Lunchtime for Just the Two of Us
The morning after the entrance ceremony. I stuffed my bag full of textbooks and reference books, getting ready for the walk to school. I'd already gotten acquainted with some of my classmates in the same homeroom, so from now on, it was time to focus on my duties as a student: studying.
"Oppa~ You forgot your lunch~"
"Ah, thanks."
I took the lunchbox from my little sister and headed out, eventually reaching the subway station. The moment I arrived, I was greeted by the packed interior of the train. Another suffocating commute today, I thought as I boarded. That's when I spotted a familiar face amid the crowd.
Yoo Soeun. The genius who had snatched the top spot right out from under me, and now my seatmate in class. Just like the first time I'd seen her, she was deeply engrossed in a book despite the throng of people, paying no real attention to her surroundings.
What's she gonna do if some creep takes advantage of her like that? As her classmate, I couldn't just stand by and watch. Feeling uneasy, I pushed through the crowd and greeted her directly.
"Reading again, huh."
"……."
Her gaze flicked toward me at my greeting. Her face was still as inscrutable as ever. I stared at the book in her hand and tossed out a question.
"From the first time I saw you, it seems like you really love reading."
Not some fantasy novel or comic that kids our age fall for easily, but classic literature. A hobby truly befitting the class topper. Finally, she parted her expressionless lips and spoke to me.
"You…… can read books?"
"……Hey, I'm the second-place student here. Isn't treating me like I'm illiterate a bit much?"
Well, I knew she didn't mean it as an insult.
"I read classics now and then to build some culture. Lately, it was Moby-Dick and The Stranger……."
I kept chatting, trying to show off a little, and her eyes drifted downward. They landed on the cover of her book—a title I recognized well.
"Shakespeare anthology, huh. Not a bad choice."
"Like it?"
"Hate it or like it? Definitely like. He's a giant who left his mark on world literature history, after all."
The downside was that he wrote plays, not novels, so the scripts were short. But on the flip side, that brevity allowed his shocking influence to echo through to modern times. Whether it was comedies that made people laugh or tragedies that left deep resonances…….
I had dreams of making my own name later in life, so I couldn't help but admire someone who'd achieved that kind of impact.
"If you like Shakespeare, want some other recommendations? My personal favorites are……."
Maybe because we were bonding over this? My words flowed easily, opening up a conversation, and she listened quietly without a hint of annoyance. Sure, it was mostly me talking one-sidedly, but for high schoolers our age, sharing a hobby like this was something to be grateful for.
-The doors are opening.
But my hopes for the chat to continue were short-lived. After a few stops, the crowd swelled, and the cramped space started pressing in on us both.
"You okay?"
"……Ugh."
She looked uncomfortable too. Unable to focus on talking or reading amid the crush, I pulled her out and guided her toward the relatively open spot by the wall.
"Come over here."
I positioned her with her back to the wall, blocking the incoming crowd with my body…… Yeah, that way, at least she'd be free from the pressure. Of course, I'd have to bear most of the weight, but between a growing teenage boy and a frail girl, who could handle it better was obvious.
"This way, you won't get squished."
"……."
Yoo Soeun stared at me silently. Her usual unreadable quiet. But before I could ask what was up, the train lurched with a loud CLUNK!, tilting my body sharply.
Damn, if I stay like this, she'll get crushed.
-Thud!
I thrust both hands out to brace against the walls on either side of her head. I barely kept from crushing her, but her eyes went wide with shock at my sudden move.
"H-Hey, I'm fine. Just a little wobble."
Was I some adult who couldn't handle this? Bracing with all my strength against the pressing weight, I forced a smile to calm her rattled nerves.
"It'll take a while to get there, so keep reading your book. I can at least give you that much space."
"Uh, yeah."
She nodded at my words, opening her book and turning back to the pages. With nowhere else to look, my gaze naturally drifted there too, and I caught the chapter title she was on: A Midsummer Night's Dream. One of Shakespeare's five great comedies, about three couples in love.
"……."
Her face looked especially flushed as she read it—probably just the lingering shock from the jolt. Yeah, that had to be it. With a vague unease nagging at me, I silently wished this situation would end soon.
