# Chapter 108
Hong Hachan slightly frowned when he saw me. His expression seemed to contain displeasure, but there was also a hint of awkwardness.
As I looked past Hong Hachan to Jo Youngmin, I noticed his stiffened face was pale as if he was tired. Honestly, unlike Ye Abin or Hong Hachan who were in different classes and I rarely encountered, Jo Youngmin was in my class so I occasionally ran into him, but that was all.
True to our uncomfortably ended relationship, the unpleasant feeling I experienced whenever we met would arise briefly but then disappear without much concern. After my mood settled, I suddenly remembered that the people in front of me were high school students, and I felt my energy drain.
But I’m human too, so it’s natural to be a bit taken aback in such a sudden situation.
“……”
Surprisingly, the guys who I thought would pick a fight right away were showing hostility but not saying anything. Having nothing to say either, I kept my mouth shut. As the silence dragged on with neither of us speaking, it soon became awkward, and I was the first to move.
Ye Abin seemed not to have noticed me, as he was standing still looking at his phone.
Thinking that nothing would happen if I just walked past, I moved around Hong Hachan who was standing as if blocking the way. Just then, a pungent odor hit my nostrils. Rather than the foul smell of an unwashed body or a biological reaction, it was similar to the distinct odor of metallic iron or food waste.
The subtly rising smell became increasingly nauseating. As I unconsciously sniffed, the stench intensified, stimulating my sense of smell.
I covered my nose with my hand and quickly moved away from the guys. Hong Hachan and Jo Youngmin looked at me strangely as I hurriedly left, exhibiting odd behavior.
Then, as if they had realized something from my actions, they looked at each other. Though it was just for a moment, when I noticed the peculiar emotion revealed in their eyes, my lips parted involuntarily despite my intention to ignore them and leave.
“What on earth is this smell?”
Realizing that the stench was coming from the box Hong Hachan was holding, I stared at it intently.
“Ah, this… this is……”
Hong Hachan, who had been treating me with hostility, stammered as if quite flustered. Jo Youngmin, startled, frowned and tapped Hong Hachan’s shoulder. As if regaining his senses, Hong Hachan firmly closed his mouth before scowling intensely.
That face seemed to say, “What’s it to you?” As he glared at me with a disgusted expression, it was now my turn to be at a loss for words.
Looking down, I saw the box had a slight gap but was mostly covered. Since I couldn’t check the contents without peeking inside, I decided to just ignore it.
I wasn’t sure why Hong Hachan and Jo Youngmin were here, but where Ye Abin was standing led to the incinerator. I recalled that he had been assigned to clean up the back mountain as a volunteer activity for a while. Perhaps they were helping him.
With such a stench, there must be garbage in the box. They probably ran into me while going to dispose of it. Having roughly figured out what was happening, I smacked my lips and turned around.
Their persistent gazes followed me. Feeling as if the back of my head was itchy, I scratched it. Fortunately, they didn’t try to stop me or show aggression as I left without saying anything, so I avoided what could have been a troublesome situation.
Catching my breath and moving away from those guys, I only remembered one thing I had forgotten when I reached the main gate.
“Ah, the relay race… I was going to check how it was going.”
My original plan was to secretly go to the field to see if Moon Seoheon was doing well, but I had inadvertently forgotten. After unexpectedly encountering Hong Hachan and Jo Youngmin and experiencing the unpleasant smell, I had unconsciously walked all the way to the main gate.
Standing with one foot at the main gate, I stopped and turned my head toward the field. The shrill sound of a whistle could be faintly heard. Whether it was spectators or students being tested, there seemed to be a noisy commotion, as the buzzing sound of chatter spread.
Though it felt bothersome to go back, I didn’t think I would feel at ease just going home, so I eventually turned my body.
Having no need to rush, I walked leisurely toward the edge. It was where the flower bed was located, based on the stands. Without going down the stairs, I stood on top and watched the students running vigorously.
Red rubber cones were placed in a circle at equal intervals in the middle of the field. Judging by the color of their gym clothes, the students currently running were first-years. Among them was Maeng Moa.
Maeng Moa was running in second place. The distance between him and the first-place runner wasn’t very large, so it seemed like he could overtake them if he tried.
While Maeng Moa’s pants were gym clothes, for his upper body he seemed to have only removed his shirt, wearing a yellow fitted short-sleeved t-shirt. His colorful attire from head to toe made him particularly noticeable.
By the way, I thought they might have thought I was waiting to cheer for Moon Seoheon when they saw me in the stands, but apparently not. Byeon Seungha, who had been with me until just now, must have gone somewhere else, as I briefly looked around but couldn’t see him.
