Life Doesn't Go as Planned

Life never goes the way you want it to.

I had always felt that way while living, but lately the thought came to me more often than ever. Strictly speaking, it was less about life in general and more about every situation that had started to go sideways the moment I began living Shin Cha-heon’s life in his place. No matter what I imagined, something beyond imagination always became reality.

Had school always been this terrifying a place? Maybe the problem was starting out as a student instead of a teacher, but this belated high-school life was far from peaceful—frighteningly so.

…What am I supposed to do with those fearless little bastards.

Cha-heon gripped the plastic water bottle tight, then loosened his hold again and let out a long sigh as the smell of cigarette smoke drifted up through the school building.

Seowol High School had a fairly large campus. Three years earlier they had built a new annex and moved the music room, art room, and everything else out of the old main building. The original structure was now used mostly as storage or as prop rooms for a handful of clubs.

That old building sat quite a distance from the others, so almost no one came and went. The area around it was just as empty. A place with no foot traffic and no watchful eyes was the perfect environment for students in their prime to get up to no good.

I only followed Baek Yu-gyeong and now this.

Baek Yu-gyeong had come to drop off some things in the annex at the request of Nam Yun-hwa, the homeroom teacher of Class 8 of the second year. He had spotted Cha-heon on the way and, of course, dragged him along. Clinging to his side while carrying a load almost as big as his own torso, the boy had whined that he would be lonely going alone; Cha-heon hadn’t been able to abandon him and had ended up tagging along.

Still, it was admirable of him to help a teacher. Cha-heon had offered to carry part of the load, but Yu-gyeong had said he would only let him if Cha-heon gave him a kiss. The kid clearly still had energy to spare if he was talking nonsense like that, so Cha-heon had simply handed over the entire burden.

He’s strong enough; he can manage it just fine.

In any case, while Cha-heon waited in the hallway for Yu-gyeong to set the things down inside a classroom of the old building, the smell of cigarettes had slowly drifted up through an open corridor window.

Wondering which teacher would have the gall to smoke on school grounds, he had peered down from the second-floor window—only to find students in uniform manufacturing their own little clouds of smoke. They looked like a rough bunch, and there were enough of them that the whole scene radiated trouble.

Is it a relief that they’re not teachers, or is it worse because they’re students? I can’t even tell what’s the bigger problem around here.

Even so, professional conscience as a teacher had made him hesitate over whether he ought to stop them. That was when his eyes had fallen on the water bottle in his hand—and that was how the whole mess had begun.

…No, dumping water on kids’ heads is still a bit much, even for discipline.

Just as he was leaning toward the conclusion that a water bomb would be excessive and that Yu-gyeong would be out any second anyway, so he could just let it slide for today—

“Hey, anyone see that bastard Baek Yu-gyeong today?”

Cha-heon’s ears pricked up. Until now the conversation floating up had been almost unintelligible as human speech—ninety percent pure filth laced with curses. But hearing Baek Yu-gyeong’s name in the middle of it made him uneasy.

…Why Yu-gyeong?

“Just a bit ago Nam Yun-hwa told him to do something and he went wagging his tail right away.”

Ah.

Listening well when a teacher asked for help made him a very good student. Yes, yes—he deserved praise. Separate from how clingy and bothersome Yu-gyeong could be, Cha-heon had been slowly realizing that the boy was actually an excellent student.

“That guy likes anything as long as it’s a woman. He even goes easy on Alphas if they’re girls, right? Guess Nam Yun-hwa’s in his range of taste. Like Baek Ha-gyeong said, maybe he’s got a thing for that age because he doesn’t have a mom?”

Cha-heon hurriedly clamped a hand over his own mouth. A vicious curse had almost slipped out.

These crazy students?

Ugly, vulgar laughter rolled up, and in the middle of it came a voice far lower and huskier than any ordinary high-schooler’s.

“Why not? Nam Yun-hwa’s pretty hot. Baek Yu-gyeong’s always had refined tastes—makes sense.”

“Whoa, so Sa-un hyung likes older ladies?”

“Are you out of your mind? Read the room, you idiot. Sorry, hyung. This bastard’s a total waste of space.”

“Yeah, he looks it.”

A brief, chilly silence fell.

“Don’t be such a pussy.”

The student presumed to be Sa-un brushed it off as nothing, and immediately the snickering, curses, and garbage talk mixed into an uncomfortable noise that poured into Cha-heon’s ears.

Feeling his insides burn, Cha-heon leaned back against the wall and tilted his head up.

Ugh, fine. It’s my fault for forgetting that you half-formed little shits have a vocabulary that defies common sense. Praise, my ass.

High-school boys weren’t human. Cha-heon knew that from experience. Come to think of it, the athletic-club guys back in his own middle- and high-school days had spoken almost entirely in curses except for the particles. The only words they used for each other were “retard,” “moron,” “this bastard,” “that bastard.”

Of course, only certain kids talked that low-class trash, and back then he had never associated with them. Running into the same type now put him in an awkward position.

