By Zephyria 
I was already on the verge of going to Jeseong High School because Ban Seo-yi had stopped contacting me, and now this thunderbolt from a clear sky.
However, I was powerless against fists. I couldn’t reveal my true feelings and just twitched my lips awkwardly.
Yeon Su-hwan, seeing my face, let out a low laugh and lowered his head over me. I froze, bewildered, and hunched my neck.
‘What is it? Is he smelling my head?’
But I soon understood the purpose of his action from the sound that followed.
Kiss.
The small sound of lips meeting and separating sent a shiver down my spine. I almost dropped the drink can I was holding. I tightened my grip on the can and quickly got away.
‘Did he just… kiss my hair?’
Even though my hair has no feeling, it felt like my nerves were on edge. Yeon Su-hwan just smiled with an inscrutable, gentle expression, despite my grimace.
“I’ll be going.”
I hastily said goodbye, downed the rest of the drink in the can, and hurried away.
And as soon as I got home, I washed my hair.
❖ ❖ ❖
If I had a talent for trouble, it seemed to be manifesting now.
“Being summoned by phone in the middle of the night is common, and even when I’m called out…”
The reporter sitting opposite me nodded, listening intently. Cameras rolled behind us.
The reporter, younger than I expected, was full of enthusiasm. After asking many questions, he bid me farewell, saying I’d worked hard.
As planned, after the disciplinary action at Yeonmyeong High School, I reported Seong Hae-min’s case to the media. Thanks to an acquaintance, Min Si-hu’s mother, I received a positive response. I vaguely heard that they would be doing an in-depth report on the topic of delinquents and school violence in relation to my tip. This was the interview I had.
After the interview, I returned home with a drink bought by Min Si-hu’s mother, who said I’d worked hard. Min Si-hu, who insisted on escorting me, was a bonus.
“Jjuni… looks so busy…”
The cicadas, chirping loudly, signaled the full heat of summer. Min Si-hu, sprawled on the doorstep, mumbled. He was the price for letting him in, whining for a glass of water because it was so hot.
“I am actually busy.”
I replied coldly and headed to the kitchen. I had expected Seong Hae-min to be there and invited him in, but Seong Hae-min wasn’t home. I grumbled, thinking I should have just sent him away, and opened the refrigerator, taking out water as cold as ice. The cool air soothed my irritation.
Pouring water into a glass, I reflected on the past week, which had already turned into July. Consulting with the gym teacher, contacting the media, doing interviews, schoolwork, and internal exam studies… It had been a whirlwind schedule. Sometimes, I even questioned why I was living so diligently.
“Why does Jjuni live so diligently? Haaawww…”
Min Si-hu was still dawdling like a grub at the entrance.
‘You should live a little more diligently!’
Suppressing my urge to lecture, I handed him the cold glass of water. Min Si-hu, who had been sitting limply, took the cup and drank it down. I muttered an excuse to no one in particular. Perhaps I wanted to convince myself.
“You have to work hard when you can. There’s always the ‘what if’.”
“‘What if’?”
“It means you have to consider the possibility that things might not go well.”
“Ahaha… No, what?”
Min Si-hu, who had been sitting as if melting, put down his cup and suddenly stood up. Then he started hitting his own head.
“Aaaah! That’s right!”
“……”
…Has he finally lost his mind?
I watched his bizarre behavior with wide eyes.
“Si-hu forgot to tell you! I made Jjuni worry for nothing! Ugh! Si-hu is a dummy!”
After making a fuss for a while, he chattered on, saying there was nothing to worry about.
His maternal uncle was a high-ranking police official, so a full investigation into school violence was scheduled to begin immediately after the media report. His stepfather was a member of the National Assembly (shocking information), so he could propose related legislative amendments.
“So this time! You don’t have to worry! I prepared this so Jjuni wouldn’t be anxious.”
“……”
Min Si-hu’s words, puffed out with determination, left me slightly dazed.
So, to recap…
The police and the National Assembly would get involved?
The police?
…The National Assembly?
My head spun, and everything I had done flashed before my eyes.
‘Why did I go through all that trouble?’
I got counseling, talked to the gym teacher, did interviews diligently… I struggled so hard. But compared to the police and the National Assembly, my efforts seemed like a childish act. Everything I had done felt futile.
And Min Si-hu, why is he mobilizing those connections only now!
‘Still… what I did must be useful somewhere.’
