By Zephyria 
Min Si-hu, feigning tears, pouted his lips and lunged at me. Startled, I quickly pulled the blanket off my lap and used it to block him. Fortunately, it wasn’t Min Si-hu’s first physical assault, so I was able to react.
“I’ve been rejectedddd!”
“Si-hu, that’s enough.”
“Mini tooooo!”
Fortunately, Seong Hae-min intervened and chased Min Si-hu away. Jeon Jae-hyung quickly joined in and grabbed Min Si-hu by the scruff of his neck. Min Si-hu’s actions were childish, but he wasn’t small by any means, yet he was dragged away by the lanky Jeon Jae-hyung.
Min Si-hu, with his neck held, pouted. The way he pretended to wipe away tears was quite theatrical. No matter how perfectly he put on an innocent face, it was still acting. I wouldn’t be fooled by Min Si-hu.
I peeked out from behind Seong Hae-min to observe the situation. Min Si-hu pouted.
“Woohoo! Mini is mean!”
“Mean? Hae-jun was flustered.”
“Where’s our Minmin’s loyalty? Si-hu is disappointed!”
“What’s Minmin loyalty?”
When Ban Pyo-ran asked, Min Si-hu proudly answered like a brother teaching his younger sibling a newly learned idiom.
“Min Si-hu, Seong Hae-min! In other words, Minmin!”
“What the…”
What kind of joke is that?
For a moment, I thought there was a four-character idiom I didn’t know and felt foolish for thinking so hard.
“……”
“……”
I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. A moment of silence swept through the room. Min Si-hu, unfazed, puffed out his chest proudly. I shook my head in disbelief.
“Leopard is better, actually.”
“Leopard?”
Hae-min asked when he heard my mumbling.
“Pyo-ran is Pyo, and Lee Beom is Beom. Together, they make Pyo-beom (Leopard).”
That’s how the novel’s title was decided in the first place.
Looking at Min Si-hu, I realized it wasn’t the time to mock the author who came up with this title. No, perhaps the characters have similar sensibilities because the author has such naming talent?
“Wow! That’s right!”
“This is kind of amazing.”
“How did you think of that?”
“Huh?”
However, my sarcasm was met with an unexpectedly enthusiastic reaction. I removed my hand from my forehead and stared blankly at the others. Ban Pyo-ran was clapping his hands in delight.
“Hae-jun is so smart.”
“…?”
Is this something to be smart about…? I couldn’t ask that to Ban Pyo-ran’s bright face, so I just swept my mouth with a reluctant expression.
“Jjuni is embarrassed!”
“No, I’m not.”
It was absurd, but when I remembered they were only 17, it made sense. Yes, yes, they’re at an age where they’d find falling leaves amusing. I have to understand, there’s no other way.
I met Lee Beom’s eyes, which looked quite displeased. I don’t know how many times our eyes had met already. I hunched my neck. It seemed he was upset because Ban Pyo-ran was praising me. I subtly increased the distance between myself and Ban Pyo-ran. I wished he wouldn’t notice, but Ban Pyo-ran kindly asked as he saw me moving away.
“Is Hae-jun uncomfortable?”
I glanced at Lee Beom again. His expression was similar to before. I realized anew that this gathering was quite an uncomfortable situation for him. And I resolved: I must never try to arrange such gatherings with them again.
“Hae-jun was the patient, right!”
“Hae-jun, are you sick? Should we go to the hospital?”
I ignored Kim Yi-dam and Seong Hae-min’s words. This wasn’t the time for that; I needed to make it clear to Lee Beom that I wasn’t competing with him for Ban Pyo-ran.
What should I do?
Then, a good idea suddenly struck me. After quickly running a simulation in my head, I put it into action.
I naturally clutched my stomach and trembled my lips weakly.
“Yeah… My stomach suddenly feels off.”
“What? Should we go to the hospital?”
“No, it’s not that bad. I think I just have indigestion. I think one pill will do. I’ll go find the first-aid kit.”
“Stay put! I’ll bring it.”
“No, no, no! I can do this much.”
Seong Hae-min tried to dissuud me with concern, but I stubbornly shook my head and got out of bed. You have to push through in times like these. Leaving the bustling group behind, I headed to the living room where the first-aid kit was kept. When a few tried to follow, I waved my arms and firmly refused, so they didn’t come all the way to my side.
Like a scene from a spy movie, I left the others behind and opened the first-aid kit in a corner of the living room. After thoroughly shielding it with my back, I found the antacid and quickly crumpled it in my hand. Then, I carefully hid it in the front of my clothes so it wouldn’t be noticeable.
Once they left, I would shamelessly put it back in the first-aid kit, completing the perfect crime.
“Is it there?”
“Let’s see… Oh dear. It’s not here.”
