Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Walking Home Together
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"Can I see it too?"
"I'll walk you home when I walk Kim Ga-eun home."
"Me?"
Why me? As I asked, Seo Jae-kyeom let out a sigh.
"Think about it. If Kim Ga-eun's in danger, you think you're not?"
"But by that logic, any girl out at ten at night is in danger..."
Wouldn't it be faster to just keep the creepy old men indoors at that hour instead of walking every girl home?
I glanced up at Seo Jae-kyeom with that thought.
"You were really grateful that I let you go first that day, huh."
No matter how late it was, wasn't it just like Seo Jae-kyeom to say "Want me to walk you?" and then bail without actually doing it?
"I'm fine. You can't split yourself in two to walk us both home."
"Like today, we went to Kim Ga-eun's place together, then I could drop you off after."
"I don't have time. I need to get home and study."
I even waved him off. Seo Jae-kyeom stared at me intently before asking,
"When do you want to have that coffee?"
"Coffee?"
"I said I'd buy you one."
Did I?
"Forget it. Consider it paid. You helped me out a lot today."
"You helped me out a lot too."
"Then call it even with that banana milk I bought earlier."
"Coffee and milk are the same? The prices are different."
"What, how expensive is this coffee you're gonna buy?"
"...Chocolate and caramel with whipped cream on top?"
"...You're really eighteen, aren't you."
"Aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am. I love that I'm eighteen."
Just thinking about my age makes me smile even in my sleep.
I grinned and boarded the bus heading toward my place.
Seo Jae-kyeom followed me on, peeking over as I tapped my transit card. He glared suspiciously at his own card in his hand before tapping it on the reader. It worked, thank goodness.
'First time on the bus, huh? Must be nice being rich.'
He squeezed into the seat next to me in the two-seater, folding his long legs uncomfortably.
"So why'd you suddenly get a part-time job?"
"Oh, allowance ran out."
"Just ask your mom for more."
"Hmm."
Some families find it surprisingly hard to ask their parents for money.
"Actually, there's something I want to buy. Saving up for it."
"What?"
"A Hannam Xi. Around 2.7 billion won."
"...You're saving up for that?"
"Yeah. Let's see, I skipped a snack today and saved a thousand won, so now I just need another 2.699999 billion."
"How long's that gonna take?"
"You look down on a thousand won?"
"That's not—"
"Dig in the dirt. See if a thousand won pops out."
The bus's sudden stop cut off my nonsense.
Sitting next to the burly Seo Jae-kyeom, our arms brushed every time it swayed. He must've sprayed cologne to smell like an adult—nice scent.
As I secretly sniffed, he spoke up again.
"Anything happen at school while I was out?"
"Anything?"
"Yeah."
Bang Eun-ji poured milk in my locker, and Song Yeo-reum locked me in the school, but...
"Nope."
"Okay..."
His voice trailed off oddly. Seo Jae-kyeom looked a bit sulky as he asked,
"You get along with the transfer student?"
"Jeong Eun-seong?"
"Yeah."
"Eh."
He's the second person in our class I hate. Does that count as getting along?
When I said that, Seo Jae-kyeom frowned.
"Sounds like you do."
"Do we?"
"Isn't he the one you hate the most? I get the feeling he doesn't like me."
"..."
Probably...
"Ah, this is my stop. Get up."
"Already?"
"It's not early. If you're not at the back door before it opens, the driver uncle gets mad."
"Huh..."
Welcome to the bus, Seo Jae-kyeom!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Who're you KakaoTalking?"
"Ga-eun."
"You just parted ways. Why message her?"
"Got a reason. ...Ah, this is my stop. Thanks for walking me."
"Why? We there?"
"Not exactly. But if we go further, it'll be hard for you to grab a taxi."
I didn't particularly want to see his face when he saw our crumbling villa (and ours was the semi-basement, to boot).
Seo Jae-kyeom, who'd never felt ashamed of his own home, looked puzzled but backed off anyway.
I hesitated, then lightly grabbed his wrist.
"Thanks for helping today."
"I didn't help you."
"You did."
