episode_0012

Chapter 11: Where’s That Mop Smell Coming From? (1)

“Back…”

Though somewhat cringeworthy, it had become a sort of habit.

An empty house.

It was a greeting he had consistently given back in the old South Korea.

Coming to this world, it became a habit as well.

Of course, there was no one welcoming him.

After finishing work and returning home, around 5:30 PM.

Once he tidied up his clothes and started preparing dinner, Han Seyeon would return from work.

It had only been about a week since he arrived here.

His routine was becoming familiar.

There didn’t seem to be much time left.

Yet, he didn’t feel the pressure of time being tight.

Three important female souls in total.

If he counted only those around him, that was the case.

There were more points to gain within these calm emotions than he had initially thought.

So, when the time came for reaping, he expected to accumulate quite a few points.

Setting that aside, he slowly began to do the household chores.

Friday after school.

It was a relatively leisurely day, but there was no end to the household tasks.

Finishing up the cleaning left undone in the morning.

Taking out side dishes and starting to cook, Han Seyeon would come in around that time.

“…Welcome.”

“I’m back.”

Facing her with an apron on.

Even though it had only been a few days, Han Seyeon’s reactions remained the same.

Was there some kind of fantasy attached to the apron?

Looking at her while cooking, he could feel her gaze on him.

Whenever he looked at her, she would quickly avert her eyes.

“I’ll shower first.”

“Yeah.”

Still, it was truly fortunate that things had improved.

Although it was still difficult to make eye contact.

Sometimes she would sneak glances at him.

If she had something to say, she didn’t hold back.

Occasionally bringing up strange topics, but they usually resolved them over time.

The rest was always similar.

Even if Han Seyeon’s soul was important.

Since they were family for now, crossing boundaries wasn’t easy.

Especially because she had a defense mechanism to avoid confrontation.

If he crossed a line and made her leave the house, it could become a big problem.

He had to proceed very slowly with her by his side.

Eating together.

Doing their own tasks.

And around 10 PM, they would lay out the blankets and lie down.

Not that they fell asleep right away.

They would watch something on their smartphones.

With limited data and no Wi-Fi at home, there wasn’t much of a hobby of using phones.

“What are you doing?”

“Texting.”

However, today, the sound of smartphones seemed to ring more than usual.

-Jung Ayeong [Hey?]

-Me [No? About to sleep soon.]

-Jung Ayeong [Oh haha… I wanted to talk about something from school today…]

She even blurs her words in texts.

Anyway, was she feeling lonely thinking she wouldn’t see him for two days?

Jung Ayeong’s messages started ringing more frequently.

They weren’t particularly meaningful words.

Rather, they could be considered boring and uninteresting.

But knowing that they were all efforts to continue conversing with him, it was hard to ignore.

-Jung Ayeong [Um, about your outfit…]

-Me [What about my outfit?]

-Jung Ayeong [That blanket from earlier at school?]

-Me [Yeah. It got wet with milk, so I’m drying it.]

-Jung Ayeong [Sorry…]

-Me [No need to apologize. So, why?]

-Jung Ayeong [Oh, it’s nothing…]

He could guess what she was trying to say.

The blanket clinging wet to his outfit could be deemed somewhat provocative.

To his eyes, there was nothing wrong, but according to the common sense of his previous world, it could be seen as provocative.

Jung Ayeong didn’t mention anything about it, perhaps feeling guilty.

Well, she wasn’t his girlfriend.

She didn’t have the right to discuss someone else’s outfit.

While looking at his smartphone, a chilling voice came from beside him.

“Friend…?”

“Oh, yeah. Same class.”

Oh, goodness.

For a moment, he thought he was in a horror movie.

Staring blatantly at my smartphone or making uncomfortable remarks was not my intention.

But isn’t there such a thing as atmosphere? Isn’t there such a thing as intuition?

Hanse-yeon’s voice was no different from usual, but it carried a slightly cold undertone.

It seemed true; the cautiously inquisitive questions were clearly deflective.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be an equal mix of boys and girls…?”

“Yeah, it’s mostly girls.”

“…Is that so?”

“Why?”

“Oh, nothing.”

It was a sudden change in behavior.

Hanse-yeon, who usually treaded carefully in conversations and seemed timid, was now pushing forward with determination, though still somewhat evasive.

From my perspective, it was bewildering.

A chilling silence.

The room was dark with the lights off.

I didn’t dare turn towards her, but I could sense emotions flowing beside me, tense and sharp within the silence.

