Chapter 31
‘What is this situation?’
Baek I-hae knew that Seo Do-gyeom was handsome. After all, he was the male lead in a dating simulation game featuring various male characters.
It wouldn’t make sense if he wasn’t handsome to begin with.
Ye Eun-seol’s expression as she looked at Seo Do-gyeom was somehow subtle. It didn’t seem like she was surprised by his handsome appearance.
His subtle change in expression made Baek I-hae a little uneasy.
“I didn’t know you two were like that.”
It was Ye Eun-seol who broke the silence.
“…I heard you were just friends.”
Ye Eun-seol’s gaze shifted from Seo Do-gyeom to Baek I-hae. As if asking if that was true.
Seo Do-gyeom didn’t seem to care much and let go of Ye Eun-seol’s hand. Then he casually sat down next to Baek I-hae, and at that action, Baek I-hae’s eyes flickered.
With Seo Do-gyeom now fully revealing his handsome face, it felt strangely refreshing.
It wasn’t surprising that the female students’ gazes, filled with astonishment, followed him.
“Was your ‘something to do’ getting your bangs cut?”
Baek I-hae asked in a whisper.
“Yeah. There weren’t many places open before school.”
“You could’ve told me; I would’ve gone with you. Why did you suddenly decide to cut your bangs? You never did before.”
Originally, Seo Do-gyeom cut his bangs after the original Ye Eun-seol praised him while tutoring him, saying he’d look even better with his eyes showing.
Recalling how he appeared with his bangs cut when he saved the female lead from the bullying incident, Baek I-hae felt confused.
‘Of course, I unintentionally took over the position of tutoring Seo Do-gyeom. But I never praised him by saying he’d look good with his eyes exposed!’
Baek I-hae furrowed her brows.
‘…Or did I? I think I might have said something similar.’
She wasn’t entirely sure, though.
‘But the current Ye Eun-seol isn’t being bullied because of her pretty looks; instead, she’s just piling up everyone’s favor.’
So why had Seo Do-gyeom suddenly cut his bangs?
Seo Do-gyeom, who had been sitting and quietly listening to Baek I-hae’s words, leaned his upper body forward. His face came right up close to hers.
His black eyes, previously hidden by his bangs, now reflected her image.
“You said it was uncomfortable talking because you couldn’t see my eyes.”
“……”
Yes, that thought Baek I-hae had just had. It gave her a sense of déjà vu, similar to what the original female protagonist had said.
It definitely wasn’t something she’d said consciously to mimic the female protagonist’s behavior. It wasn’t a remark she’d made with any great significance.
Yet, Seo Do-gyeom had acted on just that one comment from Baek I-hae. Because of Baek I-hae, not the female protagonist.
‘I shouldn’t take it too seriously.’
But could she just let it pass?
Baek I-hae didn’t know how to react, so she opened her mouth briefly before clamping it shut.
Just then, the teacher entered the classroom, and she quickly fixed her gaze forward. She could feel Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes on her from the side, but she deliberately ignored them.
“……”
Ye Eun-seol, who had been watching the two of them with her chin propped up, wore a strange expression.
***
When it was time for PE class, the girls started heading to the bathroom to change into their gym clothes. Some lined up to change in the stalls, while others boldly changed out in the open without hesitation.
Baek I-hae was blankly waiting her turn when someone tapped her on the shoulder from behind.
“I-hae.”
It was a familiar face. Even if she didn’t know the name, it was the girl who had told Baek I-hae last time not to hang out with Seo Do-gyeom because he looked gloomy.
The girl, who was shorter than her, asked with a slightly shy expression.
“Did you know about it?”
“Know what?”
Somehow, an uneasy premonition crept in. And unfortunately, these kinds of unlucky hunches usually turned out to be right.
“That Do-gyeom is handsome.”
Baek I-hae could feel all the girls’ attention focusing on her, except for the one who asked. The bathroom, which had been noisy just moments ago, fell silent as proof.
‘Ah.’
Baek I-hae smiled wordlessly.
