57 – Things that change
Even after showing a strange appearance for a moment that day, Yuna Han was like usual. Even when the festival came two days later, she asked me with a nonchalant expression how my practice was going.
She was making people feel uncomfortable, and seeing her do that with a calm expression on her face made her feel upset, but she thought that was just how she was like Hanyu, so she was able to understand it. .
“Guys, how are the preparations for the festival going?”
“Yes, teacher!”
With the festival approaching the day after tomorrow, several people nodded in unison at the words given by their homeroom teacher during the finale.
Unlike in the 1st and 2nd years, in the 3rd year, I could not participate in club entries, so the majority of answers were only children who participated in festival stages or E-sports competitions.
Meanwhile, look at Choi Min-seong’s eyes twinkling. His fighting spirit would make anyone think he was going to a world championship. If I don’t win that, I guarantee you, I’ll be more devastated than if I failed the test.
Oh, now that I think about it, he never failed a test. Anyway, you unlucky bastard, tsk.
“If someone from our class wins the festival stage, the teacher will give them a treat, so everyone work hard. Understand?”
“Oh, you’re cool, teacher!”
“Teacher! Does this include E-sports competitions?”
“Well, no matter what, winning is winning. “If we both win, I’ll shoot big.”
Our homeroom teacher was not the kind of person who would say two things at a time, so his words shook the classroom. When you say you shoot big, how big do you mean you shoot? Is this something we can look forward to?
“Oh, by the way, among the people participating in the festival stage, isn’t there anyone who didn’t tell you in advance the songs needed for the broadcasting class? “I had to burn a CD, so I asked you to tell me in advance.”
“We baked it ourselves and brought it to you.”
Choi Ji-yeon, who can be said to be the leader of the four-member dance group, raised her hand and said. I didn’t bring it to them directly, but since I had mentioned it, I nodded one after another.
Anyway, Han Yuna’s reaction is a bit bland. Surely he hasn’t said anything yet?
“Okay, since there are two days left, I hope you prepare well. But don’t push yourself too hard. “Can’t you forget that you are students taking the exam?”
The teacher was doing well, but at the end, he kindly informed the children of the reality that they were trying hard not to recognize. Thanks to this, a positive outcry rang out in the once bustling classroom.
“Teacher! “It would be wise not to say that!”
“Sometimes the role of a teacher is to inform students of their true nature. “Anyway, this concludes the funeral, everyone go home safely.”
The teacher coolly waves his hand, takes the attendance record, and leaves the classroom.
After seeing this, the class all stood up, holding their bags. Of course, I was included there.
“Si-yoon! “We’re going to a PC room. Do you want to go with us?”
“Sorry, I guess it won’t work today?”
Hanyu, who was also packing her bag in the seat next to her, was about to approach me when Soobin Kim suddenly appeared and made a suggestion that Choi Minseong might have made. But I had a schedule today, so I had no choice but to decline.
“Why? What are you busy with? Oh, maybe editing work?”
“No, that’s okay, but I have other plans.”
She tilted her head and asked, explaining the situation to Kim Soo-bin in a somewhat vague manner. It would be difficult to go into detail because of the content.
When she inadvertently looked at her from the corner of her eye, Kim Soo-bin made an expression as if she had noticed something and let out an exclamation.
“Is that what it was? “Well, if that’s the case, you shouldn’t have said that.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
For some reason, I felt a prickly feeling, so I slowly averted my gaze.
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Han Yuna would probably have hit harder here. However, Kim Soo-bin shrugged her shoulders with his back to her, as if he was going to show her mercy.
“Hmm, is that so? Then I’ll just pretend I don’t know. “Anyway, I can’t interrupt your important schedule, so I’ll just ignore you.”
“No, it’s not an important schedule….”
In some ways, you could say that it’s important, but for some reason, it’s a bit embarrassing to say that. The moment you admit that something is important, you might feel a sense of defeat.
“What, what were you two talking about?”
She was being swayed by Kim Soo-bin and was waiting for someone to quickly rescue her, but fortunately, a savior did appear.
This time, the main character was Yuna Han, who asked her what she didn’t like so much, with her eyes wide open, as if she had witnessed the scene of her cheating husband.
