MY 13

Han Seolwoo avoided his gaze hesitantly like a puppy with its tail between its legs. Without realizing it, he gripped the phone in his hand even tighter. Sweat trickled out, and his heart thudded.

“What did you munch on by yourself?”

“…”

“Strawberry? Is it lemon?”

Won Wooje, raising the corners of his mouth into a grin, leaned his upper body forward again. He put his nose to the nape of Han Seolwoo’s neck and sniffed. Only then did Han Seolwoo lick his lips. The scent of the lemon candy someone had given him earlier remained.

It seems the saying that a thief’s feet go numb with guilt didn’t come out of nowhere. He was pointlessly connecting his own fault to even the smallest things.

“Get off, seriously…”

Han Seolwoo, scowling, pushed him away. Won Wooje, who kept thrusting his face behind his shoulder, was burdensome. His breathing felt unstable, as if he were forcing himself to exhale.

“What?”

“I said get away from me.”

“Wow, damn.”

Won Wooje let out an incredulous gasp at the sharp reaction.

“After I went through all the trouble of raising you on my back, now you’re telling me to get away. It’s useless to raise a child.”

Won Wooje, who would technically be the most useless child himself, feigned innocence while clutching his chest. Han Seolwoo opened his textbook, pretending not to notice. He felt a stinging gaze on his back, but he never looked back.

He would not speak. He would not give any reason to be found fault with or be cursed at. Han Seolwoo’s life belonged to Han Seolwoo. It was solely his own, something that should not be controlled under Won Wooje’s grasp.

“Seolwoo, you said it’s today, right?”

Choi Sangyoon poked him in the side. Han Seolwoo, understanding immediately, nodded.

Today was the day he was meeting Lee Narin. A date with a strange girl he had only seen in profile pictures. His heart fluttered strangely. In truth, it was the first big event in Han Seolwoo’s life.

Han Seolwoo spoke to his homeroom teacher in advance and skipped evening self-study. Won Wooje also said he was going to a PC room with the guys. Normally, he was supposed to do evening self-study, but the times he actually stayed in his seat could be counted on one hand. The homeroom teacher had given up on him long ago.

“Tell me the review later.”

Choi Sangyoon whispered. Han Seolwoo did not answer and only nodded. Sweat broke out on his clenched palms for no reason.

“Babe, see you tomorrow.”

Won Wooje, who approached suddenly, tapped Han Seolwoo on the shoulder.

“Yeah, bye.”

“Isn’t that greeting a bit too half-hearted?”

“…What, should I give you a kiss or something?”

Won Wooje burst into laughter at the distasteful reply.

“Our Seolwoo, you’ve improved a lot?”

“…”

“I’m off. I’ll call you.”

Won Wooje disappeared while waving his hand sluggishly. Choi Sangyoon’s group followed behind him.

Since he said he was making a game bet with the guys, he would surely be absentmindedly absorbed for a while. Since Seolwoo himself was the type to focus during evening self-study, there was no need to worry about contact.

After confirming that Won Wooje had left, Han Seolwoo fumbled to pack his bag. The appointment time was seven o’clock, and the location was a cafe in the downtown area near Sosung Girls’ High School. The fact that he was going to meet a girl with a limping leg was funny, but there was nothing he could do since the milk was already spilled. It would take a long time to remove the cast.

[Lee Narin: Come safely!]

Han Seolwoo, who sent a reply, took a taxi a short distance from the school gate. While looking out the window as it grew dark, a message notification rang.

[Byung-je: (Photo)]

[Byung-je: Hard carrying these idiots lol]

The ridiculous profiles of the students staring at their monitors with their mouths open were visible. Han Seolwoo, who clicked on the photo, quickly wrote a response.

[Have fun~]

He sent a roughly half-hearted reply and turned off the screen. He did not intend to reply further.

The flashy signs passing by the car window sparkled. At this time, instead of an academy, tutoring, or evening self-study, he was at a downtown cafe. He felt tense once again at the unfamiliar deviation he had never experienced.

Suddenly, he felt resentful toward Won Wooje, who would be playing League of Legends without knowing anything. It was annoying. He hated his position where he couldn’t speak in detail or reveal his inner thoughts, and he hated this indescribable, strange emotion.

“Thank you.”

Han Seolwoo, who got out of the taxi, stood blankly in front of the cafe.

The time was six fifty. Since it was ten minutes prior, he had arrived on time in his own way. It was the moment he was about to push the door and enter.

“Han Seolwoo?”

He turned his head at the sound of someone calling him. A girl wearing a thin cardigan over her school uniform and carrying a bag was looking up at him.

“…Uh, Narin?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Hi.”

Han Seolwoo waved his hand with a smile that crinkled his eyes. It was Lee Narin. Her appearance was exactly like her profile picture, so he could recognize her as her at a glance.

