5. In the Place I Fled To...
“Haa...”
The moment I got back to the classroom, I flopped into my chair and slammed my head onto the desk.
I barely escaped with my life... seriously, I barely made it.
Thinking back to what happened in the guidance room earlier made cold sweat break out all over again.
If the president hadn't shown up, what the hell would have happened to me?
Just imagining it sent chills down my spine, and I let out a short sigh of relief.
No, sure, that's a classic cliché in manga and stuff...
But I never dreamed someone would actually say that kind of crap in real life.
'The morals committee chair has the loosest morals!!'
Sunbae Jiyu shouting it so boldly was still echoing vividly in my head.
Is she freaking insane?!
I buried my face on the desk and clawed at my hair like a madwoman.
“Hey.”
Then, a hand tapped my shoulder from the next desk over.
I turned to see Jin-woo propping his chin on his hand, looking down at me with a lopsided stare.
“What the hell are you doing?”
His flat tone made it sound like he was asking if I was up to some weird shit again.
I looked up at him slowly with a look of utter despair.
“Jin-woo...”
“What? You're creeping me out.”
He furrowed his brow and leaned back a bit.
I grabbed at him with teary eyes and pleaded desperately.
“You're not like that, right? You wouldn't do it, would you?”
“Do what?”
He shot back like it was the dumbest question ever.
“Hic!”
Suddenly, I felt a wave of crisis hit me in this situation.
...Shit, what the hell did I just do?
He sighed, staring at me like I was a total idiot—first getting all teary and serious on my own, then freaking out on my own.
“Pervert!”
“What the fuck?! You psycho!”
I narrowed my eyes and glared at him suspiciously.
“When you looked up at me all teary-eyed just now, I thought you were cute for a split second! Admit it—you were trying to make me fall for you!”
“...?”
Jin-woo stared down at me with a baffled expression at my outburst.
I shook my head frantically and buried my face in the desk again.
It was my desperate act of resistance—I absolutely wouldn't let this guy fall for me.
“......Bullshit.”
At my random reaction, he spat out a short, thick curse in disbelief.
Hmph! You can curse all you want out loud, but deep down you're totally drawn to this cutie, like I'd fall for that?
After getting burned by Jiyu sunbae already, this 'tough exterior, soft interior' pattern was way too predictable.
You're a guy—how could you not fall for this beauty?
Jin-woo clicked his tongue like I was pathetic and kept going.
“Hey, you go to the bathroom and come back acting even more batshit. Did you hit your head or something?”
“......”
I kept shooting him suspicious side-eye, still doubting how he really saw me, and pressed on with the conversation.
“Don't even mention the bathroom!”
I never imagined something like that could happen in there...
At my sharp tone, Jin-woo looked genuinely flustered.
“What? What the hell happened?”
“So much happened. I'm exhausted, for real...”
“Huh? Usually people say 'nothing happened' in situations like this, right?”
“A ton of shit happened!”
I wasn't in the mood for stupid jokes right now.
Jin-woo still didn't get why I was reacting so sensitively, but my mental state was already shattered from everything I'd been through.
“What the hell goes on in the girls' bathroom anyway...”
His expression shifted subtly as he watched my edgy reaction.
The bastard was probably spinning some wild, pervy fantasy in his head from the word 'bathroom' and my reaction.
And annoyingly, it felt kinda spot-on, which pissed me off even more.
“Hey!! Hangeol!!”
Just as I was wrapping up with Jin-woo and catching my breath, Su-jin spotted me and called my name happily.
“?!”
Her voice made me jump in shock, freezing my body solid.
Flashes of what happened in the bathroom raced through my mind.
Should I run?!
I instinctively stepped back, but the classroom wall was already blocking me.
The only way out was jumping out the window into the abyss.
What do I do? What the hell do I do?!
My mind went blank.
While I panicked, Su-jin was already right in front of me.
Ah! This is bad...!!
My heart pounded like it was gonna explode.
Trapped with no escape, I curled up tight, bracing for whatever she'd do next.
“I heard you got dragged to the morals committee room? You okay?”
But contrary to my fears, she just asked carefully with a worried look.
“Uh, y-yeah... I'm fine.”
All my tension deflated in an instant, leaving me limp.
The morals committee room really did have a scary rep.
Not because of what happened to me, of course!! It shouldn't be for that!!
“You sure you're okay? They didn't chew you out too bad?”
At Su-jin's concerned questions, I shoved the memories aside and bullshitted my way through.
“Uh, yeah... just got a little lecture?”
She finally relaxed with a relieved expression.
“Good thing. Why'd you bolt out like that anyway?”
“.......”
