It might be hard to believe, but just a week ago, I found myself inside a web novel I used to enjoy. And now, having completed my military service, I was, again, on the cusp of starting my third year of high school. This has beco my reality.
“This is driving insane...”
Right now, I was in Bucheon City, South Korea. Although the web novel never ntioned a specific city, it was Bucheon – which was just next door to where I used to live. But it wasn’t all roses.
“Lee Han-gyeol! ‘Mom’ told you to get up, right?! Are you planning on being late on the very first day of your third year? Hurry up!”
I had to endure nagging from a woman I had known for just a week, addressing her as my mother. Yet, having lost my biological mother at a young age and not receiving much love, this experience was oddly comforting.
“I better get up if I don’t want to get slapped on the back.”
After leaving my bed, I headed straight to the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror still felt unfamiliar. My face was fairly average, but I noticed I was 2 cm shorter. I might not be 180cm tall, but at around 176cm, I probably won’t be called short anywhere.
After coming out of the bathroom, I put on the unfamiliar school uniform.
“And here I am, wearing a school uniform at the age of twenty-seven...”
It was the exact uniform depicted in the novel’s illustrations. Considering Shin Eun-ha and this body were of the sa age, I secretly hoped we’d share the sa class.
“Lee Han-gyeol! Are you even up?”
“I am!”
If I delayed any longer, I might really get slapped on the back. Hastily, I changed into the school uniform and made my way to the kitchen.
“Why are you coming out so late?”
“Mother, it’s said that the more you sleep, the better it is. Once you start working, you suffer so much that you can’t even sleep properly—ow ow ow!”
“Why did you suddenly start calling ‘mother’ since a week ago? Quit the nonsense and just eat your al.”
“Yes... but, mother? There’s no food on the table. Wasn’t breakfast ready?”
“Just sit down. Can’t you drop the honorific word?”
“Get used to it, Mother. Isn’t it refreshing?”
“Enough, really...”
Was this how all moms were? Even so, it felt heartwarming to have soone prepare breakfast for after such a long ti. After eating, I headed to school.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
The month of March still had a lingering chill in the air. I never imagined that walking to school would feel so unfamiliar. Still, having beco a high school student once again, I hoped to relish in the joys of youth.
Upon entering the classroom, I imdiately checked the attendance list placed on the teacher’s desk.
Let’s see... my number is 18. That sounds a bit unlucky, doesn’t it?
“Huh?”
For a mont, the na written above mine caught my attention.
Number 17: Shin Eun-ha.
Looking again, the student sitting next to was number 17, and the person occupying that seat was nad Shin Eun-ha.
Shin Eun-ha? Could it be the sa Shin Eun-ha I know?
“It can’t be that Shin Eun-ha, can it?”
Just as I was murmuring to myself, the front door slid open. A female student in a neatly worn uniform, with her skirt at its original length, walked in. The mont I saw the girl who cautiously entered the class, my breath caught in my throat.
On her face, delicately and precisely placed features were prominent.
And the girl with eyes like a deer stepped into the classroom.
Without realizing it, my heart began to race.
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, and it was undoubtedly Shin Eun-ha.
The girl I had admired for 2 years was now right before , alive and moving.
“Uh… Hello?”
“Wow- Shin Eun-ha.”
“Uh… Huh? Do you know ?”
Of course.
But I couldn’t just say that.
“Yeah, I have seen you a few tis while passing by in the corridor.”
“Oh, so that was it. I was worried I might’ve forgotten you or sothing, haha..”
“Not at all. We never really interacted. Anyway, please take care of this year. You’re my seatmate.”
“Oh..? Ahh... so that’s why you were saying my na?”
“You heard that?”
To be frank, I’m twenty-seven years old. Isn’t that a bit risky?
Actually, no. Since I’m now nineteen, it probably doesn’t matter.
“It’s okay. I almost got the wrong idea, but your explanation just now cleared it.”
She’s truly kind-hearted.
No doubt, she was the main heroine of this web novel.
However, she seed a little sad.
Only about two months must have passed since she went through that ordeal.
“You were in class 1 during the second year, right?”
“Yes, I was. How did you know?”
“I think I saw you when I went to class 1 to visit a friend.”
“Oh... Which class were you in? Oh, wait, what’s your na?”
“? I’m Lee Han-gyeol. I was in class 5 during the second year.”
“Nice to et you, Han-gyeol”
Every ti her voice reached my ears, I found myself smiling.
Having a proper conversation with my favorite heroine...
Could there be a greater happiness than this?
Yet, I still yearned for more.
“Want so candy?”
“Candy? What flavor?”
“Probably the one you like the most?”
“Hmm… Do you know what my favorite flavor is?”
“Not at all. Just a wild guess.”
That was a lie.
I knew very well that Shin Eun-ha liked orange-flavored candy.