There was a subtle tension building up.

In the end, unable to bear the oppressive silence, I took the first step.

Raising my hand slowly, I turned on my smartphone.

[From Jung Ah-young – 16 unread messages]

“….”

Not even five minutes had passed?

During that time, Jung Ah-young had sent numerous texts.

You’ll see me at school in a few days, you know.

Still, I couldn’t just ignore them, so I slowly opened the message window.

“Hey?”

“Hmm?”

“Sorry, I’m sleepy so I texted you.”

“Then goodnight… See you on Monday!”

“Goodnight emoji”

“Hey, are you free this weekend?”

“Oh, sorry, wrong message. Have a good weekend!”

“Sorry. Goodnight!”

What’s this…?

Though the content was lacking, Jung Ah-young’s texts, seemingly timid yet earnest, caught my attention.

It felt like she was trying her best.

I hesitated about not reading the texts for less than five minutes, but I typed a response anyway.

– Me: [Sorry, got something to do real quick. Gotta sleep now.]

The number 1 disappeared instantly.

It meant she had read it.

Could it be… when did she send those texts?

– Jung Ah-young: [Haha, it’s okay. Goodnight!]

– Me: [Yeah, let’s meet on Monday.]

– Jung Ah-young: [But why sleep early? It’s only 10:30 now.]

– Me: [Nothing else to do.]

– Jung Ah-young: [Got it! Goodnight!]

– Me: [Casual reply emoji]

Finally, did I send an emoji?

Hanse-yeon’s voice came through.

“Goodnight.”

“…You too. Goodnight.”

Now, it was a familiar farewell.

However, the atmosphere was subtly different from usual.

She didn’t turn off her smartphone, maintaining the timing of holding it.

Why say goodnight now if she wasn’t going to sleep?

It must be due to mood swings, but it was clear things would go as she wanted.

I had plans as well.

Jung Ah-young sent a few more texts afterward, the buzzing vibrations faintly audible.

After switching to silent mode, I closed my eyes.

There was nothing urgent to do anyway.

Even though tomorrow was Saturday, Hanse-yeon had work, so it was considerate.

About five minutes passed.

Silence arrived sooner than expected.

The weekend passed without incident.

I stayed home, reading books, engaging in holographic conversations, browsing shop windows, and passing the time.

And then, as Monday passed and Tuesday approached, the pressure weighing on me began to intensify.

– Creak.

The door half-opened.

My once-familiar classroom now felt oddly awkward.

Shouldn’t I have gotten used to it after just a week? I should be able to adapt.

But even compared to a week ago, the atmosphere was drastically different.

The gazes of the female students held desire, while those of the male students exuded disdain.

Had some strange rumor spread?

The results of my actions were undoubtedly clear, but the sudden change in gazes was far from comforting.

At that moment, the group of guys who had gathered to befriend me started leaving the classroom.

The boys seemed to be heading outside, their mouths opening.

Words that might make someone uncomfortable without a subject.

“Ugh, smells like a mop somewhere.”

“Let’s get out quickly. Need some fresh air.”

“….”

Of course, there was no smell in the classroom.

It could instinctively be understood as aimed at someone.

Was it that day again?

When milk was spilled and forcibly washed off.

That day when I wore a thin short-sleeved shirt with just a blanket draped over me.

Surprisingly,

I had no thoughts at all.

Should I say I was taken aback?

For ordinary guys, such words would surely be offensive.

But was it because I was in a reverse world?

Rather, it felt awkward, so I didn’t feel much about it.

Placing my bag down on the seat, someone approached me.

It was Hyunsoo, who had separated from the group earlier.

“Hansein, you, um… come to the 4th-floor science lab for a while.”

“Got it.”

I roughly knew where it was.

Currently under construction, it was a place where students couldn’t go due to teachers’ instructions and was an inaccessible area.

And that place was Kim Hyungmin’s hideout.

Seeing only a bag on the adjacent seat, it seemed like Juna Young was already called.

I sighed and got up from my seat.

Then I took steps.

From the 1st floor to the 2nd floor.

From the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor.

And then,

As I was about to go up to the 4th floor from the 3rd floor,

A woman’s voice was heard.

“Ha, damn. Hansein looks so appetizing.”

“Freak, not even in the same class.”

“You never know. He might hit on me too.”

The sound of hands clapping against each other.

Slightly different from applause.

It was a strange sound that could be used in a sexual context.