Epilogue Chapter 55 - Back to School (6)

“Huuu,” Oh Kang-Hyun sighed deeply as he returned to school after dealing with Jeon Yeong-Woong.

An uncomfortable feeling remained, recalling the pale-faced and teary-eyed Yeong-Woong. He clicked his tongue.

‘He deserved it.’

Kang-Hyun erased Yeong-Woong from his head and continued to walk.

“Oh, you’re finally here.”

“Oppa! What took you so long?!”

Once he returned to school, his little sisters angrily approached him. He had asked them to wait a little bit but had gone more than half an hour without a word— it was only natural they would act this way.

“Huh?” Kang-Hee frowned slightly as she approached and sniffed all over Kang-Hyun like a drug-sniffing dog.

“What are you doing...?”

“Did something happen, oppa?”

“H-Huh? What gave you that idea?”

“I mean, you smell of sweat. Your clothes are a little disheveled and your breathing is a bit more labored than usual.”

“...”

‘How does she know all of that?’

“What have you been doing for the past half hour?” Kang-Hee asked.

“Nothing much. I was helping my teacher out on some errands.”

“On opening day?”

“You know I’m an honor student. I have my teacher’s unconditional trust.”

“Hmph! That’s not trust! You’re just being taken advantage of!”

Kang-Hee stomped her feet angrily. Kang-Hyun patted his pouting sister’s head, instantly erasing her anger and she giggled.

“Let’s go home.”

Kang-Hyun headed home with his sisters. He stopped before entering the apartment building and gently pushed his sisters’ backs.

“Hm? Are you not going in with us, dear brother?”

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“What’s wrong, oppa?”

“Oh, my classmates invited me to the arcade. It’s not far from here so I’m gonna join them.”

“Hmm. An arcade... I thought you weren’t interested in games.”

“Me too! I wanna go too!”

“Uhh... th-that’s a bit...”

Lilia grabbed the back of Kang-Hee’s collar as Kang-Hyun slurred.

“Stop the nonsense and let’s get going already. Boys should spend time with other boys.”

“Ahh! Oppa!”

Kang-Hee was dragged away by Lia, who winked at Kang-Hyun right before the apartment building door closed.

[I’ll keep Kang-Hee here, so have fun with Si-Ah unnie~]

Lia’s voice flowed into Kang-Hyun’s head.

“Ngh.”

Kang-Hyun thought he had made a good excuse but Lia had seen through it instantly.

‘How is she so quick-witted?’

In any case, his plan had succeeded thanks to Lia.

“Alright, then...”

Kang-Hyun gulped and called Si-Ah.

Brrr, brrr...

He waited anxiously, wondering whether Si-Ah would pick up. He then heard a familiar voice.

[What’s up?]

Her voice was as cold as ice but Kang-Hyun could tell she had purposefully lowered her voice and that it was subtly shaking with anticipation. He smiled, his anxiety melting away.

He asked, “Have you had lunch yet?”

[H-Huh? Why so out of the blue?]

“I wanted us to eat together if you haven’t yet.”

[Give me a second.]

Kang-Hyun heard Si-Ah place her smartphone on her desk. He then heard faintly in the distance,

“Mom—! Don’t add the instant ramen to the water yet! What? You already did? You even took out the kimchi? Argh... Whatever! I’m gonna eat out!”

Momentary silence continued.

[Ahem. Thankfully, my mother hasn’t prepared lunch yet.]

‘It didn't sound like it.’

[What are we eating? Just to let you know, we were about to have truffle cream pasta and caviar canapé.]

‘It was instant ramen and kimchi, wasn’t it?’

“Uhh... I-Is there anything you want to eat?”

Kang-Hyun wanted to have lunch with Si-Ah but had not thought of what to eat.

[What? You want me to decide?]

“N-No! I was just curious if you had anything you wanted to eat in particular...”

[Hmm. I’m fine with whatever.]

‘Dammit. That’s the worst answer.’

“Hmm... in that case... how about... t-tteokbokki?”

It was as ordinary as food could get but this was the best an elementary schooler could do with their allowance money. Even if Kang-Hyun had money, it was weird for elementary schoolers to go to fine dining restaurants.

‘And I’ve heard girls love tteokbokki!’

Kang-Hyun gulped and waited for Si-Ah’s answer.

[Tteokbokki...?]

“Yeah.”

[H-Hmph. I’m not particularly a fan of it, but it’s not a bad choice.]

‘Phew. I barely managed a passing mark.’

[So, which tteokbokki place are we going to? The place next to our school emphasizes spiciness, and the one next to the station is nice and chewy! Oh, and the soup that comes with the fish cakes is amazing! There’s also a place I frequent near my house and the rosé tteokbokki there is to die for!]