After buying the web novel’s setting book, I had practically morized every detail about her.
Back in my original world, I always carried orange-flavored candies in my pocket to quit smoking.
However, even after quitting smoking, I couldn’t break my habit of carrying orange-flavored candy, so I continued it here.
“Hmm… Wouldn’t it be difficult to guess?”
“If I guess it right, grant one request.”
“Oh? Should I? But I could lie, you know?”
“Hahaha- I can clearly see you’re not that type of person.”
There was no way Shin Eun-ha would lie.
It was rather cheap of to leverage her inability to refuse, but in order to beco closer to her in a short ti, I shouldn’t hold back.
“Okay. Let’s see if you can guess.”
“Is it this?”
I cautiously took out the orange-flavored candy from the pocket of my school uniform.
“Wow..! How did you know? I don’t eat any other flavor except for orange.”
“I’m a bit of a psychic.”
“It’s amazing that you guessed it in one go…!”
“So, you’ll grant my request?”
“Yeah, sure. What is it?”
“Let’s have lunch together.”
****
When lunchti arrived, Eun-ha and I headed to the cafeteria together. Our casual chats during the breaks had created a hint of familiarity between us. I approached Eun-ha cautiously, ensuring it wasn’t too overwhelming.
“Do you know what’s on the nu for lunch today?”
“Tteokbokki, gimbap rolls, and odeng soup.”
“That’s such a typical high school al.”
“Well, Han-gyeol, you’re a high school student, aren’t you?”
Ah, right.
I am a high school student now.
“Yeah, that’s true.”
“Hehe. Why do you look flustered?”
“I-I’m not flustered.”
“Really? I’ll take your word for it.”
We joined the long queue for food at the cafeteria entrance. While I was pondering what topic to discuss next, Eun-ha initiated the conversation.
“Han-gyeol, you’re quite sociable, aren’t you?”
“? I’m not the type to be particularly interested in others.”
“Really? That’s surprising. I was worried about this new sester since I got separated from my friends, But eting you has been a relief.”
I knew the friends she was referring to were Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin. For her, they were pretty much the only friends she had. Throughout the first and second years, the three of them had been inseparable. However, Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin beca a couple.
This inevitably ant Eun-ha had to distance herself from them. It was difficult to join another group when there was already an established group. But considering Eun-ha’s personality and beauty, she could easily blend in anywhere in the class. However, I managed to approach her first.
“Really? To be honest, I don’t have any close friends. If I had to na one, you’d be the first.”
In the mories of this ‘Lee Han-gyeol’, there wasn’t a single person he could call a friend. I rembered him always minding his business, working in silence. Hearing my story, this unfortunate heroine gave a smile.
“Hehe - Really? Thanks for saying sothing so nice.”
“It’s n-nothing...! Haha..!”
Her laughter was fatally beautiful.
“Enjoy your al.”
“You too, Eun-ha.”
After getting our als, Eun-ha and I sat across from each other at the sa table.
When I eat, I really just focus on the food. Yet, I found myself stealing glances at Eun-ha as she ate.
The way she scooped food into her small mouth was both adorable and endearing. It oddly reminded of watching a young niece eat, which made the feeling sowhat unsettling... Nevertheless, I tried to synchronize my eating pace with hers.
“I’ve finished eating. Han-gyeol, did I...uh, eat too slowly?”
“Not at all? I just finished too. Let’s get up and...!”
Just as I was about to pick up my tray and stand, I saw Kang Seo-ha and Dolphin approaching from the opposite side.
Damn it.
The atmosphere was so pleasant, I didn’t want anything to spoil Eun-ha’s mood.
“Look! There’s candy falling outside!”
“Huh? Candy?”
I hurriedly diverted Eunha’s gaze elsewhere. But there was no chance of candy falling outside, so her gaze quickly returned. She looked at with a puzzled expression, so I chuckled awkwardly.
“Haha... I, I was just kidding!”
“Oh, really? Haha... Shall we get up?”
Embarrassed, I quickly picked up my tray and headed for the exit. As I left the cafeteria, Eun-ha followed out.
“What do you usually do during lunchti, Han-gyeol?”
“Huh? Lunchti? Not much really. I read or study. Sotis I play basketball.”
“Oh, really? Do you like reading?”
Eun-ha was a mber of the library club and loved reading. But the reason she grew fond of reading was sowhat sad. As a child, with her busy parents, her only friend had been books.
“Yes. I like both fiction and non-fiction.”
“Non-fiction? Do you an like philosophy books?”
“Mhm. I don’t really discriminate when reading. Want to go to the library together?”
Eun-ha seed genuinely pleased to find soone who shared her passion for books. For the first ti, she gave a radiant smile.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Please, don’t smile like that.
It felt like my heart might stop.
--- End OF The Chapter ---
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