# Chapter 31
‘Why isn’t he coming?’
The empty seat beside me felt awkwardly vacant. The first period was over, and this was usually when he would drowsily cling to me, but without the person who did that, I felt uncomfortable.
Trying hard to hide my bewilderment, I checked to see if there was any message from Kwon Dojin, but my phone remained silent without a single notification.
“I thought you were a model student, but I guess not.”
I glared at Baek Han as he pulled out the chair from the empty seat and plopped down.
“Why did you think I was a model student?”
“Well, you study like your life depends on it.”
It was a common misconception. That studying hard meant being a model student. Unfortunately, I was only studying for university, not because I was a model student, so I snorted at Baek Han’s words.
“Studying hard and being a model student are different things.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“Anyway, why are you here? Kwon Dojin isn’t even here today.”
“Have I ever come here because of Kwon Dojin?”
Sitting almost lying down with his legs up on the desk, Baek Han looked every bit the delinquent student.
“The whole school knows Kwon Dojin hasn’t come to school yet.”
“As expected of the second-ranked. Quite the celebrity, huh.”
I rested my chin on my hand and chuckled softly, which made Baek Han look at me incredulously. Not liking that look, I tilted my head slightly and mouthed, “What?”
“How can someone be this stupid.”
“…I’m better at studying than you, you know?”
“What good is just being good at studying?”
Tsk, tsk. Baek Han clicked his tongue, and not liking it, I raised my hand and struck his shin, which was perfectly positioned. He nearly fell backward after taking a direct hit to his weak spot, but that wasn’t my problem, so I just snorted.
“Ah shit, Lee Habin!”
“What, what’s wrong?”
“Ugh, that really freaking hurts.”
Baek Han rubbed his shin and irritably ran his hands through his hair.
“Why isn’t Kwon Dojin coming to school anyway?”
“You don’t know either?”
“You don’t know?”
“No. I don’t know.”
“How would I know if even you don’t? I’m not even close to him.”
‘For someone who’s not close, you hang out with him quite often.’
But knowing Baek Han would hate it if I said that out loud, I swallowed the words.
“I thought you might know since you’re part of the ranking.”
“I’m not that interested in Kwon Dojin.”
“Right, I’m sure you’re not.”
As we continued this pointless conversation, the 10-minute break came to an end. I looked up at the speaker as the familiar bell rang, and Baek Han got up.
“See you.”
“Yeah, bye.”
I waved my hand casually in response to Baek Han’s casual wave. I don’t know what he found amusing, but he snickered and leisurely left the classroom.
After that, it was more of the same. When classes ended, Baek Han would promptly come through the back door of the classroom and take Kwon Dojin’s seat. We would chat about daily life, I would help him with his studies, and we would just spend some relatively quiet time together.
If I had to mention anything different, maybe it was going to the cafeteria together during lunch?
“Oh, by the way.”
“What do you mean ‘by the way’? Hurry up and solve this, there are only 2 minutes left in the break.”
“It’s about Kwon Dojin, don’t you want to hear?”
“…I thought you didn’t know anything.”
“I heard it from the guys downstairs.”
Well, that’s impressive. Regardless of how he found out, I hadn’t received a single text from Kwon Dojin, so I was curious. I put down my pen, and Baek Han smiled as if he knew I would.
“I heard some guys from Kwon Dojin’s territory picked a fight last night. And Kwon Dojin went there.”
“Kwon Dojin went there? Why?”
“They’re under him, so he has to take care of them.”
Baek Han spoke as if it was no big deal, but I couldn’t understand. Even if they were in his territory, did he really need to go himself?
“I go myself too when the guys under me fight. It strengthens unity and prevents unnecessary thoughts.”
“Do you have to think about that too?”
“I’m not the only one with power, you know?”
Come to think of it, didn’t they say that if you’re in the top 10 ranking, you have power? What kind of novel is so unnecessarily systematic? Just write about fighting and be done with it.
“Anyway, that’s probably why he’s not at school. I haven’t heard anything about him being hurt, but well, hiding injuries is pretty common.”
“Hiding that he’s hurt? Why?”
“It’s a weakness, isn’t it?”
The idea that being injured was a weakness was so incomprehensible that I couldn’t hide my astonishment. Baek Han, having delivered his information, twirled his mechanical pencil in his hand and continued solving problems.
“There are always guys who challenge you when you’re injured. I wouldn’t do that, it’s embarrassing.”
I just gained more worries from hearing this. Was he really hurt? Is that why he’s not at school?
“Ugh… there’s a reason they say no news is good news.”
I clutched my hair and collapsed on the desk, and Baek Han tapped my crown once with his mechanical pencil.
“Teach me this.”
“Aren’t you worried at all?”
“Why would I worry about Kwon Dojin?”
“Ah, right. I guess I’m the only one who’s worried.”
Still, I couldn’t ignore his request for help, so I raised my upper body. I scanned the problem Baek Han was pointing at and rummaged through my desk drawer to pull out a textbook.
“Look at this part and try to solve it. If you still don’t understand, I’ll teach you.”
“Ah shit, why is chemistry so difficult?”
“Then choose Earth Science. You’re still a first-year, so there’s plenty of time to change.”
