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"So where did you two go..?"
"Aquarium date."
"... Seol-ah, wasn't the school uniform uncomfortable?"
"It was uncomfortable."
"Ah. I didn't think about the school uniform.. Hehe."
"What is hit?"
"Seol-ah, can you come for a moment?"
***
I followed Seungchul into his room. He told me to sit comfortably on the bed. I sat down, perched on the edge. The atmosphere was... heavy and uncomfortable.
"Seol-ah, can you be honest with me about what I'm asking you?"
"What...is...it..?"
"Are you being bullied at school?"
" ah,.. "
"Please keep that a secret from Kwon Soon-young..."
"Soonyoung? Uh, okay."
"But since when? Since when have you been being bullied?"
"It's been quite a while. Since my second year of middle school, consistently."
"Second year of middle school?"
"Yes. The instigator was my friend in the second year of middle school."
"Same school..?"
"No. He went abroad."
"But why?"
"It won't stop even if the instigator disappears."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"I guess I must have earned the hatred of those kids."
"Or are you just doing it for fun?"
"Does Seokmin know?"
"What about Min-gyu? We go to the same school."
"Lee Seok-min knows. He helped me a lot."
"And Min-gyu probably doesn't know. He didn't tell me."
"Have you ever thought about ending that bullying?"
"I can't keep getting hurt like this."
"No matter how much I tell the adults around me, they don't believe me. Even if they do believe me, they don't solve the problem. Instead, they avoid me."
"And there's not much time left until graduation, so it's better to just endure it. I have to take the CSAT this year, too."
"Then there's nothing I can do..."
"If you're having a hard time, tell me. I'll help you."
" thank you. "
***
"What did you two talk about?"
"We didn't talk much."
"But why is Seol-ah's expression so serious?"
"What are you talking about, Kwon Soon-young? I'm laughing."
In order, Lee Seok-min, Choi Seung-cheol, and Kwon Soon-young. I forced a smile at Kwon Soon-young's words. Kim Min-gyu, seeing my expression, took note and then burst into laughter. Was my forced smile really that funny?
"By the way, what about Lee Ji-hoon and Jeong-han?"
"Cafe Alba. You'll be home soon? Should I make you some food?"Min-gyu
"Are you making that meal?"Seokmin
"No. I'm doing it with you, you punk."Min-gyu
***
Mingijeok Mingijeok, I got ready to go to school. I didn't want to go, but I got ready to go.
"Seol-ah~ Come out quickly~."
I hear Lee Seok-min calling me from outside. Kim Min-gyu has already left, saying it's his shift today. It's been a while since I've been able to walk to school with Lee Seok-min.
***
The walk home from school alone with Lee Seok-min was so quiet. It was even quieter because there were no people around. I nudged the hem of Lee Seok-min's shirt for no reason.
"Last time, you said that your ideal type was Soonyoung hyung."
"Oh, right."
"Do you like that guy?"
" ... "
"I think I like it."
"I want to stay with you forever, and when we're together, my heart beats faster than usual. I guess I really like you."
"Han Seol-ah, you're amazing. Do you even know who you like?"
" haha... "
"But I think this is unrequited love."
"No way."
"Han Seol-ah, you're clueless."
***
'Hey Hanseol. They got suspended for a week because of you.'
"It's not my fault."
'Don't be so harsh. It's your fault.'
"You guys stop it too. Why do you keep harassing Seol-ah?"
' ... '
"If you have nothing to say, shall we go back to our seats?"
At Lee Seok-min's words, everyone returned to their seats in silence. It was truly strange. Why did they listen so intently to Lee Seok-min while so utterly ignorant of what I said?
" it's annoying. "
"Why are you annoyed, what's going on?"
"The kids don't listen to me, but they listen to you."
"Yeah. Why is that?"
"Why don't you tell me about the school story that happened before you? You know everything about me, but there's so much I don't know about you."
"Um... I was a big fight at school. I can't tell you anymore."
" ...If you don't want to talk, there's nothing I can do."
" ... "
***
"Seol-ah, let's go eat!"
As soon as the bell rang, Kim Min-gyu ran to the front of our class, asking if we could eat lunch together. For some reason, I felt like I shouldn't eat lunch today. Something about it made me feel uneasy. I felt like something was about to happen.