Eighteen’s Bed Novel Completed - Chapter 32

Lee Seokhyun replied in a small voice and moved his feet. Listening to the increasingly faint, clumsy footsteps, I fell into thought for a moment. The problem still wasn’t clear. Only other problems filled my head.

I quietly scratched my head with the black pen I was holding. Focus, you idiot.

“……What are you doing?”

Kim Minho seemed to have seen me, asking with a strange expression.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing, just having trouble with a problem.”

I shrugged. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, I asked with an awkward feeling.

“Aren’t you going with him?”

“Nah, I don’t feel good.”

“I see. Um, go to the infirmary and get some antacids.”

It was an offhand remark, but Kim Minho reacted sensitively. Kim Minho’s face was full of annoyance as he stomped his foot violently and shouted.

“Hey, antacids or whatever, but didn’t Go Yohan just totally ignore you? Did you notice?”

“Huh?”

“That bastard just dismissed you! Didn’t you notice?”

“He did?”

He did, actually. But I said the opposite.

“Nah, no way. Couldn’t be.”

“You’re so oblivious, you idiot.”

It’s not that I’m oblivious, it’s that I’m quick-witted. Kim Minho doesn’t seem to know that I’m pretending not to know on purpose. There’s no need to go around talking about how Go Yohan ignored me. It’s just self-sabotage. I’m almost grateful he fell for it. I, on the contrary, put on an innocent, clueless face. Seeing my expression, Kim Minho let out an “Ugh!” and punched the air, then said in a slightly anxious tone.

“Honestly, don’t you think Go Yohan is a total jerk?”

I’m not stupid enough to be honest with Kim Minho about Go Yohan. I just subtly rolled my eyes.

“Ah, but can’t we talk after I go to the restroom for a bit?”

“Ah, damn it… You bastard.”

Actually, I didn’t really need to go to the restroom. I just wanted to avoid talking to Kim Minho.

Even more horrifying was the fact that while I was briefly in the restroom, Han Taesan had secretly left a drink on my desk. Who else would leave a drink for me but that bastard? I threw it away secretly without even drinking it.

That day, the final exam report cards came out. The homeroom teacher handed out the report cards starting from those closest to the podium. I had no expectations. I figured I’d be second place, as always, since my grades were always the same, so I received it without much emotion. But on the way back, folding the flipped report card in one hand, I met Ahn Jisoo, whose expression wasn’t good.

Oh. Oh? Suddenly, a surge of triumph welled up. No way.

My stomach, which had suddenly flipped, churned wildly. I desperately tried to calm my body, which was flapping as if about to fly with hope. I pretended to be nonchalant, as if I hadn’t expected anything. If not, it would be embarrassing. My heart thumped for no reason. I sat down, trying my best to act normal, and unfolded the report card. And the number that appeared right before my eyes made me lose control of myself.

1

I sat there blankly for a moment.

“Wait, this is…”

I rubbed my eyes just in case, but nothing changed. I had beaten Ahn Jisoo.

“…No way.”

Ahn Jisoo, who always meticulously questioned the exam difficulty on report card day, didn’t come to ask me first today. He secretly bit his lip. The other students in the class, having somewhat noticed Ahn Jisoo’s expression, kept looking back and forth between us.

Unexpectedly, it was a student with little presence who spoke congratulations first. The kid sitting diagonally in front of me.

“Kang Jun. Are you first place?”

“Huh?”

I subtly glanced at Go Yohan. I don’t know why I bothered to look. But Go Yohan merely rested his chin on his left hand, tapping his unfolded report card with his fingernail. His actions were so annoying that I sharply turned my head away. I tried to make my expression as surprised as possible, not too arrogant. It was hard to keep my lips from trembling with a smile.

“Yeah. It seems so.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“Just got lucky, I guess.”

The kid, who wasn’t particularly close to me, nodded and seemed about to continue praising me. But Kim Seokmin cut off our awkward conversation.

“F*ck! Hey! Kang Jun is first in the whole school for the final exams!”

He had been half-eavesdropping nearby and shouted it for the whole neighborhood to hear.

