Chapter 9: More Boldly

It seemed her words about being bolder weren’t just talk.

The next morning, as I walked into the classroom, someone turned to face me as if they’d been waiting.

Who else could it be but So-yul?

Last time, she said she only greeted me because our eyes met. Now it looked like she was going to acknowledge me first. I felt so honored, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

So-yul gazed at me steadily. When our eyes met, she slightly raised the corners of her mouth. Her expressionless face quickly broke into a mischievous grin, as if plotting something.

Then she mouthed silently:

“Hi, boyfriend.”

“Huh…”

Are you crazy?

I couldn’t even exhale the breath I’d just taken as I looked around. Fortunately, no one seemed to be looking our way. It appeared no one had witnessed So-yul’s secret greeting.

“Haah…”

Finally feeling relieved, I let out a deep sigh.

So-yul, watching me, giggled as if something was terribly funny.

She must have grown quite bold. For the record, I felt like my nerves were about to give out.

Should I be grateful she didn’t greet me out loud? Well, if we’d been caught exchanging secret greetings, it would have been much harder to explain.

I shot her a look that was meant to curse her out and walked to an empty seat. So-yul chuckled softly and waved her hand in greeting.

Judging by the circle of students around her, she must have been chatting with the arts track kids. Yeah, go back to talking with them and stop paying attention to me.

Thinking this, I had just sat down when…

For some reason, So-yul picked up her bag and came over to me.

As I blankly watched this scene, So-yul, without even looking at me, plopped down in the seat right next to mine.

Even after sitting, she just took out her pencil case from her bag and put it on the desk. She didn’t say a word.

Finally, I had to ask first.

“…Why are you sitting next to me?”

“Hm?”

At my question, So-yul tilted her head and said:

“I wanted to sit somewhere different than usual, so I chose an empty seat that caught my eye. Do you mind?”

She whispered this while fidgeting with her fingers.

What an infuriating response.

Still, telling her not to sit here would look strange too.

It’s not like a guy and girl sitting next to each other is something to be conscious about. In fact, there were already a few others sitting like that. Making a fuss about it would only make me look worse.

“Do what you want.”

“Okay. Thanks for understanding.”

So-yul flashed an eye smile and went back to preparing for class. I hadn’t actually understood anything, but whatever, let’s just go with that.

Soon after, the bell rang. It signaled the start of class. The teacher would be coming in shortly.

Even So-yul wouldn’t talk during class time. At least in front of others, she pretended to be a model student, so I didn’t have to worry about that.

So I opened my textbook without concern, but…

“Hey.”

For some reason, So-yul turned to me and whispered.

Class was about to start, what did she want to say?

“What?”

As I asked quietly, So-yul raised one corner of her mouth and said:

“I forgot my textbook for this class. Can we share?”

That’s what she came out with.

I couldn’t help but laugh derisively.

“Don’t tell me you sat here for this?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

She was really playing dumb. Her face showed no sign of acting, looking genuinely confused. Her nonchalant attitude was so absurd that I was at a loss for words.

Just then, the teacher entered the classroom. It was time to finish preparing for class.

As if she’d been waiting for this moment, So-yul looked up at me with pleading eyes and said:

“…Really, is it not okay?”

“…Good grief.”

She’s truly impressive.

I silently pushed my textbook towards So-yul. She bowed her head in thanks and scooted her desk closer to mine. The textbook was placed in the middle of our joined desks.

So-yul smiled lightly, not caring about the glances from other students.

Then she picked up her mechanical pencil and wrote just one line in the textbook.

[Easy.]

I really want to give her a light smack on the head.

Of course, I couldn’t actually hit her. Instead, I picked up my pencil and scribbled under So-yul’s neat handwriting.

[What are you doing this for?]

The answer came immediately.

[I said we should do something bolder, didn’t I?]

[That was just you.]

[So what?]

What do you mean, so what?

