The moment Tae Shinwoo finished speaking, Seo Eunho’s steps came to a halt. As if he’d been waiting for it, Tae Shinwoo also stopped walking and smiled. There wasn’t a trace of malice to be felt on his face. At least, that’s how it seemed to Seo Eunho.
“You’re going to receive it anyway. Might as well receive something useful. You could eat something better than trash like triangle kimbap or convenience store bread.”
Tae Shinwoo was so brazen it was hard to tell whose perspective was strange. After a moment of silence, Seo Eunho soon shook his head.
“It’s different.”
“What’s different? The snacks filling that place were also bought with money and given to you anyway.”
Tae Shinwoo was persistent. Seo Eunho irritably tousled his hair.
“The meaning changes from the moment I ask for it. Even if it’s goodwill now, from the moment I say I need it, it becomes taking.”
Either way, the fact that he was sticking a straw into someone else’s back didn’t change. So in the end, his words were nothing but excuses.
“Really?”
Only after hearing Tae Shinwoo’s question did Seo Eunho realize that fact.
He was screwed. He’d fallen right into that bastard’s provocation when he already knew everything. Seo Eunho took a deep breath in and let it out. What was he even doing? Irritation surged at the feeling of being thoroughly manipulated.
“Think whatever you want.”
There was no need to desperately justify himself. Taking or receiving. Yeah, it’s the same. What’s the difference?
No need to desperately draw a line saying he was different from those bastards. He just didn’t want to ask for money, but if it was given, he’d receive it well enough. Seo Eunho moved his steps again after pausing briefly.
“Mm. I think you’re right.”
He walked even faster than before, but Tae Shinwoo showed no signs of fatigue. And then he agreed with him, though his agreement wasn’t needed anymore. Seo Eunho didn’t answer. It felt like the more he played along with this pointless conversation, the more he was the only one losing out.
“Then I guess you received what I gave you back then.”
But seriously, why the hell does this bastard talk so much?
Seo Eunho immediately knew he was talking about the triangle kimbap. Since that was all he’d received. Seo Eunho had finished all the triangle kimbap that had filled the plastic bag that day right where he sat. He originally ate a lot, and there was no need to save it for later.
“Yeah.”
Despite thinking he should ignore him, an obedient answer flowed out.
“You didn’t ask for it, I just gave it to you on my own.”
“…Right.”
“Mm.”
Tae Shinwoo’s face became quite serious. What reason could there possibly be to get serious in this situation? Seo Eunho looked Tae Shinwoo over with absurd eyes.
He seemed to be lost in rather deep thought. What was he trying to say that he was taking this long? Even though he wanted him to stop talking, when he completely shut his mouth, it bothered him again. It seemed he wasn’t in his right mind either. Or maybe he was even expecting what kind of bullshit he’d spout this time.
“Then take this.”
Though it was an absurd thought, Seo Eunho’s expectations weren’t betrayed. Because Tae Shinwoo suddenly blocked his path and boldly pulled money from his wallet and held it out to Seo Eunho.
He could tell from their current conversation how his thoughts had flowed. The absurd result was right before his eyes, absurd enough to make him burst out laughing. Whether he thought he was laughing because he was pleased or what, Tae Shinwoo laughed along with Seo Eunho. His eyes were already sparkling again, anticipating Seo Eunho’s reaction.
“Ah, you’re giving this out of goodwill, is that it?”
“Yeah.”
At Seo Eunho’s question, Tae Shinwoo answered without hesitation. In his hand dangled money that was clearly more than a day’s wages at a glance. Seo Eunho reached out without hesitation and grabbed the money. Then he boldly put it in his pocket. Rather than trying to meet his expectations, it was an impulsive act because he was pissed off at himself for pretending to be high and mighty just moments ago.
“Thanks.”
He didn’t particularly feel any regret. He said he’d give it, so whatever. As a result, he’d ended up being the same kind as Jang Hoyoung and Kim Junseong, but he didn’t care. They were in the same category to be classified together from the start anyway.
