Getting a girlfriend. 1
Getting a girlfriend. 1
Next day at school.
Break time arrived, and just like any other day, I put my head down to sleep.
Since I've been hunting all night, I had to catch up on sleep during the day.
I was resting with my head down when my sharpened senses made me open my eyes and turn my head.
Just then, the door opened and students walked in.
Two guys stood out.
A guy who looked pretty like an idol, and behind him, a massive guy who looked well over 180cm tall.
It was Choi Min-su and Kang Ho-cheol. Behind them followed the Banya members.
The school's number 1 and 2 had visited Class 3 at the same time.
I couldn't afford to get ambushed, so I sat up to face them.
Even though it was break time, I could feel the kids in the class watching me, holding their breath.
Ah, fuck. I hate being the center of attention.
Choi Min-ho approached with a friendly smile.
"You're Seo Young-jin, right?"
"So what?"
"Aren't you being a bit cold to a friend?"
Friend? Has this bastard lost his mind? No, he must be up to something else.
"What do you want?"
"Has this retard lost his mind?"
Kang Ho-cheol in the back got agitated, looking like he was about to pounce.
Choi Min-ho's face turned cold, but it returned to normal quickly.
"We didn't come here to fight. You. Join Banya."
Join Banya?
This is a scout. Holy shit, they came here to scout me?
But.
"I don't want to."
Why would I get on the same boat as my enemy?
"You don't want to? Why?"
"Because you're thugs."
The Banya members laughed as if it were ridiculous.
And I felt a sharp hostility. It felt like a fist would fly at any moment. I loosened my shoulders, just to show them.
Kick the chair to block the path, jump on the desk, and beat one guy up. Then use the desk and chair again to create distance and take them out one by one.
As I was running that simulation, Choi Min-su's answer stopped everything.
"Then it can't be helped."
Choi Min-ho said, looking around at the kids in the class.
"Class 3 is lucky. Thanks to this, we don't have to collect money. From now on, Class 3, you guys figure it out amongst yourselves."
He turned around and walked out. Kang Ho-cheol and the rest of the guys standing behind him glared at me once before turning and leaving the classroom.
The classroom was buzzing again.
The Banya president came, offered recruitment, got rejected, and then quietly backed off.
The rumor spread throughout the school in no time.
Choi Min-su, who came out into the hallway, picked up his phone.
It was a sleek, latest model. Choi Min-su made a call and spoke into the phone.
"Yeah. Mun Jong. Send some guys to our school. Yeah. There's this guy who's getting on my nerves. I'm already stressed about studying, so I'm going to make an example out of him while I'm at it. Got it."
A cold smile appeared on Choi Min-su's face after he hung up.
And he said to the members following him.
"From dismissal today, drive all the Class 3 kids to the alley by the convenience store. Ah, except for that guy and Lee So-ryeong."
The members, realizing what he meant, nodded. Mischievous smiles appeared on their lips.
After they left, school ended without any incident.
I didn't have much to pack, so I was the first to pack my bag and leave the classroom.
And the repetition of the same daily routine.
Working out, hunting.
The next day, I went to school just the same.
But the look in the eyes of my classmates as I entered the classroom was strange.
There was something mixed with resentment, discomfort, and fear.
Among them, I could see some guys with bruises on their faces.
Did they fight?
It wasn't my business, so I went to my seat and sat down. Last night, I barely managed to hunt one person. In reality, I got into arguments about three times, but forcing them into Submission wasn't as easy as it sounded.
It's troublesome if I handle them too roughly. I can't just kill them outright.
Earning points and leveling up isn't easy.
"There's nothing easy in this world."
Let's not have complicated thoughts. I put my head down and tried to sleep.
A moment later, I felt something approaching.
I straightened my posture.
Huh?
An unexpected person was standing in front of me.
A classmate, but a very different person—no, girl.
A girl with pale skin, large and pretty eyes despite having no double eyelids, and a slender build with her jet-black hair tied in a ponytail.
Her transparent skin exuded an innocent beauty. On the other hand, her facial expression was bold, like a heroine.
Lee So-ryeong.
One of the School's 3 Beauties was standing in front of me.
Why are you here?
I asked first out of curiosity.
"What is it?"
"The kids were attacked yesterday."
"What?"
"On the way home, the Banya bastards drove the kids to the alley behind the convenience store. And they got their money extorted by thugs there. They also got beaten up."
Ah. So that's how it is?
Beating up the people around me instead of me.
Wow. These guys haven't even gone to the army yet, and they know how to handle people.
They know exactly how to make people into retards. These guys are something else. But.
"So?"
Lee So-ryeong's eyes curved up in a refreshing way.
"What do you mean 'so'? We have to find a solution."
"What solution? Why are you looking for it from me? Why should I?"
"Because all of this is related to you."
I scanned the classroom. They either turned their heads or looked down, afraid to make eye contact with me.
