Paper Friendship Chapter 17

“But it wasn’t serious, it was just in a joking atmosphere. It really looked like a joke, though….”

“….”

“Still, I thought you should know.”

I felt like I shouldn’t listen to any more. But even so….

“How did she say it?”

“Just that it’s easy to seduce a guy who’s never dated anyone. That she could get him to date her in a week.”

Just then, the class bell rang. The girl drank the rest of the water and threw the paper cup into the trash can.

“Seriously…. I’m rooting for you two. But I didn’t think it was right for you not to know. It’s just…. you know how it is.”

“….”

“If it sounds like a lie, ask her yourself. I’m curious what she’ll say, too.”

My train of thought stalled. Truly, it felt as if time had stopped. Kids were slowly coming out of the classroom. Among them was Joo Sunhye. The girl quickly moved away from me. From afar, Joo Sunhye saw me and came running. She didn’t greet the girl from earlier.

“Lee Juun! What is this printout? It must be heavy. Give it here, let’s carry it together.”

“…It’s okay. I’ll carry it. I’m late right now….”

“Is that so? Then the homeroom teacher called for me, so I’ll go ahead. Don’t forget we’re meeting today.”

“Ah, yeah….”

I gave an awkward smile and walked toward the classroom. My heart is beating so fast. I delivered the printouts to the teacher and got scolded slightly for being late. Then, the 6th period was replaced with self-study. Since the teacher wasn’t there, the kids in class were either sleeping, studying, or chatting quietly. I covered myself with a blanket and laid my head on my desk.

“….”

I feel like I’m going to cry….

I didn’t think the girl had lied to me. It’s a dirty thing to talk about, but because there are guys around us who occasionally make bets over girls. Like, I’ll try dating her within a week, or I wonder how far I’ll get with the physical progress, things like that….

Thinking that Joo Sunhye did that to me, it was truly humiliating, but…. tears poured out. Even though no one was watching, I put my hand inside the blanket and rubbed my eyes. I couldn’t even make a sound, so I really just let the tears stream down. I could hear the electric fan whirring. Should I be grateful that the noise in the classroom was loud?

Honestly, it was the most shocking thing I’d experienced lately. And I realized anew just how much I like Joo Sunhye. My heart felt like it was submerged in the deep sea. But that was exactly it. I didn’t have any thoughts like wanting to break up with Joo Sunhye or anything of the sort.

I was just disappointed. Only a very little bit, I resent Joo Sunhye. I don’t hate her. I… still like Joo Sunhye. I really like her. From now on, I’m going to reply late to Joo Sunhye. I won’t answer her calls right away, either. For the time being, I won’t smile often, and I’ll manage my facial expressions. I won’t be like that forever, though….

Even if Joo Sunhye made a bet using me as the target, I thought her feelings for me must be sincere. It’s not just rationalizing; even to my eyes, Joo Sunhye likes me sincerely. And I feel the same way…. If this is acting, then I don’t mean this sarcastically, but Joo Sunhye should change her career path from flight attendant to actor right now.

As I continued my thoughts in a joking manner to myself, the tears gradually stopped. I rubbed my eyes vigorously and took off the blanket. Cool air rushed in. The teacher still wasn’t there. I slowly got up from my seat and said:

“Hey, if the homeroom teacher comes, tell him I went to the bathroom.”

“Uh, but did you cry?”

“No? Dust kept flying around…. I keep coughing.”

“So that’s why? Ah, okay. I’ll tell him when the teacher comes.”

I felt a bit awkward, but I opened the back door and walked toward the bathroom. But as luck would have it, the suspect was by the water purifier. The suspect was watching the printouts while drinking water. I wonder if it’s obvious that I cried. I thought about going back to class, but I made eye contact with the suspect. I had no choice but to walk toward him.

“Why are the kids in that class always out during class time…. Just drink some water during break time.”

And I thought. We will just pass by each other like we’re brushing past.

