Cultural Festival (11)
After school, it was time to head back to the festival support team. It was a pain having to go every day, but I couldn't complain. The support team was at least convenient for us middle schoolers—external vendors participating in the cultural festival or materials shuttling in and out of support spots were all gathered and handled at our school. The planning and promotion teams, on the other hand, were run out of the high school, so they worked there. Meaning support and promo kids from middle school had to trek over to Pulkkot High School. It wasn't too far if you took the festival shortcut behind the school, but it was still a hassle. So, yeah, even running into Choi Gahee in the hallway by chance didn't give me grounds to gripe. She was the one trudging along with annoyed steps.
"……"
"……"
The moment our eyes met, if I'd deliberately turned and walked the other way, it'd have pissed her off. No point building up pointless grudges. We were headed to the same place anyway, so we ended up walking together by coincidence. Ever since I'd properly said goodbye to her last time, we hadn't exchanged a single word. Our relationship had stayed awkward and distant. She'd glance at me now and then, but never struck up a conversation. Looked like she'd gotten the message and was in the stage of sorting out her feelings. If we just let it fade bit by bit like this, it'd be fine. Once the festival committee wrapped up, we'd have no reason to cross paths.
Choi Gahee shot me a look, but consistent ignoring left her looking dejected. Her lips parted, then closed. Was she thinking of at least saying hi? Hm… Normally, it was polite for juniors to greet seniors first, right? But if I opened the door with a greeting and she took it as an invitation to get close again, that'd be trouble. We kept walking in silence, and she eventually gave up, averting her gaze. Good. That settled that.
Now, the remaining issue was Lee Yuyeong… Why the hell did that girl eavesdrop on conversations and go off the rails like that? Ever since our last spat with her, she'd been a nuisance a few more times. When I snapped, "I'm going to whatever school I want—what's it to you?", she'd gotten sulky and stopped talking to me altogether. Fine by me. If we could drift apart like this, it was a win. The problem was getting those yandere eyes of hers to cool off. Well, time would sort it out eventually. It'd just take a while.
"Haa~"
"……No need to sigh like that."
"Ah…"
I glanced over. Choi Gahee ducked her head, face flushing with embarrassment.
"It's not because of you, sunbae. It's just… I'm worried about something else."
"What about?"
"……I don't get this classical poem."
"Which one?"
"I can't even remember the title… I'll just ask the teacher later."
"…Yeah."
We cut the chat short and made it to the classroom without issue. The auditorium we'd been using was now stuffed with props from the planning team, so for the past few days, we'd been gathering in an empty classroom to handle business. But when I opened the door, the vibe was off. It should've been noisy by now, but the girls who usually chattered away were whispering among themselves.
"Eunbi."
The junior who always scanned the room for me, came over with a greeting… Today, for some reason, she was spacing out staring at the blackboard until I called her.
"What's up with you?"
She finally turned, gauging my mood. In the corner of the blackboard she was staring at, there was graffiti.
"What's this?"
An umbrella symbol with a heart on top. Under the umbrella's triangular canopy were the names 'Kim Taeyang' and 'Kang Eunbi'.
This… It was the kind of childish scribble elementary kids do when they're embarrassed and awkward about calling each other "boyfriend/girlfriend." Why the sudden juvenile crap… And in the committee's classroom, no less?
"Who did this? Who the hell pulls shit like this?"
Choi Gahee spotted it too. She hurried over ahead of me and erased it. Then she scanned the room.
"Guys, you know it's not okay to bully someone like that!"
Sweet Choi Gahee wouldn't just let this slide. She even warned the girls who usually followed her that if a friend was getting picked on like this, they shouldn't stand by.
"Yeah, whoever it is, what a childish prank."
"Not like we're in elementary school."
Finally, the guys started chiming in. What a random mess—now my mind was all stirred up for no reason. First things first, comfort Eunbi.
"Eunbi, don't let it get to you."
"……"
But even as I tried to reassure her, she just hung her head and stayed silent.
"Eunbi?"
She wiped her tears and suddenly bolted from the classroom.
"Ah…"
The atmosphere turned dead serious. Everyone was just eyeing each other, wondering who did it. I couldn't just stand there. I headed out to find Eunbi right away.
"Kim Taeyang! Where you going?"
While searching for Eunbi, I ran into Seong Juyeon, who'd come late from middle school.
"Juyeon noona, you seen Eunbi?"
"Huh? I think she went up that way earlier?"
Good, I'd find her quick.
"Thanks!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
"I'll explain later!"
Explaining would take too long. I headed up the stairs. As I climbed, I heard faint sniffling. From above. There she was—Kang Eunbi, sitting on the stairs to the rooftop, crying. She spotted me and her eyes went wide. But her pupils were different colors. One was an artificial, shimmering green; the other, plain black.
Huh? Whatever—not the point right now.
"Ah… Sorry. For running off like that."
"It's fine."
I sat next to her.
