Lie Again! Chapter 23

<Chapter 23. Homecoming (1)> 

 

After finishing the first half of the game against the Candale football team with a comfortable lead of 37 to 13, the sun, which had been heating their faces as much as the excitement for the game, was slowly beginning to set. 

 

The sky, cleared after the rain, reflected the sunset’s glow, dyed in an array of colors. It was a sight like flames raging over a deep blue sea. Jin, mesmerized, watched with a dazed expression. 

 

It was the most beautiful summer evening Jin had seen since arriving here. She wasn’t the only one who felt that way—among the excited crowd buzzing over the first-half victory, several people were holding up their phones toward the sky. 

 

On the vast green field stretching beneath the sky, players in heavy protective gear were making their way off, while one by one, those dressed in suits and dresses stepped in.

 

The announcement of this year’s royalty was about to begin.

 

The students seated in the stands called out the names of their friends with eager expressions. Only then did Jin, who had been lost in the beauty of the sky, turn her gaze toward the candidates. 

 

Jin’s gaze, which had been scanning the candidates, suddenly stopped at one spot. Beneath the dreamy summer evening, the brown-haired boy stood with a playful smile. 

 

He was wearing a black single-breasted suit, his forehead exposed, waiting for his name to be called. Next to him, Gwen, in a black dress, had her arms crossed.

 

While Jin was looking at him for a moment, a marching band in uniforms lined up at an angle on the wide field.

 

As the sound of trumpets and horns echoed through the field, the band formed two parallel lines facing each other. Their left hands were tucked behind their backs, while their right hands extended firmly downward, holding large blue flags with precise coordination. 

 

“Sophomore. River Butterfield and Jacqueline Warren’s son, Evan Butterfield, and his partner…” 

 

The public address system called out a few names, and it was finally Jin’s turn for the tenth graders.

 

As the slow voices filled the stadium, Butterfield and Gwen stood side by side in front of the flag-lined path. At the same time, a cheer erupted from the stands.

 

It was a response louder than anyone who had been called before them. Against the backdrop of cheers that emphasized the popularity and status they held at Crawford, the two slowly took steps, walking between the marching band.

 

The flags that had been hanging down rose one by one in time with their steps, decorating the path in a splendid manner. 

 

The sight of Butterfield and Gwen walking through the grandly fluttering flags was reminiscent of a coronation ceremony.

 

A coronation of a king and queen. Jin was just one among the many spectators blessing them. As she watched their faces draw closer, she let out a small, amused laugh at her own imagination. 

 

The psychological distance that had grown closer while cleaning together for a month had grown even further apart. Just the distance between the field and the audience.

 

It felt like a long time ago when they cleaned the chemistry lab together and fought childishly. 

 

‘Ah.’

 

As Jin watched Butterfield walking leisurely as if the gazes pouring down on him were familiar, she suddenly realized why she had been upset when he shut the door harshly in front of Pablo, why she couldn’t hold back a single word.

 

‘…Because I’m closer to Pablo Miche than to Evan Butterfield.’

 

Being treated as if she were nothing by Butterfield felt just like her. She had been scared of being ignored, so she had preemptively put her guard up. It was with the mindset of wanting to discard things before she could be hurt. 

 

And yet, like a coward, she acted as if she were righteous and got angry at Butterfield.

 

Jin stared at Butterfield for a moment before letting out a hollow laugh and turning her head away. She no longer wanted to be weighed down by lingering emotions. 

 

“I’ll go out.”

 

“Aren’t you going to watch the game anymore?”

 

“Mhm. I’m a little tired. I’ll wait outside.”

 

Jin whispered to Ruth beside her before carefully standing up, making sure not to disturb the other kids. Ruth looked at her with a worried expression but didn’t stop her, perhaps understanding that Jin had been sitting restlessly throughout the entire first half.

 

“This time, it’s obviously going to be Evan and Emily again, right? Feels like those two are just going to take everything until they graduate.”

 

“There seem to be quite a few kids who picked Fines this time.” 

 

“No way. No matter what, Evan’s probably going to win, right?”

 

On her way down the stairs, Jin overheard murmurs about the homecoming results. No matter what people around her were saying, she stubbornly kept walking without glancing at the field even once. At this moment, she didn’t want to hear anything about Butterfield. 

 

“Freshman. Lord—.”

 

The slow voice announced the Lord and Lady of the freshmen class. Next would be the turn of the sophomores, where Butterfield and Gwen stood. Leaving behind the sound of applause for the chosen candidates, Jin exited the stadium.  

 

A lingering gaze followed Jin’s retreating figure, clinging to her until her dark hair disappeared completely—only then did it finally disperse.

 

* * *

 

On Saturday, from early morning, Jin and Amanda left the nail salon while listening to Joey’s endless chatter.

 

They had to move quickly to buy the necessary items, get ready together at Ruth’s house, and arrive at the homecoming party venue on time. 

 

“I really thought it would be Butterfield and Gwen, but who would have thought they’d be chosen!”

 

As they walked past the stores lined up along the mall corridor, Joey talked about the results of yesterday’s royalty vote. 

