Chapter 35: Request

“Oh, you’re here?”

Juho greeted me with an open palm. I nodded slightly at their face and stood directly across from them. Seemingly feeling something was missing, Juho glanced down the stairs.

Then they asked:

“Did you come alone?”

I snorted and answered:

“We can’t exactly come together.”

“Ah right, good point.”

Juho laughed heartily in agreement. They even clapped their hands as if acknowledging the absurd question.

Well, we had come together once before…

We were standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the roof.

We weren’t planning to go up there. The roof door was firmly locked like at any other school anyway.

For that same reason, these stairs saw little foot traffic. It was a perfect spot for a brief secret meeting.

Last night, Juho said they had a favor to ask me and So-yul. Though not directly stated, it was payment for saving us from getting caught by the teacher. We had no way to refuse.

To hear what the favor was, and to get our reflection paper forms together, the three of us agreed to meet briefly. After this conversation, we decided to gather early before first period.

So-yul would arrive soon. As I stood waiting with my hands in my pockets, Juho smirked and said:

“You two were giving off major couple vibes yesterday.”

“Who was?”

“Who else? You and Han So-yul.”

“We’re fake dating, what couple vibes?”

I let out a laugh at their ridiculous comment, but Juho paid it no mind.

“That’s what I’m curious about. Are you two really just fake dating?”

I frowned pointedly at them.

“What are you talking about? Of course it’s fake. So-yul doesn’t even like me.”

“So you like So-yul then?”

“…No.”

I hesitated strangely before answering. I’d overreacted to a simple question that wasn’t even leading. Juho wouldn’t miss such an opening, and shrugged with an unpleasant smile.

“Well, whether you like someone or not isn’t my business.”

“Is that so? I just started disliking you quite a bit.”

“Do what you want.”

As if even that didn’t matter, Juho wrinkled their nose and:

“Still, shouldn’t you think about this carefully?”

Added this in a serious tone.

Their tone was straightforward, as if wanting to convey an important message. The playful atmosphere from moments ago had completely vanished. When I gestured with my chin for them to explain further, Juho continued with some hesitation:

“We’re pretty close, and I know So-yul well enough too. If you want, I could help as much as I’m able. I’d be happy if things worked out…”

I could guess what would follow.

“What if you get caught again?”

My prediction was exactly right.

“Well, I heard So-yul’s family has been wealthy for generations. Even if she gets caught and disciplined, she could just pay the full tuition. Even if she transferred schools, the school would be the one losing out.”

“…Hmm.”

Though the situation was more complicated, they had a point. As I nodded quietly, Juho continued with a bitter smile:

“But that’s not the case for people like you and me.”

“Because we don’t have money.”

“Right.”

Juho let out a faint sigh at my self-deprecating words.

Their next words came in a tone as firm as a judge delivering a verdict:

“So, do you really need to be doing something this risky?”

A question that seemed meant to give me room to contemplate on my own.

This too showed Juho’s thoughtful nature. Having such a friend made me endlessly grateful.

But I wasn’t so sure. My thoughts were different.

If I got caught I could just transfer schools, but what would happen to So-yul?

What would her parents say? Would she end up under constant surveillance? If that happened… would she resent me, even just a little?

My mind was too cluttered. Even thinking it through, no clear conclusion seemed likely. In this situation, I could only say one thing:

“I’ll think about it.”

At my brief response, Juho concluded with “Alright. Let me know when you decide. I’ll help whichever way you choose.”

Was it really okay to continue such a dangerous relationship?

Maybe… this was the final crossroads.

A moment later, So-yul came running up the stairs saying:

“Sorry I’m late. Did you wait long?”

She seemed to have run quite far, she was so apologetic. Her breathless state showed clear signs of exhaustion this early in the morning. We hadn’t even set an exact meeting time, and she wasn’t very late.

“It’s fine. We didn’t wait long.”

When I answered with a faint smile, Juho burst out laughing.

“My, what a kind boyfriend you are.”

“Shut up. Stop teasing.”

“Yeah, don’t tease him. He’s kind to everyone.”

After defending me like this, So-yul came to a stop right beside me.

But what could I do? It wasn’t wrong that I was being kind because it was So-yul… Of course I couldn’t say that in front of her. Instead I tried saying it roundabout:

“Am I kind to everyone?”

“Yes. The other day you were talking so kindly to some girl. Grinning away. Almost drooling.”

I hadn’t grinned or drooled, but I had talked to girls several times. Of those, the only one So-yul would have witnessed was the day before the arts festival.

