# Chapter 57
I spent the morning arranging the model schedule I had promised with Jung Hyoin and then just idled away the time.
After exchanging greetings with Ko Kyungsu who sat behind me, there was no notable conversation. However, I didn’t have any conversation with Jo Youngmin, who sat far away, throughout the entire morning. I thought he might approach me about the presentation, but time passed without him approaching or us crossing paths.
Eventually, during homeroom, we heard about the presentation from our homeroom teacher.
As I had discovered, we were to perform one song using the instrument we learned in class. We had to apply in groups of five or more, and the teacher added that we could practice separately and prepare our outfits either by matching or freely.
The new information was that parents or acquaintances were expected to attend. Of course, it wasn’t mandatory but optional. Looking at the atmosphere, everyone seemed likely to invite their parents, but I wasn’t too keen on it and was conflicted. Then I realized that since Yoon Taean was there too, it wasn’t something I could decide alone, so I decided to think about it later.
After that, I attended classes, and during breaks, I either slept with my head down or went to the bathroom. Since I had no intention of approaching Jo Youngmin either, apart from the headache I had in the morning, everything flowed smoothly until lunchtime with nothing unusual happening.
When I got up to head to the cafeteria, Moon Seoheon quickly left his seat. Without even saying a word like “enjoy your meal,” his eyes just briefly met mine as he passed by.
“Taeho, enjoy your lunch.”
Instead, Ko Kyungsu waved his hand and said those words to me. Unlike before, he now sat right behind me, making it easier for us to chat occasionally, which is how I learned that Ko Kyungsu was in the newspaper club. My faint hopes had faded when he mentioned that club members would be performing together for the presentation.
I had planned to recommend Ko Kyungsu to Jo Youngmin if I heard that they were still one member short.
“Yeah. You too.”
I slightly twisted my upper body to respond to Ko Kyungsu and then approached Jo Youngmin.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
That was the extent of my first conversation with Jo Youngmin today. We immediately went out of the classroom and waited in front of Class 3, where Ye Abin and Hong Hachan came out. Just then, Hong Hachan stretched and complained as if whining.
“Ugh, is it because it’s Monday? I can’t concentrate, and I have no energy.”
“Aren’t you always like that?”
“That’s right.”
Hong Hachan giggled in response to Jo Youngmin’s comment. After that, they continued with trivial talk about completely falling asleep in one class and wishing classes would end soon until we arrived at the cafeteria.
Although we weren’t late, the seats were almost full. After roughly sitting in the empty seats and about to start eating, Ye Abin suddenly asked.
“Did you come with Moon Seoheon again today?”
“Yeah.”
“…Are you really trying to be friends with him?”
I took the spoon out of my mouth and answered yes. Then I stared at Ye Abin’s face as if trying to dig into why he was asking such a question.
Had Yoon Taeho gossiped about Moon Seoheon with Ye Abin? It wasn’t impossible, considering he had done so with Son Gyucheon before. Even if Ye Abin hadn’t committed any notable villainous acts in the anime.
Come to think of it, he had said something meaningful last time. I recalled the day when he had said that I had changed direction, or that I was acting strangely.
“Why do you ask?”
I asked, blinking slowly. I also softened my expression so that no emotion would be felt.
At my question, Ye Abin’s eyebrows twitched slightly. It seemed like a natural reaction rather than being upset at my attitude of not answering but asking back.
Ye Abin stared at me for a moment and then moved his lips. His attitude suggested that there was something he wanted to say but found difficult to express. Then, as if it was nothing, he took a spoonful of rice and casually said.
“…Aren’t you concerned about The Four?”
The content was nothing special, just as monotonous as his tone. I watched Ye Abin for a moment, who was focusing on eating with his eyes on his tray, and then I too concentrated on eating. Then, in an incredibly light tone, I said.
“I am concerned. But it’s not like I’m committing a crime, so what does it matter?”
It wasn’t like I was confessing my love to Moon Seoheon or bullying him. I no longer had any intention of tormenting him. My ultimate goal was to maintain a reasonably good relationship and not fall out of favor with The Four.
So even if I felt self-conscious being with Moon Seoheon, I didn’t want to fret about it. Although just a few days ago, I had tried to run away not knowing what to do when I saw Byeon Seungha, but it was fair to say I had somehow gotten past that too.
So from now on, I just needed to do well. If I just get through the sports festival, there won’t be any chance of being targeted like in the anime. In fact, Moon Seoheon and The Four were more amicable than I had expected, so I wasn’t too worried.
Ye Abin didn’t quibble or ask any more questions, perhaps because there was nothing particularly offensive about what I had said.
Only then did I comfortably take a big spoonful of corn rice, put it in my mouth, and slurp my soup. Then, feeling unsatisfied, I ended up mixing the remaining rice and eating it. As I put the clean empty bowl down on my tray, Jo Youngmin asked with a strange expression.
“Is it tasty to eat like that?”
“Yeah.”
I responded while getting up to take my tray back. I had deliberately eaten from the bowl to avoid looking unsightly, but I wondered if it still bothered him. I thought I’d just listen and let it go if he criticized me, but he didn’t say anything.
