Ryu's House # 1
Ryu's House # 1
I felt like I'd just heard something completely absurd, something beyond comprehension. What did he just say? Did Ryu just threaten me into coming over to his house?
It was such an unrealistic thing to say that I had to double-check his face.
"...!"
The expression I saw was anger.
Agitation.
And a bunch of other emotions like that.
"Hey, Ryu?"
"Why are you calling me?"
"Don't tell me... you're pissed off because I haven't come over to your house?"
"What?"
"I said, are you sulking because I haven't come over?!"
"Wh—! You bastard, what kind of misunderstanding—"
Right then!
—I shot up!
Out of my seat!
"Guys!"
And I shouted to my friends!
This is insane, huge news. A matter so significant I had to inform my friends immediately!
"Guys! Listen! Ryu! Ryu's mad at me, asking why I haven't come over to his house!"
The moment I yelled that.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?"
My friends looked back, puzzled.
"Y-you crazy Taliban bastard! Shut up right now!"
Ryu grabbed my shoulders, his face flushing like he was embarrassed!
"Hey, you jerk! Where do you think you're touching!"
"Touching you?! Shut your mouth this instant, you lunatic!"
Was this bastard actually getting desperate? No! I can't let that happen! I can't have a guy obsessing over me after already sucking on my thigh—that must never happen!
"Help! Ryu's obsessed with me!"
"I said shut up, for god's sake!"
"Shut up, my ass! You're the one who told me to come!"
The one who farted is getting mad, and the one who told me to come is yelling at me—what am I supposed to do?
"It's a misunderstanding, I tell you! I have no desire to let a Taliban bastard like you into my home!"
"What? Then what is it?"
"I'm not calling you because I want to!"
What the hell did that even mean?
I decided to calm down and hear Ryu out. He wasn't doing it because he wanted to, he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's nothing else but... the family!"
The family?
"The family keeps telling me to call you over! That's why I'm asking—do you think there's any other reason?! So please, shut your mouth, you crazy Taliban bastard!"
"No, wait. Why does your family want me to come?"
I was clearly invited by Ryu's older sister, Ryu A-ra, not formally invited by his family.
The two might look similar, but there's a massive difference. A friend's older sister asking you to hang out versus a friend's family requesting your presence carries completely different weight.
"Wasn't it your sister who invited me?"
"That's what I'm saying, that sister person!"
Ryu pounded his chest as if utterly frustrated, spitting out words that had been festering inside him.
"She went and spread stories about you all over the family! So now they're making a damn plague of it, insisting I bring you over!"
"What? Plague! Hey! Ryu! What do you mean calling your family a plague?!"
I mean, there are words you can use and words you can't!
"I can use that word!"
"What?! Y-you... are you truly the same bastard who insulted my parents...!"
Ryu muttered at my remark, clearly displeased.
Of course, that was that, and this is this.
"I had a serious reason, but you shouldn't be doing that! Apologize right now! Using that kind of language about your family...! I didn't know you were that kind of guy, Ryu!"
"Oh, damn it! I admit it was a slip of the tongue! So shut up and come to my house!"
"Well, about that."
Just as I was about to respond.
"Hold on! Both of you, calm down!"
Si-hoo intervened!
"Si-hoo!"
"You're both too loud! If you don't want to get chewed out by the instructor, keep it down!"
Good point!
"Lee Si-hoo, you... I see."
Wait, but this bastard?
Ryu hadn't listened to a word I said, but when Si-hoo spoke, he nodded and sat back down.
"Understood."
"Hey. This is so damn unfair. Ryu. You totally blow me off, but when Si-hoo talks, you listen like that?"
"Lee Si-hoo is my equal, though a slightly weaker fighter. I can certainly hear out the opinion of such a person."
"Then what about me? I'm someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with the Dragon Family's own Dragon Sky, Young Master Ryu, aren't I?"
"Stop talking bullshit! I do not stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of you! You're provoking me into harsher words!"
I was genuinely dumbfounded.
"If you keep talking, I feel like my fist might fly! Anyway! That's all I wanted to say. My family wants to see you, so you, Taliban, come over right away. Got it?"
"Well, about that."
"I don't want to agonize over this any longer. It's annoying..."
Ryu spoke as if he believed beyond a doubt that I would come.
Well.
I had originally intended to visit.
But now that his family was suddenly summoning me, I felt a weird pressure along with the burden of it all.
Generally, going to a friend's house to hang out is no big deal, but it's kind of like when a friend's family specifically names you and says "come over." Makes it hard to just casually show up.
It just feels a bit off.
Now I couldn't just go over for fun anymore.
"Just for reference... what do I do if I go?"
"Nothing special. You just have to go and act like my friend."
"Act like your friend?!"
What the hell, is this some rom-com where I have to pretend to be the female lead's boyfriend to fool people? Act like a friend?!
This is insane!
"So come over today. I want to be free from that tiresome nagging too."
He looked utterly displeased, and I felt the same way.
"Hey! No! I'm not going!"
"What?! You were singing about wanting to come—what the hell are you doing now!"
"Today's no good! I have training today!"
Truth be told, today was the day I got swordsmanship lessons from Yu-ri. This was really fortunate. Yu-ri would be able to block Ryu for me.
"Ha! Even if you train, you're just a chicken with flippers!"
"What kind of metaphor is that?"
"I'm saying it's utterly useless."
"Hurk!"
"Ha. Seems this Taliban bastard does have some pride after all."
