Existence Itself Is an Error Ch 05

 Chapter 05

Seo Hee-jun, who had been thrown against his will, took a hasty step forward as if trying to regain his balance. Then he reached out his arm towards Jeong Da-won, who seemed about to fall towards him.

Jeong Da-won fell into Seo Hee-jun’s arms.

Seo Hee-jun, who had unexpectedly received Jeong Da-won, looked down at her, breathing heavily. Then, he abruptly turned his head to find the culprit who had pushed him.

“Senior, why are you suddenly asking me…?”

“…….”

“…Senior ?”

But i had already fled around the corner. Seo Hee-jun, who had spotted me with my head peeking out, made a blank expression.

“Why are you there….”

Before the muttering could even end, a familiar female voice suddenly interrupted.

“Over there, over there.”

“…Uh ?”

Still in Seo Hee-jun’s arms, Jeong Da-won blinked her clear eyes. Only then did Seo Hee-jun begin to truly recognize her presence, and he quickly released her and stepped back.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it because i thought we’d both fall if i did something wrong.”

Jeong Da-won smiled awkwardly as she watched Seo Hee-jun floundering.

“No. Thank you for holding me.”

I was glued to the wall and listened to their conversation.

If a relationship began by chance like this, it was bound to be etched into each other’s memories. If they took advantage of this opportunity to exchange names, and after noticing their shared uniforms, even suggested going to school together, Seo Hee-jun’s heart would likely turn to Jeong Da-won.

Maybe this time, i should truly find my way to a conclusion. As i was lost in that blissful fantasy, I felt a presence approaching me that i shouldn’t have.

Seo Hee-jun, who had reached me in one step, raised the corners of his mouth in a crooked manner.

“Senior, what are you doing here ?”

“…….”

“What are you doing here, throwing me away whether i fall or not ?”

There was a thorn in his side, but that didn’t concern me. I glanced behind Seo Hee-jun, who had returned too quickly, to see if anyone else was following him.

Unfortunately, no one was in sight. Perhaps someone had already left, and not even Jeong Da-won’s shadow could be found.

I let out a dry sigh and glanced at Seo Hee-jun.

“Why did you break up so quickly ?”

Seo Hee-jun, who heard the accusatory tone, responded in a sulking tone as if he felt wronged.

“I don’t know him. So we just exchanged apologies.”

“What’s your name? Did you ask ?”

“No? Why are you asking my name ?”

“You saw that we had the same uniform and tie color. This was the moment, i thought, and we should have become friends.”

“Why me ?”

Well, you’re the one giving the man and he’s the one giving the woman. I couldn’t bring myself to say those words, so i closed my eyes tightly and opened them again.

“You should have suggested we go to school together. We’re going the same way anyway.”

“I told you, i didn’t know him. And i was walking to school with my senior.”

“But still, he….”

I couldn’t finish my sentence, my words trailing off. I saw Seo Hee-jun waiting for me with innocent, unfamiliar eyes.

Seo Hee-jun was completely calm, not knowing how much i was suffering from playing the role of Cupid, which was not in my fortune.

‘Well, if Seo Hee-jun was the type of guy who would easily become interested in the female lead, he wouldn’t have come this far.’

Having already reached a point of innocence, i smiled faintly and stepped away. Seo Hee-jun, oblivious to everything, followed me with a blank expression.

“What is that smile ?”

“…….”

“Senior ?”

Even if Seo Hee-jun kicked away the opportunity he’d walked into, there was nothing to worry about. I could just personally tie him up with the female lead.

I tried to calm myself down by thinking that way.

________________

He grabbed Seo Hee-jun as he was about to enter the classroom and repeated his request.

“Just listen to class. If someone calls you, don’t look at them. If they ask you to go somewhere, don’t follow them.”

“Are you serious ?”

“I’m serious.”

Seo Hee-jun, who was looking at my serious face that showed no sign of wavering, scratched his cheek.

“Did you ask me that much ? Are you worried I might cause trouble ?”

