* Please note that this article is a fabrication based on a creative work. *
I followed them to the rooftop, closed the door, and stood before them. I put my hands in my pockets and squinted as I looked. The woman in the center, seemingly displeased with something, approached me.
"Why are you dating Seungcheol? You and Seungcheol are on different levels."
"It doesn't look the same to you either."
"What?! Huh-."
"Doesn't it feel like you've become something when you meet someone like Seungcheol?"
"No, not really."
I thought it would be warm because it was noon, but it was windier than I thought and it was chilly. I opened my mouth and zipped up my hoodie.
"Aren't you cold? Your skirt is so short."
"Are you crazy? Hey."
"I didn't want to say this, but I don't like Choi Seung-cheol. I couldn't help but date him, but if you just say one word and we'll break up, it'll be over."
" what..? "
"If it's that good, then you should go and ask her out. If her face is like that, then just be quiet."
Their faces flushed red at my words, and one of them glared at me with his mouth shut. The woman in the center raised her hand, her anger still undiminished. I closed my eyes, thinking I'd just been slapped, but I barely felt it, so I slowly opened them.
"What are you doing with your child?"
"Min-gyu..! No, this guy,"
"Don't touch my heroine. If you don't want to lose."
" ... ... "
Kim Min-gyu grabbed the wrist of the woman who was about to hit me, and I looked up at him in surprise. The women kept their mouths shut at Kim Min-gyu's words and then left the rooftop.
As I sighed and tried to leave the rooftop, Kim Min-gyu grabbed my wrist and we faced each other.
"I heard everything... Are you the Im Yeo-ju I knew?"
"No, you said to change. So I'm just protecting myself."
"I didn't mean to ruin you. You should have just told Choi Seung-cheol to break up with you."
"I'll finish it today. I'm going."
To be honest, I never even thought about breaking up, but we weren't dating because we liked each other, and I wasn't sure that something like today wouldn't happen again, so I made a promise to myself.
But at that time, I didn't think there would be someone on the roof.
The bell had already rung, and it was too late to get back to class, so for the first time in my life, I decided to do something a bit out of the ordinary. I plopped down on an abandoned desk in the deserted backyard of the school. Under my natural temper, I wouldn't have said anything in the same situation, but by taking on each and every one of them, I felt a bit of relief.
Anyway, after finishing, I was drawing a diagram by myself while organizing my thoughts and not knowing what to say.
Time passed like that, and it was almost time to go home. I sent Kim Min-gyu a KakaoTalk message telling him to go first and waited for Seung-cheol. Hearing he'd come to class, I finished first and stood in the hallway waiting.
"Hey lady!"
" came? "
"Let's go to a nearby cafe and talk."
" .. yes. "
I saw Seungcheol coming down the stairs with a bright smile and started walking. Since it was the last stop, I thought the cafe wouldn't matter, so I nodded at his words.
Perhaps because it was near the school, there were quite a few students from our school, and they were chatting with Seungcheol and me. I tried to sit in a corner, and when Seungcheol offered to buy me a drink, I ordered a decent iced tea.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Let's break up."
" ... ... "
"Honestly, you don't like me either. And what's more, I don't like you either."
"Are you taking my word for it? I like you."
I thought our conversation would be over before the drinks even arrived, but it dragged on longer than I expected. Seungcheol, seemingly unable to accept what I was saying, looked me straight in the eye and spoke.
"Senior, you're a fisherman. Aren't I just one of those fish?"
"...Yeah, I know that rumor. But you're not. I'm serious."
" ... Even if my senior likes me, I don't."
"So, is it Yoon Jeong-han? You said you liked it?"
" yes? "
"Or, Kim Min-gyu?"
I was completely flustered by their sudden appearance, and frowned at the name Kim Min-gyu. Seeing me like this, Seung-cheol chuckled and closed his mouth for a moment, then opened it when I remained silent.
"Actually, I was on the rooftop earlier too."
" ah.. "
"I understand everything you said. But what makes me the most miserable is that it wasn't me who helped you back then, but Kim Min-gyu. I know you two are close, but have you ever thought about me even once?"
"Why am I thinking of you? We're not dating because we like each other, it's just one-sided. I never asked you to like me."
If there's one thing I felt while talking to Seungcheol, it's that he was more sincere than anyone else. It might not have been me, but when I saw him, the look in his eyes was different than usual.
" ... Then give me just three more chances. If that doesn't work, I'll give up."
"Do whatever you want. I won't change."
Before the ice in my drink had completely melted, I left the cafe when it was about halfway melted.
I felt bad about the drink being left over, but if I had continued drinking like that, I would have gone home and just thrown up.
" what? "
"Give me a chance, number 3."
"What chance?"
"A chance to make you like me. But I don't fall for that kind of thing."
When I got home, I saw Kim Min-gyu sitting on the sofa as if it were his own, and I couldn't help but chuckle. My parents told me they'd be home late and told me to eat with Kim Min-gyu. We chatted over dinner.
"Still, that's fortunate."
" what? "
"Tell Seungcheol to break up with you. I know you won't let this opportunity pass you by."
"What are you lucky about lol."
"..you know he's a bad guy."
That's true. I nodded in agreement with Kim Min-gyu and picked up my side dish.
Is this the first opportunity?
When I left home to go to school in the morning, Seungcheol was right there in front of my house. But another problem was that Kim Min-gyu, who had slept over at my house the night before, and I ended up having a three-way meeting.
"Why are you there?"
"Why are you leaving the female protagonist's house?"
"...How did you know my house?"
"I asked Suah. Let's go."
I saw Seungcheol take the lead, and slowly followed behind him. Feeling a bit irritated, I grabbed Kim Mingyu's arm and followed him.
" ... walk beside me, not behind me."
"Ah haha.. yes."
Suddenly, my senior stood tall, turned around, and looked down at me, startling me for a moment. I dragged Kim Min-gyu along with me and walked beside him. The sight of us walking with them on either side of me was quite amusing, and all the children walking to school turned their attention to us.
When I arrived at school, I said hello and went to class first, where I sat next to Sua.
"How was your day yesterday?"
"I said let's break up."
"So, you broke up?"
"It seems like we broke up... but please give me three more chances."
Sua frowned after hearing what I said and shook her head. I don't know when that opportunity will come, but I hope it passes as quickly as possible.
"Hey lady~!"
"Eat this and get strength!"
"Don't sleep and listen carefully in class!"
"I love you, Im Yeo-ju!!"
I was going crazy over Seungcheol, who would constantly drop by our class during every break. Since there hadn't been any rumors of her breaking up with me yet, everyone cheered when he said he loved her. I tried my best to cover my face with my hand, pretending not to know him, but I wondered if there was anyone in this class who didn't know him. Whenever he spoke, everyone turned to me.
"Hey, can't you do something, Seungcheol senior?"
"I'm trying to stop you, but you won't listen."
"I'm going crazy... Seriously... Ah..."
Even when Kim Min-gyu came into our class and started talking, the kids' eyes wouldn't leave, and they'd often walk all the way to the end of the hallway to chat. Just as I was about to bury my face in my hands and let out a desperate moan, I heard familiar voices beside me.
"Choi Seung-cheol's girlfriend?"
" ... ... "
"What, Kim Min-gyu is here too. Choi Seung-cheol was looking for you, but he said you weren't there even when I went to the other side."
"Ah.. Seniors. Please tell Seungcheol that if he comes to see me one more time, I won't see him again."
Senior Jeonghan and Senior Jisoo greeted me, then looked slightly surprised when they saw Kim Minkyu in front of them. But then Seungcheol told me he was looking for me, so I sighed, made some earnest requests, and returned to class.