Chapter 14
“I, I think I’m gonna pass out…”
“Shit, me too.”
I wanted to just stay face-down and cry my eyes out. Baek Han, who was pinned underneath me, must be in pain too. He’s probably also wondering what kind of cosmic misfortune this is, but my head—having taken a direct hit from my backpack—wasn’t in good enough shape for me to worry about him.
The pain was so intense that tears streamed down, and I couldn’t get up, just whimpering in the position I’d fallen. Then Kwon Dojin approached and crouched beside me.
“Are you okay? Can you get up?”
“No, I can’t.”
My entire body hurt so much that even my words came out garbled. The hallway floor wasn’t soft and cushioned—it was hard as cement, so the impact was even worse. Kwon Dojin tried to help me up by grabbing my wrist, but as if noticing something off, he grabbed my bag instead.
“Why is your bag so heavy today?”
“I packed stuff to study…”
“Just how many books did you cram in here for it to be this heavy?”
Well, a Korean student’s backpack is naturally heavy. As I mumbled excuses under my breath, Kwon Dojin clicked his tongue, but I was more focused on the pain than his commentary.
With Kwon Dojin’s help, I barely managed to stand, then covered my tear-soaked eyes with the back of my hand. Given how my joints were throbbing, I’d probably find bruises all over my body later.
“And why are you just standing there?”
“What, was I supposed to stand by and watch someone break their nose right in front of me? I didn’t know you were such a cold-hearted bastard.”
As I continued wiping my eyes, I snapped back to my senses hearing Baek Han’s words. Come to think of it, thanks to him, I got off lighter. If it hadn’t been for him, my nose would’ve been more than broken.
“Thanks.”
“…That’s all I need to hear.”
“But wait, today’s the rank match. Are you hurt? Won’t this put you at a disadvantage in the fight—”
“Stop. You’ll fall again.”
Kwon Dojin grabbed my arm. Baek Han had already put at least five steps of distance between us.
“Damn, put down that weapon first.”
At Baek Han’s words, which were ruthless in their own way, I obediently turned and entered the classroom. Even I had to admit he was absolutely right.
***
I reverently offered Baek Han the chocolate milk I’d bought at the convenience store on my way to school this morning. Seems like I’m not destined to drink chocolate milk today.
Baek Han, sitting across from me, slouched in a crooked posture like it was second nature. His posture was irritating, but I couldn’t complain if that’s how he chose to sit.
“So, can you tell me what the rumor is?”
“You seriously don’t know?”
“Surprisingly, I really don’t. I’m pretty oblivious.”
More accurately, I didn’t have friends who could fill me in on rumors like this, but no need to say that out loud.
“What about Kwon Dojin—do you know?”
“I’m not interested in what other people say.”
Kwon Dojin displayed a picture-perfect smile on his face. It was so beautiful I almost got lost in it for a moment, but Baek Han’s exasperated voice yanked me back to reality.
“How noble of you.”
“Thank you.”
I clapped my hands together to prevent this from devolving into another pointless pissing contest. Normally I’d let the two of them hash it out, but I was so curious about this rumor that I had to intervene.
“Could you tell me what the rumor is before you two start brawling?”
“…Are you really that curious?”
“Of course.”
Ignoring Kwon Dojin, who seemed completely disinterested, I urged Baek Han on. As I leaned forward, staring directly into those beautifully glowing golden eyes, Baek Han reflexively leaned back.
“You’re gonna fall again doing that.”
Kwon Dojin grabbed my arm and properly sat me back in the chair. Since he wasn’t wrong, I cleared my throat a couple times and composed myself.
As I backed off, Baek Han also readjusted his previously retracted posture. He sighed in relief while running his fingers through his hair, which only made me more embarrassed. Had I really been that aggressive?
“So, according to the rumor, you’re apparently a legendary femme fatale.”
Even though I clearly heard the words, I felt like they went in one ear and out the other. Wondering if I’d misheard, I blinked several times and slowly turned to look at Kwon Dojin, who also seemed bewildered and let out a scoffing laugh.
“That really shows the stupidity of whoever started this rumor. First off, wouldn’t it be homme fatal rather than femme fatale?”
“…Well, let’s put that aside for now. I’m assuming the femme fatale in this rumor is supposed to be you?”
“Who else would it be?”
True…
So I wonder if the rumor Yumin mentioned was the same one Baek Han’s talking about. Just to be safe, I’ll have to grill her when I get home.
“And why femme fatale of all things? Like Kwon Dojin said, it should be homme fatal, not femme fatale!”
“It’s probably just the limited vocabulary of whoever started it. Does that really matter?”
Maybe it doesn’t matter to someone just repeating gossip, but from the perspective of the person actually in the rumor, it was important. Still, if it’s a matter of limited knowledge, what can you do?
Anyway, what I found unfair was a different part entirely, so I slammed my palm on the desk and jumped to my feet.
