By Zephyria 
I got on the bus and chose a window seat. I was on neutral terms with my classmates. It wasn’t that our relationship was bad, but I deliberately kept a certain distance from those who tried to get closer. For some reason, I felt like we didn’t quite understand each other. I didn’t know if it was because I was old-fashioned or because they were characters from an internet novel.
The moment I leaned my head against the window, the mobile phone in my hand lit up. Thinking Seong Hae-min had sent another overly concerned parent-like text, I opened it, but the message was from an unexpected person.
“Hi.”
This was a code between Ban Seo-yi and me, using only the initial consonants of “Hi there” to confirm that I was the one currently checking the message. It was Ban Seo-yi’s trick, in case someone might check my messages while I was away. It was as meticulous as calling someone out with a note. Sometimes I wondered if it had to go this far…
I replied with the code, and a message with the main point immediately followed.
“Meet me at the amusement park today. We need to talk about Do Yun-hyeok. Sneak out in the afternoon~”
With so many people at the amusement park, there would be many eyes watching. Could this even be possible? I quickly typed on my keypad. A reply came back, telling me not to worry, that it would be possible, and to trust him. Seeing Ban Seo-yi’s confident text made me more anxious.
“Do we really have to meet today, taking such a risk?”
“I don’t have much time on other days… There will be an opportunity in the middle, so don’t worry.”
Ban Seo-yi filled the 80-byte limit of the SMS message, sending consecutive texts, and detailed the amusement park’s layout, including when and where I should come. As a result, interpreting the message, which had no spaces, was up to me.
Holding the tiny mobile phone screen, I diligently tried to memorize the message content, longing for the technology of my original era.
KakaoTalk… when will it be invented already!
The bus soon arrived at the picnic spot after a short ride.
The destination was chosen purely for the students’ interest, so it was free time from start to finish. The homeroom teachers gave lengthy instructions, then left the students to play as they pleased, only stipulating the time they had to return before leaving to rest.
First, I looked around. Students wearing the same uniform swarmed everywhere like a colony of cockroaches. The school had instructed them to wear uniforms, but seeing their bulky bags, it seemed they had brought clothes to change into.
Since three schools were visiting at the same time, if the entrance was this crowded, the queues for the rides would be even longer.
I quickly headed for the information desk. Then, I spread out the map and made a plan.
Although I liked rides, with so many people and my limited stamina, I had to choose and focus. I created a course considering the popularity and waiting times of the rides, as well as the route and meal times in between. First, I ranked the rides by priority, then focused on the ones I wanted to ride the most…
As I stood up energetically, map in hand, with my plan finalized, unwelcome faces called out to me.
“Hae-jun! You were here. We were looking for you.”
Here they come.
Seong Hae-min and the rest of the Four Heavenly Kings approached me with swagger.
They were all wearing uniforms, but not in the standard way. Min Si-hu, in particular, was wearing only a dress shirt underneath, with casual clothes on top. While I wouldn’t have thought anything of other students who had changed into uniforms, these guys… looked like delinquents.
“I want to ride a lot of things, so I’m going alone.”
I preempted Seong Hae-min, anticipating what he would say. But Seong Hae-min was not one to back down easily.
“It’s too dangerous. Jeseong High is here too.”
“Do Yun-hyeok said he wouldn’t harm you?”
“…Even if he doesn’t, what about his subordinates?”
Shouldn’t an ordinary high school student be able to go out and have fun without considering inter-school rivalries? I felt the stares of passersby drawn to their appearance and physique, and I took a step back.
“If that’s your concern, then Hae-min, you shouldn’t be part of the Four Heavenly Kings. Why would the Jeseong High kids want to mess with me? It’s because I’m twins with you, Seong Hae-min of the Seoyeon High Four Heavenly Kings. Normally, one would go around alone in this situation.”
“……”
I silenced Seong Hae-min with objective facts and turned to leave. Seong Hae-min could no longer interfere with my freedom.
The conversation was as expected, but seeing his hurt expression pierced my heart. However, logical facts and emotions had to be dealt with separately. In situations of conflict, logic had to take precedence.
Leaving the four of them speechless, I walked away. I had to move quickly to succeed with the course I had planned that morning.
But the problem was that the world contained more diverse people than I thought.
As soon as I passed by the souvenir shop, I encountered some strange guys. I couldn’t tell which high school they were from because they were in casual clothes, but judging by the situation, they seemed to be from Jeseong High.
“Hey, look at him.”
“Who? Hurry up and pick a headband for the girls.”
