Paper Friendship Chapter 13

I wanted to ask, “Did you guys fight?” but I couldn’t bring myself to ask because it really looked like they had. Joo Sunhye didn’t eat and just played on her phone, perhaps because of her outfit that showed her midriff. Choi Juoon was looking elsewhere with his chin resting on his hand, wondering if he was already finished.

Even as unobservant as I am, I could tell the atmosphere was strange. Wanting to finish as quickly as possible, I stuffed my mouth full of food and chewed away. Then, Choi Juoon tapped my tray with his chopsticks and said:

“Eat slowly.”

At those words, I said I was finished and tried to get up, but Joo Sunhye grabbed my arm from the side and said:

“You like this, don’t you? Let’s eat and go.”

I was caught off guard and ended up taking the pudding Joo Sunhye offered. I sat back down and said:

“Ah, thanks.”

I resumed my chewing motion. I wanted to just scoop up some soup and swallow it, but there was spaghetti in the soup compartment. I had no choice but to stare into space and move my mouth busily. Then, Choi Juoon got up, fetched some water, and set it down in front of me with a clatter.

“…I’ll drink it well.”

While drinking the water, I thought, Is there nothing for Joo Sunhye?

After swallowing the water, I ate the pudding Joo Sunhye gave me and stood up. I honestly felt like I was going to get indigestion. Joo Sunhye went back to practice, and Choi Juoon went with the other guys to smoke. I don’t know why, but honestly, neither of them looked like they were in a great mood.

∞ ∞ ∞

In the afternoon, there was the dance club performance. By then, the teachers were busy trying to stop the kids from leaving the tents. It was comfortable being next to Choi Juoon. That was because no one tried to go in front of Choi Juoon.

Every time Joo Sunhye came out, the boys around me hit me, shook me, and shouted my name. Even though I tried to act like it was nothing, my face honestly turned red.

“Ah, seriously, why do you keep calling my name?”

I muttered quietly, sticking close to Choi Juoon’s side. Then, Choi Juoon tidied up my sweat-dampened bangs. He whispered into my ear:

“Let’s go play billiards when this is over.”

“Really? You don’t have to go bowling? But the guys said they wanted to go to the karaoke room first.”

“Then let’s go there first, then go.”

“You mean the one that just opened?”

“Yeah, you like it?”

“I love it.”

I smiled looking at Choi Juoon. And because of the loud music, I also leaned close to Choi Juoon’s ear and said:

“Then you be the one to say let’s go to the billiards hall first today.”

“Why?”

“If I’m the one who says it, the guys won’t go.”

“Ah, okay.”

Choi Juoon answered with a smile. And when we looked ahead after talking, the dance club performance was already over. Joo Sunhye came to where I was, and I stood up and left the tent with her.

“Lee Juun, did you see me?”

“Yeah, you practiced a lot.”

“I’m tired. I’m hungry.”

Joo Sunhye said cutely. To be honest, I hadn’t seen much because I was talking to Choi Juoon…. Anyway, we were walking in step when Joo Sunhye said:

“You’re going to hang out with me after this, right?”

“Huh? But I was supposed to hang out with the guys?”

At my words, Joo Sunhye stopped in her tracks and frowned.

“Lee Juun…. You’re supposed to hang out with me on a day like this.”

“Ah….”

“I even cleared my whole schedule to hang out with you.”

Only then did I remember that on sports day, all the guys who had girlfriends went to hang out with them. I blurted out urgently:

“Ah… I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Uh, then…. let’s meet at the main gate when it’s over.”

I hurriedly made plans with Joo Sunhye. Most guys understand if it’s a promise with their girlfriend. I’m like that, and so is Choi Juoon. I felt sorry for canceling our plans so suddenly, but… it wasn’t a plan for just the two of us today, and it seemed like there were enough guys that it would be fine if I sat this one out.

It was just about the time the sports day was ending, so it was time to go back to our respective classes. That’s why I couldn’t see Choi Juoon to tell him in person.

I have plans with Joo Sunhye today;; sorry sorry 03:27

Go with the others 03:27

I had no choice but to leave it as a message. However, Choi Juoon clearly read it and didn’t reply.

“Uh, with Joo Sunhye?”

