Eighteen’s Bed Novel Completed - Chapter 108 My Graduation Day

The long rainy season continued. The news reported that the typhoon that had recently passed was merely a child’s prank compared to the one approaching. My father, whose flight schedule was canceled, had to stay home longer than expected and was constantly anxious.

“It’s strange how frequent the typhoons are. This usually doesn’t happen in Korea. Did I come to Korea for nothing? With the schedule constantly being delayed, every day is a loss.”

Hearing those words in passing, I was engulfed in guilt. The northward-moving typhoon, refusing to diminish in size even after crossing the sea, relentlessly approached the continent. The weather reporter said that at this rate, it was expected to hit the capital tonight. In that case, closing schools would be permissible, but in this hellish Korea, such a thing would never happen.

A disaster stronger than the approaching typhoon swept over me. Last night, I wasn’t in my right mind. I couldn’t even properly remember how I fell asleep and woke up. I had a throbbing headache, but no fever. It felt as if a fuse in my head had blown.

Of all days, on such a day, as I closed the main gate and walked down the street, a large figure suddenly burst out from an alley near Go Yohan’s house. There was no warning, no sign.

“Wah!”

For a moment, I almost fell to my knees. What was even more embarrassing was that I froze and then hiccuped.

“Sorry, you must have been surprised. So-sorry.”

The moment I saw his mischievous face, devoid of any remorse, a chill ran down my spine. Rather than anger, I felt goosebumps. Hiccup. Then, a hiccup squeezed out from between my tightly sealed lips, trying not to look uncool.

“Wh-why are you suddenly there…?”

“Me?”

Go Yohan, with one hand in his pocket and the other pointing to the alley he had just emerged from, spoke slyly. His upturned lips fully revealed his sharp canines.

“Indeed, why did I come out from there?”

“…You weren’t waiting for me, were you?”

“Of course not. You’re so full of yourself.”

The hand that was pointing to the alley returned to its place, and his long fingers plunged deep into his pants pocket. Go Yohan in front of me was the same as always. He maintained his characteristic arrogant posture. Go Yohan, who slightly bent his waist towards me, said,

“I just saw you coming out, so I thought I’d surprise you.”

“Such useless mischief…”

“Useless?”

Go Yohan slowly straightened his back and pulled his hand out of his pocket, a hand I thought he’d never remove. His now homeless hands were neatly clasped below his stomach. Tilting his head, Go Yohan smiled slightly and raised the hand that had been in his pocket all along.

“Hello?”

“…?”

“Since we met by chance, let’s go to school together.”

“Wh-what?”

“It’s about strengthening our bond as close friends.”

Hiccup. My shoulders involuntarily twitched. While my quick wit was working, Go Yohan made the first move. He grabbed my protruding collar with his thumb and forefinger and pulled me in the direction he was going. Hiccup. The hiccups didn’t stop. As I followed him quietly, my mind racing, his fingers finally released my collar without a word.

It was a truly unnatural atmosphere.

My heart, assimilated by the atmosphere, pounded with anxiety, threatening to burst, yet ironically, my mind settled down coldly. Selection and focus. It was a sensation like a circuit breaker had tripped, preparing for the storm that would hit my path towards the future.

Why today of all days? It could have been a coincidence. It really could have just been a coincidence… It was the reason that suppressed the endlessly leaking doubts. I secretly hit my forehead.

Don’t think too deeply. All that comes back are lies anyway.

Thinking that way somewhat cleared my head. Lunch was the same. Go Yohan, Kim Seokmin, Lee Seokhyun, Park Dongcheol, who seemed unusually more excited these days, and Kim Minho, whose intentions were as black as night, were busy chattering away. Kim Minho was a more excellent actor than I had imagined. He didn’t look at me once throughout lunch, nor did he give me any hints. Throughout the meal, we both acted as if we didn’t know each other.

However, the messages were different.

「Fucking hell, I’m so nervous, I’ve already smoked two packs, damn it, I really crave a smoke.」

Of course, I ignored Kim Minho.

Annoyingly, Kim Minho was tireless. His annoyance continued until I was waiting for the music teacher in the faculty office.

「This fucking bastard is ignoring me again.」

At this point, I had no choice but to reply. I didn’t want to create any troublesome situations.

「I’m busy.」

「What are you busy with, you bastard? What else do you do besides burying your head in books and studying, you son of a bitch?」

「I’m busy doing things you can’t.」

Immediately, an alarm rang, but I didn’t want to see it, so I just turned off the vibration. I put my phone in my pocket and sat down, and the music teacher came in, jingling keys. As soon as our eyes met, I shot up from my seat.

“Fortunately, it’s here, the music room’s spare key. Is this enough?”

“Yes, thank you very much for lending it to me.”

“Well… I’m fine, just thank your homeroom teacher. If it weren’t for your homeroom teacher’s request, I wouldn’t have lent it to you, even if it was you.”

“Yes. I’ll definitely thank my homeroom teacher too.”

“Alright.”

“Yes.” With my short reply, a bundle of keys was placed in my palm. I was going to wait until the music teacher gave permission for me to leave, but he added a few more words, lightly patting my shoulder.

“Study hard.”

“Yes…”

“You have to go to Hankuk University, right? The principal and vice-principal are so looking forward to putting up a banner for you.”

I nodded repeatedly, feigning sincerity. After a long lecture, the music teacher sat down on a nearby chair as if collapsing and waved his fingertips. It was a signal to leave. I bowed deeply and left. And as soon as I closed the door, I leaned against it and let out a desperate sigh. “Ha, goddammit.”

