Sunset Classroom: Mother's Love Overflowed Excessively
Mother's love had been so overwhelmingly generous it was like cramming a mountain sheep's worth of meat into my stomach. The aftermath hit me hard the next day, leaving me queasy.
"Urgh."
During break time, as my group of friends crowded around me, they started reacting one by one.
"Manbung, what's up? You look sick."
"You pregnant or something? How many months along?"
"......That's not a joke you make to a guy. I just overate yesterday, and it's still not digested."
"Oh, soccer's perfect for digestion. Wanna play at lunch?"
"Why's it always soccer with you?"
"'Cause soccer is life itself! Just watch—by the time we graduate, I'll be on the national team gunning for the World Cup!"
Man, if only I could live as thoughtlessly as this guy.
I chuckled at that, but then I noticed Soeun, sitting right next to me, staring straight at me.
Come to think of it, after I blackmailed the class president a while back, she'd been kicked out of her clique. I'd seen her alone in the library reading books since then, but today was different. She was just sitting at her desk, staring at my face.
......She must be locked in with that intense focus of hers. And after I walked her home and introduced her to Mom, her interest had probably only grown.
"Ahem."
How could I leave a kid who cared that much about me feeling lonely? Feeling oddly responsible, I turned to Soeun and invited her casually.
"Soeun, wanna hang with us if you're okay with it?"
"Oh, our vice prez is straight-up flirting with the top student now?"
"Flirting...... From what I saw, Soeun was the one staring at Manbung nonstop."
"Mutual interest, huh? A match made in heaven."
"Don't jump to conclusions. Soeun and I aren't like that."
Not yet, anyway. I swallowed those last words and glanced her way again. She nodded and pulled her chair over, joining our circle.
"Heh, first the vice prez, now the top student. We're a full-on elite squad now!"
"Says the guy who ranked dead last in the mock exams."
"Soccer-wise, I'm number one—not bad!"
"Even then, you lose to Manbung."
"Gah! Hitting me where it hurts! Fine, Manbung—you and me, soccer showdown today! Rooftop, let's go!"
"......How do you even play soccer on the rooftop?"
The soccer-obsessed idiot kept yapping about it, while the other two cracked up egging him on. It wasn't a bad time for me at all, and I hoped she felt the same now that she'd just joined.
And maybe my wish got through a little?
"Pfft."
Suddenly, Soeun's laugh cut through our chatter. The three of us froze and turned to her.
"Whoa, top student's smiling."
"First time seeing her laugh. Thought she was emotionless with that blank face every day."
"Of course she'd crack—there's a total clown in the mix."
"What? That me you're talking about?"
"Who else? Jealous? Catch me if you can!"
"You're on—I'll show you my soccer-honed sprint! Hey, over there, Nari!"
Shin Jiho and Lee Nari launched into their usual chase. The rowdy vibe seemed to amuse Soeun, a small smile tugging at her lips. Relief washed over me.
Good. The tragic future from my precognitive dream was gone for good.
If this atmosphere lasted, it'd be perfect.
I spent the rest of school like that, and when dismissal rolled around, I started packing up with Soeun to head home together.
But it didn't last.
"Vice president. Class prez said give her this."
Thud. A thick stack of documents landed in front of me.
My eyes narrowed instinctively, shooting toward Baek Hara's seat—but she was already gone.
"......Where's the prez?"
"Family rite today, left early."
Rite my ass. She just dumped it on me with some lame excuse.
It felt petty, paying back last time's grudge like this, but chasing her down now would look desperate. Revenge could wait. Someone had to do the work anyway.
"Sigh. This'll take all night."
Tsking, I sat back down. As I braced for solo paperwork, someone reached for the stack.
"I'll...... help too."
Yoo Soeun. My seatmate, the friend I walked home with...... no, more than that now.
"No need. You can head home first......"
"Together......"
She grabbed some papers despite my protest. Her flushed face and trembling eyes showed this was her own will, not some order.
"I just...... want to be with you. Even a little."
