Chapter 3: Deviation (4)

I didn’t want to give in to So-yul’s demands, but it felt awkward to just stand there. Despite her denial, it seemed she had been waiting for me last night.

You never know what the future holds. It’s better not to make enemies when you can avoid it.

So I found myself following So-yul as she walked a few steps ahead of me.

Her hair, shimmering in the moonlight, looked slightly damp. Had she just washed it before sneaking out? Indeed, a faint scent of shampoo tickled my nose.

Or maybe it was body wash.

Our destination was, unsurprisingly, the same bench as last time.

I perched on the edge of the bench, and So-yul plopped down right in the middle. Despite having only talked once before, her wariness seemed to have faded. This time, she showed no sign of trying to escape.

As I was marveling at this change, So-yul turned to face me.

“Hey, did you hear about that?”

What was this, twenty questions? There was no way I could understand such a vague question.

“Hear about what?”

I asked without much thought, and So-yul continued in a low voice.

“About the first-year guy and third-year girl who got caught dating.”

“Ah… Yeah, I heard about that.”

I’d done more than just hear about it; I’d seen them being punished. Even before that, notices had been plastered on every bulletin board in the school. It would’ve been impossible not to know.

“Why bring that up suddenly? Do you have a boyfriend?”

As soon as I asked, she let out a short laugh.

“What are you talking about? I don’t have a boyfriend. And you shouldn’t ask a girl that kind of question so casually.”

“Why? Afraid I might snitch to the school?”

“Forget it. There’s no point talking to you.”

Right. Sorry for not being able to communicate effectively.

So-yul shook her head as if exasperated. Yet, her gaze remained fixed on me. At the same time, a hint of seriousness crept into her expression.

“That’s not it.”

So-yul began, folding her arms.

“I was wondering if it doesn’t piss you off. They liked each other so much they decided to date. And for that one thing, they got scolded harshly and punished.”

“Well… yeah, it does.”

Of course it was annoying.

That was the very reason I had come outside again today. Because I resented the school that bound its students with all sorts of rules, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t boldly stand up against it.

“It doesn’t really affect me, but I felt a sort of… kinship, I guess. The school prohibits all sorts of things, and that’s what leads to situations like this.”

“Right?”

So-yul tilted her head as she asked, her expression tinged with a hint of anger.

I didn’t know the details, but being in the same arts track, they were probably quite close. Plus, she had insisted that piano was freedom. She was likely far more outraged than I was.

I let out a deep sigh.

“But what can we do? In this school, if a guy and girl get caught hugging, that’s just how it goes. Heck, even being out here like this could be the end of us if we’re caught.”

“That’s exactly what I mean. Ugh, seriously. This school is so frustrating.”

Irritation seemed to bubble up inside her as So-yul started kicking the ground with her jean-clad legs. Oh, great. Keep that up and we’ll get caught even faster.

“Stop kicking. You’ll get us caught.”

“We won’t get caught.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I even sang out here last time and didn’t get caught.”

Have you lost your mind?

I was so dumbfounded I could only gape at her. So-yul grinned, her eyes sparkling as if to say, “Impressive, right?” They say geniuses are a bit crazy, and it seems that’s true. At least, it was clear her head wasn’t quite right.

“That’s… something.”

When I responded sarcastically, she shot back with a boastful tone.

“Right? My heart races when I do things I’m not supposed to. It makes me want to push a little further each time.”

“Are you some kind of pervert?”

“What? It feels liberating, that’s all.”

“That’s exactly what a pervert would say.”

“How is this perverted? I’m just trying to wiggle a bit in this suffocating place.”

She then pointed at me with her long index finger, disproportionate to her small frame.

“You’re the same, aren’t you? Just getting some fresh air isn’t much different from taking a walk after dinner. Being here at this hour is all about rebellion, isn’t it?”

“…Well.”

She had a point.

Feeling embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head. So-yul chuckled and unfolded her arms. Instead, she tilted her head back to look at the sky. The scent of shampoo wafted from her swaying hair once again.

“I thought I’d have more freedom when I came to this school. But it’s just so suffocating.”

That was a loaded statement.

“Why? Didn’t you have freedom before coming here?”

“Well… I guess I didn’t have much.”

So-yul gave a small, almost imperceptible smile.

“I used to follow a schedule set by my family – lessons, studying, and all that. Thanks to that, I became really good at piano, which I truly love. But I wanted to live more freely…

I wanted to show them I could do well on my own. But here, there are so many prohibitions, and even more eyes watching us.”

“Hmm.”

So that’s how it was.

Now I understood a bit better. Why So-yul, who complained so passionately about the stifling school rules, couldn’t leave this school.

For someone as well-known as So-yul, the reputation of a high school – not even a university – couldn’t be that important. She could probably do fine at any arts high school or regular high school, or even take the GED.

But if it was about proving to her parents that she could manage on her own, that was different. This school, where parents were essentially banned from entering, would be perfect for that.

I could relate to some extent.

While I didn’t share the desire to prove myself to my parents, I too had always lived as a model student.

After a moment, So-yul let out a deep sigh.

“In the past, even just last year, I would have followed the rules without question. But now I hate it. This school is so suffocating and annoying, but I can’t just quit…”

I chuckled and cut in.

“Maybe you’re just going through a late puberty?”

“What? What about you?”

