unluckyJoo Jae-soo
The next class was PE, so I had to change into my gym uniform and head out to the playground, so I couldn't go see my senior during this break. But the thought of seeing him as soon as PE was over made me happy.
Exercising under the blazing sun was incredibly hot. The teacher gave me a short break, so I lay down on the sand and looked up at the sky. After staring at the sky for a while, I saw someone on the rooftop.
It was senior Yunseul. She appeared to have a cigarette dangling from her lips. I frowned at the sight, and just before the bell rang, I entered the school and ran towards the rooftop.
In front of the rooftop door, the male senior I'd been smoking a cigarette with last time was leaning against it. Seeing him, I hesitated and hid. The senior muttered something to himself, sighed, and went downstairs. Only then did I open the rooftop door and go inside.
***
"Ugh... the smell of cigarettes."
"What? How did you know about this place?"
"I saw it at the playground. It was during gym class."
"Oh, yeah. Go do your thing."
"You said you don't smoke."
Once again, Kim Min-kyu grabbed my wrist. As I was about to leave the rooftop, he grabbed my wrist. I tried to shake it off, fearing he'd scold me again. Then, Kim Min-kyu looked me in the eye and said, "Didn't you promise me you wouldn't smoke?"
I was annoyed. It was so frustrating to see him like this after only seeing me for a week. I understand he likes me. It's his own way of thinking. But it was a bit funny to see him say things to me. I glared at Kim Min-gyu.
"Why should I do that?"
"Of course, with me!"
"You and I have nothing to do. And that promise I made to you means nothing to me."
"I said I wanted to smoke, why are you stopping me?"
"Don't worry about it."
Kim Min-gyu didn't say anything. I left him behind and left the rooftop.
***
When I returned to class, Jeon Won-woo was sitting in my seat. Why was he sitting in my seat instead of his? Without bothering Jeon Won-woo, I took the perfume out of my bag. Instead of spraying it in the classroom, I went out to the backyard. Since most of the kids in my class were studying, I didn't want them to get headaches because of Hangsu.
***
Yoonseul-sunbae's words are absolutely true. We'd only known each other for a week—no, from my perspective, only two weeks—and that promise was mine alone. And from Yoonseul-sunbae's perspective, it must have been disconcerting that a complete junior was suddenly so eager to become friends.
As I was dazed, I heard a woman's voice coming from the backyard. It was quite high, but her voice was so loud I could hear it all. The owner of the voice was senior Yunseul.
***
"Hey, I don't like it. Let go!"
'So why do you hate it?'
'Oh~ Is it because of these guys?'
'You guys go in first.'
"You go in. And can you put this down?"
"And why are you touching my hair? Are you a pervert?"
'What happened that made our Seul-i feel so down?'
'Is it because of him? Kim Min-gyu?'
When I came out to the backyard to spray perfume, there was a group that had already arrived. The center of that group wasJoo Jae-sooIt was.Joo Jae-sooHe was the most famous bully in our school. He would take his anger out on the stricter students whenever he was in a bad mood. Of course, I didn't like him. For the past few days, the way he'd keep saying "Slaa~ Slaa~" and getting all sloppy about how much I liked him was really annoying.
When I was about to go back in after just spraying some perfumeJoo Jae-sooHe grabbed my wrist. The boys at this school seem to like grabbing wrists. He was fine with grabbing my wrist. Until he started touching my hair.
Joo Jae-sooKim Min-gyu's name came out of his mouth. It means that Kim Min-gyu has alreadyJoo Jae-sooIt means that I was hit by someone. I felt bad for some reason.
I tried to shake his hand off by shaking it back and forth, butJoo Jae-soodid not let go of my wrist. As I was trying to get people's attention by screaming, something fell from above. That something wasJoo Jae-soohit the head.
I looked up and saw Kim Min-gyu on the rooftop. It was him. He was the one who helped me.
***
Looking down into the backyard, I saw a male senior grabbing Yunseul's wrist and refusing to let go. Yunseul flailed her arms, trying to break free, but he didn't seem to want to let go. Anxious that something might happen to him, I grabbed something I could find in my pocket and threw it at him.
That thing was a hard king eraser, and the eraser hit the male senior's head.
Senior Yunseul looked up in surprise. Our eyes met, and he smiled brightly and waved. Next to him, he met eyes with Senior Namjin. A chill ran down his spine, and he took a step back.
***
FortunatelyJoo Jae-soosent me away. ButJoo Jae-sooI thought I saw Kim Min-gyu on the rooftop. Kim Min-gyuJoo Jae-sooIt felt like I was firmly attached to him. Because I was looking at Kim Min-gyu.Joo Jae-sooI feel alive in your gaze.
Now I should go write a Q&A ☺