---
" me! "
"I'll just stop by the convenience store."
"You go in first."
"Come with me. I'm hungry."
"You can just go to the school store. Go first with Seokmin."
"Hmm... Okay. See you later."
" ... "
Han Seol-ah headed to the convenience store. Kim Min-gyu pulled my arm, telling me to go, and reluctantly I followed him to school.
On the way to school, Kim Min-gyu asks.
"But that's not the direction to the convenience store."
" huh? "
"Seol-ah, what are you hiding?"
"I think you know."
Kim Min-gyu was quicker on the uptake than I expected. He probably had a lot on his plate. But I couldn't say anything. Seol-ah had told me not to. I pretended not to hear him. When I avoided answering, Kim Min-gyu stopped asking questions.
***
"You didn't go to the convenience store, did you?"
"Oh, uh..."
"You again... ha..."
Han Seol-ah came trudging through the back door. Knowing she hadn't gone to the convenience store, I could sense that she was paying attention to the kids' gaze. I sighed deeply and left the classroom. I headed to the cafeteria to prepare Han Seol-ah's breakfast. (I hadn't gone to the cafeteria with Kim Min-gyu earlier.)
***
Lee Seok-min sighed and left. I saw the kids approaching me. Tired of seeing them keep trying to pick a fight, I buried my head in my desk.
It's been a while, but the kids haven't started a fight. They haven't even bothered me. I hear a familiar voice.
"Seol-ah, where does it hurt? Why are you lying down?"
The owner of that voice was Kim Min-gyu. It was Kim Min-gyu who stopped the kids from messing with me. I felt relieved.
"What about Lee Seok-min?"
"I don't know. Didn't it go to you?"
"No, I didn't see it."
"But where does it hurt?"
"No, it's okay."
"What are you doing, Kim Min-gyu? It's almost over."
"Oh, no. I'm going!"
"Goodbye~."
Lee Seok-min came in carrying a black bag. He looked like he'd been to the store. Perhaps he hadn't been there when he arrived at school earlier? Lee Seok-min sat down in his seat and took out the contents of the bag. He placed the triangle kimbap and banana milk on my desk with a thud, ripped open the plastic wrap, and inserted a straw into the banana milk.
" why? "
"You're hungry. Eat before the teacher comes."
" thank you... "
***
"Lee Seok-min, do you have Kwon Soon-young's phone number?"
"You're asking for my brother's number during class?"
" why? "
"No. I'll ask you later at home."
"But why the last number?"
"Just. It's convenient to have it."
There's no particular reason. It's just convenient to know. I suddenly remembered it and asked Lee Seok-min during class.
***
"Three, two, one!"
Ding dong dang dong~
"I have to go see Seol-ah!!"
As soon as the bell rang, I stood up to head to Seol-ah's classroom. I then ran out the back door. Running in the hallways was prohibited, so I walked to Class 10.
***
'Han Seol-ah, doesn't she seem to be acting like a show-off these days?'
'Yeah. That's kind of true. How did you become close with Min-gyu?'
'You seem a bit arrogant. Seokmin takes such good care of Han Seol-ah that I can't openly criticize you.'
As I passed Class 8, I heard two girls talking next to me. What was that? I could hear the names of people I knew, but they were talking about something completely unfamiliar. I stopped walking toward Class 10 and pretended not to hear, secretly eavesdropping.
'Seokmin, why is he taking care of that girl?'
' That's... how would I know? '
'I started hanging out with Han Seol-ah as soon as I transferred.'
'Do you two know each other?'
'That can't be right. Han Seol-ah seemed completely unaware.'
'Isn't it just that Seokmin likes Han Seol-ah?'
'But what did Lee Seok-min say that he can't bully Han Seol-ah when he's around?'
'He has a good personality, a good face, and is popular, so he has to look good. Plus, the teachers like Lee Seok-min too.'
'Is that all?'
'I don't need to look good to the teachers or Seokmin Lee.'
'Then you were going to harass Seokmin when he was around.'
'...I don't like it. That guy Seokmin Lee, he's a bit strong.'
'There was a time when we were alone together last time, right?'
'We made eye contact for a moment, and wow... I've never been so scared before...'
I couldn't take it anymore. I stood as far away as I could and threw my slipper in that direction. My slipper landed right next to the feet of the girl who was excitedly teasing Han Seol-ah. The girl grabbed my slipper and looked bewildered.
"Oh, thanks for picking it up!"
'Oh, no, what did I...! // '
" ... "
She said it was good. It was really pitiful that Yeo Jae-ae blushed when I spoke to her. She didn't seem worth dating.
In the end, I didn't get to see Seol-ah. I have a lot of questions, but I'll wait for Seol-ah to tell me first.