The music gradually grew quieter and the other people’s “Oooh……” chorus also died down. Then everyone returned to their own spots and started acting as if nothing had happened.
“Did you hear that story? On Stargram……!”
“Ah, really?”
The girls who had criticized Angela but put in chorus for her song suddenly started chattering, and the bus driver drove with the fierce expression I’d seen first.
“July, why are you looking at me like that?”
Angela, who had been the protagonist of the musical scene, also blinked at me with a face that knew nothing. I thought the eyes hidden under those thick glasses were excessively pretty, then shook my head.
“……It’s nothing. I’m just sleepy.”
* * *
【Rotten Pineapple】
Current [51]%
◈ High-teen: 100%
◈ Romance: 23%
◈ Queer: 18%
As expected, the ‘Musical’ keyword had activated once and disappeared. When on earth does it appear? Natalia and Angela had absolutely no connection. Natalia was the protagonist of this drama, and Angela was an extra receiving everyone’s hatred with a popularity of -61%.
Is it just…… random?
Seeing how it suddenly appeared and disappeared, there was a possibility it was coincidental. Not everything has plausibility and causation. But this place wasn’t just a world. It was inside a drama. Do things happen without reason inside dramas? Dramas also have unnecessarily dragging scenes, so maybe……
Ugh, my head was spinning and dying, and nausea surged up from the smell of sausage and mustard wafting through the school bus. I covered my mouth and barely held back the motion sickness, then rushed off as soon as the bus arrived at school. I’m never riding the school bus again. Never!
“Urgh!”
Ugh, I’m glad I only ate one apple this morning. Otherwise, I might have vomited as soon as I got off the bus. And the rumor would spread quickly. Just when former EMO July seemed to be getting somewhat normal, he vomited on the school bus. My popularity would drop too. I absolutely hated that.
I didn’t know the exact use of popularity, but after it went up, I somehow felt like I could talk to kids more easily. Since I could get quite a lot of information that way, I greeted as many kids as possible.
“Hi, July.”
“Hi.”
There were many cases like this where they greeted me first too. I trudged across the parking lot. Then I habitually stopped at the spot where I always parked my bicycle. Normally, that spot should have been empty. But,
“……It’s really here.”
The bicycle I hadn’t ridden over was there. The one Joel had repaired. There was no front basket, and the bicycle with the new saddle was a bit different from before, but it still gleamed quite decently.
Since today was the day his suspension was lifted, Joel must have come to school. He really brought it. That bastard Joel, anyway, even though he talks rough, he’s got quite deep feelings, you know? If only his words and actions were pretty too, I’d be really grateful.
I affectionately stroked the bicycle, recalling its miserable state when it had been torn apart into pieces. But then I discovered some writing in the middle of the handlebars. What’s this? Did someone graffiti it? Just as I thought someone had already ruined it shortly after it was repaired, I squinted and looked closely.
“……Joel Gomez, you son of a bitch.”
It said “Moron”! There was no one who called me that except Joel Gomez, so it was that bastard’s doing. It wouldn’t come off no matter how hard I rubbed it with my hand! It wasn’t written but carved, as I could feel bumpy indentations.
“How am I supposed to erase this!”
Clang, clang! After shaking the bicycle like a crazy person, I barely calmed down at the surrounding stares and quietly fumed. To do something like this to someone else’s bicycle……! He’ll be in big trouble when I run into him, oh! He’s right there!
“Hey, Joel! Hey!”
I strode toward Joel, who was chewing on a red Twizzler. Joel, who had wildly torn open the candy, raised one eyebrow.
“So energetic toward your lifesaver from first thing in the morning, huh?”
“What’s that on the bicycle!”
“What do you mean what? I’m your bicycle’s lifesaver too.”
That carefree expression playing dumb as if he knew nothing! I was dying of annoyance.
“I saw you carved ‘moron’ on it?”
“Carving your name in case you lose it—is that a crime? Is it? Huh?”
Poke, poke. Joel’s index finger pushed my forehead. It was completely brazen. Why is my name moron? My proper name that my parents gave me, Baek Woogeon……! No, besides that, I have the name ‘July’ too!
“You don’t actually not know my name, right?”
“I know it. Moron Baek. Ah, if that bothers you, should I flip the order? How about Norom? Hey, Norom.”
Joel, with his arms crossed, giggled. It was so childish that all my anger and fighting spirit fizzled out.
“……What even is Norom? Sounds like norovirus.”
