Chapter 136
“Really. Yeon-jae, is there anyone you want to exclude?”
Seo Ji-oh’s face bore a faint smile as he asked slowly.
“…Do I have the authority to decide?”
“It looks like you do, from anyone’s perspective.”
How did he come to that conclusion?
It was puzzling, but if I had the authority, the answer was simple.
“Then, you.”
“…….”
The smile on Seo Ji-oh’s face froze slightly.
“That’s too much. Why me? Bi-hyuk was the one who glared first.”
Do I need to care about that?
What kind of image was he expecting from me?
What on earth did I look like in the fan meeting video? I felt puzzled.
“I thought about it rationally. Originally, you, Seo-jin, and Bi-hyuk were eating together. If it became uncomfortable after you joined, then it’s only right to exclude you.”
At my calm words, a quicker response than before came back.
“If we’re being rational, isn’t it better for classmates to eat together? It would be more convenient, and Bi-hyuk must have friends in the music class too.”
“That’s true.”
I agreed since it made sense.
Then, No Bi-hyuk looked at me as if he had been betrayed.
Seriously, what are you guys doing?
“So, should we do that? From now on, let’s eat rationally with our classmates?”
“Lee Yeon-jae.”
If they were going to fight, they should do it openly. Why involve me in the middle?
As I turned my head in distress, Baek Seo-jin watched us with great interest.
No matter where, it was the same; no help at all.
Swallowing a rising sigh, I opened my mouth.
“Let me ask one question first. Are you sure I have the authority to decide?”
Although no words came back, I could read a positive answer on their faces.
So, I smiled and answered.
“Then I’ll exclude myself. You three eat together.”
“…!”
As I got up without hesitation, Baek Seo-jin grabbed my right leg.
“Why! I didn’t do anything wrong! Yeon-jae!”
“Seo-jin, let go….”
“They’re the ones having a stupid power struggle. I’m satisfied with my position right now!”
What power struggle? And what does being satisfied with your position even mean?
I had a headache. I barely managed to pry Baek Seo-jin off.
“The bell will ring soon. Let’s head back to our classroom.”
“Yeah. We’re ‘classmates’, so we should move together.”
Seo Ji-oh smiled subtly while looking at No Bi-hyuk. Please stop.
Seeing my gaze, Baek Seo-jin hit Seo Ji-oh on the back and dragged him away.
In an instant, only No Bi-hyuk and I were left.
“Bi-hyuk, do you not like Seo Ji-oh?”
It didn’t seem like a situation to beat around the bush, so I asked outright.
No Bi-hyuk hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.
“Why? Do you know each other?”
“No, today is the first time I’ve seen him.”
“Then you just don’t like him?”
“…Yeah.”
That’s understandable. I nodded quietly.
You don’t need a special reason to dislike someone.
I know that there are times when you simply don’t want to be close to someone without any reason. I wouldn’t be unaware of that.
“Sorry. We’re in the same class, but I’ve made things awkward.”
I reassured the sullen No Bi-hyuk that it was okay.
Anyway, I didn’t have any special intention of getting close to Seo Ji-oh either.
The reason Seo Ji-oh approached me was obvious. He couldn’t hide the look in his eyes. Just like…
‘Like you.’
I looked at No Bi-hyuk quietly and spoke softly.
“Bi-hyuk, you don’t have to get along with everyone. It’s not something that’s possible.”
“…….”
“But considering your debut, it’s better not to make antagonistic relationships. Let’s avoid meeting Seo Ji-oh from now on.”
When I suggested that we should eat lunch together from now on, No Bi-hyuk hesitated and then agreed.
Then he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
He seemed to realize that he had been acting childish.
“Lee Yeon-jae. I’m sorry….”
“I said it’s fine. Do you have training tonight? If not, let’s have dinner together.”
“Okay….”
His dejected voice somehow irritated me.
It would suit him better to shamelessly joke about eating alone with me.
This all happened because he showed up.
“Yeon-jae, what? Is there something on my face? Handsomeness?”
“…….”
As soon as I returned to the classroom, seeing his face made my feelings complicated.
‘Did I get infected by No Bi-hyuk?’
Even though I had no particular thoughts, I felt strangely uncomfortable looking at Seo Ji-oh.
“Wow. Now you’re not even going to respond?”
“I just like being quiet.”
Still, it wasn’t right to completely ignore someone trying to talk.
I thought if I responded appropriately, his pride would make him step back.
But he endured more than I expected.
“Seo-jin.”
“Yeah?”
“Can you check my ear? I think it’s bleeding.”
“…Poor Yeon-jae.”
Eventually, it was time to go home, and Seo Ji-oh was still next to me.
After being pestered by Seo Ji-oh all day, I was utterly exhausted.
Baek Seo-jin handed me a candy, saying to cheer up. I wished she would just take him away.
“Why candy? Where’s mine?”
“…Aren’t you going home?”
“I waited to go with you.”
At his prompt reply, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Even after sighing in his face, Seo Ji-oh still smiled leisurely.
“Seo Ji-oh.”
“Can’t you call me Ji-oh? You seem particularly harsh to me, is it just my imagination?”
“It’s not your imagination.”
I no longer had the strength to speak gently.
“That’s too much.”
“Yeah, I’m too much right now. So, can’t you go play with someone else?”
“No. Others aren’t as famous as you.”
He didn’t even try to hide it anymore.
It was so blatant it was laughable.
When I laughed silently, Seo Ji-oh slowly reached out his hand.
