Huh? Didn't We Already Notify All the Parents?
"Huh? Didn't we already contact all the parents? Hold on, let me check..."
"Ah... no, it's fine."
When I went to the administrative office to inquire, they told me the notice had gone out to the parents instead of me. I just gave up right there. On paper, with my disguised identity, my father is listed as my uncle. He probably got the call but was too busy and forgot to mention it to me.
It was likely my fault anyway, and even if it was the school's responsibility, nothing would change. They couldn't postpone the exam schedule just for me, so the matter would probably fizzle out with some half-hearted apology for the clerical error. Protesting further would only hurt me, so I just headed back to the classroom.
"......"
The classroom was as silent as it had been that morning. As I walked in, the kids' eyes flicked toward me all at once. There was a reluctant curiosity in their gazes. Probably because I was Gu Jun-hyeok's friend, the one who'd gone missing in the last incident, and one of the five clerics revived by that miracle.
It felt suffocating. Their stares felt like hands squeezing my throat. I ignored it as best I could and headed to Jeong In-ah's seat. She was slumped over her desk, asleep. I wanted to tease her like usual and strike up a normal conversation, but it wasn't easy. How did our talks even start normally? Come to think of it, I rarely approached her first. It was always Jeong In-ah or Gu Jun-hyeok who came over, and somehow I'd end up naturally joining in.
[The atmosphere's quite different from usual. Though that's to be expected.]
Legba spoke up as I returned to my seat. His tone was calm and dry, almost like a sleepy voice. I didn't reply or nod, just pulled a book from my bag and opened it. The words wouldn't stick in my eyes.
As Legba said, the vibe had changed a lot. Not just the classroom—the whole school felt a bit off from the Florence Academy I knew. I couldn't tell if it was the school that had changed or just how I was seeing it.
There were no classes that morning. With teachers still in treatment, they couldn't run practicals or lessons smoothly, and with exams coming up, they were giving us plenty of self-study time.
I tried to focus on my book for about an hour, but it was no use. I just went outside.
*
I fought with Kim Ra-hee. Well, not exactly a fight. Our relationship had just grown a bit distant.
We used to text constantly whenever we had time, sticking together regardless of the hour. But now, even when our eyes met, we'd awkwardly look away, reduced to strained small talk. Thinking back on how it happened, I couldn't pinpoint it. It seemed to start after that day Satanists showed up at school. It wasn't anyone's fault—we'd just naturally drifted apart. No need for reconciliation or anything. The lack of a reason made it all the more awkward and tricky.
Unable to concentrate, I figured I'd step out for some fresh air. Florence was lax enough during self-study that wandering outside wouldn't get you in trouble. I sat on a shaded bench to avoid the sun.
A guy trudged by with a dazed expression. Seong Ha-yeon knew only one person who could exude such a dark aura just by walking: Do Seon-woo.
"Oh, um...!"
For some reason, she felt glad and almost called out to him, but stopped herself. Memories from that time flooded back.
The moment she'd been surrounded by taxidermy dolls in chaos, when he'd shattered the glass and saved her. She vaguely remembered him asking about her scar, and her blurting out an answer in a panic. She couldn't recall the exact conversation amid the frenzy, but one question from back then lingered sharply in her mind.
"......"
Okay, he saved me—but how did he know I was there? She'd pondered it endlessly during the school closure, and only one answer fit. Especially that obsession and madness in his eyes then—it defied any other explanation.
Having reached that conclusion, she had no idea how to face him now. Approaching first risked giving him the wrong idea, but avoiding him forever wasn't feasible. From Seong Ha-yeon's position, Do Seon-woo was someone she needed to get closer to eventually. She'd known this might happen, but now that it had, her situation felt more awkward than expected.
"What're you doing?"
"Eek!"
Seong Ha-yeon's short scream burst out at the sudden voice. Lost in thought, she hadn't noticed anyone approaching. She'd nearly toppled over in shock. Had he used some shrinking spell? By the time she recovered, he was right in front of her, silent as a ghost.
She craned her neck back to put some distance and spoke. "......W-what are you doing here?"
