# Chapter 44
I thought I’d be going to school, but when the teacher said he’d take me home and asked for my address, I blurted out the name of the apartment where I was staying before I could think. Before the taxi could even change direction, I mentioned having my things at school, and he must have realized his mistake because we turned right back around.
When we arrived at the school, the previously noisy atmosphere had quieted down.
Today, everyone must have been inside the buildings since there wasn’t anyone exercising in the middle of the field. If that was the case for the Social Club too, then why had Jung Hyoin been on the rooftop?
It still baffled me how he’d had the audacity to innocently ask me to be his drawing model during such a dangerous situation.
Swallowing a sigh, I asked the teacher if I needed to go to the principal’s office, but he said that wasn’t necessary.
“I received a call while you were getting treated. Everything’s been resolved, so just grab your things and head home.”
“But there’s still time left?”
There were still a few dozen minutes before club activities would end.
“Well, after today’s dangerous incident, let’s just end early. The students who want to stay and study can go to the library.”
I nodded at his firm answer but wondered how things had been settled in the principal’s office. Would the arson attempt be buried just like that? At this point, it wouldn’t do much good for me to give a detailed account of the Middle Class students’ fire-starting, but it still left me feeling uneasy.
As I reluctantly kept my mouth shut, the teacher shared some surprising news.
“Oh, and Junwoo will be demoted by one Class, they’ve decided. You, Hyoin, and Taeho will receive commendation certificates.”
Before entering the club room, the teacher’s words stopped me in my tracks. Kim Junwoo—he definitely had four stars. He was already below the other Middle Class guys who usually had five stars. Knowing how differently people were treated based on just one star difference within the same Class, my expression hardened.
And while I could understand getting a commendation certificate, Jung Hyoin was getting one too? That was a bit infuriating.
Just a certificate, not even a Class promotion… what was I supposed to do with something I couldn’t even eat? I felt disappointed, but I tried to calm my rising anger by thinking positively.
When I entered the club room with the teacher, the members who had been quietly studying looked up sharply. Noticing there were even fewer people than when I’d left, I quickly scanned the room. Upon seeing me, Lee Jinyoung, Oh Seulbi, and Kim Yuna jumped up and hurried over.
“Taeho! Are you okay?”
“Hey! What happened to you? Is it true you almost fell from the rooftop?”
“Are you hurt anywhere… oh my god, your arm!”
Kim Yuna gasped when she saw the bandage wrapped tightly around my right wrist. Lee Jinyoung and Oh Seulbi also noticed it and looked at me with worried expressions.
“What happened to your wrist? Are you injured?”
“It’s just a slightly stretched ligament. It’s not serious; the doctor said it’ll heal quickly with proper care.”
At my reassurance, Lee Jinyoung let out a long breath, saying it was at least fortunate. As Oh Seulbi asked with a serious face what had happened, I was about to speak when the door opened again and someone entered. It was Kim Junwoo.
There was no expression on Kim Junwoo’s face, but his slightly bowed head made it obvious he was feeling intimidated. As he slowly raised his head and looked around at the club members, our eyes met, and he averted his gaze.
I couldn’t help but stare blankly at him as he quietly sat down in his place. Where had his usual arrogance and provocative attitude toward me gone? This was the first time I’d seen him so docile.
The others must have realized that Kim Junwoo’s behavior was different from usual, as they looked at each other in surprise and whispered.
“What’s with him? I thought he was a different person.”
“They said he almost fell from the rooftop. Maybe he’s had a change of heart after coming face to face with death?”
What nonsense are you talking about? He’s just temporarily subdued from the shock. Even though they were whispering quietly, I could still hear them. I glanced at them briefly before turning my attention to the teacher as he clapped his hands.
*Clap!*
“Kids, we’re going to end for today, so head home. Those who want to stay and study can go to the library.”
The hesitant club members soon began packing their bags. There weren’t many people, so the club room emptied in an instant. Lee Jinyoung noticed some bags still left in the room and asked:
“Teacher, what about the kids who went outside and haven’t come back yet?”
“I’ll take care of that. You all should go now. You too, Taeho.”
I nodded in understanding and gathered my things. Oh Seulbi, concerned about my injured wrist, asked, “Do you need help?” I waved my hand to indicate I was fine.
“Junwoo, let me see you for a moment.”
As the teacher stopped Kim Junwoo before he could leave, I glanced back briefly before following the other members out.
“How are you going to take the exam tomorrow with that hand?”
“I’ll use my left hand.”
Oh Seulbi sighed heavily at my nonchalant response. I shrugged and smiled slightly, and Lee Jinyoung and Kim Yuna asked worriedly:
“I want to tell you to rest well, but since tomorrow is the evaluation, that’s a bit difficult to say.”
“Yes, don’t push yourself too hard and good luck tomorrow. Oh, to all the seniors too!”
“Thanks, you too. Well, I’ll be going now. Everyone, work hard.”
* * *
Yesterday was truly chaotic.
Witnessing the fire play on the rooftop and then pulling up Kim Junwoo when he almost fell. I injured my right wrist, but I made it home safely, so I was relieved as I reviewed my study notes. Then Yoon Taean entered, calling my name loudly.
