episode_0024

Monday of the second week in March.

After a week of wasted classes in the name of adjusting to the new semester, the second week came when the semester schedule began in earnest.

Among our first graders, the famous ‘night self-study’ has emerged as a hot topic.

Evening self-study.

A name that no high school student in Korea would know.

Nominally, it was a term referring to a well-intentioned system in which individual students could freely choose to stay at night and study on their own. Until just a few years ago, this palm was not autonomous, but almost semi-compulsory.

No, in fact, it was no different from coercion. Unless there is a really special reason, all grades are required to participate in Yaja.

but.

“Hey, did you apply for palm oil?”

“Uh, just two days a week to do your homework at the academy.”

“I didn’t do it at all, Jaehyun, what about you?”

Like this, things are different now.

Nighttime self-study, which was initially voluntary but actually mandatory, was changed and modified in line with the times and became ‘self-study’ in which individual students could literally choose to participate or not participate.

“You weren’t planning on doing LAN originally? But my mom asked me why I should come home so quickly since I wasn’t even going to the academy, and she told me to just study at school during that time. So I applied, well… .”

“Oh, really? So you’ll sleep every day?”

“It was originally every day, but I changed it to three days. But if my grades don’t improve, I’ll do it every day after the midterm exam.”

“Wow, you really are a mother. Can we finally see Nam Jaehyun get fucked?”

“What’s wrong with you? All you have to do is work hard, and you will get an average grade of 3 on the midterm exam.”

“Damn, what is level 3? I’ll be lucky if my grades don’t drop.”

“What? Damn? Hey, do you want to bet on your grades?”

“Bet? Well, what are you going to bet on?”

“It’s a bit big, but it’s small, and it’s just a matter of whether you can get over grade 3 or not.”

“Okay, then I’m betting that Nam Jaehyun won’t get above grade 3 on average. Nam Jae-hyun, are you going to bet on it?”

“No, I’m betting that I can’t get over it either?”

“What, then there’s no point in betting between us, you crazy guy!”

While the boys who had become close friends over the past week sat around me and talked.

I rested my elbows on the desk and rested my chin on the backs of my hands.

If you’re worried about timing because you want to join in on your friends’ bet, or because you’re worried about the pressure of an upcoming exam… … .

Of course not.

“… … .”

‘Ah, I miss Aki.’

I just wanted to see Aki who wasn’t here.

He has a cute appearance that you will never get tired of looking at, even for 10 years.

I miss my childhood friend, who was separated from me after 3 years of middle school and then half way through high school, with light pink hair that suits her well, and that image keeps flashing in my eyes.

What is Aki doing right now? Since it’s recess and you’re not coming, do you think you’re talking to your friends in class like me?

It’s very likely, but I wonder if Aki is thinking about me too… … ‘?’, I imagined something a bit cheeky.

It’s not that it’s not, because White Day is less than a week away.

I was so excited because this Saturday was the day we were supposed to hang out together for half a day, so I giggled while imagining Aki smiling even though he wasn’t in front of me.

“Hey, look at this bastard smiling. Isn’t there something so unlucky?”

“Wow, I admit it. I just wanted to grab your lips and rip them off.”

“Put it right in the mouth of the universe, tear it in two and make it into a joker. But do you want to sleep?”

But somehow my friends didn’t like it and started arguing out of nowhere.

The tone of voice was a little harsh, but I knew it was a joke, and it wasn’t just a day or two, so I accepted it with a smile.

“What, why are you saying something about people smiling?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know that? I just don’t like everything you do, you bastard.”

“They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but I guess I can.”

“Junior universe, don’t laugh. No, just don’t breathe.”

“If you don’t want to live, be sure to tell me first, and I will take your breath away.”

“… … .”

Well, it must be a joke… … ?

I wonder if I’ve lived my life wrong. A moment when I tried to look back on my life a little more seriously.

“Hey, don’t bother our universe~!”

“That’s right, you can’t bully the universe!”

The girls who had been watching us play from across the classroom suddenly became protective of me.

“Woojoo, do you like snacks? I have some leftover Choco Haim. Would you like some?”

“Huh? No, it’s okay… . But who are you?”

“Hey, don’t you know me? We also take mobility classes together!”

“That’s right. Sorry, I’m not good at remembering people’s faces.”

“Ah… . oh. No, it could be… .”

“What is your name? If you tell me, I’ll be sure to remember it from next time.”

“Me, I am Lee Chae-yeon… ! Feel free to call me Chaeyeon… .”

“Yes, Chaeyeon. I remembered.”

“… … Huh, huh! ”

As soon as he said a few words, his face got bright red and he started to cower, and then he held hands with the girls around him and said, ‘Kyaa, kea…’ Lee Chae-yeon makes the dolphin sound of ‘!’

“… … Wow, have you ever seen such an unfair life?”

My friends looked at Lee Chae-yeon as if they were dumbfounded, and then, without any exaggeration, asked, ‘How can we kill this bastard…’ He started pecking at me with a ‘?’ look in his eyes.

“It’s hard to talk to someone first, but I almost got a snack from a girl I didn’t know… ?”

“Fuck, I have a girlfriend, but if I don’t have one, how much is it?”

“Do it all by yourself, you bastard.”

“… … .”

On one side, criticism comes out, and on the other side, they try to be nice to the point where it becomes a bit burdensome.

