Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: An Unusual Punctuality
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In my memory, Seo Jae-kyeom was late as often as he ate rice.
Whether it was coming to school or meeting up with friends, he did whatever the hell he wanted.
"Hey, where's Seo Jae-kyeom? Didn't he say he was coming?"
"Call him."
"He's not picking up... Oh, there he is."
"Jae-kyeom, why are you so late?"
"Just 'cause."
I'd never seen Seo Jae-kyeom running as the school gate closed right in front of him in the morning.
His friends never got mad at him for being an hour late. Neither did the teachers.
Maybe only his girlfriends—who changed every two months—got upset with him. But even that never made Seo Jae-kyeom change.
That was probably one reason his girlfriends kept switching out so often.
And yet, today of all days, that same Seo Jae-kyeom was standing right in front of the school gate on time.
...With Ji-su.
"Hey, Jae-kyeom! Is the sun setting in the east today? Never thought I'd live to see Seo Jae-kyeom show up on time."
The PE teacher, who was standing at the gate directing the incoming students, slung an arm around Seo Jae-kyeom's shoulders as he walked in, acting all buddy-buddy.
Seo Jae-kyeom blatantly showed his annoyance and swatted the PE teacher's arm away.
Even with that rude attitude, the PE teacher just laughed heartily and patted Seo Jae-kyeom on the back.
Seo Jae-kyeom grimaced and, in the process, quickly steadied Ji-su's bag as it slipped off her shoulder.
"This thing's heavy."
"'Cause I got workbooks in it."
"Oh."
"Seo Jae-kyeom, you coming to cram school today?"
"Nah."
"You skip so many times a month..."
"Math teacher's gut is too big. Can't focus."
Even with Ji-su's usual adorable nagging, he gave a flat, one-word response—but it was probably just sleepiness.
After all, he'd come early specifically to walk to school with her.
"Stop staring at his gut and look at the board."
"How can I? It's right in my line of sight."
They bantered back and forth naturally as they passed through the gate.
I slowly lowered the arm I'd raised to call out to Ji-su.
'Don't butt in for no reason.'
Getting between them right now would just make things awkward. I deliberately slowed my steps, fiddling with my hair and adjusting my bag strap to kill time.
"Good morning..."
This should be good.
I was slipping past the PE teacher as quietly and slowly as possible.
"Hey! Da-hye!"
"...Good morning."
"Da-hye! Why so down this morning? You gotta fight on! Hwaiting!"
"......"
"Kang Da?"
Ji-su and Seo Jae-kyeom, who were walking ahead, turned back at the PE teacher's booming voice.
Ji-su's face filled with embarrassment when she saw me flushing in panic.
Our eyes met like that. Then her gaze shifted to Seo Jae-kyeom standing beside her.
Seo Jae-kyeom clicked his tongue at the sight of me.
'? What's his deal?'
Tsking at the sight of someone? Isn't that a bit much?
"Kang Da!"
Ji-su, who had been walking arm-in-arm with Seo Jae-kyeom moments ago, broke away and ran over to me.
"When'd you get here?"
"...A few seconds ago...?"
"Why didn't you call out to me!"
"Oh... I didn't see you. Didn't know you were right in front."
"Seo Jae-kyeom and I just happened to run into each other on the way. Our houses are close."
It absolutely wasn't planned, we just bumped into each other on the way—she emphasized it several times.
Seo Jae-kyeom stayed silent, not butting in.
His head tilted at an angle, his gaze landed on me. It was the look you give something annoying and exhausting.
=Isn't that too much? 2.
'He seemed kinda nice yesterday.'
Back to normal after one night.
Well, whatever. That's just how Seo Jae-kyeom was.
Moody and selfish.
Not that hard to understand.
'He's walking with the girl he likes, and here I am interrupting.'
Bet he hates it from his perspective.
As I stayed quiet, Ji-su glanced at me nervously.
"Da-hye, you mad...?"
"No! Not at all! Why would I be mad? You guys can walk together."
"Still..."
"Really, I'm totally fine. Feeling great right now."