[If you keep acknowledging me, people will get suspicious. Can’t you stop doing this in class, even if we meet separately?]

[It’s fine. Kids won’t think much of us sharing a textbook. See, even now.]

Well, this wasn’t entirely wrong.

When we pushed our desks together, the other students did glance at us, but once they saw we were just sharing a textbook, they lost interest. No one seemed to have any suspicions. If they had, we wouldn’t be able to chat through the textbook so comfortably.

But who knows what might happen if these incidents keep piling up? The fact that we should restrain ourselves remains unchanged.

Before I could add this, So-yul wrote another line.

[We’re dating anyway. You should do whatever your girlfriend asks.]

Whenever she runs out of things to say, she always brings up this boyfriend-girlfriend stuff. Someone might think she’s some kind of AI.

Of course, I had a predetermined response for this too.

[Even if you’re my girlfriend, it’s fake, isn’t it?]

[It might be fake, but I’m still your girlfriend.]

After writing this, So-yul chuckled and turned to face the front. It seemed she wasn’t going to listen to any more objections.

One way or another, she really does whatever she wants.

◎

“You were sharing a book with Han So-yul this morning?”

Lunchtime came after enduring So-yul’s nerve-wracking antics.

Just as I was about to take a bite, Juho, sitting across from me, asked this question.

“Yeah. She said she forgot her textbook, so she asked to share.”

“Really? She doesn’t seem like the type to forget her textbook.”

Juho tilted his head, then picked up some side dishes and ate.

This time, I asked a question.

“Seems like you know her well?”

“Well, not really.”

Juho swallowed the food in his mouth, then said:

“It’s not that I know her well, but we’ve been in the same class for two years straight since last year. We don’t have many points of contact, but I guess you could say we’re on friendly terms.”

“Is that so?”

This was news to me. I didn’t know Juho was in the same class as So-yul in his first year too. Even if they didn’t interact much, he must have seen and heard quite a bit about her. He probably knew much more about So-yul than I did.

Hmm…

Hearing this made me a bit curious.

I wonder what So-yul was like last year.

When we first met, she was wary, but the next time we met, she approached me right away. Sometimes she’s prickly, but lately she’s been playing pranks and being annoying.

Yet in class, she puts on a perfect act of being a model student.

So-yul and I are just fake lovers at best. There’s no need to know each other deeply. That’s certainly true, but at this point, I can’t help but be a bit curious.

Was So-yul always like this?

“Hey.”

“What?”

Juho asked with his mouth full of rice.

I tried to ask as naturally as possible, as if it was just casual conversation:

“What kind of person was Han So-yul?”

“What?”

As soon as I asked, a questioning light filled Juho’s eyes. His chewing mouth stopped abruptly. The corners of his mouth turned up as if he’d caught a big scoop.

Seemingly intrigued, Juho quickly swallowed his food and said:

“Why? Did you start liking her after sharing a book today?”

“Are you crazy? As if I’d like someone just from sharing a textbook once.”

I don’t like her. Though I somehow ended up becoming her boyfriend (fake)…

“Then?”

Juho asked probingly.

I hastily strung together an excuse:

“Just… She’s the most famous person in our school, but we hardly ever get a chance to talk. It’s like having a celebrity at our school, so I’m curious what kind of person she is.”

“Hmm~ Is that the reason?”

It seems my desperate excuse worked. Juho nodded slowly. His expression clearly showed disappointment. He’s such an easy guy to read.

“Well, I’m not super close with her either. The instrument players tend to hang out among themselves.”

“Is that so?”

“I guess so. They have their own orchestra club and stuff. Even at the arts festival where we invite outsiders, they’re the main performers.”

Arts festival with outside invitations? Did our school have something like that?

Thinking back, I vaguely remembered something from my first year. A brilliant performance in a darkened auditorium. I’d used that as background music to catch up on sleep, nodding off…

…I’m not sure if I should count that as a memory.

