# Chapter 22
The tumultuous lunch hour was coming to an end. I was completely out of it—I’d wasted my precious lunch break, unable to hear a word they were saying or to utter a single response myself.
“We’re running out of time. Let’s go.”
Kwak Junhee checked his brand-name watch and stood up from his seat. Following his cue, the other guys also rose and began to leave.
“Hyung, we’ll be going now. See you later too, Taeho hyung.”
I nodded slightly at Maeng Moa’s words and remained dazed in my seat, only snapping back to reality when the seat’s owner returned.
“Hey, move.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.”
The guy’s tone was a bit sharp, clearly annoyed that I’d been occupying his seat all this time. He could act like that because his Class was higher than mine. I jumped to my feet and returned to my own seat, letting out a small sigh, careful not to make it too obvious.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Moon Seoheon turned his head, glanced at me for a moment, and asked.
Is this bastard playing games with me? He was probably wondering why I kept zoning out, but I was dumbfounded by how nonchalant he was acting when he was the cause of my state. I stared at him for a moment before turning away.
Even though I wanted to get angry, I was afraid of the consequences, so I could only lament my situation. This asshole just had to be good-looking too, which made it even more irritating. That’s why my tone came out somewhat sarcastic without me realizing it.
“Ah, I was just thinking about how fucking handsome you are.”
I irritably opened my textbook, waiting for the next class to begin. As the bell rang immediately after, I unbuttoned the top button of my shirt, feeling like it was choking me.
When class ended and break time arrived, Jo Youngmin quietly approached me. Feeling a sense of déjà vu similar to the day before yesterday, I gave him a “what do you want” look. He glanced cautiously at Moon Seoheon sitting beside me, then gestured for me to come out with him for a bit.
I wanted to ignore him, but I was feeling suffocated just sitting there, so I got up and followed him.
Jo Youngmin headed straight to Class 3 after entering the hallway. Following him inside, I saw Ye Abin and Hong Hachan sitting by the window, turning their heads toward us. As we approached them, Hong Hachan immediately spoke up.
“Hey, are you really going to participate in the presentation with The Four?”
“Well, it seems that’s how it’s going to be.”
I made a troubled expression, wondering if I was supposed to be with these guys instead. To be honest, I didn’t like these guys either, but I disliked the idea of working with the main characters even more, so I was hoping they’d keep me with them.
“Wow, you’ve basically secured your points already.”
I couldn’t tell if Hong Hachan’s words were meant to express envy or sarcasm. Sensing that these guys wouldn’t hold onto me so easily, I asked in a cautious tone.
“I’d rather do it with you guys, honestly. It’s… uncomfortable working with The Four.”
My words caused Jo Youngmin and Hong Hachan to make peculiar expressions. Then Ye Abin, slightly furrowing his brow, spoke up.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yeah.”
After my immediate response, the guys briefly looked at each other. Ye Abin wrinkled his eyebrows as if trying to uncover my true intentions.
“So? Even if you want to work with us, the student council president made the proposal… how are you planning to decline?”
I thought for a moment before responding to Ye Abin’s question.
“I’ll try talking to them again. But do you guys actually want to work with me?”
I was half-skeptical, but I was sincere about wanting to refuse the arrangement again. However, even if Kwak Junhee told me to do as I pleased, I wasn’t sure if these guys would accept me, so despite feeling uneasy, I pretended not to be and asked. The guys looked at each other briefly again, then nodded.
“Well, we need to participate too, so it would be good to work together.”
I nodded at Ye Abin’s words, saying I understood. I felt uneasy, but I consoled myself that it was still better than working with Moon Seoheon and the main characters.
When the bell rang, I returned to the classroom with Jo Youngmin. Moon Seoheon, who had been reading a novel, glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to his book. He only put it away when the teacher came in.
During class, I pretended to concentrate while actually observing Moon Seoheon. His expression was impassive as he twirled his pen and listened to the teacher, making it difficult to discern even the slightest emotion. I was dissatisfied with how he’d been acting contrary to my intentions since morning, and I wanted to know why he’d recommended me.
Moon Seoheon scribbled something in his notebook. I thought he was summarizing the lesson content, but he tilted his notebook slightly so I could see it better, and gave me a look.
[Do you have something to say?]
Looking at the neat handwriting at the bottom of the notebook, I glanced at Moon Seoheon. He was looking straight ahead, as if concentrating on the lesson. After hesitating for a moment, I moved my pen over the notebook.
[Why did you recommend me for the presentation?]
Moon Seoheon briefly glanced at what I’d written, twirled his pen around for a bit, then stopped and jotted down a short reply.
[Because I want to work with you.]
I stared at him after reading that answer. I was about to part my lips to ask if he was serious when the teacher called my name.
“Yoon Taeho!”
Startled, I flinched and quickly turned my head to find the teacher looking at me with a disapproving expression.
