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Back in his first year, no one had talked to him.
If anyone made eye contact, they’d quickly look away.
Jeongseo had assumed everyone hated him.
He’d been so angry at being hated for no reason that during dodgeball games, he’d try to wipe out the opposing team.
“Kim Woosik told them not to hang out with me?”
“Yeah, he gathered all the class presidents and vice presidents and told them that if anyone hung out with you, Shin Byungwoo would crush them. People didn’t have a choice. There were rumors about Shin Byungwoo being in a gang, and he looked terrifying too. Everyone was scared and avoided you.”
Only then did Jeongseo realize why he’d been isolated for no apparent reason in his first year, and why now, people like Hyunsoo and others had become more friendly toward his this year.
“After a year of not being able to get close to you, some people still feel awkward and guilty about it. Kim Woosik’s still around, but no one’s really scared of him anymore.”
“I see…”
Jeongseo murmured quietly, his jaw clenched.
Suddenly, his tail flicked out with a sharp pop, swishing back and forth violently.
It cut through the air so sharply that Hayan instinctively leaned back.
Sensing Jeongseo’s unusual silence, Hayan cautiously checked his mood.
“Well, at least no one in our grade hates you now. Don’t let it get to you too much.”
Before Jeongseo could reply, the bell rang. Hayan lightly tapped Jeongseo on the arm.
“Let’s head back to class…”
Jeongseo, who had been absentmindedly flicking his tail, looked up at the pause in Hayan’s voice.
But Hayan wasn’t looking at him.
His eyes were focused on something—or someone—behind Jeongseo.
He frowned and muttered, “That stalker bastard,” before hurrying back to his class.
Curious, Jeongseo turned around and was startled. Beyond the hallway window, Pyo Yoontae was staring coldly at him.
As soon as their eyes met, Pyo Yoontae wiggled his fingers in a quick gesture, clearly signaling for his to come over.
Not that Jeongseo needed any extra prompting, as he had already been planning to see him.
The door creaked open, and as Jeongseo cautiously peeked inside, Pyo Yoontae spoke, his face full of displeasure.
“Jeongseo, are you going to keep doing this? I’m getting upset…”
Pyo Yoontae’s sulking expression softened when he saw Jeongseo’s angrily flicking tail and his frustrated face.
Seeing how mad Jeongseo was, Pyo Yoontae came closer and asked,
“What’s wrong? Why are you so mad? What did that mouse say to you?”
Jeongseo shook his head and grabbed Pyo Yoontae’s wrist, leading his to their seats.
The bell had already rung, and sitting down was the priority.
Once seated, Jeongseo took a deep breath and leaned in to whisper in Pyo Yoontae’s ear.
“Kim Woosik told everyone not to hang out with me in our first year, so that’s why they all avoided me.”
Kim Woosik was truly a horrible person. Jeongseo, who had already disliked him, now hated his even more.
At the same time, learning that the others didn’t actually hate his gave his a strange sense of relief, leaving his with mixed feelings.
Pyo Yoontae, understanding why Jeongseo was upset, nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, what a jerk.”
“Exactly. I never even did anything to Kim Woosik. It’s so unfair!”
Listening quietly, Pyo Yoontae suddenly grew curious about something.
Why had Kim Woosik targeted Seo Jeongseo in the first place?
He had heard rumors that some of last year’s third-years had also bullied Jeongseo.
Though rural schools were supposed to be stricter, Dangang High seemed to have no real hierarchy between seniors and juniors.
“When did Kim Woosik start picking on you?”
“Since I first entered high school.”
“Did you two know each other before then?”
“No, we met for the first time in high school.”
“So how did you end up meeting him?”
“Oh, I came to school early on the first day and wandered around. I saw his behind the gym, but I didn’t talk to him. I talked to another third-year instead.”
“What did you talk about?”
“Not much. That third-year asked me to date him.”
“…What?”
