Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Banana Milk and the Classroom Confrontation
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*Click.*
- Banana delivery in progress (running dog emoticon)
Banana milk photo... sent to Han Seo-ah... okay, done.
Just before hitting send, I noticed messages popping up at the top of my phone screen from 'Ugly 1' and 'Ugly 2,' freaking out that I'd become their shuttle.
Shuttle? So what.
If it was shuttle service for Han Seo-ah, guys would probably line up for it.
And all for just one banana milk? I could picture her happy face?
Oh man. Way too good a deal.
Imagining Han Seo-ah smiling as she got the banana milk lifted my mood instantly. Humming a little tune, I headed back to the classroom—only to find a bunch of unfamiliar kids crowded in the hallway outside our class, buzzing and peering through the windows.
"━━━━!"
A man's loud roar, like it was coming from inside the classroom.
Someone from our class fighting?
Figured it had nothing to do with me. I sidled up to one of the kids blocking the back door, peeking inside, and tapped him on the shoulder casually.
"Hey, what's going on in our class?"
The moment I spoke, all the kids watching from the back door whipped their heads toward me.
And through the gap, what I saw made me doubt my eyes.
There was...
Han Seo-ah, glaring daggers at someone with a fury I'd never seen on her face before.
And the back of a brown-haired guy raising his hand like he was about to threaten her.
...Han Seo-ah?
"Fuck, what the hell? Get out of the way...!"
I had no idea what was happening, but that didn't matter.
The fact that Han Seo-ah might be in danger right now was enough.
My heart pounded like it was about to burst, my head going blank white. Shoving through the crowd, I bolted in and wedged myself between them.
"What the fuck's this punk... Oh, isn't that the Lee Jun-woo guy who hangs with Han Seo-ah all the time? Yeah?"
"...Who the fuck are you?"
I sized up the asshole who'd butted in and acted like he knew me. Didn't know his name, but I had a pretty good idea what kind of trash he was.
One of those pathetic delinquents who roamed in packs, acting like total losers.
Seven or eight of them, always together, dyeing their hair brown or blond—impossible not to notice.
"Ha... now this fucker's mouthing off too. Hey, you know me or what?"
Tap.
"Do I need to? Don't know you, you fuck."
Thwack.
The nameless thug tapped my shoulder while talking, so I gave it right back—harder.
He was smaller than me, so unlike me who stood firm, he stumbled back two steps. His fists clenched tight, humiliated at being pushed.
—Yeah, hit me. I'll kill you.
He'd touched Han Seo-ah. No way was I holding back.
I was just about to clench my own right fist when—
"Stop it━━━━━━━━!"
Han Seo-ah's voice screamed from behind me, sharp enough to pierce my ears.
I'd never heard her that loud. Stunned, I started to turn—
When a soft warmth gripped my right arm. Han Seo-ah's heat.
"D-don't fight, Jun-woo...! It's my fault, I messed up...! Please, please don't fight...!"
Her face, eyebrows arched in rage just moments ago, ready to explode—
Now her brows drooped, eyes brimming with tears, glistening as she looked up at me.
Trembling like she was terrified of something, clutching my right arm tight. I could feel her shaking through her body.
"Hey, you okay? What's wrong?"
Seeing her on the verge of tears left me flustered. Like she was silently begging me to stay put, she hugged me tighter—not just my arm, but my whole body.
"I'm fine...! Really, I'm okay...!"
"Alright, alright. Calm down a bit."
"Fuck... what the hell are you two? Fucking ridiculous."
As I tried to soothe Han Seo-ah, the thug in front started turning away with a taunt. I moved to grab him, but she flinched, gripping harder.
"Jun-woo...!"
"Ha... fine. I won't. Let go."
—Actually, maybe I didn't want her to.
My head had been burning with rage, but as I cooled down, the sensation on my arm hit me full force.
Regrettable—no, fortunately—Han Seo-ah let go once the thug left the classroom.
She'd gripped so hard that my right arm was soaked with her sweat and mine.
She wasn't fully calm yet; her nose was red like she'd held back tears, her chest heaving unevenly.
"You okay?"
"Yeah.... Sorry, Jun-woo... Sorry for dragging you into this...."
"No apologies. Skip the next class with me. We need to talk."
I took her hand to calm her and hear what happened, leading her out of the classroom.
In the hallway, I spotted the two uglies coming from the end.
"What the hell? Why are you holding hands?"
"Class is about to start. Lovebirds eloping or what?"
I ignored their casual bullshit and got straight to it.
"Didn't you guys go up before me?"
"Teacher called us to the office."
Right. If they'd been in class, they'd have texted me or stepped in. That's why I hadn't seen them.
"Whatever. Me and Han Seo-ah are skipping next period. Cover for us with the teacher. Say we're sick or something."
"This asshole's eloping and dumps the cleanup on us?"
"True. But he's bold, so I'll let it slide."
They talked shit, but I trusted them to handle it. We ducked into an empty classroom.
Han Seo-ah walked with her head down, silent. An inexplicable sadness and hurt radiated from her, making it hard to speak.
I dragged over two chairs, positioned them face-to-face, and sat. She followed suit, and we faced each other.
"Hey, Han Seo-ah."
"Yeah...."
"Seo-ah."
"Whaaat...."
Even this close, her voice was so soft I had to strain to hear, her eyes avoiding mine.
Her acting like she'd done something wrong didn't sit right with me. I forced a smile.
"Why are you acting like the bad guy? I'm not mad."
"...Everyone who says they're not mad is always mad."
She peeked at me slyly but still teased back. Even now, it was cute—couldn't help but chuckle.
"I'm really not mad. Why would I be mad at you?"
—I don't even know how to get mad at you. Probably never will.
"So, what happened back there? Can you tell me?"
I asked carefully.
Her reaction earlier had been weirdly intense.
Like I absolutely couldn't get hurt.
"...It started off as nothing."
Han Seo-ah, who'd had her lips pressed tight, finally spoke softly.
"This... guy I don't know came into our class and started talking to my friend. Asked if she had time today, wanted her to hang out with him and his crew after school...."
"She clearly said no at first, but he kept pushing, making it awkward. 'Just once, just once.'"
"I was watching and couldn't take it anymore, so I told him...."
I listened quietly, but she trailed off. Curious, I looked at her steadily.
She bit her lip like she was embarrassed to say the rest, avoiding my eyes.
"Told him...?"
"Well...."
"Well...?"
I kept prompting, and her face flushed redder. My curiosity spiked.
What the hell?
"...I told him to get lost. Out of our class."
"...You did?"
"...Yeah. Me."
Shocked, I stared blankly. She covered her face, even more embarrassed.
"Get lost" was casual banter among me and my friends—barely even an insult. But what floored me was...
In 13 years, I'd never once heard Han Seo-ah swear.
Her cussing out some random guy? Unbelievable.
Why?
"You got history with him? Did he hit on you too? Wait, this wasn't about your friend—was he actually harassing you?"
Mid-question, a shitty thought hit me. My voice rose, excitement creeping in. She soothed me.
"No...! Nothing like that, so calm down, Jun-woo."
"Ah, sorry. Got worked up. Didn't mean to scare you."
"Yeah, it's fine. Besides, I don't even talk to other guys much—except you."
She whispered the last part, like I'd never have to deal with that. I fought a huge grin, but satisfaction welled up inside, tugging my lips up anyway.
"Ahem. So why tell him to get lost? You never swear."
"It's just..."