Could she mean that time?

“That was just catching up with an old friend.”

“If that’s how I saw it, then that’s what it was.”

So-yul said this with her hands on her hips. Such a tyrant.

“Save the lovers’ quarrel for when you’re alone.”

Fair point. Except you started it.

Anyway, we’d gathered for a reason so we shouldn’t waste more time. After this we needed to get reflection paper forms from the staff room and return to class. To manage this tight schedule, we’d better get to the main point.

I turned my gaze to Juho.

“So? What’s this favor you want from me and So-yul?”

“Yeah, what is it?”

When I asked without waiting, So-yul tilted her head and chimed in beside me.

Looking back and forth between us, Juho rubbed their neck and:

“It’s nothing major.”

Then showing a slight bitter smile:

“Would you maybe… actually appear in my new film?”

They dropped this question.

“…Appear in your film?”

So-yul asked back as if checking whether she’d heard wrong. Actually I wondered if I’d misunderstood too, but seeing So-yul’s reaction, we’d heard correctly.

Juho nodded with a somewhat arrogant attitude.

“Yeah. I told the teacher too, right? That I’d cast you as leads in my new film. Of course, they probably won’t actually check if you appear in my film, but just in case.”

“No, that teacher might actually check.”

“Then all the more reason to accept.”

Juho shot back with a smirk at my response.

Thinking about it, they had a point.

“And like I told the teacher, making the film alone for the arts festival was tough. Having just one character limited the story too much. The visuals weren’t great either.”

Juho looked plenty handsome to me, but doing everything alone must have been difficult. I’d never even heard of a film with just one character.

Plus what better candidate for the female lead than So-yul? She’d easily rank first in beauty at our school. Given how she performed piano, her acting ability showed promise too.

That was thinking from Juho’s perspective… From mine and So-yul’s view, there were some awkward points.

I mentioned carefully:

“It might be a bit much time-wise. We’re both busy with studying or practice.”

At my words, So-yul nodded slightly in agreement.

But as if this too was within expected range, Juho held up two fingers.

“Right. So just help for two days.”

“Two days?”

“Yeah. A Saturday and Sunday of some week. From after breakfast until before dinner. It’ll be a short film anyway. Just help that much.”

“Hmm…”

Two days. Not exactly brief, but not long enough to refuse either. Plus they’d saved us when we were about to get caught by the teacher. This much seemed perfectly acceptable.

Then So-yul’s opinion would be key…

“…Sounds fun.”

Seems she was fine with it.

“When are you filming?”

When I met their eyes and asked, a broad smile spread across Juho’s face.

“Can’t do it right away since I need to write the script. And if we wait too long it’ll interfere with finals. I’m planning for the week after next.”

The week after next was quite soon. But well, final exams were in early-mid July, and vacation started right after. That timing was the only option.

I nodded up and down as I answered:

“That works for me. How about you, So-yul?”

“I’m fine too. Any later would overlap with competition practice so this timing looks perfect.”

Competition?

Before I could ask about this suddenly mentioned word, Juho continued:

“Got it. Then I’ll set it for the week after next and work on the script. Actually, this is my first time having others act out my script so I’m a bit nervous.”

“Is that so? Well anyway, please make an easy script considering our… no, my acting ability.”

“Sure. I’ll include all the scenes I couldn’t write before.”

They completely ignored what I said. Well, even if Juho’s film turned out badly, what did it matter to me? I just had to do my best.

Anyway, we decided to accept Juho’s favor. All that remained was showing off my poor acting skills the week after next.

When we got caught by the head of student affairs, I wondered what would happen. Now after all that, I’d end up filming with So-yul. I couldn’t make sense of how things turned out this way.

With this, we’d finished everything we needed to discuss.

Now it was time to go get our reflection paper forms from the staff room… or so I thought.

“Well then, I’ll head down first.”

For some reason, Juho said this.

Why go down first? I frowned and asked:

“Head down first? We’re all going to the staff room together.”

“Ah, right. We need to get those reflection paper forms.”

Juho chuckled and agreed with my point, then quickly added:

“But there’s some time left. Chat as a couple for a bit. I’ll keep watch just for today.”

“What?”

“I’m heading down then. Follow when you’re done talking.”

“Hey.”

With these final words, Juho went down the stairs without even giving us a chance to stop them.

By the time the rhythmic footsteps faded, naturally only So-yul and I remained.

Really… what a weird person.