Why don’t those bastards just talk among themselves instead of dragging other people into it.

Cha-heon clenched his teeth and narrowed his eyes.

Is this how it is? If this keeps going…

Just as he was about to sink into thought, he spotted Yu-gyeong coming out of the classroom—apparently finished moving the load—and walking this way.

Damn it, how long has he been out? Did he hear?

Cha-heon urgently checked Yu-gyeong’s face first.

Fortunately, either he hadn’t heard or it didn’t show; Baek Yu-gyeong’s expression didn’t look especially serious. As the boy approached with his usual face, Cha-heon startled and quickly peered down under the window again. Voices rose once more from the students who were still snickering and chatting.

“Baek Yu-gyeong, that guy—his brother.”

…Yu-gyeong’s brother? Right, he had said he had an older sibling.

“Retar—”

Screw it.

The moment Cha-heon realized they were about to start insulting the brother too, he hurriedly twisted the cap off the water bottle he was holding and poured a steady stream out the window. Water gushed from the wide mouth of the bottle and soaked the students below.

“Ah, fuck!”

“…Huh.”

“Hyung, you okay? Shit, you got completely drenched.”

“What, is it raining?”

“Does that look like rain?! Up there!”

Shouts rose as the students started looking their way. Cha-heon, who had already pulled his body back, simply waved a hand.

“Quit smoking! And here’s a present!”

He cheerfully chucked the empty bottle down as well. A hollow thunk sounded as someone got hit, and the area below erupted in fresh curses and noise.

Cha-heon scrambled away from the corridor window, grabbed Yu-gyeong’s arm, and shoved him toward a classroom window.

“Hyu—mph?”

Cha-heon hurriedly covered Yu-gyeong’s mouth and whispered.

“Shh. Those kids were smoking. Students acting all cocky, right?”

He tilted his head in a signal to stay quiet; Yu-gyeong nodded in understanding.

“Let’s go. Run. If the smell sticks to us, we’ll get unfairly chewed out by the teachers.”

In the middle of their hurried retreat something dropped onto the floor with a soft tap, but Cha-heon didn’t notice as he pulled Yu-gyeong away.

Holding Yu-gyeong’s hand and racing toward the end of the corridor, Cha-heon suddenly remembered a serious fact.

…Wait. There’s only one entrance front and back. If we go that way they’ll catch us.

They were on the third floor; there were only two exits below. If the students crossed over and blocked both doors…

…Ah, shit.

Footsteps began rising from the very bottom of the empty building. Cha-heon glanced around frantically for a place to hide, spotted a cabinet inside an empty classroom, dragged Yu-gyeong in, and carefully shut the door. At the sound of heavy footsteps pounding closer he shoved Yu-gyeong into the cabinet and squeezed himself in after him.

Damn it, idiot. There are two cabinets—why cram into this one tiny space together.

While Cha-heon was berating himself, Baek Yu-gyeong at least quietly went along with everything.

In the silence broken only by breathing, something faint began to register across the chests pressed together.

…What is that?

An irregular thumping sound. No—he could feel it. Through the tightly pressed chests he felt the other person’s heartbeat.

Then Yu-gyeong suddenly flattened his back against the metal cabinet wall, lowered his upper body slightly, and buried his face in the crook of Cha-heon’s neck.

“…Hyung.”

The hot breath against his nape made Cha-heon flinch.

No. Don’t you dare start talking about being excited or whatever. You’re not that dense.

Recalling Baek Yu-gyeong’s usual behavior, Cha-heon formed a very rational conclusion and instead strained his ears outward.

A sliding sound—the classroom door opening—followed by footsteps entering the room. Cha-heon pressed closer and covered Yu-gyeong’s mouth again, signaling silence.

Fortunately Baek Yu-gyeong stayed quiet, and the presence that seemed to be looking around the classroom soon left again.

…Whew. Going back to high school is seriously spectacular.

He felt more physically drained than during those days when all he had done was train; it didn’t seem like his imagination. Strength was simply leaving his body.

Huh?

Yu-gyeong’s thigh suddenly slipped between his legs, startling Cha-heon into lifting his gaze. Yu-gyeong smirked and pressed even closer inside the already cramped cabinet.

…Huh?

At the unexpectedly deep contact, red warning lights flashed in Cha-heon’s head. This wasn’t just a hug—the position was wrong.

Indecent assault of a minor…

The horrifying words flashed through his mind; his blood ran cold and his previously quiet heart rate skyrocketed.

No!

Of course adults and minors weren’t supposed to do anything, but among those who absolutely could not escape severe social condemnation and for whom it was never tolerated were certain professions—the ones with a professional calling, for example.

…Like teachers. Or teachers. Or teachers!

When Cha-heon startled and rattled the cabinet, Yu-gyeong’s arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him in as the boy whispered against his ear.

“Hyung, stay still. We’ll get caught.”

“You—you little—get off me!”

