Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Seo-ah's Request
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#17
While lost in my frustration for just a moment, I couldn't hold out against the teachers' nonstop lullabies any longer, and my head started bobbing up and down in a steady rhythm. That's when I felt a buzz from my phone in my pocket.
Not because of some noble thought like who the hell's messaging during sacred class time?—no, I was just sleepy and planned to ignore it. But as if it could read my mind, the phone kept buzzing: buzz buzz buzz.
In the end, I mentally cried uncle and secretly pulled out my phone to check.
— Han Seo-ah -Don't sleep!! -Junwoo~ -(Rabbit knocking on the door emoji) -(Rabbit knocking on the door emoji) -(Rabbit knocking on the door emoji) -Wake up~! Rubbing my sleepy eyes as I checked my phone, there they were—a string of messages from Han Seo-ah piled up, somehow sent secretly from the front of the classroom where she must've spotted me dozing off.
Aw, come on, Han Seo-ah. You again?
— Lee Jun-woo -Hey, I was sleeping fine, why wake me up ㅡㅡ — Han Seo-ah -What? It's class time and you're totally shameless, Junwoo! — Lee Jun-woo -Cut me some slack. I went to bed late anyway, and someone woke me up early this morning so I got even less sleep. — Han Seo-ah -lol Who?! Who kept our Junwoo from sleeping! (Rabbit raising hand and standing in corner emoji) — Lee Jun-woo -Someone who's been tormenting me for over 10 years. As I replied, a chuckle slipped out, and I glanced toward Han Seo-ah. Her back twitched slightly—she was laughing too.
— Lee Jun-woo -But why'd you stay up late? Did we have something to do last night? I started to type just gaming, the plain truth, but stopped.
Sigh. Telling the truth would just get me a lecture.
Han Seo-ah had been different from usual today, so maybe I'd reply differently too. I deleted what I'd typed and started over.
— Lee Jun-woo -lol Found something awesome yesterday. Got totally sucked into it. — Han Seo-ah -Awesome? What was it? Movie? Drama? (Rabbit with question marks emoji) — Lee Jun-woo -What else lol Kids not allowed~ — Han Seo-ah -?? What do you mean? — Lee Jun-woo -( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) We've known each other for over ten years, but even with close friends of the opposite sex, we'd never traded sex jokes before. Feeling that strange mix of tension and thrill, I snickered to myself and pocketed my phone again.
But contrary to my expectation that my sex joke would fluster her into silence, my phone buzzed right away. Curiosity got the better of me—what'd she say?—so I pulled it out and immediately regretted it.
— Han Seo-ah -Junwoo. You don't mean you stayed up watching porn, do you? All night? -Lee Jun-woo -...After class, come talk to me for a sec. Or let's hit the vending machine or something. Ah.
I'm screwed.
Her tone was so icy cold, I scrolled up and down the screen wondering if this was really the same person I'd been chatting with.
Damn it, Lee Jun-woo, you idiot—why'd you pull that stupid prank...!
— Han Seo-ah -Junwoo. Why no reply? That day, for the first time in my life, I prayed for class to never end.
#18
Ding dong dang~
But my prayers went unanswered—the class ended in a flash, and I saw Han Seo-ah stand up from her seat.
Just in case, I quickly flopped face-down on my desk.
Pretending to sleep was my last desperate struggle to avoid the situation.
"Ku..."
"...Junwoo. Sleeping?"
"Kuuu......"
"Junwoo. If you keep this up, I'm really gonna get mad."
"Ah, slept great!!! Yeah, right. Seo-ah, we were gonna hit the vending machine, huh?"
A chilling voice I'd never heard from Han Seo-ah before came from above, so I scrapped the lame sleeping act and shot up in a panic.
And there she was—
"Yeah. Let's go. Right now."
"Uh... yeah..."
Standing like some heavenly executioner, arms crossed, her eyes emotionless as she stared me down.
#19
Trailing powerlessly behind Han Seo-ah like livestock being led to the slaughterhouse—she was practically screaming I'm pissed off right now—she suddenly halted at the end of the hallway and turned back to me.
But her expression wasn't angry like I'd expected... it was more hurt.
"Junwoo."
"Y-yeah...?"
"Did you really stay up late last night watching porn?"
Her upturned gaze, full of hurt as she asked if what I'd said was true, reminded me of her bright smile that morning, and waves of guilt crashed over me.
I'm trash.
I made the girl who'd been smiling so happily wear that expression...!
I can control Han Seo-ah's emotions...!
Stunned by the surging guilt, I stood there dumbfounded, internally screaming nonsense, when she took my silence as confirmation and continued.
"Porn... yeah. You can watch it. We're at that age where... y'know. It's natural to be curious."
"But... could you promise not to talk about it in front of me? Or say you haven't watched it?"
