Lie Again! Chapter 27

<Chapter 27. Evan Butterfly (3)> 

 

The mansion, with music continuously thumping and vibrating through the air, was filled with most of the Crawford kids scattered across the first and second floors, as well as the outdoor garden. 

 

By ‘most,’ it meant that the unverified losers had not been invited.

 

The after-party, held by the students without any supervising teachers, was similar to the homecoming party organized by the school, but it felt distinctly different. 

 

In terms of how far the fun went, it was far more rebellious, and the way it subtly yet blatantly showcased the invisible hierarchy within Crawford was unmistakably clear. 

 

The nerds who hadn’t even received an invitation were, of course, stuck at the very bottom of the pyramid, while the majority who had passed the so-called “loser detector” breathed a sigh of relief at their safe entry into the mansion, indulging in alcohol and the night. 

 

And here, in the first-floor sofa area, was what one could call the gathering at the top of the pyramid.

 

“Are you leaving with Harper tonight?” 

 

“How does it look to you? Doesn’t it seem like it?” 

 

The two guys slouched lazily on the couch, giggling as they stared towards somewhere in the kitchen. High-fives exchanged between them were met with jeers from the girls scattered around. 

 

“Everyone, look over here! One, two, three.”

 

On the other side, camera flashes were going off nonstop. The girls, all dressed in mini dresses that accentuated their figures, pouted their plump lips and snapped photos as if they couldn’t afford to miss a single second of themselves that night. 

 

The so-called “cool kids,” who considered themselves too cool to stand up and dance like the others, claimed the central seats on the first floor. Throughout the party, they proudly showcased their camaraderie, making sure everyone knew just how tight-knit they were.

 

All they did was brag about their lover, looks, and money, enjoying the thrill of the prying eyes of those around them.

 

On one side, there were crude conversations, on another side, an endless barrage of photos, and yet another group was constantly comparing the brands of watches, shoes, and bags they were wearing. In the midst of this absurd spectacle, Evan merely smiled and half-heartedly chimed in. Inside, he was continuously calculating when the right time would be to leave for home.

 

“Ev, what about your partner?” 

 

Jonathan, who had been excitedly talking about LeBron James and Michael Jordan, suddenly turned his head and asked. At his question, Evan couldn’t help but think of Emily Gwen, who had quietly slipped away at some point. 

 

Since arriving at the mansion, Gwen had been fidgeting with her phone anxiously. She said she was going out for some fresh air, but never returned. 

 

She’s probably off having a secret meeting with someone somewhere. Honestly, he’s not that curious about what she’s doing or where she is.  

 

“Yeah, maybe I should go look for her.”

 

However, instead of actually saying he wasn’t interested, Evan pretended to be concerned and got up from his seat.

 

Of course, instead of actually looking for Gwen, he planned to kill time somewhere on his own.

 

“Ev, are you really going on a date with Emily?” 

 

Tracy, who had been sitting next to Evan and constantly taking selfies, pouted and asked in a sulky tone. Her plump lips, accentuated by her pout, became more noticeable.

 

“Well.” 

 

Evan trailed off ambiguously, purposely leaving his words hanging, allowing Tracy to misunderstand on her own. 

 

From Evan’s experience, having at least one supposed date partner made things less exhausting. While it didn’t completely stop people from approaching him, most took a step back. In that sense, Emily Gwen was a perfect smokescreen. 

 

Shaking off the persistent gazes trailing behind him, Evan slipped out of the mansion. Thanks to Jonathan Hanson, who had snatched his car keys the moment they arrived, going home was out of the question. Instead, he planned to find some secluded spot outside the mansion to hide away for a while. 

 

Finding a quiet spot, Evan sat carelessly on the grass in a corner of the garden and looked up at the sky. 

 

He was finally alone. He liked the silence, without any music that was close to noise, no flashing lights that dazzled his eyes, or people that bothered him.

 

Though there were no stars visible in the overcast sky, it felt much more freeing than when surrounded by people. The sounds of frogs from the lake near the mansion and the low chirping of crickets in the grass were quite soothing. 

 

Evan leaned back on his arms, thinking he could manage staying there for about an hour. That is, if it weren’t for someone who kept interrupting. 

 

The sound of grass rustling was heard.

 

It wasn’t unusual for an uninvited guest to break the rare peace he had found. Most of the time, it was a couple with thick faces, sneaking out of the mansion to find some thrill in the garden, or someone who had followed him.