Do Seon-woo didn't answer. He just casually took the seat beside her. Not too close, but not far either. The proximity flustered Seong Ha-yeon.
Do Seon-woo scanned her up and down. His gaze paused on one spot—probably her palm scar.
Seong Ha-yeon clenched her fist to hide it, then realized there was no point hiding from him and relaxed. Her movements felt stiff from nerves. Why am I even nervous? He's the one who should be.
No time to dwell. Do Seon-woo pointed at her palm and spoke.
"The scar's gotten bigger."
"Ah, yes. Back then......"
Seong Ha-yeon glanced at her palm. What had been one scar had split into several strands. When Do Seon-woo had been dying from black magic, she'd cut her palm to activate the Purification Blessing Circle. When it didn't stop the magic, she'd cut deeper, letting more blood flow. When she came to, her palm was a wreck. The doctor had said her "palm lines were shattered to pieces." Stitches, meds, and holy healing had faded it some, but erasing it completely was impossible.
She didn't know why she'd been so desperate to save him. Guilt over past sins and his purifying blood played a part, but mostly, she just had to save him—and could—so she had.
Come to think of it, half the credit for his survival was hers, right? That thought made Seong Ha-yeon smile unconsciously. Do Seon-woo stared at her, puzzled.
"Why're you grinning like an idiot...?"
"Ah, um. No. How's your body?"
She covered her mouth to hide the awkward smile and changed the subject. Do Seon-woo looked up, face oddly reminiscent, as if lost in memory. He stared at the sky silently for a long while, sighed heavily with a complicated expression, then closed and opened his eyes before speaking.
"Better, thanks to you. Appreciate it."
"Pardon? Thanks?"
"What's so weird about that?"
"......You have no reason to thank me."
"Why not? Your hand's like that because of me."
"True, but...... in the end, it didn't help much."
"Just trying to save me is enough to be grateful for."
"......"
Seong Ha-yeon stared at him blankly, wondering if she'd misheard. Grateful? He wasn't the type to say that so casually. His personality, the vibe—it was all off. Like a different person. It reminded her of a novel where someone miraculously survived a fatal illness, changed completely, and turned out to be possessed by another soul. Something like that.
......Is he...?>
"You're really you, right?"
"Huh?"
"N-never mind."
It felt like too wild a delusion, so she backpedaled hastily. Her face felt a bit hot—probably imagination. No way he'd been replaced. People change when they fall in love, right? Maybe something like that.
Anyway, hearing thanks felt good. She didn't know why he was saying it now, but it was nice to have her efforts acknowledged. Especially from him—it felt special. Seong Ha-yeon puffed up a little, crossing her legs with a smug "hmph."
"Anyway, nothing to thank me for. Just did what I had to."
"Yeah. Real cool of you......"
Do Seon-woo nodded agreeably. Normally he'd scowl in disgust, but today he kept a faint smile through the talk. Even his tone was softer.
As he glanced down at the ground with lowered eyes, he suddenly looked up, fixing Seong Ha-yeon with a stare. His eyes were their usual cold, but laced with a strange heat. She swallowed quietly, body stiffening under the intensity.
"Got something to ask."
He paused, eyeing her as if gauging her reaction. Determination burned in his gaze, mixed with hesitation. Seong Ha-yeon felt a bad premonition. This was confession territory—or close. She had to cut him off before he spoke. It wouldn't feel bad hearing it from him, but she wasn't ready. Especially during exams—it'd wreck her focus and grades.
"Your fa—"
"W-wait a sec!"
Seong Ha-yeon interrupted frantically. Do Seon-woo gaped at her blankly. Ignoring her voice cracking, she pressed on.
"Studying! Gotta study. A student's duty is to study...... How can you be out here goofing off during self-study?"
"......What kinda bullshit is that? You're out here too."
"I-I just stepped out for a break from studying. G-go back inside and study."
She babbled incoherently. Do Seon-woo stared, mouth half-open in disbelief, then hardened his expression coldly.
"And who are you to lecture me? You suck at studying."
(To be continued in the next chapter)