Cut It Out, Already (1)
"Ugh, my back is killing me..."
Thanks to yesterday's incident with Jo Iseor, my body had been tense right up until the moment I fell asleep. The end result? A nasty back spasm.
I seriously considered a self-applied class-cut, but of all things, my first class of the day was a major requirement.
*Click.*
"He's here! He's here!"
"...?"
The moment I opened the lecture hall door, my classmates stopped whatever they were doing and turned to stare at me in unison.
I wondered if it was because I had slipped away before the second round of drinks last night, but...
"Park Yujun, you son of a bitch...!"
Without warning, Do Gihwan threw his arm around my neck and started shaking me.
"How dare you sleep with my Iseor...!"
Ah.
Right.
The group chat.
"Hey, hey...! My back...!"
I tried to push him off while clutching my spasming lower back, but Do Gihwan only tightened his grip around my neck.
"Your back...? Your back hurts...?! Just how many times did you do it, you bastard...!"
"I-it's not like that...!"
I tried to make an excuse, but there was no stopping Gihwan now that his eyes had completely rolled back in jealousy.
*Pat.*
"Sigh... My entire worldview—where I always told people to fuck off whenever they complained about life being unfair—has been shattered because of you. Take responsibility. Forget Iseor, take me first."
"What the hell are you even talking about? Ugh, my back is killing me..."
I pulled away from the guy who was now muttering nonsense to the empty air and found an empty seat. I made a conscious effort to sit as far away from the other guys as possible.
I did my best to ignore the chatter behind my back as they gossiped about what the two of us supposedly did last night.
"So, was it good? I feel like Iseor's jjam-seu would smell like Calvin Klein perfume..."
"More than that, I bet Iseor keeps a totally blank face even during sex."
I had fled to the other side of the room, yet even the girls sitting across from me were giggling and whispering nonsense.
This was my first time seeing my classmates—other than Iseor—since the world's common sense collapsed. Naturally, I still hadn't adapted to this insane daily life.
"Sigh..."
Just as I was letting out a heavy sigh, wondering how on earth I was going to survive in this nonsensical society...
"Ugh, I'm so tired—!"
Min Hayun made her loud, dramatic entrance.
I silently recited my Three Commandments for Handling Min Hayun: Do not make eye contact until she heads toward Lee Yunseo. Do not greet her first. Do not pretend to know her.
I bowed my head, repeating the Three Commandments in my mind. I didn't want to deal with any exhausting drama first thing in the morning, especially since I hadn't replied to the private message she sent me yesterday.
But of course.
"My Yu~jun~ie~❤!"
As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Min Hayun bypassed dozens of empty seats to sit right next to me.
"Did you leave the seat next to you empty for noona on purpose? Aw, what a good boy! You were sad because noona skipped the afterparty yesterday, weren't you? I'm sorry~"
With that, she gave my cheek a slow, sticky stroke.
"...Stop it."
Nobody paid any attention to us. That was just how Min Hayun was. Everyone knew her favorite hobby was playing with me, even though she didn't actually have any real interest.
"Aw, look at you acting all pouty!"
"I'm not."
"Is that why you slept with Jo Iseor, that sly, fox-furred bitch?"
*Squeeze.*
"...?!"
Turning her body fully toward me, Min Hayun suddenly grabbed me right between the legs.
"H-hey...! Hold on... Everyone's watching...!"
"What's wrong with everyone being here? To be fair, do you want to put your hand in here too, Yujun? It's super warm right now."
Min Hayun hitched up her skirt, exposing her panties.
"Ah, seriously..."
I quickly averted my eyes. As the world grew crazier, the level of Min Hayun's pranks escalated right along with it.
Give me back my Confucian nation where chastity and purity were virtues! I wanted to scream that out right then and there.
"But wait, you still have all ten of your fingers?"
"What are you talking about now...? First, just let go of..."
"Well, you didn't reply to my message, so I thought you'd left your fingers inside Jo Iseor's pussy."
She spoke with a sweet, eye-curving smile, but a cold shiver ran down my spine.
Just as I was about to explain myself, Min Hayun slowly squeezed her hand around my crotch and added:
"So. Was it good? How many times did you do it? Did you cum inside her? You didn't, right? You wore a condom, right? I mean, if you went raw, your dick probably would've dissolved inside Jo Iseor's filthy pussy. Surely you didn't cum on her face, did you? They say semen is good for the skin. You didn't cum on Jo Iseor's face, right? You didn't give that bitch a facial skincare treatment, did you?"
