ICYM Ch 18

Episode 18

Beep beep beep beep.

Clack.

Instinctively, I reached out and flipped my phone over to silence the blaring alarm.

I was tempted to go back to sleep for a little longer, but then I remembered I had set multiple alarms.

“Yawn…”

It wasn’t like I had the room to myself, so I had to get up. Fumbling around by my bedside, I grabbed my phone, turned off the alarm with half-open eyes, and stretched my arms out wide.

Maybe I’d forgotten to shut the window completely last night. The edge of the curtain fluttered in the chilly morning breeze.

Forcing my reluctant eyes open, I got up and closed the window.

Clack.

The carpet beneath the window was cold enough to make me curl my toes.

The weather was changing fast. You could feel the days getting shorter by the minute. I’d only gotten up thirty minutes earlier than usual, and yet the sky outside was still dark.

I didn’t feel like rummaging through the closet, but it looked like it would be too cold to go out like this. So I threw on the blazer that was draped over the chair, right over my pajamas.

I slipped on my sneakers without fully putting them on, grabbed the can of wet pet food I’d set out on the bedside table, and quietly opened the door to step outside.

The hallway was pitch black; the lights weren’t even on. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror hanging at the end of the hall.

I’d come out without thinking, but the reflection staring back at me looked like some sort of suspicious pervert trying to look polite made me scurry down the stairs.

Instead of the usual entrance I took after school, I exited through the back door and stepped onto the dew-covered grass, calling out for the little ones.

I’d managed to avoid Kendrick after school lately, but that didn’t mean I could neglect the little ones too. The conclusion I came to was to cut back a bit on sleep and check on them early in the morning.

“Guys…!”

Normally, they’d come running at the sound of my footsteps, their fur all pressed down on one side.

But today, there was no sign of them.

“…Ahem… Guys?”

My soft, wistful voice echoed into the empty air.

“…Nabi, Coco…!”

Just in case, I even called their names. But there was no response.

I hadn’t expected this.

Standing blankly, I stared down at the grass.

I called out a few more times and even made a loud noise opening the can, but no one came.

I strained my ears, but all I could hear were the sounds of insects and the clattering from the kitchen.

“…No way…”

My heart thudded dully in my chest. Kendrick’s face and the words Sunbae had said, that Kendrick was most likely the culprit, flashed through my mind at the same time.

Kendrick’s threatening voice was vivid, and the fact that he came from a mafia family was frightening. But even so, I had never thought the Kendrick I had known so far could be the culprit.

I hadn’t gone after school because the police were investigating, and I assumed the culprit would be caught soon.

I thought that once he was caught, I wouldn’t feel guilty about not following Sunbae’s request to find the evidence myself, and I wouldn’t have to hide my growing suspicions while continuing to see Kendrick.

But what if he was sure I wouldn’t be coming anymore… and did something to them?

My face went pale. My eyelashes quivered with anxiety.

Rustle, rustle.

Without hesitation, I pushed past the bushes beyond the fence. The ground was still damp, soaking my knees, and the leaves were wet with dew, dampening my arms every time I swept the branches aside.

Then I saw it. A box wrapped in black plastic. Just as I spotted it, a sound came from inside.

“Nngh?“

Coco blinked slowly, maybe sensing my presence.

There were two boxes placed neatly side by side, but Coco and Nabi were curled up together in just one, looking cozy despite the tight space.

A moment later, Nabi, who had been tucked further inside, raised its head, spotted me, and tapped the ground twice with its tail.

“…Haha.”

Seeing the two of them safe made the strength drain from my legs.

Now that I thought about it, I’d never once called out the cat’s or the dog’s name before.

I was afraid I’d grow attached if I called their names. After all, I was going to leave this boarding school eventually.

I had called them by name a few times in my head, but this was the first time I’d spoken it aloud. And that’s when I realized—

I’ve already grown attached.

Still half-asleep, Coco nestled against me as I gently scratched its head with my fingers.

Warmth radiated through my fingertips.

* * *

“What are you doing during the mid-term break?”

Owen squirmed as he asked me a question. By now, he’d naturally made a habit of showing up even during my lunchtime. Meeting his hopeful gaze, I replied firmly.

“I’m just planning to stay in the dorm the whole time.”

“Really? You’re not going home at all?”

He asked again, sounding disappointed.

“Yeah.”

I had gotten another text from the man called my father.