Just to be together. Being near the one she liked was enough.
I couldn't push away someone who wanted that so badly. I handed her part of the stack.
"Alright, just a bit then."
****
Scratch-scratch, rustle.
In the classroom now empty except for us, only paper and pen sounds filled the air. In that utter silence, time slipped by. The stack dwindled, and outside, the sun sank behind distant mountains, dyeing the sky in twilight hues.
"Haaah...... Finally done."
I stretched after finishing, turning to Soeun with sincere thanks.
"You worked hard too, Soeun. Just drop this at the office, and we're good to go home."
"It's...... over?"
"Yeah, rest up at home now...... Soeun?"
She pushed her empty desk aside without hesitation, fixing her gaze straight on me. The heat in her eyes made my cheeks tingle, and I could already guess what she'd say next.
"Can I...... kiss you?"
"......"
"......Too much?"
She held back, aware it might be a bother. But once the words were out, I had to take them seriously. I'd vowed not to deny feelings directed at me anymore, using past trauma as an excuse.
"You want to that badly?"
I gave her an opening, and after a hesitant pause, she reined in her desire.
"I do...... but not yet."
"Not yet?"
"We're not...... dating."
Right—I'd told her yesterday. This stuff was only for couples.
"If we date...... then okay?"
So here, now, she was asking. To date her for real. To give her the chance she wanted.
"......Sorry."
Even with my resolve, I wasn't ready to accept it all. I still didn't know how to handle someone who loved me.
Until I figured that out, dating felt risky.
"For now...... dating's tough."
"Then......"
"But."
Actions over feelings. Even if my heart lagged, I didn't have to hold back completely.
"I've decided...... not to ignore my feelings anymore."
So maybe I could accept a little of what she felt for me.
Gathering courage to take a step toward her, I gripped her shoulders gently and asked one last time.
"......Is someone like me okay?"
Really. Was it alright to give her first pure love to a coward like this?
"Yeah. You're fine."
As if that was enough, she closed her eyes and leaned in. I met her halfway, lips parting to respond to her heart.
Bathed in sunset light, against the quiet of the empty classroom, slowly. But surely drawing closer, touching, etching the sensation into my mind.
"Satisfied now?"
A simple act, if you could call it that. Just membranes meeting, sharing a bit of warmth.
"......One more."
Yet so addictive. Her eyes lost focus, completely entranced, her hands on my shoulders fidgeting like she couldn't hold back.
"Just one more."
I couldn't refuse that plea. Swallowing my embarrassment, I kissed her again.
Longer this time. Savoring the moistness of her lips even more.
"One more......"
Not enough? As our lips parted, she begged again. I hesitated, starting to pull my hands from her shoulders.
"......Any more's too much."
"Just once."
She clung to my hands, pleading more desperately than ever—the girl lost in love.
"One more...... please?"
Her touch was cool as snow, but the emotion burning from her was a roaring flame. Unable to resist,
"Okay, just once more...... Mmph."
Before I could even agree reluctantly, she pressed in uncontrollably. Accepting it, I dove deeper into the moment, embracing her feelings.
Hotter, deeper than before......
Accepting this expressed affection made the act more intense, colored by memories of my past life.
Yeah, a feeling I never knew when love was one-sided. Kissing wasn't dry desire clashing—it let you feel the other's heart so purely.
Courtship from someone who loves you.
Accepting it was this sweet, this addictive.
"Ah, mmph......"
Meanwhile, in the school hallway after all students had left.
A girl had stayed, hoping to comfort a lone boy. But now, she shuddered in denial at the scene beyond the classroom door behind her.
"Mmph. Mmmph...!"
If she didn't clamp her mouth, a scream would escape. Terrified of the irreversible consequences, she gripped her lips, her mind going blank as the image burned into her brain.
That sight was so shocking.
A taboo that should never happen in reality.
What the hell...... is that?
What happened while I was gone......?
Over ten years of built trust cracked.
A seed of doubt sprouted in the girl's fragile heart.