New Skill # 2
New Skill # 2
ㅡYum.
Si-hoo silently picked up the meat, chewed, and emptied the bowl. Guess it tasted good. But why did I feel that cold aura coming off him just now?
Don't tell me Si-hoo is upset? He was practically beaming at the thought of eating just a minute ago.
"Geun-cheol."
"Uh, uh, yeah?"
Then Si-hoo spoke with a smile.
"This is pretty nice."
"What is?"
"Actually, getting meals together in the dorms was kind of a hassle. But this—buying groceries from the mart and cooking them yourself. I think it's really good."
"Right? I was just thinking the exact same thing."
So that cold feeling was just my imagination? Si-hoo nodded as if satisfied.
He must've been quiet for a moment while thinking about how to handle dinner from now on. And I thought he was in a bad mood. I was freaking out, thinking my cooking was fucking awful.
I do take pride in my cooking, you know.
"You know, I usually just have something from Don-gapnaegi for dinner every night. Now that I've actually cooked properly, it really does seem a lot better."
"Yeah. Honestly, it's probably healthier than grabbing something from the school store. You hate vegetables, Geun-cheol."
"You sound just like Leona."
"If you weren't so bad about eating them, would Leona even say anything? Anyway, Geun-cheol. Since we're..."
We're?
"Next-door neighbors, right?"
"That's right."
"Why don't we buy ingredients like this and cook dinner together from now on? It'll probably work out cheaper."
"You mean, buy ingredients and cook for ourselves?"
"Yeah. Then we won't have to worry about dinner."
Buying stuff from the mart and cooking our meals, just like today?
"Ooh."
Thinking about it, that was super efficient. If we cooked all the time, I'd end up eating my vegetables too, just like Leona keeps nagging me about.
Honestly, I'd been missing a proper home-cooked meal. If we cook for ourselves, there's nothing better than that.
"Let's do it! And if we make side dishes, let's share!"
"That's exactly it. Wanna start tomorrow?"
"Hell yeah! Si-hoo, man, you've got a good head on your shoulders!"
We can actually cook in the dorms!
This is awesome!
"So, Si-hoo, I cooked today. Does that mean you're cooking something for me tomorrow?"
"Hmm, but I don't have any ingredients. I'll have to go to the mart."
"The mart? Let's just go together."
"What? You've got all kinds of stuff going on, Geun-cheol."
"Ah, yeah, I guess so."
But, you know.
"We'll figure it out. If I have time, I'll come pick you up."
"Okay. Let's do that then. Geun-cheol, even if it's a bit late tomorrow, we're going to the mart together and then cooking, got it?"
"Okay. Whew. Look at that. There are some real perks to living in the dorms with a friend."
"I guess so. Hehe."
Si-hoo seemed to cheer up instantly, smiling as he spoke. Just like that, we finished eating together.
"Take care."
"Ah, Geun-cheol. The dishes."
"I'll do 'em. But you're doing 'em tomorrow."
"Okay!"
After sending Si-hoo off, I stripped down and headed into the bathroom.
"Whew, time to wash up and sleep."
I'm fucking exhausted.
Still, starting tomorrow, I get to eat a healthy dinner without a single worry. Just thinking about it sets my mind at ease.
"Thanks, Leona."
It's all thanks to Leona, isn't it?
* * *
Lee Si-hoo was lost in thought.
"*Sigh.*"
Up until hearing Geun-cheol had cooked, Si-hoo's heart had been pounding. Not sure why, but it felt really good. Then, hearing about Leona, the mood deflated again.
Those two had been getting closer at an alarming rate lately.
"And Leona is the one throwing herself at him, too!"
ㅡ*Whump!*
Shouting loudly, Lee Si-hoo buried a face into the pillow.
"*Hngh!*"
How on earth do you explain this feeling?
Looking at Geun-cheol when he's with Leona makes Si-hoo's heart oddly uncomfortable.
It should be a heartwarming sight—the thoughtful Leona taking care of that idiot Geun-cheol. Yet, Lee Si-hoo felt this weird discomfort watching it.
"*Haah!*"
Even Si-hoo was confused.
Thinking such things about her friend Leona felt like harboring ill intentions, which made Si-hoo deeply uncomfortable. The thoughts were as stifling as the bandages around her chest, so Lee Si-hoo lay on the bed and launched into a furious blanket kick.
"*Hrngh!*"
After kicking the blanket, a question arose.
"No, wait. Why is Leona taking such good care of Geun-cheol in the first place?"
Lately, Leona had been looking after Geun-cheol excessively. Sure, Geun-cheol had his dumb moments and could be a bit unreliable, but... he also had ambition and showed that he worked hard.
She didn't need to hover over him like he was a little kid. So why was Leona so fixated on Geun-cheol?
"It's not like she's his mother. Why pamper him so much?"
Si-hoo didn't want to think badly of a friend, but this was blatant overprotection. Leona was totally overprotecting Geun-cheol.
Just like an overbearing parent.
"Overprotection can actually make things worse, you know."