“No, that guy. He’s wearing a Seoyeon High uniform, which is really unappetizing.”
“Didn’t you know Seoyeon High was coming here today? Just pick something and go, don’t cause trouble. Ye-jin is waiting!”
A life of being pointed at just for wearing a Seoyeon High School uniform…
I felt regret and tried to ignore them, but they were relentless and actually started picking a fight.
“Hey!”
It was clearly a call directed at me, but I moved quickly. Does everyone experience this? But I figured it wouldn’t be this bad for others, since they had secretly changed out of their uniforms. I thought they changed out of their uniforms to dress up, but maybe it was to hide their identity.
Still, there would be students who wore their uniforms. Why did I have to be the one to get into a fight? Today seemed like it was going to be an incredibly unlucky day for me. Wondering how many more times this would happen today, I considered contacting my homeroom teacher. But the teacher was so uninterested in students that they’d probably just say, “Oh, okay,” and that would be it.
“Hey, hey! You pretty boy! Can’t you hear my voice?”
He was a person who wouldn’t give up. But I was just as stubborn. I consistently ignored him. The best scenario was for them to lose interest and leave on their own.
But then.
Thwack…
“Who are you calling with that filthy mouth?”
It was the four people who had been so indecisive about protecting me, the ones who escalated a problem that could have been avoided. Startled by the sound of a blow to the head, I turned around. The Four Heavenly Kings had arrived and were surrounding the guy who had been pointing at me, threateningly.
…What are they doing again?
“Hey, hey, Lee Beom, let go of that!”
“Why? I’m telling you for your own good.”
“Telling me what?”
“That if you touch him, you’re dead.”
Sigh… I suppressed a sigh.
“Still, you shouldn’t hit and threaten people so brutishly.”
Lee Beom released the guy’s collar. The pale-faced students scattered like cockroaches fleeing.
Watching the four ruffians who had silently followed me, a chronic headache flared up. I touched my forehead. The amusement park map in my hand felt heavy as lead.
What kind of glory am I trying to achieve…
I wished I could go back to my past self who had been so eager to make picnic memories at the amusement park and beg myself to stay home and study.
Of course, I couldn’t say I hadn’t received any help just now, but judging by their demeanor, it seemed like I would be the one trying to stop these delinquents from accumulating bad karma, rather than them protecting me. Letting out a deep sigh that felt like lava rising from my chest, I waved my hand.
“Let’s not fight at the picnic. Please, let’s just have fun.”
“But…”
“Fine! We’ll just go together.”
I shouted, irritably running my hand through my hair. Despite my annoyed tone, the Four Heavenly Kings, especially Seong Hae-min, beamed. For today, the handsome Seong Hae-min, who looked somewhat like me but not entirely, seemed incredibly obnoxious.
My freedom…
And so, I was forced to roam the amusement park with the Four Heavenly Kings. Now, my concern was Ban Seo-yi, whom I was supposed to meet today. There seemed to be no opportunity to slip away.
I took refuge in the restroom for a moment. Huddled inside a stall, I sent a text to Ban Seo-yi. I told him I couldn’t slip away because I was with the Four Heavenly Kings. Ban Seo-yi, who apparently never put down his phone, replied immediately.
“I knew it ^^ Well, you have no choice but to go with them for now. The one who enjoys it wins^-^v”
“I’ll contact you again around 2 PM. Then I’m going to ride the attractions >_<" Seeing his carefree text made my situation feel even more miserable. I wanted to enjoy the rides comfortably too... Anyway, since Ban Seo-yi's message suggested he had a plan, I had no choice but to trust him. "Hoo..." After looking at Ban Seo-yi's relaxed text, I snapped the folder shut. The feel of closing the folder was surprisingly satisfying in my hand, and I understood why my younger sister had wanted the Z-Flip so badly. The old, feature-limited mobile phone was starting to grow on me, probably because I used it so much. I slowly left the restroom. Although I had agreed to take the Four Heavenly Kings with me, it didn't mean I intended to abandon the plan I had made upon arriving at the amusement park. But Seong Hae-min held me back. "Aren't you going to ride the carousel?" "Kya!! Si-hu wants to ride the carousel! Wheee~." "Why would you ride that?" Seong Hae-min looked at me with a deeply disappointed expression. Dangling from his hand was a digital camera, about the size of my palm, which would soon be replaced by smartphone cameras. His furrowed brow clearly showed what he wanted from me. He wants to take a picture of me riding the carousel? Am I his son from kindergarten?