Seo Do-gyeom’s action had brought about a lot of changes. And she had a growing sense that those changes wouldn’t be particularly welcome for her.
“I didn’t know either. He’d never shown his face, and I wasn’t interested. Though I did think his skin was nice.”
Baek I-hae lied calmly. If she said she knew, she’d probably come off as someone who was hiding something good for herself.
Though calling it ‘something good’ felt a bit odd.
“Oh, I see. I guess I misunderstood Do-gyeom a bit. I thought he was gloomy, but he’s not at all. He just doesn’t talk much.”
Seo Do-gyeom was the type who wouldn’t care at all if others, including the girl in front of her, misunderstood him or not.
“Earlier, it was cool how you tried to stop Eun-seol’s teasing. I get why you say he’s like a brother to you. He seems so reliable.”
It felt oddly strange hearing her call the transfer student Ye Eun-seol by her first name so casually, as if they were already close. Baek I-hae listened quietly for a moment before cautiously pondering to herself.
‘Could this girl be the main instigator in bullying the original Ye Eun-seol? She did say she was one of the girls interested in Seo Do-gyeom.’
Even so, since she was just a side character, the game didn’t provide detailed descriptions, so Baek I-hae couldn’t be sure. But if things continued like this, she might end up being bullied just like the original female lead.
Should she pretend to be uninterested, or lie and say Seo Do-gyeom likes someone else?
Baek I-hae’s eyes darted around restlessly. It was amid this that the bathroom stall she’d been waiting for finally opened. It was a stroke of luck in her misfortune.
“I’ll be right back after changing!”
Hurriedly stepping inside, Baek I-hae took off her school uniform and changed into her gym clothes. The lack of a proper changing room made the conditions less than ideal, but right now, she was actually grateful for it.
‘This is tricky. I’m not the real female protagonist, and I don’t want to go through anything tough.’
She felt a bit guilty for viewing the other girls as potential school bullies, but for her, it was a difficult situation.
After fumbling through changing her clothes, she came out and saw that the girl was gone. She must have gone into another stall in the meantime. Seizing the opportunity, Baek I-hae slipped out of the bathroom.
As she briskly walked back to the classroom, she spotted two male students in the hallway.
It was Seo Do-gyeom and Ye Eun-seol.
‘Seeing them together like this all of a sudden makes it feel like they’re in their own world. It reminds me less of game protagonists and more like leads in a web novel.’
In web novels, the male lead often played the role of a prickly character, which suited Seo Do-gyeom perfectly.
She was nodding to herself as she reached for the back door to put away her changed uniform.
“Wait!”
Along with Ye Eun-seol’s hurried call, a large hand covered Baek I-hae’s vision.
Baek I-hae blinked and stayed still. Hearing the door she’d partially opened close again, she asked.
“Why?”
“There’s still a guy changing inside.”
Seo Do-gyeom’s voice was calm. She’d suspected as much, but the familiar tone made her unconsciously relax, and she replied in a sulky voice.
“You could’ve told me sooner. And why cover my eyes when I didn’t see anything?”
As she grabbed Seo Do-gyeom’s hand and pulled it down, their eyes finally met.
Her heart pounded under his gaze looking down at her. It had to be from surprise.
‘It’s just that he cut his bangs, so why does it keep feeling like I’m dealing with a different person?’
When Baek I-hae averted her eyes, Seo Do-gyeom’s eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly.
In the distance, a group of girls in gym clothes was approaching, so she tried to quickly step away from him.
“Why are you avoiding me?”
This time, Seo Do-gyeom gently lifted her chin, making her look at him without causing pain.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom’s obsession level increases by 10.]
[Seo Do-gyeom’s obsession level has reached 30.]
[Reaching an obsession level of 100 will lead to the imprisonment ending.]
Imprisonment ending?
Wasn’t the ending supposed to apply only to the female protagonist in the first place?
Baek I-hae held her breath. Her body seemed to tremble faintly, though she wasn’t sure if Seo Do-gyeom noticed.
It was the first time she’d ever felt truly afraid of him.
