“Kyaaaaah!”

A girl nearby noticed me and screamed in surprise.

I was in a state of panic.

‘What the, why is she suddenly like this!’

I swear I had no intention of laying a finger on Ye Won Han.

I could see Ye Won Han collapsed like a corpse down below. Even though I knew I had to check her condition, the shock had paralyzed my body and I couldn’t move.

I felt like crying.

Why was Ye Won Han lying there like that? And why was I like this?

‘The person I wanted to push down the stairs was Ji Chan Sung!’

Then, a certain word flashed through my mind.

‘The villainess’s self-harm blackmail.’

That’s right. This was also a common sight in romance novels.

To put it simply, it goes like this. In this development, the villainess pretends to have been hurt by the female lead to evoke the male lead’s sympathy. Usually, the male lead takes the villainess’s side and gives her sweet potatoes.[1]

‘What, then I’ve really become the female lead!’

Yu Hwa Seol, come out! You should be the female lead!

I inwardly roared, thinking of the original female lead who had somehow become air.

‘Wait, this isn’t the time for that.’

Usually in this situation, there is one person who should appear at this timing. And that is…

“What, what is going on here?”

The original male lead, Ji Chan Sung.

‘He really came.’

Was it just a coincidence that he appeared at the right timing? Or did Ye Won Han call him?

I glanced down the stairs. Ye Won Han was still curled up with a pained expression.

Ji Chan Sung rushed to Ye Won Han with a startled face.

“Ye Won Han, are you okay?”

“Ung, Ji Chan…”

Even I had to admit, her pathetic appearance sprawled on the floor was heartbreaking.

‘That must hurt.’

To be able to throw herself down the stairs for Ji Chan Sung. With that level of dedication, wouldn’t it be right to just let the two of them love each other? As for Ji Chan Sung’s opinion… well, let’s just ignore that.

“What on earth happened?”

Ji Chan Sung looked back and forth between Ye Won Han and me with confused eyes. He seemed to be trying to guess what had happened.

I came to my senses and spoke.

“I, I didn’t push her!”

Wow… truly convincing.

Even I found those words suspicious. I could think this way because I knew this situation was cliché, but if I had really been wronged, I would have been too flustered to speak. No, I think I’m already like that.

Ji Chan Sung said with unbelieving eyes.

“Ju Eun Lee… Did you really not do it?”

“Ji, Ji Chan. Don’t be like that.”

Ye Won Han grabbed Ji Chan Sung while groaning.

“Ju Eun just got a bit emotional for a moment. I just… I only said we were friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yes… I guess Ju Eun got a little carried away.”

“Huh?”

Ji Chan Sung, who knew there was no way I would like him, had a doubting face that said, ‘Her?’

I frantically waved my hands and mumbled.

‘I didn’t do it!’

Ye Won Han continued speaking, not noticing the exchange of glances between us.

“I’m sure Ju Eun didn’t mean to either.”

Ji Chan Sung rolled his eyes, not knowing whose side to take.

“Uh… yeah. I’m sure she didn’t mean to.”

It was a lukewarm response. If this were a real romance novel, Ji Chan Sung would have angrily yelled at me and disappeared with Ye Won Han, but reality was different.

‘Wow, this is really uncomfortable.’

If things had actually unfolded according to the romance novel cliché, the situation would have ended by now. But the three of us were just awkwardly standing there, watching each other.

I could hear the children whispering in my ears. Did she really push her? I didn’t see it. Me neither.

But still, Ye Won Han couldn’t have fallen by herself, right?

“…Let’s go to the infirmary for now.”

Having made a decision, Ji Chan Sung picked up Ye Won Han. I belatedly went down the stairs.

“I’ll go with you!”

If I stayed here, it felt like it would really be set in stone that I pushed her. There were already all sorts of rumors about me being involved with Ji Chan Sung, I couldn’t become a school violence perpetrator on top of that.

I deliberately spoke in a loud voice.

“I really didn’t push her!”

“I know, I know.”

Ji Chan Sung half-heartedly replied and started walking.

‘No, this jerk?’

I cursed inwardly and followed Ji Chan Sung.

But the moment we arrived at the infirmary, I deeply regretted my choice.

“Uh… hello?”

“…”

Woo Jin Seon was in the infirmary.

‘Right. It was about time for him to be here.’

I had been avoiding him these past few days, so I didn’t even think about the possibility of Woo Jin Seon being here even though I hadn’t come to the infirmary on purpose.

This guy finally returned to the infirmary after diligently attending classes these days.

‘I’m going crazy, really.’

It was so awkward I thought I would die. How many days had it been since I last saw him? In reality, it probably hadn’t been that long, but the time when I used to stick with Woo Jin Seon felt like a distant past.

I avoided his gaze and spoke.

