A Scorching Day Chapter 26

The questions the kids eagerly fired off were exactly what Gawon had wanted to ask. What would happen to those human trash who had barged in and beaten up a junior for no reason whatsoever.

Although he himself didn’t have an ounce of fighting strength and couldn’t even properly stand up to guys like Heo Yeonggyu, Ki Joon was different. He didn’t know Ki Joon’s exact circumstances, but considering his usual attire and the fact that he had an ajumma working for him, he was by no means someone who couldn’t even fight back like he himself couldn’t.

Besides, Ki Joon had kept his hands in his pockets throughout the entire fight. Everyone here was a witness. If the school violence committee was properly convened, those seniors could definitely be properly punished. Calculating all of that fiercely on his own, Gawon waited for the words to come out of Ki Joon’s mouth.

But.

“They’re not convening the school violence committee.”

Ki Joon’s brief statement was enough to shock Gawon.

“…Huh? Why? Why not?”

“Hey, that doesn’t make sense! You got beaten up one-sidedly… no, those bastards swarmed you and suddenly started hitting you!”

“Right. Hey, at least squeeze them for a ton of settlement money!”

“Yeah, that’s right! Hey, I was more upset just watching. My aunt works at an internal medicine clinic—want me to help you get a medical certificate?”

Gawon wasn’t the only one shocked. The entire class gaped. Watching the guys getting excited and spitting as they talked as if it were their own business, Ki Joon frowned.

“Forget it. A few hits, what’s the big deal.”

“Huh? Hey, still, you should! Get hospitalized, okay? If you get a medical certificate, those bastards will have to pay at least a few hundred thousand each!”

“Too much trouble. What am I going to do with a lousy few hundred thousand anyway.”

Hearing his indifferent reply, the classmates wore expressions of disbelief. But it was only for a moment—soon everyone started chattering noisily. Saying he’s so cool, saying his nerve is insane for calling a few hundred thousand lousy.

Most of it was praise for Ki Joon, but to Gawon’s ears, it was nothing but irritating noise. Because he knew full well that behind his back, they’d be calling him a nobody, a coward, and trash-talking him. Just like before.

Rage surged up and down. He couldn’t understand Ki Joon. No, he didn’t even want to understand. He knew well enough that to Ki Joon, the settlement money he could get from those thugs was trivial enough to call “a lousy few hundred thousand.” He could also understand, if not agree with, the attitude of not convening the school violence committee because the heated back-and-forth between both sides was too much trouble—that was ultimately entirely up to Ki Joon’s own wishes.

But still, he didn’t know why this indignation kept surging up. Enough to make his clenched fists tremble and his chest heave—he was that furious. So angry he couldn’t stand it.

Those bastards had beaten a kid for no reason. A kid who was sleeping soundly, tired from working out until late, they swarmed like a pack of dogs and pummeled him senseless. You shouldn’t just let that kind of action slide so easily.

Most of all… you got hit. Your face got ruined. So it hurt. How can you just brush it off like it’s nothing?

Unlike his desire to confront Ki Joon, the fact that he couldn’t recklessly speak up in front of the others was endlessly frustrating. He didn’t want to unnecessarily draw attention in front of kids who were already overly interested in other people’s business. He couldn’t put Ki Joon, who was already battered enough, in any more difficult a position.

The homeroom teacher, who came in afterward for dismissal, also had little to say. After telling everyone not to cause unnecessary trouble and to report anything to him, he briefly concluded the dismissal.

Gawon was the first to dash out of the classroom. His chest was seething loudly. Normally, he would have left the school gate together, but right now he didn’t even want to see Ki Joon’s face. But Gawon, quickly crossing the hallway, was grabbed by the wrist from behind before he could get far.

“Why are you going alone, Yoon Gawon.”

“I want to go alone today.”

He spat out bluntly. Ki Joon chuckled at Gawon, who spoke without even meeting his eyes.

“Why? Let’s go together. Hmm?”

“Go to the hospital.”

“You don’t need to. More than that, I’m hungry, let’s…”

“No. I’m busy.”

Even to his own ears, his voice sounded heartless. The more he spoke, the more his voice trembled. Gawon gritted his teeth and turned his head away. He shook off his wrist and walked quickly down the hallway, descending the stairs.

