This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 37

Although graduation is generally accompanied by a sense of excitement, considering I had already graduated from middle school in my previous life, I thought this time wouldn’t evoke such strong feelings.

But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Instead of feeling indifferent, the moment I woke up in the morning, a whirlwind of emotions came rushing in—

‘What is this?’

It left me puzzled for a while.

After all, upon reflection, it made little sense to feel this way.

Perhaps this unsettling feeling was due to the likelihood of spending today, a day like this, all alone.

What can I say?

I have no idea why things are so hectic that my father is too busy to attend his only son’s graduation, but it’s true that he won’t be coming today.

He called last night to let me know, and he sounded so apologetic that I felt guilty myself.

The reason he mentioned Yoonseo and her family during our conversation was precisely because he felt that would soften the blow.

If he didn’t come up with a distraction like that, he would have unavoidably insisted on coming despite any obstacles.

In any case, with circumstances like this, I thought this might be the reason for my strange feelings since the morning… But after washing up and pondering a bit more, it didn’t seem to solely be that.

Sure, that impacted me, but there was another reason, I suppose.

That other reason was the influence of my past life.

In my previous life?

The event of graduating middle school didn’t carry much weight in my life.

Well, it did hold some importance, but compared to other graduation events, it felt somewhat lesser.

This was inevitable because graduating high school had the significance of becoming an adult, and graduating university meant stepping into society.

As for elementary school graduation?

It symbolized shedding the childhood image and becoming a teenager.

In contrast, middle school graduation merely meant transitioning from middle schooler to high schooler… It naturally appeared less significant when compared to the others.

But in this world?

In a realm where most men stop their education at high school?

Unlike my previous life, the event of graduating middle school suddenly felt quite substantial.

In the past, even if one graduated from high school, they could still hold the shield of university or a gap year, but that kind of option is virtually impossible here.

Once a man graduates high school, it’s a fait accompli that he becomes an adult and a member of society… At this point, as graduation approached, it was only natural I would start thinking such thoughts.

So—

‘What will I do after graduating high school?’

That thought would naturally rise to the surface of my mind.

Isn’t it a bit too early to be worrying about that, considering I haven’t even gone through the entrance ceremony for high school yet?

Well… is it really?

It’s akin to a child who just entered high school worrying about where to go to university, even though they understand there are still three years left.

Even if I clearly get that I have time, it’s hard to suppress such thoughts.

If only a guy could possess some of that so-called talent.

If that were possible, I could spend my time just nurturing whatever talent I might be lucky enough to have instead of stressing about my future.

In the end, do men only face the choice between becoming a trophy or a mere worker?

After sighing deeply in some discomfort since this morning, I put on my middle school uniform, which might very well be my last.

Could it be that all the back-and-forth in my mind this morning was because I had so many thoughts right after waking up?

Honestly, just yesterday, I didn’t feel anything special, but today, the uniform felt especially tight.

I had bought it a bit larger, anticipating that I would grow taller, but still…

Since it was the last time I would wear it, I even tied my tie neatly, something I usually couldn’t be bothered to do—

Ding-dong—!

In an unexpected contrast to the morning hours, someone rang the doorbell.

Going to see who it was, I was surprised to find Yoonseo standing at the door.

“What’s this?”

“What?”

“I was just wondering why you were up so early.”

Typically, I would be lost in slumber while preparing until I finished getting ready and crossed over to her house, so what could cause her to wake up early on graduation day?

“People can wake up early; it’s not a big deal… What about you? Aren’t you done getting ready yet?”

“Ugh…”

“What kind of reaction is that?”

“Nothing. Just nothing.”

“So, what is that ‘nothing’?”

“No, it’s just that… I didn’t expect to hear such a thing from O Yoonseo of all people. So I was a bit surprised.”

“Oh…!”

Since that was a bit too much truth, I think it hit her harder than expected.

She wasn’t a playful cat that often appeared on her walks, throwing punches playfully; she seemed quite serious this morning.

