Why are the male leads like that?
08: An Unexpected Encounter
...I wonder if I'm just a very unlucky person.
Or maybe you got a grudge from the writer.
The aftereffects of yesterday's experience came flooding back. A day I couldn't even begin to describe. The mart... no, after meeting a certain senior, I blacked out.
He crossed the playground, sighing intermittently. The corners of his mouth drooped, as if advertising his gloomy state. Then, he developed a habit of muttering to himself.
김달래
Should I just drop out of school and everything?
김태형
How long have you been here before you get kicked out?
김달래
Eww···?! What, what is it!!
A low, deep voice startled me. I tried to calm my startled heart. It was Kim Taehyung. He was wiping sweat with a towel and looking down at me.
김달래
..how is it here···.
김태형
You were standing there.
김달래
Oh, sorry... I interrupted.
김태형
Not really.
It was a single, unreadable remark. Wasn't he uncomfortable? He looked amazing, just calmly catching his breath. On the other hand, I was only thinking about how to get out.
김달래
Do you exercise like this every day?
김태형
what?
김달래
···It seems like it's really early now...
김태형
I wonder why.
김달래
Well... I guess it's because I became interested.
김달래
Oh, I didn't mean it badly! We're in the same high school, in the same class, and we're partners, so we'll see each other often.
Honestly, it's an excuse. Even if we're in the same space, if we just ignore it, it'll all be over.
But even before I became a fan, I had a question: why was he working so hard? Kim Taehyung stared at me intently.
김태형
Physical training. As you know, in track and field, if your body slackens even a little, you're finished.
김달래
...Huh? I don't think that's the reason...
김태형
···.
Oops.
This damn cube equation is the problem. I broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of his face, frozen in an instant. He just stared at me, but why did it feel like I was seeing right through him?
김태형
···taehyoung kim.
김달래
..yes?
김태형
Call me that. You know my name.
He nodded. "What kind of random name-calling is this?" He rolled his eyes, dumbfounded. Then he draped a towel around his neck and spoke.
김태형
Aren't you going?
김달래
...Ah. Well, see you later!
I took a hasty step. Even as I ran, I felt a stinging gaze on my back.
It's obvious that he kicked me out because he was annoyed, but why does it feel like he helped me get out?
08: An Unexpected Encounter
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He banged his head on the desk. "Why are you making a fuss by saying such things?" He stopped only when a bump formed on his forehead.
김달래
···Judo Department.
I hummed softly. So much had happened in such a short period of time that I'd never even imagined joining a sports team. Perhaps I'd be doing it soon. I sighed involuntarily at the daunting prospect ahead.
I've never exercised in my past life. What exercise, anyway? I can't even dance.
Even getting admitted at the top of your class? Doesn't that mean you did even better than everyone else? Your grades must have been outstanding, too.
···What if it turns out that it wasn't true?
김달래
Oh, I don't know! Do you think I could do anything but die?
김달래
Sigh... The very fact that I'm even worrying about this is a bit of a yardstick...
I swallowed back the tears that threatened to burst forth at any moment. Then, I lay face down, pretending not to notice anything. Perhaps because the tension had eased, my eyelids began to close.
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오전 8:25
Time had flown by. But his body, racked with stress, showed no signs of rising. Saeksaek simply exhaled.
The once quiet classroom was filled with the chatter of many children.
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