Starting with this three-pointer, thanks to Kim Eorin who seemed to know exactly when I’d positioned myself and passed me the ball like magic, I made two more three-pointers after that. At first, Kim Eorin would come close to pass me the ball and then block for me, so I got intercepted a few times while attempting shots, but later Jung Woojin took on the guard role beside me, allowing me to attempt shots right away. Actually, Jung Woojin didn’t seem to know how to play basketball, but he was so big that just standing there made him a good wall.
I also made two two-pointers, scoring a total of 13 points. Thanks to that, the bet ended with our team’s victory. However, Na Junsu insisted on playing overtime, and two more games followed in succession, but the results were the same. Only when several kids sat down saying they couldn’t go on did Na Junsu finally give up and flop onto the floor, gasping for breath.
“Wow, I’m dying.”
“Isn’t the balance breakdown too severe, honestly?”
“That’s cheating. Kim Eorin, you knew. That’s why you brought Chiwon to join us.”
“How would I know? Today’s the first time we played basketball together.”
It was true. We’d only met after entering high school in the first place. When I nodded vigorously, the arrows turned toward me.
“You too, if you’re good you should say you’re good!”
“Uh…”
“What kind of nonsense is that, man?”
“Shit. Next time you and Kim Eorin are on different teams.”
So there’ll be a next time. A beaming smile rose to my face before I could suppress it. Seeing that, the kids blinked.
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen Chiwon smile.”
“I don’t think I’ve even talked to him much. But it’s really unexpected. Actually, I thought you wouldn’t like things like basketball.”
“Right. Every time I saw you, you were reading a book…”
The kids said. The kids looking at me and talking about me made me a bit embarrassed, so I lowered my head. It occurred to me that maybe the reason the kids hadn’t approached me was simply because I hadn’t looked around me.
“I like basketball.”
“I see.”
It would be nice if I could add something more to that, but I was terribly bad with words.
“Woojin was good too. The kid’s tall and strong.”
“What did I do well?”
“…?”
“I don’t know how to play basketball…”
“You guarded beside Chiwon.”
“Eorin told me to stand next to Chiwon.”
“…That’s fucking unfair. I lost to a kid like this! Let’s go again!”
“Go what. Someone knock that guy down. I’m dying from exhaustion.”
Chatter chatter. Before I knew it, the kids gathered cozily in the middle of the court and started gossiping about this and that. From today’s lunch menu to the English vocabulary test announced for tomorrow, to the wedding photo on the homeroom teacher’s laptop background that someone happened to see. And what followed was an unwelcome topic.
“Ah, so is Teacher a Beta?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought Teacher was an Alpha. Are there many Alphas and Omegas among the kids in our class?”
“Aren’t there a few? I’m a Beta so I can’t tell them apart.”
“You’re an Alpha, right? Eorin-ah.”
“Yeah.”
“Anyone else? Junsu?”
“I’m a Beta. Isn’t Yeongjin an Alpha?”
“Yeah. I’m an Alpha. But I’m Recessive so it’s pretty much the same as being a Beta.”
Kang Yeongjin waved his hand as he spoke.
“I think there are still a few Alphas in our class, but there are only two Omegas.”
“Really? That’s fewer than I thought.”
There were two Omegas in our class. Excluding me.
My face seemed to turn pale, and as I lowered my head, a kid sitting next to me asked strangely.
“Chiwon-ah, what about you?”
“…I, I’m a Beta.”
“I thought so.”
Kang Yeongjin nodded. It seemed to have passed smoothly. I secretly squeezed my eyes shut tight and then opened them. And as I raised my head, for a moment I felt like my eyes met Kim Eorin’s. I immediately turned my gaze away. I didn’t have the courage to confirm whether our eyes had really met. As I desperately stayed out of the conversation, the topic moved on to something else. I let out a small sigh.
“Come to think of it, our teacher’s name is really unique too. Teacher Sunsu.”
“I liked it though.”
“I like it too but… you know, it doesn’t quite match the image.”
“Ah, hahaha. I know what you mean.”
“The name Eorin is unique too. Is it a Korean name?”
“Yeah.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“My grandfather.”
“Did he really name you with that meaning of being young? That ‘yeong’ as in old and young?”
“Yeah… So that you’ll always be your grandfather’s young… beloved… grandson and grow up lovingly.”
Kim Eorin stretched out his words, perhaps a bit embarrassed. The kids rolled around clutching their stomachs. Both in appearance and personality, Kim Eorin seemed a bit distant from being “lovely.” With a slightly reddened face, Kim Eorin let out a sigh. Watching that face somehow calmed me down, so I wore a small smile. I felt the tension that had filled my shoulders drain away.
“Ah, that’s so funny.”
“But isn’t Chiwon’s name unique too?”
“If you just look at the name it’s ordinary, but since his surname is Yoo.”
