SMW 85

However, Baek Hee-won, who had been quiet for a moment as if intimidated, did not back down easily this time.

「Why don’t you face reality for once? Nothing is going to change no matter how much you keep pushing me away. You know very well who is watching you.」

「Baek Hee-won, will you get lost?」

The voice, which he had managed to keep relatively calm, rose. It was a good thing they were on the rooftop; if they had been in a classroom, it would have been loud enough to attract significant attention. It might have even reached the bottom of the building. That thought suddenly bothered him, but right now, shutting that guy’s mouth was more important. It seemed that, for once, it had actually worked.

「Fine. I’ll get lost for now. See you later.」

Baek Hee-won sighed, his face still looking as if he had plenty more to say, and left the rooftop, promising a future encounter. Only after being left alone did I click my tongue in annoyance and turn back toward the railing.

Things had been quiet since entering school until recently, but as expected, he had managed to get under my skin. This was why it was problematic to [Read on Read BL Novels]just accept everything unconditionally. I had seen more than Read on Read BL Novelsa few people who took that as permission to cross lines at will and act as if they were something to me. The strongest among them was the man trying to play father.

Study abroad. There was no way that someone who suddenly appeared would actually intend to create a good educational environment for his son. If that man had shown even a shred of pity for his son the day we first met, I might have wavered a tiny bit, but all that human wanted from me was the right and possessiveness over a blood relative. Therefore, I would not grant him a single grain of his wishes.

Even I thought I had been too docile lately. The problem was that I had allowed him to even eye the line I had drawn in the first place. The reason I stayed still despite knowing that might have been because of a lingering hope.

A hope, unlike me, that someone might actually cross that line.

「I’m crazy. Truly crazy.」

I let out a hollow laugh at the thought and roughly swept back my bangs. When I tilted my head back to look at the sky, it was a color so deep it felt depressing. It looked like it would pour rain at any moment. The rainy season was beginning. In the humid heat, I felt a sudden impulse to open my hand, but instead, I clenched my fist and shut down the stray thoughts trying to drift away.

Anyway, if I could just hold on a bit longer, it was summer break. At least for one month during the break, I could escape that tedious surveillance.

It bothered me a bit that Baek Hee-won had mentioned going overseas, but since he said he wouldn’t touch me while I was attending school, I could just ignore it. If he broke his promise, I could just go wild then.

Of course, regardless of this or that, Read on Read BL Novelsthe Read on Read BL Novelsoption of taking summer supplementary classes was absolutely out of the question.

「You’ll have to take the supplementary classes, right?」

「…….」

Han Yeo-reum, his voice dripping with half-resignation, held the application form for the supplementary classes in both hands. An identical piece of paper lay on my desk.

The homeroom teacher, who had come in for the fifth period after lunch, had only just handed out the application forms. The teacher mentioned that while it wasn’t mandatory, there were benefits, such as having it recorded in the student record for those who applied, before starting the lesson. By the time the break arrived, the classroom had become like a funeral parlor.

「Isn’t this such a rip-off? Even if it’s not mandatory, people who don’t do it will be at a disadvantage for their internal grades. If this isn’t mandatory, then what is?」

「What else would it be? It’s just telling us to shut up and circle the application.」

「Aaaagh! Then why does summer break even exist!」

The noisy guy, who had inevitably [visit our site]found his stolen contentway to Han Yeo-reum’s seat, overreacted for a moment and then slumped his shoulders.

「Yeo-reum.」

「What.」

「Are you really going to take the supplementary classes?」

「Why are you even asking that. Can you afford not to take them?」

「Hmm, I think if I talk to my mom well, I might not have to. We decided to go to the US together during the break. A relative lives there, so we’re going to hang out.」

「Must be nice. I’ve never even been abroad, let alone to the US.」

「Then do you want to come along, Yeo-reum?」

「Me?」

「Yeah. If I just talk to my mom, she’ll let you. You know my mom likes you, right? Let’s go together and skip the supplementary classes.」

「But…….」

As the words trailed off, I unconsciously tightened my grip on the application form. All my attention focused on Han Yeo-reum’s next words.

「No. I should just take the supplementary classes. My parents won’t let me go, even for the sake of my grades.」

「Couldn’t I just ask my mom to talk to your mom?」

「Forget it. They’re busy, and I don’t want to bother them for no reason. Thanks for the offer, though. You have fun with your mother.」

Only then did I relax my grip.

Why did that even bother me? Looking at the application form already crumpled in [Read on Read BL Novels]my hand, my emotions became complicated. Come to think of it, I was fine, but most other kids had no choice [Read on Read BL Novels]but to care about their grades to get into college.

The summer break would probably look not much different from the current scene in the classroom. Suddenly, the crumpled part of the application form, which I felt shouldn’t have mattered if it tore, caught my attention. As I unconsciously rubbed that part as if to flatten it, the noisy guy’s chatter continued.

「It can’t be helped. Then I’ll tell you all the stories from my US trip when I get back. Then the boring supplementary classes will pass in the blink of an eye.」

「Supplementary classes? You’re coming too?」

「Of course, if our Yeo-reum is coming, I have to be there. Now that I think about it, even after the US, it’ll still be before the classes end, so my mom will probably push me to go.」

Are friends always this clingy? I’ve never really had a proper friend, but even from the perspective of someone who has hung out enough with boys my age, this seemed like an excessive amount of goodwill. It was very grating.

