PCL Ch 44

Autumn, when the sun shone brightly and the horses grew fatter.

In this autumn, when rice was colored golden and bends its head, ripe fruits were collected, and everyone was bountiful, I felt unbearable anger for the first time in my life.

“Oh, the sleeves are short.”

“…”

“Hey, I’m going to get a new uniform.”

“…” 

“Ki Young-ah, you too, pfft, ah, no.”

“…”

The culprit of my anger was none other than Jung Ji-pil.

Jung Ji-pil grew taller. He, who was previously a few inches shorter than me, now looked down on me because he was no longer on the same level as me. The summer uniform was shorter than the spring and fall uniforms, and the sleeves were half-cut, so it was barely noticeable until today when I wore the spring and autumn uniform. I wasn’t sure if it was truly that big difference because it was only a few centimeters apart from me, but Jung Ji-pil stretched out his arm and pointed his shortened sleeve at me.

“…”

Of course, I couldn’t help but feel envious. I just didn’t say it out loud, but height was one of the complexes for me. Speaking of my family, my father was 180 cm and my mother was around 170 cm. My older brother was around 180 cm and inherited both of their genes to his heart’s content. And Lim Dae-han, who I always together with was around 190 cm.

I…

“… I have to study.”

I averted Jung Ji-pil’s sight by lowering it slightly. My hand reached for the workbook I hadn’t even opened. I curled my wrists and pushed my school uniform’s sleeves up so they wouldn’t be obvious. It was utterly miserable.

“Didn’t you say you were going to get taller, so you got a bigger uniform?”

Jung Ji-pil remembered useless things. That was something I said shortly after starting freshman year. I suddenly grew taller while I was in middle school. I said, ‘Ah, now I’m getting some of the heredity’s influence in my body,’  I bought a one-size-larger school uniform when I started high school. The results, however, did not change significantly. I was only three centimeters taller than I had been when I was in first grade. It couldn’t help but be miserable.

“I warned you. You eat so little, don’t you? I mean I’ve known you since you gave me japchae.”

Jung Ji-pil talked endlessly. Despite the fact that there was a small distance between his chair in the front row and my desk, he dared to sit in between them and chat nonstop. It looked like his mouth would float even if he fell into the water. He’s going to get scolded again. If you look closely, Jung Ji-pil was a guy who wanted to be bullied. And suddenly a gloomy voice was heard.

“Hey.”

Lim Dae-han’s low voice could be heard from behind. Jung Ji-pil, who had been swinging his arms and legs, stiffened as if he had been hit by a light beam. He clicked his tongue inside and forcefully raised the corners of his mouth.

“It’s noisy.”

“… Look at yourself.”

Jung Ji-pil complained so quietly that I was the only one who could hear him. “You’re always being mean to Ki Young-hyun.” It was strange that he grumbled despite the fact that he knew we were dating. In fact, he couldn’t openly say it to Lim Dae-han. I turned around with a frown on my face. I put one arm on my desk and the other arm on Lim Dae-han’s desk.

Lim Dae-han rubbed his ear with his finger. There was no way he could not hear him, no matter how quiet Jung Ji-pil complained. Lim Dae-han looked at Jung Ji-pil. No matter how many times you threw an egg on a rock, it wouldn’t break. It was very sad.

“So what?”

Lim Dae-han spoke again. Jung Ji-pil looked at Lim Dae-han up and down with a crooked posture.

“So what if you grew taller.”

Lim Dae-han slightly raised the corners of his lips. Jung Ji-pil’s face became contemplative. I covered my face with both hands. Sure enough, Jung Ji-pil began to whine.

 You didn’t have the right to make fun of my height. You were also 5 centimeters taller. You were so tall that you would eventually bend down as you grew older, and so on.

I wanted to cover my ears, but I didn’t have any hands left after covering my face with both. I was perplexed as to why they fought every day. It was either Lim Dae-han or Jung Ji-pil who started it. Jung Ji-pil who keep talking while raising his voice and Lim Dae-han wouldn’t cut him some slack even though he knew Jung Ji-pil was going to keep babbling, but they were always adding a word to each other.

“Hey, stop. Are you arguing again?”

The teacher entered through the front door. Jung Ji-pil, who was about to swear at Lim Dae-han, stopped and moved. The teacher scratched the nape of his neck with a gloomy expression on his face. He then swung the old drumstick in his hand.

“Study on your own. You saw the 3rd grade class, right? You’ll be there shortly as well.”

He also added a nagging tone, which was not expected.

I hurriedly pulled out a workbook from the desk drawer. It was great to be able to solve English problems quickly. In particular, the problem of comparing with the items was like finding the wrong picture. As soon as I started moving the mechanical pencil to solve the problem, a hand came from behind me.

“…”

When I tilted my head at an angle, an unopened bag of earthworm-shaped jelly was lifted by Lim Dae-han’s thick and rough hands. I glanced at him, puzzled, as if I didn’t comprehend what he was doing, and wondered why he was handing it to me. Lim Dae-han talked with a formed mouth and elevated his chin.

‘Eat while studying.’

I hesitated for a moment. Actually, I didn’t really want to eat it.  I wasn’t the type to eat snacks while studying because my concentration would be cut off for no reason. However, Lim Dae-han gave it to me, so…

I carefully accepted the jelly bag. I didn’t know what kind of expression I was making, but Lim Dae-han smirked. He then tapped me on the shoulder as a show of encouragement.