“Aha.”
His trivial thoughts stopped at Tae Shinwoo’s incomprehensible exclamation. In that brief moment, a smile had bloomed on his face. He looked so delighted that he even seemed mischievous. This face looked even more unfamiliar than the cold expression he’d worn while listening to screams so strangely.
“You’re really funny.”
How much had he even seen to find things familiar or unfamiliar? Seo Eunho roughly nodded and swallowed his answer. He was already thinking he himself was a bit ridiculous anyway.
“Didn’t I just lecture you about getting money taken from you?”
“You said it was goodwill. Consider that goodwill too. It’s not like they asked for it first.”
Seo Eunho changed his words without any guilt. Tae Shinwoo seemed to chuckle briefly, then laughed loudly. It didn’t seem like something that funny, but his haha laughter rang out loudly. What was so amusing? Seo Eunho just stared blankly at Tae Shinwoo with a distorted face.
“You’re really unique.”
After laughing for a while, Tae Shinwoo said to Seo Eunho. Seo Eunho responded the same way without changing his expression.
“You’re weirder.”
“I didn’t say weird though.”
“Same difference.”
Tae Shinwoo didn’t deny anything. Whether today’s test was all over, he didn’t even talk to him anymore. Only then could Seo Eunho move his steps back toward school.
The money that had gone into his pocket felt unusually heavy. As expected, it would have been better not to receive it. Not a matter of conscience—it just felt unsettling. He wasn’t going to return the money he’d already received now, but he couldn’t help feeling uncomfortable.
***
Right, he’d said it felt particularly unsettling. Seo Eunho thought anew. The discomfort that had been subtly weighing down his body appeared before Seo Eunho as a result not long after.
“That bastard…!”
“That bastard?”
“No, Tae Shinwoo! He said he just gave it to us! He suddenly came and asked if we needed money! We really didn’t take it from him!”
The faculty office was filled with Kim Junseong’s aggrieved voice. Seo Eunho, who was unfortunately seated right next to him, felt like his ears would bleed. Even when he twisted his body slightly to the side, it was useless. Unfriendly stares poured in, making his whole body tingle.
He’d seen the teachers’ expressions of disdain many times, but it was the first time they openly showed their dislike, so it was a bit awkward. Of course, he understood. The news that they’d taken money from Tae Shinwoo, who monopolized everyone’s love and whom everyone couldn’t easily approach and fumbled around, had spread throughout the entire school, so it was natural that all the teachers were furious. Had there been someone who saw what happened that day?
“Why would Shinwoo just give you guys money? He must have given it because you threatened him and he had no choice.”
“Ah, this is really fucking unfair! We really never asked first—”
“If you’re going to make excuses, you should at least show sincerity. Does that even make sense?”
“Why doesn’t it make sense! He gave it to us! I’m telling you he just gave it!”
“Ha! Shinwoo gave you money and you guys used it however you liked, but there was no coercion? You want me to believe that?”
Regardless of the truth, the teacher’s words weren’t wrong at all. What crazy bastard just gives money? It would be stranger if it wasn’t coercive.
Only he knew that Tae Shinwoo was that crazy bastard. That’s why Seo Eunho didn’t feel as wronged as Kim Junseong and Jang Hoyoung, who kept getting worked up. He just thought the unsettling feeling he’d had from the moment he received the money had materialized.
Seo Eunho tapped the floor with his toes, waiting for this time to pass quickly. He wanted to roughly say sorry, he wouldn’t do it again, and escape the faculty office. If he apologized to Tae Shinwoo and said he’d return all that money, wouldn’t they go a bit easier on him?
Well, whether it worked or not, it was an impossible plan to execute anyway. Because Jang Hoyoung and Kim Junseong wouldn’t stay still. It would be faster to get out than insisting it wasn’t true unconditionally. Those bastards were being stubborn about useless things out of pride.