But after making eye contact with me, the suspect wasn’t looking at the printouts anymore; he was watching me intently while drinking water. I passed by him, shielding my face slightly with my hand, but the suspect approached and grabbed my shoulder.

… I’m screwed.

“Did you cry?”

“….”

The suspect’s voice was angry.

But as soon as I heard those words, I could fully feel that Choi Juoon was worried about me. Maybe that’s why? Tears suddenly burst out.

“Noooo….”

I felt my face contort. Reflexively, I raised both hands to cover my face. The suspect tried to pull my hands down. I resisted, but honestly, I had no confidence that I could win against the suspect in terms of strength. That’s how the suspect ended up seeing my face. I couldn’t see well because of my tears. When I hung my head, tears fell onto the floor pitter-patter.

The suspect grabbed my shoulders hard. Honestly, it hurt a bit this time. The place we arrived at, dragged along by the suspect’s strength, was the bathroom. The suspect closed the bathroom door and hugged me. I was in a state where my hands were floating in the air, unable to do this or that.

Then, the suspect took my hands and placed them on his back. Now that I had something to hold onto, I hugged the suspect. The suspect patted my head and gently stroked my back. And he muttered softly:

“It’s okay.”

I cried like that for a long while.

∞ ∞ ∞

I stopped crying a little and looked at the suspect. The suspect wasn’t looking at me with a warm gaze… but looking at the printouts. I somehow snapped to my senses. Having come to my senses, I only then realized that the suspect was touching my earlobe. Since I couldn’t get angry and ask why he was touching it, I naturally pushed his hand away.

I went to the sink, blew my nose, and washed my face, so I was completely awake. Then, embarrassment rushed in like a wave.

When I turned around, the suspect was now leaning against the wall, staring at me steadily. I approached as if nothing was wrong and sat in the seat next to the suspect.

“Why did you cry?”

“…Because I’m worried about the future….”

I said while brushing off the dust that had settled on my bangs. I felt the suspect’s gaze from the side burning. But I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Joo Sunhye making a bet with me…. I couldn’t say things like that. I grabbed the printouts from the suspect’s hand, thinking I should change the subject. At a glance, there were tons of difficult English words written on them. Places he’d underlined, places marked with asterisks…. I feel it anew, but this guy really studies hard.

“Let’s check how much you’ve studied.”

When I said it playfully, the suspect let out a soft sound like escaping air and laughed. And he turned his posture toward me.

“Apple.”

“사과 (Sagwa).”

“Tomato.”

“토마토 (Tomato). Hey, are you joking?”

“You have been accepted into our Juoon University.”

I laughed softly. The suspect looked at me for a moment, then said:

“I’m the one getting paid to attend, right?”

“Student…. What are you talking about? Our university is a prestigious one.”

“….”

“But, I will specially give you a full scholarship through the Juoon-friend admission track.”

“Don’t say things that will get you into trouble, just give it here.”

The suspect took the printouts from my hand. Although it was still class time and we had to go back to the classroom, neither of us moved. I fixed my gaze on the suspect’s printouts, then muttered while staring into empty space.

“I want to go on a trip.”

“Where.”

“Anywhere.”

The suspect said without even looking at me.

“Let’s go after the college entrance exam.”

“Yeah…. Come to think of it, I can’t go to the valley this year.”

“Uh, you have to study.”

“Going to the valley…. Ah, that suddenly reminds me of something. When Choi Moongi was dumped by his girlfriend and made a fuss about drowning himself in the water.”

I suddenly remembered that time and laughed. But the suspect seemed not to know this, and said slightly like a fool.

“When?”

“When we were in the 3rd year of middle school.”

“I don’t remember.”

“Why? Ah! You went outside to talk on the phone with your girlfriend back then.”

The suspect’s gaze was still on the printouts, but while listening to me, he occasionally laughed and reacted. Seeing the suspect smiling with the corners of his lips raised, I also found myself smiling. Having felt better, I turned my posture completely toward the suspect and kept telling the story.

By talking about old times like that, there is one fact I’ve come to know.

Choi Juoon is my friend, not a suspect.