MY 8

Won Wooje, who had lowered his head, whispered in a low voice. The sweet breath touching his ear was exceptionally tickling. Han Seolwoo frowned unknowingly. It felt as if a sneeze was about to come out.

୨ৎ

“Seolwoo… Are you okay?”

As soon as they entered the classroom, Bae Junhyeok approached. “Shit,” Won Wooje muttered a curse as he threw his bag onto the desk and sat down noisily.

“Yeah, I am okay.”

Han Seolwoo nodded his head.

In truth, something like this was not a big deal. It was the same in middle school, and getting hurt while playing soccer at an all-boys high school was an everyday occurrence.

“Ah… I am really sorry. My mother called you yesterday, right? She said to tell her anytime if you need anything. I am really sorry.”

Bae Junhyeok, who crouched down in front of his desk, looked up at Han Seolwoo with an apologetic face.

“Forget it, it is okay. It is not like it is broken or anything.”

Han Seolwoo shook his chin. Just as he said, his parents had been contacted, and he had also received a sufficient apology via message last night. There was no need to hold an unnecessary grudge over an accidental mishap.

“…But I still feel sorry.”

“Ah, I said it is fine, so go—.”

He waved his palm while smiling. His curved eyes created a bright and cute impression.

However, unlike his good-naturedly smiling face, his heart was only uncomfortable. It was because of Won Wooje, who was sitting quietly in the next seat.

Apology or not, the wordless, focused gaze was burdensome. Especially, this kind of desperate apology was not welcome. He just wanted him to disappear quickly.

“Seolwoo, I will attend to your every need from now on. If there is anything you want me to do…”

“Ah, you are fucking noisy.”

Sure enough, Won Wooje expressed his irritation. Bae Junhyeok, who had been staring blankly at Han Seolwoo’s face, flinched and looked up.

Won Wooje, having shifted his direction, sat leaning diagonally against the wall. It was a posture where he faced the entire class.

“Hey, hey, Chanju.”

At the sudden call, Kim Chanju, who was sitting in the next row, twitched his eyebrows.

“Yeah?”

“Is it possible or impossible for Junhyeok to swim with his mouth?”

“Huh?”

“Possible or impossib-le.”

Kim Chanju gauged the atmosphere at the question that dragged on as if it were a nuisance.

He had heard late that yesterday, while he was in the bathroom, Won Wooje had given Bae Junhyeok a warning. He knew very well that the moment he gave the wrong answer for no reason, he would be screwed.

“…Po, possible?”

“Right?”

Won Wooje, who had his hands shoved in his pants pockets and his legs spread wide, smiled slightly. Due to the twisted corners of his mouth and his upturned eyes, he looked like a cruel but handsome villain.

“Ye, yeah… Junhyeok’s mouth is a bit light.”

Kim Chanju, who gave an awkward smile, looked at Park Seongbin as if seeking agreement. Park Seongbin, shrugging his shoulders, nodded his head.

“Junhyeok, show us.”

Won Wooje tilted his chin diagonally. Bae Junhyeok slowly stood up while looking at Won Wooje.

“…Huh?”

“I said show me how you swim with your mouth.”

Rattle, Won Wooje stood up slowly. Bae Junhyeok had a reluctant face at the incomprehensible request.

“Now, follow me, friend.”

Won Wooje, who came to a standstill, firmly gripped Bae Junhyeok’s Adam’s apple. He frowned and let out a small groan, ugh.

“Look at the ceiling, stick your mouth out. Hey, you piece of shit, I said do it. Yeah, stick it out, make your cheeks hollow. Uh-huh.”

Won Wooje smirked and held up Bae Junhyeok’s chin. To someone who did not know better, it would look like he was playing a mischievous prank on a close friend.

“Ah, what are you doing. Don’t you know how to swim? Swim? You have to kick your feet to float. This guy is so no fun. Hey, flap your palms a bit.”

“What… how.”

Bae Junhyeok hesitated at the childish command with unfathomable intentions.

“Ah, if you have a head, think. You brat.”

Won Wooje kicked Bae Junhyeok’s thigh hard. His eyes were still smirking.

Bae Junhyeok, hesitating with his neck stretched out, flapped his palms which were stretched downward. He looked like a bird flying as he gauged Won Wooje’s reaction.

“Pfft.”

Won Wooje, who was watching, burst into laughter. And gradually, he laughed loudly with a hearty sound, puhaha. At the ridiculous sight, the rest of the students followed suit with snickering laughs.

Heh-heh, Won Wooje, who was holding his stomach and laughing, wiped away a tiny tear.

“Ah… fuck, there is no answer, no answer. Argh.”

He sneered. Soon, he shook his hands off as if he had touched something dirty.

“Junhyeok. If you ever want to take a break later, tell me?”