“It hurts…”

He hardened his expression after stretching his hand and touching my right shoulder, then rummaged through the desk drawer and brought out a workbook from amid the shredded home correspondence, as if he’d done it before.

I was once again perplexed as to what was wrong with him.

I stared intently at him as though observing him. Lim Dae-han sensed my stare and gave me a quick glance before ruffling his short hair ruthlessly. Then, almost out of nowhere, he tapped his deskmate and said.

“Lend me a highlighter.”

The tone was obviously a request, but it also sounded like a command. His deskmate was clearly feeling the same way. His deskmate tried to hand him the pink highlighter he was holding in his hand. It seemed weird to lend him what he was using, so I took the highlighter that was on my desk and handed it to Lim Dae-han.

“Use mine.”

“You have to study.”

Your deskmate…

“I don’t need it right now, so use mine first.”

“Don’t make a noise, study hard.”

The teacher, who was on the phone and sitting at an angle at the classroom table, noticed. I straightened my posture and sat down with my lips pressed together.

***

It was a more refreshing morning than usual today. I hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, but I suppose there was a special day like this once in a while. A day when my body felt light, my mind was at ease, and everything appeared to be running smoothly. Today was one of those days.

As a result, I was able to get up 30 minutes earlier than normal. My older brother was enjoying breakfast as I hurriedly cleaned myself and dressed in school uniform. For breakfast, there was white rice like snow, miso soup that had been in the pot since the day before, and ham and eggs were cooked.

“Thank you for the food.”

I concentrated on eating after greeting my mother, who was folding laundry in the living room and watching a rerun of the drama. I glanced at my older brother, who ate only the soup with a spoon. While it was a refreshing morning for me, it was not so for my older brother.

I cast a brief glance at my older brother. He was more haggard than usual. My older brother, who always maintains a neat appearance, was in a mess. There was only one answer.

“Hyung, did you have a drink before coming home yesterday?”

My older brother, who had barely finished his soup, opened his eyes and glanced up at me as I asked the question. He breathed and lowered his head again because his head hurt.

“Yeah.”

“Drink less…”

My worried words were ignored by my older brother. Instead, he wiped the palm of his hand over his dry, chapped face, as if he were washing his dry face.

“Ah, shit… I’m dying.”

My older brother who couldn’t even curse and muttered to himself eventually got up from his seat. It looked like he was about to enter the room.

“Mom, don’t touch the table. I’ll clean it up.”

Only then did my mother’s eyes, who was only staring at the television, turned to my brother.

“Young-han, do you want me to go and get you a hangover medication?”

“No. I’m going to rest in my room.”

As if not to talk to him anymore, he cut off the conversation and went into the room. I took a bite of ham and chewed it. The gleaming rice was also put in a big mouthful. delicious. It was the best combination for breakfast.

Viibrate-

My phone, which I had placed on the table, began to vibrate. While chewing the food in my mouth, I put down the spoon I was holding and picked up my phone.

It was a message from Lim Dae-han.

Lim Dae-han: [Woke up hehe] 6:38 am

Lim Dae-han: [See you later, I’ll go to the front of  your house in 15 minutes] 6:38 am 

I checked the message from Lim Dae-han because I awoke earlier than usual. It used to be when I was still sleeping, or when I was lying in bed while playing around. I checked, but while I was eating, I lost the opportunity to respond, so I remained in the chat window. I read it, but when Lim Dae-han did not receive a response, he sent another message.

Lim Dae-han: [?] 6:39 am

Lim Dae-han: [Are you awake] 6:39 am

I held my phone in my hands and tapped the keypad slowly.

I… I woke up… I was eating after washing up.

Me: [I woke up, washed up, and now I’m eating] 6:39 am

Me: [Are you not eating breakfast today?] 6:40 am

Lim Dae-han: [I don’t normally eat] 6:41 am

Lim Dae-han: [I washed up] 6:41 am

I took a quick look at Lim Dae-han’s brief message. I didn’t know why I didn’t eat rice despite the fact that there were enough dishes in the house. It was difficult for me to keep my stomach full every day.

I should get up and cook him breakfast.

I felt sorry for him because he lived near the school and he had to walk back and forth to my house every morning.

“…”

It was a good idea. After all, his house was on the way to school, so I could come earlier than usual, set it up, and eat together. I knew all his house passwords. And I was curious as to how he slept in bed when I wasn’t around.

My thoughts wandered in a strange direction. What if he slept naked? Men also have erections naturally in the morning. I thought seeing Lim Dae-han like that would be a little embarrassing. It also seemed so natural when I imagined it. But that was only my idea. Lim Dae-han could be shy…

“The meal is delicious.”

I took a large bowl of rice and put it into my mouth as I broadened my fantasy alone. It was impure to think about it first thing in the morning. Even while I was constantly putting rice into my mouth, I kept my phone in my hand. I closed the chat window after sending an emoticon to Lim Dae-han. Then I went on the Internet and searched for easy breakfast, breakfast, and breakfast recipes, among other terms.

Lim Dae-han didn’t seem interested, but since he enjoys taking care of things, I was confident he would enjoy this as well. A broad smile sprang on my face.