Paper Friendship Chapter 16

I felt a little depressed, but the suspect took the ice cream out of my hand. Then he handed me the ice cream he had been eating. It was the one he had tried to hand to me earlier. I stared at him, a bit dazed. Just as the suspect was about to take a bite of the bitter-tasting ice cream, I shouted urgently.

“Th-th…! That’s the one I was eating.”

“It’s fine.”

The suspect really took a bite as if it were nothing. Curious about his reaction, I kept staring at the suspect. Seeing the expression on his face, it didn’t seem like it was delicious, nor did it seem like it was bad.

After watching that for a little while, I, too, cautiously poked out my tongue. Perhaps because I had eaten the worst one earlier, it felt even more delicious. Since I was eating something sweet, a laugh naturally came out. As I continued to move my tongue, I felt a gaze, so I turned my head slightly. The suspect was staring fixedly at me. For some reason, that look seemed to mean that I should at least say a word of thanks.

“Thaaaank yoooou.”

When I said it playfully, the suspect laughed softly and withdrew his gaze from me. But, this is… well, mealtime isn’t work time. Yes, break time. Not included in duty hours. Bang-bang.

I had been licking the ice cream for a while like that when the suspect tentatively spoke up.

“Lee Juun, do you have something to say to me?”

“Huh? No?”

“Then why are you staring like that?”

“…. I wasn’t looking at you, though?”

“Is that so? Then never mind.”

The suspect said it as if he were somewhat disappointed and withdrew his gaze from me. What is he disappointed about? Should I have said thanks more? My heart beat a little faster. Was it because I almost got caught? I don’t know why my heart is beating like this when I haven’t even committed a crime. I almost had my investigation exposed. It’s close. I should be a little more careful.

After parting ways with the other kids, only the suspect and I, who live in the same direction, were left. The suspect sat down on a nearby bench first. And he patted his own thigh. I sat down in the seat next to him without a word. Then the suspect asked with a puzzled expression.

“Aren’t you going to lie down?”

To explain this situation…. I usually lie on the suspect’s lap quite often while we talk before parting ways. It’s definitely not like I always lie down, but often…. No, a little more than that…. If that’s the case, could it be that I am an accomplice? I muttered while avoiding eye contact.

“I haven’t digested my food yet….”

The suspect took his phone out of his pocket without answering. Anyway, I am different from usual today. The conversation at this very moment is important evidence. I collect the evidence one by one and dig into the information.

But contrary to my expectations, the suspect just played on his phone without a word. I spoke up first to help the suspect relax.

“Should I become a police officer?”

“If you become a police officer, tell me where you’ve been assigned.”

“Why?”

“So I don’t go to that region.”

The suspect said it calmly, but he is clearly mocking the detective. I glared at the suspect in a way he would notice. The suspect saw my face and laughed. Because what he just said crossed the line…. It can’t be helped. I genuinely didn’t want to use this method, but I decided to use a frontal approach.

I clenched my fist slightly. Then I said to the suspect, who was sitting next to me with his legs crossed and using his phone.

“Hey…. Don’t you think someone likes me lately? Besides Joo Sunhye.”

The suspect lifted his head and looked at me.

“Who?”

You.

“Seriously, who.”

Seriously, you.

“Lee Juun. Who.”

We stared at each other with eyes wider than usual. What is this situation?

Then, strangely, the suspect’s brow gradually narrowed. As it narrowed, the atmosphere also became serious. What is this? I wasn’t expecting a situation like this. I urgently spat out the words and stood up from my seat.

“No, I guess I thought wrong. That, it’s a joke.”

“Lee Juun, sit down. Who are you talking about?”

Now the suspect even put his phone back in his pocket. His voice is becoming increasingly menacing. Feeling an unexplained sense of fear, I continued to try to calm the suspect down.

“Listen. It’s a joke. Seriously a joke. I was just joking, me.”

“Aren’t you mistaking it because you like her?”