Ki Joon didn’t grab him again. Instead, he kept following behind. Even as Gawon came down the stairs, even as he crossed the playground to the school gate, Ki Joon watched from behind like a shadow.

He seemed determined to follow him all the way home. Even after they had left the school gate far behind, the kid was still behind him. Walking along the sidewalk next to a 4-lane road with few pedestrians, Gawon finally stopped. Then he whirled around and shouted.

“Why do you keep following me! I said I’m busy.”

“But I’m hurt. Gawon-ah.”

“So what do you want me to do. Go to the hospital.”

“What’s wrong with you all of a sudden. Just now, you were so worried about me…”

Ki Joon pouted his lips and made a pitiful expression. Like a dog with its ears drooping. His face, now bruising, and his split, bloodied lips were visible. At that moment, rage surged up from within.

“Of course it hurts! Because you just stood there with your hands down and took it!”

The indignation he had been bottling up burst out fiercely. Startled by the sudden loud voice, Ki Joon faltered. Gawon, veins bulging in his neck, confronted Ki Joon, whose eyes had gone round.

“Hey, Ki Joon. Don’t you have any pride? Why did you just take it? Why!”

“…”

“You said you work out a lot. You… is that all you’ve got?! You said you’d go to competitions and win. Why did you just let those bastards hit you! Fuck, until your face ended up like this…”

Suddenly, his eyes grew hot. Tears welled up, blurring Ki Joon’s face in an instant.

It was a ridiculous situation. The kid who had actually been hit until his face was ruined was standing there just fine, so why was he, who had nothing to do with this kid, so angry? Why was he so pissed off that tears were coming, so furious and in pain….

“Gawon-ah.”

Gawon didn’t answer, just roughly wiped his face with the back of his hand. He couldn’t help but realize it, even if he didn’t want to. That this kid, who called his name so tenderly, was no longer someone unrelated to him.

“Are you worried about me right now?”

Ki Joon, letting out a hehe laugh, was truly an idiot. Gawon glared at him, his eyes brimming with tears.

“You fucking idiot. Are you seriously saying that right now…!”

“Ah, that’s so fucking good.”

Even being cursed at, Ki Joon didn’t look the least bit upset. Instead, he grinned like a screw-loose fool.

“To be honest, when those bastards swarmed me and suddenly started hitting me, it was kinda fucking annoying, you know?”

“…”

“But right now, I’m so happy. Because you’re worried about me. I think I could get hit again and still feel good about it.”

“Stop talking bullshit!”

Gawon snarled and shouted. If he ever saw Ki Joon getting hit in front of him again, he wouldn’t just stand by. He’d grab a chair and charge at those bastards.

“Gawon-ah. Did you think I looked like too much of a nobody, is that why you hate me now?”

Here he was, dead serious, and Ki Joon was still joking around. Gawon was so angry he clenched his fists. Then he pounded his fist against the broad chest in front of him, making a thudding sound.

“Yeah, fuck! I hate you! You coward! You fucking nobody! What a waste of your size! If I were you, I’d have beaten the shit out of those bastards!”

“Ow, ow. Ah, that hurts. Gawon-ahhh.”

Even though his pained words sounded like exaggeration mixed with laughter, Gawon had no choice but to stop punching immediately. He thought, what the hell am I doing to a kid who’s already been beaten plenty. Gawon glared at Ki Joon with all his might but tried to withdraw his hand. At that moment, a gentle grip pulled at his wrist.

“Gawon-ah. Don’t be like that… can’t you let go of your anger?”

Ki Joon grabbed his hand and brought it toward his own face. The violent impulse he’d been displaying ceased in an instant.

Gawon, whose breathing had also stopped, stared at Ki Joon with wide eyes. The strength in his hand naturally drained away. Afraid that he might hurt the swollen, bruised face.

Seeing Gawon instantly lose his offensive edge, Ki Joon smiled warmly and slowly rubbed his face against Gawon’s hand, as if savoring it.

“Cut me some slack. The thing is, right now I’m in a situation where I can’t really get tangled up in… fights and stuff.”

Ki Joon smiled awkwardly.

“Me transferring here. It’s true I actually did get forcibly transferred.”

“…”

“I got caught up in a senior gang fight, unluckily.”