Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Stay Away From Bullies
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"Get lost right now, will you?"
It was hard to believe those icy words had come from my own mouth.
But I couldn't hold back anymore.
— Who the hell do you think you are?
"...What? You talking to me like that? No way, right?"
His sneering grin, like it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard, made my stomach turn.
I didn't even want to waste words on him. I just stared him down, unblinking, as if affirming he was the one.
Only then did he realize I meant him. His smirking face slowly hardened.
"Hey, Han Seo-ah. You lost your mind or what? What's with the attitude all of a sudden?"
He shot up from his seat and closed in threateningly. A chill of fear prickled in one corner of my heart.
But I didn't want to back down.
Jun-woo must have been scared too when he stood up for me.
I steeled myself not to retreat, but I couldn't stop my hands from trembling faintly.
Not wanting to show weakness, I hid my shaking hands. That's when I noticed he'd already closed the gap to just two steps away.
"...Can't you see she doesn't want this? And I don't know how you know my name, but don't say it. I hate hearing it."
"Ha, who in this school doesn't know your name? Whatever. I don't get why you're acting up, but cut it out."
His voice rose with agitation, stirring a flicker of fear in my chest, but I forced myself not to cower.
"The one who needs to cut it out is you, right now. And don't raise your voice like that. It makes you look pathetic."
"You little bitch, I'll—!!"
Seeing him rear back one hand, I thought, trash as expected, but dread of the incoming pain made me squeeze my eyes shut.
— Help me, Jun-woo.
...I'm scared. With my eyes tightly shut, I called out to him in my mind, and then... I heard a voice, like a hallucination.
"What the fuck? Get out of the way...!"
...It wasn't a hallucination.
The familiar voice I'd longed to hear rang in my ears. Relief washed over me, tension draining away all at once, leaving my rigid body limp.
I opened my eyes to see Jun-woo's broad back planted firmly in front of me, shielding me. The anxiety I'd felt moments ago vanished like a lie, replaced by calm.
But the peace was short-lived.
Seeing Jun-woo about to fight this guy again because of me brought back nightmares of the past, when he'd fallen into a coma. My heart plummeted.
— No.
Sudden panic surged through me, heart racing so fast I could barely breathe.
— No no no no no...
I had to stop him, but ominous visions flooded my mind like a virus, blurring my vision and freezing me in place.
I gritted my teeth.
I couldn't let Jun-woo get hurt because of me again.
"Stop it—!!!!!!!!"
I never wanted to go through that hell twice.
Thankfully, the fight was avoided after that.
But now, alone with Jun-woo in the empty classroom...
My heart, which had been pounding like crazy earlier, had calmed, but cold sweat broke out for a different reason.
"That’s..."
"That’s...?"
"...That’s, uh..."
I kept stammering, repeating myself, and Jun-woo looked puzzled.
But I was frustrated too.
How do I even start explaining this...?
That I told him off because he's the jerk who hurt you before and I hate his guts?
That I cried and begged you to stop because you might get hurt fighting him?
My mind spun, clueless on what to say.
"Is it... something I shouldn't know about?"
He sensed I wanted to keep it secret from him, felt hurt by it, yet pushed his own feelings aside again for my sake and backed off.
Seeing you so unchanging, even after returning to the past...
How could I not love you?
The confusion that had gripped me vanished in an instant, replaced by overflowing feelings for Jun-woo.
"N-no, it's not like that. Nothing about me is off-limits for you, Jun-woo."
Just seconds ago, I'd been at a loss, but now I beamed and confessed my heart. Jun-woo's face flushed red with embarrassment.
He couldn't meet my eyes, gaze darting everywhere like he didn't know where to look.
He was so lovable like that.
"R-really?"
"Yeah."
"Uh... then can you tell me why you did that?"
I couldn't tell him everything right now.
So I decided to mix a little lie into the truth.
I didn't want to lie to him even a bit.
But the full truth was still too hard for even me to accept fully—he'd never buy it yet.
"I've never hung out with punks or delinquents, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
"But now... it's not just that I don't want to be around them. Um... I hate them? No, that's too mild. What is it... disgusting? Repulsive?"
"Uh, yeah, o...kay...?"
Tilting her head, Han Seo-ah pondered with a serene expression.
She was so cute just staring blankly at her—I could feel full from that alone.
Only the brutal content coming from that adorable face was the issue.
"Disgusting? Repulsive? Jun-woo-ya, what's an even harsher word?"
"...Filthy?"
"Yes! That's exactly how they feel to me."
She lit up like I'd nailed it, clapping happily.
Thank God that description wasn't aimed at me.
"So... it wasn't really about that guy specifically, just that you hate punks in general... something like that?"
"Nuh-uh, that's not it. It was about him specifically, and I hate punks too."
She stretched it out, shuddering in disgust.
"I get there's no reason to like them... but why?"
Curious why she loathed them so viscerally, I asked. She silently met my eyes.
For a moment, our gazes locked, each reflecting only the other.
Then she scooted her chair closer bit by bit.
Wondering what was up, I watched as she drew near enough for our breaths to mingle.
Grinning ear to ear at me, Han Seo-ah's smile...
It hit like a truck, my heart pounding like it might burst.
I worried she'd hear it thumping.
"Just... like you said. No reason to like them. You might not get it, but I can't help it—they're just that repulsive."
I caught her whisper, right now.
"Sorry for dragging you into that earlier. I know it's rich coming from me, but... I don't want you getting mixed up with guys like that anymore."
She clutched my clothes like she wouldn't let me escape,
looking up at me with pleading eyes.
Those pupils filled only with me—I felt like I'd get sucked right in.
— That's cheating, you know.
"...Got it. I'll steer clear of scum like that from now on. Not even a fingertip's touch."
Smooth—
As I spoke, my hand unconsciously rose to gently stroke her hair.
Unlike my own dry, unkempt locks, her wavy hair felt like silk, making me marvel inwardly.
Lost in that addictive texture, I kept petting until our eyes met, and I realized what I was doing.
— I'm screwed.
"Sorry...!"
As I yanked my hand back, she nudged her head into my palm instead, eyes closed, like she wanted more.
Like a cat rubbing against me. Unable to help it, I stroked along her hair, and she twitched cutely at the tickle, drawing a soft chuckle from me.
"...Why are you laughing?"
Her eyes cracked open slyly, like a grumpy cat disturbed mid-grooming, interrogating me.
"'Cause you're cute."
I couldn't help but grin and answer honestly.
"...Fine then."
She shut her eyes again, but her face and ears were beet red, unbearably adorable, making my heart itch.
And so,
for what felt both long and short, my hand lingered on Han Seo-ah's head as time passed.
If only it could've ended there.
After that blissful time, embarrassment hit late, leaving us unable to meet eyes but still glued side-by-side as we returned to class.
Waiting to greet us was our homeroom teacher, smiling.
"Finally back?"
"...Sorry."
"Nah, a lovers' escape, right? I heard everything. Nice, a lovers' escape."
"Huh?"
Kim Seung-hyun, Park Jae-hwan, you damn bastards...!
Glared at their seats, and there they were, snickering gleefully.
"First time for both of you, so I'll let it slide. But no repeats, or you'll get punished."
"Yes, sir..."
Shuffling to our seats, only then did it hit me—in front of the whole class, we'd been called on a lovers' escape and hadn't denied it. Mortified, I buried my face in my desk.