 

Hearing the result, which was completely different from what she had expected, Jin nodded at Joey’s words. 

 

“By the way, there’s something that feels good. It’s the first time I’ve seen him make that face. Is that too mean?” 

 

“Don’t show it off in front of me.”

 

As she overheard the conversation between Joey and Amanda, Jin raised her hand and looked at it with curious eyes. The deep green color on her neatly manicured nails glimmered under the light, perfectly matching the color of her dress. 

 

Just as Joey had said, it definitely made her feel better. The feeling of absentmindedly chatting with friends and getting dressed up made her feel much better, even though she had been feeling down until the morning.

 

The cosmetics store was not far from the nail salon. Inside the wide-open door, various brands of cosmetics were packed tightly on the shelves. 

 

Feeling a bit awkward, Jin followed Joey and Amanda as they browsed through the cosmetics. Unlike Jin, who had only ever bought tints and sunscreen with Minchae back in Korea, Amanda and Joey picked out cosmetics with ease and familiarity.

 

It was when Joey asked Jin for her opinion, holding up several shades of pink—each one looking exactly the same on her hand—that Jin tried her best to answer. 

 

“Goodness. I can see all of you here, McCoy. And Miller… and Lee.”

 

Familiar faces came in through the door. It was Emily Gwen and Olivia Clarke.

 

Gwen smiled slyly as she scanned Jin and the others one by one. Her smooth voice was oddly cold, in contrast to her smiling face. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but when she called Jin’s name, it felt like the temperature in her tone dropped just a little more. 

 

Since she had never had much to do with Gwen, Jin was confused as to whether this was just her own mistake. 

 

‘She even invited me to the pool party last time, though.’

 

No matter how much she tried to think back, there seemed to be no reason for her to harbor any hostility toward her. She quickly dismissed it, thinking it was just the princess’s whim that she didn’t understand. 

 

Dressed like a protagonist from a teen movie, Gwen was as stunningly beautiful as ever. Jin simply admired her beauty with a sense of awe. 

 

“Who are you going to homecoming with? Are you all going together again? Oh, sorry. That was rude of me.” 

 

The princess’s words, which were worth her face, weren’t as beautiful as her face. It was clear that her teasing smile was intentionally meant to irritate her.

 

Jin glanced at Joey. As expected, her face was very angry. 

 

Joey and Emily, despite being on the cheerleading team together as flyers, didn’t get along very well. Jin recalled a few lunch breaks when Joey harshly criticized Emily. 

 

“Right, it was rude, so be careful next time. We’re each going with our own partners. Amanda with Dawn, who’s in the 11th grade, I with Dusty, and Jin with Ruthy.” 

 

Joey said with a big smile. She was smiling brightly, but I could feel her boiling emotions being suppressed.

 

“….”

 

Emily’s face stiffened oddly at Joey’s words as she scanned the group. Her cold gaze lingered on Jin for a moment longer. Jin, feeling uncomfortable, shifted her eyes away. *Why me?* 

 

Just as Emily, who had been staring at Jin with a cold gaze, was about to speak, Olivia, standing beside her, spoke first. Her voice had a strangely boastful tone to it. 

 

“Even though you’re partners, you’re not that different from last year, are you? We’re going with Evan and Jonathan this year.”

 

There was an accent on ‘Evan’. Olivia looked proud as if she was pleased.

 

“Right! Thank goodness, Emily! Even though you lost the Homecoming royalty to Blake, at least you’ll be walking in with Butterfield. Congratulations!”

 

“McCoy!”

 

Instead of being discouraged, Joey smiled even brighter and looked at Emily kindly in response. It was a remark that poked fun at Emily losing the Homecoming royalty to Sophia Blake. 

 

Olivia, who was next to her, screamed even more shocked than Emily. Joey’s face looked quite pleased.

 

“…If Blake hadn’t gotten sympathy votes because of the rumor that she’s transferring soon, that spot would have been mine. I don’t let go of what’s mine.”

 

Emily answered nonchalantly, but her discomfort was evident. The crease between her brows was deep.

 

Joey added teasing interjections like, “Ah, I see. Oh, really?” as she subtly poked at Emily. From where she was standing, Jin could easily tell how intentionally annoying Joey was being. 

 

“Joey McCoy.”

 

“Why, Emily Gwen?”

 

Jin glanced at Amanda, thinking that she should stop the two from their heated argument. However, she was watching with interest with her arms crossed.

 

Jin, who hesitated because it seemed like she had no intention of stopping them, just watched the two of them fighting.

 

Joey and Emily glared at each other with their laughter suppressed.

 

“Let’s just go, Em.”

 

Olivia lightly tapped Emily’s arm, trying to stop her, but Emily, her face full of annoyance, brushed past her with a sharp shoulder bump. She glared at Joey one last time, her eyes still filled with anger.

 

As Emily’s glare passed over the others and reached the point where she was walking, her steps suddenly halted. Emily whispered softly, just loud enough for Jin to hear.

 

You know. Don’t get too close to Evan.

 

By the time Jin turned around, Emily had already passed, leaving only a faint trace of her perfume in the air.