Every time I dodged her playful strikes, the box she was holding in her arms rattled and made odd noises.

What could that box be for this morning?

“What’s that?”

“Ugh… You sure dodge well.”

“Well, are you planning to send a package or something?”

“Hm? Where’d that come from?”

“No, I just thought since you were carrying a box.”

“Ah… this? It was in front of your house.”

“Huh?”

It was in front of our house?

I didn’t recall seeing anything there when I jogged home after my run last night.

I’ve used early morning deliveries a couple of times, but I hadn’t ordered anything recently, so could it have been delivered after I entered the house last night?

Well, leaving that aside, I hadn’t bought anything lately.

“I think it looks like it came from abroad? Did you… buy something strange?”

“Ah.”

Hearing Yoonseo’s words reminded me of something.

“My mom must have sent it.”

“Your mom?”

“Yeah, she mentioned sending a graduation gift since she wouldn’t be able to come today.”

I had heard that just last night, but I was passing it off as something that would arrive someday, not expecting it would come so quickly.

“…What? So she can’t make it again today?”

“That’s what she said. Something seems to have happened again.”

“Seriously, what is with all these emergencies every time?”

Is this the power of ten years that has passed?

She was venting her frustration, almost as if she was expressing anger over my family’s woes, making me feel a strange sense of amusement.

It wasn’t because of anything else, but it reminded me of the pufferfish mode Yoonseo used to show whenever she got even a bit sulky; it brought back fond memories.

While she was genuinely worried about me, I realized that smiling in front of someone who’s genuinely concerned is quite impolite, so I bowed my head a little to hide my smirk while Yoonseo, who was in worry mode, probably thought I looked utterly dejected because of that.

“Hey… are you okay?”

‘Stop, stop it…’

Her voice was filled with concern, and it only fueled my urge to smile wider.

This led me to nearly lose my grip on my composure.

My lips felt ticklish, but the atmosphere demanded seriousness.

Amidst the forced struggle to hold back laughter, when I finally regained my composure, I accepted the box from Yoonseo.

Since it came to this, I figured I ought to check what exactly was inside.

Maybe it was something electronic, given as a graduation gift.

‘But it feels a bit light for that…’

If it wasn’t electronics, then what could it be?

Curiosity surged as I pressed a plastic knife against the box and ripped through the tape.

Just then, I suddenly noticed Yoonseo sneakily approaching, claiming the spot beside me without asking.

Her sudden closeness made me glance over, leading her to react with annoyance.

“…What?”

“Nothing.”

In any case, with Yoonseo watching, I fully unwrapped the box only to find another box inside.

After tearing that one open as well, another box appeared.

‘Wait…’

What on earth had she sent that required such meticulous wrapping?

I wondered how many more boxes were inside, feeling a bit of thrill at the thought of tossing them aside.

So, I tore into another box, and this time it was completely different from the previous ones.

Unlike the cardboard boxes I’d opened earlier, this one looked much more elegant.

It gave off a vibe that suggested a ring or something similar inside.

Moreover, there were not one but two such boxes!

‘What is this…?’

Could it be that she actually sent a ring or necklace, perhaps?

The size and appearance of the boxes indeed fit well with accessories.

If it really was jewelry, I wouldn’t understand why accessories were chosen in particular.

Amidst layers of box after box, I finally reached an exquisitely velvet-wrapped box.

Along with it, there was also a letter that was either a bear or a raccoon, I couldn’t quite tell, printed on the envelope underneath the smaller boxes.

I opened one to read—

“Huh? Looks like she sent one for you too.”

It apologized for not being able to attend my graduation, expressing a wish for me to always love her twice over, once for her and once for the absence of my father.

“…Me?”

“Yeah, the red one is for you.”

“R-Really…?”

I wasn’t the type to refuse gifts, but I couldn’t help but marvel at the sleek box with its intriguing contents.

Yoonseo, almost creeping closer, seemed just as eager.

She discreetly checked the boxes while I held the letter, and likewise, she moved her gaze towards the little box she was holding.