Not at all. Not only had he never spoken to his older sister, Seo Hee-young, but Seo Hee-jun had achieved fame through his upright character, never the kind of person who would cause trouble.

But i couldn’t say it outright.

“If you know, don’t do anything and just stay quiet.”

“I am originally a quiet person.”

“You’re not good at talking.” Swallowing back an irritated sigh, I grabbed Seo Hee-jun’s wrist. He flinched in surprise at the sudden contact, but i ignored him and opened my mouth.

“Don’t run around recklessly and fall down. If you’re cold, steal someone else’s coat and put it on.”

“…Senior.”

“Answer me.”

When he demanded an answer as if he would not tolerate it any longer, Seo Hee-jun gave up on refuting and slowly agreed.

“…Okay. I’ll do that.”

I let go of Seo Hee-jun’s wrist, staring at him with disapproving eyes. Then, noticing my persistent, unwavering gaze, he raised his pinky finger, just as he had on the way home from school yesterday.

“Shall we make a promise ?”

“Okay, then go in.”

Seo Hee-jun let out a small laugh, which i couldn’t tell if it was a hollow laugh or a genuine one, and without further hesitation, he strode into the classroom. Apparently, he was having trouble listening to my nagging, which wasn’t really nagging.

Still, seeing him trying to follow the person his older sister sent him, i realized that Seo Hee-jun is a person who would easily fall for a scam or anything.

‘No care.’

Moreover, considering how much closer we felt compared to yesterday, Seo Hee-jun seemed to have grown attached to me. It was a change in attitude that i never quite got used to, no matter how many times i experienced it

I turned around after making sure Seo Hee-jun was seated in his seat. The farther i walked from Seo Hee-jun’s classroom, the more muffled the voices became, and the clear silhouettes of the students became blurred.

I raised my hand and caressed my face for no reason. The sensation passing through my fingertips was identical, without any peculiarity, but when i looked in the mirror, i realized i wasn’t much different from everyone else.

This was a natural progression, because this world exists solely for the male and female leads. Without the lead characters, the purpose becomes blurred and its value diminishes.

So, if i ran away from school right away, i wouldn’t be marked as truant and people wouldn’t come looking for me.

But that was pointless. The male and female leads were at school, and the streets and city without them couldn’t possibly be normal.

Entering the classroom, which was the same as always, i sat down anywhere. There were empty seats here and there, and some students were awkwardly milling around in the empty seats, but no one seemed to mind.

I stared blankly at the sight and tapped my finger on the desk.

“I think we should let Seo Hee-jun meet the female lead more often.”

Still, it was a good start. The two leads met on the first morning after March 2nd, so it was definitely a successful start.

Although the month from March to April is repeated sixteen times, the events that occur and the meeting between the male and female leads are different each time.

The male and female leads would forget everything and return to March 2nd, acting the same as always, but i wasn’t like that. It was just me remembering the repetition of the past that caused new events to keep happening. It’s like the butterfly effect, as people often say.

As i was taking a formless class from a teacher who was only interested in decoration, i suddenly turned my head out the window.

I saw students running around the playground. I often heard a sound that seemed strangely normal, but it seemed to be Seo Hee-jun’s classmate.

Among the sharply defined faces, one person stood out. The owner of a beauty that shone unwaveringly even from a distance was undoubtedly Seo Hee-jun.

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at Seo Hee-jun, then frowned briefly.

‘I clearly told you not to look at other women.’

Seo Hee-jun was passing the ball around to another female student, laughing and laughing. His smile was so beautiful, it seemed like even the most stubborn of people would fall for it.

I sighed at the sight of Seo Hee-jun not listening to anything despite all the warnings he gave me.

‘…Surely you don’t already have someone you like?’

A sudden surge of anxiety crept up in me. Rolling my eyes anxiously, i glanced at my watch, the only thing that always and everywhere seemed to run normally.

It seemed like i would have to go see Seo Hee-jun right after class and see him with my own eyes to feel reassured.