"I know it's a selfish request. Still, I'd really appreciate it if you did, Junwoo."
"If—and I mean if—you really can't hold back and want to watch something like that..."
"Want to...?"
Listening quietly out of guilt, I couldn't help but ask when she trailed off.
"Tell me. If you feel that way, or get those urges... promise you'll tell me. Got it?"
"Huh?"
"You can promise me that, right, Junwoo?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah, got... it. I promise...?"
"Thanks, Junwoo. For listening to my request."
What the hell did I just hear?
Tell her if I get horny?
Then what? What would she do?
Unaware of the lewd demons swirling in my head causing chaos, Han Seo-ah just beamed at me, grateful I'd agreed to her request.
Screw it.
"Fine. Whatever makes you happy. Let's hit the vending machine quick. My treat."
"Yeah! Thirsty, right, Junwoo?"
Unlike when we'd left the classroom, we returned laughing over trivial chit-chat like always, side by side.
Wait, but what exactly would she do if I told her?
I pushed the thought aside.
#20
My muddled feelings didn't last long. As the urge to go home consumed me from head to toe, the final class of the day finally ended.
"Uwaaah, finally over, finally...!"
I stretched with a groan, feeling the kids around me staring like what's with this guy?
Whatever. It was exhausting, what can I say.
Maybe because the day had felt subtly off since morning, I was extra tired.
Excited to head home, I was packing up when I spotted the ugly one—no, Kim Seung-hyun—approaching.
"Hey, Lee Jun-woo. PC bang today?"
"PC bang? Sigh... dude, you're total trash at it."
"Acting cocky again. Quit the bullshit—Jae-hwan's coming too. Free rank 3-man queue, it's good."
3-man queue. Irresistible. With three out of five spots, you hold majority, so no one can politically screw you over—perfect team comp.
My mouth was watering; I was about to say okay,
"Ah, Seung-hyun. Sorry. Junwoo and I have plans today."
"What? Oh well, can't be helped. But Han Seo-ah, Junwoo said you were acting weird this morning?"
Han Seo-ah had snuck up, hands clasped apologetically as she bowed to Kim Seung-hyun.
Wait, plans with me?
Me? Since when did we make plans I don't know about?
Question marks popped up in my head.
It was news to me, so I was about to ask what she meant when they wrapped up their chat, ignoring me entirely.
No, the situation didn't end—it was more like Kim Seung-hyun lobbed a bomb and sauntered off to PC bang paradise alone.
You bastard, dropping that and leaving me to deal with it...!
I was inwardly cursing and fuming when I felt a cold stare from the side.
This direction... definitely...
"Hmmm, Junwoo. Sounds like you were telling everyone I was acting weird today?"
"Hey, no, I didn't go around saying that—"
"No, no. I'll ask our Junwoo slowly and in detail what was so~ weird about me this morning. Let's go, Junwoo."
No, you're actually scary right now.
And where the hell are we going?
The words wouldn't come out.
All I could do was sling my bag over my shoulder like a condemned prisoner shuffling to the gallows as Han Seo-ah smiled sweetly and urged me to hurry.
#21
"Hey, so where are we going?"
After gauging the mood and thinking it might be safe now, I tossed out the question. Han Seo-ah widened her eyes like what are you talking about?
"Where? Home, duh."
"?"
What?
"You told Kim Seung-hyun we had plans."
"Oh, right~ I did say that."
She giggled like oh yeah, that happened~
"You too. It was a lie, but you almost fell for it."
"Ow, what the heck. No wonder I couldn't remember. Why lie?"
"Hmmm, why do you think?"
Instead of answering, she fired back a question with a mischievous grin, stepping closer.
What... is this?
"Maybe..."
"Maybe?"
"You hate Seung-hyun?"
"..."
She gave me a look like I was dead serious, her expression cooling instantly.
"Sigh... why would I hate Kim Seung-hyun? No, not for that reason."
"Then what? Wait, don't tell me you wanted to go home with me or something?"
Truly clueless, I threw it out with an eh, whatever. Han Seo-ah froze and stared at me.
Huh? I turned back—and there she stood, face red from cheeks to ears.
"H-hey...?"
"Ahem... so, what? Not okay?"
"Huh?"
"You hate it? Going home together?"
She'd been a cute, shy bunny moments ago, but now her eyes blazed tiger-like, demanding an answer.
All I could say was:
"I mean, I'd lo... like that."
"Right? Knew it."
She grinned cutely like I'd given the right answer, making my heart skip a beat.
Yeah, who could say no to that smile?
"But Junwoo."
"Yeah?"
I was thinking she's extra cute today—crazy thought—and smiled at her,
"So, what was weird about me this morning? Tell me."
Never mind.
Cute my ass. A saying flashed in my mind: the scariest ghost is the smiling one.