You helped me today, Ga-eun, Gyeong Se-in, Ye-su-a, Do-yeon, and... basically every girl whose name I can remember.
"Someday we'll make a world where we can handle this stuff without your help. I'll start working toward that now?"
I squeezed his wrist and smiled.
Seo Jae-kyeom didn't smile back. Looking down at me, he suddenly asked,
"You really don't like me anymore?"
"Huh...?"
Out of nowhere?
"No, wait, that's not—"
He seemed more flustered than me, like that wasn't what he'd meant to say.
I waited as he covered his mouth and froze. A few seconds later, he blurted,
"Being around you makes me think."
"Think?"
"About things I never noticed or cared about before."
"..."
"So when you're next to me, I just feel..."
"You feel?"
"Like I'm too young."
"You are young."
"What? We're the same age."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he said it, like the streetlight was too bright.
Even though he was the one standing under it.
"Go on in. I'll watch till you're inside."
His other hand covered mine on his wrist. His large, slightly callused hand gripped mine once, then let go.
Felt like I should say something, but nothing came to mind.
I just blinked in goodbye and ran home.
Didn't look back.
Afraid Seo Jae-kyeom might still be watching.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Guys! How'd it go yesterday?!"
"Why no replies on KakaoTalk?!"
"Did you kill the creep? Stab him?"
"Gyeong Se-in... then they'd be here if they did."
Long story short, the next day Ga-eun publicly apologized to Do-yeon.
Sorry for the misunderstanding, sorry for talking without knowing better, I'd like to be friends.
With tough Ga-eun taking the lead, even the girls who still didn't like Do-yeon couldn't show it openly.
That's why atmosphere matters.
And turns out, Do-yeon and Ga-eun actually clicked personality-wise.
Both opinionated and not exactly sweet.
They bonded fast, and the class vibe improved.
And another surprise.
Seo Jae-kyeom.
He actually showed up every day to pick up Ga-eun from the tutoring academy—until his mom, furious about him skipping classes, dragged him back to school herself.
'Never seen Seo Jae-kyeom that embarrassed.'
His courtesy didn't last long, but it was enough to become the talk of our group.
A few days later. Free time disguised as PE. Wisteria bench.
"Seo Jae-kyeom likes you, right?!"
Blushing Gyeong Se-in punched Ga-eun's shoulder. This right after Seo Jae-kyeom, headed to basketball, snagged a jelly from her.
Ga-eun twisted away, retorting,
"Nah, I don't think so. Just good manners."
"Seo Jae-kyeom has manners like that?"
"Come on. He's the only guy in class who doesn't target girls first in dodgeball."
"..."
Our eyes flicked to Do Ha-jun in the corner.
The guy who always goes "clear the mobs first" and aims for girls' faces or chests.
Do-yeon finally snapped last week and strong-spiked him in the face till he cried...
"Anyway, you haven't played dodgeball with Jeong Eun-seong."
Our gazes shifted to Jeong Eun-seong.
He was applying sunscreen to his arms over there. Our eyes met, and he raised a brow. Then his phone buzzed.
💬 KakaoTalk — Jeong Eun-seong 2 14:11 — Me I get it without asking. This means 'Kang Da-hye, you're second on my hate list in class.' — Jeong Eun-seong 14:11 They gave your phone back at the company? — Me Go do PE 14:11 — Jeong Eun-seong You go 14:11 — Jeong Eun-seong Stop staring at Jae 14:12 — Me 14:12 Wasn't staring — Jeong Eun-seong Heard everything Lee Se-in just said 14:12 — Me It's Gyeong Se-in? 14:12 Learn the class names — Jeong Eun-seong I only need to know you 14:12 "?!"
— Jeong Eun-seong You're class president, right? 14:13 "Ah..."
Crap. Why say it like that? Nearly dropped my phone.
My shock must've shown on my face. Jeong Eun-seong chuckled from over there. Ugh, embarrassing.
"Anyway, Seo Jae-kyeom doesn't like me for real."
Ga-eun said.
I pocketed my phone quick and focused on the convo.
"Why do you think that?"
Ga-eun showed her phone at Ye-su-a's question.
"Look."