This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 246

Yoonseo’s Perspective

‘Ugh…’

What should I do?

How should I handle this?

I felt so happy that I couldn’t stop smiling.

Thanks to that, the corners of my mouth kept twitching, and even when I pressed my palms to my cheeks in an attempt to calm myself, it didn’t help.

But there was no way to help it.

A bubble named happiness kept rising from deep within my heart, and how could I not smile?

Still, I had to somehow stop.

If I didn’t, when Dogun returned, he’d use it as a reason to tease me.

So, I was doing my best to stop my twitching smile.

Then suddenly, a topic that was impossible to ignore popped out of my friends’ mouths.

“By the way, which class is Dogun in?”

“Right…? I don’t think I heard anyone transfer in today.”

Now that I thought about it, that was true.

There aren’t a dozen classes; it’s just six per grade, so if someone transferred in, there should have been some mention of it during our time at the Training Ground.

But looking back, we never had such a conversation even once.

Considering Dogun’s presence, that was nonsensical.

‘Could it be…’

Has the class assignment not been done yet?

“I hope so.”

Just the fact that we ended up in the same school was already enough to make me happy, but if we were in the same class, I’d be even happier.

That’s why I mumbled like that, but it seemed a bit random to my friends.

“What do you hope for?”

“Huh, what?”

“What exactly are you hoping for? Huh?”

“W-What do you mean I thought that…?”

“Sure, that’s what you say.”

“Anyway, why is it taking Dogun so long to bring food?”

“Today’s Wednesday.”

“Oh, right.”

Thanks to that, I was bickering with the friends sitting next to me when—

“Oh dear, are you two fighting again?”

The voice of Dogun, who had left to get food, floated into my ears.

So, feeling delighted, I immediately turned my head towards the direction of the voice… only to realize Dogun wasn’t alone.

“Oh, hi…”

‘Why…?’

Is Bora here too?

To be honest, I was flustered.

I was so bewildered that my eyes, which had been fixed on Dogun, began to tremble.

And did that tremble somehow get transmitted to Dogun?

Just a moment ago, Dogun’s expression had been carefree, but now it seemed to reflect some awareness of the situation.

If I were to say I didn’t mind Dogun’s change due to Bora slightly peeking from behind him, would it be strange?

“Actually… Bora is attending this school too.”

I see.

Then it made sense why Dogun brought Bora to this place.

He couldn’t leave Bora, who probably didn’t know anyone here, alone.

That was just Dogun’s personality; he would reach out to someone in trouble.

That’s why I liked him.

That’s how it used to be, but today, for some reason, I felt resentful of that trait in Dogun.

With this, I couldn’t happily celebrate it.

“So, I was wondering… is it okay for Bora to sit with us?”

Despite feeling a bit hurt, I almost pouted my lips out as if to say we should be friends, but I had no intention of rejecting Dogun’s request.

It was too awkward to refuse, and if I did, there was a chance Dogun would suggest separating the two of them to be considerate of Bora.

That was my inner feeling, but did my friends, who had no way of knowing that, naturally pick up on my glance?

“Um…”

“Umm…”

I could feel the two sitting across from me glancing over.

I couldn’t just leave my friends in this embarrassing situation, so I had no choice but to speak up.

But I also didn’t want to come off as too eager—

“…Go ahead and sit.”

In the end, I let the brusque words slip out.

Maybe that’s why from the moment it started, the atmosphere that had previously been somewhat friendly froze as soon as Dogun and Bora took their seats.

Thanks to that, the only sounds resonating around us were the clattering of trays and utensils.

And maybe because those who fancied themselves the atmosphere makers couldn’t leave it like that, they kept stealing glances at me.

With a sigh inside, I nodded my head, and upon confirming my signal, the pair cautiously spoke up.

“So… you said her name was Bora?”

“Uh, yes…”

“I…”

Although it was understandable for my friends, who were very curious about others and couldn’t tolerate awkward atmospheres, I wondered what was up with Bora acting so strangely.

‘Seriously, what a phony…’

Was she feeling shy since it was a strange environment with Dogun next to her?

“Wait? Were you guys in the same Kindergarten?”

“Uh, yeah… I was moving, so we separated for a bit…”

“And then, you met again in high school?”

“Y-Yeah…?”

Somehow, it seemed they managed to keep the fact that we were cohabitating a secret.

“What? That sounds like a plot from a romance novel? So romantic…”

“Ugh!”

“Huh? Why the sudden reaction? Are you sick? I told you not to eat so much…”

“No, you elbowed me!”

“I can’t let this slide. Since you keep babbling nonsense, you must be sick. In that case, I’m taking her to the nurse’s office.”

Maybe it was so obvious that it was an act with the extremely awkward movements of my friends that they quickly darted away.

While the surroundings were noisy like a marketplace, an awkward silence flowed around our table.

In that atmosphere, I felt no need to stay any longer, so I rose immediately.

Though the sound of my chair scraping against the floor was much louder than I expected, I still firmly picked up my tray.

Of course, I didn’t forget the banana-flavored milk that Dogun had given me.

Feeling upset with Dogun was a separate issue from this.

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

“…I have training left, so I’ll head out first. Enjoy your meal.”

As I left, I thought to myself.

I hoped Dogun would stop me.

If not, I wished he would follow me out from the cafeteria.

But that would never happen.

Knowing Dogun’s personality, he wouldn’t leave Bora alone.

‘Tch…’

Thus, while holding the precious present Dogun gave me in my pocket, I sulked as I walked.

As I continued walking, my legs started to ache, and I finally spotted some stairs where I sat down and began to turn the banana-flavored milk I had kept in my pocket over and over—

“Why? Are you really going to toss that?”

A voice that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up came from behind me.

The rough breaths that sounded like someone had sprinted echoed as well.

And how long had it been since those sounds started ringing?

“Don’t! What did that guy ever do?”

With a thud, Dogun plopped down next to me.

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

Why was he here?

What about Bora?

“By the way, if you’re upset with me, you always hide away in a corner like this.”

“I-I never!”

“What do you mean you never? You do it all the time!”

Could he have really come chasing me as soon as I left the student cafeteria?

Unlike me, who was squatting down, Dogun sat with his legs stretched out, and beads of sweat glistened on his face.

As I gazed blankly at him, a rumble echoed from Dogun’s belly.

Maybe he felt embarrassed by the sudden noise.

Or he was worried I would feel bad about it.

“Ah, I didn’t even get to eat anything looking for you.”

His earlobes turned slightly red as he rubbed his belly and began to joke around.

“Then, how about this…”

“Forget it. I won’t take it if you’re just going to pull it away!”

So I immediately extended what I had been holding towards Dogun, but he immediately rejected it.

“What? If it’s really bothering you, just buy something tasty from the vending machine then!”