“Haha… I should go to Ye Won…”

Damn it, this is totally unnatural.

Wasn’t this blatantly showing ‘I’m so uncomfortable with you I could die’?

‘And what the hell is this cursed love square…’

Me, Woo Jin Seon, Ji Chan Sung, Ye Won Han. This isn’t some drama, why did we have to gather here in this combination? Of course, Ji Chan Sung and I have no relationship… but still, it would look like there’s something to Ye Won Han.

I looked around the infirmary.

‘Is Yeon Ho not here?’

Please be here. Please… Teacher, you’re the only one who can resolve this ruined atmosphere…

“Are you looking for Yeon Ho hyung?”

I heard Woo Jin Seon’s voice from behind. I turned around with a forced smile on my lips.

“Ah, uh… Is the teacher not here?”

“He left a little while ago.”

Dammit.

I replied while inwardly shedding tears of blood.

“I, I see. Hahaha…”

With those words, silence flowed between us again.

Woo Jin Seon stared at me for a moment with his characteristic expressionless face, then returned to the bed where he had been sitting originally.

‘…Is he not affected at all?’

Compared to me who was dying of awkwardness, Woo Jin Seon wasn’t much different from usual. Or was he? It also seemed a bit different… But I couldn’t pinpoint exactly how.

It seemed like he didn’t have much emotional fluctuation to begin with and also didn’t express it.

‘Maybe he really doesn’t care. Yeah, actually it’s not a big deal and I’m the one overreacting.’

Come to think of it, it’s not like I was confessed to, and it’s not certain that he likes me. From Woo Jin Seon’s perspective, wouldn’t my sudden behavior be more absurd than awkward?

‘Okay, I shouldn’t be like this either and act natural.’

I made a firm resolution and opened my mouth.

“By the way, what are you doing here?”

Woo Jin Seon answered without even looking at me.

“Just because.”

Ah, right. Just because.

“…”

He really makes it hard to say anything.

‘He was always like this.’

At this point, I start to wonder if it was my misconception that he likes me. Maybe I misinterpreted things that day because I was caught up in the atmosphere?

Somehow, I’m losing steam. What was I so nervous about…

I sighed and sat across from Woo Jin Seon. I wonder what Ye Won Han and Ji Chan Sung are doing.

Then, I heard voices from the bed next to us.

“…So you’re saying Ju Eun Lee pushed you?”

It was Ji Chan Sung’s voice. Although hidden by the curtain, it seemed like he was talking with Ye Won Han.

‘I didn’t push her!’

I was about to angrily open the curtain. But Woo Jin Seon opened his mouth faster than I could act.

“What happened?”

“Huh? Ah, well…”

Flustered, I forgot that I had to refute Ye Won Han’s words and looked at Woo Jin Seon.

Woo Jin Seon was staring at the curtain where Ye Won Han and Ji Chan Sung were, not at me.

“…It’s them again.”

Woo Jin Seon’s gaze as he muttered those words was not kind.

‘Is he going to get involved and make things worse?’

Come to think of it, Woo Jin Seon had shown dislike towards Ye Won Han before.

‘I can’t let this happen.’

Before Woo Jin Seon could intervene, I started a non-explanatory explanation.

“That… it’s nothing! I talked with Ye Won Han a bit and she misstepped and fell down the stairs. That’s why we came here.”

“Aha, she misstepped.”

Woo Jin Seon had a sneer on his lips.

“Then why is she saying you pushed her?”

…The atmosphere feels strange.

Sensing a crisis instinctively, I rambled on.

“Oh, there must have been a misunderstanding. Ye Won probably got confused.”

Why the hell is he so angry?

Come to think of it, this was the source of the sense of discomfort I felt earlier. Woo Jin Seon seemed more sensitive than usual. Should I say his nerves were on edge? Anyway, it was different from his usual indifferent attitude.

‘Since he’s being like that, I can’t get angry…’

It was like someone was getting angry on my behalf. I felt like I had to calm Woo Jin Seon down instead.

‘For now, let’s pretend nothing happened as much as possible.’

I faked composure and tried to smile.

Meanwhile, Woo Jin Seon just stared at my face silently. Unable to endure his gaze, I turned my head slightly.

At that moment, Ye Won Han’s voice came from beyond the curtain.

“I know too! That your girlfriend now is not me, but Ju Eun Lee!”

I flinched greatly.

‘…Did he hear that? He must have heard it.’

Somehow, I became scared to turn my head.

Please. Please. I prayed in my heart that Woo Jin Seon didn’t hear it… I sneakily turned my eyes and checked Woo Jin Seon’s expression.

When our eyes met, Woo Jin Seon spoke with a blank face.

“Girlfriend?”

I’m really screwed.

I squeezed my eyes shut.