# Chapter 95
The teacher, who saw Moon Seoheon and me entering the classroom long after the bell had rung, continued with the lesson without saying a word.
I was relieved she didn’t make a big deal out of it, but I felt so awful inside that I couldn’t concentrate on anything. I barely listened to the class, just staring at my textbook until the final lesson ended with instructions to complete homework.
The homeroom teacher who came in right after took the performance application forms collected by the class president. Seeing that, I reflexively turned my gaze toward Jo Youngmin’s seat.
I caught a glimpse of Jo Youngmin’s lips curling up in satisfaction, like someone who’d finally pulled a painful tooth. He’d been avoiding me consistently, so I couldn’t get a good look at his face, but I remembered his annoyed expression whenever we passed by each other, which only made me feel more anxious.
The homeroom teacher began checking off students while reviewing the application forms one by one.
My brow furrowed as I couldn’t shake the suspicion that he might have submitted the forms without including me. After the teacher finished what he was doing, he looked around at all of us.
“There are still some who haven’t submitted their forms.”
After saying that, the teacher called out the names of students who hadn’t submitted their applications.
“Seoheon said he’d take one of the undecided students after class, so that’s settled. Yoon Taeho, are you planning to do it alone too?”
I flinched when I suddenly heard my name. Listening to the teacher’s words, the situation became clear, and a small sigh escaped me. It seems Jo Youngmin, who I thought had been deliberately avoiding me today, had actually removed me from the performance group.
Though I was surprised, I’d somewhat anticipated this might happen, so I wasn’t too shocked.
For a moment, our eyes met, and Jo Youngmin quickly turned his head away as if avoiding my gaze. He was pretending not to know anything. I guess he had no conscience but at least knew he’d done something wrong.
I had considered volunteering to withdraw myself, but now that I’d been forcibly removed, I couldn’t help feeling disgusted by the situation.
Instead of glaring at Jo Youngmin with contempt, I gathered my thoughts to answer the teacher’s question.
“…I’m still thinking about it, but I’m not sure yet.”
I didn’t plan to do it alone, but since I didn’t know what would happen, I gave a vague answer. Besides Moon Seoheon and me, two other students were called out, but they were guys who had already planned to perform solo, so no one found it strange.
“Is that so? I thought you were going to do it with Youngmin’s group. Is there something wrong?”
The teacher probably meant it as a casual question, but feeling guilty for some reason, I just nodded with an awkward smile.
Everyone’s eyes turned to me when they realized that not only Moon Seoheon but I also wasn’t in a group. I wondered if they knew the teacher would point out undecided students during homeroom time. If so, was Jo Youngmin’s goal to embarrass me?
I wasn’t sure whether to applaud him for being somewhat effective if he just wanted to put me in an awkward position, or to look at him with contempt.
I glanced at Moon Seoheon, and the teacher followed my gaze toward him. Then, as if struck by a good idea, he clapped his hands.
“Right. Moon Seoheon’s group has one spot open, so Yoon Taeho, you could join them. How about it? Seoheon?”
When the teacher asked with a grin if that would work, Moon Seoheon turned his head toward me. The expressionless guy’s eyes curved slightly. His steady gaze seemed to be asking what I thought.
“You two are close anyway, so working together would be good.”
The teacher added that we should decide quickly when neither Moon Seoheon nor I responded immediately. Then Moon Seoheon put his elbows on the desk and asked:
“What do you think?”
“Uh… well.”
To be honest, I wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea of working with Moon Seoheon’s group, so I was tempted. I just felt a bit embarrassed about joining after initially being rejected, only to tag along now.
Seeing me hesitating, Moon Seoheon approached with sparkling eyes. Sensing my hesitation, his tone was almost pleading.
“Let’s do it together. Okay?”
“…Okay.”
I finally accepted his proposal. Moon Seoheon’s eyes curved as he smiled gently. Fortunately, he seemed pleased with the situation, while I was the only one feeling confused by this sudden development.
“Well, that’s settled then. I’ll note that you two are working together.”
After hearing my answer, the teacher added that the group leader should submit the application form to the supervising teacher.
I lifted my head sharply at the word “group leader.” Thinking about the trio I would be joining, I quietly asked Moon Seoheon who the leader was.
“Hyoin agreed to do it. He knows instruments well.”
My lips twitched as I recalled Jung Hyoin, whom I’d parted with on uncomfortable terms. I doubted any of this would go smoothly. I couldn’t even imagine what expression Kwak Junhee would make when he heard the news.
My head started to ache not knowing how the other guys would react either. But what’s done was done. The situation might be a bit awkward, but I decided to focus on the fact that we had easily resolved our respective problems. Soon I felt relief at the judgment that it was better than performing alone at an event like this, which I’d never experienced before.
More than that, my luck today was absolutely terrible. From Lee Seongcheol barging in this morning, to tripping over Son Gyucheon’s foot and falling down the stairs, to Jo Youngmin removing me from the group without saying a word—all were intentional situations filled with hostility, but coming all at once, I couldn’t get my bearings.
