* Please note that this article is a fabrication based on a creative work. *
What the heck is going on...
After Seungcheol's confession, countless students gathered around me, and I was at a loss. Thanks to Suah, I was able to shake off many students, but I lay face down on my desk, trying to shake off my distracting thoughts.
So if I accept that confession, my life will be X, and if I don't accept it, it will be X?
"Hey, heroine~ I'm jealous of you, Gijibae!"
"If you're jealous, confess to me..."
"I'm sorry I don't have a face like yours..."
Why are you like that too..?
My mind became even more complicated as Su-ah straightened her posture with a sullen expression on her face at my words.
When fourth period ended and lunchtime arrived, my heart pounded faster than if I'd been running. I had a feeling Seungcheol would show up, so I quickly took Sua out of the classroom. But as soon as I left the back door, a chest blocking my path made me take a step back.
I must have brought my friends with me because there were male seniors standing on either side of me whom I had never seen before, and I held Su-ah's hand tightly.
"Can our female friend eat alone?"
"Yes...? Oh, yes..!"
"Okay, see you next time. Enjoy your meal."
"Yes, lady, I'll go."
With a smile on his face, Seungcheol made a threatening remark to Sua. I held onto her hand, but I had to let her go with a tearful expression. As I was watching her, Seungcheol entered the classroom, and I, who was right in front of him, involuntarily took a step back and entered the classroom.
The senior male colleagues next to me personally closed the back door and stood outside.
It's not like it's a bullying game...
"So, have you thought about what I said? What's your answer?"
"Yes..? No, that's..."
"Hmm- if the answer is no, I'll be really disappointed..."
It felt like he was trying to force a confession, almost to the point of being forced, so my hands started sweating and I got hot because even though I opened the window, no breeze came in.
I rolled my eyes and frowned, wondering what to do, but no solution came to me, so I hung my head.
"When will you answer~?"
" ... ... "
"You're close with Kim Min-gyu, right? I'm in the same class as Kim Min-gyu."
"Oh, I see..."
"Phew - so cute."
I was a little surprised by Kim Min-gyu's name suddenly appearing, and nodded, thinking that even though he is a very quiet person, he does have a presence.
"I'd like to give you time to think about it, but I'm so busy, haha."
"Ah... yes..."
"I have to eat lunch soon."
" yes.. "
"After eating, you have to digest it."
" yes.. "
"Then we're dating."
"Yes.. No, yes?! "
I was nodding vaguely, not even raising my head in response to my senior's words. Perhaps it was my fault for not even listening to the question, but I suddenly looked up in surprise. The eyes I'd just met seemed quite deep, and perhaps because I was flustered, I couldn't speak properly.
"You answered? Then we're dating. See you later, heroine."
" ... ...? "
What is going on...?
Senior Seungcheol, who had been gently stroking my head like before, put his hands in his pockets and leisurely left the class.
The absurdity was so overwhelming that I was speechless and at a loss for what to do.
"Did you have a good conversation with your senior?"
"Should I drop out...? How am I going to go to school now? ㅜㅜ.. "
"Why? Are you dating someone?"
" ... ... "
" ... crazy, really?! Whoa!"
Perhaps because she was thinking of me, Su-ah quickly arrived. As I stared blankly into space, speechless, she slapped my shoulder repeatedly. Despite the pain, I couldn't resist, so I banged my head on the desk and sighed.
"Hey, do I look easy?"
"Suddenly..? Well, he does look easy, and he's short too."
"It's not that I'm small, it's that you're big!"
As I walked across the playground with Kim Min-gyu after school, he put his arm around my head as if it was nothing, and when I put my arm away with a frown, a not-so-welcome face appeared in my sight.
Senior Seungcheol gradually came closer to us, and Kim Min-gyu, who saw me standing there dumbfounded, called my name several times in puzzlement.
"Im Yeo-ju?"
"Lady, we should go together."
" yes...? "
"Choi Seung-cheol...?"
"Kim Min-gyu, hi, I'll go first with my girlfriend."
"Hey, friend..?"
"I, I'll contact you later."
At the mention of "Seungcheol's girlfriend," Kim Min-gyu looked back and forth between me and the senior, who put his arm around my shoulder as we passed through the school gate. All the students walking home turned their gazes toward us, and I couldn't bring myself to raise my head.
I wonder if it's because it's easy, just like Kim Min-gyu said...
"But I guess you're really close with Min-gyu, you keep in touch with him separately."
"Because we've been close since we were young..."
"I hate seeing my girlfriend getting too close to another guy, you know what I mean? Come on, I'll take you there."
"..It's okay, I can go alone."
Our houses were almost nearby, and I felt like I'd suffocate if we continued like this, so I slapped Seungcheol's hand away. Without waiting for a reply, I walked ahead, not wanting to hear anything, and put my earphones in my ears.
I was always with Kim Min-gyu, but the walk home alone was more boring than I expected. Listening to music seemed to cheer me up. Then, a shop caught my eye, and after a moment of hesitation, I went in.
"Come out."
- Yeah, wait.
Although his new appearance felt a little awkward, I sat in the playground in front of my house and waited for Kim Min-gyu. I secretly hoped that this would make him look a little different, and soon, Kim Min-gyu, dressed in plain clothes, appeared from afar.
"Im Yeo, ... what is it?"
"Kim Min-gyu! What do you think?"
"Did you cut your hair? Why?"
"Why! I cut it to make you look stronger because you looked easy."
Seeing Kim Min-gyu's reaction, it seemed like something had changed, and I was about to go out and show off.
"Isn't there a way to look a little more mature? Just cutting your hair won't make you look more mature."
"Stop that laughter."
"Ah... okay, okay!"
I had heard from Kim Min-gyu that he had some serious ways to make things look a little more serious, and now it was my turn to tell him.
"So, you're Choi Seung-cheol's girlfriend?"
"Yeah, that's why I'm trying to show you three."
"Hey, then..."
Kim Min-gyu, who had been listening to me silently, suddenly sat up straight and told me a few more things.
So, over the weekend, I prepared thoroughly and gave short replies to Seungcheol's calls. I wasn't sure if I could do it well, but I felt good inside, as I prepared and found a new side of myself.
So Monday morning dawned bright, and I woke up a little earlier than usual. I showered, put on my makeup, put on my school uniform, which I'd shortened over the weekend, and finally, I grabbed my crossbody bag and opened the door to the back room.
"Hey, what are you doing!"
"Mom, I'm not the same Im Yeo-ju anymore."
"This is crazy. Why don't you restore it to its original state?!"
"Oh no! I'll go and be back."
"That's me!"
"Did puberty come late..."
Ignoring my mom and dad who were talking behind me, I left the house with a solemn expression on my face.