So-yul lowered her head to glare at me. Her sharp gaze pierced right between my eyes.

“You’re out here breaking school rules too. Doesn’t it bother you to say that?”

I knew she’d argue back like this.

Sighing, I answered self-deprecatingly.

“I was wondering if it’s for the same reason as me.”

“…Hmph.”

So-yul made an ambiguous sound in response to my half-joking comment. I couldn’t tell if she was mocking me or impressed by my insight.

Then silence fell between us.

I didn’t have anything particular to say. So-yul seemed to be in a similar state, looking back up at the sky without speaking. The quiet space was filled only by the sounds of insects.

So-yul was the one to break the silence.

“So, hey.”

She began briefly, then turned to face me.

Her eyes sparkled as if they held stars, and her fair skin looked incredibly dewy, probably from her recent shower. Her small lips were moving slightly, as if choosing her words carefully.

Then, finally.

“How about we late bloomers try a little rebellion together?”

What an incomprehensible suggestion.

“Rebellion?”

“Yeah.”

So-yul nodded slightly, the corners of her mouth turning up.

“Want to date me?”

…

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

At first, I thought I’d misheard. Then, I thought I’d misunderstood.

But no matter how many times I turned it over in my mind, there was only one meaning.

So-yul had just confessed to me.

So-yul, nicknamed the promising piano prodigy. Undeniably attractive in appearance. The girl everyone, students and teachers alike, called kind and well-rounded… had just asked if I wanted to date her.

In that case, my answer should have been clear.

Swallowing hard, I gave her that one answer with a stern face.

“I don’t like you, though.”

“Yeah. I don’t like you either.”

I should have known.

It was such an abrupt suggestion that I hadn’t taken it seriously. I was just curious about her intention. I wondered if she was trying to make fun of me, but she didn’t seem to be joking around.

“Then why are you asking me to date you?”

When I asked directly, So-yul waggled her index finger.

“I’m not saying we should really date. Just pretend to date. We’ll meet secretly, away from the teachers and other students, chat, and go on fake dates.”

“Why would we do that?”

“Why do you think? It’s our own little act of rebellion. Doesn’t it feel good to break the rules in secret? You know what I mean, right?”

“Well, yeah, I do, but…”

Knowing that didn’t make much difference. If anything, it was so ridiculous that I couldn’t even laugh.

I doubt there’s anyone in the world who’d suggest dating out of rebelliousness. In a way, it’s a genius idea. She’d said piano was freedom, and true to her words, she was being quite free indeed.

As I stared at her blankly with my mouth open, So-yul tilted her head slightly.

“What? Don’t you want to?”

“It’s not about wanting to or not. Does that even make sense?”

“What doesn’t? You came out again today, didn’t you? Isn’t it because it feels good to do something you’re not supposed to?”

“Well, that’s…”

“And it’s not that different from us talking out here like this now, is it?”

“Uh…”

I couldn’t deflect her rapid-fire arguments. So-yul smiled, drunk on her sense of victory, as she looked at me, who had once again been rendered speechless. Her expression almost seemed condescending.

“So? What do you think?”

So-yul asked again. Her tone was insistent, as if she was determined to get an answer.

What should I do?

If I wanted to refuse, there was nothing stopping me. So-yul seemed like the type to do as she pleased, but she didn’t look like she’d force me to do something I didn’t want to. Besides, it takes two to tango. How could she pretend to date me if I said no?

But the idea of doing something that could get us in big trouble if we were caught was undeniably appealing.

Just sneaking out of the dorm at night gave me a strange thrill. I was curious about how it would feel to have a secret romance, even if it was fake.

Hmm…

“Well, as long as it doesn’t interfere with my studies…”

“So you’re saying yes?”

As I mumbled my reply, So-yul leaned in, her face suddenly close. It was a bit uncomfortable.

“No, I mean, temporarily, fake, just as an experiment.”

“But you’re still saying yes, right?”

“…Yeah. I guess so.”

There was no point in being ambiguous about it. When I finally admitted it outright, So-yul let out a playful laugh. Sorry, but can I just smack you once?

Then she pulled out her phone.

“Okay, since we’re dating now, let’s exchange numbers.”

Do whatever you want.

As I waited silently, So-yul fiddled with her phone for a moment before holding it out to me. The case had a famous bear character on it.

I tapped the screen to enter my contact information and handed it back. Shortly after, my phone buzzed briefly. When I check later, So-yul’s number will be there.

Our conversation had gone on longer than expected. From talking about the two students caught dating to agreeing to this fake relationship proposal. I’m not sure how it ended up like this.

Was it right to accept So-yul’s sudden proposal?

Anyway, it seemed like it was time to head back to the dorm. So-yul must have had the same thought, as she stood up from the bench and started preparing to leave.

As I got up to follow her, So-yul looked up at me with a smile.

“Well then, I’m looking forward to this, boyfriend.”

It gave me the creeps.

“Don’t call me boyfriend.”

“Why not? We’re dating, even if it’s fake.”

“It’s fake, even if we’re dating. Besides, who actually calls their boyfriend ‘boyfriend’?”

“Then what should I call you?”

So-yul asked, slowly raising the corners of her mouth.

“Honey?”

“…”

I think I might have made a mistake in agreeing to this.

By the time this thought crossed my mind, it was already too late.

In any case, from that day on…

I found myself engaging in mischief with my fake girlfriend.

—