Childhood Friends, Part 5
No matter where I looked around the school, I couldn't see Sia or Jeongho.
Sweat dripped down my face.
Was it because I had run without taking a single breath?
Or was it because I was so worried about what was going on between Sia and Jeongho?
I wanted to see Sia right this second.
My breath hitched.
My body felt like it would collapse at any moment.
My heart felt like it was about to burst.
“Teacher, I saw Jeongho and Sia leaving the classroom together.”
I didn't care what happened to my body.
I just wanted to tell Sia how I truly felt.
Ding-dong-dang-dong~
The bell rang, signaling the start of the first period.
Ignoring the bell, I kept searching only for Sia.
Monday's first period was Literature.
As an aspiring novelist, literature was a fundamental subject, but...
Since I was close with the literature teacher...
It would be fine to skip just one day, right?
He would understand.
"Hyunseong?"
"L-Literature teacher?!"
I had searched every nook and cranny of the school, but there was no sign of the two.
Finally, just as I was about to head out to the schoolyard.
I ran right into the literature teacher, who was heading toward our classroom.
He looked at me as if asking what I was doing here.
Of all people, it had to be him...
The literature teacher was one of the few people who encouraged my dream.
Even though I had pivoted my dream to becoming a web novel author,
he had always smiled warmly and guided me through it all—from the current direction of web novels to the strengths and weaknesses of my own writing.
How could I possibly tell him to his face that I was cutting class?
"Sir, I'm sorry..."
With a look of genuine apology on my face,
I was about to bypass him and run out to the schoolyard.
"Sia and Jeongho. I saw them heading toward the parking lot."
"Huh...?"
I was bewildered by his unexpected response.
I stopped in my tracks and turned my head.
The literature teacher was smiling warmly, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Go on. As far as I'm concerned, I didn't see anyone here."
"Thank you, sir!"
"Only this once."
"Yes, sir!"
With a faint smile, he turned and walked toward the classroom.
His back looked truly respectable.
I bowed deeply to him before sprinting toward the parking lot.
Thank you so much, sir.
It was just as the literature teacher had said.
Sia and Jeongho were talking in the parking lot.
Sia's expression looked troubled.
Jeongho's back looked unusually sinister today.
"S-Stop it!"
Sia's petulant voice echoed from the parking lot.
She looked like she absolutely hated whatever was happening.
Despite that, Jeongho was grabbing her arm by force.
...Sia hates it.
That bastard... what is he trying to do to Sia right now?
Stop it...
Anger toward Jeongho boiled up deep inside my chest.
I had considered Jeongho a friend.
I didn't care about his delinquent-like blonde hair or his sharp eyes.
Because Jeongho was actually a good guy...
Or so I thought.
I trusted you, of all people!!!
"Geum Jeongho... let go of her right now!!!"
I threw a straight punch right into Jeongho's face.
Taking the full force of my punch, Jeongho collapsed onto the ground.
"Ryu Hyunseong... are you crazy?"
"Shut up! Don't touch Sia... my Sia, you son of a bitch!!!"
Having completely lost my mind, I lunged at Jeongho.
"H-Hyunseong?!"
Sia seemed startled by my sudden appearance.
Don't worry, Sia. I'll protect you.
"Hey! Calm down!! Ryu Hyunseong!!"
"Shut up!! You're no friend of mine!! You piece of trash!!!"
With his face already swelling up, Jeongho tried to talk to me.
I didn't want to hear any of it.
The Jeongho in front of me was no longer a friend or anything else.
Like a wild beast, I relentlessly rained fists down on him.
"Please stop!! You're going to kill him!!"
Sia clung to my back, trying to pull me away.
"Sia...?"
Her sorrowful voice echoed in my ears.
That finally brought me back to my senses.
Sia... I'm sorry...
"I'm sorry..."
Feeling guilty, I extended a hand to the fallen Jeongho.
Having blindly resorted to violence without even knowing the situation...
Did I even have the right to apologize to him?
I had been so foolish.
"Whew... I told you, you've got it all wrong."
Jeongho coolly took my hand and pulled himself up.
A misunderstanding...
Right... there was no way Jeongho would do that...
Then what were Jeongho and Sia doing?
"Sia, sorry for dragging you out here so forcefully. I'll head out now."
Jeongho patted my shoulder coolly and headed back to class,
even with his face completely swollen.
"Hyunseong... why did you do that..."
"I'm sorry. I thought Jeongho was doing something to you..."
Sia was on the verge of tears.
She must have been terrified seeing me swing my fists like a wild animal.
Making the woman I love cry...
Is that what a man does?
"N-No. Jeongho was actually... trying to help me..."
"What do you mean?"
"Actually..."
"Actually...?"
Sia hesitated, as if about to confess something important.
Her face was bright red.
