By Zephyria 
With familiar voices, the Four Heavenly Kings, pushing through the crowd, burst through the back door, the very door I was trying to get Do Yun-hyeok out of. The atmosphere in the classroom turned cold.
Upon seeing Do Yun-hyeok, Seong Hae-min’s neck immediately bulged. I unconsciously let go of Do Yun-hyeok’s back and took an awkward, surrendering stance. Even though I had done nothing wrong, I felt like I had.
“Okay, he’s leaving now.”
“Get away from him immediately, Seong Hae-jun.”
Lee Beom, his face tense, reached out his arm and ordered me, as if he hadn’t heard my words that Do Yun-hyeok was leaving. A confrontation suddenly began. I could feel all the students in the classroom shrinking back in tension. Do Yun-hyeok stood there, looking around blankly.
‘I’m doomed!’
But I couldn’t give up. If a fight broke out here, I was truly finished.
‘Protect my college entrance exams!’
I fixed my gaze on the Four Heavenly Kings standing at the back door and repeatedly hit Do Yun-hyeok’s forearm. His forearm was as hard as iron, hurting my hand, but that wasn’t important right now. I felt Do Yun-hyeok looking down at me. I clenched my fist and whispered quickly.
“Go through the front door. Quickly.”
“You keep wanting to send me away.”
“Please, go.”
“Alright. But make sure you eat the pizza and tell me how it was.”
“Just go already.”
“If anyone tries to steal it, write down their name. I’ll…”
“Stop it! Go!”
When I said that, gritting my teeth with all my sincerity, he finally backed down obediently. As Do Yun-hyeok moved sluggishly, the Four Heavenly Kings’ gazes clung to him like surveillance. Seong Hae-min, even from his standing posture, looked like he wanted to rush over to me immediately.
Do Yun-hyeok nodded obediently, shoved his hands into his pockets, and sauntered towards the front door. That’s when it happened.
Thump.
“…Hae-jun-ah.”
Yeon Su-hwan appeared, leaning heavily on the front doorframe, his bangs, clothes, and the front of his shirt all disheveled from how urgently he must have arrived.
At the appearance of a senior from another grade, the students in the classroom stirred. ‘Wow, it’s Su-hwan Sunbae!’, ‘He’s so sexy today too….’ I decided to pretend I hadn’t heard such exclamations and flowery language for the sake of my own mental health. The fact that this situation was unfolding just because one student from another school had come to ours was so cringe-worthy it gave me goosebumps.
More importantly, the situation needed to be handled. Even the front door was now blocked. Like a machine, I offered a greeting.
“Ah. Sunbae. Hello.”
“…Looking at the face of the guy you’re clinging to, I don’t think you’re doing too well.”
You crazy bastard!
My body reflexively recoiled a step away from Do Yun-hyeok. Come to think of it, I remembered them talking about Do Yun-hyeok upstairs in the classroom. I had only been focused on the Four Heavenly Kings, I hadn’t even considered that Yeon Su-hwan would show up!
As if he had thrown away his usual friendly demeanor, Yeon Su-hwan tilted his head and glared at Do Yun-hyeok.
Yeon Su-hwan at the front door. The Four Heavenly Kings at the back. It was a dilemma. The school delinquents stood there imposingly, surrounding Do Yun-hyeok.
Yet, Do Yun-hyeok, the person at the center of it all, was brimming with confidence even though he was completely surrounded with no escape route. He seemed to possess the confidence that he could fight anytime.
“He… he said he’s leaving now.”
“Little one, come here before you get hurt. Hmm?”
I tried desperately to salvage the situation on my own, but it was futile.
According to the setup, we were only a year apart, yet I couldn’t believe I had to stand here listening to him call me ‘little one’ like some baby. Why was this happening? Did it really have to come to this kind of fight? My vision went dark from the overwhelming stress.
This was all Do Yun-hyeok’s fault!
“Um… can we just let him go? This is a school, and according to school rules…”
“Seong Hae-jun.”
Yeon Su-hwan, his face devoid of all expression as if he were furious, called my name out, each syllable sharp and clear. I had never been scolded like this, not even by teachers in school, yet here I was, standing as if being reprimanded by someone just one year older (who was actually younger than me!). Aside from feeling uncomfortable, my throat was bone dry. All I could think of were curses.
*Clap, clap, clap.Just then, the oblivious Do Yun-hyeok, in the midst of the chilling atmosphere, slowly clapped three times and stepped forward. The piercings covering his ears jingled.
“Let Hae-jun go.”
Has this guy completely lost his mind? I shot him a look of alarm, but he just smiled leisurely.
Smiling?
“Stop holding Hae-jun, Seoyeon High friends. Hmm?”
Don’t push it, you crazy bastard! I wanted to yell.
Instead of bowing respectfully and saying, ‘I will go quietly, goodbye,’ he was deliberately provoking everyone! From what I had seen so far, the Four Heavenly Kings and Yeon Su-hwan were not the type to stand by and take such provocation!
“Friends? That’s a disgusting feeling.”
“Who do you think you are, showing off like that!”
