41 – Evaluation Match (3)
After falling from the second-floor window, I immediately headed to the emergency room.
Fortunately, the examination revealed no major injuries. Just a minor bruise on the forearm. The rest were superficial scratches.
“I can’t believe I’m alive. How long has it been since I was discharged….”
This was the treatment room. Choi So-eun disinfected my wounds while letting out deep sighs one after another.
“Why would you do something that could make you fall from a window? Isn’t that what combat students do normally?”
Due to the nature of combat students, getting injured to some extent was a common occurrence.
However, falling and getting hurt from a classroom window was the first time for Choi So-eun, and she couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
“Do you have anything to say?”
“There’s no room for excuses. It was my mistake.”
“Of course, it had to be a mistake. Where in the world intentionally falls out of a window?”
Thud!
Choi So-eun fiercely slapped the injured area with her palm. Probably as a sign for the adhesive tape to stick well.
Maybe.
“That’s enough. You can leave now.”
“….”
Even after the treatment was over, I didn’t get up from my seat. I remained still in the chair.
Choi So-eun raised an eyebrow, looking at me who didn’t leave even after some time had passed.
“What are you doing? Not going?”
“I have to go back now; I have a class.”
“….”
It had only been about an hour from the examination to the treatment. If they went inside the classroom now, they would have to sit at the desk and listen to the three-hour lecture – a non-stop lecture without breaks. It was better to just skip it all.
“It’s not like it’s a big deal… it’s just ridiculous…”
Choi So-min started to tidy up the dressing instrument she had used while shaking her head.
“Can I help you with anything?”
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t do anything stupid and hurt myself again.”
She was being treated like a problem child, which was expected since she tended to cause accidents and end up in the hospital.
It was better to just leave her alone.
“Oh wait.”
While cleaning medical tools at the sink, Choi So-min spoke.
“There’s a party tonight. Are you going?”
After the first semester’s training and mid-term exams, the school held a small event when regular exams ended to console the tired students. It was nothing grand, just some drinks and snacks or a small performance. Students called it “after party”.
A lot of students were surely going to attend. Among them, Kang Tae-hoon, who was still anxious about not being able to find me, would be included.
It was better to just stay in the room and avoid any danger.
“…”
But I couldn’t keep running away from Kang Tae-hoon forever. As we were in the same school, we were bound to meet someday.
What if I appeared in front of him before that day came? This party would be a great opportunity.
This was my breakthrough.
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“By any chance, do you still have that wheelchair from last time?”
I needed some preparation before the party. I had already searched for a wheelchair.
“Why do you need it?”
“I’ll borrow it just for today.”
Since I had borrowed it before during the mid-term exam, it shouldn’t be difficult to borrow it now. Besides, Choi So-min’s persuasion should also have some influence. It would be strange if I couldn’t borrow it.
“I don’t want to.”
But the answer that came back was a refusal.
I asked why.
“Are you telling me you want to ride a wheelchair with that little thing?”
Choi Soeun pointed at my arm. It was my arm that had just been disinfected. Compared to the previous injury to my back, it was really nothing.
Does this mean I can’t borrow a wheelchair with this?
“How can it not work?”
“No, you can’t.”
Teeeng.
Choi Soeun stubbornly refused to lend me a wheelchair.
What should I do? If I don’t have a wheelchair, I can’t start the operation. The wheelchair plays a significant role in this mission.
I must find a way to borrow it no matter what.
There’s nothing else I can do. I have to push my way through recklessly here.
Thunk─
I immediately put my plan into action. I stood up from my seat and approached Choi Soeun.
“What are you doing, trying to borrow… w-wha-what are you doing!”
Our faces were so close that our noses almost touched. In that position, I firmly grabbed Choi Soeun’s hand.
“Please, just once, as a last favor. Can you lend me the wheelchair?”
“W-why don’t you move your face away and talk? It’s embarrassing!”
“No. I’ll keep doing this until you lend it to me.”
“Ugh….”
Choi Soeun seemed unsure where to look and her eyes darted around. To prevent any opportunity, I pressed my face even closer.
“Just a moment! I get it! It reaches! It reaches!”
“I was already prepared for that.”
“What….”
Choi Soeun’s eyes started to roll around. Her face turned red as if it would burst. Then, unable to endure any longer, she screamed.
“Fine, I get it! I’ll lend it to you! Just move your face away! Can you do that!”
In the end, she surrendered. It seems there are things you can only gain by directly throwing yourself into it. I might understand a little why malicious complainants act so fiercely.
Just as promised, I withdrew my face. I also let go of her hand.
“Phew….”
Meanwhile, Choi Soeun took a deep breath as if to declare she was still alive. Her face, which had turned red, returned to its original color.
“Why are you suddenly doing something like this… really….”
By the way…
Wasn’t this person like an impenetrable wall in front of me?
The one who didn’t react at all even when we hugged tightly last time.
Why is it like this today?
***
In the evening, I followed the plan and went to the after-party in a wheelchair. In addition, I borrowed a neck traction device and a clean patient gown to properly play the role of a patient.
Expressing gratitude once again to Min-soo, who prepared all this equipment for me, I entered the auditorium.
Click. Click.
Many students gathered in the auditorium. They were forming groups, eating food, and sipping on drinks. It was a scene from an ordinary after-party.
