.

Honestly, the best way I could think of right now was Ban Hwee Hyul becoming more active and asking Yoon Jung In or the other kids for cooperation so that he could escape from being Hwang Siwoo’s target as soon as possible.

‘What if I were in Ban Hwee Hyul’s situation?’ I thought for a moment.

When it came to my thing, I seldom spoke for myself while considering that someone more influential would be better to come forward instead of me. In some ways, I would look craven though. Thus, from a half-coward’s and half-shrewd point of view, I would have indeed asked Yoon Jung In for help if I were in Ban Hwee Hyul’s situation.

A person, who was empathetic for his own good and had a strong sense of justice that he would speak for someone not even close to him… That was Yoon Jung In, perfect to ask for assistance.

In fact, if I were in Ban Hwee Hyul’s situation, I would never do such a thing like getting close to no one while being afraid of causing trouble to them or skipping meals in the cafeteria. That’s because my loneliness and hunger mattered to me than anything else.

Regarding those things, I couldn’t leave him alone even more although I wasn’t sure how far I could be responsible for him.

Thinking to that extent, I raised my eyes again. Thankfully, these kids didn’t look obnoxious at all. Honestly, no matter how upright a person was, it would be very difficult to care less about public opinion.

Ban Hwee Hyul, who was getting all our attention, just shook his head in silence. It was his response to Yoon Jung In’s question about in need of help.

However, Yoon Jung In quickly tossed a question without a sign of unpleasant feelings.

“Really? But you’re still okay to have lunch with us, right?”

“Huh?” asked Ban Hwee Hyul.

“Seven people are quite a crowd, so I think we should split into smaller groups though.”

“We’ll go then,” said the Kim twins, raising their hands high up in the air.

Checking those two, Yoon Jung In switched his gaze to Ban Hwee Hyul and asked for consent with his eyes. Hesitating for a second, Ban Hwee Hyul nodded shortly; the Kim twins did a loud high-five. They always showed off such a perfect partnership.

“At last, farewell to the days having an upset stomach after Yoon Jung In’s all kinds of bull**s!”

“Adios, nurse’s office. Goodbye, Pepto Bismol.”

Furrowing his brows, Yoon Jung In shouted, “Dudes! Are you kidding me?!”

Even watching that sight, I wasn’t able to easily laugh. Not only Kim Hye Woo but also Kim Hye Hill, who usually stayed calm, seemed to be overreacting somehow.

Probably they were pretending to be more excited to lessen my burden. Having that thought in mind, I felt warmth spreading like a campfire in my heart.

At that moment, Shin Suh Hyun, who had been quietly watching us with his arms crossed, suddenly raised his hand. He uttered, “I’d also like to g…”

“Oh, well, where were you trying to go?”

Yoon Jung In intervened in his words then pulled Shin Suh Hyun’s neck into his arms. Running a mile from Yoon Jung In, Shin Suh Hyun took away his arms around him. He then uttered, “I’d also like to say goodbye to the days of having an upset stomach. Do you know that I’m a student-athlete? My body is my asset.”

“I can give you all I have, but you can’t? Man, that makes me so upset,” whined Yoon Jung In.

“Hey, you owe me a thousand won in the snack bar yesterday because you’re broke. Don’t you remember that?”

Shin Suh Hyun, who wasn’t able to get out of Yoon Jung In’s arms for a while, uttered while gnashing his teeth. I couldn’t help but laugh, eventually.

Returning the empty food tray, the Kim twins introduced themselves to Ban Hwee Hyul between the short moments.

“Hi, I’m Kim Hye Woo; this is Kim Hye Hill. We are twins, but I’m her elder brother; she’s my little sister.”

“Let me thank you first. You’ve saved us from Yoon Jung In and stress indigestion.”

“Very true. You are our hero.”

Watching the three kids sharing some conversation that could take place between a soldier, who came to defeat the rascal, and a kidnapped princess, or maybe a prince, I felt slightly perturbed for a moment.

Just before, I thought that they were kind of overreacting to lower my burden, but according to their behaviors right now, maybe their reactions were from the bottom of their hearts…

That was when I hunched my shoulders while finding someone approaching me.

‘Yikes, it’s Hwang Siwoo!’ I shouted to myself. Having that fierce look in his eyes just like before, he was coming straight toward us with quick steps. I glanced around shortly, but regarding the direction where Hwang Siwoo was heading toward, the destination was us no matter what.

‘Hold on, is he picking a fight this fast even in a public place? I thought that there would, at least, be some time to prepare my heart!’ With that thought, I closed my eyes tightly.

Then at the moment, Hwang Siwoo’s moving route suddenly changed like a lie. He quickly switched his direction as if he was a racing car turning around the corner.

Watching him receding away from us with a weird posture and loud footsteps, I stealthily looked behind me. Kwon Eun Hyung and Yi Ruda were standing side by side and, for some reason, staring in this direction with a horrifying look like a gatekeeper of hell.

When our eyes met, they changed their facial expressions like magic. Showing a swiveling smile, they waved at me.

‘Uh, but why are you holding your forks upside down?’ I thought then murmured to myself, “… Would it be okay?”

I felt a little sorry to have them as my powerful supporters against their will, but it seemed okay to feel relieved for a while anyway.

When I looked back again, the Kim twins were laughing while surrounding Ban Hwee Hyul. After a short relief, I soon touched my forehead upon their conversations.

“What did you call us just now?”

“Kim Hye Hoo… Kim High Heel…?”

“Nice to meet you, Kim High Heel.”

“Get lost, oppa!”

Hey, Ban Hwee Hyul… I, who couldn’t watch the situation anymore, quickly pulled the Kim twins away from Ban Hwee Hyul. However, they kept asking him their names again and was feeling excited at their newly called names. Geez, that’s too much…

The moment I was about to barely step into the classroom, Ban Hwee Hyul grabbed me for the last time.

“Hold on, Ham Donnie,” he said.

“Huh?”

“What you said to me earlier, asking for forgiveness to the people I’ve done wrong to…”

“Uh, yeah,” I nodded, but at the same time, realized how much I was way out of line.

Actually, it was very difficult to apologize to someone at the right time even when we grew old. If it wasn’t that hard, misunderstandings or apologies not made at the right time wouldn’t become the main causes of conflicts between grown-up characters in TV dramas.

How could I dare to give advice that I couldn’t even feel confident of? Shaking my head in shame, I opened my mouth.

“Ah, to be honest, I guess I was overstepping some boundaries… I’m sorr…”

“No need to apologize. Anyway…”

Geez, this boy was, again, using that historical drama tone of speaking. Having that thought in mind, I tossed a question.

“Anyway…?”

“Would you teach me how to apologize?” asked Ban Hwee Hyul with the most serious look on his face that I had ever seen so far.

‘How to apologize?’ I tilted my head and threw a question. “Hey, haven’t you ever apologized to someone? Not like something as, ‘Sorry,’ but a sincerer apology…”

He frankly shook his head which surprised me. I moaned, ‘Hey, are you the son of the prime minister?’

Hesitating for a second, he shortly added, “Just once, only to someone who can’t hear.”

“Ah, no, don’t try to create a mood for some sad storytime,” I quickly replied with a flinch.

Ban Hwee Hyul looked down at me in wonder. However, I avoided his gaze with my mouth closed.

Honestly, I knew that I was doing the same thing right now as I’d done to Yi Ruda. I wasn’t being cold or cruel enough to utterly ignore him, but at the same time, I was refusing to know each other deeply and getting involved in a close relationship…

However, I wanted Ban Hwee Hyul to make a few true, trustful friends someday, not someone like me, who came forward out of some stupid sense of obligation against his will.