“Ah, when you put it that way, it’s a bit embarrassing for me.”

Choi Yu Han laughed and scratched his cheek. His appearance looked so gentle and harmless that I was momentarily taken aback.

“What brings you here?”

I asked while taking a step back. Choi Yu Han laughed and raised both hands.

“I’m not up to anything. Don’t be so tense.”

Given our history, I couldn’t trust him. Of course, most of the wrongdoings were done by the other guys from Haeseong High School, and Choi Yu Han had actually helped me, but still.

When I didn’t drop my suspicious gaze, Choi Yu Han spoke as if making an excuse.

“I just came to hang out. There’s nowhere else to play around here.”

Choi Yu Han pointed behind him with his hand. There was a bunch of delinquents from Haeseong High School. They seemed to be Choi Yu Han’s friends.

‘Doesn’t seem like he’s lying.’

I thought as I slightly lowered my guard.

‘But why did he talk to me?’

Although he had helped me a lot when I was kidnapped, Choi Yu Han and I weren’t really on pretend-to-know-each-other terms. We weren’t close enough to say we had a special relationship.

‘No… considering the relationship between Sam Dae Boi and Choi Yu Han, we’re closer to being enemies.’

Well, just because they have a bad relationship doesn’t mean I have to be on bad terms with him too.

Even so, I didn’t really have much to say to Choi Yu Han, so I just stood there blankly. There were things I was curious about regarding him, but I didn’t want to get too involved, so I buried my curiosity.

‘…But do I have to keep standing like this?’

Since he had acknowledged me first, I thought he would say something, but Choi Yu Han was quiet. I waited for him to speak for a while, but unable to hold back, I opened my mouth.

“Um, sorry, but if you have nothing to say, I’ll get going. I have company.”

As I was about to take a step, Choi Yu Han grabbed me.

“Can we talk for a bit?”

Huh?

In the end, I moved to another spot with Choi Yu Han.

‘What about Seon Woo Jin…?’

We had just entered a random nearby cafe, and I belatedly became worried.

‘Let me send a text.’

I took out my phone, sent Seon Woo Jin a brief explanation of the situation, and sat down.

Choi Yu Han was smiling brightly as always. The atmosphere seemed a bit different somehow. Is it just my feeling?

“What did you call me to talk about?”

At my words, Choi Yu Han laughed softly.

“You get straight to the point.”

Well, it’s not like I’m going to chat pleasantly with you…

I had followed him thinking there might be something important to discuss, but I had no intention of talking for long. Above all, Seon Woo Jin would be waiting too.

Confirming my intention, Choi Yu Han brought up the subject without hesitation.

“I heard from Hae Yul. He said you were the one who told him about the fight that day.”

As I thought, it was about that.

I answered yes.

‘He’s not trying to take me to task for why I did that, is he?’

Honestly, from an outsider’s perspective, it was clearly a meddlesome action. Moreover, from Choi Yu Han’s point of view, it wouldn’t have been a pleasant thing, so I wouldn’t be able to say anything even if he scolded me.

However, contrary to my expectations, Choi Yu Han’s attitude was favorable.

“Don’t be tense. I’m not here to blame you.”

He even smiled. Assuring me that he really wasn’t going to say anything bad, Choi Yu Han continued in a calm voice.

“The reason I asked to talk… is because I have something to say.”

Of course. I thought indifferently.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while, but I never had the chance. I’m glad to meet you like this.”

What is he trying to say, beating around the bush like this?

However, even I couldn’t help but react to Choi Yu Han’s next words.

“First of all, I want to apologize for what I said before.”

What?

Startled by his completely unexpected words, I blinked my eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Did he have something to apologize to me for? To begin with, I hadn’t had many conversations with Choi Yu Han, so nothing came to mind.

“For badmouthing Sam Dae Boi.”

Ah, if it’s that…

Choi Yu Han had indeed expressed his dislike towards Sam Dae Boi in front of me many times. But.

“That’s not something you need to apologize to me for, right? You should apologize to Sam Dae Boi, not me.”

Choi Yu Han shook his head.

“I said some things to you too.”

What did he say… Ah.

Now that I think about it, he seemed to have said something about disliking Sam Dae Boi having a friend like me. I don’t remember well.

Recalling that time, I spoke.

“It’s fine. It’s not like I was particularly hurt or anything.”

“Then will you accept my apology?”

“I don’t think it’s something you need to apologize for in the first place…?”

I’m telling you to apologize to Sam Dae Boi, not me.

Anyway, Choi Yu Han seemed relieved by my words and his face became more relaxed.

And we sat in silence for a while.

‘Hmm… This is awkward.’

The atmosphere was uncomfortable since we weren’t really on terms to sit face to face and have a pleasant chat.

‘Should I say I’ll get going if he’s done talking?’

