Clearing the Slate (2): "Quit School"
“Quit school.”
“You’re telling me not to even go to school anymore?”
Seonwoo let out a disbelieving scoff at my words.
“Hey, isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“I’m being considerate, in my own way.”
“Considerate?”
“You can’t even attend school properly anymore anyway.”
It was a clear setting in the Love Chain game too—Seonwoo’s only friends at school were the heroines. Sure, he could make other friends, but if bad rumors spread among the girls, or if he ended up at the police station again and got disciplined, normal school life would be over. I didn’t think my sisters would carelessly badmouth him or spread rumors, but what if the heroines cut him off overnight? Wouldn’t people around start wondering? And if the recording I had got out, he’d be done for.
“Hahaha. What the hell did I even do wrong for you to meddle in my life now?”
“Transfer schools. At least stay away from my sisters.”
I wasn’t sure if he could transfer or drop out before the disciplinary record stuck, though. And considering Seonwoo’s grades, college was a pipe dream anyway.
“Seriously… haah. Fine, do whatever you want. I’m done with this crap.”
Seonwoo turned to leave, like he regretted even coming. He seemed utterly indifferent now.
“Choi Seonwoo, stop right there.”
He’d thought it was all over, but he froze at Juyeon’s words. He glanced sideways at her.
“I said I’m sorry.”
“……Is that it?”
Juyeon sounded hollow, empty. Well, yeah—they’d spent nearly ten years together since childhood. No way a single apology could neatly tie up those loose ends.
Seonwoo said nothing. He just stared blankly at Seong Juyeon, expressionless. Juyeon looked heartbroken, but I knew better than to butt in with comfort. I wasn’t in any position to.
Instead of a silent Seonwoo, Juyeon spoke up in a trembling voice.
“Thanks for everything.”
“……”
“I don’t know about you, but I… I was happy all that time.”
“……”
“So use this chance to get your head straight and live right!!”
She tried to end on a sassy note, but her pointing finger trembled faintly.
“……Yeah. I’ll call once everything’s sorted.”
Seonwoo gave a curt reply and vanished into the night. The sun had fully set by then. It was all over.
Seong Juyeon collapsed onto the bench, head bowed, and burst into tears again.
“Haa~”
Should I not have called Juyeon? Maybe another heroine… No. Her knowing the truth was the fastest way to resolve this. I’d told her because she needed to know, but honestly? I’d used her to make things easier for myself too.
“Here.”
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and held it out. She looked up at me blankly. Fair enough—she probably didn’t want to see my face anymore. Exposing Seonwoo’s true nature had dragged mine into the light too. And no matter the reason, I’d kept deceiving her even after knowing.
If she told me to get lost, I’d go quietly. Leaving a girl alone at night felt wrong, but I could call Hayan.
“Thanks.”
But Juyeon took the handkerchief, wiped her tears, and then blew her nose into it. Don’t take that one.
“How long have you…”
Known? Juyeon asked.
“Found out on the trip.”
I couldn’t bring myself to admit I’d known Seonwoo was no good but let her keep believing anyway. But that seemed enough; we fell silent. The quiet was stifling, so I muttered flatly,
“Forget a guy like that.”
Me saying it was kinda funny. I’d been all for letting Seonwoo and Juyeon stay together, turning a blind eye to his shady crap.
“There’s gotta be some guy out there who’ll actually like you.”
That Hwapyong kid from before? Maybe latching onto him would be happier for her.
“I’m heading out.”
Juyeon stood.
“Ah, keep the handkerchief.”
“Yeah. See ya.”
It was a residential area, and her house was right there. I parted ways with her and headed home.
Seong Juyeon trudged home. No more tears left. Maybe she’d cried them all out. Her stomach growled instead—no room for thoughts.
“Yeah, there are plenty of good guys out there.”
Maybe she’d gotten fixated on Seonwoo because she’d been cooped up in this neighborhood, never meeting different people. The world was full of good guys.
Someone who respects me and sees my charm has to be out there.
—“Your sister’s hot, man. Just go for it—she’ll fall for you.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty.”
—“Sitting like that in a skirt? That’s no good.”
—“The date’s not over, and I haven’t confessed yet! Nothing’s ended, so don’t just give up on your own!”
But why did…
—“Forget a guy like that. There’s gotta be some guy out there who’ll actually like you.”
Someone who cheered her on, kept praising her—Taeyang kept popping into her head, didn’t he?
Seong Juyeon pressed the damp handkerchief to her chest, feeling a strange flutter.
The day after the blowup, Hayan told me Seonwoo hadn’t shown up at school. No word from the school yet on how they’d handle it. Weeks later, Juyeon texted that he’d dropped out.
