This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 245

Yoonseo’s Perspective

A refreshing and invigorating scent, that was definitely Dogun’s fragrance.

To be precise, it was the scent of the shampoo and body wash that Dogun used.

In the past, I used to tease him about it, calling it an “uncle’s taste,” but somehow I had started to like this kind of scent.

I can’t remember exactly when it happened, but looking back, it had definitely turned out that way.

Anyway, the important thing was why Dogun’s scent was lingering around here.

Could it be that Dogun was nearby?

For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but I immediately dismissed it with a chuckle.

Logically speaking, there was no way that could be true.

It was probably just someone passing by using the same shampoo or body wash as Dogun.

“Why are you just standing there, Yoonseo? Is there something over there?”

“Oh, no. Let’s go.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at myself for being so silly.

‘But…’

It couldn’t be helped.

To be fair, I hadn’t been able to hang out with Dogun lately.

With school taking up my time, I could only see him in the early mornings or after school on weekends, but for some reason, he had been completely absent these past few days.

Because of that, I had gone home feeling lonely after playing with Miya, who was desperately trying to get my attention, without even seeing Dogun’s face.

As a result, I was acutely aware of the ‘Dogun’ component lacking within me these past few days.

It was almost at a deficiency level.

So, logically speaking, feeling his presence in a scent that couldn’t possibly belong to him was probably because of that.

‘Tsk…’

Did that fool even know I was feeling this way because of him?

…No way he would.

Honestly, he’s completely oblivious.

‘…Wait.’

Usually, he was super perceptive, almost ghost-like, except at times like this.

I understood he could be busy, but it would be nice if he could at least show his face.

Asking Miya, who couldn’t even talk back, how Dad was doing was really getting old…

Feeling my emotions bubble up like cactus thorns, I bit my lip.

“I think there’s an open spot over there. Shall we sit there?”

“Okay, I’ll go grab it first.”

Pushed aside with my feelings of disappointment about Dogun, I was just nibbling on the mediocre school lunch that seemed particularly bland today when, out of nowhere, someone plopped a banana milk right next to me.

As if it was saying, “Drink this.”

At that moment, one thought crossed my mind.

‘Ah… again…’

It seemed like it had been calm for a while, but was it starting up again?

It’s easy to say now, but this had happened more than once.

Of course, I had rejected everything every single time.

Thinking back, such occurrences were almost nonexistent in middle school. Why was it that things like this happened more often in high school?

For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but honestly, the reason was pretty obvious.

It was because Dogun wasn’t around.

Since I had always stayed close to him—especially when he had fended off other girls—it had kept other guys away.

So if Dogun had been in the same school…

Then I probably wouldn’t have gotten caught up in these annoyances.

And also, Dogun getting close to Baeksulhwa…

‘Ah, anyway!’

Setting everything else aside, the fact that he brought this specifically shows that he must have done some research on my taste… but that didn’t give him an excuse to hit on me.

For the same reason, I rejected the drink.

Why on earth would I accept something someone else gave me?

I didn’t even know what was in there!

And if I was going to reject it?

Then I needed to refuse coldly so I wouldn’t feel like this again.

I already knew that it was closer to the right answer to reject politely out of consideration.

Taking a moment to steady my voice, I pulled it out with as much chill as I could manage.

“I don’t normally accept what others give me, you know? So please take it back.”

“…”

“If you don’t take it back, I’ll just throw it away.”

Even though I tried to reject it as coldly as I could, my friends’ reactions were oddly strange.

One of them seemed to be choking on their surprise, covering their mouth with both hands, while another opened their mouth wide in shock.

What’s with their reactions?

While I was left in confusion, I heard voices from behind me.

“Really?”

“…?”

“You’re seriously going to throw it away?”

“…????”

“Wow… you’re actually going to toss this after I bought it?”

It was really unexpected.

At first, I couldn’t believe it.

Did I mishear something?

After all, there’s no way Dogun could be here.

But no matter how much I listened, it sounded like his voice.

The fact that I turned my head was actually for this reason.

It couldn’t be!

No way he was actually here.

So to confirm with my own eyes…

—Poke!

As soon as I turned my head back, I felt something poke my cheek, which I assumed was Dogun’s finger.

It made a really weird noise escape my lips.

But that unexpected prank made me certain.

The one behind me right now was definitely Dogun.

How did this happen?

I wanted to ask him.

So I put a bit more strength into my head, which was stuck from his finger.

“Hey! Hey! You’re going to break my finger!”

Then, a dying sound escaped from Dogun.

Suddenly flustered, I blurted out as I turned my head back, and it must have impacted Dogun negatively.

Finally, when I looked back, Dogun crouched on the floor, clutching his right index finger.

He groaned for a bit, but soon it seemed like he recovered.

Raising himself slightly, Dogun waved at me.

“Yo.”

He looked like he was claiming, “Nothing happened!” which made me unable to hold back a chuckle, but my gaze was drawn more to his outfit.

Indeed.

Surprisingly, Dogun was wearing the school uniform!

And he looked exactly like I had imagined him countless times before.

No, he looked even better than I had imagined.

Was that the reason?

Or was I just surprised?

“What… what happened? Why are you wearing our school’s uniform…?”

My voice was trembling uncontrollably.

“Curious?”

“Of course!”

Was that even a question?

‘Could it be….’

Was he just keeping this as a surprise after being so busy lately?

Yeah, it was definitely that.

He must’ve been hiding it all along thinking it was a surprise and whatnot.

‘Seriously…’

My heart was racing so fast that I almost wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him uncontrollably.

Was my state of mind transmitted to Dogun?

“I got it. I’ll tell you. Just let me get some food first!”

With a slightly pouty expression, Dogun said he would go get some food and dashed away.

Thank goodness I got a moment to calm down.

After settling my astonished heart?

This time, my heart began to race for another reason.

“Ugh… I almost dropped my spoon because I was startled.”

“Exactly what I’m saying!”

“You’re lying. You were holding in a laugh just now.”

“Me? When? No way!”

“Anyway… seeing you in our school uniform means you transferred here, right? Wow… you two must really be fated to be together, to have ended up in the same school after this.”

It was hard to refute thinking of my friend, who I had known since middle school.

What could I say?

We had been in the same school from kindergarten until middle school, then for the first time, our paths divided in high school, which had left us feeling lonely and regretful more than once.

Yet here was Dogun, and I could actually go to the same school together.

“You’re going to be able to walk to school with your future husband again, huh?”

“Wha-what are you saying? I don’t have a husband…”

“Oh, so ‘not yet’?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Ugh, how am I going to survive with everything back to the way it is starting tomorrow? I should probably just get a boyfriend…”

With a sly glint in her eye, my friend made a joke that made me instantly say it, but honestly, I was happy.

The corners of my mouth had been twitching madly since earlier as evidence.

Was that why?

Eventually, I couldn’t hold back.

“Heh…”

“Silly…”

“Hehe…”

No matter how much my friend looked at me like I was an idiot, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.