episode_0244

***

In front of the school gate. Inho, wearing a cast, moved his crutches awkwardly.

These crutches were uncomfortable even with two good arms, and he looked even more uneasy with one arm in a cast.

He passed through the school gate with a waddling, unsteady step.

“I don’t think that’s possible… I’ll take you to class.”

Yoon Si-ah, who was worse off, stepped forward, but In-ho shook his head.

“It’s okay. There are a lot of kids at school who can help.”

“Not them?”

Yoon Sia mentioned the group she always hung out with.

“Yes.”

The reason he rejected Yoon Sia’s offer to help him out of debt was not simply because he could do it on his own.

He is already a person with a lot on his shoulders.

I didn’t want to go through the trouble of helping them get to and from school.

“That’s Inho!”

Yoon Si-ah calls In-ho back, who is slowly moving away.

“Yes?”

“You missed class yesterday.”

This is a random class story.

When In-ho nodded as if he was listening, Yoon Sia, who had gathered her thoughts, spoke.

“I’ll go tonight. Are you okay?”

“…It doesn’t matter. Do you mind?”

Would you mind?

It is a question with many meanings.

Yun Shia also knew what he meant.

gulp. She swallowed.

“Yes. Why not take a taxi?”

“I will give you transportation expenses.”

“No. I have to pay for this.”

“Because the cause lies with me, I will pay the taxi fare separately. I don’t accept objections.”

“You speak as if you are an adult.”

Yoon Si-ah muttered at In-ho’s sharp tone, and Kang In-ho felt a pang inside.

– Ding dong ding dong

A paper ending the class was delivered to them on the playground.

” will take a look. Good luck today too.”

Inho smiled and turned around again.

“Yes. Yes….”

She had a lot to do today.

I had to do school assignments, and soon I had to go take care of my father.

Nevertheless, she kept her eyes on Inho’s back as he slowly moved away.

Their relationship has changed so drastically that it makes you wonder if they treated each other like invisible people until recently.

Even though he shows the image of a diligent student, at times it feels like he is talking to seniors a year or so above him.

Even though they talk like children these days, the words they often use make you think they are adults.

“Well… he’s an amazing kid.”

Yun Sia smiled softly and slowly turned around.

The sun was shining so strong that I couldn’t even remember what happened yesterday.

***

Going to school wearing a cast and crutches was, and still is, something that would attract attention.

Moreover, if the person involved is a person whose face and name is known through misconduct.

As I walked down the hallway to the classroom, the encore of stares I received on my first day of school began.

An ordinary person would be bothered by those looks mixed with suspicion, suspicion, and curiosity, but he did not hesitate and vigorously pushed on his crutches.

I opened the classroom door, entered, and sat down.

And look around. The gazes that were clearly directed in this direction suddenly disappeared like cockroaches hiding.

“Hello?”

He greeted Jeong Sang-hoon sitting next to him.

Jeong Sang-hoon, probably not expecting to be greeted, nodded in surprise.

“If you took notes for 1st and 2nd period, can you show them later?”

“Written?”

“Uh, I missed class because I went to the hospital.”

Inho laughed, raising his arms.

Jeong Sang-hoon also laughed along, but it was extremely awkward.

“Rain, I’ll lend you it.”

When he rummaged through his bag and handed over the note, Inho tapped his shoulder and thanked him.

Jeong Sang-hoon stood up, tilting his head as if he had just had a dream.

“Ah… that….”

Jeong Sang-hoon, who was about to leave, called In-ho, who was looking at his notebook.

“Huh?”

“I’m going to the cafeteria. What should I buy you?”

It was a situation that could have been misunderstood as someone calling themselves a bread shuttle.

Inho rolled his eyes for a moment, then searched the inside pocket of his uniform.

What he took out was a wallet.

Kang In-ho took out a card and handed it to Jeong Sang-hoon.

“I need some chocolate milk. And buy yourself something to eat with this.”

“Huh? Uh… really? Why?”

Jeong Sang-hoon suddenly took the card and looked at his face as if checking it again.

“Note value.”

He said as he fluttered open the notebook.

“Uh… thank you?”

“If you scratch more than 10,000 won, you will die.”

Kang In-ho’s voice came from behind Jeong Sang-hoon, who was heading towards the cafeteria.

While Jeong Sang-hoon went to the canteen, someone came up next to In-ho.

“Um… Inho.”

It was Shin Jeong-ah.

“……”

Kang In-ho, who was still focused on his notebook, did not give Shin Jeong-ah even a glance.

“That… Inho.”

Shin Jeong-ah sat down next to him and called him.

A voice with the right mix of anxiety, nervousness, and fear rang in his ears.

“There, there is a seat.”

With his eyes still on the note, he spoke coldly.

Shin Jeong-ah bit her lower lip at the cold attitude.

She slowly reached out and grabbed Inho’s sleeve.

“Can we talk…?”

“……”

It was a pitiful voice, but Kang In-ho did not move a muscle.

“Huh? It’s Inho. huh? Huh?”

Shin Jeong-ah shook In-ho’s sleeve, which caused the note to shake violently.

Only after the note closed with a clicking sound was Shin Jeong-ah able to see Kang In-ho’s face.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

He looked like he was getting angry about something.

“Is this Inho?”

“Hey.”

A voice as cold as ice hit her.

Shin Jeong-ah felt like the blood in her whole body was drying up as she heard those words, which did not contain even a gram of affection.

“What are you doing?”

“……”

Not knowing what he was talking about, Shin Jeong-ah remained silent and waited for his next words.

“I thought he was just a guy who smokes and drinks…”

Tsk, he clicked his tongue.

“There is no real answer, there is no answer.”

As he opened his notebook again and tried to look away, Shin Jeong-ah clung to him.

“I, Inhoya….”

Please look at me with warm eyes.

That was her idea.

However, as always, the world went against expectations.

“If you do it one more time, I will hit you.”

Her body stood still at the uncompromising declaration.

My instincts warn me that if I really approach him even a little more, which is different from my usual rejection, I could get hit.

“…….”

She looked at his mood in an awkward state, neither backing away nor approaching him.

“Jintae Kim. Is he at school?”

It was Kim Jin-tae who left the group chat room due to yesterday’s incident.

“Huh? Now, I’m not sure…”

She didn’t know because they weren’t in the same class, and Jintae Kim wasn’t that high on her list of priorities.

“I see. I understand.”

“…….”

And then silence again.

Shin Jeong-ah, who thought that the question she had just asked meant that his heart had relaxed, carefully placed her hand on his shoulder.

That was her wrong idea.

With a crashing sound, Shin Jeong-ah rolled on the classroom floor.

He shook off his hand with his shoulder, and she, whose posture was so unstable, just fell to the floor.

All eyes in the classroom focused on this.

“Ah….”

Kang In-ho made an ‘oops’ expression for a moment, but then his face hardened again and he turned his face away from Shin Jeong-ah.

“I told you. Don’t touch it.”

“Ah… Yes… I’m sorry.”

Shin Jeong-ah apologized without even thinking about getting up from the floor.

“……”

She began to get goosebumps at the gaze being paid to her.

He didn’t look scared or avoidant like usual.

The gaze filled with thoughts of belittling, ignoring, and exhilaration were directed at me as I fell on the floor.

‘ah….’

Shin Jeong-ah closed her eyes, recalling old memories.

And then I realized. That your position is being reversed.