The Frog in the Well (2)
Unfortunately, my retribution did not last long. An old security guard making his rounds discovered me enthusiastically beating the girl. He immediately subdued me and reported the matter straight to the guard captain. Sadly, by the time the captain reached the school, the situation had already ended.
“Uh… uh… ugh…”
The guard captain kept letting out strange groans the moment he saw the girl’s condition. He even looked ready to collapse, clutching the back of his neck, and had to be supported by the other guards. Even I had to admit her state was quite severe. Her usually neat hair was a tangled mess, both cheeks were swollen and bright red, and the exposed skin on her arms and legs was covered in scratches and bruises. As if indignant at her own appearance, large teardrops clung to her wide, glaring eyes.
Yet instead of pity, I only felt regret that I hadn’t been able to hit her more.
“Hyun-ah… what on earth…”
“You lowborn woman! Because of your son, we’re all dead now!”
Mother arrived right after the captain. The moment he saw her, he began bellowing at the top of his lungs. But at least Mother kept a cooler head than he did. She looked back and forth between me and the girl, her expression turning strange. Then she snatched the first-aid kit the guard had brought, gathered it up, and herded everyone except the girl out of the classroom.
“I should have sent that brat to the eastern pioneer corps long ago… aigo…”
The guard captain’s anxious muttering continued to echo down the hallway. His personality was infamous even among the children, so at first I simply felt relieved I hadn’t been beaten. But the longer I listened to his laments, the more the reality of the situation sank in.
The other kids had complained behind her back, but none of them had ever shown open hostility to her face. The parents’ repeated warnings played a part, but the children also understood, at least dimly, that the girl’s background was different from ours. And yet I had lost my temper and beaten that same girl senseless—a person before whom even the teacher and the all-powerful guard captain trembled.
I didn’t care what happened to the captain, but I began to worry that sparks might fly toward Mother instead. The classroom door only opened after a considerable amount of time had passed.
“Come now, this way.”
Mother appeared first. When she spoke in a gentle voice, looking into the classroom, the girl shuffled out hesitantly. Bandages and ointment covered various spots on her face and body. The sight drained all the strength from my limbs. After all the effort I had put into punishing her, seeing her neatly treated felt absurd.
What was even more ridiculous was how obediently the once-ferocious girl followed Mother’s instructions. The stammering words that came from her mouth afterward were the final touch.
“…If you apologize now, I’ll show you mercy.”
What was this? The worry and anxiety I had felt earlier vanished completely. The tone that made it sound as though I had done something wrong made my fists clench on their own.
“Hic…”
Noticing my reaction, the girl’s body flinched violently. But behind her, Mother was glaring at me with a piercing look. No one could defeat Mother when she wore that expression. In the end, I had no choice but to yield to adult authority.
“Um… sorry…”
“…”
Even though I reached out first, the girl pulled back, her arm trembling. It seemed the memory of being beaten was still fresh. Still, she eventually extended a finger and lightly touched the tip of mine. A soft, cool sensation brushed my skin, and only then did Mother let out a small sigh.
The strict-looking maid who attended the girl arrived moments later. Upon seeing her young mistress reduced to what looked like a beggar, the maid’s face went completely blank, as if her soul had fled. She suddenly dropped to her knees and began begging forgiveness. From what I overheard, she had gone to the main house after receiving a summons but was delayed by a sudden monster attack. That was probably why the girl had stayed alone in the classroom later than usual.
“…It was because Father, the family head, called for you. It couldn’t be helped.”
But the girl simply shook her head. Even so, perhaps because the maid was her subordinate, her voice was surprisingly gentle—completely different from how she spoke to others. Afterward, the maid who had risen to her feet suddenly pressed a gleaming blue blade to my throat. Surprisingly, the girl stopped her. The maid looked slightly startled but obeyed her master’s command without protest.
The girl, who had been about to leave the school, turned back as if she had forgotten something. She hesitated, then spoke softly.
“…You. What’s your name?”
“What? I can’t hear you. Speak louder.”
The girl flinched, then suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
“Hiccup… I’m asking for your name!”
“…? Lee Hyun.”
“…Lee Hyun… Lee Hyun…”
The girl mumbled my name under her breath. Then she turned away again and this time truly left the scene.