“You said you asked them out?” Yoontae Pyo glanced down at Jeongseo, who spoke as if it was no big deal.
Yeah, he thought.
Even I find his cute, so how could others not?
His eyes were round and large, with clear, spotless pupils.
His nose was perfectly sized, the tip slightly rounded, and his bottom lip was just plump enough, giving his a delicate look.
Moreover, he’s active, so his body is well-proportioned, and his personality is lively and innocent.
If it weren’t for this special situation, Yoontae was sure Jeongseo would’ve been in at least 20 relationships by now.
Yoontae also believed there were probably at least five kids at school secretly harboring crushes on Jeongseo at that moment.
Jeongseo had poor eyesight—if only he wore glasses with thick lenses like a mouse.
But last time, he said his vision was around 0.9, so he didn’t need them.
Ferrets typically have bad eyesight, but Jeongseo had even dodged that.
Yoontae looked at his with mild dissatisfaction and, for no reason, pressed down on his nose with his index finger.
“Why are you doing this!”
The pressure made his nose flare up, causing a nasally sound.
Jeongseo struggled to push Yoontae’s hand away, and it took a moment before it finally dropped.
Seeing the tip of his nose turn red made Yoontae want to bite it.
“So, what did you say?”
“Huh?”
“What did you say to the person who asked you out?”
Though he had guessed Jeongseo probably rejected them, having never dated before, Yoontae still wanted to hear it from his lips.
Jeongseo hesitated for a moment before whispering softly.
“I said they smelled like the village chief and ran away.”
Yoontae almost burst out laughing but managed to hold it in.
Covering his mouth with his hand, he stifled the urge to laugh and looked at Jeongseo with a calm expression.
“Don’t laugh. Now that I think about it, maybe I was too harsh. It was the first time I met them, after all.”
Embarrassed by his own words, Jeongseo rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand.
Smelled like the village chief?
What kind of smell was that? Anyway, Jeongseo always had the most unexpected reactions.
Just moments ago, Yoontae had felt a bit annoyed, but now all his irritation had melted away.
Still slightly amused, Yoontae lightly tapped Jeongseo’s chin, like you would with a puppy.
Jeongseo flinched, his shoulders and face trembling slightly from the tickling sensation.
“If anyone confesses to you again, just say the same thing, Jeongseo.”
“…That’s way too harsh…!”
“The ones who confess without knowing their place are the real problem.”
Jeongseo had shared his awkward experience, but Yoontae seemed to be enjoying it way too much.
And telling his to say it again next time—did Yoontae really reject confessions in such a brutal way?
The other person would be devastated.
“Do people need to ‘know their place’ to confess?”
“Yes. Those who confess without knowing their place should go extinct.”
“…”
That was a harsh statement. Jeongseo wondered if it was a joke, but there was no laughter or hint of sarcasm in Yoontae’s voice, so he seemed serious.
Jeongseo was taken aback when their classmate Shin Byungwoo suddenly confessed to him, but was it really something to hate this much?
Everyone’s different, so it wasn’t for Jeongseo to judge.
Left with nothing to say, Jeongseo let out a small, awkward laugh.
He felt the heat of Yoontae’s gaze on him, which made his uneasy.
“Uh… Jeongseo and Yoontae? Can you two focus?”
The class president was frowning and staring at them.
Grateful for the distraction, Jeongseo took the chance to brush Yoontae’s hand off his chin and sat up straight.
“Sorry!”
Luckily, Yoontae turned his attention forward too, and the meeting about the class’s lineup for the sports day resumed.
[2nd Year, Class 4 Sports Day Player List]
[…]
[Basketball: Pyo Yoontae, Park Seungchan, Lee Kanghyun, Joo Seokjin… (and others).]
[…]
[Dodgeball: Seo Jeongseo, Jung Minjung, Ryu Jei… (and others).]
[…]
[Relay: Do Jooyeon, Baek Jeongmin, Pyo Yoontae.]
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He is cute
He jelly