Ch.88. A Quarrel Between Fiancés Is Like Cutting Water with a Knife

Anyway, time to start cleaning.

Rolling up my sleeves, I pushed through the dust and opened the windows first. The dust that had been floating throughout the classroom escaped outside through the windows.

“Wow, this is no joke.”

“Who on earth left this place in such a mess? Whoever it was, I won’t let them off easy if I catch them.”

“What exactly would you do if you caught them?”

“Want to know?”

“…No.”

She pulled down her mask and asked me, but while her mouth was smiling, her eyes weren’t, making it feel like a horror movie. I continued working, feeling a strange fear at Hwa Nabi’s eerie appearance.

I cleared the trash from the desks, vacuumed the dust, collected the waste items, put them in boxes, and tied them with string.

Cleaning a long-unused classroom was quite similar to organizing belongings when moving.

“You could work as a janitor when you have nothing else to do later in life.”

“That’s a compliment, right?”

“What’s wrong with being a janitor? Are you looking down on janitors? Do you know how much they get paid?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

The nuance was strange. It sounded like, “You’d be perfect as a janitor for our house in the future,” which made it uncomfortable to take as a compliment.

“Come to think of it, I think we were supposed to replace the chairs too.”

“Why the chairs? They look fine to me.”

“I don’t know.”

I’m just doing what I was told to do. It’s not like I would know the detailed reasons. If I had to guess, it’s probably similar to how government officials tear up perfectly good sidewalks.

“Phew, it’s hot.”

After some time had passed, I wiped the sweat running down the back of my neck and observed Hwa Nabi.

She was standing on a chair, trying to pull something out from a high shelf. It seemed she couldn’t reach it barefoot, so she chose this method.

The chair was wobbling from side to side, looking quite precarious, so I quietly approached and held it steady.

“If you need to do something like this, just tell me. It’s dangerous.”

“There’s no need for that. I can do it myself.”

That mindset of wanting to do everything herself is admirable. But there’s no need to take such risks alone.

It was too embarrassing to say directly, but even if it wasn’t what she wanted, since we were engaged, I honestly wished she would rely on me a little.

That’s why I had offered to help her study in the morning.

Even if it wasn’t my intention, it was clear that I had hurt Hwa Nabi by reading her message and ignoring it. Being someone who hates owing debts to others, I wanted to repay this emotional debt somehow.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

But trying to express this in words was difficult. It felt like something was stuck in my throat.

So I swallowed hard. For some reason, my lips felt parched.

“Why are you swallowing like that?”

“…”

It’s because of you, damn it. I pushed that mental outcry deep into my throat. It would ruin the mood just when I was trying to feel apologetic.

“Please hold it steady. It keeps shaking.”

“Got it.”

After a brief struggle, Hwa Nabi finished her task and safely came down.

In her hands was a materials toolbox that clearly looked quite heavy. I wondered what she was trying to do, but apparently she wanted to get this out.

“What are you going to use that for? Did the homeroom teacher ask for it?”

“No, I just thought it might help with the cleaning.”

Looking at the contents of the toolbox, I saw it was full of crude tools.

These might be useful at a construction site, but they weren’t particularly helpful for cleaning everyday dust.

“I think it’ll just stir up more dust… Well, since you’ve already brought it out, just put it down somewhere. We might find a use for it.”

“Okay.”

Hwa Nabi put down the toolbox, and after that, we managed to finish about half the cleaning while chatting about various things.

My arms were tingling since I was responsible for moving all the heavy items like chairs, desks, and other things. I sat down, massaging my arms that were slightly trembling from the hard work.

“Ah, I’m exhausted.”

“Good job.”

Suddenly, Hwa Nabi stood in front of me and held out something.

Looking up, I saw it was a drink can. She had disappeared briefly earlier without saying anything, and apparently this was why.

“Ah, thanks.”

“Wait a minute. I didn’t say I was giving it to you yet.”

As I reached out while crouching, she quickly hid the can behind her back. For a moment, I thought she was just teasing, but her expression was quite serious for someone playing around.

