When I Returned, a High School Romantic Comedy Began

Chapter 7

7 – 7. My Heart

“Thanks. Thanks to you I won’t be late!”

Joo-un confidently offered to help but ended up putting books in the wrong places, but the locations had just changed. The overall library system hadn’t changed much in 7 years, so he was still somewhat helpful to her.

“When did you work at the library before?”

Hayan visited the library almost every day without fail. If he had worked there before, she definitely would have seen his face. But no matter how thoroughly she searched her memories after entering school, she couldn’t recall ever seeing Joo-un.

As she voiced her doubt, Joo-un hesitated briefly before coming up with an appropriate response.

“The librarian asked me to help out for a bit last time.”

There was no need to mention doing it 7 years later anyway. It was just an excuse he came up with on the spot, but,

“I see~”

Surprisingly, it was an acceptable explanation that aligned with the current situation of the library club.

‘There really is no one but me in the club…’

The 3rd years were busy preparing for the CSAT so they couldn’t come to the library, and all the 1st and 2nd years had no desire to join the club at all.

Occasionally, when someone saw Hayan in the library club, they would try to belatedly join the club.

[If you’re trying to join because of Hayan, don’t even think about it.]

But the librarian would kick out any male students with ulterior motives for the sacred library club, leaving only Hayan as the sole member.

‘I hope new members join soon…’

Of course, she was unaware of this fact. She simply hoped that new members would join soon so she could discuss books together, just like she did during lunch earlier.

Without realizing it herself, she spoke to him as they walked back to class together.

“Joo-un,”

“Yeah?”

Do you want to join the library club, if you can?

The next words were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t naturally continue.

Her round, clear eyes had asked the question she had just failed to vocalize,

And the words she held in her throat disappeared.

“…”

From noble mtl dot com

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

‘That probably won’t work, right?’

She opened her mouth immediately upon thinking briefly, but the memories that arose instantly stopped her.

[If I pay rent this month, I won’t have money left for food…]

Summer, 2 years ago.

The alley on the way to academy after finishing at the library briefly after school ended.

A boy from her class muttered worries unfitting for his age, his hair dripping with sweat.

‘Joo-un?’

Seeing his appearance and the words and worried expression leaving his mouth, she didn’t dare ask directly why he was there like that.

Afterwards, she listened to him a bit more frequently, if sporadically, in class.

And she could make an educated guess about a small fact.

[Let’s go to the PC room after school!]

[I can’t.]

He would pack up immediately after school ended and disappear somewhere.

[Let’s go to the PC room this weekend!]

[I can’t.]

He would always decline invitations from friends to hang out on weekends.

Where he disappeared to instead and what he was doing…

She couldn’t not know.

‘He probably can’t make time after school if he joins the library club… I guess it would be difficult for him?’

Noticing Joo-un looking at her curiously, Hayan naturally smiled and brushed it off.

“Oh, nothing. Thanks again for helping.”

“Didn’t I say that already?”

She had wanted him to join the club, but it was obvious he would make a troubled expression, so she didn’t vocalize it further.

As she opened the back door they had arrived at, she said,

“hehehe… I’m so grateful I said it twice. Let’s hurry and sit!”

‘I guess I can’t be too greedy.’

Even if he doesn’t join as a member, becoming book friends is enough.

After the excruciating classes ended, during after-school hours.

“…”

Somehow, she ended up cleaning the classroom with Park Chae-rin, whose number was paired with hers.

Only the sound of dust being swept away in the awkward space.

She should say something first, but the fierce expression was impenetrable, as if she were a hunting dog.

‘Ah… why am I trying to enjoy some blessing here?’

Babbling about getting a girlfriend and I ended up getting kicked in the shin, making myself the laughing stock for life.

A sigh automatically left her at her hopeless life, but there were no complaints.

‘It was my fault in the first place.’

Suddenly calling over a girl you’re not even close with to ask for a cigarette.

Showing up at school the next day and confessing your love out of nowhere.

‘I’d be pissed too if I were her.’

If she wasn’t angry, there would be cause for concern about her mental health.

But this was all to save her, what could he do?

‘She obviously doesn’t know.’

He briefly considered just giving up.

She really had absolutely no connection to him.

Other than both losing our fathers at a young age, there was nothing else connecting us.