It was a bit bewildering when even Hong Hachan let it slide. Given his appalled reaction last time, I had expected some remark, if not refusal to eat with me.
With that awkward feeling, I was on my way out of the cafeteria. Moon Seoheon and The Four, who were just now entering despite having left earlier, caught my eye. They probably couldn’t see me due to the distance, but since they were so conspicuous, my gaze naturally turned toward them.
Just then, The Four’s gazes turned in our direction. Despite the impossibility, I felt as if our eyes had met, and my steps became heavy.
Right then, someone’s hand rested on my shoulder. As I turned my head, Ye Abin was holding my shoulder while looking in The Four’s direction. I glanced at his hand on my shoulder and looked at Ye Abin, and soon he took his eyes off The Four and said to me.
“Let’s go discuss the presentation.”
* * *
After changing locations, we entered Class 1 and headed to the front of the first row to sit comfortably. That was Jo Youngmin’s seat. Jo Youngmin sat in his seat, Ye Abin sat next to him, and Hong Hachan and I ended up sitting on the windowsill. It was because there were no other empty seats.
The window was slightly open, and a cool breeze blew occasionally, which actually felt good. Despite the hazy weather preventing any sunlight from coming in, the classroom’s moderate humidity and temperature enveloped my body comfortably, making me stretch out.
With a more relaxed feeling, I looked at them, and Jo Youngmin spoke first.
“We have to submit the application for the presentation by next week, so we have time, but I think it’s better to choose what to do quickly.”
“What instruments are you all going to play?”
“Isn’t it what we’re learning now?”
Ye Abin responded to Hong Hachan’s question as if asking why he was asking such an obvious thing. At that moment, I recalled the guitar tucked away in my house. There were two guitar hard cases placed in one of the three rooms, which was like an unused storage room. I had never opened them, so I wasn’t even sure if they were mine.
The bigger issue was that even though we were learning instruments in music class, I hadn’t properly played since I came here. In the first class, we spent a somewhat informative time watching a movie with classical music and endlessly listening to explanations about that music. The next music class was skipped due to the end-of-month evaluation, so I hadn’t even had a chance to properly pick up an instrument.
Thinking about it, I was quite worried. I hadn’t thought deeply about it, assuming it was something like a school recital, but if families were attending, I couldn’t just wing it. And it’s not like my mediocre skills would suddenly improve dramatically, so I was at a loss.
“I’m just asking to confirm. So, the three of us will play guitar, and Abin, you’ll play violin, right?”
“Yeah.”
Ye Abin nodded at Hong Hachan’s words. So, we’ll perform one ensemble piece with violin and guitar? I was about to suggest choosing something as easy as possible, but Jo Youngmin beat me to it.
“How about accompanying a song? If we choose a popular one, we can appeal to the public and make it fun too.”
“You mean we’ll sing too?”
“Of course. Wouldn’t that get us a higher score? That kind of thing got a good response last year too.”
I had expected we would play a classical piece or something, but suggesting a pop song with singing was unexpected. Still, it seemed like a good idea, so I kept quiet, but Hong Hachan pointed at me.
“Won’t it be difficult for Yoon Taeho to accompany with a classical guitar?”
Ye Abin and Jo Youngmin looked at me. I, who didn’t even know what kind of guitar Yoon Taeho played, was also surprised and looked around at them, but Ye Abin shrugged his shoulders and said nonchalantly.
“There might be limitations in the playing technique, but he can surely do it. People do actually do it.”
Rather than asking if I could do it, it was a definite affirmation that I could. Ye Abin’s words didn’t seem to bother Jo Youngmin and Hong Hachan, and they moved on.
I was the only one in trouble here.
I’d only played acoustic guitar a few times; I’d never even held a classical guitar. The thought “I’m totally screwed” was swirling in my head when Jo Youngmin delivered surprising news.
“The remaining person plays piano, so in a way, the combination seems good. Now we just need to meet and practice together.”
“That guy, I can guarantee his skills.”
“…Sure.”
Ye Abin’s reaction suggested he already knew who the remaining member was. Jo Youngmin briefly made a sullen expression, but seeing that Hong Hachan also had no reaction, it seemed like I was the only one who didn’t know. Just as I was about to open my mouth and ask who on earth it was, I frowned intensely at the figure entering through the classroom door.
Why is that bastard coming to our class?
“Hey, hey. I’m not late, am I? It’s so damn hard to find the classroom when it’s at the very end.”
Son Gyucheon maintained his swaggering attitude as he entered the classroom and approached us. Taking the lollipop out of his mouth, he stood behind Jo Youngmin and Ye Abin, putting his arms around their shoulders as if they were close friends.
Unlike Jo Youngmin, who smiled awkwardly, Ye Abin fiercely swatted away Son Gyucheon’s hand that was on his shoulder, as if annoyed.
“Ah, so damn sensitive.”
I glared at Son Gyucheon, who muttered while smirking, then looked back and forth between Ye Abin and Jo Youngmin. Don’t tell me the remaining member they mentioned is this bastard?
My pupils, stained with astonishment, trembled slightly. Just then, Son Gyucheon looked at me and wickedly raised the corners of his mouth. As I bit my lips to prevent a curse from bursting out, instead, a curse was heard from somewhere else.