“Then go with norovirus.”
“Who wants to do something like that?”
“Some stupid someone might want to!”
Joel giggled and tried to put another Twizzler in his mouth. At that moment, I quickly snatched the candy away.
“I told you to only eat one candy a day! You’ll get cavities, and it’s bad for your blood sugar!”
“Are you my girlfriend? My wife? Why are you nagging so much?”
Joel scrunched up his face. But it wasn’t as scary as before.
“Since you’re my lifesaver, I’m telling you to preserve your life, why.”
When Joel tried to take the candy back, I put strength in my hand. The long red Twizzler fluttered like a rope in tug-of-war, connecting me and Joel. Then when Joel let go with a thwack, by inertia I was pushed back and staggered for a moment. Even as Joel grabbed my forearm to stand me upright, he giggled quite annoyingly.
“Anyway, look at you yapping. If you’re going to be stupid, just be stupid, if you’re going to be loud, just be loud. How do you do both? God is really unfair, isn’t he?”
I felt wronged. I’d always been a calm and quiet class rank 1 student. It’s because I got caught up in this strange world. Especially with that Joel Gomez!
“You’re loud too. Always yelling and getting angry.”
“I’m tough.”
“Tough and loud.”
“Who keeps yapping and picking fights…… Ah.”
Thud, when I threw the candy I was holding into the trash can, Joel, who had been looking down at me with irritated eyes, stopped his gaze on a corner somewhere. I also moved my eyes there following him, then opened my mouth slightly like Joel.
“Ah.”
David Evans was getting out of that sleek, cool car of his. Despite having just a mild concussion, he’d been hospitalized for several days getting all kinds of tests, so maybe that’s why he looked much better than before.
“Dave! Did you rest well?”
“Yeah. A lot.”
Dave laughed “hahaha” toward the football team member who hugged him enthusiastically. Then, as if he’d discovered me, he blinked toward me and pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Hi! July. And…… Joel.”
When Dave shouted, everyone’s gaze turned toward me and Joel. Dave walked toward us with leisurely steps.
“Thanks to you, I got to rest well at the hospital without training, thank you.”
“Fuck, don’t touch me.”
When Dave’s hand patted his shoulder—pat, pat—Joel irritably shook off that hand. While Joel’s face was full of annoyance and anger, Dave was just carefree. He shrugged his shoulders and this time moved his hand toward me.
“July, have you been well? We used to see each other every day, but I missed you after not seeing you for a few days. I thought you’d come visit me at the hospital.”
“……”
Is this bastard crazy? Why would I go visit you at the hospital? Don’t tell me the concussion gave you amnesia too? When I scrunched up my face in disbelief, Dave chuckled, then bent toward me.
“We never dated, but still, we enjoyed each other quite a bit. I really had fun.”
Dave’s breath tickled my ear. It was hot and damp. I flinched.
“If by any chance I hurt your feelings, I’m sorry. I mean it. What I said about being asexual and all that wasn’t completely a lie either. I’ve never liked anyone until now. It’s just…… I’m comfortable with physical contact, you know? Whether it’s sports or girls. Ah, you’re a guy though.”
“Stop spouting bullshit and fuck off.”
Even though Joel suddenly grabbed his forearm, Dave didn’t stop whispering toward me.
“You were the first guy I kissed and was interested in. Really.”
Dave, slowly pulling his body back while making eye contact with me, said “Really.” His blue eyes were covered with shadows, just like a deep sea. I couldn’t tell if his gaze or his words were sincere or true.
“I hope you’re not too hurt. Since we weren’t even dating…… I thought it was okay. I don’t want you to be upset.”
Dave completely separated from me, then smiled brightly only toward me as if Joel didn’t exist.
“Then see you later, July.”
The farewell Dave left behind was quite refreshing, but my heart wasn’t.
<Character Status Window>
◈ Name: David Evans
◈ Age: 16 (11th grade)
◈ Popularity: 97%
◈ Affection: 24♥
◈ Nicknames: Dave, The Only Quarterback, Bluedale’s Sweetheart, Bluedale’s Lover of All, Bluedale’s Hot Guy, Bluedale Heart Breaker
◈ Special Notes: Quarterback of Bluedale High School’s football team The Savers, protagonist of the drama ‘Pizza Saver’
“If I could kiss David just once, you can take everything I have!”
Why on earth did his affection increase by 10 in the meantime? Is all that sincere? I don’t know anything. I’d rather study.