Anyway, what punishment would they give? Would they make them do community service or something? What if it overlapped with his part-time job hours? Then he’d have to run away, that’s what. He just hoped they wouldn’t tell him to bring his parents. If it wasn’t that, anything was fine.
“It’s not just once or twice. Now that we’re on the subject, we need to fix your habits properly.”
By the way, what would Tae Shinwoo say? Seo Eunho swallowed the laughter that suddenly tried to slip between his lips and lowered his head deeply.
Actually, the faculty office must have tacitly known all along that those bastards went around with delinquent attitudes. But it was a bit funny that they’d pretended not to know the whole time, then moved quickly as soon as they heard the rumor about taking Tae Shinwoo’s money. It was also amazing that everyone who’d turned away because they didn’t want to take on troublesome work moved just because the victim was Tae Shinwoo.
Anyway, he was an amazing bastard. Tae Shinwoo was probably at the top of the food chain. That’s why things turned out this way. They’d touched a predator, so the situation couldn’t help but deteriorate quickly.
“Bring your parents.”
“Ah.”
Seo Eunho, who had been listening quietly, exclaimed for a moment. Because the price of not thinking about the consequences and ignoring the unsettling feeling was, unfortunately, the punishment he least wanted.
“First, I’ll meet with all your parents, then decide on the punishment. No, actually. I’ll contact them directly myself, so just wait for your punishment.”
Seo Eunho chewed his lips hard. His father wouldn’t come to school anyway. Because he was someone you could count on your fingers the days he stayed home. Even if the call went through, he wasn’t the type to rush to school, abandoning his own business, when he didn’t even come home.
However, the problem was that his father was an impulsive person. He was someone who could suddenly change his attitude at any time. If his father decided not to just let this problem slide, he’d have to clash with him again. Saying it’s a problem because you take after your mother. That’s why you turned out this way. He could already hear the voice insulting his late mother in his ears.
“Teacher. We’re really being wronged, it really wasn’t like that.”
“Shut up. You should at least make sense. Is this the first or second time you’ve done this kind of crap and gone around? Where do you get off pretending to be wronged? You’re disgusting to look at, so get out.”
In the meantime, an order to leave had been issued. A resolute will not to listen to any excuses could be felt. Absurdly, only then did Seo Eunho feel wronged for being involved with these two bastards.
Fine. If he had to clash, there was nothing he could do. Seo Eunho didn’t make any effort to defend himself. His steps moved heavily.
“Teacher.”
It was right then that Tae Shinwoo’s voice was heard. Seo Eunho stopped walking and stared blankly at him. Their eyes met at the same time. Tae Shinwoo seemed to lift the corners of his lips, then approached the homeroom teacher as is.
“Oh, Shinwoo, you came? Are you okay? I was just about to call you.”
The homeroom teacher’s attitude toward Tae Shinwoo was clearly different from just moments ago. The gentle voice was full of concern for Tae Shinwoo. To him, Tae Shinwoo smiled like a painting. The words he spat out afterward suited that picture-like smile very well.
“I just gave it to them because I felt sorry for them.”
“…Huh?”
“How broke must they be to go around like that? So I thought of it as charity and gave it to them, I wasn’t robbed, so you don’t need to punish them.”
Ah, this crazy bastard.
Seo Eunho put strength into his lips. At the blatant words, bewilderment bloomed on the teacher’s face. Seo Eunho turned his head away completely. If he didn’t, it felt like he’d burst out laughing because it was so absurd.
“B-but, the fact that you had such feelings means in the end these guys kept bullying other kids, so we need to punish them…”
“Ah, right. I was curious about that too.”
Seo Eunho quickly lowered his head deeply. And he clenched his fists tightly. He didn’t know for sure, but he had a strong premonition that what Tae Shinwoo was about to say would be really funny.
“Why are you pretending to care now? When you’ve been pretending not to know the whole time. If you’d cared from the start, I wouldn’t have had to see that pitiful sight.”
And as expected. Seo Eunho’s body trembled. The crazy bastard was hammering the teacher with the kindest voice in the world.
