This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 254

Yoonseo’s Perspective

The sound of wet things squishing together invaded my ears chaotically.

Maybe that’s why, every time that dubious noise echoed from around the corner, my body instinctively flinched and shook in response.

Honestly, just that alone was enough to leave me flustered, my face burning up, but the couple fervently engaged in their romantic activities around the corner wasn’t satisfied with merely that and took an additional step further.

Was kissing not enough to extinguish the desire that had ignited?

The sound of something soft and silky brushing against fabric came from around the corner, followed by a click as something was released.

What was being released?

As I pondered this question internally, the couple’s conversation carried on.

“Hey, wait a minute…! Not here…”

“Why? It’s fine, right? You said no one would come.”

“No, but… this is outside. It’s a bit…”

“Isn’t it better? It’s thrilling.”

Thrilling, my foot.

Thanks to that conversation, I realized something.

At least the guy seemed normal, but the girl? It was clear she was far from it.

How could she even think of doing such things outside in broad daylight?

Kissing was one thing, but wasn’t that crossing the line?

While I thought this, a brief silence hung in the air, and then oddly explicit sounds began to emanate from around the corner.

There was even a pained groan from someone.

Thanks to that, my already flushed face felt like it was going to burst into flames the moment—

“Ugh…”

With a sigh, Dogun’s hand, which had somehow extended, carefully covered my ears.

The problem was… that contact was so sudden.

I had forgotten that making noise wouldn’t do me any favors, and instinctively backed away.

After retreating, I was about ten centimeters away.

Yet, even with such a small movement, the impact was immense.

Squish— the sound of shoe soles crushing tiny grains of sand echoed like thunder.

Even against the touch of Dogun’s hand covering my ears, the noise from around the corner abruptly halted just after that point.

An ominous silence followed.

And how long had it been?

The sound of someone hurriedly getting up pierced through the palm of Dogun’s hand, flooding into my ears.

Were they so bold as to want to identify the face of the one daring to interrupt their merry time?

As the footfalls drew nearer in this awkward situation, it was obvious we were on a collision course.

And if we happened to meet?

Both parties would surely feel utterly embarrassed.

That was my dilemma.

It might have been a bit late, but I seriously thought about escaping with Dogun now.

If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have even considered it.

I would have just stood there with crossed arms, ready to gawk at whoever popped around the corner.

That way, the embarrassment would have been solely theirs.

However, at this moment, I wasn’t alone.

Plus, for Dogun, today was the first day he transferred here.

And to think he’d get caught up in such a situation on his first day.

He must be feeling extremely awkward right about now.

‘…This won’t do.’

I have to escape with Dogun right now.

Having made my decision, I turned towards the spot where Dogun was.

As soon as I turned around, I intended to grab his hand and run, but… Dogun’s hand moved much faster than I could reach out to grab it.

In an instant, his hand shot out, gripping my shoulder.

I froze for a moment at the abrupt contact, and then that hand pushed me toward the wall.

My body collided with the wall positioned there.

It didn’t hurt.

It was more of a light bump, a soft nudge really.

Thus, instead of feeling pain, I felt a rush of confusion.

Dogun, who initially stood a bit back, seemed to have closed the distance in an instant, intensifying the awkwardness.

“W-wait…”

I wanted to ask, ‘What are you doing?’

That was the original plan.

But I couldn’t say it.

‘Wha…?!’

As soon as I opened my mouth, Dogun’s face started to inch closer.

.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.

Dogun’s Perspective

Going back a bit in time, when Yoonseo froze in shock at the peculiar sounds coming from around the corner, it wasn’t just her who was startled by the noise.

While taking a step back from a distance, I, following behind Yoonseo, was just as surprised by the unexpected situation.

However, the panic that enveloped Yoonseo and the one that wrapped around me, though the same in name, felt quite different in nature.

Thus, our reactions were bound to diverge.

If Yoonseo was so flustered that she didn’t know what to do and froze up, I, on the other hand, was caught off guard but also felt a tinge of admiration.

‘Is this… what kids these days do…?’

Indeed.

Listening to the lively sounds coming from around the corner, I was struck by the same thought I’d once overheard Chae-rim thinking about me.

‘Just look at this…’

Both were at an age of heightened interest in that area, so it wasn’t entirely surprising they were acting like that, but still, shouldn’t they be a bit more discreet about the location?

If they wanted to smooch so closely, wouldn’t it be better to sneak into an empty classroom than to do it outside?

Why here of all places?

Could it be that doing it outdoors was in vogue?

In any case, with a passionate couple around the corner acting like gatekeepers, it seemed my exploration of the school had to end here.

‘Besides, lunch time isn’t too far off…’

So, I decided to signal to Yoonseo to head back before we were spotted, but at that moment, my eyes caught on Yoonseo’s ear.

Peeking shyly out from her slightly disheveled hair was her ear, reddened as if someone had spilled red paint on it.

I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of discontent at that.

I didn’t know why, but it bothered me.

That’s why I immediately reached out to cover Yoonseo’s ear.

‘Honestly… they’ll surely get caught and take a beating if they keep this up.’

What’s weirder is, just a moment ago, I didn’t care what the couple around the corner was up to; my thoughts were more along the lines of ‘Whatever…’ but now, somehow, I found their very presence irritating.

‘What if I simply poke my head into the staff room?’

In that instant, I even started to think that.

As my hand covered Yoonseo’s ear, she flinched back slightly, surprised by the contact.

The issue was… while this was happening, the sounds had led them to realize we were here.

An awkward and heavy silence hung in the air for a while.

And the first to break that silence was the approaching sound of footsteps.

Were they intending to check the face of the individual that dared to interrupt their pleasant time?

As that situation seemed perplexing, the closer the sound grew, the more anxious Yoonseo became, finally turning towards me the moment those footfalls grew loud enough to be alarmed by them.

Was she thinking of running away?

Given how urgently she reached out, it seemed that was the case…

‘Looks like it’s too late to escape…’

Regrettably, that was true.

If we couldn’t run away, then hiding our faces was the only option.

I pushed Yoonseo back against the wall and slowly leaned in her direction.

I intended to stay like this until they passed by, but just as I was about to open my mouth to speak, I felt Yoonseo’s body stiffen against me.

Was she tense?

Her body was tense, clearly filled with anxiety.

Maybe that was why I could feel the rapid thrum of her heartbeat through the spot where we were touching.

Were we that close, we couldn’t tell whose heartbeat it was?

So… it felt strange.

Meanwhile, the footsteps headed our way grew louder.

Finally, they must have caught sight of us.

From a short distance, I sensed a startled presence.

I instinctively turned my head slightly to the side, as if we were kissing.

I thought perhaps they’d misinterpret the situation and back away.

Sure enough, it seemed my instinct worked as intended.

Accompanied by a soft cough, someone hurriedly left the area.

And as the sound faded, I slowly pulled away from Yoonseo.

.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.


.

Her breath… tickled.

The breath that tickled the side of my neck began to pull away slowly.

“Uh… I’m sorry for surprising you like this all of a sudden.”

Along with that, those were the words that echoed in my ears.

Did this mean it’s over now?

Really?

Is this truly the end?

…No way.

I didn’t want that.

So… in a moment, I grabbed on tightly to what had just escaped into the distance.

The moment I pulled it back with all my might… something soft yet warm pressed firmly against my lips.