“Wow, that study-crazed bastard. Now he’s even beating Ahn Jisoo.”

Kim Minho, who had been looking around, said this as if he had found the perfect timing.

“As expected of Kang Jun. He’s so amazing.”

Park Dong-chul said this as if he had been waiting for Kim Minho to finish.

“Kang Jun. Treat us.”

Lee Seokhyun, who had walked over to me, taking advantage of the bustling classroom, said this, lightly patting my shoulder. I kept waiting for someone to say what I thought they had to say to me, but that guy said nothing. Instead, Lee Seokhyun nudged that damn guy’s arm and asked him.

“Hey. Kang Jun got first in the whole school, why are you so indifferent?”

At those words, Go Yohan raised his head and looked at me. Go Yohan shoved both hands into his pockets. Leaning back in his chair, Go Yohan spoke slowly.

“I’m not?”

As if it had nothing to do with him, and he had no interest whatsoever. The moment I heard those words, the feeling of happiness that had been pounding as if to bloom crumpled like a piece of paper, utterly devastated. Lee Seokhyun, who was more flustered than me, let out an awkward laugh and massaged Go Yohan’s shoulder.

“Are you in a bad mood today?”

“No.”

He said it with his head sharply tilted back, glaring down. Anyone could tell he was lying.

“Did you two fight, by any chance?”

“Not really.”

This time, I denied it. I was looking at Lee Seokhyun, so I didn’t see Go Yohan’s expression. I didn’t particularly want to see it either. Constantly confirming reality and getting upset about it is just a waste of energy. I learned that well from Han Junwoo.

“Yohan must be a bit upset because he’s not satisfied with his grades.”

Anyone hearing that would think I knew what I was talking about. Though, in fact, that’s exactly how I intended for it to be understood. At the same time, it was also a jab. A hollow laugh suddenly escaped my lips. Depending on how you hear it, it’s a guess, or it’s information. I enjoy using such ambiguous speech that leaves an escape route.

“Go Yohan cares about grades? Kang Jun. Say something that makes sense.”

“No. Yohan cares a lot about grades.”

“No way.”

“It’s true.”

How little did he show that he studied for their reaction to be like this? It even made me feel like I should acknowledge his efforts. Yes. Suddenly, a generous feeling arose. Yes, it’s annoying that he made me look foolish, but at least I can praise him once. Just a few months ago, I was almost dragged into the abyss of this pyramid because of Han Junwoo. This is my repayment for him kindly grabbing me by the hair and pulling me up.

“Yohan is also ranked in the class for grades. He studies well.”

“You’re just trying to tease someone because you’re in a good mood, stop lying. You’re not good at lying.”

“No, I’m serious.”

“Wow, you should tell a lie that actually could be true. How can Go Yohan study well? Hey. Hey. Get lost.”

“Yeah. Kang Jun, that was a bit much.”

Lee Seokhyun tapped my shoulder with the back of his hand. Park Dong-chul, who had subtly come up behind me, chimed in knowingly, agreeing with Lee Seokhyun’s scolding. What do these idiots know? Suddenly, blood rushed to my head.

“You guys don’t seem to know…”

“What do you know, you bastards?”

I was about to retort, choked with emotion, when Go Yohan cursed from behind me at the same time. A cold wind harshly struck my back. I heard the sound of a chair being pushed back. The sensation on my back subtly registered Go Yohan’s movement.

I swallowed once and slowly turned around. The moment I did, my eyes met Go Yohan’s. Instantly, I instinctively avoided his gaze, pretending to look at the sky like an idiot.

Ah, damn it. So embarrassing. My fists on my knees clenched tightly.

“Don’t think I’m the same as you losers.”

Go Yohan placed his hand on top of my head. His long fingers tangled in my hair. When a slightly heavy force touched my head, I almost mistook the contact point for burning. His hot hand ruffled my hair. My hair swayed back and forth with the movement.

“I’m in such a bad mood, I can’t stay here anymore. F*ck.”

“Kang Jun, you’re such an idiot, pretending like that to hype him up. Hey. You get lost too. Both of you are boring.”