“We were just talking about how cute our Yuna is.”
“Tch, I’m not some kind of kid…. I wish it wasn’t such a big deal. Anyway, Park Si-yoon, let’s go quickly. “I have to go to work.”
Hanyu touched my arm with her hand and acted as if she was a child, and I led her by holding my hand.
Huh? As I was being dragged away, I had to leave the classroom while saying hello to Kim Soo-bin, who was waving behind me, and Choi Min-seong, who belatedly approached my seat.
Why is he in such a hurry today? Was there any advance notice from the company that practice would start early today?
When Hanyu, who remained silent like that, came out to the front of the school gate with me, it was only then that she slowly looked up at me and opened her mouth.
“… “What did you talk about with Soobin?”
“I heard we’re going to a PC room together? “But she said she had a schedule.”
Han Yuna looked blank for a moment at my words, and then she lowered her head, looking somewhat lonely.
She happened to see a rolling stone at the end of her gaze, and she kicked it weakly with her foot and opened her mouth in a subtle tone that made it difficult to tell if it was a question or not.
“Ah, schedule…. Are you busy after all?”
“What?”
“Just. “I thought I must be very busy because I have to practice guitar and do editing work.”
“It’s a bit busy. But then again, why is that?”
“Why? “I did it for no particular reason.”
That’s why it feels like the eyes looking at me want something. I’m not stupid enough not to notice that.
Without thinking, I take out my phone and check a message that arrived in the morning. Then, after checking Yuna Han’s expression again, she smiled.
“I heard it’s going to rain tonight. Take at least an umbrella.”
“My dad was going to come pick me up with the car anyway. Are you okay.”
“… Okay?”
It was something she said as if she was just guessing, but Han Yuna came out with a disingenuous attitude until the end.
Anyway, he’s a guy who gets on people’s nerves. Just say it.
The droopy look on her face bothered her, so she thought about just telling him, but she decided to wait for his reaction later and moved on with her steps without saying a word. Ah, I’m already looking forward to it.
***
After today’s extremely difficult choreography practice, instead of leaving the practice room coolly like always, Teacher Haram gathered us all together and opened his mouth in a loud voice.
“You know that her debut date will be confirmed in a week, right? “From then on, there won’t really be any time to rest, so everyone, brace yourselves.”
“Yes!”
“Yes, Teacher Seonghwa praised me a lot today, so let’s just keep it like this. Great job!”
“Thank you!”
In some ways, the praise from teacher Seonghwa, who is in charge of vocal training, is harder to hear than the praise from teacher Haram. The fact that Teacher Seonghwa’s praise continued behind the scenes must mean that we are doing well.
Encouraged by that, we responded with a louder voice than usual and greeted Teacher Haram.
“Yuna, is your dad coming to pick you up today too?”
As soon as Teacher Haram left, Seungyeon came up to me and spoke kindly. Since that incident last time, it is a question I routinely ask these days when practice is over.
“No, my dad is on a business trip and can’t come today. “I thought about asking someone else to pick me up, but I’m just going to go alone.”
I tried to answer with a smile, but inside I was bitter.
It’s not that I’m particularly worried about walking alone on the streets at night. Even though I experienced such an accident, I am not a coward enough to be afraid for no reason.
It’s just a pity that now he can’t tell Park Si-yoon to come and pick him up like he used to, without being outrageous. How could I say something like that to a kid who got caught up in something like that because of me?
As it happened, her mother had to go to her grandmother’s house for a while, so she asked Park Si-yoon to do her favor just for today, but she couldn’t do it. Her mouth couldn’t open.
“No matter what, wouldn’t it be dangerous? “Can you take me there?”
“It’s okay. And my sister, her house is on the other side as well.”
As far as I know, Seungyeon’s house is quite far away, so I heard that she takes a taxi. On the other hand, the distance is long enough for me to walk.
If you feel anxious, why not call a taxi and take a ride? It’s a waste of money because you won’t even pay the basic fare, but it’s better than getting caught up in a strange accident.
I appreciated Seungyeon’s words of concern, but I euphemistically refused them and took the sports bag that was lying in the corner. At that moment, I remembered what Park Si-yoon said earlier on the way home from school.
