Lie Again! Chapter 87

<Chapter 87. Neatly, Clumsily (1)>

 

Pablo walked hurriedly down the hallway, struggling to lift his wrist to check his watch.

 

2:21 PM.

 

No. Since the second hand had just passed the 12, it was now 2:22 PM.

 

There was only one minute left until Chemistry. Normally, he would have headed straight for the chemistry lab the moment sixth period ended, but he was late because the bottom of his bag had suddenly burst, and he’d had to deal with the aftermath.

 

The bottom of the bag was torn so cleanly it looked as if someone had lightly grazed it with a blade. After tossing what could no longer be called a bag—but rather a fabric cylinder—into the trash, he had been further delayed by having to move with an armful of books that had spilled out.

 

At least I won’t be late.

 

Pablo felt a sense of relief seeing the chemistry lab in the distance, but his calculations crumbled once again because of the man standing in front of the door like a gatekeeper.

 

Why is he here? He doesn’t even take Chemistry.

 

The man standing with his arms crossed and his back against the only entrance—God knows why he wasn’t in his own class—showed no intention of moving, even though he clearly saw Pablo approaching. Whether Pablo looked displeased or not, he simply looked down at him with a beaming smile.

 

Usually, those dimples didn’t bother him, but today, they were as grating as looking at a lopsided geometric shape. However, he didn’t have the luxury of a standoff. His arms, propped up with the heavy stack of books, were trembling like a leaf.

 

With less than a minute left before class, an anxious Pablo finally spoke first.

 

“I’d like you to move.”

 

“Hey, Miche. I have a favor to ask.”

 

“….”

 

Pablo tried to push up his glasses, which had slid down his nose, with the back of his hand, but realizing he had no room to do so, he gave up.

 

While Pablo stood there staring at the frames obstructing his vision, the man blocking his path continued leisurely.

 

“Let’s switch partners. Your lab partner, I mean.”

 

To block his path just to babble about partners—Pablo let out a sigh, his face unable to hide his absurdity. He then proceeded to logically list the reasons why he couldn’t grant that “favor.”

 

“There are three problems with that. First, you don’t take this class, so you don’t have a partner. Second, I like my current partner. She’s smart. Third, if I switch partners, Jin Lee will be left alone.”

 

However, Butterfield didn’t even bat an eye as he systematically refuted every one of Pablo’s points.

 

“First, I’m taking this class starting today. Second, hearing that makes me want to switch even more. Third, that’s none of your concern, is it?”

 

Ring!

 

The bell rang loudly through the hallway like a timer signaling the end of a debate. In Pablo’s opinion, Butterfield’s words were riddled with unacceptable logic, but…

 

“Thanks for the cooperation.”

 

He couldn’t stop Butterfield, who ended the conversation on his own terms and turned away. It was because his arms were currently full of books.

 

“Hi, Pa—wait, what?”

 

Jin, who had been looking out the window, turned her head at the sound of a chair dragging across the floor, only to ask blankly when she saw a face she didn’t expect.

 

Glancing slightly to the side, she saw Pablo piling his things onto an empty desk behind Evan.

 

She was puzzled by the sight, but only for a moment before she had to turn her gaze back to the boy who had suddenly leaned in, obstructing her view.

 

“Hi, Jin. It’s been a while.”

 

Evan said as he plopped down next to her. Yesterday, he had surprised her by showing up in Spanish class, and today, he had appeared in her last class without a word, wearing a nonchalant smile.

 

“What about your class?”

 

“This is my class from now on.”

 

“Is it okay for you to change your entire schedule like this? No, more importantly, the add/drop period is already over.”

 

Jin asked in bewilderment. Changing a schedule so suddenly was one thing, but the adjustment period should have passed already. How?

 

“They let me change it.”

 

Shrugging off the question instead of giving a proper answer, Evan gestured with his chin for her to look forward. Following his gaze, she saw Mr. Ross entering the room.

 

Mr. Ross’s gaze lingered on Evan for a moment before moving on without a word.

 

Jin stared at Evan with a face that said she had no idea what was going on, then closed her mouth and forced herself to look forward at the sound of the teacher’s voice announcing the start of class.

 

* * *

 

Thud.

 

The old music room door shut quickly, kicking up dust. Evan, caught between the door and Jin, didn’t seem to mind being pinned so forcefully; instead, he smiled beautifully and caught her slender fingers.

 

“Can I hold your hand now?”

 

At Evan’s words and the way he lightly brushed his fingertips against hers, Jin flinched and glared at him. Despite that, she didn’t pull her hand away, and Evan smiled secretly as he firmly intertwined his fingers with hers.

 

“Explain first. Why did you suddenly change your schedule? And how?”

 

“It’s exactly what I said. I asked them to change it, so they did.”

 

“Is that really all?”

 

Faced with Jin’s suspicious gaze, Evan nodded with an innocent expression. He kept quiet about Mr. Brown, who had been sweating bullets from his balding head while telling Evan that making his entire schedule identical to Jin’s was the one thing he absolutely couldn’t do.

 

“So, other than Spanish and Chemistry, there are no more surprises, right?”

 

“Unfortunately.”

 

Evan, answering vaguely while playing with Jin’s hand, idly tossed out a question.

 

“Do you hate taking classes with me? Do you want me to change it back?”

 

“…No.”

 

Jin, who had been glaring, hesitated at Evan’s question and shook her head. Not satisfied with that, Evan pressed on.

 

“Then?”

 

“I like it.”

 

“What do you like?”

 

“I like taking classes with you!”

 

Brightly smiling at the satisfying answer he’d finally squeezed out of her, Evan suddenly pulled Jin into a hug by her waist.

 

Startled as her feet left the ground, Jin hit his shoulder, telling him to put her down, but Evan didn’t stop until he had spun her around a few times.

 

With her vision spinning, Jin had to rely on Evan to keep her balance. She looked up and glared at him, but seeing his face with its deep dimples, she eventually burst into laughter along with him.

 

As if he couldn’t help himself, Evan pulled Jin into a tight embrace again, like he was holding a doll.

 

“I wish we could be like this outside, too.”

 

Evan muttered complainingly, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He felt her body stiffen in his arms the moment the words left his mouth, and he let out a small sigh.

 

“…We already talked about that part.”

 

“I’m telling you again, I didn’t agree to that.”

 

His tone felt blunt, so Jin tried to gently push his chest to see his face. However, far from being pushed back, his hold only grew firmer, leaving her to simply roll her eyes in a predicament.

 

While she stood there awkwardly, neither here nor there, Evan continued like a sigh.

 

“I know. I know you don’t like getting unnecessary attention.”

 

“….”

 

After a moment of silence, Evan released Jin and looked down at her sullenly.

 

“Instead, I’m adding a condition. Tell Evan Ruth and James Wood that we’re dating. And Pablo Miche, and that guy who was hitting on you at the football game before.”

 

“I don’t even know where that guy is…”

 

“And give me this, too.”

 

While Jin was retorting with a look of disbelief, he quickly moved his hand and took the checkered scrunchie that had been around her wrist. He then slid it onto his own wrist.

 

“Don’t tell me I can’t even have this.”

 

Jin looked strangely at the hair tie that didn’t suit his well-built, lithe forearm at all, but fearing he would truly pout if she refused this as well, she eventually nodded.