Ever since the incident with Byeon Seungha at Ace, he hadn’t been speaking to me properly. When I heard his urgent voice calling me, I wondered what was happening and went out to find Yoon Taean standing there with a very shocked expression.
He must have heard the news, as he examined me carefully. It took several assurances that I was okay before I could finally calm him down.
And the same thing was happening now.
“It’s not broken, just a slightly stretched ligament, that’s all.”
“But you still got hurt. Even if it’s not severe, it could get worse if neglected.”
“That’s true, but… Yoon Taean helped me with compresses and took good care of it.”
Moon Seoheon finally closed his mouth at my words. Since this morning, he’d been lecturing me after seeing my wrist with the bandage I’d rewrapped after briefly removing it to shower. It was clumsier than how the doctor had done it, but it definitely made me look like a patient.
It seemed he knew about yesterday’s incident, as he immediately checked me over when he saw me. I couldn’t help but feel strange receiving someone else’s concern. It becomes awkward when someone worries about you, especially when it’s him.
I glanced at Moon Seoheon, who had finally quieted down. Unlike when I first met him, he looked more relaxed as he walked looking straight ahead, but he still showed signs of dissatisfaction. However, he didn’t continue his nagging, so I didn’t feel the need to try to improve his mood.
In the silence that fell between us, I suddenly remembered the incident with Jung Hyoin, and my lips puffed out in annoyance. If Moon Seoheon knew about the accident, I wondered if he also knew about that incident, so I looked at him.
But his expression remained the same. Well, Jung Hyoin didn’t seem like the type to share such details. The main characters didn’t seem to talk about their personal matters with each other either.
More than that, I was curious why Jung Hyoin had been on the rooftop yesterday. So after hesitating a bit, I asked what they did at the Social Club yesterday.
“What did you do at the Social Club yesterday?”
“It was free time. Since it was the day before the evaluation, we decided to let everyone do what they wanted.”
“Ah, I see.”
What? It was the same as our club. So Jung Hyoin went up to the rooftop to rest during his free time? In any case, the timing was impeccable; I wasn’t sure whether to consider it fortunate or not.
“Why do you ask?”
“Ah… just wondering. You know Jung Hyoin was on the rooftop yesterday, right?”
“Yes.”
Given his immediate affirmative answer, I looked at Moon Seoheon and continued.
“Then you must also know he helped save the kid who almost fell with me?”
“Yes. I heard he’s getting a commendation certificate.”
As he added congratulations, I felt a bit disgruntled and just mumbled a thanks while considering how to bring up the next topic. Well, deciding there was nothing particularly to hide, I rubbed the back of my neck and said:
“Jung Hyoin asked me to be his drawing model.”
Moon Seoheon suddenly stopped walking. I also stopped and was about to look at him when he started walking again, so I quickly caught up.
“Hyoin… asked you to be his drawing model?”
“Yeah. After helping to save our club member yesterday… well, that’s how it happened.”
I deliberately swallowed the details about how I had accepted Jung Hyoin’s proposal as if it were a trade for his help. I didn’t feel great about it, but it was already in the past, and it felt like I was badmouthing Jung Hyoin to Moon Seoheon behind his back.
Moon Seoheon seemed to be deep in thought, so I kept quiet for a moment before cautiously bringing up another question.
“Has Jung Hyoin ever asked you to be his model too?”
I wasn’t sure why he had made such a proposal to me, but I thought it was possible he might have asked Moon Seoheon as well. If he wanted to draw, wouldn’t it make more sense to capture the likeness of someone he liked? Especially with that face, anyone would want to draw him.
“He asked me to do it before.”
“Ah.”
So he had asked. That made sense. I was nodding when Moon Seoheon’s next words made my eyes widen.
“But I refused.”
“Oh, why?”
“…I didn’t particularly want to. It’s awkward too.”
“I see… Then did Jung Hyoin just accept it and move on?”
“That’s what he did.”
I instinctively frowned and pressed my hands against my cheeks, squeezing them firmly. My lips kept jutting out as I pressed, but if I didn’t do that, my scrunched-up face wouldn’t straighten out until we reached the school.
As we entered the classroom, I spotted Jung Hyoin sitting in my seat and stopped in my tracks. When our eyes met, he looked at me for a moment before greeting Moon Seoheon. Clicking my tongue, I approached him.
“Why are you sitting in my seat?”
“…Because there’s nowhere else to sit.”
“Then get out. I need to sit.”
Jung Hyoin stared at me for a moment and looked around. When he didn’t move despite my request, I looked at him incredulously as he blinked and asked:
“…Then where am I supposed to sit?”
This wasn’t even a joke. I swallowed a sigh and looked around just as Jung Hyoin had done. The guys who I thought would be making a commotion about yesterday’s incident were quietly studying at their desks.
Judging by their occasional glances, they seemed curious, but perhaps they were focusing on studying first because of the evaluation. Of course, Jung Hyoin’s presence probably contributed to their restraint.
Ko Kyungsu and Jo Youngmin, the only ones who might have approached to ask questions, hadn’t arrived yet.
Sensing the quiet classroom atmosphere, I threw my bag onto the desk. As it landed, Jung Hyoin glanced at it. With an expression that had hardened without any effort on my part, I quickly said:
“Go to your own classroom. Aren’t you taking the exam?”