“It’s all over.”
“What’s all over?”
Lunchtime. I was sprawled over my desk checking Juyeon’s text when Yuyeong sidled up.
“Back off.”
“So mean~”
Even with my cold tone, she brushed it off playfully. Still the same as ever. I felt a twinge of pity, so I sat up and said,
“Hey, remember you owed me for last time?”
“Huh?”
“The ping-pong place.”
“Oh, but didn’t I already repay you?”
True, I’d let her tell everyone we were friends again as “repayment.” No clue how that counted.
“That doesn’t count. Just take another one. I feel bad about a bunch of stuff anyway.”
I really did owe Yuyeong. She was a yandere heroine, an obsessive solo otaku with BL delusions, but I’d been too harsh on her. Our friendship had this stupid on-off cycle who-knows-how-many times.
My walls dropping made Lee Yuyeong’s eyes sparkle as she beamed.
“Th-then! You’re finally coming over to my place!”
“A bun from the cafeteria’s enough.”
“Eh……?”
“Fine. I’ll even get you a drink.”
“…What about my house? Anime?”
“What’re you even talking about? Ice cream too? You just ate lunch.”
I brushed off her nonsense and headed to the cafeteria. She trailed after me obediently when I told her to quit yapping. The whispers from the other kids? Whatever. I wouldn’t see them much longer anyway—months at most.
“Taeyang, thanks for the food!”
“Yeah. Dig in.”
We sat at the outdoor terrace of the cafeteria building, each with a bun. We chatted idly while eating.
“Only one semester left—kinda sad.”
“Yeah.”
“You transferred this year, so maybe it doesn’t hit the same, but I’ve really grown attached.”
Lee Yuyeong shared stories from Pullyip Middle School. Weirdly, a ton about being the soccer team manager. Made sense—that’d been most of her school life.
“Everyone lost it thinking we’d make nationals.”
She rattled on about soccer nonstop, looking genuinely happy. She’d be fine without me.
No worries for Yuyeong, then.
“You’re going to the same high school as your sisters, right?”
She voiced exactly what I’d been thinking.
“What about you, Yuyeong?”
“Me too. With my sisters—and you.”
“Pulkkot High School?”
“Yup!”
Perfect. Now I just had to go somewhere else. No Seonwoo, no flags or yanderes—I wouldn’t need to watch my sisters anymore. Even if I went to Pulkkot High, I’d just hurt the heroines the same way.
Time to clear my own karma.
On the way home, I ran into the sisters at a crosswalk. Gahee was with them today.
“Taeyang, good day at school?”
“Yeah. Gahee, don’t you live the other way?”
“Hayan invited me over after forever. Thought I’d see you too.”
“Yeah… wait, hold up!!”
“Kim Taeyang, studying hard?”
Iri suddenly tackled me from behind in her old headlock move. Weeks later, her yandere phase had improved. Her eyes were still a bit cloudy—down from Stage 2, but lingering at Yandere Stage 1. Unlike when she’d kept her distance, she was back to her old self. The difference? Real affection now. Her hand ruffling my hair afterward was full of it.
“Cut it out!”
“Hehe, fine. Just pass your exams, okay? Or your sisters’ll be sad.”
“Iri, ease up.”
Gahee reined her in, then turned to me.
“Taeyang. Studying wearing you out?”
“It’s manageable.”
“If you need math help, just ask me anytime.”
“Sure.”
“Want Pulkkot High entrance prep problems if you need ’em?”
“…Nah, I’ll study alone.”
“Ah… okay.”
Here, you take a high school’s own entrance exam to get in from middle school. So Hayan and Gahee figured I’d go to Pulkkot High and kept offering tips. Iri had gotten in on athletics, so she didn’t know much.
But it wasn’t that competitive—most got in at a regular high school like that. Still, their thoughtfulness meant a lot. Made me feel guilty too.
I’d have to tell them eventually about going elsewhere.
“Study too much and your brain’ll rot.”
“Iri… that’s rich coming from you.”
“What? Ahem. Anyway, wanna hang out this weekend?”
“Huh?”
“A day off won’t hurt.”
Hayan chimed in. No—my entrance exams could tank.
“Mm… but won’t it bother Taeyang?”
“It’s fine, Gahee. I could use a break anyway.”
“Really?”
We set it for the weekend. Gahee looked thrilled.
“…………”
I couldn’t ignore that look on her face. Time to really clear things up.
“Hey, Gahee.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh… if you’re free, could you tutor me in math Sunday?”
“Sure! Anytime!”