“No! And also! Isn’t it obvious to anyone with eyes that Kwon Dojin’s the one seducing me?!”
“So you were aware I was seducing you?”
“But why am I the one being called a femme fatale? If anyone should have that title, it’s Kwon Dojin!”
“Why are you asking me?”
When I looked at Kwon Dojin, he just propped his chin on his hand and smiled, while Baek Han—acting like this had nothing to do with him—just shrugged with an indifferent expression.
Seeing their reactions, I deflated and pulled my scattered chair back to sit down again.
“Isn’t it weird that you don’t realize it when you act so blatantly?”
“Hmm, I guess?”
Kwon Dojin didn’t deny it at all. As he tilted his head slightly, his hair cascaded down. Maybe because he was so handsome, every single one of his movements looked impressive.
“Haah… Are there any other rumors?”
“Just that Kwon Dojin favors Lee Habin.”
“Your word choice makes it hard to pinpoint what century we’re in.”
I buried my face on the desk, rubbing my forehead. The word “favor” reminded me of that person from yesterday—the one who told me not to get cocky just because Kwon Dojin “favored” me. I’d wondered why they used that word, but turns out it was because of the rumor. Looking back, such a simple reason.
“Are you really that bothered by it?”
I felt a hand stroking my hair. It was a hand I’d grown so familiar with that I could immediately identify the owner even with my eyes closed, so I left it alone. I knew that even if I shook it off, it’d just come back.
“If I say I’m bothered, will you tone it down a bit?”
“Well…”
So you have zero intention of toning it down.
With Kwon Dojin’s languid response, my tiny sliver of hope withered before it could even bloom. Baek Han, who’d been quietly watching us, frowned.
“What kind of relationship do you two even have?”
“Friends.”
Kwon Dojin spoke before I could answer. When I turned my head and looked up at him with just my eyes, he was gazing down at me with his chin still resting on his hand, the corners of his eyes curved upward.
“Friends, he says.”
He repeated exactly what Kwon Dojin said, like an echo. At that, Baek Han made a big show of clicking his tongue and stood up, pushing his chair back.
“What bullshit.”
The cutting remark hung in the air as Baek Han left the classroom, the chocolate milk I’d given him in hand. Since he was taking what was rightfully his, I didn’t bother stopping him. The business was basically done anyway.
Still in my slumped position, I moved only my arm to wave goodbye, and Kwon Dojin—as if mimicking me—also moved only his arm to wave at Baek Han. After Baek Han left, I somehow felt languid and gently closed my eyes to soak in the quiet atmosphere.
Despite all that commotion and conversation, only Kwon Dojin and I remained in the classroom.
“Why did you come to school so early?”
“I woke up early, so I came early.”
My voice became as droopy as my body. Seemed like the effects of waking up at the crack of dawn were catching up to me, and I was tempted to just sleep like this—though I also wondered if Kwon Dojin would actually leave me alone.
“I wonder why you woke up so early?”
At his softly whispered voice, my eyes snapped open. I grabbed the hand that was stroking my neck and sat up straight.
“Since it’s come to this, I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Why are you seducing me?”
“Huh?”
I asked directly without beating around the bush. If I had to pick the root cause of these rumors spreading, it was undoubtedly Kwon Dojin’s behavior. I might not be able to do anything about rumors that have already spread, but I could at least prevent future ones—if only Kwon Dojin would cooperate.
He didn’t say anything, just stared at me with a bewildered expression for a moment before soon returning to his characteristic smiling face.
“Is that what you were curious about?”
“Wouldn’t anyone in my position naturally be curious?”
“Hmm. I fell for you at first sight.”
I frowned deeply at his completely insincere answer. Kwon Dojin, seemingly not expecting me to buy this answer either, wore a playful smile on his lips.
It was frustrating that he wouldn’t give me the answer I wanted and just kept stringing me along. Kwon Dojin glanced down at his wrist that I was gripping, then smoothly pulled it away and interlaced our fingers. I’d thought I was holding on pretty firmly, so it was disconcerting how easily he slipped free—but also bewildering how the whole process happened so fluidly.
“I like you, Habin.”
“What?”
“I’d like you to stay by my side. Yes, preferably for a long time.”
I frowned at his incomprehensible words. What correlation was there between him liking me and him seducing me? Had he actually fallen for me?
“That’s why I do it.”
Unlike my confused mind, Kwon Dojin—having said everything he wanted—reached out and gently cupped my cheek. The careful way he caressed with his thumb felt almost soothing in a corner of my heart, which was proof of how accustomed I’d become to him over the past month.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“It’s fine if you don’t understand. What’s important right now is that I have no intention of stopping the seduction.”
The voice that softly settled near my ear brought me back to my senses. Seems like rumors following this whole “femme fatale” narrative will continue being churned out in the future.