You think I could've stayed in that situation?!
The bizarre bathroom memory resurfaced.
There's a limit to girls' skinship.
Sure, light touches are fine, but that was basically a full-on pounce, right?
Is there some secret girl-touching code I don't know about?
As someone who'd only been a girl for a short time, it was a total mystery.
“Hehe. See you at lunch then.”
“...!”
A chill ran up my spine, freezing my whole body.
This sensation—it was exactly what I felt facing Jiyu sunbae in the guidance room.
Was she planning a lunch-time rematch?
Su-jin's smile as she looked at me felt downright terrifying.
I gotta run...
My survival instincts took over.
“Hoo...”
Lunch time.
I'd desperately broken through the encirclement of Su-jin and the other girls gunning for me.
The spot I reached was the rundown library at the far end of the old school building.
This place was like a deserted island—no students ever came here.
I panted heavily and locked the door behind me.
Thank god... I escaped!
The library was dead silent, like a tomb.
Quiet. Yeah, silence was the rule here.
No matter how bold those girls were, they couldn't just drag me out by force from a public spot like this.
If common sense prevails, anyway.
“......”
Some inexplicable unease prickled my back, but I shook it off and took a deep breath.
“Nah, it'll be fine...”
The library was eerily still.
Aah... this peace is so soothing...
After a whole day of being chased, running, and getting eyed suspiciously, this silence felt sweet.
I was in such a good mood, I could've even hummed a tune.
As I wandered between the shelves, glancing at book titles, a sudden question popped into my head.
Why do only girls keep swarming me??
I'd turned into a girl, fallen into full slut mode, and dreamed of soaking up all the boys' gazes with this beauty in some sweet school harem story.
But weirdly, only girls were sticking to me.
Has any guy hit on me today?
I thought back carefully.
From morning till now, everyone who'd shown interest...
...None?
Jiyu sunbae, Su-jin, the classroom full of girls... not a single guy.
“What the hell!!!”
I barely clamped my mouth shut to stifle the scream.
It was a tragedy I couldn't comprehend—why was this beauty getting totally ignored by guys?
Is my hotness too overwhelming for guys to approach? Or do I need better study vibes?
A baseless hope sparked—maybe some answer was hidden in the library somewhere.
I started peeking cautiously between the shelves, scanning the books.
“Man, there's a ton of books here...”
The musty smell of old paper hit me.
Maybe there was a practical guide like How for a Cutie to Win Over Boys?
I poked around, checking books one by one.
“Um, excuse me...”
“?!”
A thin voice from behind.
I flinched, shoulders jumping, and turned slowly.
“Th-that...”
Standing there, shrinking back at my question, was a girl with a totally unexpected vibe.
“Wh-what's up?”
She had a timid look, way smaller than me, with an aura that somehow fit the library's cool air.
She adjusted her glasses and pointed timidly at the shelf I'd been rummaging through.
“Um... are you... looking for a book?”
Her voice was overly cautious in the library's hush.
“Ah......”
I let out a short sigh instead of answering.
I can't exactly say I'm hunting for How to Get Loved by Guys After TS or Cutie Slut Guide, right?
My pride stung, face heating up.
I scratched my head, hiding my embarrassment.
“Oh, uh... just looking for some... psychology books or stuff on relationships...”
Once I fumbled through that, she nodded carefully like 'I see' and pointed deeper into the shelves.
“For psychology... that corner over there has general psych and interpersonal books. Want me... to show you?”
She approached like I was fragile glass.
Her small build and shy demeanor—no predatory vibe like Jiyu sunbae. A bit reassuring.
“Ah, yeah, if you could?”
Flat-out refusing might seem suspicious, so I forced a smile and followed her lead.
Her back as she walked ahead looked so much smaller and fragile than mine.
A faint paper scent trailed her, oddly calming my nerves.
“Um, are you... a transfer student?”
She asked softly, breaking the silence.
“Oh, no, nothing like that.”
“Ah... I see. Then you don't usually read much? I don't think I've seen you here before...”
“Ah... well......”
Her harmless vibe melted my guard, and I blurted the truth.
“Actually... I just got hit with TS recently.”
“Oh...!”
Her big eyes sparkled with curiosity as she stared at me in wonder.
“For real? Wow... that's crazy. I've never seen it before!”
She gawked openly at my face and body, amazed.
It wasn't a common thing, so her reaction made sense.
Yeah, it'd be fascinating.
Her pure curiosity and kindness eased me up completely.
“Then... instead of psych books, want recommendations for TS adjustment or management?”
She smiled brightly again.
That kind grin fully disarmed me, and I followed her lead.