I waved it off, telling her not to worry, but Ji-su's expression didn't brighten. She fidgeted like she'd committed some huge betrayal against me. Watching her, a sudden thought crossed my mind.
What if Ji-su liked Seo Jae-kyeom too, but couldn't say it because of me?
If the reason they never got together back then—when they clearly liked each other—was me...
Wouldn't that make me the biggest villain?
"Sorryyy... I should've been more considerate."
"What are you talking about? It's not like that."
"Still."
"Kang Da-hye."
Seo Jae-kyeom cut off Ji-su's repeated apologies.
His irritated gaze raked me up and down.
"Do I need your permission to walk to school with Han Ji-su?"
"...No."
"Right. No, you don't. 'Cause you're not my girlfriend. And you never will be."
"Yeah..."
"Good. You get it. So, mind leaving us alone?"
"Sure..."
Looks like I really am the villain...
Sensing Seo Jae-kyeom's prickly mood, Ji-su shut her mouth and just watched nervously.
Feeling awkward with nothing to do, I started to slip away.
That's when an umbrella suddenly descended over my head from behind.
It cast a shadow over my vision. The morning sun was bright everywhere else, but suddenly only my surroundings darkened.
What the...? I turned around in bewilderment.
On this perfectly sunny day, the guy who'd suddenly put an umbrella over me lifted it slightly to reveal his face.
Wait. On second look, it wasn't an umbrella.
It was a parasol.
Jeong Eun-seong was looking down at me, holding a ridiculously tiny, frilly lace parasol that looked uncomfortable for his build.
He tilted the parasol sideways to meticulously block the sunlight and said expressionlessly,
"Hey."
"Hey..."
You make an entrance just like in Wolf's Temptation...
Is the parasol a prop to maximize the dramatic effect...?
"That parasol yours...?"
"Yeah."
Jeong Eun-seong replied curtly and lowered the parasol. Ignoring all the stares, he began folding it up section by section.
His sudden parasol entrance had made me forget whatever we'd been talking about.
"What...?"
"Isn't that the trainee kid...?"
The PE teacher and all the other students heading to school were staring at the 18-year-old high school boy who'd appeared with a sky-blue lace parasol.
"But seriously, what guy carries a lace parasol...?"
"Aren't they all kinda like that?"
"Never bought one, so..."
Whether people whispered or not, Jeong Eun-seong carefully stowed the neatly folded parasol in his bag and said,
"UV rays are the main cause of skin aging."
"Got it..."
"It's easy to get called handsome if you're tall with good skin. Even if you're not actually good-looking up close."
His gaze, as he said that, stabbed straight at Seo Jae-kyeom.
"......"
"......"
Did Jeong Eun-seong just call Seo Jae-kyeom ugly?
"Not going? Gonna keep standing here in this intense UV?"
"Uh, yeah, let's go..."
Stunned, I followed after Jeong Eun-seong for now.
Ha. Behind us as we walked away, Seo Jae-kyeom let out an incredulous scoff.
Jeong Eun-seong, who I'd thought would stride off alone, surprisingly waited for me. As we changed shoes together and climbed the stairs, he said,
"You wanna like a rude asshole like that?"
No Jae-su. He sneered, emphasizing the "Jae."
"No manners, but he's got that Jae appeal. Strutting around pretending to be hot when he's not. And people call him handsome? World's a riot."
"......"
Are you a rapper, not a vocalist?
I mumbled awkwardly,
"No... He's not usually that rude. He's just sensitive today."
"Hmph!"
Jeong Eun-seong didn't even pretend to listen.
If I kept defending Seo Jae-kyeom here, I'd probably get dragged too, so I changed the subject.
"But why do you hate Seo Jae-kyeom so much?"
You just transferred in a few days ago—no way you'd had some beef with him already.
In my memory, they hadn't fought around this time either.
Seo Jae-kyeom didn't even seem interested in Jeong Eun-seong right now.
'Looks like Jeong Eun-seong's just unilaterally burning with hostility.'
To my question, Jeong Eun-seong replied without changing expression.
"Me."
"Yeah, you?"