"……Oppa too… you hate me now, right?"
"What're you talking about all of a sudden?"
"You know… Seeing that crap… Makes it awkward to be around me, doesn't it?"
She was more worried about me getting hurt than herself because of that incident.
"Sorry, oppa. For sticking to your side like that."
"Not bothered."
"……Really?"
"Yeah, you think I'd hate a hardworking, sweet junior over something like that?"
It was some malicious scribble by a third party—why hate the victim? But getting misunderstood like this was a problem. Lee Yuyeong might see it and jump to weird conclusions again.
"Then… it's okay?"
She mustered a bit of courage; I caught her beaming smile.
"Ah, but you called me 'hoobae' again?"
She pouted my way.
"Did I? …Hey, speaking of, what's with your eyes?"
Real smooth, me. Without thinking, I pointed at her eyes, and she panicked, pulling out a mirror.
"Ah… The lens fell out while I was running."
Circle lenses, huh. No wonder the green pupil looked so anime-like. I'd never seen eyes like that in real life, but hey, this was a visual novel world, so maybe.
"Um… Oppa, don't look."
"Why?"
"It's… unclean…"
The mood sank for a sec. Realizing how weird that sounded, she flailed her hands.
"Ah! I didn't mean you're unclean!!! It's me!! I'm the unclean one!!"
"Whoa, why the self-hate outta nowhere?"
"…It's just… Since forever… People said my eyes were creepy… Bad luck…"
So that's why she hid them with lenses.
"Pfft~ Not unclean. Lemme see."
"Huh?"
I checked her pupils. They looked murky and unstable. And the sanpaku eyes made it even eerier, honestly. Murkiness-wise, maybe Yandere Stage 2 level? But Eunbi was just shy; she'd never obsessed over anyone. Her fondness for me was plain goodwill. Plus, she wasn't even a heroine…
……Well, with noona around, who knows. Anyway, if it'd been like this before she met me, no need for me to overreact.
"So it's been like this since you were little?"
"……Yeah. Um…"
"It's fine."
"Not scary?"
I've seen plenty of similar eyes. If anything, the fact they weren't yandere despite looking like this was a relief. What a life where that's reassuring…
"Nah. Just how it is, right?"
"……Hic."
"Hey! Why cry?"
"You're the only one… hic… who's ever said it's okay… hic…"
"Alright, alright, stop crying."
Anyone seeing this would think I made her cry. Wait, did I? Anyway.
I glanced around. Just in case Lee Yuyeong was lurking, spying on us again. That solo stalker could pop up anywhere. But our class was probably prepping for the festival right now. Thankfully, no one around.
"But…"
"Yeah."
"…Even if you're okay… other people…"
"Hm…"
She was still full of worry. Forcing her back without lenses would just trigger more trauma.
"Head home early today. I'll smooth things over."
"Huh?"
"You can't go back like this."
"B-But… Everyone else is working…"
"It's fine. Student council said it's okay to miss a day."
We weren't swamped yet. Things would ramp up next week for the main cultural festival prep. Until then, they said take a day off if needed, just give notice.
"But… Suddenly bailing is a bother…"
"You left your bag, right?"
"Huh? Oh…"
Her bag was still in the classroom.
"I'll grab it quick. Wait here."
I told her to stay put and headed down the stairs.
The moment I opened the classroom door, all eyes turned to me. A few kids asked if Eunbi was okay. Choi Gahee looked worried too.
"Yeah, but she needs to rest today."
"Tell her not to worry about anything."
"Thanks… Gahee sunbae, really appreciate it."
Couldn't skip thanking her properly. She waved it off, but I thanked her again and grabbed Eunbi's bag.
"This thing's heavy."
It weighed a ton. The angular bulge at the bottom screamed laptop.
She lugged this around daily? No wonder her small, frail frame always looked so drained. With student council permission secured, I headed back.
"Oppa, that was heavy, right?"
"Yeah, how do you carry this?"
"I'm used to it…"
"Why tote a laptop?"
"Huh? Oh… For class…"
She clammed up after that. Hm… Unusual to bring a laptop to school, but not unheard of. Kids learning programming on their own or for assignments did it. Most used tablets otherwise.
"Thanks. Set it down, oppa—it's heavy."
"Nah. I'll drop it off at the first floor."
"But… Sorry."
"Enough with the sorrys."
"Ah."
She clapped a hand over her mouth. It was kinda cute; I chuckled and walked her all the way down.
"This is good."
Her lenses were zero prescription, just for color—going home solo was no issue.
"See ya."
"Ah, wait!!"
She rummaged in her pocket, saying she'd almost forgotten. Then she handed me a phone. Mine.
"You dropped it earlier."
Must've fallen when I stood up on the stairs.
"Screen's not cracked."
"Thanks."
"Yeah… Thanks for everything today, oppa."
She smiled brightly, mood lifted, bowed, and left.
"Back to work."
As I turned to go, my phone buzzed.