[Contest] Friends are not enough

A slightly different feeling

배주현

Yeoju, did you come with Jungkook??

나

ok.

My best friend in class, Joohyun, started asking me questions. "Are you that curious about Jeon Jungkook? He's just a high school student like us, oblivious to everything."

배주현

I'm jealous of living next door. If I lived next door to Jungkook, I could go to school with him, right?

나

Maybe. Joohyun, it'll be over soon. Go to your seats quickly.

배주현

Ugh... Okay. I'll come back later during break time!

As Joohyun went to her seat, the girls who had been gathered around my seat all returned to their seats. I couldn't understand why Jeon Jungkook was so excited, even though we weren't even close.

담임 선생님

I'm going to call roll. Don't forget to put your hand on your name.

The homeroom teacher called roll call, his face pale, perhaps from a night of heavy drinking. He called out our names with a menacing expression, making it seem more like a Death Note than an attendance book.

담임 선생님

Kim Taehyung. Kim Taehyung, you're not coming today?

The homeroom teacher looked up and checked the seat next to me. Seeing it empty, the teacher checked Kim Taehyung's name.

Kim Taehyung was a notorious bully at our school. When I was assigned to be his deskmate on my first day, I almost wanted to die.

But contrary to expectations, I was able to continue skipping school and enjoy a comfortable school life without even knowing Kim Taehyung's face.

담임 선생님

This won't work. I'll have to go to his house.

The homeroom teacher shook his head and began to call the next roll. That was it.

Drumroll-

The back door opened loudly. The children all turned their heads toward it. A handsome, unfamiliar boy, whom they'd never seen before, was standing there.

김태형

You don't need to come. I came today.

담임 선생님

Oh, that... okay. You come to the teacher's office after you're done. I'll call roll again.

I see, this is Kim Taehyung. I was surprised by his handsome appearance, which was better than I expected. I thought he'd be ugly since I heard he was so scary, but I was wrong.

Kim Taehyung glanced around before sitting down in the empty seat next to me. Still scared, I kept glancing at him from the corner of my eye.

김태형

Is it fun?

나

Uh... huh?

김태형

He kept glancing at my face and asked if I was having fun.

I didn't realize he was watching me. Feeling like I'd been caught in something, I hurriedly waved my hand and offered Kim Taehyung an explanation, though it wasn't really an explanation.

나

Ah... no! I was just looking at you in a bad way...

김태형

Then what is it?

나

That's why...! You're so handsome...

김태형

what?

나

You're so handsome... I kept staring at you... I'm sorry if I offended you.

Even I thought it was such a crappy answer. I wonder if I'll end up like a bread shuttle at this rate.

I mustered up my courage and looked up to see Kim Taehyung. Contrary to my expectations of him being angry, he was laughing so hard he was holding his stomach, as if something was so funny.

Kim Taehyung's laughter filled the classroom, and the children all fell silent, as if they were in unison. Thanks to this, Kim Taehyung's laughter became even louder.

김태형

You are so funny.

나

Huh? Oh... Thank you.

김태형

Let's be friends, us.

Kim Taehyung held out his hand to me. How many kids had he hit with this hand? I stared at his hand for a long time, and then he stretched out his hand in front of me again.

김태형

Let's shake hands.

나

Yeah... okay.

I took Kim Taehyung's hand reluctantly. A bad feeling welled up in me.