“Let’s go in.”

Han Seolwoo, who pushed the door, held it and waited so she could enter. Lee Narin, who looked up, opened her eyes wide.

“Wow, you’re really tall.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“Hey, would someone like you be common? You stood out so much from over there that I recognized you immediately. Your uniform is Hansan High, too. And actually, I’ve seen you before. In front of your school.”

Lee Narin spoke with an excited face.

“Would you like to order?”

“Yes, just a moment. What do you want to drink?”

Han Seolwoo naturally took out his wallet. Lee Narin stepped forward saying she would pay, but he stopped her with a smile. Han Seolwoo, who ordered a chocolate frappe and a lemonade, headed toward a table. He felt more nervous than excited by the awkward situation.

“Thanks, I’ll treat you next time.”

Lee Narin, biting the straw of the lemonade the staff served, laughed.

Her first impression was, in a word, like a doll. With a face the size of a fist, large eyes, deep double eyelids, and dainty features, she was exactly that.

“Right, did you eat? Did you say you came after eating dinner at school?”

Han Seolwoo came to his senses late. It was because he had come after eating dinner, but he hadn’t asked whether Lee Narin had eaten.

“Do you want to eat cake?”

“Oh, I’m on a diet…”

“Just a moment.”

Han Seolwoo stood up, leaving her hesitating for a moment. He soon returned after ordering two slices of cake, chocolate and whipped cream. He hoped it would be an enjoyable time for her as well.

“Why are you dieting? I don’t think you need to lose weight.”

Han Seolwoo asked while scooping up the whipped cream on top of the frappe. It was a pure question. Even with a quick glance, she had a thin build.

“I gained weight lately…”

“No, you look good. If you don’t eat now, you won’t grow tall.”

Han Seolwoo spoke with a smile. At the honest words he spat out without much thought, a flush bloomed on Lee Narin’s face. The two exchanged trivial stories while drinking their beverages.

“You’re a bit different from what I thought.”

Lee Narin, who was staring blankly at Han Seolwoo, spoke suddenly.

“Huh? What is?”

“Just, honestly, since I only saw you from afar… I didn’t think you’d be this type.”

“What type is ‘this type’?”

Han Seolwoo put down his frappe and asked. Lee Narin, who was lost in thought for a moment, said with a grin.

“Somehow… I thought you’d be skillful, and good at talking, and on the contrary, maybe a bit cold…”

“Ah.”

“Yeah, but you seem very sincere and pure. Can I say this? You’re like… a young man who just moved from the city to the countryside to start farming.”

“What, is that a compliment or an insult?”

Han Seolwoo let out a dry laugh. Lee Narin covered her mouth and laughed, saying, “No, of course it’s a compliment!”

Lee Narin talked more than he expected. She brought up conversation topics incessantly, and for a first meeting, they communicated well, so it was comfortable. Han Seolwoo also nodded and laughed at everything she said. As the small talk continued endlessly, he didn’t even notice the time passing.

The cake revealed its bottom, and only ice remained in the drinks. Han Seolwoo, glancing at the situation, looked at Lee Narin.

“Shall we go out and walk for a bit?”

“I’d like that. Is your leg okay?”

“Yeah. It’s okay.”

Han Seolwoo nodded. Since his recovery power was so good, he only limped a little now and had no problem walking.

Lee Narin left her seat for a moment, saying she would go to the restroom. When he opened the door and went out first, his airway opened at the somewhat cool wind.

Only then did Han Seolwoo turn on his phone screen. The time was nine o’clock. Won Wooje’s message notification was up. Since it was still evening self-study time, he didn’t necessarily need to reply quickly.

“Let’s go, Seolwoo-ya.”

Lee Narin smiled broadly. Han Seolwoo nodded as he looked at her, who was small and petite and didn’t even reach his shoulder.

The two walked slowly inside a nearby park where the streetlights were glowing. Lee Narin poured a storm-like barrage of questions at him. Han Seolwoo worried while constantly answering about his favorite foods, hobbies, career path, and college.

Suddenly, someone hidden in the shadows of his heart came to mind. It was him, who knew Seolwoo better than anyone else without even asking like this.

“Narin-ah.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s sit for a moment before we go.”

Han Seolwoo, standing in front of a bench, dusted off the spot where Lee Narin would sit with his hand and gestured. A stray cat passing under a streetlight cried “meow” and leaned against Han Seolwoo’s leg. It didn’t stop and kept acting cute while circling around his leg.

“Are you cold?”

Han Seolwoo stroked the back of the cat that was rubbing its body. Lee Narin laughed out loud and took a picture of the cat.

“I think you’ve been chosen by a master.”

“Huh?”

“They said if they cling like that and say they like you, it means you’ve been chosen. You’re in big trouble. You have to take it and raise it.”