What is Kwon Soonyoung doing there?
What are they doing there?
The boy with slanted eyes beamed at him, his hand waving ecstatically. On his sides were
Jeon Wonwoo, the Student Council President, and Moon Junhui, the captain of the Judo team.
They all smiled at him, waiting for him by the school gate. Like it was something they had
been doing every day.
Why?
“You are so slow! The class almost starts, you know!” Soonyoung hopped to reach him,
taking his hand and dragging him along. Jihoon had the urge to pull his hand away. But then
Junhui, who was a head taller than him, circled his thick arm around his shoulder, grinning.
“Come earlier tomorrow, Hoonie. There’s a new hotdog menu in the canteen, we should try it
before it gets sold out!”
Jihoon frowned. More irritated than confused.
“What exactly are you—“
“Guys, let him breathe.”
It was Wonwoo who talked. Soonyoung and Junhui let him go, but stayed close to his sides.
Wonwoo, who was known for his cold appearance, smiled sagely at him. “Sorry, Jihoon, they
are just so excited to see you. Do you mind walking with us to class?”
And then he saw it. The shocked stares. The bewildered expressions. The suspicious murmurs
and envious whispers. The way the other students made way for them as they walked past.
The way the bullies glared at him, baffled and angry, but didn’t come near him. Not that
morning. Not on the break. Not after school. Not the entire day.
Kwon Soonyoung didn’t keep his word. Jeon Wonwoo and Moon Junhui knew. And ever
since then, the three of them never left him alone.
They’d wait for him by the gate every morning. Sometimes Junhui came late because of the
Judo club’s morning practices, but he’d make sure to come and greet him. Loudly, boisterous-
ly. Like seeing Jihoon was what he looked forward to the most every day. Even though none
of them were in the same class as him, they’d come to have lunch with him on the break.
Sometimes Soonyoung would bring him his homemade lunch box. It was usually a weird
combination of ingredients and had even weirder taste, but Soonyoung would look at him
with sparkling expectant eyes, so he always finished it all, telling him it’s good.
They’d be there right in front of his class’ door when school was over. They’d take him to join
them to the game arcades, or cafes, or karaoke places (Jihoon thought he was tone-deaf, so he