# Chapter 110
An awkward silence lingered in the air. I seemed to be the only one who felt it, as Moon Seoheon maintained a gentle smile throughout.
Maeng Moa, who had been standing a step behind, looked back and forth between me and Moon Seoheon, then raised one eyebrow and moved.
“What are you doing?”
His somewhat displeased tone snapped me back to attention. Since even Maeng Moa seemed to notice the strange atmosphere, I deliberately pretended not to notice, turned my body abruptly, and stretched my legs. The distance between me and the guys who were standing still widened as I walked at a quick pace.
“Ah, wait for me!”
Maeng Moa whined and caught up with me. Only then did I wonder why this first-year student was hanging around in the second-year corridor, but I didn’t say anything.
I initially thought he was appearing randomly as usual to see Moon Seoheon, but I couldn’t hastily conclude that anymore since I wasn’t sure if that was still correct, as their relationship seemed to have changed.
That’s because, regardless of what feelings Moon Seoheon had, I could sense that the relationship between the two had changed.
Of course, nothing had dramatically changed. The main characters still came around whenever I was about to forget about them, and Moon Seoheon maintained the same attitude toward them.
But that was a bit strange. Others might not notice, but being so close and observing them, I could clearly see that there was a rift in their relationship. That thought was confirmed by what happened at Ace.
I could tell just from what Maeng Moa had done earlier. It was very strange that he had come all the way to the second-year classroom but didn’t tease Moon Seoheon and instead bothered me.
That’s how subtle the change in Maeng Moa’s attitude toward Moon Seoheon was—something I couldn’t help but notice naturally, even without trying.
When we came out to the field, I could see groups of kids dressed in the same fashion. Students who had been scattered here and there before entering the classroom were now gathering as the starting time approached.
Though they all wore the same T-shirts, they showed off various styles with their own touches, such as animal headbands or wristbands.
Although the sports festival was an official event, watching the energetic students made it feel like a festival.
I looked around to find our class, letting the buzzing conversations drift past me. Unlike others who stood out immediately, it was quite difficult to find our class in the middle of the field.
Perhaps because our clothes weren’t eye-catching, I could spot some students here and there, but I couldn’t tell where they were gathered.
As I was looking around, Moon Seoheon grabbed my arm and pulled. My body was naturally drawn along, and I had no choice but to head toward the stands.
In that space occupying one side of the stands, there were notably many students from our class. Looking down, I confirmed the sign that read “2-1” placed below the concrete steps.
Today I’ll just be sitting over there most of the time. Nodding my head, I tapped the back of Moon Seoheon’s hand that was holding my arm. Obediently releasing his grip at my signal to let go, he gestured with his chin toward the upper seats.
“We can sit there.”
I sent him an understanding look, then asked Maeng Moa, who had been bothering me since earlier, in a disgruntled tone.
“Aren’t you going to join your class?”
“I should.”
Contrary to his answer, he had followed us all the way here and was just looking around without showing any intention to move. Thinking he would go on his own, I ignored him and was about to take my seat when I heard someone calling Maeng Moa from a distance.
“Moa! We need to get ready quickly.”
A student wearing the same yellow gym uniform as Maeng Moa ran toward us. The student who made eye contact with Moon Seoheon and me bowed his head slightly as if greeting us.
“I told you to come quickly because we need to practice before the group event starts.”
“Aah, alright. Let’s go.”
After waving his hand dismissively at the whining voice, Maeng Moa waved to Moon Seoheon and me from side to side.
“Well, I’ll be going now.”
A chuckle escaped me as he pouted and made a sad face. Hearing my laughter, Maeng Moa slumped his shoulders and acted pitiful as he stopped. Since he showed no signs of moving, as if his legs were made of iron, the student who had come to get him rolled his eyes anxiously. Seeing his distressed appearance, I waved my hand to tell him to go quickly.
“Hey, hurry up. He’s waiting.”
“Alright.”
Maeng Moa quickly brightened his expression, clicked his tongue, and was soon pulled away by the student.
As I approached Moon Seoheon, who was already seated, and sat down beside him, he handed me something. A cold sensation brushed against my forearm. A slightly frozen transparent plastic bottle bumped my arm.
“It’s water. Where did you get it?”
“It was right there, so I grabbed it earlier.”
In the spot Moon Seoheon pointed to, there were stacks of 500ml bottled water packages. Some were already opened, as other students had probably taken them.