I looked straight at Lee So-ryeong again and said.
"I'm not the one who bullied them."
"But you're the only one who can resolve this."
"Huh. What's with you?"
It's absurd.
When I was the prey, did anyone in this classroom even look at me?
Everyone ignored me.
As if I were a ghost.
They were the guys who sighed in relief while watching a rabbit being torn apart by hyenas right in front of their eyes. And now they want me to help them?
"I'm sorry I didn't help you when you were in trouble. But I couldn't help it."
Actually, I owe Lee So-ryeong a debt.
There was a time when everyone ignored me, and Lee So-ryeong stepped up to try and help me.
But for some reason, the more Lee So-ryeong stepped in, the more Ma Dong-su bullied me. Eventually, Lee So-ryeong got tired and gave up. But that doesn't mean I have a reason to step up and protect the kids.
"No. You guys handle your own business. I did. We'll be adults next year. Think of it as practicing for yourselves."
A cold reply. But Lee So-ryeong didn't care and said.
"Okay. Then let's say everyone solves it themselves."
"Yeah. You thought well..."
My answer was blocked by Lee So-ryeong's next words.
"Go out with me."
"You thought well. What?"
"I said go out with me."
I couldn't think of what to say.
"We'll date, and from today, you protect me."
"What. What? What are you talking about?"
This isn't even a confession.
There's no reason for Lee So-ryeong to date me.
"Are you messing with me right now?"
"You said let's handle it ourselves. I can't throw punches. So I have to ask my boyfriend to protect me. We're dating from today. Since we're seniors, we won't be able to meet often. Honestly, going to the same college will be impossible, and I can't promise we'll keep dating after college. But at least I won't say let's break up until the summer vacation of freshman year."
What is this? This intensity. I can't even open my mouth.
"Then see you after school. We have to go home together, so don't run away and wait for me."
I just stared blankly at Lee So-ryeong's back as she turned and left after saying that.
The other kids in the class were also surprised, and for a moment, they were engulfed in silence. After the storm passed, a buzzing like rain and wind followed from all sides.
Lee So-ryeong asked to date, right?
Wow. What is this? Did she confess?
She's going to date him for a whole year. If it were me, I'd give my life even if she dated me for just a week.
Mom's words were all lies. She said just studying well was enough. In the end, fighting was the answer. Fuck.
I didn't feel like responding to the voices of the kids chatting.
My mind was already dazed.
Fuck. What should I do about this?
I originally had no immunity to women.
Since I'd already been married and divorced, I tried to live my own way in this life without being swayed by women, but I couldn't even put up a fight and got completely played.
Is it because I've become young again? Is it the influence of hormones?
Currently a senior, when vitality is at its peak.
A high school romance that I've never even dreamed of in my entire life.
Fuck. Should I be happy about this, or what?
Damn it. I feel like I've been completely cornered.
After school, I was stuck and had no choice but to listen to what Lee So-ryeong was saying.
"Where's your house?"
"Seryu-dong."
"Really? You don't go to an academy?"
"Yeah."
"Then, since my academy is in Yeongtong, where will you wait while we're at the academy?"
"Why should I?"
"What are you going to do if your girlfriend gets harassed by bad guys?"
"Is this why you asked to date?"
I didn't know that "let's date" and "let's go home together" meant this.
Next to Lee So-ryeong were five or six male and female students who were close to her.
"Why? You're following us on our way anyway."
I was dumbfounded.
"What am I, a bodyguard?"
"You are a bodyguard. Because you're my boyfriend. Don't you have to put in this much effort to date one of the School's 3 Beauties?"
What is this. Her confidence is killer.
Just as Lee So-ryeong said, the impact of the rumor was tremendous.
Lee So-ryeong confessed.
Lee So-ryeong and Seo Young-jin are dating.
Lee So-ryeong and Seo Young-jin started a contract relationship for one year.
The rumor that spread throughout the school had already made the fact that the two were dating a done deal.
And the rumor that I was dating one of the School's 3 Beauties was much sweeter than I thought.
The dopamine that was released was scrambling my brain, so I couldn't think straight.
But I don't want to be dragged around.
I asked in a mocking tone.
"If you do this, you're only taking care of these few people in the end. What about the rest?"
I thought I had snapped back at her, but Lee So-ryeong retorted as if asking what I was talking about.
"You said let them handle it themselves, right? Anyway, I can't take care of everyone. I have to survive first. It's good if my friends survive along with me as a bonus. It's a world where you can't live alone. This is my best, so what can I do?"
Wow. What's with this sense of reality? Is this girl on her second life?
"What are you doing? Hurry up. We're late for the academy."
Lee So-ryeong took the lead, and the other kids stared at me quietly.
Fuck, it'll work out somehow.
I followed behind Lee So-ryeong, and the kids followed behind me.