The bastards who’d seized victory thanks to Go Un, the greatest contributor, came back panting like dogs in May and June.
They’ve reclaimed the snack fund, so now it’ll be quiet for a while.
“Good job. They were no match.”
Seo Juhan held out his palm one by one to welcome them. While struggling to suppress his face from contorting at the foul smell of sweat.
The bastards high-fived with a smack! Then they collapsed exhausted and just gulped down water.
Though he’d only high-fived them, Seo Juhan felt like he’d been slapped in the hand. He even wondered if they were taking this opportunity to unleash their suppressed desire for revenge. His abused palm hurt more and more.
Just before the last palm struck, Seo Juhan swiftly lowered his raised hand. Then he pointed downward with his index finger and asked.
“Hey, what’s wrong with your knee?”
The pot-lid-like palm flailed in midair. Go Un glanced at Juhan as if he’d been toyed with, then answered.
“I fell.”
“Go to the medical booth over there.”
Seo Juhan pointed to the quiet booth where a blue awning created shade.
Whether Go Un heard or not, without any answer, he lifted a water bottle from the large box. His hands were so big that the water bottle, which would look about microphone-sized if Seo Juhan held it, looked like a toilet paper roll.
Having displayed mobility that didn’t match his build, the kid was drenched in sweat. His top was soaked as if he’d showered in sweat, clinging tightly to his upper body. It made sense he’d be exhausted after running so fiercely.
Seo Juhan waited for a moment.
Click.
There was a light sound of the cap opening.
Go Un tilted his head back and tipped the plastic bottle. The bottle opening gently touched his plump lips. Unlike the restrained motion, his protruding Adam’s apple bobbed wildly.
An entire water bottle was emptied in one go.
Go Un, having quenched his thirst, wiped his mouth and answered.
“It’s fine though.”
Though he’d wiped his mouth, a stream of sweat ran down the side of his throat and curved.
“Blood is pouring out. Hurry up and go.”
Seo Juhan urged while looking at the glistening water traces.
“It doesn’t hurt at all.”
Go Un threw the empty bottle into the box while openly showing that he was too bothered to want to go.
“I hurt watching it. Hurry.”
But Seo Juhan, who had a weak stomach, urged again. He absolutely couldn’t stand seeing the entire knee revealing red flesh and covered in sand.
“Anyway, our class’s morning games are all over now. There’s nothing to do, so go and come back.”
Go Un stared at Seo Juhan waving his hand.
“…Okay.”
In the end, Go Un nodded, perhaps unable to resist the coercion disguised as concern.
Seo Juhan sat down with his butt on the stair ledge while watching the sturdy figure taking steps.
Wait. Aren’t they going to spray that with antiseptic spray too?
“No, Go Un! Wait!”
He stopped Go Un at a fleeting thought.
Go Un, who’d already walked that far in a short time, turned around at hearing his name. Even from a distance, his puzzled expression was visible.
Seo Juhan straightened his stiff knees and stood up. Ugh! His body had gotten heavy just from sitting and resting for a moment. Then he gestured toward Go Un as if to wait a moment, and first tapped the shoulder of the guy sitting in front.
“Vice Representative, when it’s time to eat later, take the kids to the cafeteria on your own.”
“Yes.”
The Vice Representative answered roughly. Then he giggled with the guy sitting next to him, saying “Those PE department bastards got their asses kicked!”
Having left brief instructions, Seo Juhan walked briskly toward Go Un. Though it was bustling with people walking around everywhere, the kid standing tall like a utility pole had a strong presence even in the midst of it all.
Go Un stood in place, still pouring out sweat in streams.
“Follow me.”
Seo Juhan tapped Go Un’s arm with his knuckles and passed by him.
Go Un, who’d been staring at the brown hair going ahead, slowly took a step. With wide strides, he quickly closed the distance. He walked a bit behind, matching the pace.
The sun blazed the entire way around the schoolyard perimeter to the school main building. The short journey was like some Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Seo Juhan panted as he opened the central entrance glass door.
Seo Juhan held the door until Go Un followed inside.
Go Un glanced sideways, then entered through the open door while wiping the sweat from the back of his neck with the back of his hand.
Upon entering the building, coolness circulated. The interior was quiet. It must be because all the hot-blooded delinquent adults were outside. Even the air seemed to have stopped.
Slap.
The sound of slippers hitting echoed in the quiet central entrance.
Seo Juhan casually took off his sneakers and changed into his slippers.
Go Un also stared at that sight and followed suit. The only difference was that instead of the black slippers he usually wore, they were solid-looking men’s guest slippers.
“Wait here for a moment.”
Seo Juhan gave notice while looking down at the black crown of his head.
Go Un nodded slightly in a crouched position. The sneakers went into the shoe cabinet.
Perhaps because of the weather raising the discomfort index, the kid’s expression somehow looked displeased. The slippers that didn’t fit his size also looked quite tight. It was more so because he was even wearing thick sports socks.
Seo Juhan turned his back dryly. He first stopped by the administrative office to find out the infirmary password. When he returned to the central entrance, Go Un was standing blankly in front of the shoe cabinet.
Perhaps hearing the footsteps, Go Un raised his head. Their jet-black eyes met.
“Come here.”
Seo Juhan gestured while continuing to walk straight toward the opposite hallway.
Go Un took a step while brushing up his jet-black bangs wet with sweat.
After passing the conference room and audiovisual room, the infirmary sign appeared. The door was locked with a padlock.
Why won’t this open?
Seo Juhan struggled while holding the padlock. Even though he’d entered the numbers correctly, it was stiff and wouldn’t turn well. He was dying from the heat, and now even this small piece of metal wouldn’t listen, which made him furious.
“Shall I try?”
Go Un asked quietly from behind, perhaps frustrated.
“No.”
Seo Juhan firmly refused. He shouldn’t carelessly disclose the infirmary password. Even if Go Un was the most trustworthy and loyal class representative, it seemed he should do that. It was intuition.
He deliberately blocked it with his back so it couldn’t be seen from behind, then returned to breaking through the padlock.
Ugh! After that, Seo Juhan struggled for a while with the heavy lump of iron that wouldn’t listen. Only after that did the door finally open.
Seo Juhan hid his irritation with a calm face and gestured with his chin for Go Un to enter first.
Go Un’s face was still flushed from the heat. Perhaps the ordeal of coming to the infirmary right after playing the soccer game was difficult, as his expression looked a bit sulky. Or maybe he thought there was no need to come all the way here.
Go Un looked down stiffly for a moment, then strode across the threshold. In any case, he was an obedient kid who listened well.
Seo Juhan subtly adjusted the padlock to make it look as if it were locked. It was a preemptive measure according to his tendency to always move according to plan.
Upon entering the infirmary, the unique cool yet fresh smell of disinfectant lingered at the tip of his nose.
Clatter.
Seo Juhan, who’d closed the door behind him, walked inside while scanning the surroundings.
Health-related posters and infirmary usage notices were posted on the walls. Medicine bottles were stored in white cabinets. The bed was hidden behind an ivory curtain. There was also something like an InBody machine.
The air was stagnant so it wasn’t very cool, but it was enough to cool the sweat.
Though he hadn’t turned on the lights, it wasn’t very dark with the sunlight coming through the window. Rather, it felt warm.
Shadows fell on the large figure with his back to the window. Go Un, wearing a sky blue short-sleeved gym uniform and shorts, stood silently staring vacantly. He looked just like a big child with only size.