Ryu said it like he found it absolutely hilarious.
"Ryu Cheon-hwi, this bastard... ignoring me. Don't tell me you want to get Mun-Minned?"
"Mun Min?"
"Don't use a person's name as a verb for a specific action!"
Mun Min, who'd been quiet, cut in.
Not now, obviously.
"Oh. You were there, Mun Min? Mun Min, you stay quiet too unless you want to get 'Mun-Minned'."
"You're being a real ass, seriously!"
It's okay to be an ass to Mun Min.
"Anyway, Yu-ri! Say something!"
"Ugh, this pathetic little shit."
Yu-ri, who had been face-down, shuffled over while scratching the back of her head.
Good! My champion has arrived!
"Hey, hey. Kim Geun-cheol. No matter what, you call a girl first when you've got a problem? Is it right to go tattling to me? Huh?"
"No, Yu-ri. Girl or whatever, you're my teacher and I'm your student. Take care of it properly."
"That's my line, you little shit."
—Smack!
Yu-ri smacked my back as she said that.
"Ack!"
That hurt!
"Oh my god. What's with the 'ack'? Honestly. Having to cover for a guy who hides behind a girl. Hey. Ryu Cheon-hwi."
Anyway, Yu-ri walked up to Ryu and spoke. As expected of my reliable teacher. With Yu-ri around, there's nothing to fear.
"Kim Geun-cheol here has business with me today, okay? This was a prior engagement, so either do it some other day, or don't."
"Hmph."
Ryu looked at Yu-ri for a moment.
"I see."
He nodded as if he accepted it.
"Understood."
What's with this bastard?
Why is he being so meek?
"Happy now? Seriously, this pathetic kid. Why Leona even bothers with him... anyway, just get ready for your lesson today and work hard."
"Yes! Thank you, Teacher!"
"Ugh."
Yu-ri clicked her tongue skeptically and went back to her spot, flopping down.
"And why do you listen to Yu-ri right away like that?"
I immediately asked Ryu.
"She is the daughter of Woo Tae-kyung, an Awakened being who runs a superhuman combat arts dojo. In terms of family, there is some connection. When someone like that says she is teaching you, it is not my place to interfere."
Wow.
"Why's he suddenly talking all smart?"
"Are you saying I'm an idiot?!"
Seems about right, though.
"Then let's do it tomorrow. Ryu."
"I wanted to shed this burden right away, but... I suppose I can barely endure for one day."
Well, I was a little reluctant to go, but when you're invited, you should go. The Ryuseong Group are seriously impressive people.
"So, Tuesday's schedule is going to Ryu's house—"
The moment I murmured that and jotted it down.
"Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Leona?"
For some reason, an angry Leona appeared?
"Hearing this, I can't listen any longer! Isn't tomorrow our study day?! You averaged 68 points! Where do you think you're running off to! Come here this instant!"
"What? I have to study again?"
"Then you won't?!!"
Leona's pretty face was twisting! She charged over, grabbed my ear and pulled, yelling!
"Are you going to study or not! Are you taking my lessons or not! Don't you know tomorrow is my time!"
I felt like I'd been dragged to Namsan!
"Aaargh! I'll do it! I'll do it! My ear! My ear's coming off!"
"Okay. Good."
The moment I said I would, Leona let go of my ear and gave me a sweet look. Yeah... that's the Leona I know. This kindness is the best!
"No! Leona! Weren't you an angel?! Why'd you get so scary!"
"Kim Geun-cheol, your grades make me scary sometimes...! Take responsibility! It's all your fault!"
I admit it!
"Leona Kainus! Tomorrow is my time!"
"Ryu Cheon-hwi! The loser should quietly accept defeat!"
"Grrk!"
But seriously.
"Please! You guys! What am I supposed to do?!"
When exactly am I supposed to schedule this, then?
"Geun-cheol, for god's sake! How long are you gonna let girls push you around?!"
"You're an even more pathetic creature than I imagined."
At that moment, Si-hoo yelled, and Ryu, who'd been staring at me, threw in a remark too. Fine. Then I'll set the time myself.
"Ah, fine! Since Ryu's calling me, I'll come this Sunday! Happy?!"
"Sunday?!"
A startled Ryu and—
"Wait, Geun-cheol?"
Why Si-hoo too?
"Weren't we supposed to go to the PC café on Sunday?"
"Ah."
"Geun-cheol, you're dead. Seriously, my fists are trembling and my mana's bubbling up. Geun-cheol, what do you take friendship foorrr!!!"
Help!
* * *
In the end.
After various compromises and twists and turns, it was decided—I'd go to Ryu's house on Wednesday.
Coincidentally, Yu-ri also had some family matter on Wednesday and had to leave a bit early, so that made the compromise possible. Anyway, today was a slightly overcast Wednesday. As soon as school ended, I got into Ryu's limousine and headed for his place.
But.
"Seriously... Ryu."
I was dumbfounded.
I turned around and spoke to Ryu, who was sitting right behind me.
"Who puts a guest in the passenger seat?"
"You are not a guest. Stay seated there."
"I've never been treated this coldly in my life."
I glared at Ryu, but he was looking out the window, so my attack didn't land. So I said:
"I'm gonna tell A-ra everything."
"Oh, for Christ's sake! Cut the crap!"
"Hee hee hee."
"Since when did my sister become your 'big sis'?!"
From what I'd seen, she seemed like someone who'd gladly become my big sis if it meant she could mess with her little brother, though.