Min Hayun rattled off the questions at a dizzying speed.
"...Ask them one at a... actually, never mind."
None of her questions were even worth answering. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away as gently but firmly as I could.
"We. Didn't. Do. Anything."
"Hmm~"
I told her the absolute truth, but her expression made it clear she didn't believe a word.
After scanning me for a brief second, Min Hayun stared deep into my eyes as if trying to read my very soul. Since I had a clear conscience, I didn't look away.
"Well, since our Yujun is a good boy, let's assume you didn't have sex. But did that bitch Jo Iseor get to see your dick? The dick that even I haven't seen yet?"
"No, I told you, nothing like that happened."
"Then did our Yujun see Jo Iseor's pussy?"
"No! I don't even know why I'm making excuses to you, but..."
"Then what about Jo Iseor's breasts?"
...Wait a minute.
Does that count as seeing them? She was in her underwear, but I definitely saw her cleavage. And about half of her bare skin was exposed...
"...No."
"Buzzz—liar."
*Squeeze!*
"Ah...!"
Before I knew it, her hand had slipped back between my thighs and squeezed my crotch with a vengeance.
Startled, I hunched forward, and Min Hayun rested her hand on my shoulder, whispering softly into my ear.
"I'll show you my breasts later~❤"
"...?"
"Instead of those dull, saggy, ugly tits of hers, let's cleanse our Yujun's eyes with noona's pretty breasts, okay~?"
"..."
In an instant, my mind went cold.
Just like when Jo Iseor was spouting incomprehensible nonsense in her room.
"Stop it. I'm warning you."
"...Huh?"
"Even jokes have boundaries. This is making me uncomfortable."
Min Hayun's face, which had remained perfectly calm when she was lifting her skirt and saying those outrageous things, flushed bright red in an instant.
As if she actually realized, deep down, that her behavior was something to be ashamed of.
"Oh! The main character is here."
Just then, our classmates raised their voices, looking toward the front door of the lecture hall.
"Ugh, it's already so noisy."
It was Jo Iseor.
I had no idea why she was bundled up so tightly in this hot weather, but...
"..."
Jo Iseor scanned the lecture hall, her gaze locking onto me.
Her eyes flicked over to Min Hayun sitting right next to me, and her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
"No... Yujun, it's not what you think..."
Ignoring Min Hayun, who was clutching my sleeve and muttering something under her breath, I opened my textbook.
Seeing her look so genuinely flustered, I thought that maybe today would finally be the last time she tried to toy with me.
"Iseor! Did something amazing happen yesterday?!"
"Did you guys... seriously do it...?"
Meanwhile, at the back of the lecture hall, where the atmosphere was the complete opposite of ours, people were busy prying about that damn rumor again.
I figured Iseor would clear things up on her own since this kind of misunderstanding wouldn't do her any favors, but...
"Who knows?"
Iseor replied, staring straight at me.
"...?"
"It's a secret."
With that, she sat down at the desk right next to us, right beside Min Hayun.
"Yu-Yujun... I'm sorry. Are you mad? Hmm? Is our Yujun mad at noona?"
Min Hayun was too busy panicking to even pay attention to Jo Iseor.
I didn't think she needed to be this distressed, but if it meant she would finally snap out of it and behave, I was grateful. I kept my mouth shut, pretending to be angry.
"He's uncomfortable because you keep clinging to him like a leech."
Jo Iseor muttered, not even sparing a glance in Min Hayun's direction. Her voice was bone-dry.
Iseor had always been particularly cynical toward Min Hayun and her crowd.
"...Oh, what do we have here? It's Iseor! My goodness, I didn't even recognize you!"
Min Hayun spoke with a bright, beaming smile.
"I mean, you usually dress pretty shabby, but today is on a whole new level. For a second, I thought some random middle-aged outsider had wandered into the wrong classroom."
"..."
...She was only pretending to smile.
"You dressed up nicely. Especially that skirt, it looks expensive."
"Right? This is from the new 2026 S/S collection..."
"A bit of a waste for someone who flashes her panties to the whole world anyway."
"..."
Min Hayun hurriedly yanked her skirt down.
Is that really something to be embarrassed about in a world like this? Realizing that even thinking such a thing meant I was losing my mind, I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts.
"Oh, right! I heard that absolutely nothing happened between you and our Yujun yesterday? Yujun told me so himself. And Yujun never, ever lies to me."
"...Is that so?"
Jo Iseor's gaze shifted to lock onto innocent old me.
