Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Sudden Shower - 1
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After becoming high school students, the long-awaited first week had passed.
The classroom, where everyone had been awkwardly peeking at each other, had long turned into a total mess, as if that phase had never happened.
It was a time when kids with matching hobbies banded together to hang out, or busily scrambled to form groups—and I was no exception.
Fortunately, thanks to my friend Yoon Do-hyun, who had ridiculously wide connections, I managed to make new friends without much hassle.
However,
"Hey, Woojin. When your girlfriend comes to Korea later, could you just introduce her to us once?"
"Yeah, me too! Me too!!"
Yerim doesn't have any friends.
Of course, Yerim had plenty of casual playmates like me, but according to her, she didn't have any close friends besides Han Sea. And even Han Sea already had an owner.
"...Why?"
"Your profile pic is your girlfriend, right?"
"Yeah?"
My current messenger profile photo was one Yerim had sent a few days ago: her in a plain white tee and jeans.
Yerim would sometimes spot a photo she liked and ask me to set it as my profile pic.
At first, I pushed back a little—unless it was a pic of us together, I didn't really want to make her solo shot public-facing.
But she puffed out her cheeks all cute and fussy, insisting I had to so no foxes would swarm around Oppa. How could I say no to that?
Foxes, my ass. I was already enchanted by a nine-tailed fox—what were a few regular vixens gonna do?
As the photos piled up one by one, now my profile was so full of her shots it was impossible to tell whose it even was.
Of course, Yerim's profile pic was a photo of me too. Same deal.
"I've only seen her in pics, but damn, she's gorgeous at a glance? Yoon Do-hyun said she's way prettier in person than the photos."
"Wait, that was really Woojin's girlfriend? I thought it was some celeb."
"It's my girlfriend."
"You know pretty girls only hang with other pretty girls, right?"
"What the... "
I was about to call it bullshit.
But then I remembered: all the friends around Yerim or Han Sea from my memories were total lookers. Couldn't argue.
As I clamped my mouth shut instead of firing back, my friend grinned like he'd expected it.
"Han Woojin's girlfriend is pretty. Pretty girls hang with pretty girls. Therefore, by syllogism, your girlfriend's friends have to be pretty too."
The two of them, hands clasped in prayer and bowing at me with a desperate "Please—!" left me dumbfounded.
...This guy's got a gift for making crap sound legit.
"No way, dudes. Don't wanna put pressure on her, and if it flops with the friend you meet through her, she'll be the one in an awkward spot. Figure it out yourselves."
"If I could, would I be solo right now?"
"Why rub salt in the wound..."
It stung a little seeing my friend's pained look, but oh well.
High school freshman year.
The age where interest in the opposite sex explodes—as if to prove it, every guy huddle devolved into girl talk.
Back then, if a guy hung with a girl,
"Hey, dude's with a chick!" it'd be playful teasing.
Now?
"Hey, dude's with a chick..." Pure envy.
"Ah, wanna fuck—."
"Agreed. Wanna fuck—."
When three male high schoolers got together like now, that kinda talk was as casual as "I'm starving."
"You crazy fucks. Don't say that shit in class."
"You and Yoon Do-hyun don't get our pain..."
That's why you don't have girlfriends— The words climbed my throat.
But watching them broom-sweep with those hollow eyes, I swallowed it—last thing I needed was one flying at my head.
Sigh. Better finish cleaning and bounce.
The sky had been crystal clear that morning; now it was all gray, rain dumping any second.
"Hey, but Jang Min-seo's kinda hot, right?"
"Agreed. Lose the double chin, and she'd be fire."
"This her rock bottom?"
"Eh, but I can't do girls with that boss bitch vibe..."
"Yeah. Oh, Kwon Ji-hye with her hair down today tho..."
These idiots skipping cleaning?
Glanced back at the classroom rear.
Now they were dead serious, rating half the class's girls—who's hot how, who's a pass why—giggling like morons. Ridiculous.
"...Hey. They blind or what? Clean up and let's go."
Hearing that crap, I was terrified someone'd overhear and paint me with the same brush.
"What's wrong with us? What's WRONG!!!"
"Our builds scare you or some shit, huh!!!"
"Yeah, you look pathetic—hurry up and clean."