Surely she wasn’t actually being stingy with the drink. I figured she must have something to say.

“What?”

“Nothing, you just look strangely familiar.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re rich, right? You must have housekeepers at home, and people like that usually don’t clean with their own hands. Especially students. But watching you, it seems like you’ve done a lot of cleaning before.”

Her observation was somewhat accurate, which made me feel a bit caught off guard.

It’s true that in the military, cleaning is commonplace. On top of that, I had been living alone for over 10 years, including my student days. I was so used to organizing and cleaning that it had become second nature.

But I couldn’t be honest about this. Han Siwoo is a seventeen-year-old high school student. Moreover, looking at his background, he’s a young master from a wealthy family.

If I, as Han Siwoo, claimed to have 10 years of experience living alone, I’d definitely be treated like a lunatic.

“Or maybe not. It was just a passing thought, so in one ear and out the other.”

Having said her piece so quickly, Hwa Nabi held the drink can up to my face. I accepted it since she was offering, but I felt quite bewildered.

Should I call this sharp observation or intelligence? Either way, she was no ordinary person.

“Why aren’t you drinking it?”

As if her words were truly just a passing comment, she seemed unconcerned by my perplexed reaction. She even pulled out another drink can from her skirt pocket and offered it to me.

“Oh, right.”

-Psst.

While I was opening the carbonated drink, Hwa Nabi lightly jumped up and sat on the desk.

Behind her was a bookcase door that was still partially open from cleaning. Thinking dust might fall on her head if left alone, I pointed above her head.

“Be careful. That area isn’t fully cleaned yet.”

“It’s fine. I’m not a child. Do you think I’d stretch my legs without checking where I’m lying down?”

To me, she was definitely a child. A very easily offended adolescent child at that. It felt like babysitting a disobedient niece. While inwardly grumbling, I kept an eye on the area above her head as I drank my soda.

I couldn’t forcibly move her when she said she was fine. I was planning to say something if anything fell.

“Don’t swing your legs. You’re stirring up dust.”

“It’s my business.”

As expected of a rich young lady, she doesn’t listen even when asked nicely. Whose child is she? This is why children shouldn’t be spoiled.

My fiancée, is she really going to be okay like this? Just as I was seriously contemplating this…

Something dangerous-looking entered my field of vision as I looked up. Judging by its sharp edge, it was a blade.

Wait, a blade? Why is that there?

No, that’s not the important part. What matters is that its position was extremely dangerous.

The blade was on top of the bookcase where Hwa Nabi was swinging her feet. It was wobbling precariously, looking like it could fall at any moment. If something went wrong, the girl could end up with a knife wound on her head.

That’s when it hit me. The future that vividly flashed before my eyes made my blood run cold.

My body moved before my thoughts could catch up.

“Watch out!”

“Huh? What… Eek!”

Blood splattered.

***

I’m suddenly in the school infirmary.

I’m not lying down, but sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Hmm, where is the disinfectant?”

Hwa Nabi was rummaging through the infirmary drawers, muttering to herself. Watching her back, I couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

I appreciate her effort to help since she feels responsible, but I don’t know how many minutes have passed. It must have been at least ten minutes. At this point, going to a hospital would have been faster.

“I told you, it’s fine.”

Thud.

Ignoring my words completely, she closed the drawer with a cheerful sound. Hwa Nabi immediately walked toward me, her arms full of various items.

“I don’t know what’s what, so I brought everything. Do you know?”

The wound is on my shoulder, but somehow my head is starting to throb. Is it just my imagination?

Hwa Nabi held out a medical tray packed with all sorts of medications.

Cold medicine, stomach medicine, topical ointments. Why so many? All I need is some antiseptic for the cut. I picked out one bottle and pushed the rest to the corner of the tray.

“This is enough.”

“Alright. Should I apply it for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself. Just turn around for a moment.”

I didn’t want to ask that much of her. Hwa Nabi turned around as requested, and I tried to reach my right arm behind my back.