“Are you crazy? I have Joo Sunhye. Ah, I was just joking. I’m sorry. Since you were only looking at your phone….”

The suspect looked up at me without a word, then withdrew his gaze and stared into space. And he stroked his lips with his finger. He must be thinking about who it is. The suspect became serious at a strange point. I urged the suspect to stand up, saying I had to go home quickly. The suspect moved his body very leisurely and slowly to stand up.

The suspect remained serious even after arriving in front of my house. When I quickly said goodbye and tried to get out of the suspect’s gaze, it was then. The suspect said to my back in his usual voice. No, it also seemed like his voice was slightly dark.

“Lee Juun, I thought about it.”

“Uh?”

“There’s no one who likes you.”

“Uhh, okay.”

I waved my hand vaguely and ran into the house. What’s that? Why is he acting like that all of a sudden? It felt uneasy, but that’s how the day ended.

I washed up simply and jumped straight into bed. I barely pushed away the drowsiness and closed my eyes to chew over today, the whole day. Except for the ending…. It was a very ordinary day. It was a day no different from middle school until now.

We are just ordinary friends.

Hmm….

Friends…. right?

A yawn came out. Sleepy. So sleepy. I’ll just investigate again tomorrow.

The case is sinking deeper and deeper into a maze.

∞ ∞ ∞

Today’s weather: sunny. My investigation continues. For a better investigation than yesterday, I even brought a notebook today. Current status of the suspect: no abnormalities. Right now, he is eating school lunch and playing a casual game of soccer.

There are many girls around the suspect. For some reason, it also feels like he is playing soccer while acting even tougher on purpose….

Ah, the suspect suddenly changes direction toward me.

“Ah, what are you doing? Hand over the notebook.”

“What have you been writing down since earlier?”

“Hurry up and give it here. I’m reporting you for school violence.”

“Go ahead…. I’m reporting you as a stalker.”

“Ah, hurry up and give it.”

“Do you like me?”

The suspect laughed lightly and returned the notebook to me. In the past, he would have gotten angry, but maybe it’s because I know he likes me now…. For some reason, it felt a bit pathetic.

I quietly closed the notebook I had received. Today’s investigation ends here. Because today, I have plans with Joo Sunhye after school. I decided to give the suspect a day of free time. Make sure to feel grateful to Joo Sunhye.

∞ ∞ ∞

Just as the 5th period was about to end, I received a favor from a teacher and left the classroom for a moment. After picking up prints from the faculty office, I walked through the empty hallway. While passing by, I glanced at the suspect’s class. Joo Sunhye was sleeping with a blanket covered over her. I smiled because it was so cute. To think that a girl like that is my girlfriend. It’s a reality that is truly hard to believe.

And the suspect is… wearing glasses and resting his chin on his hand. Furthermore, he was spinning a pen with one hand while staring at the blackboard, frowning slightly. He studies hard, I thought, staring blankly, then I made eye contact with the suspect.

I didn’t miss that opportunity; I filled my mouth with air to puff out my cheeks and made a funny face. The suspect hung his head. It was when I was watching his shoulders shaking slightly and feeling satisfied while intending to return to my classroom.

“Lee Juun.”

Turning around, there was a girl standing in front of the water purifier. She gestured to me quietly, as if asking me to come to her. I didn’t know who it was from afar, and I didn’t know the girl even when I saw her up close. But one thing was certain: she was Joo Sunhye’s friend. The girl said while drinking water.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Just for a second, really.”

I held up the prints I had in my hand. The girl handed me a paper cup. It seemed to mean that I should at least pretend to drink water. I put the prints on the water purifier and received the cup. The girl didn’t look at my face and said.

“Let whatever I say from now on go in one ear and out the other. Because I’m truly saying this because I’m worried about you.”

“Yes.”

I received water in the cup and brought it to my mouth. I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what she was going to talk about, even though we were total strangers.

“Joo Sunhye, she made a bet on dating you.”

I didn’t drink the water and stared at the girl. Before I knew it, the girl was also looking at me.