*****
After arriving at school, classes proper began. For now, though, it was mostly introductions to teachers and subjects—no real review material yet. Naturally, students prioritized making friends over studying, so breaks were filled with chatter and pranks among new acquaintances.
Groups started forming in the classroom, including one centered around me with four people total.
"You see that soccer game yesterday? It was 2-2, super tense, then our team nailed the reversal shot—total catharsis!"
"Jiho, you're always talking soccer on breaks. How about mixing it up sometimes?"
"Yeah, yeah~ Better than just kicking a ball around. On that note, I catch every new anime season!"
"……Comics are fine, but you're actually studying, right?"
The upbeat athlete Shin Jiho, the surprisingly mature Jin Seohyeon, and Lee Nari with her otaku vibes that belied her age. They were all sociable and full of energy, so chatting with them made me feel more and more like part of the class group.
Yeah, if these relationships held, my school life would go smoothly. But what about my seatmate?
I glanced toward her, and sure enough, she was keeping to herself amid a cluster of girls, just like yesterday. They seemed polished and popular—total "in-crowd" types. I worried if the quiet, timid girl really fit in, but I decided not to meddle. School was a microcosm of society, and butting into other cliques wasn't ideal.
"Ugh, lunch time! First school lunch here—what's it like?"
"Heard it's buffet-style. Pricey, though……."
"Whatever. It's all on our parents' dime—not our problem."
Lunchtime arrived amid the buzz of anticipation for the school's first meal. Shin Jiho turned to me with an obvious invite.
"Cheolsu, you're eating with us, right?"
"Sorry, I brought a lunchbox. Looks like you'll have to go without me."
"What, Kim Cheol? Picky eater at your age?"
"The plight of the poor commoner—keep that in mind."
Private schools meant families footed most of the bill for meals like this.
"Ahem, fine. But hit the field after eating?"
"Got it—get the ball ready."
Shin Jiho and the others left for soccer plans. Now I was alone in the classroom, the lively noise giving way to silence.
So lunchtimes will be lonely from now on. Bringing a lunch saved pocket money, but…… it felt pretty isolating.
"Um, ex……."
But as I swallowed my bitterness, someone approached quietly and spoke up. Realizing I wasn't alone, I turned toward the voice.
It was Yoo Soeun from the next seat, pulling out a wrapped bundle.
"Can I…… eat?"
Her tentative question left me blankly repeating it for a moment.
"……Eat?"
"Lunchbox, next to……."
Even with her group, she had a lunchbox too? Guess everyone had their own struggles. As I vaguely realized that, she stood and turned to leave.
"If it's a bother, I'll go somewhere else. The bathroom or……."
"Hey, who eats in the bathroom? Ruins the appetite."
And mine would suffer too. Resigned, I quietly shifted my desk to face hers.
"Might as well eat together. Mind if I move the desk?"
"……Even so, okay?"
"What's to refuse? Just a meal."
She hesitated, then nodded and sat across from me. We unpacked our bundles, showing off our lunches. Hers was homely, full of loving care. Mine was a jumbo portion that could rival the buffet…….
"So much food."
"……Gotta eat it. My loving little sister made it."
"Little sis?"
"Yeah. I usually prep my own in the morning, but she got confident in her cooking and insisted on handling lunches from now on. Not sure if it's admirable or overzealous……."
Either way, it was from my beloved sister—I'd eat it gratefully. As we ate, she stared at me and asked softly.
"Good at cooking…… like?"
"Huh?"
"Someone good at cooking…… like?"
I like it. Coming from a girl our age, it could mean something—but a bit of thought showed it didn't. We'd only met a day or two ago; no way.
"I do. Good cooks won't starve, and it makes for a great wife material."
In that sense, my sister would be top-tier with a few tweaks. Of course, I'd vet her future husband strictly. As I finished eating, I noticed her face growing serious.
"Good…… wife……."
Did my words hit a nerve? Whatever the reason, zoning out instead of eating wasn't good.
"Hey, you haven't eaten much. Lunchtime'll end…… Huh?"
Mid-sentence, I sensed someone at the classroom door. Glancing over instinctively, I saw a girl from another class glaring right at us.
Blonde hair in twintails—something no ordinary Korean would have. A peer who was all too familiar to me…….
"……."
Uh oh. How long had Mary been standing there?