 

But this time, it seemed a bit different. When Evan couldn’t hide his irritation and turned to look, he was met with an unexpected face. 

 

Someone walking barefoot on the grass, holding their shoes in both hands, with their eyes fixed on the sky. 

 

As they staggered with each step, the hem of their white skirt fluttered, drawing attention as it gently swayed around their knees. 

 

It was that girl. The one who had been making his mood worse lately. 

 

The one who kept catching his eye, over and over again, making him increasingly frustrated.

 

* * *

 

Pheew. 

 

At the sound of Jonathan’s whistle, Evan turned his head. Following his gaze down the hallway, he saw Jin, dressed in short shorts, exchanging greetings with a man. 

 

Surprised by the sudden approach, Jin didn’t speak but awkwardly nodded her head twice. Even with that clumsy greeting, the man seemed satisfied with the result, turning around to exchange a smile with his friend.

 

“Looks like the transfer student is quite popular.”

 

Jonathan murmured with interest. Indeed, among the people walking down the hallway right now, a few were glancing at Jin’s bare legs.

 

“Why don’t they just stare openly?” Evan thought irritably, his eyes scanning the scene with clear annoyance. 

 

Come to think of it, that girl had been like that since the first day she transferred.

 

‘An empty seat…’

 

As Mrs. Haide’s gaze landed on the empty seat next to him, Cameron Johnson exchanged glances with his group. 

 

With crude curiosity, the eyes that gleamed turned toward the pretty Asian girl. Not just Johnson, but the attention of everyone in the classroom was focused on one spot.

 

A transfer student in the middle of the semester, the first pure Asian seen at Crawford. Curiosity, caution, and observation mixed together like paint, layering over the unfamiliar girl.

 

The girl, with her eyes lowered, received all the gazes pouring at her with a cold and composed expression. It was a stark contrast to the gentle face he had seen under the sunlight earlier. Resting his chin on his hand, Evan observed her. 

 

Before Johnson, who had been giggling silently, could raise his hand to say something, Evan’s mouth opened a little faster.

 

‘Wouldn’t it be nice to be next to Evan Ruth?’

 

It wasn’t really any of his business where the new student sat or if they were treated like animals in a zoo. But, if anything, this was a kind of payback. For the little show he had gotten earlier outside. There was no need for her to have an unpleasant experience, getting tangled up with someone like Johnson from the very start.

 

Anyway, starting from that incident, Jin unknowingly became the topic of conversation, frequently catching the attention of the stupid and unpleasant types. It was due to the peculiar attitude she carried. 

 

In unfamiliar places, she walked around with a cold, composed expression, as if she would never give in to the gazes that glanced at her. Yet, when one of them approached with even the slightest hint of familiarity, she couldn’t push them away.

 

Just like earlier, when someone greets her without even realizing they’re checking her out from behind, she just awkwardly nods in response. 

 

And that softness applied equally to Evan Ruth, who was standing next to her. 

 

Evan Ruth was quite casual with physical contact. He would casually drape an arm over someone’s shoulder, grab their wrist, or press his body against theirs without a second thought. 

 

The girl, not accustomed to a man’s touch, had initially been stiff even with just a high-five from Evan Ruth, like a country girl. However, as time passed, she began to expand the boundaries she allowed him, to the point where she no longer reacted when he grabbed her wrist or gave her waist a light tap. 

 

As time passed, Evan’s mood steadily sank in direct proportion to the increasing closeness between him and the girl. The more Jin showed familiarity toward Evan Ruth, the more she let him in, and the more time they spent getting to know each other, the more Evan felt a deep sense of discomfort, as if his insides were turning over. 

 

At times, a certain impulse would strike him. The urge to rip his hand off her wrist and pull her toward him. The urge to cover her smiling face, looking at her friends, with the palm of his hand.

 

It was a strange emotion whose origins he couldn’t quite pinpoint. 

 

On Thursday lunchtime, a low voice began to emanate from Emily Gwen’s phone.

 

– So, what’s the answer-?

 

Evan glanced down at Gwen, who was watching in silence through the noisy mouths of the people.

 

There were two main characters in the video. The man was proposing to the woman for homecoming.

 

Evan Ruth made letters on the tray with fries and ketchup. Looking at him, Jin seemed a little bewildered, yet also somewhat happy, raising the corners of her mouth. Evan stared intently at the face in the video.

 

– Okay.

 

Soon after, the girl smiled brightly and accepted the playful proposal. The tips of his fingers flinched.