「Then, let’s decide to deepen our friendship during summer break. Yeo-reum, you’re playing soccer tomorrow too, right?」

「I’m not.」

「Aw, why?」

「Why else. I’m going to read a book. I couldn’t even finish half of it today because of you.」

「You’ve read that thing so many times. It’s not just a re-read; you’ve practically boiled it down to bone broth. Look. Even the cover is all tattered.」

「Hey. Hands off. The cover will tear if you touch it wrong.」

At the mention of the cover, my head turned instinctively. However, the book was already open again in Han Yeo-reum’s hand. It was truly incredibly difficult to see the cover of that book. Meanwhile, the noisy guy grumbled as if dissatisfied.

「Yeo-reum, how long do you plan on reading that book? It seems like you keep reading the same series over and over. Didn’t a new series come out a long time ago?」

「Well… that’s true, but this is the limit of what I can afford with my saved allowance. I’ll have to save for a long time again to buy the next series.」

Is it a series? Regardless, the crestfallen tone of his voice bothered me.

「Can’t you ask your parents to buy it?」

「They hate it when I read fantasy stuff, second only to comic books. I read the books I have now by hiding them.」

「Ah, right. Hmm, then what about the library? Don’t they have most of them?」

「They’re on the list, but they’re all checked out. That’s why I check the library loan site every single day.」

「The competition is fierce.」

「Right. They’re even shelved in the children’s section. The age group I have to beat is so broad that I think saving up money to buy it might be faster.」

「Then how about this? I’ll ask my mom to buy it first and then lend it to…」

「Forget it. You like martial arts novels more than this stuff. Don’t waste the money your mother works so hard to earn on useless things.」

「As expected, our Yeo-reum is such a devoted son.」

A devoted son; what a bitter thing to say.

If being a devoted son means having to watch others’ reactions and give up on things you want to do at a young age for the sake of your parents, isn’t that too selfish a standard?

All a child, born into the world by chance, would want is to read the books they like, go on trips during the break, and eat meat with their parents.

In the end, all that ends up in their hand is a cold triangle kimbap, a supplementary class application, and a tattered book read over and over while walking on eggshells. And such children and family environments could be seen commonly anywhere.

Why do I keep caring about Han Yeo-reum, who is just ordinary and average, with only a slightly special name?

Compared to him, I was aware that I was exceptional in every way. As an individual, and in terms of family environment. I hated to admit it, but that was the truth.

Nevertheless, I cared about the ordinary Han Yeo-reum. And very much so.

「Ah damn, it’s almost time for the bell. I couldn’t read it again because of you.」

At that moment, Han Yeo-reum closed the book and stood up.

「Where are you going?」

「Bathroom.」

「I’ll go with you.」

The moment I heard the noisy guy’s response, I felt my mind go blank.

What? Follow him where?

The noisy guy was following Han Yeo-reum, who had walked out into the hallway without a word. At that sight, I unconsciously pushed my chair back and stood up. The sound must have been loud, as the noise in the classroom subsided all at once. No matter how much less sensitive I had become than before, the way eyes followed my every move and action remained the same.

I was used to receiving attention. But right now, it was unauthorized copynothing [Read on Read BL Novels]but irritating. The two of them had already disappeared into the hallway. The bathroom wasn’t that far, [stolen content]and they would have arrived by now, so following them now would be pointless.

Honestly, it wasn’t something to get sensitive about. It’s not like they’d be alone in the bathroom. Once I thought that, the abnormally churning feeling in my chest calmed down. Instead, I shifted my gaze to Han Yeo-reum’s desk. This time, the book was flipped over so that the cover was clearly visible.

「Hmm. It’s hot, so hot.」

It was a phrase that felt awkward even as I said it, but it was the only way to divert the gazes. While thinking that I was doing all sorts of things, I couldn’t stop my steps toward the window. I deliberately perched on the windowsill with the window open and pretended to look outside; before long, the classroom became noisy again.

Only then did I steal a glance down at Han Yeo-reum’s desk, and a green cover caught my eye. Above it, there was a drawing of a wizard on a broomstick, and the title was written in large letters. In that moment, I unconsciously became dazed.

I knew that cover. To be precise, something similar to it.

「So it was this.」

As soon as I got home, I pulled out the book I had shoved in the corner of my room and let out a hollow laugh. To think it was a book I already had at home. Moreover, this was the next series from the one Han Yeo-reum had.

About half a year ago, that human had unilaterally sent it through someone, saying it was a book popular with kids these days. Seeing [Read on Read BL Novels]a kid [Read on Read BL Novels]flying on a broomstick, it seemed to be a magic fantasy story.

Setting aside the childishness, it was a genre I had no interest in. Above all, it felt like the heart of that human, trying to make up for seventeen years of life with something like this, which was deeply unpleasant. If it hadn’t been for Grandma’s nagging that one should hate the person but not the book, there was no way this book would have survived in my room until now. Even now, just holding the book made me feel nauseous.

What overcame that was curiosity. Is this really that interesting? It looks like content that’s childish to the core, so what’s so interesting that he’s reading it with such diverse expressions?

It was just as I was staring intently at the book and slightly lifting the cover I had never opened. The door swung open, and Grandma walked in.