Chapter 37. I am a Crazy Bastard

“Go. Just give me the sketchbook and go.”
“No. You write this properly.”

Taeseong refused firmly and pulled the cap down harder over Haeyoung’s face until it covered it completely.

He pulled a pencil case from his crossbody bag, unzipped it, and took out a black pen. Too lazy to put the pencil case back, he tossed it down. It hit the asphalt with a sharp sound, pens scattering everywhere.

Haeyoung watched him with wide eyes as if she was dumbfounded.

‘What is he doing?’

Taeseong popped the pen cap and drew long lines across the sketchbook. Haeyoung narrowed her eyes as she watched.

Then he started writing. After going over it a few times, he threw the pen down and stood beside Haeyoung. He held the sketchbook just like she had, looking out toward the students.

But unlike Haeyoung, there was no awkwardness or shame in him. Only a confident, composed air. In that moment, he looked like a model in a school uniform at a high-end photo shoot.

The atmosphere changed. Murmurs and gasps started rising from the students. Cha Kyung, now lost in the crowd, covered her mouth with both hands.

Haeyoung, feeling something was off, turned her head and checked the sketchbook. The word ‘bitch’ was crossed out with an ‘X,’ replaced with ‘bastard’ above it.

So the new sentence read:

“I am this school’s crazy bastard.”

“…Ju Taeseong, are you out of your mind?”

Haeyoung spoke sharply.

“Didn’t I say this was my problem?”
“What ‘yours’? What ‘mine’? What about ‘us’? We’re like a married couple.”
“What?”
“If we’re going to be humiliated, we’ll be humiliated together.”
“Ha…”

Haeyoung sighed deeply. Somehow, he always left her speechless.

“What are we, some married couple?”
“Go to the district office and get a copy of the family registry. It’ll say that.”
“That’s not the point.”

Haeyoung was at a loss for words because of how ridiculously stubborn this conversation felt.

“Then what is the point?”
“…….”
“Are you trying to ‘protect the line’ between us when you’re in this state?”

Taeseong’s voice was sharp, but to Haeyoung, it felt kind somehow. Somehow, she felt ashamed for finding warmth in it, and it made her snap.

“Bad guy.”
“Then let me be a bad guy, but don’t tell me to go.”
“…….”
“Are we not a couple?”

Haeyoung sighed quietly and cursed softly.

“…You really are a bad guy.”

He pulled a laugh out of her, making her surrender to him yet again. Making her heart spin so she could only keep liking him.

“Bad guys are attractive, you know.”
“You’re a madman.”

The whispers and stares of the students no longer existed for the two of them. Occasionally words passed between them, but both kept looking straight ahead. Taeseong held the sketchbook, and Haeyoung wore the cap he gave her.

Haeyoung was hidden by the cap, but Taeseong stood tall and met every stare that came their way, making some students look away awkwardly. Haeyoung stole glances at him.

For the first time in a long while, she noticed how sharp his eyebrows were, how long and beautiful his eyes were, and how full his lips looked. Her gaze wandered down further. Taeseong was in a plain short-sleeved shirt, making the contours of his toned body faintly visible. The shirt pulled tight across his chest and shoulders, hanging looser as it dropped to the waist. He was tall and solid. Not only in body, but in heart.

Haeyoung felt that fact sink in deeply. It felt like an enormous, unyielding wall pressing down on her. As if she could never run or escape from it.

Time passed. Suddenly, the teacher in charge of students came out from the school gates, swinging a long stick as he walked.

“What are you doing here?”
“…….”

He clicked his tongue when he checked Haeyoung’s name tag.

“High school seniors doing this nonsense?”

Taeseong’s expression hardened for a moment, then smoothed out as he spoke.

“Sorry, teacher. We had a bet with friends and lost.”
“Ah, goodness. What are you doing?”

The teacher eyed Taeseong from top to bottom.

“And you? You’re not even from this school, are you?”
“Yes, I came from the school next door.”
“Are you a senior too?”
“Yes.”
“Goodness, both of you.”
“Teacher,” Taeseong called in a polite voice.

“What?”
“We’re seniors. We have a lot of stress. Could you be a bit understanding?”

Taeseong smiled with a rare politeness, making the teacher hesitate for a moment. But this teacher had worked for 30 years and had seen countless students. A smile wouldn’t make him waver.

“Why would I be understanding? Who are you to come here and cause trouble?”

He glared sharply at both Haeyoung and Taeseong. Without flinching, Taeseong responded:

“Her husband.”
“What?!”

The teacher, expecting ‘her boyfriend’ as an answer, gawked in surprise.

“Her husband.”
“…….”
“Cha Haeyoung’s husband.”

Haeyoung jabbed Taeseong sharply in the side. It was a signal for him to stop. But to the teacher, this scene just looked like a couple making a scene.

“Goodness, my head.” The teacher pressed a hand to his temple.
“Husband? What husband?!”
“It’s true, teacher. Should I go get a copy of our family registry?”

As Taeseong refused to back down, Haeyoung elbowed him harder.

“Enough, Ju Taeseong.”
“Ah! Hey!”

Haeyoung clenched her teeth and jabbed him sharply. Taeseong doubled over.

Haeyoung quickly bowed to the teacher.

“I’m sorry, teacher. We’ll leave right away if you dismiss the students.”
“Fine. At least one of you talks sense.”

The teacher sighed, nodded at Haeyoung, and turned to the students.

“Everyone, disperse! Get to the academy or study! If you stand here like this, you won’t make it to college like these kids!”

The teacher waved the long stick as he scolded, and the students started leaving.

Although Taeseong was a top student at the school next door, the teacher had no idea, barking out the usual words for troublesome students. The students, excited by the scene, started talking about Taeseong and Haeyoung as they left.

Haeyoung sighed deeply. It felt like she wouldn’t have a quiet school year anymore. But at least it didn’t seem like anyone actually believed she and Taeseong were married. To them, it was just another ridiculous scene.

Once the students were gone and the teacher left, Taeseong lowered the sketchbook and rolled his shoulders.

“Wow, this is tiring.”
“That’s why I told you to just go.”
“There you go again, sharp-tongued as ever.”
“…….”
“Why can’t you just say ‘thank you’?”
“Not thankful at all.”
“Alright then. Not thankful.”

Taeseong smiled as if it didn’t matter and pulled the cap down over Haeyoung’s head.

“Let’s go home. Together.”

The warmth in his voice wrapped around Haeyoung like the glow of the setting sun.

“…Alright.”

That was how they made up.

On the way home
Haeyoung and Taeseong sat beside each other on the bus. Every time the bus shook, their shoulders and arms brushed against each other. Taeseong clenched the hand resting on his thigh so hard that the veins on the back of it stood out.