Did she have a fever?
Was she sick?
Was she about to confess she had a terminal illness?
"No... before that! Can you answer just one question for me?"
"Uh...? Sure... I don't mind..."
What on earth was she going to ask...?
Sia glared at me sharply.
An inexplicable tension hung in the parking lot.
"Are you really dating Jiwu?"
"No."
"U-Uh...? Really?"
It was such an absurd question, completely contrary to my expectations.
I denied it instantly.
Sia also seemed taken aback by my answer.
"B-But... Jiwu said she was dating you... and told me... to give up..."
"Wait... what? What does that mean...?"
Sia nervously twiddled her fingers.
She was freaking adorable, but...
that wasn't what was important right now.
What did Jiwu even say to Sia?
So... Jiwu and I were dating?
Why did she tell Sia such nonsense?
I had absolutely no idea what Jiwu was playing at.
"...Because I... l-like you, Hyunseong..."
"Sia...? R-Really?"
"W-Well... if I'm not around... you'd be a virgin for life... so I'm specially liking you. D-Don't get the wrong idea!!"
Sia... likes me too...?
This isn't a dream, right?
Really...?
"U-Uh...? H-Hyunseong...? W-What are you doing?!"
"Sia. I love you too. I really love you."
Overjoyed, I pulled Sia into a tight embrace.
Sia stammered, looking incredibly embarrassed,
but I didn't care and hugged her even tighter.
"Really...?"
"Yeah... we'll always be together. I'll stay by your side. So please stay by mine."
It was cheesy, but I conveyed my true feelings to her.
I felt a massive weight lift off my chest.
I would never make Sia cry again.
I would make her happy.
Because I loved her.
"...Hyunseong... should I try to be more honest too?"
"What do you mean?"
"I want to be honest too... I want to express my feelings... honestly... but... it's not easy..."
Just as she said, Sia wasn't very honest.
But I didn't care either way.
As long as it was Sia, that was enough for me.
But... was Sia okay with it?
"It's okay if you're not honest. You don't have to force yourself to change. You're still Sia, no matter what."
"...Is it really okay just the way I am now...?"
"Yeah. It's fine."
"If I'm not honest... it'll be hard on you..."
"It's fine. I'll figure out your true feelings myself."
"Don't you hate it... when I keep acting so prickly?"
"It's fine. I like you just the way you are."
If I told her she should change, it would only pressure her.
Just the way she was now was perfect.
I really loved Sia.
I hoped this feeling would never change...
"Hyuseog... thak you..."
Buried in my chest, Sia finally burst into tears.
I had just resolved never to make her cry again...
but since these weren't tears of sadness, it was fine.
And just like that, Sia and I have been dating for eight years now.
My feelings for her have never wavered.
"Sia, are you okay now?"
"Yeah..."
Since there had been a small commotion earlier...
it would have been a nuisance to stay in the coffee shop.
Sia looked drained of energy.
So we left the cafe and sat down on a nearby bench to rest.
"Sia. Once I succeed as a web novel author... I'll propose to you... When that time comes... please m-marry me!"
I delivered a half-proposal with a dead-serious expression.
It was embarrassing... but I absolutely had to say it.
I hoped my sincerity would reach her...!
"W-What...? I-I don't have any thoughts of marriage y-yet... well, it's not that I don't..."
Sia seemed flustered by my sudden proposal.
Her eyes dilated, and her face flushed bright red.
She looked so lovely.
"Once I make it big with web novels... make sure to give me your answer."
"Okay... I'll wait."
Sia hung her head in embarrassment.
She was lovely. Adorable. I loved her so much.
I will definitely succeed with web novels and make Sia my wife.
That is my ultimate goal!
"Also, Sia. That outfit looks really good on you today."
"S-Suddenly...?"
A pure white frilled dress that perfectly complemented her fair skin and long brown hair.
I felt incredibly deeply moved that Sia was my girlfriend!
"I-I just threw on whatever because I thought I'd be late. It's not like I spent hours agonizing over what to wear for you!! So... don't get so excited..."
She looked embarrassed, but seeing the faint smile playing on her lips,
she had 100% spent hours agonizing over it for me.
We had already been dating for eight years.
I could read her true feelings to some extent.
This was all thanks to my burning affection for her.
"Sia, I really love you."
"...I love you... too..."
I wished the time I spent with Sia could last forever.
Because I would always stay by her side.
I hoped Sia would always stay by mine, too.
Though I was strapped for cash now after cutting ties with my father...
thanks to my efforts over the past eight years, I had become an established author with an assigned editor.
Even though... I was just a struggling writer struggling to pay rent...
The promise I made to my mother, who was no longer in this world.
And the heart of Sia, who stayed by my side.
I couldn't let either of them down.
I will definitely succeed with web novels.