Lee Seokhyun playfully chided him. Go Yohan took the joke seriously. He punched Lee Seokhyun’s shoulder a bit hard and walked past him. The force must have been stronger than expected, as Lee Seokhyun staggered slightly.

“Ah… Go Yohan, that f*cker.”

Go Yohan didn’t seem to care at all what happened behind him. He just walked out of the classroom, carrying his bag in one hand without even putting it on. I grabbed Lee Seokhyun’s swaying arm without getting up from my seat.

“Are you okay?”

Even in this situation, I scattered worries for my reputation. Lee Seokhyun, who had been looking at the direction Go Yohan left with a slightly uneasy expression, immediately turned his gaze to me.

“Huh? Oh, oh.”

“Be careful. What if you fall?”

“Kang Jun needs to fix that prim-and-proper way of speaking. Damn it. It’s giving me goosebumps.”

“He’s so sweet. That bastard is definitely going to screw over a lot of girls when he goes to college.”

Ignoring the comments popping up beside me, I gently stroked Lee Seokhyun’s arm. Inside, I only thought this: Idiots. Bastards who won’t even go to college are acting up. Am I like you?

After a chaotic dismissal from school, tutoring, and cram school, I lay in bed and had a sudden thought. The thought that my actions for Go Yohan were very similar to my actions for Han Junwoo.

But I immediately shook my head.

No way.

I’m uneasy. I’m getting uneasy. I closed my eyes tightly and pulled the blanket over my face.

The next morning. As always, I came to school and opened my locker. To take out my textbooks. But inside the locker were strange objects that weren’t usually there. A white flower with a broken stem and plucked petals, and a crushed, dead cockroach. One wing was sticking out, and a few legs were still twitching. Below it was a neatly folded white note.

“…”

F*ck. What is this? I turned my head to look at the classroom. There were eight students in the classroom in total. None of them would do something like this. I slowly reached out my hand, grasped the corner of the note, and gently pulled. Brown fluid stained the note, and the crushed cockroach wriggled slightly, following along.

Fck. Fck. I shook my hand in disgust, and it fell to the floor with a thud. I didn’t want to touch the note if possible. It’s truly nauseating. I slipped the note between the lockers, pulling it outwards, and the content written inside became visible.

Jun, congratulations.

What is this?

Let’s think.

My mind, hazy with morning grogginess, cleared. Honestly, such childish bullying doesn’t particularly itch or hurt. However, I can’t stand the fact that an arrogant bastard, bold enough to give me such sinister harassment, is hiding right beside me.

First, I casually threw the note into the paper waste bin. I sat down with my usual gait and crossed my arms. Let’s see. Who in this classroom would dislike me enough to do something so sinister?

At first, I didn’t think it would be a difficult search, but when I actually tried to pick them out, it was ambiguous.

First, Kim Minho. He did dislike me, but currently, he seems to have more animosity towards Lee Seokhyun and Go Yohan than me. Second, I chose Choi Tae-joon and Hong Hwijun. They were close to Han Junwoo and had some power in the class at the beginning of the semester.

They might dislike me because I betrayed Han Junwoo and switched sides. But wouldn’t they dislike Park Dong-chul more than me? And it’s a bit strange for them to suddenly do something like this to me.

Third, Ahn Jisoo, who I took first place from. I quickly dismissed that hypothesis. It makes no sense.

“…Then, no way.”

The last one is Han Junwoo, who isn’t at school.

My face involuntarily contorted into a grimace. This is actually the most plausible hypothesis. A petty, childish, emotional, crazy bastard who hates only me. I tightened my grip on my crossed arms. I came to my senses and realized I was digging my nails into my forearm. My past of liking Han Junwoo is humiliating. Even if I liked him, damn it, I don’t know why I liked such a f*cking guy.

But this hypothesis was also quickly discarded. There’s no way Han Junwoo could send me such a message.

And the content written in the letter.

‘Jun.’

Han Junwoo had never once called me Jun. Kang Jun. Kang Jun. Always Kang Jun. Would he get sick if he called me Jun? Come to think of it, he was stubbornly peculiar in strange ways. Thanks to him, my name in school became Kang Jun instead of Jun, so his stubbornness was truly something else.