Suppressing the surge of indignation, I decided to think positively. My head was spinning, but it was all for Seong Hae-min’s sake, so there was no reason to take it negatively.
Min Si-hu smiled cheerfully. Once I calmed down, I saw Min Si-hu in a new light.
‘…But he was rebelling against his family by just being one of the Four Heavenly Kings?’
Now that was absurd.
But, well…
It was possible. In modern society, what you do is your personal freedom. Of course, I wouldn’t have done that.
“Anyway, don’t worry!”
“Uh-huh.”
Min Si-hu encouraged me vigorously. I nodded along, still dazed.
Just then, a 16-chord ringtone rang out from Min Si-hu’s pocket, filling the entrance hall. The rhythm, “Ttiriri ttiriri ttriririri,” was familiar. It sounded like background music from an old classic game.
‘Could it be… the seniors?’
At the immediate thought, Min Si-hu and I made eye contact. Min Si-hu took his phone out of his pocket and slowly opened the flip, bringing it to his ear. I swallowed dryly.
A short silence followed. Min Si-hu shouted energetically,
“This is Min Si-hu!”
Huh?
Seeing Min Si-hu’s confident demeanor, I was momentarily stunned.
Fortunately, the person on the other end wasn’t a senior, and the call ended anticlimactically quickly. He closed the flip phone and grinned foolishly. I was about to ask what the call was about but stopped myself. It would be embarrassing to ask something of such an idiot.
I was the fool for getting tense with someone whose thoughts I couldn’t fathom!
It seemed best to kick him out as soon as possible.
“You can go now.”
“Uh, wait a minute!”
As I ushered him towards the door, Min Si-hu waved his hands urgently. Not wanting to be kicked out into the heat again, he looked desperate.
“Why.”
“I, I, I have something to say!”
“What is it?”
What are you eating for lunch tomorrow? What are you doing tomorrow? I indifferently let his nonsensical chatter wash over me, trying to get him to leave.
“There’s nothing. Go now.”
“Ah, y-yes! Th-this time it’s something I’m really curious about!”
I gestured for him to leave, and he stomped his feet. Min Si-hu, his smile gone, asked with a surprisingly serious face,
“Do you like… Pyo Ran…”
Again? Even if she’s the female lead, this is too much! My weariness must have shown on my face. Min Si-hu quickly added a denial.
“I told you it’s not like that, right?”
“Uh.”
“And you promised to tell me first if you ever liked someone.”
“Uh.”
“You… don’t have anyone yet, right?”
Ah, my head hurts.
I put my hand on my forehead, and Min Si-hu looked at me anxiously. Is it because this is a novel world where romance is the main theme? Everyone acts like they’re crazy about dating, and it makes me angry. What’s so important about that?
Study during that time!
Annoyed, I waved my hand dismissively and snapped,
“Actually, I do.”
“Wh-who?”
Min Si-hu’s eyes trembled like a poplar leaf. I sneered at his flustered face.
“I like Hae-min, Hae-min.”
“Nooo… not family… like, like… like, I want to date…”
“I don’t!”
He hunched his shoulders, flinching, but still didn’t stop asking. I yelled at him.
Dating, my foot! I need to get into college! Do you know the story of how I got into college but couldn’t attend?
I’ve received confessions many times in my life, but I’ve never liked someone enough to regret not confessing. Honestly, I can’t relate to the idea of liking someone enough to want to date them. I’ve never experienced it, so how would I know?
I don’t know what he expects from me. Isn’t it enough to just study and live diligently?
Just then, Min Si-hu, who had been fidgeting, exclaimed,
“The thing is… why I asked… Si-hu… has someone he likes!”
Did he make all that fuss just to say that? Min Si-hu’s sudden confession brought a wave of emptiness. I swallowed the sigh that was about to escape.
Sometimes, people are too shy to even reveal that they have a crush. Min Si-hu seems to be one of them.
Min Si-hu hesitated but continued steadfastly.
“Actually, I wanted to keep it a secret…”
His voice grew lower, and the childish tone disappeared as Min Si-hu slowly raised his head. His clear brown eyes met mine. Here we go again, the dual personality! It gave me goosebumps, him acting like he had a dual personality when he didn’t.
“Hearing Pyo Ran’s words made me think. If I truly want change, I need to be brave.”
Is he going to confess to the person he likes? But whatever resolute decision Min Si-hu made was none of my concern. I suppressed my shivers and nodded perfunctorily.
“Uh-huh.”