"Sort it out between yourselves."
I had no intention of getting caught in the crossfire of their petty squabble.
"You must have misheard. It's not like 'nothing' happened."
"..."
I tried to step in and clarify, but Iseor shot me a look that told me to stay quiet. Min Hayun, too, had completely shed her apologetic, panicky demeanor from earlier and was now glaring daggers at me.
"Oh, really? Come to think of it, I heard a story too. A friend of mine lured an innocent guy back to her place, and even though he kept saying no, she went into heat like a pathetic dog and started stripping her clothes off. Hilarious, right?"
"..."
This time, Iseor glared at me with sharp, murderous eyes.
"No, I didn't tell her that... Ugh, whatever."
I didn't even have the energy to deny it anymore. Let them tear each other apart for all I cared.
"I guess since you went to a co-ed school, dragging guys back to your place comes naturally to you. Sigh... I'm so jealous. I went to an all-girls middle and high school, and I'm still a virgin, so guys are still a bit difficult for me. If you have some spare time, could you teach me? Like, how to spread my legs for just anyone?"
Of course, those school days were back before the world changed, but facts didn't really matter in this petty war of words anyway.
"Have I ever been involved with any guy other than Park Yujun? I've never behaved in a way that would spark those kinds of rumors. Unlike some people."
"What do you mean... Hey, who are you calling...!"
"And why bring up childhood stories like a child? Ah, is it because of that pure innocence of yours that keeps you commuting to school in your daddy's car even at twenty-one?"
"..."
The air grew so cold it gave me goosebumps. Min Hayun had thrown the first punch, but Jo Iseor's counterattacks were absolutely lethal.
"Oh, Yujun. If you're free after this, let's grab lunch."
"Huh? Ah, sure."
I thought things would be incredibly awkward between us because of yesterday, but surprisingly, Iseor was the one to casually strike up a conversation.
"And you left your keychain at my place yesterday. I'll give it back to you later."
"Keychain...?"
I didn't even remember bringing anything like that to her place.
"...Can't you just... give it to him now...?"
Sandwiched between Iseor and me, Min Hayun gritted her teeth as she squeezed the words out.
"Well, we have things to talk about anyway."
"What kind of... things...?"
"The conversation the two of us started yesterday but didn't finish. Not like you'd understand even if I told you. You weren't there, after all."
Hearing that, Min Hayun hung her head, her entire body trembling with rage.
*Clench.*
As the start of the lecture drew near, Min Hayun, who had been keeping her mouth shut, suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
"...Take me with you."
"What?"
"I want to eat lunch too. I'm hungry. Take me with you."
For some reason, I found myself walking on eggshells around Iseor. I glanced at her, hoping she would answer for me, but her lips only parted and closed a few times without making a sound.
Still, she hadn't explicitly said no.
"Sure, why not."
"Really?!"
The moment I let my guard down, her hand snaked right back between my thighs.
"Ah, I told you to stop...!"
"Why? If it feels good, you can just cum! Want me to pull your pants down~?"
While pushing away her flicking fingers, I tried to look over at Iseor to see if she was okay with this, but...
*Scribble, scribble, scribble, scratch—!*
Without even glancing in our direction, Iseor was aggressively scratching her pen against her notebook.
"That's all for today. Today's assignment is—"
"Awww."
"Alright, alright. Go outside and enjoy the cherry blossoms for once!"
"Whoooo! You're the best, Professor!"
"Or go find a place to have a wild, sweaty fuck. Man, back when I was your age, whew, I'd grab my wife's tits and hammer her pussy until her juices completely dried up, and then I'd..."
Even before the Professor could finish his eye-watering gestures and horrific remarks, my classmates rushed out of the lecture hall in a massive herd.
"Let's go too, Yujun~!"
The moment I finished packing my bag, Min Hayun linked her arm through mine and pulled me up.
*Snap.*
As we approached, Jo Iseor slammed her notebook shut.
"...?"
She had looked so busy taking notes throughout the entire lecture, but what she had just been scribbling...
Was that my name...?
"What are you doing? Let's go."
Standing up as if nothing had happened, Jo Iseor left me no opportunity to ask.
I must have misseen it. My head was throbbing, so maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me too.
With that thought, the moment I stepped out of the lecture hall...
"..."
The bustling atmosphere of the hallway suddenly died down to a strange, quiet hush.
Through the silence, a quiet whisper leaked out.
"Hey, look at that..."
Everyone's eyes were locked onto me.