Ah, that’s right. I said it would rain tonight. I didn’t bring an umbrella.
Should I just call a taxi right now? How much will it rain? Let’s check it first and then decide.
“Then I’ll go first, sisters. Yerin, I’m going first.”
“Yes, go in carefully! Do I have to take a taxi?”
“Yes, just like Yerin said, make sure to take a taxi.”
“Yes, yes.”
I waved at Soeun and Yerin, who were more worried than me, and left the practice room.
Somehow this reminds me of a memory from a while ago. It was raining that day, just like now, and my dad just said he was sorry for not being able to come pick me up at night. Just like today, I left the practice room with the thought that I should just go alone.
There is only one difference from then. There is no Park Si-yoon waiting for me under the sunshade like a wet rat.
That’s fascinating. It may only have been a few days since then, but a lot has happened. And so many things have changed.
One of the things that has changed is that I have come to admit that I am desperately looking for Park Si-yoon at any moment. On the other hand, the main character is not actually in front of you.
“… “I need to call a taxi.”
When the sound of rain hitting the sunshade reached my ears, I finally took out my phone and launched the call taxi app.
The self-talk that flowed out inadvertently felt like an action not to make me aware that I had to call a taxi, but rather to make me aware that Park Si-yoon was not in front of me.
Perhaps because it rained a lot, call taxis rarely dispatched.
Snap. Snap.
In the end, as I was wondering if I should just get an umbrella and run, the sound of footsteps as if something was walking on water rang in my ears.
Strangely enough, the sound of the rain around me was so loud, but I could clearly hear the footsteps. For that moment, it was as if all other sounds had disappeared from the world.
“What, why did you finish so early?”
“… ….”
And then, the voice I had been desperately looking for came again.
When I raised my head and looked, there was Park Si-yoon there, dressed in crisp clothes and even carrying his own umbrella, unlike the sight of him drenched in rain and barely holding an umbrella he had borrowed from someone else.
“… “Do you still think I’ll come get you after something like that?”
Thinking back, the first words I said to that idiot were very blunt. You could have said it a little more kindly, you idiot.
“I came to get you because something like that happened to you, you idiot. “The lady already called me in the morning.”
“Mom too…. “Did you say that bird?”
“That means I’m worried about you that much. But for a surprise, the reaction is a bit weak? “Did you expect it?”
“I didn’t think about it at all.”
It’s true. No, I thought I should hope but not hope. I thought it was a sin to even make you walk down this street again at night and come to this office building.
But you always exceed my expectations. And you’re always by my side whenever I want.
Is that because of a request I made a while ago? Probably not. Because you were always that kind of friend. Because I was the kind of idiot who would casually come up and shake people, and then escape.
Anyway, it’s annoying. That calm expression, that stupid smile.
“Anyway, let’s go. I brought your umbrella today, so you two won’t get wet like last time.”
“… ….”
I look at the umbrella given by Park Si-yoon.
Well, maybe this is the difference between that day and today.
That day you waited for me, but today I waited for you.
That day, I tried to stop my heart from racing when I saw you coming to see me, but today I don’t even feel like stopping.
But even in the midst of all this, there is one thing I don’t want to change.
Jiik.
So, let’s put this umbrella away for a moment.
I don’t like getting wet in the rain or under a narrow umbrella.
I think I can accept that quite cheerfully now.
Perhaps this is a glimpse of the change that has come to my heart.
“Hey, hey… !”
“I don’t have the strength to hold an umbrella today. So let’s write together.”
Putting the umbrella in the sports bag, he jumped down from the top of the stairs and landed next to Park Si-yoon.
Even though I brought an umbrella, Park Si-yoon, who had suddenly found ourselves using an umbrella again just like the scenery that day, tried to scold me, but I completely ignored him.
Thanks to the umbrella that was much larger than the one we had borrowed that day, the unfortunate incident of Park Si-yoon’s shoulder getting wet from the rain did not occur, but I walked with my body even closer to Park Si-yoon’s body, just like that day.
“I’m looking forward to the festival. Right?”
“… I know.”
It was only after I arrived at the entrance to the apartment that I realized that the rain had stopped before I knew it.