“Biology is enough for memorization subjects.”
I patted Baek Han’s hair as he grumbled but still diligently looked at the workbook. He swatted my hand away in disgust, but the force wasn’t strong enough to hurt.
“What now?”
“Nothing. Just seeing you study hard makes me proud.”
“I have to maintain my ranking, don’t I?”
“That’s true.”
As I quietly watched him solving problems diligently, the bell inevitably rang to start the next class. Baek Han, whose flow seemed to be interrupted while solving the problem, clicked his tongue once, packed up his workbook, and stood up.
“If you’re so worried, why don’t you just go see him?”
“Where?”
“Kwon Dojin’s house, where else?”
I opened my eyes wide at the thought, which hadn’t occurred to me, and Baek Han once again tapped my crown with his mechanical pencil.
“See, you’re stupid.”
“Jeez, just go already. The bell rang.”
“I’m going even without you telling me.”
The sight of Baek Han leaving the classroom with a casual wave of his arm somehow irritated me, and I pouted my lips. Still, I thought visiting Kwon Dojin’s house was quite a good idea, so I considered it.
I was really worried since there had been no contact. It was already the 5th period, and my phone was completely silent. I wondered if he was so sick that he couldn’t even send a text.
“Class is starting, open your books.”
Despite the obvious empty seat, the teacher skipped the attendance check and moved on. Since this was already the 6th time seeing this, I didn’t think much of it. Was it because this was Kwon Dojin’s seat, or was it just part of this novel world that attendance wasn’t checked?
“Today—”
Once again, I couldn’t focus on the class, so I let the teacher’s voice go in one ear and out the other as I gazed out the window.
* * *
The 7th period ended. That concluded the regular classes, and what remained was the 8th period, which was after-school. After-school classes weren’t strictly regular classes, so attendance wasn’t taken.
I could visit Kwon Dojin’s house after the after-school class ended, but I was concerned that would be too late. More precisely, I was worried about hospital closing times. If Kwon Dojin was sick and hadn’t gone to the hospital, it would be difficult for him to go alone, so I planned to take him.
‘Should I go early?’
Having made the decision, it was time to act on it. As I was packing my things one by one, Baek Han, who had come to visit the class again, let out an exclamation.
“As I thought, you’re definitely not a model student.”
“I’ve never thought of myself as a model student, not even once.”
Baek Han shrugged and, ignoring the fact that I was packing my stuff, sat down in Kwon Dojin’s seat.
“You’re going?”
“You’re the one who suggested I go, weren’t you?”
“I didn’t think you’d really go.”
“Well, I’m really going. So, goodbye.”
“Wait a minute. Let’s go to the main gate together.”
Baek Han left the workbook he had brought on Kwon Dojin’s desk and stood up. I tilted my head as he stood askew and jerked his chin.
“Do we have to go together?”
“If you want to get caught by a teacher on the way, go alone.”
“Wow, I definitely don’t want that, so let’s go together.”
I quickly went to Baek Han’s side and stuck close to him, and he looked at me as if he’d expected it. Honestly, that look slightly hurt my pride, but since I didn’t want to be caught by a teacher, I didn’t leave Baek Han’s side.
“But I didn’t think you’d skip after-school class to go.”
“If he’s sick, I need to take him to the hospital, so that’s why.”
“He’s not a seven-year-old kid, he can manage on his own.”
I shook my head at Baek Han’s cold words. When I added that he shouldn’t be so harsh, he even snorted.
“But how are you going to get there? It’s quite far.”
“Money is meant to be used for times like this.”
I showed him my wallet, and he nodded casually. I suppose he was just asking out of courtesy, not because he was genuinely curious.
We didn’t get caught once until the main gate was in sight. It really seemed like a Baek Han effect, and when I exclaimed in admiration, he pushed my back, telling me to stop thinking unnecessary thoughts and just go quickly.
“Thanks, I’m off.”
“See you.”
I waved my arm casually, and Baek Han waved back. After finishing our brief goodbye, I hailed a taxi on the street and told the driver Kwon Dojin’s home address. It’s fortunate that I went there yesterday; otherwise, I would have been in trouble.
I took out my phone, found Kwon Dojin’s number, and called him. The extended ringing suggested he wasn’t in a situation to answer, and I was about to hang up when the call connected.
“Hello?”
[…Habin?]
Judging by his deeply hoarse voice and slower-than-usual response, he must have just woken up.
“I’m thinking of coming to your house now.”
[Huh?]
“If you don’t want me to, I won’t come.”
Although I had moved impulsively out of worry, it would be rude to visit someone’s home without warning. Even though I was already on my way, if he said he didn’t want me to come, I could just get off midway and go home.
[No, no. It’s fine. You can come. How long will it take?]
I could hear clattering noises coming through the speaker. He seemed to be hurriedly getting ready, and while I felt a bit sorry for him, looking around, it seemed the time he had was not much.
“I’ll be there in 5 minutes.”
[…Huh?]
I heard his surprised voice, but what could he do when I was already almost there? Unlike me, who was letting out a chuckle as I imagined his stiffened appearance, Kwon Dojin couldn’t say a word.
