This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 106

What in the world is going on?

The Yoonseo I know wouldn’t randomly call like this.

With a puzzled mind, I answered the phone, only to be overwhelmed by what flowed out of the mobile phone speaker.

“What? Where are you right now?”

[In front of your school.]

Wait, why is someone who should be resting at home in front of our school?

[So, can you come out for a second?]

“···Why?”

[I have something to tell you.]

Something to tell me?

If there’s something, couldn’t it wait until I got home?

Hearing her voice, she seemed to be doing better, but it couldn’t have been easy for her to come all the way here…

Or could it be that what she has to tell me is that important?

The thought crossed my mind for just a moment, but no matter how I racked my brain, nothing came to mind.

If it was that important, I should have known about it.

“···What is it?”

Naturally, I had to ask that question.

[I’ll let you know when you come out.]

She’ll tell me when I come out?

As soon as I step outside, I could simply see what she wanted to say with my own eyes. If she was trying to convince me, her reasoning was pretty weak.

But I felt a bit bad just telling her to go back.

After all, considering she was in agony yesterday and came to school as soon as her body recovered, there had to be a reason for it. How could I say something so cold-hearted?

“Uh, um…”

Still, I felt the senior’s gaze upon me.

Of course, it’s not like she’d scold me for this, but… the senior during regular times and the senior while we’re training are completely different.

I already sensed a shift in the atmosphere from when I talked on the phone, and she didn’t seem to be in a good mood. What would she think if I suddenly stepped away to see a friend?

‘That’s a bit…’

I couldn’t help but hesitate, stuck between not wanting to hinder her and wanting to go.

“Why? Is something urgent?”

I think my reaction caught her off-guard, so the senior spoke up first.

“Oh… well, a friend is waiting in front of the school, so can you come out for a second?”

“···Really? Then go ahead.”

“Y-Yeah…?”

“Your friend is waiting right near here, right?”

“Ah, um… so it seems?”

“Then you should go.”

I didn’t expect her to be so easily permissive.

Since I looked confused, the senior must have found it amusing, as she smiled and added,

“Actually, I was also thinking of stepping out for some fresh air.”

“Ah…”

“It’s just that I feel a bit sluggish staying focused all the time.”

Oh, so that’s what it was.

Indeed, refreshing the mind with some fresh air does help.

Anyway, if she’s just about to take a break, it should be fine for me to quickly step out.

I returned the mobile phone to my ear, ready to speak again.

“Hey, you said you’re in front of our school?”

[…Yeah.]

“If you’re at the school entrance?”

[Yes.]

“Just wait there for a bit. I’ll be right down.”

As soon as I finished the call, I tucked my mobile phone into my pocket and turned to the senior.

“Then I’ll step out for a moment, so you rest here.”

“···Okay.”

I asked for her understanding and then quickly left the training ground, heading towards the school gate where Yoonseo was waiting.

‘What in the world is going on…’

With that question swirling in my mind.

*

At the same time that Dogun started dashing toward the school gate, Yoonseo ended her call, tightly clutching her mobile phone.

‘As I thought…’

They were together after all.

I had hoped it wasn’t the case.

Feeling a rush in my chest as I recalled Baeksulhwa’s voice flowing in naturally through her phone speaker, I felt a twinge of unease.

If only the school weren’t the only thing separating us, I would be there standing with them.

How could I be sure of something that hasn’t happened in reality? Yet I couldn’t shake off that feeling.

It was just the way things had always been till now.

That thought kept creeping into my mind, making my heart ache slightly, but I shook my head to dispel it.

What mattered now wasn’t that.

What really mattered was delivering whatever I was holding to Dogun, who had gone without food and was probably getting worked up by Baeksulhwa.

How much effort had I put in since morning for this?

There was no room for any other thoughts to intrude.

No, they shouldn’t intrude.

If I let my mind wander too much here, surely I’d end up making some ridiculous mistake.

How could I have mended what was already broken due to my blunder? That simply couldn’t happen.

So, spotting Dogun rushing over from a distance was quite a relief.

I had just to wait a little longer, and despite having no intention of going anywhere, seeing Dogun dash over helped calm my previously anxious heart.

Once those worries subsided, embarrassment began to set in.

Having completed what I was holding and happily traveled here, I hadn’t realized it until now… but with the time to deliver it drawing near, my heart raced faster, and my face felt hot.

It was all just a bit… embarrassing.

Especially those many bandages stuck to my hands.

Dogun and Dad manage just fine in the kitchen without needing to put on these things, but I couldn’t do that.

As the object in my hand grew heavier, the number of bandages also increased.

While getting cuts and scrapes, I realized how comfortably I had been pampered before.

That thought was… embarrassing.

So, as Dogun approached, I couldn’t look him straight in the eye and instead averted my gaze, fidgeting my fingers.

“What’s wrong, Yoonseo? Why are your hands like that? Did you get hurt?”

When I finally faced Dogun, instead of asking why I came, he was concerned about me, and my heart began to race uncontrollably.

“It’s, um, nothing serious.”

“It’s nothing serious? Your hands are covered in band-aids.”

“Seriously, it’s nothing!”

I didn’t mind that all the effort I’d put into making this was set aside.

However, I was only worried that the wildly racing heart would be transmitted through my hand, which was now in Dogun’s grasp.

“Geez… If you’re going to put on band-aids, do it neatly. What’s up with this?”

That was too distracting—

“Fine, fine. Here, take this!”

I shoved what I was holding toward Dogun.

Finally noticing it, confusion washed over Dogun’s face as he stared at the sudden item thrust into his hands.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“…Lunchbox.”

“What?”

“It’s a lunchbox!”

“Why are you suddenly giving me a lunchbox?”

Of all questions, why does he have to ask that first?

If he does that, I can’t answer truthfully.

Part of me wanted to blurt out that it was for charming him, but… that was way too embarrassing.

“I-I just…”

What should I say?

I was sure I’d prepared many excuses on the way here, but Dogun’s single question rendered them all useless.

“…You took care of me yesterday. And, um… I thought you might be hungry!”

Having stumbled through my words, I was now fully flustered.

“So you made this for me?”

Instead of answering Dogun’s follow-up question, I merely nodded my head.

If I opened my mouth, it was bound to produce a strange and embarrassing voice, how could I even bear that?

After the nod, I cautiously turned my gaze to gauge Dogun’s reaction.

How long did I wait like that?

As he stared down at the lunchtime gift he had carelessly received, an indescribable expression crossed his face for a moment, and then he suddenly looked back toward me.

In a mere heartbeat, his hand shot toward my forehead.

What a swift movement it was!

“Hmm, what is it…? You don’t seem to have a fever…”

Seeing Dogun mumbling in genuine confusion made me feel a bit emotional.

However, that feeling didn’t last long.

That was because not long after, Dogun’s expression turned into one of complete apology.

“I’m really grateful for this gesture and everything, but… what do I do? I can’t eat proper food right now…”

And hearing those words made my heart drop—

“Dogun?”

That was a voice I certainly didn’t want to hear, which slid in far too naturally.