“I also want to be close to you like No Bi-hyuk. I want to benefit from your popularity too.”
His neatly arranged white hand tapped my hanging hand.
“Since there’s a precedent right next to you, I thought you’d accept me too…. Why is it okay for No Bi-hyuk and not for me?”
His hand, lightly tapping mine, felt like poking my cheek.
How could he be so similar to No Bi-hyuk in such things?
A smirk escaped at the passing thought.
“It’s not that I dislike you. But there’s no reason to get close to you either. I gain nothing from it.”
When I spoke quietly, Seo Ji-oh furrowed his eyebrows.
“What did No Bi-hyuk offer you?”
“He’s fun.”
“I’m more fun than him.”
“I’m already satisfied with him.”
It was an impenetrable conversation.
Even though I was speaking firmly, he persisted in finding a way in.
Instead of feeling hurt, Seo Ji-oh looked weirdly more excited.
“Then I guess I need to get closer to you? I’ll show you there’s something more satisfying than just enough.”
“…….”
This guy really wasn’t ordinary.
I was at a loss on how to get rid of him.
A sigh, filled with frustration, was on the verge of bursting out.
Noticing it, Seo Ji-oh raised his hands in a surrendering gesture.
“Okay. Let’s stop for today. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“You make me want to skip school for the first time. Because of you.”
“Wow. I’m the first. I’m honored.”
“…….”
Talking is meant to be done with people.
What am I doing with someone who doesn’t understand words?
I stood up, not even having the energy to get angry.
“See you tomorrow, Yeon-jae.”
I glanced at his drooping eyes and silently turned away.
Just ignore him. He’ll eventually get tired.
* * *
‘Let’s surrender.’
I lost. I really lost.
With a weary face, I called out to the guy lingering in front of me.
“Seo Ji-oh.”
“If you call me Ji-oh―.”
“Yeah, okay. Ji-oh. Let’s have a talk.”
It took a week for me to realize it. Ignoring someone also requires stamina.
Seo Ji-oh wasn’t an ordinary crazy guy.
By the third day, I couldn’t stand it anymore and brought earplugs.
As soon as the class ended, I put on the earplugs, but Seo Ji-oh didn’t care and squatted next to me.
He kept sticking notes on my arm with a smiling face.
I peeled them off and threw them away without reading, so the next day, he wrote something on his phone and waved it in front of my eyes.
[Yeon-jae. I can make it more fun♥]
Seeing the flashy letters appear and disappear like an idol concert billboard app, I was dumbfounded.
No one had ever used such an app in the classroom.
After enduring and enduring, a week passed, and I finally admitted it.
That guy was beyond what I could handle.
I dragged Seo Ji-oh to a quiet place behind the sports field.
“Ji-oh. I lost. Let’s stop this.”
“Stop what?”
“You know what I mean. I’ll let you do what you want, so just keep it reasonable.”
“It sounds like you don’t want me to.”
Laughing, Seo Ji-oh began to speak but stopped when he saw my face.
It was because, for the first
time, I faced him with my unhidden feelings.
“…Looks like I bothered you more than I thought.”
You just realized that?
Seeing my disdainful gaze, Seo Ji-oh awkwardly apologized.
“Sorry. You kept ignoring me, so I got stubborn too.”
“You asked the difference between you and No Bi-hyuk.”
Seo Ji-oh and No Bi-hyuk were very similar in many ways.
The look in their eyes, the sly gestures, the habit of glossing over things with a smile, their height, and their easily likable appearances.
But the two were never the same.
“It’s simple. He respects boundaries, and you don’t.”
“…….”
No Bi-hyuk, though playful, always kept his boundaries.
Sometimes, he was so gentle that he reminded me of Mist.
That’s why I thought of him differently.
Of course, he’s genuinely a good and decent guy.
‘If I stay famous, will you stay by my side?’ is what I sometimes wondered.
“You said you wanted to stay by my side because I’m famous. Do as you please. Use me as much as you want.”
“…….”
“But Ji-oh, I’m really curious….”
Even though I wasn’t in the mood to laugh, I did.
For the first time in a week, I laughed in front of him, and ironically, Seo Ji-oh, who always laughed, was now stiff.
“Was I sold at an auction without knowing?”
“What do you mean….”
“The way you act makes me feel like I was sold as a toy. You’ve been playing well with me for the past week.”
There was no reply to my smiling remark.
It was just the two of us here.
No hidden gazes and Seo Ji-oh’s phone couldn’t record.
So, this place didn’t need Bambi or actor Lee Yeon-jae.
“Keep it reasonable. Just stick to the boundaries.”
And I’ll leave you be.
“…….”
Seo Ji-oh stared at me blankly.
After looking at his relaxed eyes for a while, I turned around.
I had said everything I wanted. It felt liberating for the first time in a while.
As I was about to leave, Seo Ji-oh spoke up.
“Yeon-jae. I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
“Yeah, I got it.”
When I quickly accepted his apology, his eyes widened in surprise.
I didn’t want this conversation to drag on.
I started walking faster, and Seo Ji-oh hurried to catch up.
“I’ll keep the boundaries from now on. I’ll also stop fooling around.”
“Okay.”
“And I’ll make sure it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. If No Bi-hyuk entertains you, I’ll provide something else.”
“…?”
What could you possibly offer me?
Although I didn’t say it out loud, it seemed my gaze conveyed the message.
Seo Ji-oh smiled gently and spoke.
“With me….”