“Oh, a spoon!”
The first person to notice me was the guy with the tattoos. Holding a champagne glass in one hand, he approached me.
“Huh? Why the wheelchair? Did you get more hurt than I thought?”
“Well, that’s how it turned out.”
I pointed to the neck traction device. This should show how bad my condition is.
“Is it okay for you to come all the way here with that body? Shouldn’t you just go in and rest?”
“…”
Ignoring the tattoo guy’s concern, I quickly decided to survey the inside of the auditorium. Where could Kang Tae-hoon be?
“Since you’re here, how about eating something? Or do you want to have a drink with me?”
Perhaps because there were so many people, finding Kang Tae-hoon in this crowd was not an easy task. Moreover, sitting in a wheelchair made it even more challenging to match eye levels.
“Hey, are you listening to me?”
“Tattoo guy, have you seen Kang Tae-hoon by any chance?”
“Huh…? Kang Tae-hoon…?”
At the mention of Kang Tae-hoon’s name, the tattoo guy’s eyes widened.
“Why? Didn’t that guy seem to be looking for you since last time? What happened between you two?”
“I picked a fight with him.”
“What…?”
The tattoo guy was in disbelief, his mouth wide open.
“A fight… with Kang Tae-hoon…? You used a spoon to hit him on the head…?”
“Yeah. I hit him on the head a few times with a spoon.”
“What, hitting the head…? Ah, come on, that’s a lie… Who could do such a crazy thing…?”
Even though it wasn’t his own business, the tattoo guy shook all over. The champagne he was holding spilled over the rim of the glass.
“So where’s Kang Tae-hoon?”
“Did you call me?”
Just then, Kang Tae-hoon appeared. I turned my wheelchair in the direction the voice came from.
“I… I don’t know… Just figure it out yourselves…”
Moon Shin-chung said he didn’t want to get involved in this any further and quickly left. What a coward.
Thud—
“Ugh…”
After that, right in front of me, Kang Tae-hoon revealed himself. His expression was more severe than ever. He was smiling, but beneath it, there was anger simmering.
Kang Tae-hoon bared his teeth.
“Hey, Spoon. Didn’t expect you to come looking for me yourself.”
Thud. Kang Tae-hoon, with wide-open eyes, made a gesture as if he was about to snap my neck right there. He seemed ready to tear me apart at any moment.
Even in that situation, I casually leaned back in my wheelchair.
“So, you found me. Looking for me?”
“Yeah. I’ve been damn well looking for you.”
What? What’s going on? Did something happen? Are they fighting?
Students began to gather around one by one. Everyone sensed that something was off.
Need to gather more people.
“Alright. Why did you come looking for me?”
“Why? Aren’t you a complete psycho? Are you asking that because you don’t know?”
Shlink—
Kang Tae-hoon drew a sword at his waist. Surrounding students screamed at the sight.
“You’re going to die today.”
As Kang Tae-hoon was about to strike, I reached out my hand.
“Wait. Why are you aiming a sword at an innocent person? Do you have some grudge against me?”
“What…?”
Suddenly, Kang Tae-hoon’s lips curled. He frowned in disbelief that I dared to speak up like that.
“You… pretending you don’t know… You’ve completely forgotten what you did to me, hitting my head with that damn spoon… Twice!”
What is he talking about? I widened my eyes and aimlessly looked at the surrounding students.
“It’s a bit strange. Did Shin Yoon-seong throw the first punch at Kang Tae-hoon?”
“No matter how crazy Shin Yoon-seong is, doing something like that is a bit…”
Even the surrounding students couldn’t understand why. How many people in this school can confront Kang Tae-hoon? It’s not like Kang Tae-hoon just sits there and takes it either.
Moreover, I am currently an injured patient, receiving sympathetic glances. Rather than Kang Tae-hoon, who is shouting, it’s likely that they will extend a hand to me, who is groaning quietly.
In fact, the students began to look at Kang Tae-hoon with suspicious eyes.
“Hey, this guy! Is that really not psycho? Deceiving people with such an indifferent face?”
“Well, maybe you’re the psycho. I don’t understand why you’re mocking me by making up nonexistent facts.”
“What are you saying…? I made up nonexistent facts…? Is this guy for real…!”
Finally, Kang Tae-hoon couldn’t bear it and rushed towards me. His eyes were already rolling back.
“Where do you get off treating people like mental patients!”
He swung his sword towards my head.
Clang!
But at that moment, there was someone blocking Kang Tae-hoon’s sword.
“Student Kang Tae-hoon, there’s an event going on right now. Please don’t cause unnecessary disturbance.”
It was Sergeant Suh Dan-a from the combat unit, stopping Kang Tae-hoon. She held the blade with a shining silver glove.
“We’ll discuss the details slowly in the unit office.”
“Ugh…!”
After that, there was nothing Kang Tae-hoon could prove in the unit office.
No matter how long he explained, there was no evidence that I hit him with a spoon. Unfortunately, there were no CCTV cameras in the outdoor training ground.
In the end, the incident was concluded as a simple misunderstanding by Kang Tae-hoon.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Who has the authority to conclude the incident like this! He hit me with a spoon first, didn’t he? Huh?”
Of course, Kang Tae-hoon did not admit to it.