Si-hoo wasn't an expert on parenting, but everyone knows parental overprotection is a bad thing. You have to be strict when necessary, scold when needed, only then can a kid grow up right.
Leona was just doting on Geun-cheol way too much. Handling everything from A to Z. If this kept up—
"Geun-cheol is going to turn into a total mama's boy."
...But even after saying it, it felt odd.
"But Leona isn't even his real mom, so what's with 'mama's boy'... Wait a sec?"
In a flash, bits of Geun-cheol's past streaked through Lee Si-hoo's mind like lightning. The orphanage carousel... Geun-cheol is an orphan. He had an underprivileged childhood.
"N-No. That's weird."
Si-hoo remembered again.
The way Geun-cheol didn't really reject Leona's fussing, even though it was like a helicopter mom.
Maybe, because Geun-cheol grew up an orphan... Not saying it's a bad thing. But maybe, because he'd never had someone fuss over him like that, he just genuinely liked it when Leona did it?
Normally, a grown high schooler wouldn't like a classmate doting on them like some overbearing parent. That's normal. That's standard. But Geun-cheol wasn't standard, was he.
"Oh no!"
At this rate, who knows what'll happen to Geun-cheol!
Leona's care was just getting stronger. Hell, didn't they go grocery shopping together today? If she took one more step, she'd be coming into his dorm to cook for him, and after that...!
"*Gah! I can't let this happen!*"
Whatever it takes, I need to divert Geun-cheol's attention, just a little!
Right. This isn't about seeing Leona in a bad light. It's just about gently correcting Geun-cheol so he can be a bit better off. That's all.
"As a friend...! Friendship! Right! It's friendship!"
Still, he's my best friend. I can't just let him turn into some mama's boy. As his friend, I have to set him straight.
"Alright."
Lee Si-hoo made a resolution.
Starting tomorrow, I'll take good care of Geun-cheol. Once I slowly fix his way of thinking like that, he'll surely be able to graduate from Leona trying to mother him.
"But, hold on."
A thought suddenly struck.
What exactly is Geun-cheol to me, anyway? What is he that I think about him this much? More than anything, right now... what am I most afraid of?
"..."
Having Leona steal Geun-cheol away from me...?
"No!"
He was never mine to begin with! Plus, he thinks I'm a guy! There's no point even thinking like that!
Just a friend!
Geun-cheol is nothing more than a friend!
"*Aargh!*"
With those thoughts, Lee Si-hoo crawled into the covers. Lately, her heart had been too unbearably ticklish to stand.
* * *
"Geun-cheol!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"We're definitely going to the mart today!"
"Sure... No, but why are you so pumped up this early in the morning?"
I was dead tired, but Si-hoo was practically bursting at the seams with energy. He must've had a good night's sleep or something.
"Just 'cause. Gotta start the day with some energy. I feel like I've been dragging a bit lately!"
"You've been dragging?"
I dunno about that.
"What's that supposed to mean, Geun-cheol? You don't care about my changes? Huh? And you call yourself a friend?"
Si-hoo narrowed his eyes and jabbed a finger into my side.
"*Ack! No! What's even different about you!*"
"Absolutely nothing. Now let's go!"
"Yeah."
I followed the oddly energetic Si-hoo into the classroom. We greeted our friends like usual, I got an earful of nagging from Leona, and then took my seat. I was chatting a bit with Ryu, who sat behind me, when Instructor Lee So-ra came in for morning assembly.
And then first period started.
"Hello~ Hello~! It's your idol, Instructor Kawar! Everyone, cheer!"
Si-hoo wasn't the only one with way too much energy this morning. This magic instructor was in an amazingly good mood, too, forcing us to clap.
ㅡ*clap clap clap!*
ㅡ*clap clap clap!*
ㅡ*clap clap clap!*
Once we'd given a reasonable amount of applause, the lesson began.
Like always, we pushed our desks aside.
"Kim Geun-cheol! Come up front!"
Instructor Kawar was calling me out again!
"Seriously, Instructor Kawar. Are we really doing this again?"
"You know the drill by now, don't you? There's no one quite like Kim Geun-cheol for this."
I stood up, gesturing as if begging her to spare me, but she just grinned slyly and beckoned me over.
By now, my classmates pretty much took it for granted that I'd be called to the front. Damn. It really hits me all over again how important the first impression you make at the start of the semester is in school.
"Uh, can I nominate someone?"
"Who?"
"Mun Min! Mun Min, get over here!"
"What the hell are you talking about! No way!"
I said it without even looking at his face, but Mun Min's irritation came through loud and clear.
"See? That Mun Min guy is full of energy too, right?"
"Hmm, it's not nice to bully your friends, Geun-cheol."
"I wasn't bullying—"
"Punishment for bullying! Now, hurry up and be a good teaching prop!"
Ah, dammit.
"Alright, then! Let's all dive into the world of magic together with yours truly, Instructor Kawar, once again today!"
"Yes, ma'am."
Whatever it is, if it's 'learning,' doing it seriously is my motto.
Alright! Let's get it!