04
The transfer student quickly adapted to school. My worries that he might feel left out because of his shyness were completely unfounded. As the days passed, more and more students flocked to his place, and seeing him embrace them, I realized two things: first, the transfer student possessed a magnetic power. Second, despite being shy, the transfer student was eager to talk. For the past few days, the transfer student and I had always been the first to speak to him, confirming this. Finally, third, the gazes surrounding us felt unusual.
Today, I was about to feel liberated from that stinging glare. My new deskmate, the transfer student, tapped me on the shoulder. To be honest, it was a vague tap, but it was so strong that I couldn't even call it a tap. It felt like he was treating me like a child. And that prediction became true the moment I saw the transfer student's eyes. The affection that had been glued to them had become familiar within a few days. Facing the transfer student, who was so bright and cheerful, I wondered if this was why the kids were looking at me so meaningfully.
"···why?"
“Hey, do you want to eat some Mychew?”
“I gave it all to the kids earlier.”
“No! There’s more!”
The transfer student waved his hand and unzipped my bag. As soon as I stood up, having bent over to retrieve the Mychews, he held out a whole box of them. He didn't even give me a single box, but a whole box, and yet he seemed oblivious to what was wrong. When I took the Mychews, his face brightened. They say America has freedom of expression, but I couldn't decide whether to call this passive or active. Perhaps it was obvious from seeing him act so blatantly, but I was the kind of transfer student who would get upset if I delayed my reaction even a little.
“Um, well... I don’t mind if you just give me one.”
"···no?"
“No, it’s not that I don’t like it, I’m just worried that it might be too much.”
Despite my excuses, the transfer student simply nodded, his lips pursed. His previous bold demeanor vanished, and I was at a loss for words, seeing him so dispirited. It seemed I was the one being treated like a child, not the one being treated like one. The sight of a man and a woman, even two heads apart, struggling against a hunched man was quite a sight. The kids around us were clearly enjoying themselves. Then, the back door opened, and Kim Taehyung came in.
“Hey! What are you guys talking about?”
“My, talk.”
“My? Oh my, Jay! Mine?”
“Huh···?”
“I missed school for a few days, so I didn’t get it!”
The transfer student's already stiff face turned tearful. He didn't seem to think that far ahead. Kim Taehyung was probably just asking lightly, so I could have said no. He was so foolishly kind. I couldn't stand watching the transfer student only harassing my innocent hand, so I stepped in. I hit Kim Taehyung on the head. The transfer student flinched, startled by the sudden punch. Kim Taehyung, on the other hand, clutched the area he'd been hit and whined. I'd hit him lightly, so that it didn't hurt, but he was still pouting as if he was showing off. I shook my head internally.
“Why are you hitting me… What, what did I do wrong again?”
“You buy it, you eat it.”
"It was just a joke. Wouldn't I be threatening you with something like that?"
“Expectations are threats.”
"Kim Yeoreum is only really kind to Jay. It's so sad, so sad~"
Kim Taehyung said, his shoulders slumping. Seeing his sullen expression, I reluctantly ripped open the Mychew wrapper I was holding. Since there was already a lot, I'd planned to cut it in half. Kim Taehyung's eyes sparkled, reading my thoughts like a ghost. Soon, five or six Mychews were placed in my hand, and he smiled. He even put one in his mouth and munched on it.
“Eat and fall.”
"Yes! I'll disappear from your sight~"
Kim Taehyung kept his snarky tone and distanced himself. Seeing him like that, I frowned. The realization that I'd been fooled by that brat again dawned on me. I emptied the remaining My Chews into my pockets. I vowed not to be fooled again. Suddenly, I felt a sharp gaze from beside me. There was a transfer student staring at me with a vague expression. Something about him made me dislike him, and something about him made me feel a pang of disappointment. His face was truly mysterious. Was he angry? At that transfer student?
“···.”
“···.”
Yeah, I'm angry. That was angry. I guess giving My Chew to Kim Taehyung was the wrong choice. Compared to the serious expression I knew, it tasted mild, but when the transfer student said it, it felt scary. Maybe it was because he usually smiled a lot, but it was unfamiliar, so it didn't feel good. In reality, it was more scary than unpleasant. The transfer student felt discouraged when he saw me avoiding his gaze. He spoke in a small voice.
“···Hey, can I give it to you again tomorrow?”
“Huh? Uh uh... But why do you keep giving it to me?”
“Because we’re friends.”
“···.”
“Because we’re friends, you little shit.”
What on earth does Mychu mean to the transfer student?
“But Kim Taehyung, why haven’t you come out these past few days?”
I asked, nibbling on a snack as a refreshment. The transfer student looked at Kim Taehyung, curious about the answer to my question. He loved school more than anyone, so I couldn't ignore him. Kim Taehyung was always coming to school, even when he was sick. Why would he miss not just one day, but several days? Everyone in the class, including the transfer student and me, was dumbfounded. Kim Taehyung took a sip of his drink and answered curtly.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve seen musicals, plays, and even concerts.”
“Musical?”
”Yeah! My dream is to become an actor.”
“Well, it suits you.”
“Really? I feel a little better when Jay says that.”
Kim Taehyung bashfully ruffled the back of his head. An awkward laugh, "haha," was a bonus. Even Kim Taehyung seemed unfamiliar with receiving praise.
“Anyway, I couldn’t come out because I was going here and there.”
“You must have gained some experience.”
"What about experience? I'm not even going to sing, so what do you mean a concert?"
“Broaden your horizons a bit. You might even be able to take on the role of a singer later.”
“Ah, I see... I really shouldn’t argue with you.”
As expected of Kim Taehyung, who has a soft spot for earlobes, he must have been briefly tempted. But the way he quickly denied it was quite amusing. But he was sincere in what he just said. You never know what will happen in this world, and Kim Taehyung might just land an unexpected role. Honestly, since Kim Taehyung is handsome, I thought he could be a singer or even an idol. Even though he himself didn't know.
Kim Taehyung's excitement radiated from his conversation with the transfer student. Since I rarely spoke to anyone unless it was something I was interested in, the transfer student was like a shower to Kim Taehyung. I could tell from his face that he had never seen anyone empathize with me this much. And it didn't take long for that expression to gradually shift to one of excitement. Kim Taehyung suddenly stood up. The transfer student and I could only blink and look up at him. Kim Taehyung poked his head toward us, his eyes filled with anticipation.
“Do you want to come see my musical?”
“You’re telling me to come see instead of going to see?”
“Yeah! I think I’ll be performing soon. What do you mean, good friend? I’ll get you the tickets!”
“···when Doing it?”
“Ah, let’s do it after September’s mock exams are over!”
(Mock exam)*
Kim Taehyung dismissed the question with a look of disgust on his face. He knew I was sensitive, with the September mock exams just a few days away. Still, he couldn't believe I'd be this upset, so he just laughed. Only after I told him not to worry, that I'd be there, did Kim Taehyung's expression soften. Whenever Kim Taehyung threw his hopes away, I'd cut them off. But then I'd re-establish those very same hopes. For five years, our repertoire had always been like this. The transfer student, who had been quietly listening, asked.
“What is September Mogo?”
"ah."
"ah."
A final sigh escaped Kim Taehyung and me. There was no way a kid who'd been in Korea less than a month would know the word "mogo." No, more importantly...
“Hey!! There’s only one week left, what should I do?!”
Kim Taehyung, who had grasped the situation before me, was shocked. The transfer student, unable to understand what he was saying, tilted his head, and I vanished like dust. It was an emergency.