Feeling another tap, I accepted the water and slightly shook it toward Moon Seoheon as a sign of thanks. Since I wasn’t thirsty yet, I set it aside and rubbed my palms together. My hands had become cold from holding the frozen bottle.
Moon Seoheon opened the cap and brought the bottle to his mouth. Although it had melted slightly, he couldn’t drink the still-frozen water satisfactorily, so he crushed the bottle to make it melt faster.
“If you’re thirsty, why not just drink from the tap?”
The tap occupying one side of the school grounds was used for drinking water, so it would be better to go there and drink rather than waiting for the ice to melt.
At my suggestion, he rolled his eyes as if considering, then shook his head as if declining.
“It’s annoying to go all the way there. And there will probably be a line soon.”
For a moment, I realized that High Class students didn’t properly drink water from the tap, and I wondered if my comment had been unnecessary. But judging from Moon Seoheon’s reaction, it seems I had been mistaken.
Nodding as if to say he could do as he pleased, I stared blankly at the field. After sitting there for a while, as time passed, our homeroom teacher appeared in comfortable attire.
“We need to check attendance, so everyone go down to the field and line up.”
At the teacher’s words, the students who had been huddled together went down. Having memories of lining up during PE classes, I instinctively headed toward the back. After confirming that the student who needed to stand behind me was approaching, I took my place to one side.
Soon, as the disorderly line became orderly, Jo Youngmin passed by in front of me. After briefly looking at him, who was lining up two people ahead of me, I looked elsewhere.
I could feel Jo Youngmin’s glance turning toward me, but I didn’t give a single look in that direction.
After the attendance check was completed, a bell rang, signaling the official start of the sports festival.
The students who filled the field fell silent from their noisy chatter and looked at the podium as a figure soon appeared.
“Dear Imperial High School students, this year’s sports festival marks its 13th anniversary.”
Unlike before when he exuded a unique atmosphere in a well-fitted black suit, the principal, now dressed in casual clothes, began his speech with a microphone.
Although his casual wear consisted of navy cotton pants and a neat shirt, he still maintained an unapproachable demeanor. However, his hair, which used to be slicked back without a single strand out of place, was now styled to fall gently, making him look somewhat softer than before.
“First, I am pleased to congratulate you on holding this event without any issues. I hope that you will approach this occasion, arranged for everyone to gather and strengthen unity and development, with fairness and integrity.”
Following more motivational content in his speech, the student representative came forward and was given time to make a pledge. Kwak Junhee, who had come up onto the podium, raised one hand and made his pledge.
Seeing him recite the pledge in front of many students, I once again realized that Kwak Junhee was no ordinary student. In a way, the Kwak Junhee living in this world was the student council president and someone admired by many.
Though he would graduate next year and no longer remain at this school, a guy like him would surely have a bright future ahead. I felt an odd sensation inside, thinking about how I had come this far with someone I once thought I might never actually encounter.
Now I casually eat meals and talk with those I had tried so hard to avoid. Of course, while we weren’t completely uninhibited, I felt that I had developed a certain familiarity with guys who showed goodwill toward me, so in a way, we could be considered closer.
As I felt an inexplicable sense of pride, I suddenly recalled Kwak Junhee’s confession that he liked me.
That expression was both similar to and different from what I had heard from Moon Seoheon. They both made me feel equally awkward.
Unconsciously lowering my head to look at the line in front, I noticed a slightly protruding brown back of the head. He had definitely grown taller. The emotion I had been trying to ignore was starting to stick out.
After the sports festival ends today, if we go to the snack restaurant he mentioned, will I finally hear what he wants to say? What exactly is this thing he wants to tell me?
Actually, I think I knew, but I hadn’t formulated it into words. A big reason was that once those abstract feelings were explained in a single word, there would be no going back, but above all, it seemed it would be difficult to accept.
I was still confused about this place. I didn’t even know myself what I should do next or whether I wanted to go back.
I had only wanted to live quietly, maintaining an appropriate distance from Moon Seoheon and staying away from The Four. But now even that was becoming indistinct, leaving me feeling as if I had lost my way in the middle.
Recalling Moon Seoheon’s request to listen properly, I took a deep breath and straightened my back. Yes, for now, let’s properly hear what Moon Seoheon has to say and think about it then. Just don’t be hasty.
A life of just running away and accomplishing nothing was enough once.