Just as I was about to speak first.

“I used to hate Sam Dae Boi. Because of Hae Yul. You know what happened, right?”

At Choi Yu Han’s words, I paused for a moment and then nodded.

“Hae Yul… had a really hard time. He says he’s fine now, but from the perspective of someone who watched him back then, honestly, I’m still worried.”

A lonely voice spoke.

“Because at that time, he tried to die.”

I flinched. Choi Yu Han laughed weakly.

“His hand was everything to Hae Yul. He dreamed of becoming a pianist. Having lost everything, he must have lost the will to live too.”

His tone was calm, but the content was not. I didn’t know how to react, so I just looked at Choi Yu Han silently.

Choi Yu Han continued.

“The reason I picked a fight with Sic Boi was because of that too. Jin Hae Yul hated Sic Boi.”

It was new information. Hated him? Why?

According to Choi Yu Han’s explanation, Seon Woo Jin’s hand was also injured around the same time as Jin Hae Yul’s, and it was because of Sung Ji Chan. He said it happened during a fistfight, but he didn’t give any details.

Anyway, Jin Hae Yul was distressed whenever he saw Seon Woo Jin.

“I think he compared himself to Sic Boi even more because they injured the same hand. While he was in so much pain that he wanted to die, that guy was always carefree… From Hae Yul’s perspective, it must have angered him.”

Jin Hae Yul himself resented and held a grudge against Sung Ji Chan, but seeing Seon Woo Jin act as if nothing happened made him feel like he had become a bad person and filled him with self-loathing.

Moreover, while losing his hand was like his world collapsing, Seon Woo Jin didn’t seem to take it seriously, which also made him angry.

Seon Woo Jin also knew that Jin Hae Yul reacted sensitively to his hand. So he deliberately kept his distance, Choi Yu Han said.

“In the end, it’s all meaningless.”

Choi Yu Han smiled faintly.

“I actually know. Sam Dae Boi isn’t at fault, but I felt like I had to blame someone.”

Otherwise, he thought Jin Hae Yul might really die.

“But now that Hae Yul has forgiven everything… it doesn’t matter how it turns out.”

I’m not sure if it can be called forgiveness, Choi Yu Han laughed.

“All this time, I really hated Sam Dae Boi. Even though they abandoned the injured Hae Yul, it seemed like they were making new friends and doing well on their own. While Hae Yul was in so much pain that he wanted to die, it was too unfair for only Sam Dae Boi to live well.”

Choi Yu Han paused for a moment and then continued.

“But this time, I realized that Sam Dae Boi’s feelings towards Hae Yul weren’t pretense but sincere… and Hae Yul said he’s okay now, so I no longer have a reason to seek revenge or anything like that. That’s why I came to apologize.”

Hearing those words, I could understand Choi Yu Han and Jin Hae Yul’s feelings a little.

“You had a hard time too.”

At my words, Choi Yu Han smiled brightly.

At that moment, Seon Woo Jin entered the cafe.

I waved my hand to let him know my location. Seon Woo Jin, who had been looking around briefly, spotted me and immediately approached.

Seeing me and Choi Yu Han, Seon Woo Jin had an expressionless face.

“Are you done talking?”

I nodded. Choi Yu Han also seemed to have said everything he wanted to say and was quietly sitting there.

Seon Woo Jin spoke stiffly.

“Then let’s go.”

With that, we got up from our seats.

After exiting the cafe, Choi Yu Han said goodbye.

“See you later then.”

I waved my hand slightly, telling him to take care. Choi Yu Han smiled and disappeared in the direction where his friends were.

Without even glancing in the direction Choi Yu Han had gone, Seon Woo Jin asked me.

“What did you talk about?”

I answered vaguely.

“Hmm… We didn’t talk about much.”

Seon Woo Jin frowned as if he wasn’t satisfied with my answer.

“But why is that guy acting so friendly?”

He seemed to dislike Choi Yu Han’s attitude. This reaction seems new to me too. I spoke without much thought.

“We really didn’t talk about much. Just…”

“Just what?”

“He said he’s sorry.”

“For what?”

“For badmouthing your hand.”

Seon Woo Jin raised one eyebrow.

Is he upset? That could be the case. Just because someone apologizes doesn’t mean you have to accept it.

But the words that came out of Seon Woo Jin’s mouth were completely different from what I expected.

“It’s annoying.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t like that guy’s smile.”

I asked back, dumbfounded.

“Why are you suddenly nitpicking?”

Seon Woo Jin didn’t answer and just had a sullen expression.

“Are you jealous by any chance?”

Then Seon Woo Jin turned his head and walked towards the school.

“Hey, wait for me!”

I hurriedly followed after him.

As I did so, I couldn’t help but laugh. Catching up to Seon Woo Jin, I grabbed his arm and burst into laughter.