I calmly shook my head at Seong Hae-min, who was standing at the doorway. I slowly headed back to my room.
“It’s not there? That’s strange… I’ll look again.”
“No, no. It’s really not there. I think we need to buy some.”
“Really? Then I’ll—”
“That!”
I cut off Seong Hae-min’s words with a loud voice. Seong Hae-min’s eyes widened.
Too bad, Hae-min. You must doubt your own memory for having a forgetful younger brother, but you actually bought a new antacid yesterday and refilled it. I threw it away, though. Even though it’s tricking you, that was never my intention.
“Hae-min, you stay here. Is there anyone who can go buy some?”
“Me! Si-hu! Me!”
“Okay, Lee Beom and Pyo-ran.”
“Ehh?”
“Huh?”
Ignoring Min Si-hu and Seong Hae-min’s words, I specifically called out Lee Beom and Ban Pyo-ran. Since it’s come to this, I’m going full bulldozer mode. Lee Beom raised an eyebrow.
I felt sorry for the others who liked Ban Pyo-ran, but I had to put out the immediate fire. I hoped this would sufficiently convey my intentions to Lee Beom. I support the relationship between you two. So don’t misunderstand that I like Ban Pyo-ran!
In the end, Ban Pyo-ran and Lee Beom left the room together due to my insistence.
“We’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time.”
“No, we’ll be back quickly, so just lie down. Let’s go, Beom.”
“Rest up.”
After Ban Pyo-ran and Lee Beom left, the room felt much more comfortable with fewer people. But my desire to be alone also grew stronger.
“Should Si-hu warm your hands? Si-hu is good at warming hands!”
“No, I’m fine.”
“You’re better at tearing off necks than warming hands.”
“Yi-dam!! Necks!!”
It seemed Min Si-hu and Kim Yi-dam had grown closer. It felt like just yesterday Kim Yi-dam was wary of Min Si-hu, but now their bickering was quite amusing. I watched their banter-like conversation and subtly looked around before slipping out of the room.
“I’m going to the bathroom.”
Fortunately, there wasn’t any crazy person who would follow me to the bathroom. It’s sad that I feel relieved about something like this.
Pretending to go to the bathroom, I turned towards the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator and gulped down cold water. The cold sensation soothed my insides. It felt like living again now that I was alone. I did well, myself, being stuck in the middle!
“Haaahm.”
I stretched, patting myself on the back. As I stretched my body fully, fatigue set in.
It felt like my energy, depleted from being among the Four Heavenly Kings and the others, was returning. I don’t know how I ended up in this world and suffering like this. I should have been enjoying my precious college life… I suddenly felt resentful.
But that wouldn’t change anything. I have to do my best now.
“Hoo…”
As I raised my hand to wipe my teary eyes from yawning.
“Hae-jun.”
“Uh, uh?”
Someone who had quietly approached from behind called me. Caught off guard because I never imagined anyone would follow me, I was so startled that I trembled like I’d been struck by lightning. A tear formed in one eye and dripped down.
What is it?
Even I was flustered, I quickly wiped my tears and turned around.
It was Min Si-hu who had called me. He was looking at me with a serious expression. It was a look I rarely saw, and it felt unfamiliar, not suiting him.
When did he follow me? As I blinked in disbelief, tears rolled down from my other eye.
“Oh?”
“……”
What is this? I wiped it just now!
Afraid Min Si-hu would misunderstand, I quickly rubbed my eyes. However, it didn’t seem like a proper explanation. An awkward silence fell.
“……”
“……”
“Seong Hae-jun.”
I’m, I’m getting goosebumps…!
I rubbed my arms, which had goosebumps. Seeing Min Si-hu call my name with my surname, like a normal person, made me think he’d misunderstood something again…?
Anxiety crept in. Thinking I had to say something first, I blurted out anything.
“Maybe it’s indigestion, I’m a bit tired. I should go back and rest. Si-hu, you too…”
“Why are you crying alone?”
What kind of direct question is this? Min Si-hu looked at me with calm eyes, unbothered by my rambling. Seeing that expression reminded me of the cheesy words I heard when we first met.
Was it ‘This is a warning’? Goosebumps rose again on top of the goosebumps.
Seeing him speak with such a serious expression, so dark it seemed, he must have misunderstood something badly. I desperately wanted to explain. Even if I said anything, he probably wouldn’t believe me and would think whatever he wanted, but I couldn’t help but defend myself.
“I yawned. The tears came from yawning.”
“……”
“Really.”
Min Si-hu didn’t argue further at my answer. He opened his mouth wide and then closed it tightly, tilting his head. Beneath his flickering eyes, there were reddish shadows. What is he misunderstanding now!
“You’re not having weird thoughts, are you? I really just yawned.”
“Seong Hae-jun.”
“Why?”
“Stop… Stop it.”
“……”
This is driving me crazy!