“Yeah. So go ahead first.”

“Uh-huh, okay.”

Just in case, I told the kids in my class, too. As I expected, their reaction was simple. Even so, I kept feeling uneasy about Choi Juoon. Maybe it’s because we planned to hang out together in the morning….

It was certain he had checked the message. But just in case, I waited for Choi Juoon at the main gate with Joo Sunhye. Choi Juoon was walking over from afar with his friends.

I smiled and raised my hand, but as Choi Juoon got closer… my expression stiffened, and my hand went back down.

“….”

“….”

Choi Juoon was… in a very angry state. I remembered the incident at the study room. Choi Juoon glared at me for a short but intense moment. I could see the friends around him treading carefully around him. I just stared blankly at Choi Juoon’s back without saying a word.

Don’t tell me… is he like that because we can’t walk home together? Or is it because I canceled our plans suddenly? I know Choi Juoon considers promises to be very important, but usually, guys let it slide if it’s a date with a girlfriend. Of course, Choi Juoon also often skipped out to meet his girlfriend back in middle school….

“Lee Juun, did you… just see Choi Juoon?”

Joo Sunhye said from beside me. I just gave an awkward smile. I was very embarrassed. I have Joo Sunhye right here…. I should have talked about it separately later…. I said, fiddling with my hair:

“Ah, Choi Juoon…. he’s like that sometimes.”

Actually, that was true. Back in middle school, Choi Juoon really hated it when I said I was going to hang out with other people. But lately, I thought he had mellowed out a bit.

When I spoke about it dismissively, Joo Sunhye’s expression froze. She hardened completely with a serious look on her face. Then, she began to frown more and more. Looking at Joo Sunhye’s face, I finally realized the seriousness of the situation. I also wiped the smile off my face and said urgently:

“You really don’t need to worry about it, we were planning to hang out together today because… he’s always like that. He’ll come back later. If it bothers you….”

Then Joo Sunhye cut me off and said sharply:

“You guys are really weird.”

It was the first time Joo Sunhye had gotten angry at me. I looked at Joo Sunhye with my mouth slightly open. Joo Sunhye sat on a nearby bench and said:

“It doesn’t seem like a normal friendship.”

Hearing that, my head throbbed slightly. I slowly sat down next to Joo Sunhye. I had a feeling this conversation was going to be long.

“Why is that asshole Choi Juoon like that? Why is he so obsessed with you?”

I just listened quietly to what Joo Sunhye was saying. And I thought about Choi Juoon’s recent behavior. …Is Choi Juoon like that because he hasn’t been dating anyone lately? The last time he dated was…. the first year of high school? The second year? He really hasn’t been dating much lately.

“Lee Juun, haven’t you felt that something was strange until now?”

“Huh? Uh….”

“It’s like that during lunch, too…. I find that asshole Choi Juoon really annoying.”

Joo Sunhye didn’t hide her anger. And after crossing her arms and thinking for a moment, she said:

“Call Park Yoonchul.”

I called without a word. For some reason, Joo Sunhye was a little…. scary.

“Put it on speaker.”

I quietly switched to speakerphone. The ringtone went on for a long time. Just when I was about to hang up, thinking he wouldn’t answer, Park Yoonchul picked up.

— Hello?

“It’s Joo Sunhye, can you talk right now?”

— Joo Sunhye? Uh, where’s Lee Juun?

“Beside me.”

I could hear faint singing in the background, so it seemed like they were at the karaoke room. Joo Sunhye asked point-blank:

“Hey, why is Choi Juoon like that to Lee Juun?”

Park Yoonchul was silent. I don’t know the reason, but even I was nervous listening. My fists were clenched tightly. Park Yoonchul hesitated for a long time, then spoke in a voice similar to earlier:

— Choi Juoon, he’s always been a bit… obsessed with Lee Juun. Don’t all the guys know that?

“No, isn’t he a crazy bastard? Is he Lee Juun’s girlfriend or what?”

— Joo Sunhye, I know what you’re saying, but…. compared to when he was in middle school, he’s a lot better now.

Joo Sunhye didn’t say anything for a moment, then said:

“Okay, fine. Thanks. I’m hanging up.”