It felt like I was paying for some bad karma. I shook my head to get rid of the unpleasant feeling that was washing over me.
As I was putting on my backpack after the homeroom ended, Moon Seoheon pulled my arm, saying we should tell the trio the news.
“I just need to tell Jung Hyoin, right?”
“Yeah. He just needs to add your name to the application form.”
I nodded in agreement, and Moon Seoheon led the way out of the classroom. I adjusted my slipping backpack over my shoulder and followed him toward Class 9.
The classroom we reached after passing through the crowded hallway had both doors firmly closed. Through the opaque windows I approached to peek inside, I could see students sitting without exception. In front of them stood who appeared to be their homeroom teacher with arms crossed.
Our class hadn’t ended early, but it seemed their homeroom time was still continuing, perhaps with remaining announcements. From the atmosphere, it didn’t look like it would end soon.
Class 9’s homeroom teacher’s face, visible in my line of sight, was quite stern. The expressions of the students I could see also looked quite serious.
Thinking it wasn’t my business as a student from another class, I quickly stepped back. Even though the windows were opaque, a few students inside the classroom seemed to notice me pressing up against it and glanced my way.
I moved toward the hallway window, deciding to wait quietly until Jung Hyoin came out. Moon Seoheon seemed to have the same thought, looking into the classroom before turning around. But just as we both took a step, someone inside the classroom stood up.
I turned my steps back and watched the classroom from a distance.
“Son Gyucheon was in Class 9 too?”
The student who stood up was Son Gyucheon. Although it was hard to see clearly because his head was bowed low, it was definitely him.
I was still angry thinking about how I’d tumbled down the stairs because of him, but I was momentarily taken aback by the sudden situation. Before I could be surprised that he was in the same class as Jung Hyoin, seeing Son Gyucheon standing there with a sullen face made me wonder what was going on.
Not only Son Gyucheon, but Jung Hyoin also stood up from his seat and went to the front of the teacher’s desk. My puzzlement was brief as I blinked at the black bag in his hand.
The black bag Jung Hyoin was holding would contain the fragments of the broken drawing cup. Since it would be dangerous to leave them scattered on the stairs, I had swept them all up with a broom and put them in a bag I got from the school store, as they couldn’t just be thrown away.
Jung Hyoin had taken the bag saying he would dispose of it, but why was he still carrying it like that?
Jung Hyoin approached the teacher, lifted the bag, and opened it wide as if showing its contents. The teacher frowned upon seeing inside and shouted at Son Gyucheon.
I couldn’t hear clearly what was being said. The loud voice echoing through the window suggested the teacher was giving him a serious scolding, clearly very angry.
Catching phrases like “causing trouble again,” it seemed Jung Hyoin had tattled about what Son Gyucheon had done. He had said he would handle it himself, but I couldn’t help letting out a surprised breath, not expecting him to report it so directly.
Certainly, telling the homeroom teacher would be the cleanest way to resolve such issues. I wasn’t sure if it would be properly resolved, but from what I could see, it seemed to be going well.
“Yoon Taeho.”
“Huh?”
“Was falling on the stairs not just a simple trip?”
I flinched at the low, subdued voice. I was dazedly responding to my name being called when I realized Moon Seoheon was beside me from what he said next. Startled, I quickly looked to the side.
Moon Seoheon was furrowing his brows, staring at me intently as if asking for the truth. I clicked my tongue and stammered a response.
“I did trip over his foot, but luckily I wasn’t seriously hurt.”
“…Was it him who did that?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Moon Seoheon narrowed his eyes as he gestured with his chin toward Son Gyucheon. I swallowed dryly and remained still, and Moon Seoheon let out a small sigh.
“Next time, tell me properly.”
His tone was somewhat dejected. I hadn’t mentioned it on purpose to avoid making him worry, but his reaction made me feel like I’d really done something wrong. Well, I didn’t think it would have made much difference if I had told him, but I obediently nodded.
Only then did his stiff expression soften, and he reached out his hand to gently stroke my face. It was just a light touch on my cheek, as if handling something delicate, but that made it all the more ticklish inside.
Just then, I noticed a familiar face among the passing students approaching me before backing away. Hong Hachan bit his lip when he made eye contact with Moon Seoheon, who had been caressing my face, and left. It seemed he had approached to say something but left after seeing Moon Seoheon’s cold expression. Before I could look at him with confusion, Moon Seoheon faced me and smiled softly.
Soon his hand fell away, and the gaze he fixed on me gently rippled. Looking into his brownish eyes with a yellow tint, I could feel a wavelike tremor rising inside me.
“Moon Seoheon… this is a question I’m asking because I think I might be crazy.”
“……”
He briefly lowered his gaze as he watched my lips murmuring softly, then gave me a look that said “go ahead.”
“Do you like me?”