Perhaps Byeon Seungha was also going to compete? Considering his soccer performance, it seemed possible.
Approaching the finish line, Maeng Moa’s speed increased as if he was putting in his final effort. The distance between him and the first-place runner was gradually narrowing.
Exclamations of admiration burst from the students watching. As I heard them buzzing about who would win between the two now neck and neck, I silently cheered for Maeng Moa.
Honestly, it didn’t matter to me who won. But with the saying that even dislike is a form of attachment, I inwardly hoped that Maeng Moa, whom I at least knew, would win rather than a student I didn’t know at all.
The two leading runners soon crossed the line. It was difficult to tell by eye who had crossed first.
The teacher approached Maeng Moa as if to announce the result. Of course, I couldn’t hear what was being said, but judging from Maeng Moa’s seemingly disappointed expression, I could guess the outcome.
Not getting first place didn’t mean he couldn’t represent the class, so there was no need to be disappointed. Of course, that’s assuming there weren’t students with better results from other teams.
Maeng Moa, who needed to make way for the next team to prepare, headed toward where the first-years were gathered. He had been bent over, perhaps from being out of breath after running at full speed even for a short distance, but then suddenly lifted his head.
Since I had been watching Maeng Moa continuously, our eyes met quickly. Blinking, Maeng Moa straightened up and raised his arm, waving it vigorously.
Wait, is he greeting me? After confirming that Maeng Moa’s gaze was directed at me, I thoroughly scanned the area around me, but there was no one else nearby.
Feeling awkward, I raised the hand that had been rubbing the back of my neck and gently waved it so he could see. He seemed to recognize me, as I noticed the corners of his mouth rise.
The commotion subsided, and the girls’ competition followed. Among them, I could spot Kim Yuna. She seemed to have better athletic ability than I thought, as she took first place, and soon the first-year representative selection was over.
Preparations for the next race were made. For a while, Maeng Moa was nowhere to be seen, and one of the second-year student teams stepped up to the starting line.
Moon Seoheon, who had been there from the beginning, was standing next to Byeon Seungha. Like in soccer, it seems they’ll be competing against each other this time too.
I crossed my arms to watch comfortably as they lined up with the other students. I could have sat anywhere, but I was planning to just watch this match before leaving.
Kwak Junhee probably wouldn’t participate because he was busy, and since Jung Hyoin wasn’t visible, he must not have come out at all. Well, an artistically-inclined guy didn’t need to be good at sports too.
Putting aside unnecessary thoughts, I looked at the guys who were about to start. Moon Seoheon and Byeon Seungha lowered their bodies and pulled their upper bodies forward.
When the teacher blew the whistle, they dashed out vigorously at the signal. Every time their feet kicked the sandy ground and moved forward, dust scattered.
For this race, honestly, I could predict how it would turn out. Still, seeing it with my own eyes was on another level, and I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. As expected, my prediction wasn’t wrong, and Moon Seoheon, who had shot out like a bullet, was running in the lead.
His PE uniform, different from the sportswear he wore for soccer, fluttered, creating a gust. Even the students running behind such a Moon Seoheon had expressions of both amazement and resignation.
Unlike Maeng Moa, who had been running neck and neck with the leading student, the distance between Byeon Seungha, who was in second place, and Moon Seoheon was noticeably large.
At that rate, it didn’t even cross my mind that there could be a reversal. In the blink of an eye, Moon Seoheon crossed the line and moved with ease as if he wasn’t even tired. Without any action like wiping sweat or catching his breath, he stood quietly in one place, looking at the running students.
“Amazing.”
The words flowed out naturally. This was my appreciation for Moon Seoheon, who was standing with an unaffected expression, while Byeon Seungha, who had just reached the end, was still heaving.
This time, with a result that was clear to everyone, the students quickly dispersed. The competition continued as other second-year teams remained, but there didn’t seem to be any potential issues.
The remaining third-years were gathering in one area, perhaps waiting for their turn. I could spot Yoo Wono standing aloof, lost in thought.
He was yawning widely with a bored expression. I was momentarily taken aback by his unusually quiet demeanor, but I felt confident that I could go home with peace of mind.
I had thought he might be waiting somewhere out of sight, ready to appear and interfere as soon as Moon Seoheon started running, but it was just an unnecessary worry.
Soon after, as I briefly watched the smoothly ending second race of the second-years, I lifted my feet. Walking back the way I had come, I exited through the main gate.
Long past the school dismissal time, cars passed by, making noise on the sparsely populated road. As they zoomed away, the street became quiet, and my previously unsettled mood soon turned calm.