Anyway.

“So you don’t know much?”

“No, I do know her somewhat, even if we’re not super close. So-yul is generally friendly with everyone in the arts track.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Juho nodded emphatically and continued:

“How should I put it… There are two types of exceptional people, right? Those who are so good they inspire jealousy, and those who are so good they become objects of admiration. So-yul is the latter. She’s cheerful, actively tries to get close to people she’s not that familiar with. I’d say most people like her.”

Oh my, I wonder why such an admirable and exceptional person is so desperate to play pranks on me.

The following explanation partially answered this question.

“Ah, but she does have quite a mischievous streak.”

I couldn’t help but agree.

“That’s true.”

“…What do you mean, ‘that’s true’?”

“Ah, no. I meant it seems that way. You know, based on her… appearance.”

“Hmm.”

Juho stared at my face silently for a moment, then snorted and said:

“Until last year, she’d often poke someone in the back, and when they turned around, she’d say ‘What’s this finger?’ and giggle.”

“That’s something even elementary school kids don’t do these days.”

“True enough.”

Juho gave a wry smile.

It seems her childish pranks were still going on last year. This playful nature must be her true self. Come to think of it, she’d said something similar herself.

Juho continued:

“But… she might do it less this year?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Much less compared to last year. Plus, she seems to always sit in the front row during class and study. I heard she’s always practicing piano when she has free time.

They say she’s become much more of a model student this year.”

Juho explained, waving his chopsticks.

So she’s playing the role of a model student more this year, unlike last year? And yet she was the one who first suggested we break rules together. It sounded quite dubious.

“Anyway, she’s impressive. She studied hard last year too, but this year she seems to be putting in even more effort. And her piano skills are incredible, probably inherited from her parents.”

Inherited from her parents?

Before I could ponder this question, Juho shrugged and continued:

“You might not be interested, but she completely transforms in front of a piano. Of course, she plays well, but it’s like she becomes a different person. Her expressions, her gestures, everything changes.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“…What do you mean, ‘that’s true’?”

“Ah, no. I meant I heard that’s true. From news articles and such.”

“Really?”

Juho asked, tilting his head. Of course, I had no idea if such articles existed. But I couldn’t exactly say I’d seen it up close a few days ago.

“Anyway, that’s how it is.”

Juho tapped his tray with his chopsticks as if to conclude the conversation.

“She has a good personality, likes to play pranks, is amazing at piano, famous, and quite cute too. There are plenty of people who secretly like her. No, there are even some who openly show their interest.”

I suppose that’s not unusual.

Objectively speaking, So-yul’s appearance is quite attractive. On top of that, she has a friendly personality and a playful side that likes to poke at people. It’s enough to captivate many guys.

To think I’ve become a temporary lover, albeit fake, with such a popular girl.

Reflecting on this, it struck me as quite strange.

As I nodded slowly, Juho chuckled:

“Anyway, I hope things go well with her. I’ll help if I can.”

“I told you, I don’t like her.”

Thanks for not listening to a word I say.

Juho laughed happily at my response, then said:

“Alright, alright. But if you need any help, just ask. I owe you for helping start the club. I’ll appear like a hero to save you in your moment of crisis.”

I doubt it. I’m not even sure if there will be a moment of crisis. And I question whether you’d actually show up like a hero to save me in that situation.

But I decided to accept his goodwill. I waved my hand casually to show my gratitude, and Juho snorted before diving back into his meal.

I’d barely eaten a few bites since getting my lunch, but I felt completely empty. We’d spent a lot of time chatting about trivial topics. I need to finish quickly and go back to the classroom to study.

Just as I picked up my chopsticks with this in mind, my phone in my pocket buzzed.

I took out my phone without much thought and read the KakaoTalk message that had arrived.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I read the single line.

[So-yul: Want to have a cozy dinner together today?]

As expected… It seemed her words about being bolder really wasn’t just talk.

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