“I know Moon Seoheon is handsome, but could you please focus on my class?”
The other students snickered at the teacher’s comment. Feeling my face heat up, I lowered my head and responded.
“…I’m sorry.”
* * *
Homeroom ended with our teacher warning us not to get lazy just because the weekend was starting tomorrow. As the classroom immediately became noisy, I picked up the garbage bag. I hadn’t realized that today I was responsible for taking out the trash.
Before heading to the backyard to dispose of the garbage, I heard a notification sound from my phone.
I stopped to check it and saw a message in the Food and Cooking Club group chat. There was a notice stating that we needed to complete and submit our activity sheets by Wednesday.
[Anyone who wants to take the vinegar we made last time can take it.]
After briefly contemplating the message, I put my phone away. Since they said only those who wanted it should take it, I figured I didn’t have to. Besides, vinegar? I didn’t know they even made such things.
At the Social Club, when Oh Seulbi had mentioned that they researched and developed recipes in response to a club member’s provocation, it seemed they weren’t just simply cooking.
Maybe it was fortunate. My cooking skills were truly terrible, so I had been worried about future club activities. The activity sheet could be downloaded from the homepage, so that wouldn’t be a problem.
Just then, Moon Seoheon, having finished preparing to leave, gave me a parting greeting.
“See you.”
“Oh, yeah. You too… practice well.”
He nodded at my words and left, and I also went out of the classroom. I looked around to see if any of the main characters were waiting, but no one was there—only Moon Seoheon walking away alone.
Watching his retreating figure, I slipped out to the back of the building, surrounded by students heading home.
Arriving at the garbage area where trash bags were piled up, I swung the heavy bag back and forth before throwing it with momentum so it landed perfectly on top of the pile of garbage.
As I dusted off my hands and turned to leave, I came to an abrupt halt before even rounding the curved corner. I was startled by the scene before me. Three unidentifiable students were sprawled haphazardly on the ground. It was obvious that they had been beaten up in a fight.
A small curse escaped my lips at this scene of violence.
No matter how much the back of the building was known as a sanctuary for delinquents, why did such things have to happen exactly when I was passing by?
With a disgusted feeling, I moved my steps slowly, careful not to wake the guys lying there. That’s when I heard someone muttering.
“Boring. They’re all so dull.”
I reflexively crouched down and backed away. I discovered another person I hadn’t noticed before. A man sitting with his back against the wall among the randomly grown grass patches spoke in a bored tone with his head lowered.
“I expected more from High Class…”
I covered my mouth to prevent making even the slightest sound and very slowly stood up. The man was someone I already recognized.
His black curly hair swayed gently in the breeze. I couldn’t see his face clearly. But unlike the other supporting students who all looked similar, I could immediately identify who he was by his distinctive hairstyle.
With my body stiff from tension, I slowly backed away. Then, realizing there was no way to go back, I silently clicked my tongue and moved forward again. Hoping he would just ignore me, I walked quietly…
“The only interesting one is still my Moon. Should I go see him?”
I was taking wider steps without giving him any attention when I suddenly paused at the word that came out. That “Moon” referred to Moon Seoheon. It was literally a nickname the guy used for him, derived from Seoheon’s surname.
I guess they must have already met. Considering how the guy had been stalking him almost daily, I thought they hadn’t had any contact yet, but I was wrong.
I continued walking with an uneasy feeling, recalling how Moon Seoheon had just left alone. Just then, I must have stepped on a branch because a sharp crack echoed around us.
Feeling cold sweat forming, I slightly turned my head and made direct eye contact with the curly-haired guy.
True to his crazy nature, his eyes were half-crazed, with the uncanny talent of making anyone who looked at them feel chilled just by his gaze. Frozen in place after making eye contact, I stood still as he stared at me intently before slowly opening his mouth.
“Are you like them too?”
He didn’t point anywhere to indicate who “them” were. But I realized he was referring to those sprawled over there and glanced at them. The unconscious guys were in a mess with wrinkled uniforms, and I could glimpse some blood.
I immediately shook my head.
“No.”
“Then who are you?”
I couldn’t figure out what was going through his mind at all. Above all, I couldn’t even determine if he actually wanted a proper answer from me.
In that very brief moment, I tried to recall what this curly-haired guy’s character was like. Although he was definitely someone to avoid getting involved with, he didn’t pick fights with just anyone. He would engage with those who provoked him and even enjoy it, while excessively approaching only those who sparked his interest by his own standards.
So that question was just him talking aimlessly. If I didn’t answer and just ran away, I would just be another boring student to him. Good, let’s escape like this.
With that thought, I turned my body.
“What the hell? Those bastards were completely beaten up.”
“Who’s that guy?”
Just as I turned around, several students were approaching from a distance. Four in total. All of them were third-years and High Class, wearing the King Star. They seemed to know the guys who were unconscious over there. I was simply dumbfounded by the ridiculous situation.
Is this seriously for real?