But due to human anatomy, it’s not easy to treat a wound on your own shoulder. Maybe if my arms were 2 meters long. After a brief struggle, I came to a conclusion.

I couldn’t do it alone.

“Hwa Nabi.”

“Yes.”

“Help me out.”

“You should have said so from the beginning.”

If there had been a school nurse, I would have asked them, but it was after school hours. It was well past the time when most staff had gone home, except for a few faculty members.

In the end, Hwa Nabi was the only person I could ask for help. I opened the disinfectant and showed her the contents.

“See this cotton swab? Just dip it in the disinfectant, take it out, and apply it to the wound. Can you do that?”

“Of course I can. Leave it to me.”

That response made me even more nervous, but I had no choice. Resigned, I began unbuttoning my shirt one by one.

“W-wait a minute. Why are you taking off your clothes?”

“What do you mean why? Do you want to apply medicine over my clothes?”

“…”

I wonder what she was imagining. The wound was already stinging enough, and I didn’t want to waste time.

“I think it’s around here.”

Having quickly removed my top, I pointed to the injured area with my index finger. Without a mirror, I couldn’t be sure, but Hwa Nabi would have a better view than I did.

“Yes, I can see it clearly. I’m going to apply the disinfectant now. It might sting a little. You can handle it, right?”

For some reason, Hwa Nabi seemed to have gained confidence as she asked me. Judging by her tone alone, you’d think she was a veteran nurse.

“Yes, doctor.”

Playing along made her giggle behind me. I just wish she’d hurry up because I’m freezing.

Just as I thought that, a cold sensation suddenly spread through the wound on my shoulder.

“Ah.”

“Oh, sorry. Did that hurt?”

“No, continue.”

I was just surprised by the unfamiliar sensation.

.

.

.

“There, all disinfected.”

The treatment ended sooner than expected. It wasn’t a serious enough wound to warrant a hospital visit anyway.

Relieved that it was over, I tried to put my shirt back on. But suddenly, Hwa Nabi stopped me.

“Wait a moment. We’re not done yet. We need to put a bandage on it.”

“A bandage? That’s not—”

“Shh, listen to me. And make sure to go to the hospital later. You might have tetanus. Understand?”

Her tone was a bit sharp, but Hwa Nabi’s touch as she applied the bandage was very gentle.

After placing the bandage, Hwa Nabi suddenly poked my back with her finger.

“What are you doing?”

“Just curious. Are all men’s bodies this firm?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so.”

Not to brag, but objectively speaking, Han Siwoo’s body was similar to my original one. It wasn’t particularly muscular, but showed signs of consistent exercise over several years.

Hwa Nabi silently stroked the bandage, then said:

“About earlier.”

What is she talking about?

Seeing my confused expression, Hwa Nabi let out a small sigh.

“During first period.”

Is she talking about math class?

Her fingertips twitched slightly, showing hesitation, so I quietly waited for her to continue.

“I’m sorry. Thinking about it, I was too harsh. You were being kind, and I responded that way. You must have felt bad.”

The sudden apology left me speechless. I hadn’t expected her to bring this up now.

Feeling awkward, I just stared at the wall. In truth, Hwa Nabi wasn’t the only one who needed to apologize.

I could have just let it go. The fact that I reacted emotionally, despite not being a child, was undeniable. Looking at it objectively, we were both at fault.

“I’m also… well… sorry.”

After saying it, I felt embarrassed and looked away. Hmm, why am I acting like this? Get a grip. She’s just a high school student.

“Y-yes. Even if we’re close, it’s right to apologize when needed and move on. That’s what makes a good couple.”

“W-we’re not a couple.”

I had to object to her getting so far ahead.

“…Ah, right. Then not a couple but a couple-to-be. Better now?”

“Technically we’re not even a couple-to-be, just engaged because our parents decided…”

“Oh, come on! Are you a lawyer? Why do you keep nitpicking? What is it? Are you trying to pick a fight with me again?”