“…So why did you do it? Hyung listened so carefully.”

“To what? Never mind, just—”

“…And then you stay quiet all by yourself. That’s mean.”

With softened brows and a clear smile, Yu-gyeong buried his face again between Cha-heon’s neck and shoulder, nuzzling.

…Suddenly an inexplicable stuffiness made breathing difficult, then turned it rough. Strangely enough, though, Baek Yu-gyeong’s chest barely seemed to move at all.

When they finally came out, only Cha-heon was a complete wreck. Fortunately, not long after, some athletic-club kids and a middle-aged man who looked like the volleyball coach had shown up at the old building, so the delinquents had apparently given up the search and left. Those kids reeked of smoke anyway; running into a teacher would have done them no favors.

After that last complaint about being mean, Baek Yu-gyeong had thoroughly exploited the forced hiding situation, clinging tightly and filling every selfish desire. Trapped inside, reduced to the status of a toddler’s favorite stuffed animal, Cha-heon had only been able to crawl out once all his energy was drained.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of a worn-out doll, Cha-heon stared at Yu-gyeong with hollow eyes. Outside in the sunlight, Yu-gyeong stretched and beamed. Watching him pose for an imaginary photoshoot, Cha-heon clenched his fist.

That little brat. He has no idea what other people go through.

The kid looked refreshed after satisfying every selfish urge, while Cha-heon felt as if the constant fretting had shortened his lifespan by about three years. He was so furious he could have fallen over backward, yet there had been a gain, so he steadied himself.

If this had gone according to the original story, Baek Yu-gyeong would have come here alone today for the teacher’s request and heard every single word those bastards said, right?

He might have let it slide once or twice. But if things like that had continued into the next year? Only now did his later behavior make complete sense. And Cha-heon had the gut feeling that worse things had probably happened as well.

…Cha-heon glanced sideways. He remembered Baek Yu-gyeong, who had been forced to run without even knowing what was going on, slyly interlocking their fingers as they walked and smiling brightly simply because they were holding hands. Recalling that pure expression, Cha-heon slightly revised his goal.

He had set the wrong objective from the start. He didn’t need to turn Baek Yu-gyeong into a proper person—he needed to protect him. Looking closely, this kid seemed to have done nothing particularly wrong yet was getting one-sidedly beaten down until he blackened. That worried him.

Of course… by then the kids won’t dare touch you.

Baek Yu-gyeong at that later point had been like a finely honed blade. He built walls, and if someone wronged him he paid them back with equal or greater humiliation without fail. After that one student who had properly suffered in the hallway, almost no idiots challenged Yu-gyeong. Why hadn’t Cha-heon realized it before experiencing it himself?

Well, Baek Ha-gyeong was around, so the kids must have counted on that.

When he had only watched the work, Baek Ha-gyeong never appeared, so he hadn’t known; now, a year earlier, the full circumstances were becoming clear.

In any case, even if Yu-gyeong was a discarded child, he was still family on the family register. As long as he had a solid background that could clean things up after the fact, Baek Yu-gyeong would never face trial or be forced to transfer or receive any such punishment. The reason there had been no separate punishment in the story even after his reputation fell and he openly bullied a friend was probably because the family had covered for him well.

…Wait. If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better if Yu-gyeong just lost his temper at those kids once? If he put them in their place early, they wouldn’t mess with him.

Only after he stopped enduring and blew up in a big way did people leave him alone; maybe that would be better.

…Or maybe not.

He remembered Baek Yu-gyeong standing blankly in the rain in front of the school gate a few days earlier.

…What had Baek Yu-gyeong been thinking in his third year when he acted that way? Had bullying his friend actually made him feel better?

…If it had felt good, he would have looked happy. He would have walked around smiling like he does now.

If he hadn’t seen the original or the present, he wouldn’t know, but considering the gap between this kid now and the future one, Yu-gyeong back then hadn’t seemed especially happy.

Thinking it over again, it was never a good thing when someone’s heart festered until they could no longer endure. No matter how the outside looked, the inside must have been rotting badly. It was sad that this bright kid would end up like that later. Better for him to stay the flower-field-dwelling brat he was right now.

When their eyes met, Yu-gyeong folded his eyes into crescents; Cha-heon shot him a look.

“Hyung?”

…He was happy. Cha-heon’s head was a mess and his energy completely gone because of the kid, yet Yu-gyeong looked full of vitality, as if he had just eaten something delicious.

…It seemed he really hadn’t heard the nonsense those guys had been spouting.

Cha-heon let out a breath close to relief and tilted his head.

“…Let’s go. You did a good deed, so hyung will buy you some snacks.”

At those words Yu-gyeong beamed as if he had gained the whole world and trotted after him. Getting that excited over a single snack—what a good age.

“Can I hold your hand?”

Now he just grabbed it first and asked afterward.

Cha-heon heaved a deep sigh and pulled him forward. Beside him, Yu-gyeong’s chattering voice floated over pleasantly.