“…”

“Because I will snap your shin in one go.”

A sense of sincerity was reflected in those glinting, long eyes. A chilled air swept through the classroom for a moment. By this point, they also roughly noticed that Won Wooje was not joking but was serious. It was the same for Bae Junhyeok. The quiet surroundings felt like a bed of needles everywhere.

“What are you doing, move your face.”

Won Wooje gestured with his chin as if telling him to get lost. When he hit Bae Junhyeok’s side hard with his elbow, he flinched and ducked his upper body. Bae Junhyeok slowly left his spot. Right on time, a noisy bell rang. The teacher opened the front door and came in.

“Sit in your seats!”

Looking at the teacher tapping the podium, Han Seolwoo let out a deep sigh. It was because he had unknowingly been holding his breath during the few minutes Won Wooje was acting out in front of him.

He thought he had accepted his request for reconciliation on the way to school, but it was a complete misunderstanding. His heart felt heavy at the behavior of bullying Bae Junhyeok as if to show off. It seemed he had no intention of listening to his words from the beginning.

As he slowly turned his head, he saw the back of Won Wooje’s head as he looked out the window with his arm propped up. Han Seolwoo, who was staring at him, opened his notebook and wrote the characters clearly.

You are doing this on purpose, aren’t you.

When he slid the paper, which even had a period at the end, Won Wooje arched his eyebrows. And pointing at himself with his index finger, he opened his eyes wide.

‘Me?’

Han Seolwoo, whose expression hardened at the words mouthed, wrote the characters clearly again.

It is not like just one or two kids get hurt while playing soccer, so why are you like this.

??Then is it twelve kids?

Won Wooje, who scribbled roughly, gestured with his chin as if to say look. And he held his mechanical pencil again.

And that piece of shit

I am telling you he tripped you on purpose

I saw it

My vision is 2.0 okay?

Han Seolwoo, looking at the letters pressed down so hard that the lead was crushed, let out a sigh. Even if he tried not to look at the mess of the back of the hand, it kept catching his eye.

It is a misunderstanding.

He thought for a moment and wrote back.

What happened a moment ago was truly too much. His pride must have been hurt and he must have felt humiliated while all his friends were watching. It was obvious the classmates would also look at it unfavorably. Above all, there was no way that tackle was on purpose. Because Bae Junhyeok was the most sensible kid among this noisy crowd.

Unlike the other kids, he did not make low-quality jokes or sexual comments, nor was he a guy crazy about girls. His grades were maintained in the upper-middle rank, and he was a kid who had been in the same class back at Unil Middle School.

Moreover, he was absolutely not the type to be hostile toward him usually. While living school life, one could quickly tell how the other person thought of them.

What do you know

Won Wooje scribbled an answer roughly. Han Seolwoo also did not back down and wrote back calmly.

I can tell by looking.

What did you see

The sound of the mechanical pencil scratching became faster. Han Seolwoo, who glanced at the teacher, held his pen again.

Anyway, it was not on purpose, so do not get worked up for nothing. Even if you do, it is only your loss l—

In an instant, the notebook he was writing in was snatched away. Han Seolwoo slowly raised his gaze.

So how

Do you know that, Mr. Moralist??

He shoved the notebook forward roughly. Ha, the sound of a sigh full of heat could be heard. While Han Seolwoo, who was at a loss for words, was lost in thought for a moment, Won Wooje added more words.

This brat is being so stubborn it is pissing me off

Han Seolwoo glanced at Won Wooje.

I am not being stubborn but

He stopped for a moment while writing the answer. He had no clue how to make him understand. If he did not say something firm at this point, it was clear how Won Wooje would act in the future. At the very least, since it was a matter that started because of him, it was only right to feel a shred of responsibility.

He had to stop Won Wooje, who was trying to run wild like a runaway train. The only person who could do that was him.

It is just a tackle. How do you know what he was thinking when he did that. Did you learn mind reading or something?

Won Wooje’s eyes hardened at the words that argued logically. Signs of annoyance began to show clearly.

Han Seolwoo did not forget the rest and started adding more. He had to let him know that all these words he was saying were for his sake.

I do not like you getting stressed while caring about useless things

The moment he wrote those clear letters, Thud, a sound rang out. It was because Won Wooje had kicked the leg of the desk. In the silence, the gazes of the teacher and the children flocked to the very back row.

Won Wooje, who had turned his head and was looking toward the window, let out a short breath. Then he slowly leaned his upper body forward.

“I am sorry—.”

He apologized in a voice lowered deeper than usual.

“The eraser fell.”

When he brushed his school uniform pants as if picking up something that had not even fallen, the teacher tapped the podium.

“Do not goof off!”

“Yeees.”

Won Wooje answered nonchalantly to the loud scolding. The gazes of the gathered students were withdrawn once again.