“‘Yuchiwon’ and ‘Eorin’ being in the same class is fucking hilarious too. The homeroom teacher is ‘Sunsu.’ It’s just destiny or something.”
The kids giggled. In a voice mixed with laughter, Jung Woojin said.
“Chiwon, was yours named on purpose like that? Who gave you your name?”
“Ah.”
I was quietly laughing along with the kids’ jokes when the question came in. The answer I would normally have hesitated to give came out lightly with a smiling face without much thought, probably because my heart had loosened up as much as my laughing face.
“My name was written on paper and placed with me. The Director gave me my surname.”
Since everyone seemed to know anyway, I thought it would be okay to talk about it. In such a harmonious atmosphere it would be fine. In this place where they don’t treat me specially, it would be fine. However, the kids seemed to need preparation to hear such a story. The kids who heard my answer couldn’t hide their flustered expressions. They knew the situation, but they didn’t expect to be confronted with it in such a casual moment. Only after seeing those faces did I withdraw my smile and bite my tongue. I shouldn’t have said it.
Come to think of it, Kim Eorin was here too. Would the story that I’m living thanks to his family’s money feel pleasant to him? Probably not. I didn’t know for sure, but it would definitely be awkward. When I lowered my head, the kids hurriedly opened their mouths.
“…I see.”
“Uh, the Director, she’s a grateful person.”
The atmosphere sank completely. Jung Woojin was staring at the floor with a face that had turned pale. It seemed he hadn’t known I was living in an orphanage. Thinking about it now, I realized that’s why he asked such a question. I felt foolish for not being able to notice that just because my heart had loosened up.
After a few words barely floated by, no one dared to speak up. The most distressed person was me. They had made the effort to talk to me. As the atmosphere that had been cheerful sank in an instant as if cold water had been poured on it, I became increasingly restless and finally sprang up from my seat. It seemed better for me to leave.
“Uh, I, I’ll go… go wash my hands.”
I hastily left the gym. I felt my eyes reddening. Thinking they might misunderstand that I was crying again, I thought I should go to the water fountain in the playground and at least wash my face while I was at it.
At the water fountain in one corner of the playground, I sighed while washing my hands. In the end, I had run away. It might have been a chance to make friends. The kind of friends who would naturally be together when coming to school—I could have had friends like that too. But I seemed to have ruined it all.
If only I could speak a little more comfortably, I could have handled Jung Woojin’s words well too. No, the atmosphere wouldn’t have sunk in the first place. I sighed again and turned off the faucet, then turned around. But there, unexpectedly, stood Kim Eorin.
“Ah!”
Not expecting anyone to be there, I screamed in surprise. I thought there were quite a lot of surprising things today. When I was startled, Kim Eorin raised his hands with a flustered face.
“Ah… sorry. For startling you.”
“…No, it’s okay…”
This was the first time the two of us talked alone. I took in a small breath. What should I say? Was he a bit uncomfortable about earlier after all? Without even noticing water dripping from my fingertips, I racked my brain. But it was Kim Eorin who spoke first.
“I didn’t ask you with bad feelings.”
“Huh?”
“To be precise, they were probably trying to tease me. Since my name is Eorin, while talking about that, it just…”
It wasn’t with bad intentions, Kim Eorin said.
“I’m sorry.”
Why is Kim Eorin apologizing? Unable to grasp it, I dropped my gaze. I felt my eyes reddening. This is why I really hated my thin facial skin.
“I know.”
“Huh?”
“I know it wasn’t with bad intentions. Jung Woo, Woojin, Jung Woojin probably didn’t know. …I’m sorry.”
Not knowing how to address Jung Woojin’s name, I stammered. My face turned even redder. But that wasn’t what Kim Eorin focused on—he blinked and asked what I was sorry for. It wasn’t a comforting tone but an expression that truly didn’t understand, so I explained.
“I don’t have friends my age at the orphanage or school… so I don’t really know how to talk about such things comfortably. I’m not good with words either…”
“…”
I thought I was saying all sorts of things. I was unnecessarily bringing up pointless words. But my rambling mouth wouldn’t stop. With a face full of dismay, I squeezed my eyes shut. If I was only going to make mistakes every time I opened my mouth like this, it seemed better to just keep it closed.
“If I had spoken well… it would have been okay. The atmosphere got weird because of me… Ah, and I didn’t consider your feelings. It must have been an uncomfortable topic for you too, I’m sorry.”
Kim Eorin didn’t answer. I kept glancing at Kim Eorin nervously. But Kim Eorin, who had been standing still, suddenly covered his face with one hand and muttered.
“What the…”
“Huh?”
“So that’s what that expression was. That was an apologetic face. I see.”
Unexpectedly, Kim Eorin was smiling with a refreshed expression.
“Let’s go. The kids wanted to apologize.”
Still with a smiling face, Kim Eorin took my hand and led me to the gym.
[To be continued in the next episode…]