“Uhhh...”

‘Maybe it’s way more than a passing mark.’

***

After much thought from Si-Ah, she decided on the place near her home that she frequented. Kang-Hyun arrived first and waited at the meeting place they decided on until she arrived soon after. She was wearing a white blouse and a dark blue pleated skirt... with her trademark bamboo sword in hand.

“Did I make you wait long?” Si-Ah asked.

“No, I only just got here.”

They greeted each other like a couple on their first date and headed to the tteokbokki place.

“Why did you invite me for lunch all of a sudden?”

“Because... I wanted to tell you something.”

“Tell me what?”

“I’ll tell you after we eat.”

Kang-Hyun and Si-Ah went inside the tteokbokki place and they ordered the rosé tteokbokki she recommended, albeit half-forced.

“What do you think? It’s good, right?”

“Yeah, it’s delicious.”

He would have liked it a little spicier but he was not insensitive enough to douse cold water on the girl in front of him who was enjoying her food so much. They finished the two portions of the rosé tteokbokki and stared at each other in silence as they slurped the fruit slushie sold at the restaurant.

Kang-Hyun broke the silence first. “First... I’d like to apologize.”

“Hm? Apologize for what?”

“For not calling you at all during the summer break.”

“Oh,” she expressed and deliberately made an angry face. “Have you finally come to your senses?”

“I’m not sure, but... I at least know that locking myself at home wasn’t the right answer. I have to grow stronger to protect those precious to me.”

“Hmm. Is that so? Does that mean you’ll continue to train with me?” asked SI-Ah as she crossed her arms, her eyes shining.

“Yeah. Three days a week, same as before— no, I want to meet at least once on the weekend too.”

“E-Even on the weekend?”

“Why? Oh, would that be troubling for you?”

Si-Ah quickly shook her head and shouted, “N-Not at all! It’s no nuisance! We can meet on the weekend!”

Kang-Hyun smiled in relief. “Thanks.”

“Urgh... S-So, did you want to meet to talk about that?”

“No, there’s one more thing.”

Kang-Hyun’s eyes sank. Since he had apologized, it was now time to hear her apology.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Hm? Tell you what?”

“About the envelope.”

“...!” Si-Ah froze. “H-How do you know about that...?”

“Answer my question first. Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“Th-That’s...”

Si-Ah bit her lip and lowered her head. There was no way she could have told him she was being ostracized by her classmates.

“Thanks for the lunch. I’ll be leaving first,” said SI-Ah as she suddenly stood up and stormed outside as if running away, humiliated and confused that Kang-Hyun discovered the secret she had been hiding.

“Kim SI-Ah!”

Kang-Hyun chased after Si-Ah and grabbed her wrist as she was about to turn the corner into an alley.

“Ngh! L-Let go!”

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

“What do you mean...?”

“You’re not being bullied by your classmates.”

“What...?”

Si-Ah’s eyes widened. Kang-Hyun told her everything that happened this morning. The more he explained, the more crumpled Si-Ah’s expression turned.

“So... that son of a bitch Jeon Yeong-Woong planned the whole thing, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Th-That damn...!”

She stomped her feet in tears of frustration, showing how pained she had been all this time. Kang-Hyun’s heart hurt from seeing her.

“I won’t forgive that son of a bitch!” Si-Ah shouted.

“Oh, I’ve dealt with him, so you don’t have to worry.”

“What...? You did?” Si-Ah stared at Kang-Hyun in disbelief.

“Yeah. It’s a bit hard to explain in detail, but... he won’t bother you anymore.”

“...” Si-Ah clenched the hems of her skirt in silence. “Thanks...”

She had thought her cold demeanor and introverted personality caused her classmates to hate her but it had been a misunderstanding. A sense of relief filled her heart.

“Is that all you have to say for yourself?” said Kang-Hyun.

“H-Huh?”

Kang-Hyun approached the teary-eyed and relieved Si-Ah and continued, “You were being bullied even before the break, weren’t you? Why did you never tell me?”

“Th-That’s because... I didn’t know it was Jeon Yeong-Woong.”

“Even if you didn’t know it was him!”

Slam!

Kang-Hyun drove the backstepping Si-Ah to the wall and smashed his hand on the wall.

He shouted, “You should have told me!”

He momentarily wondered if he had pushed her a bit too far but quelled the sense of guilt boiling in his head and stared intently at Si-Ah.

‘Considering Si-Ah’s personality, I have to be strong.’

“A-Aaaahh.”

Si-Ah’s face turned bright red like in an anime and she subtly trembled. She stuttered uncontrollably and softly grabbed Kang-Hyun’s clothes.

She mumbled, “I-I... apologize. I will be a good girl from now on.”

‘Huh? Why is she being so formal all of a sudden?’