“Ha, so this is what it means for things to be truly fucked up.”

Frustrated, I puffed out one cheek with air and rolled it around.

“Do I really have to do something like this…?”

But if I don’t do something like this, I can’t survive right now. And of all people, to be caught by a bastard like Kim Minho. I exhaled the air I had gathered in my mouth and pulled out my phone from my pocket. Looking at the screen, I immediately regretted it. Damn it, I read the text trash. The messages that had accumulated in that short time were truly a sight to behold.

「You bastard, you son of a bitch, what the hell happened?」

「If you ignore me, I’ll pluck out 20 of your teeth and smash your eyeballs.」

「Ignoring me? You bastard, ignoring me?」

「Kang Jun, you son of a bitch, you’ll die sucking Go Yohan’s dick.」

I want to die right now. To think I’m being manipulated by a guy like this.

「Music room after class, key in my locker. Number 28.」

「How did you get the key, you bastard? You’re crazy.」

I ignored him again. Every time I saw his messed-up grammar, it tormented me that I was being used by such a guy. And this wasn’t the time to be idle. I had to tell Go Yohan to come to the music room quickly…

“What the hell am I supposed to do, damn it…”

My stubbornly braced legs gave way. I slid down the wall, my back against it, and slumped onto the floor. My hands were already drenched in sweat. My conscience screamed. Are you really going to do it? Knowing what will happen? When I thought like that, I wanted to go back and return the key immediately, but then that strange feeling, which I didn’t know where it had been hiding inside me, would suddenly flash and squeeze my mind.

He doesn’t care about your well-being. He just likes whatever feels good and fun to him right now. You know you’re not that big of a deal to Go Yohan. Nothing more, nothing less than a prank. So you have to survive, Kang Jun.

Zzzzing, a vibration echoed in my hand. At the same time, the thought that flashed and then disappeared was my true feeling.

‘In this world, only I can protect myself, and I am my only ally.’

I looked at the screen. It was Go Yohan. The moment I hesitated, flustered by Go Yohan suddenly looking for me, the music teacher burst out, opening the door.

“What are you doing? Class started ages ago.”

Oops. Startled, I checked the time. I had been staring at it the whole time, yet I hadn’t realized. What an airhead.

“S-sorry.”

Damn it. I scrambled up and rushed down the stairs. All the while, the wind violently rattled the windows. I paused for a moment and watched the trees shaking wildly. The wind howled strangely through the window cracks. The sound was a little grotesque. It felt as if the end of the world was approaching.

I roughly ruffled the back of my head. I had thought something ridiculous.

After returning to the classroom, I had to make an excuse that wasn’t even an excuse.

Someone next to me threw a joke that wasn’t even funny. “Kang Jun, do you smoke?” I ignored the useless words. Since there was no reaction, they seemed to lose interest and soon quieted down.

When class ended, I turned my body to look at Go Yohan, and Go Yohan gestured for me to come over. What could I do? I got up and headed to Go Yohan’s seat. Go Yohan, who had been sitting with his back against the chair and both hands in his pockets, straightened up as I approached and said,

“Why were you so late for class? Are you just going to go wild now? Hey, you punk.”

“You’re the punk, not me.”

“Jun, you need to have some conscience. I listened to class harder than you, you know?”

His hand, now resting on his chest, caught my eye. I stared at his closely trimmed fingernails, then took a small breath. After hesitating, I opened my mouth. It had to be now. It was thanks to a realistic judgment.

“Go Yohan.”

“Huh? Why?”

“After class…”

The words I was forcing out abruptly stopped. The heavy weight of life pressed down on me. This was not only my weight, but Go Yohan’s weight as well. Uh, um, uh… I was a complete idiot. My chest felt tight, and my breath hitched.

At that moment, Go Yohan narrowed his brows and stared at me. He truly stared, piercingly.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Should I do it? Should I not? Will you live? Or will you let Go Yohan live? Are you going to kill Go Yohan to save yourself? But then, should I save Go Yohan, who deceived me? And who knows what kind of prank he’ll pull on me next.

Zzzzing, at that moment, I felt a vibration on my thigh. Zzzzing, something was chasing me, seeking me out. Surely no one would be interested, but it felt as if thousands of eyes were watching me. And the words those eyes spoke to me.

Deposed Queen Kang.

My mind snapped awake, and I instinctively opened my mouth.

“Let’s meet in the music room after class.”

Words spoken cannot be unsaid. But my hand clamped over my mouth as if to pick up something. Complex emotions surged. Perhaps I even thought I had made a mistake. The usual me would never have done this. Normally… I would have been a little wiser…

Watching Go Yohan’s slowly changing expression, I thought it was all over.

In the music room, Kim Minho would be hiding behind the curtains. That was the only good place to hide in the music room. The velvet curtains were opaque and heavy, perfect for someone to hide behind.

As soon as homeroom ended, I rushed to the music room as if fleeing. I put my bag on the desk and quietly muttered “damn it” to myself, and sure enough, I heard snickering from behind the curtains.

“Kim Minho, is that you?”

“Yeah, you bastard. You must be really nervous.”

“…So what, you son of a bitch?”

“You’re doing this for your own good too, aren’t you? Shut your mouth. Hey, now really shut up. Director Kim is coming out.”

The soundproof music room became quiet again. Not even the slightest noise could be heard. The sounds were completely absorbed by the soundproofing material on the walls. Just like my suffocated heart.

I just want to drown in a fishbowl like this.