[Dad: It’s only a week, but I’d like it if you come back if you can.] 9:17 PM

[Dad: Since your brother won’t be coming, maybe it’s better if you do instead…] 9:17 PM

[Dad: Do you still hate it that much?] 9:22 PM

As I recalled the texts from yesterday, I stuffed a piece of broccoli into my mouth.

It sounded like a fairly warm message, but the content made it clear their cold war had been going on for quite a while.

Family, well… I could meet them.

But what if I went back with these kinds of grades and ended up getting bombarded with questions like, “Are your studies going well?” or “Are they not going well?”

Just imagining it made me feel like my limbs were turning to jelly.

“Yeah, I’m not planning on going.”

My older brother had apparently been undecided about whether he was coming or not, but since I hadn’t received any message directly, I didn’t think much of it.

Besides, the “brother” I knew was the type to check in once in a while just to confirm he was still alive. In other words, we weren’t close enough for it to matter.

Before I transmigrated into this body, there had even been anonymous posts on the school community board about how things were a little strained at home. I took that as reassurance that things probably weren’t seriously bad.

Realizing my firm answer included a rejection of what he was about to suggest, Owen slumped slightly and picked up his dessert dish with a disappointed look.

There were two reasons I had been so firm. The first was that I still didn’t particularly want to run into the female lead. And the other reason…

“…Sigh, what’s wrong with me.”

I muttered under my breath, staring at my test paper, which seemed to carry the mystical power of making people sigh just by looking at it.

Lately, I haven’t been able to focus on studying.

The person abusing the cats still hadn’t been caught. Waking up 30 minutes to an hour earlier in the morning had been fine at first, but the fatigue was starting to build.

32 points.

Even though I had studied, this was the result.

I stared blankly at the test paper, unsure whether I should be glad that the first digit of the score had changed, or be sad that it had only gone up by 3 points.

“Ha…”

The time I got 29 points, it was math. This time, the 32 points were in physics.

If only it had been just one subject, I could have made excuses. But with my grades tanking across the board, I didn’t even have that luxury.

As class ended, I dragged my feet, stepping on fallen petals scattered on the ground.

There was nothing waiting for me back at the dorm.

Instead of heading back right away, I figured I’d drop off a few books at my locker, so I stopped by the classroom.

With the way I’m feeling right now, there’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on studying anyway.

Since most students only stopped by the classroom during the break before the last period, the classroom after school was completely deserted.

I half-heartedly organized my bag at the locker, then sat down at my desk instead of heading out right away.

When I cracked the window open slightly, the noisy chatter of students heading home drifted in from outside.

There was a bit of awkward time left before dinner, and I just stayed there, sitting in my classroom. Resting my chin in my hand, I stared out the window. I could see people leaving through the school gate.

Then, out of nowhere, I spotted the Alpha who was always stuck next to Kendrick standing by the school field near the back gate.

He was about as tall as Kendrick and had striking, golden-blonde hair that shimmered like gold, making him stand out easily.

The guy raised his arm high and waved it broadly. When I followed his gaze, I saw Kendrick walking out of the building.

So when he said he’d be late, he really did have plans.

I got a message today saying he had plans again, and that if I wanted to see Coco and Nabi, now would be the time.

Since I was already checking on them in the mornings, there was no real reason to go after school. Still, I couldn’t shake this strange feeling.

Before I could even figure out why I felt that way, someone unexpected joined that group.

Owen?

Owen ran toward them. It was such an odd combination that I kept watching, and that’s when another person, previously hidden behind the blond guy’s large frame, caught my eye.  

It was a girl wearing a uniform from the neighboring school.

She was playfully flicking Owen on the forehead and chattering non-stop, while Owen, rubbing his forehead with a sulky face, glanced around aimlessly.

Whoosh.

Was he looking for me?

Before Owen’s gaze could land on me, I reflexively ducked my head.

“…Ah.”

I realized why that reddish-gold blond hair looked familiar. It wasn’t just because it was the exact same color as Owen’s.

It’s the female protagonist.

Naturally, I also realized who Kendrick’s friend was. It was so obvious that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed it until now.

Owen being there made sense. He was the female lead’s younger brother. But why was Kendrick with them?

I cautiously lifted my head and looked out the window again. With his new haircut, Kendrick’s face was clearly visible, and not just to me.

The female lead was smiling and glancing, not at the male lead, but at Kendrick.

…Don’t tell me the plot’s going off course because of me?

It felt like I’d just witnessed something I shouldn’t have.

And so, I found myself staying in the classroom far longer than I had planned.