Chapter 18: Friends?(2)
“So, what club did you join?”
“Still thinking.”
“What? You gave me grief about it~”
Chatting with Kim Dodam, I spotted a familiar figure ahead.
The small, cute bob belonged to Choi Sua.
“That’s Choi Sua.”
“You know her?”
“Know her? She’s in our class. Pay attention to people.”
“Says you. So, you close?”
“Uh… maybe?”
“Lame answer. If you’re close, why call her by her full name?”
“Calling a girl by just her name feels weird.”
“…?”
Dodam was the only friend I could banter with like this.
Must be the childhood friend perk.
Ignoring his squinting, suspicious look, I approached Sua and tapped her shoulder.
“Hey.”
“…”
Normally quiet, Sua lit up with friends.
The closer you got, the more she opened up.
I wasn’t that close, but I thought we were at least friendly enough to chat with a smile.
“…Hey.”
Her blank response and silent march forward left my friendly gesture hanging awkwardly.
“Guess only you thought you were close,” Dodam teased.
“Shut it.”
“Why’re you mad at me…?”
Aside from that hiccup, school went smoothly, and soon it was lunch.
“Hey, Dodam, let’s play soccer.”
“Down.”
Some guys, now chummy with Dodam, called him over.
Unlike with him, they spoke to me cautiously.
“Uh, Seol Haru, wanna join?”
“Me?”
“You said your hobby’s sports.”
I vaguely recalled saying that during introductions.
They remembered?
“Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
Running around wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t feeling it.
The guys headed to the field, disappointed.
“Told you she wouldn’t, dumbass~”
“Worth a shot.”
Alone, I scanned the classroom.
Everyone except Yoo Kishin was in groups, doing something.
The heart of youth.
Pyo Jiseok was off, probably smoking, and Joo Kihyun was nowhere either.
Sitting idle felt like wasting time.
I’d been given a second shot at youth—lazing around seemed wrong.
“Still, approaching people to make friends is a high hurdle for me.”
I decided to read.
At the library, I saw Hwaseo on her tiptoes, struggling for a book.
She wasn’t short, but the shelf was just out of reach.
I grabbed it for her.
“Oh!”
“Here.”
Straining, she took it with wide eyes.
“T-Thanks.”
“No prob.”
“…”
“…”
Silence.
Clutching the book, Hwaseo hesitated, guilt on her face.
‘Too nice for her own good.’
Still tormented over erasing my memory.
It wasn’t even her choice, and it was a bad memory.
Considering the other side’s dangers, ignorance was kinder.
Starting conversations wasn’t my thing, but oh well.
“Like science?”
“H-Huh?!”
“Just saw it’s a science-y book.”
“Oh…”
Her expression softened.
“I don’t dislike it, but it’s not science. More psychology or logic.”
“Got it. Let’s sit.”
Grabbing a similar book, I led the way.
She hesitated, then followed.
I sat first, and she wavered—too shy to sit next to me, too polite to sit far.
Her indecision was obvious.
She chose the seat across.
“…”
We read in silence.
Her glances showed she couldn’t focus.
I, however, got sucked into the book.
Body theory says identical bodies mean the same person… Memory theory says identical memories mean the same personality…
Logical, philosophical stuff.
It hit close to home, sparking interest.
If teleportation’s possible, is the teleported me the same as before?
If a clone’s made, are they the same person?
Body, memory, or something else—what defines identity?
If only my memories persist, am I the same as my past life’s self…?
Am I Seol Haru or not?
Lost in thought, a small voice broke through.
“You look pretty when you’re focused…”
“Hm?”
“N-Nothing! I’m just jealous you dive in so fast. Takes me time. Guess that’s why you’re so smart…”
“You’re smart too.”
“Nah~ Not really…”
“?”
The top freshman was playing humble.
“What’s that book about?”
“Thought experiments, I think. Pretty interesting.”
“Wow~ I love that stuff. Like what?”
I didn’t, really—just found it relevant.
Her eager eyes felt heavy, but I kept going.
“You’re terminally ill, one month left.”
“Gasp.”
“But a teleporter erases you and recreates an identical you—memories, emotions, body—on a planet where your disease is easily cured. Would you step in?”
“Tough question. I’d…”
Into the topic, Hwaseo chattered excitedly.
Matching her, the mood turned warm.
Returning to class, she flinched, recalling White Day, but the awkwardness was gone.
We agreed to hang again, and as I headed to my seat…
“Haru~ Free today?”
One of the girls from Sua’s group spoke.
“Time?”
“We’re going to Sua’s place. More the merrier~ No pressure if you’re busy.”
Glancing at Sua, she was chatting with friends.
Her vibe seemed off earlier, but maybe I misread.
‘Hanging at a girl’s house.’
A fantasy come true.
“Count me in.”
“Really? Awesome~!”
How could I say no?
Being a girl paid off.
“…Why’re you grinning like that?”
Dodam, back from soccer, squinted at me.
“You wouldn’t get it, guy.”
“That pisses me off.”
He strode over, then hesitated, sitting at an angle.
Like he was keeping distance.
“What’s with the pose? Like a dog needing to pee.”
“I don’t need to pee! Just… post-workout.”
“?”
“I might smell sweaty.”
Scratching his temple, embarrassed.
Was this… consideration?
“It’s fine.”
He looked shocked at my casual reply.
“…Really? The other guys stank.”
“I work out too. It’s no big deal.”
We used to run around together as kids.
“Sit normal. That’s more annoying.”
“Uh… o-okay.”
His face mixed glee and suspicion.
One thing I didn’t mention:
‘I can turn my sense of smell on or off.’
Sweat or not, I didn’t care.
Ding-dong-deng—
Homeroom time.
I tried to blend with the leaving kids but got caught by the teacher.
“Sorry, kids~ Need the class reps’ help.”
“No problem, ma’am.”
Hwaseo smiled brightly, but my face was probably ice-cold.
A rare invite to a friend’s house, ruined.
Hurrying to make up time, a suspicious sound stopped me.
—!
Sharp, arguing voices.
I wanted to move on, but the chance it was trouble nagged me.
Sighing, I followed the sound.
“The rooftop…”
No wonder it sounded high up.
Only my sharp hearing caught it.
As I debated leaving, a piercing scream rang out.
“Aaagh—!”
Bursting through the door, I saw Joo Kihyun shoving Pyo Jiseok toward the railing.
The low barrier led to a fall, yet Kihyun pushed with all his might.
Jiseok yelled, “Someone stop this guy!!”