The guard captain, who had finally breathed a sigh of relief, returned to his post. Mother and I headed home as well. She lamented that I had probably shortened her life by ten years. When I apologized, she gave me a light smack on the head.
Mother asked why I had done that to the girl, but I stayed silent. Seeing me like that, she smiled with a touch of melancholy. On the other hand, I was curious how Mother had managed to make the girl so obedient. But she avoided answering my question too, telling me to ask the girl herself later. Then, as if admonishing me, she said:
“Get along with her from now on.”
“Why should I? I don’t want to.”
“Don’t be like that. She’s your classmate.”
“Are all classmates friends? I heard she comes from an incredibly good family. Jin-ho said she might even be a mage.”
“Mages are still people just like us. Children are children.”
“I think she’d hate getting along with me.”
“I don’t think so. She told you her name earlier, didn’t she?”
“…Still, I don’t like kids with bad personalities…”
Mother had always been quick to notice things. She instantly picked up on my hesitation and tried to persuade me again.
“She might be a good child once you get to know her. She’s just a little lacking when it comes to making friends.”
“Making friends? What do you mean?”
“In my opinion, that child really likes friends. She just doesn’t know how to talk to them. That’s why she keeps blurting out whatever she’s thinking.”
“Hmm…”
“Doesn’t that seem pitiful?”
Mother delivered the finishing blow.
“I think our kind, smart Hyun could teach her just a little and she’d learn right away. Honestly, don’t you feel a bit sorry for beating her so badly earlier? Why don’t you teach her as an apology?”
“Ugh…”
Mother knew my personality far too well. After her persistent persuasion, I eventually surrendered.
Well… it’s only that much.
Because she had been beaten so badly, I thought she might not come, but the girl arrived at school even earlier than I did and was already sitting at her desk. The scratches from yesterday still covered her face. The other students who saw her condition made awkward faces and began whispering among themselves. Watching the scene, I actually felt a little sorry for her. If she had friends, wouldn’t they show concern instead of just gossiping?
I at least had Jin-ho and Ina, but no one was near the girl right now. Since I had already made up my mind, I decided to help her properly. Instead of going to my usual seat, I walked straight to the one beside hers.
“…Hello.”
When she heard my voice, the girl—who had been staring out the window—whipped her head around. Her characteristically cold face instantly twisted into an expression of pure terror the moment she recognized me.
“Hic…”
“Hey. When someone greets you, you should greet them back.”
“Ah… um… eugh…”
At my urging, the girl made a strange noise, stammered, and suddenly bit her tongue. I had thought we had reconciled, but those frightened puppy-like eyes told me yesterday’s events had not yet faded from her mind. Only after confirming I had no intention of harming her did she regain her composure. She cleared her throat a couple of times and tried to force out her usual arrogant tone.
“Cough… cough. Yes. Nice to meet you.”
Seeing that she still couldn’t manage a proper greeting, I let out a mental sigh. The road ahead felt impossibly long. Still, I couldn’t back out of a decision I had already made.
“…I’m sorry about yesterday. I promise I’ll never hit you again. But you shouldn’t say things like that either. Those are the words I hate most.”
The moment the word “hate” left my mouth, the girl flinched.
“…H-hate? Then again—”
“I said I won’t hit you. I already apologized.”
“Hic…”
“I’ll try to endure everything else. But those words… they’re not okay.”
“…”
“So let’s make a promise. I absolutely won’t hit you, and you absolutely won’t say those things.”
I held out my thumb and ring finger toward her. The girl hesitated for a moment, then extended her own finger and lightly wrapped it around mine.
“…All right.”
Through our skin I felt a cool, soft touch. Now that her safety had been guaranteed, the girl let out a light sigh of relief.
“By the way, what’s your name? You heard mine yesterday.”
“…It’s Seoyeon…”
“Is your name also one syllable like mine?”
“…No, um… both syllables are part of my name…”
She cut her words short, as if reluctant to reveal her family name.
“Fine. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. So what should I call you? You can just call me Hyun.”
“Hyun… Hyun…”
Seoyeon, who had been murmuring my name, spoke again.
“Then I’ll call you Yeon… No, ahem. I permit you to call me that.”
“Good. Let’s get along from now on. I’ll teach you all sorts of things, so make sure you learn them well.”
“…?”
Seoyeon looked puzzled for a moment, then gave a small nod. Watching her, I thought that she wasn’t entirely without cute sides after all.