Seong Hae-min and Min Si-hu stepped forward with blatant hostility. The atmosphere immediately became taut, as if a string were about to snap. This was the first such confrontation since they had met at the school gate.
The ones blocking the front and back doors exchanged glances and advanced one step at a time. The available space was shrinking.
Now it was a fight of who would strike first. I couldn’t think of any way to stop this situation.
Sigh, please.
Just then, Do Yun-hyeok tapped my head.
“Then, Hae-jun-ah. I’m going.”
And Do Yun-hyeok charged. In a direction no one expected.
Do Yun-hyeok sprinted towards the open window and easily leaped out of the second-floor window.
A beat later, the people blocking the front and back doors shouted, ‘Catch him!’ and rushed towards the window, but Do Yun-hyeok had already landed perfectly and escaped the school building.
The ordinary students who witnessed Do Yun-hyeok’s bizarre act covered their mouths. They all stared at the retreating Do Yun-hyeok with expressions of disbelief. Without looking back, Do Yun-hyeok waved casually behind him and leisurely crossed the sports field.
“……”
What did I just see?
“We’re chasing that bastard.”
But there was no time to be engulfed in shock. Lee Beom, who naturally took charge, grabbed the window frame and prepared to jump out himself. The thought that I had to stop him flashed through my mind like lightning.
Without delay, I pushed past the students clinging to the window frame and ran towards Lee Beom, grabbing his leg.
“Don’t go!”
“…Seong Hae-jun?”
Lee Beom, his escape halted just as he was about to jump, turned around. His dark eyes confirmed my presence and he frowned.
This time, the surrounding students who had witnessed my bizarre act covered their mouths with their other hands, and I could feel their surprise. However, I couldn’t let go of the arm I was holding onto Lee Beom with.
I had to hang onto his leg. Curses welled up inside me. It couldn’t be helped. No matter the method, Do Yun-hyeok had gotten away without a fight, so why would they chase him? What would they achieve by chasing him? A fight and a violation of school rules?
It was best, fundamentally, not to cause problems that involved me.
And…
For some reason, Ban Seo-yi’s words floated through my mind like ripples on water. ‘You can change it.’
If I could prevent these minor conflicts, wouldn’t Seong Hae-min’s chances of survival increase? That’s what I thought…
“Hae-jun-ah? What are you doing right now?”
“It’s… it’s dangerous! This is the second floor! There’s no need to chase him like that! It’s lunchtime, everyone needs to eat…”
Seong Hae-min approached as if to stop me, but even as I babbled out my explanation, I showed my firm resolve. I knew that if I acted this strongly, Seong Hae-min wouldn’t be able to stop me, and indeed, Seong Hae-min lowered the hand he had been reaching out to grab me with.
The surroundings fell silent.
“Alright. I won’t go, so…”
Finally, Lee Beom gestured with his chin for me to let go.
“Beom-ah.”
“It’s fine.”
Min Si-hu called out to Lee Beom, seemingly displeased with his decision, but Lee Beom stopped him with just a glance. Min Si-hu pursed his lips. I cautiously loosened my grip.
‘It’s… resolved, right?’
Lee Beom wasn’t the type to lie. He watched my arm as it slowly pulled away from him.
“Is this the will of the first-years?”
“Yes.”
Just when I thought I could breathe a sigh of relief, Yeon Su-hwan remained. Yeon Su-hwan’s heavy question was met with Lee Beom stepping forward and answering firmly.
For a moment, Yeon Su-hwan and Lee Beom exchanged glances. Seong Hae-min and Min Si-hu, standing beside him, and Jeon Jae-hyung clenched their fists, looking tense. I, not knowing the reason, stood blankly behind Lee Beom.
‘Wasn’t the situation resolved?’
After a moment of silence, Yeon Su-hwan turned his back and coldly commanded.
“The second-years will pursue.”
“Su-hwan Sunbae!”
Startled, I leaped forward to stop Yeon Su-hwan, but Lee Beom blocked me with an outstretched arm. Caught by Lee Beom’s arm, which acted like a barrier, I stopped. His arm, with his sleeve rolled up, bulged with veins.
“Don’t interfere.”
Lee Beom whispered to me. Yeon Su-hwan, his back still to us, clicked his tongue briefly. His usual sly demeanor was nowhere to be seen.
“Hae-jun keeps taking that bastard’s side.”
“That’s not it…”
I tried to explain, but Lee Beom cut me off again. This time, Seong Hae-min, standing behind me, pulled me into his embrace. Turning back, Seong Hae-min’s eyes were full of worry. I felt a bitter taste, like realizing candy I thought was sweet was actually sour.
Wasn’t Yeon Su-hwan supposed to be a kind, friendly church oppa character? Then why was he acting like some terrifying person… Suddenly, I remembered Yeon Su-hwan’s cold expression when he first saw Do Yun-hyeok at the school gate.
Yeon Su-hwan turned his head away and snorted. From where I stood, I could only see one side of his face, but it was clearly not the familiar, flirtatious face I knew. I scrunched up my face, wondering if I had seen wrong.