I think it would be great if it was just 50% mixed with boys and girls, but this sharply divided reaction has been happening since middle school, so I’ve given up now. In fact, it’s not like he doesn’t do it because I told him not to.

“After being with the main universe, I only lost my eyes and ears. Hey, when is gym today?”

“4th period, why?”

“Why? I’m asking to hit you with a basketball.”

“Hey, universe. Be sure to play basketball with us later. Pretend to block and then turn your ankle.”

“Ugh, okay. But are we enough for 3 to 3?”

“If you, me, Jaehyun, and Seongmin are included, there will be four of us, and if you include Byeongjae and Dongho, there will be six of us.”

“Byungjae, you hurt your ankle yesterday while running in the cafeteria.”

“… … uh? Oh, I see. There’s no one among us?”

Jihoon, the friend who suggested playing basketball first, loses his focus and wanders around the class.

I think they’re looking for someone who can fill the void left by the original member who was suddenly absent. There were a total of 12 guys in my class, and 5 of them didn’t really like sports, so we all pretended not to see Jihoon’s gaze and avoided it.

They probably don’t want to get involved.

“Ah, there are no talented people to play basketball… .”

“How, let’s play 2v3 today?”

“It’s not fun if the number of people isn’t right. Is there someone who can do it?”

“One person… . Oh, there’s one over there.”

“What? Where, where?”

“Stir it.”

Jaehyun glanced towards the back of the classroom.

My friends, including me, followed Jaehyun’s gaze.

Then, the person who reached the end was none other than that.

“… … Ah.”

“… … .”

Seungwoo Kim.

The so-called slightly, or rather, outright gangster merchant boy.

Jaehyun glanced at Kim Seung-woo, who seemed to be sleeping on his stomach, and spoke quietly.

“He’s tall. You seem like you’re good at basketball. What do you think?”

“… … That’s right, but.”

Jihoon trailed off.

Although nothing was said, I felt like I knew roughly why Jihoon was hesitant.

“At that time, when I came to the karaoke bar, I didn’t say a word. … … Didn’t you ask to play basketball together and then get hit?”

“… … .”

“Hmm… .”

“… … .”

No one denied Jihoon’s words.

This is because everyone fully sympathized with Jihoon’s words.

“… … Should we just do it ourselves?”

“Oh, that’s not possible. 2v3 isn’t fun?”

“Then, what should we do? Are you going to ask me to go and play basketball?”

“… … .”

Jaehyun closed his mouth in response to Jihoon’s question.

He says he doesn’t want to carry a gun.

“… … Is there anyone who can go and ask him?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Kim Ji-hoon and Choi Seong-min quickly avoided Jaehyun’s gaze when he asked the question.

“… … .”

I also slowly looked away.

To be honest, I’m a little scared of Kim Seung-woo too… … .

I didn’t know much about it when I was with Ham Ji-eun, but when I left her alone, the harshness was no joke.

“… … Hey, then there’s nothing I can do. Let’s do it like this.”

“Well, is there a good way?”

“Play rock, paper, scissors, and the loser goes and asks Seungwoo Kim.”

“Oh… .”

“Is the idea good?”

“… … Umm.”

Is the probability 1 in 4?

Of the four people participating in rock-paper-scissors, you only have to avoid the worst, so it’s worth it.

I nodded, and Jihoon and Seongmin also nodded.

“Okay, then let’s go. If you don’t pay, you lose, rock-paper-scissors… !”

“… … See!”

“Bo!”

Four people’s voices overlapped.

Victory or defeat was decided immediately.

Three fists, one scissors.

“… … Huh?”

I was the only one with the scissors.

“Okay, you win the main universe!”

“Wow, look at what this guy made by himself. Hey, don’t you know that men use fists?”

“Gay cut, cut!”

“Hey, you guys made it, right? How did three people appear in the first game?!”

“I didn’t win~ I just lost because you were unlucky~”

“Does this make sense? Why did I lose, huh? There is a 25% chance, so why do I lose?”

“Are you the only 25%? It’s all 25%, stop talking nonsense and go. Joo Woo-joo.”

“When it comes, Melona.”

“… … Ah.”

Nonsense.

I can’t believe I lost.

There’s a 25% chance, but I can’t believe I got caught… … !

“Junior Universe, class starts soon, so hurry up and come back. If you don’t come back later, instead of playing 3-on-3 basketball, I’ll have a pepper cutting ceremony for you.”

“Huh? Wait a minute, that sounds kind of fun?”

“Okay, if you’re going to have a pepper cutting ceremony, you don’t have to go.”

I felt very resentful at the fact that I had lost in a battle between men, but I had no choice but to submit to the already decided match.

No, in fact, it was a shame to cut down a place that I had never even used.

“… … okay. It’ll be okay if you go and come back.”

Anyway, I quickly got up from my seat.

And, barely able to take steady steps, I approached the back of the classroom where Seungwoo Kim was lying face down.

‘I have to wake him up first… ?’

I don’t know if he’s angry that I woke him up while he was sleeping… … .

To be honest, I was anxious, but now that I’ve come this far, I can’t go back.

“Hey, Seungwoo Kim… ?”

I tapped Kim Seung-woo’s shoulder and called him carefully.

OK.

“… … .”

Kim Seung-woo, who didn’t seem to be very tired, raised his head, opened his eyes and looked up at me.

A look as if he had something to do.

I made up my mind.

He spoke in a slightly quiet voice.

“… … Do you want to play basketball together later?”