Runway Chapter 9

Honestly it wasn’t that fun. It felt like a boys’ comic. The characters were lively.

I didn’t really like that kind of novel. I liked books that made me think a lot.

But this novel had a light style so I could read through it quickly. It was quite thick yet I read it all in three hours, so you could say its pull was tremendous.

The class president was the same. As soon as he sat down, he lightly read through the recommendation on the cover and immediately turned his eyes to the book.

He didn’t even notice me glancing a few times. He stroked his sharp jawline and was absorbed in the book. It was as if the scent of paper was coming off him.

Seeing the class president concentrating, I started studying too. I, who had to study only with school classes and free internet lectures without any cram school, tutoring, or supplementary classes, studied as if I were going to bury my head in the books.

I wrote down English words, memorized the sentences, and wrote everything from beginning to end in my notebook. For grammar, I checked the advanced problems the teacher had given.

Also, I solved the workbook the English teacher had given at the start of the semester.

When quite some time had passed, the top of my head felt lukewarm. At the subtle gaze I felt, I raised my head.

“…”

“…”

I don’t know since when, but the class president was looking at me. I put down the mechanical pencil I was holding.

I raised my chin, which I’d been resting on my thumb and index finger. The class president was staring so intently that I wondered if something was on my face.

I touched my cheek with my hand. Nothing was on it.

‘Why do you study so hard.’

The class president asks with his lips. I looked around.

Among the people reading books, studying, using their phones, reading newspapers, the only ones exchanging conversation were me and the class president.

It was silent as if time had stopped. Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d come to this library with someone.

「What did you say?」

I wrote letters on the corner of the workbook and sent it to the class president.

I’m not a good writer, and the pencil lead itself was faint, so I wondered if the class president could read it. The class president read my writing intently and then filled in his own beneath the letters.

「I’ve been staring at you for over 5 minutes lol

But you didn’t look even once」

The workbook came back. The class president had good handwriting.

I didn’t feel it though. He seemed to be reading hard.

Several sentences circled in my head but couldn’t easily come out of my mouth. I went back to my studying.

“What the….”

The class president muttered as he let out a small breath. Then he picked up his book again.

Flip, flip… The fairly rough paper turned under his touch. The sound was especially stimulating.

But I pretended not to see. Pretended not to feel, pretended not to hear.

But in between studying I raised my head to check on the class president. The class president was no longer looking at me.

∞ ∞ ∞

The days had gotten shorter. When we came out as 7 o’clock approached, the sun had already set. It was quite dark. The class president said he’d walk me home.

We passed through a long tunnel. In the middle there was a four-lane road, but not a single car passed. Even though there was a railway above so its length was quite long.

When I was young, this road was scary, but now it isn’t. I think it’s been that way since the moment I felt that fear was only my imagination.

The probability of a person walking on a road where cars don’t pass was extremely low.

I walked the road silently. The class president, who had been standing beside me, spoke in a low voice. His voice echoed in the tunnel.

“It’s scary.”

“Coward.”

As if waiting for it, I attached the title. Whoosh, the class president turned his body to the side.

I couldn’t help but glance. Seeing him looking at me with a blank face, laughter suddenly burst out. Ha, when I laughed, the class president also covered his mouth with his fist and laughed.

“Seonho, this is the first time I’ve seen you laugh.”

I deliberately hardened my expression. It was pointless pride. Laughing isn’t a big deal, but when he said it was the first time he’d seen it, I ended up nitpicking for no reason.

“I laugh a lot actually.”

“At school you’re always expressionless.”

“At school too… I probably laugh?”

I tilted my head. Actually I don’t remember well. At school I kept myself as small as possible.

Right after entering, around that time, guys who knew Lee Wookchan came and talked to me, but I, without Lee Wookchan beside me, was a needless existence, so I couldn’t build relationships.

I told Lee Wookchan that someone talked to me today, and Lee Wookchan picked his ear and said he didn’t know them.

Anyway, at school I had no one I was properly close with. So at first the class president was unfamiliar.

I don’t think I’m being ostracized. Because from the start I didn’t want to get close either.

The class president sang softly. Unlike Lee Wookchan who can’t sing well but yells at the top of his lungs, he was different.

If Lee Wookchan had been beside me, he probably would have said, ah, fuck. Where did a pig get its neck twisted. It was obvious.

The class president and I exchanged pointless conversation. We went together to the front of the apartment complex.

“Our house is up there.”

I pointed to the highest and most secluded spot within the apartment complex.

“You’ll have a hard time. Let’s part here. I’ll take you to the bus stop.”

It was something I said out of consideration in my own way. The class president just shrugged.

“I’ll walk you. I have nothing to do.”

“Why do you have nothing to do? The bus will come soon, just go home.”

While exchanging uninteresting considerations, whether the timing was good or bad, the only bus that passes in front of our house passed by emptily.

I looked at the back of the bus with a vacant gaze and then met the class president’s eyes again. Light swirled in his pupils.

“I guess I have to walk you. I missed the bus so I have nothing to do.”

Unable to help it, I strolled the apartment complex with the class president. Our apartment, without an underground parking lot, always had a lot of cars.

Today it was the weekend so it was even more so. Every morning someone always fought over parking. Beep— beep beep, they’d honk the horn. There were often times they exchanged curses so vulgar it was embarrassing for kids to see.

Can you make a pumpkin into a watermelon by drawing lines on it. Even if you paint it, the playground was equally old, and kids were playing in groups among themselves, haha hoho.

Beside them, guardians sat in helpless postures, and in the pavilion, grandfathers and grandmothers gathered and drank.

They’re all at it from early evening. Somehow I was embarrassed to show this sight to the class president. But the class president didn’t seem to care at all.

When we’d come close to the house like that, I pointed at our house.

“That’s our house.”

Hallway-type apartments were convenient at times like this. Just point straight and that’s it.

What would the class president think seeing our apartment.

That it’s old? That it’s amazing people live in a place like that?

I found myself clasping my hands. Because somehow it was shameful and embarrassing. I just ended up in that posture.

I added an unnecessary remark.

“Thanks for hanging out with me today.”

Actually there was no need to be this humble. The class president nodded as if familiar with that attitude.

“Yeah. See you at school tomorrow.”

“Hey.”

Why am I this ashamed and embarrassed. I raised my hand and touched my cheek and chin.

My lips dried on their own. I swept my hair back.

The class president was gazing quietly at me.

“Jung Hyunwoo, goodbye.”

“Yeah.”

Jung Hyunwoo smiled. Then he turned around.

After walking a few steps he turned back and waved his hand. I awkwardly raised my hand too.

And when Jung Hyunwoo finally disappeared, I felt drained. The thought had come belatedly—did I really need a friend?

The tension that had been subtly soaked in disappeared like melting snow. Even I thought it was ridiculous.

Just meeting once outside and going on about friends, friends.

Did I actually feel lonely? Did I need someone other than Lee Wookchan?

“Ah.”

I don’t know. Anyway, no matter how much I thought about this and that, the conclusion clearly wouldn’t be reached.

While washing at home, while drying my hair, while lying down, while fiddling with my phone, I’d obviously replay today.

Regrets like I should have done a little more of this, I should have done a little more of that would obviously follow.

Still, it couldn’t be helped. I was okay with it anyway. It was an age where that was okay. Seventeen was like that.