The Law of Webnovels -
Chapter 373
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With their faces closely attached, Lee Mina and Yoon Jung In shared an earphone to listen to a song. At first glance, they seemed to be concentrating on the music so much; however, they wouldn't normally do something like this. What mattered to them was the person accompanying them as they listened to the music.
So was I. It was more important to me whom I had spent my middle school years instead of having graduated from middle school.
Watching the two for a moment, I soon switched my gaze to the window beside me. It was already eight in the evening. Under the darkening sky, the cram school across our building was emitting bright lights. My slightly exhausted face reflected in the window like a mirror.
I looked at the view before dropping my gaze to the question on the workbook I was trying to solve.
'I have no idea why things turned out this way,' I murmured to myself. Those words scattered away inside me, leaving a hollow echo.
At nine-forty, the self-studying classroom began to turn unusually noisy. My brows met in the middle while moving my pencil busily on the workbook. The room was hot and humid because of the fan heater; it was stuffy and airless inside due to the sealed windows. The noisy atmosphere prevailed in the space, which distracted me so much, making matters worse. Thus, I couldn't focus on my studies at all.
'But I can't help it,' I looked at the calendar on the wall.
Today was Wednesday, January 29th. The kids became so hyper even though it wasn't Friday because the four day-weekend for the Lunar New Year began the next day on January 30th.
The last day of this long weekend was Saturday, which seemed to be a loss since it overlapped on the weekend. However, they extended the holiday through Sunday, so there was no better chance of an extended break than this one for high school students.
In the end, I also gave up studying; as soon as I put my workbook in my backpack, I heard a loud noise in the hallway. The kids in the neighboring classroom would have been impatient now, running into the exits.
A boy, who jerked the door open, touched his friend's shoulder and said, "Hey, let's go." I also turned my head simultaneously, exchanged eye contact with Lee Mina and Yoon Jung In, and got up from my seat.
'I guess we must wrap up today's self-studying at this point.' Thinking that way, we packed our bags, received our phones back, and left the building.
* * *
Although we left our cram school earlier than usual, we had to wait for the school van; therefore, it wasn't worth finishing the self-studying session before the expected time. All we did was wait for the vehicle while stamping our feet.
Amid the situation, Lee Mina kept on greeting the kids she knew among the students leaving the building, and so did Yoon Jung In. He and I began to go to this cram school from a similar period, but for some reason, he knew as many people as Lee Mina did.
Watching Yoon Jung In bidding farewell to the kids continuously, I was astonished at his extensive network of relationsh.i.p.s. When he turned to look in my direction and blurted out something, I finally burst into laughter.
"Ah, I ain't sure if I can adapt to this place. I'm such a shy person, you know?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?" asked Lee Mina. She wasn't trying to tease him but was sincerely in bewilderment.
So was I who became perplexed. How could Yoon Jung In describe himself as a shy person? I would rather believe that Eun Jiho was humble.
I punched my head at the habitual metaphor that just flashed through my head. Since I wasn't close to the Four Heavenly Kings anymore, bringing up those metaphors might be rude.
Lee Mina flung a question to me with a fl.u.s.tered expression.
"What's up with you?"
"Uh, no, nothing," I replied with an awkward smile, then diverted my eyes onto Yoon Jung In. He began to grumble, "Hey, you guys have no idea how shy and timid I am."
"I'll give you the "Bullshit of the Year" award."
"I'm clamorous on purpose to hide my shy nature. Geez, you guys really don't know anything about me."
Listening to the conversation between Yoon Jung In and Lee Mina, my face stiffened. 'What the heck is he talking about?' With that thought in my head, I suddenly turned aside upon a loud noise.
Just in time, a group of kids left the entrance of the other cram school. Institutes like these packed this street, so around ten at night, many students were wearing either school uniforms or casual outfits around us.
Watching the group of kids, I suddenly thought of something unexpected. No one was throwing a suspicious glance at Yoon Jung In, Lee Mina, and me, talking in front of our cram school building. Well, some kids fastened their gazes shortly at Yoon Jung In and Lee Mina, who had fascinating facial features. However, it wasn't more than just a slight curiosity.
The reactions were quite different from when I was with Ban Yeo Ryung and the Four Heavenly Kings.
My thoughts began to return to myself in the past. There was a time when I admired a light-hearted cram school late-night experience. Now that I was going to this preparatory institute, I couldn't say it was impressive. Still, the students, who carried their heavy backpacks with blushing faces while stepping into the school van to return home, seemed like a symbol of ordinary life to me.
Suddenly, I felt like another version of myself was walking somewhere around this building, looking up in this direction. Beside her stood Ban Yeo Ryung and the Four Heavenly Kings, who were walking together.
I shook my head, thinking, 'Nonsense.'
The school van arrived in front of us. We stepped inside and began to talk about our long holiday. Yoon Jung In, who was holding Lee Mina's hand, asked me, "Hey, what's your plans for the holiday? My family and I are going to Japan."
As if he was concerned that I would feel left behind, Yoon Jung In also struck up a conversation with me quite often. Lee Mina punched his side with her elbow and scolded him, "Hey, stop flexing."
'Haha,' I giggled, but even I thought he was bragging about it. I replied, "I would be stuck in the expressway for about fifteen hours this year too..."
My weak voice made their eyes wide open in surprise. 'What? About fifteen hours? Why?' they asked. I responded with a feeble smile, "My parents' home is almost at the southern coast's edge."
"Oh..."
"It takes eight hours to get there and also quite the same to return. Ugh, I hate it."
My face quickly darkened while recalling some memories of the trip. Yoon Jung In and Lee Mina exchanged eye contact before patting my shoulders at the same time.
Lee Mina uttered, "Ah, my parents' home isn't that far; still, I don't want to go. My cousins on my dad's side are disgusting."
"Really? Why?"
Quickly forgetting my disappointment, I tossed a question with wide-open eyes. Since I was the only child in my family with not many cousins, I was envious of someone who had a large family.
"I mean, they try to give me a lecture whenever they can. If they are doing it well, I won't talk about it, but no, they aren't. Besides, they make my mom do everything for them since my dad is the youngest in his family."
"Oh...!"
That would feel so uncomfortable. Yoon Jung In tapped my shoulder and spoke with a refreshing look, "Anyway, I'll be in the flight, so good luck."
Smiling in a low voice, I flung a question.
"Mina, can I punch your boyfriend?"
"Do as you please."
While Lee Mina gestured with her hand politely like a server, I showed my fist to Yoon Jung In. At that moment, I uttered, 'Eh?' upon the silhouette that passed by the window.
Even though the person stood in the middle of the dark street and came into my sight through a tinted window, his aura was so unique that no one could dare overlook him.
Turning my head toward the driver's seat, I requested, "Excuse me, sorry, but would you please pull over here?"
'What? What's going on?' Yoon Jung In and Lee Mina asked in surprise. I waved my hand toward them to imply that things were fine, then I took out my phone.
'Ay ay ay, I put my phone on mute, not even on vibrate.' With that thought in mind, my face darkened again.
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