‘But why does that keep squeezing my heart?’

I don’t have the personality of a comic book hero who can’t ignore injustice.

I was busy just living my own life, let alone helping someone else.

But it was something I could do.

It wouldn’t cost much money, I just had to stay by her side for about 2 weeks.

The thought of ignoring someone’s death because I couldn’t even do that much left a bad taste in my mouth.

[If you leave too, then I, I’ll be alone, how could I…]

Again, only the clear image of her mother’s tears at the funeral in my memories arose.

“Park Chae-rin.”

“I said I’d kill you if you talked to me.”

It was unrealistic for Chae-rin to understand these kind intentions.

But of course, I had anticipated this kind of attitude today.

So what’s the way to get someone wary of you to lower their guard?

I paused sweeping for a moment, then bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle to her, who had her back to me, to an excessive degree.

“I’m sorry.”

The simple solution to lowering her wariness.

Apologize. Acknowledge your wrongdoings and ask for forgiveness.

More than anything, it was a one-dimensional and definite method.

Chae-rin, who had been sweeping, also seemed to not expect me to apologize so politely, freezing up a bit.

I didn’t miss that opening in her confusion and continued speaking.

“What happened this morning. I’m really sorry. At the very least I shouldn’t have done that in front of other people.”

I wondered if I really had to go this far just to help her but,

‘What happened this morning was my fault.’

After looking at me briefly, she coldly spoke while sweeping again.

“If you’re sorry, then just don’t talk to me.”

“Uh… that’s a bit…”

I was planning on following her every day after school from today.

I still couldn’t clearly remember the day she died.

Based on my memories, it probably wasn’t today, but I had to stick close starting now in order to stay by her side going forward.

Of course, if I tried to be with Chae-rin for no reason, she would refuse.

But it didn’t matter.

“I’m going to walk home with you from now on, so it’d be weird if we didn’t talk at all, right?”

The one being saved just had to obediently be saved.

“…What?”

At those words, her hands stopped sweeping.

It was the look of wondering if maybe her ears were mistaken about what she just heard.

I stated clearly to erase any such doubts of hers.

“I said I’m going to walk home with you from now on, so it’d be weird if we didn’t talk at all, right?”

“…”

The man who had harassed her in front of everyone just this morning.

The man she had only first talked to yesterday.

Was suddenly suggesting they walk home together from now on.

As her mind started working properly and she fully comprehended what I had said, only one response came out.

“You… do you really like me?”

Joo-un had clearly said no,

And Chae-rin naturally believed those words after what happened today.

But then he bluntly suggests walking home together.

That’s not something you’d say to someone you don’t have feelings for, right?

Anyone could see her question was justified.

“I don’t like you that way.”

But justification meant nothing to Joo-un.

“Phew…”

She looked like anger was rising to the top of her head.

Then after heaving a deep sigh, she spoke to me in an exhausted tone.

“You just suggested we walk home together.”

“Yeah.”

“But you don’t actually like me.”

“That’s right.”

Listening calmly to my replies, Chae-rin.

Then suddenly lifted her gaze, revealing irritation in her voice.

“Are you f*cking trying to harvest my organs or something?”

“No, I’m trying to protect you, actually.”

I’m doing this crapshow to save her life, why would I let her get harvested?

She obviously wouldn’t understand what I meant, so I quickly brushed it off with a smile.

“Just kidding.”

“…Anyway, why are you trying to stick with me when you don’t even like me?”

Because you’re pretty and I feel a connection, why else.

Honestly, if she was a little less pretty or someone who bullied others, I might have tried to save her but given up.

But after seeing her for two days, she doesn’t bully anyone and just occasionally skips class or something, so I feel a little bad not helping out this small-time delinquent.

‘If I try to explain, she’ll just call me crazy, right?’

No matter how many hundreds of times she asked, my answer was the same.

“It’s what my heart wants.”

“No, damn it, why follow me around?”

I don’t know, thinking more is too bothersome.

I’m busy trying to save others, do I have to think about this too?

My head hurts trying to figure out how to win the lottery, not just Chae-rin.

I tried to casually brush her off like that, but

of course, she was completely unconvinced.

“Just say you like me… come on?”

“Ah, you’re so annoying. Why are you being so difficult?”

“…”