Dealing with a handsome crazy guy TALK
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I limped out of the infirmary, my phone practically shoved into my pocket. I went straight to the teachers' office, got an early dismissal slip from my homeroom teacher, and headed to my classroom. The hallway was empty except for me. That probably meant class had already started quite a while ago.
When I opened the classroom door, grimacing at my aching knees, the teacher and the kids who were teaching all stared at me. Even those stares made me uncomfortable, so I limped to my seat, quickly grabbed my bag, and left the classroom.
“…What the hell is going on, really…”
My head was in a mess, and my heart was in a mess. It was probably because of the chat with Kim Taehyung. I only thought about myself, never once thinking about Kim Taehyung. This time was no different. Ultimately, I blamed myself for the mess I'd made because of my selfishness.
I thought Kim Taehyung was just playing with my feelings. I thought he knew exactly what I liked, but he was just confusing me with vague answers. But now that I knew what he was thinking, my thoughts changed. There was nothing in Kim Taehyung's words that could be criticized.
As Kim Taehyung said, I kept my distance from him. I liked him, but I didn't want others to find out, and I didn't have the confidence to get close to him and receive everyone's attention.
“Even I think it’s a bit absurd.”
I couldn't help but chuckle. Thinking about how absurd it must be for Kim Taehyung. He said he liked me, but he kept such a distance between us. Even if he had tried to accept me, I doubt he'd have responded to my distance. Kim Taehyung was always close. If I'd just eased the distance between us a little... things between us would have definitely changed.
“In the end, it was all my fault… Why am I getting angry… Why do you say such things when you don’t even have the confidence to like me anymore…!”
If I could turn back time, I'd go back to before I'd said I didn't like Kim Taehyung. It was impossible to erase such a deep-seated feeling in an instant, and I didn't have the confidence to dislike Kim Taehyung.
I was so angry at myself that I clenched my fists so hard they were shaking. I regretted it over and over again, on the street not far from school.
“Kim Yeo-ju!”
It was then. As I tried to walk again with my limping legs, I heard a voice calling my name from behind. I couldn't help but recognize the voice, and the sound of running grew closer. It was Kim Taehyung, standing before me, breathless, and I was left dumbfounded.
“Kim Taehyung… why are you here…?”
“I have something I really want to say to you.”
Kim Taehyung, who was catching his breath and trying to tell me something, seemed extremely impatient. This was a stark contrast to his usual relaxed and sly demeanor.
"What's so important that you have to come out here at this hour? What about school?"
“I just packed my bag and left.”
"What?! Are you crazy? You can talk whenever you want, but why are you skipping school, you idiot!"
The beads of sweat on Kim Taehyung's forehead spoke volumes about his impatience. Just as I was about to step closer and touch his forehead, he changed direction when he mentioned he'd just left school. As I pounded his shoulder with my fist, his hand quickly grabbed my wrist.
“I’m sick, lady.”
That's what he meant when he grabbed my wrist. And even with that handsome face, he activated his "hot girl" skills... This was foul play. Kim Taehyung was doing something to me that shouldn't have been done again.
“Hey, what do you want me to do…! Just hurry back to school. If the teacher catches you, the student council will be ruined!”
“Just a moment, just a moment.”
When I slapped Kim Taehyung's hand away and turned my head with a red face, Kim Taehyung fixed his gaze on the ground and poured out everything he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry. For losing my temper in the text earlier, and for all the trouble I've caused you."
"...Why are you apologizing? Are you really that stupid? It was my fault. I said I liked you, but I made a ridiculous excuse."
“Kim Yeo-ju, I really like you… but you kept trying to distance yourself from me, so I got upset and kept acting like annoyances.”
“……“
"It was all my fault. So... can't you keep liking me? Don't try to distance yourself from me, heroine..."
A mixture of emotions swirled around me. I was a little angry at Kim Taehyung for apologizing when he'd done nothing wrong. I was also surprised and thrilled by his confession of liking me. When he finally raised his head, begging me to continue liking him, tears streamed down his face. And his eyes were filled with sorrow.
After seeing Kim Taehyung like that, I finally felt like I understood. Standing before me now, Kim Taehyung's emotions were completely raw, and that's why I could feel his sincerity. I reached out and placed my hand on his cheek, and he placed his own on top of mine.
“Kim Taehyung… Are you really that stupid? Stop crying, stop.”
"Hey, day and night…"
"If you don't stop, I'll leave you behind."
“I don’t think you can do that.”
“Huh? Me~?”
I brushed my thumb across Kim Taehyung's eyes, and he nuzzled his face into my hand, like a kitten begging for attention. I barely managed to suppress a snicker. After Kim Taehyung and I had lightened the mood somewhat with a small joke, I spoke again.
"Hey, how could I not like you? If I could, I would have done it a long time ago, right?"
“…Do you still like me?”
"Oh, so now you want to date me? I don't want to be confused anymore."
It finally feels like things are going well. Kim Taehyung and I have decided to change our relationship going forward by being honest with each other, and both of us will make concessions for each other.
“I won’t keep my distance. Even at school… we’ll hold hands.”
"I'm satisfied for now. When you're okay, I can go around bragging about it being mine, right?"
“What… is that so? But did you really just drop out of school?”
"Of course I did. I got an early dismissal and came running."
“Mr. Lee, Kim Taehyung!”
Our story ultimately ended as a joke. I was momentarily relieved to see Kim Taehyung break his early leave habit, but then I realized he'd been teasing me, and I almost ran without thinking. Well, before I could, Kim Taehyung crouched down in front of me and offered me his back.
I rode comfortably on Kim Taehyung's back, and the whole time I was being carried, I liked the strawberry scent emanating from him, so I buried my face in the nape of his neck. Thanks to that, I didn't realize that on the way home, Kim Taehyung's ears were as red as tomatoes.