My words hit 'em like monkeys denied bananas, whining "ook ook," but I ignored, and they finally swept.
"Hey, but our class's hottest is still Lee Yu-ri, right?"
"Fuck yes. Face, body, everything's chef's kiss. Plus, feels like she'd pity-fuck a virgin if he played it right?"
"Whoa, psycho. Was thinking the exact same!"
Knew it.
"Ha..."
Was I overreacting?
Not sure anymore. No stomach to keep listening.
She's pretty, yeah. Wouldn't touch, but I get the appeal.
But talking like that about classmates we'd see minimum a year?
Not by my standards. No way.
"...Hey."
"Huh? Why? You backing Yu-ri too..."
"Shut the fuck up. Didn't I say clean quick? Mouthy much? Sweep with your lips?"
"Uh...?"
"And—who you fuck or wanna fuck ain't my business, don't give a shit. But as classmates? Human decency, cut that out. Not seeing 'em tomorrow? Said they got eyes too. Not embarrassed?"
"Whoa, what's with the attitude..."
"Ain't attitude. If you can't say it to their faces, clean and go. Please."
I cut 'em off, irritably broom-sweeping. The other two shut up and joined silently.
............Ah. Fucked up.
Han Woojin. Couldn't word it nicer?
Had to turn red-faced a week into school?
Before snapping, felt like silence wasn't an option.
After? Regretted speaking.
Didn't think I was wrong. Just... could've handled softer.
We cleaned wordlessly—done in a flash.
Glanced back; they were still side-eyeing me. Decided fuck it, head home.
"...Gonna head out. See ya tomorrow."
"Yeah. Bye."
"Tomorrow."
Awkward exchange, headed to first floor—and yep.
Sudden downpour.
Half-expected from the clouds; fished the spare umbrella from my bag.
"Hey there."
[Seo Yerim][Photo] School's out for me now. But bam—rain pouring as I step out. Sudden shower, I guess.
Didn't forget to text Yerim, who was probably napping by now.
"Hey~ Um, Han Woojin...?"
Umbrella half-open to leave, someone grabbed my shoulder.
"Who...?"
Turned—a familiar-looking bob-cut girl.
"Ahaha... maybe you didn't hear me?"
"Ah, did you say something? Sorry, was texting my girlfriend. Why'd you grab me?"
"Ahaha... uh, mind sharing your umbrella?"
She flung her arms wide like look.
"As you can see, no umbrella. No clue it'd rain today."
"Shoulda listened to Mom~" she grumbled.
Mulled it a sec, then spoke.
"Lemme lend it quick—buy a poncho at the convenience store up front, bring it back. Or gimme cash, I'll grab it."
"Eh?"
"?"
"I, like, have zero cash on me...?"
...Pain in the ass. But stranger, so bit my tongue.
"Fine, borrow it—pay tomorrow. What class?"
"...You don't know me?"
"...Do you know me?"
Her eyes bugged out in disbelief; mine widened too.
...Kinda rings a bell?
"We're... same class. Only a week, but still."
She sounded legit baffled.
"...Seriously?"
"Dead serious."
Peeked at her name tag: Lee Yu-ri.
Lee Yu-ri. Huh, name sounds familiar...
Ah.
The girl those two assholes were drooling over earlier.
Late realization.
No wonder she looked familiar.
"...Surprise~"
"........."
"...Sorry. I suck at memorizing girls."
Truth: avoided even trying.
"...Why? Gay? Your girlfriend's chromosomes check out?"
"...Misunderstanding. Full-on XX."
Her skeptical "hmph" stare pulled a sigh.
"Whatever. Believe what you want—store run. Or I can go."
"...Can't we just share?"
"If you were a dude, maybe. Got a girlfriend—no."
"Heh... Iron wall much? It's just an umbrella."
"Iron wall? Basic decency."
"Too many skip basic decency?"
Yoon Do-hyun flashed in my head—shook it off quick.
"Anyway, no thanks? Hit up someone else."
She screamed popular girl—radiating that vibe. Could borrow anywhere.
"Hmm~ Nah."
"Why?"
Finger to lips, pouting no—getting annoying.
Lee Yu-ri smirked.
"Got good eyes, like someone said?"
...Shit. She heard?
Cold sweat prickled my back.