impression, for real this time.
“Hello!”