EAR Ch 20

Although it was still cold weather to play outside, the basketball court on one side of the playground was hot as if a fire had been stoked. Kids throwing off their outerwear because of the heat began appearing one by one. And there were also kids who, after watching that scenery from afar, moved their steps toward the court.

“Are you practicing?”

At the suddenly heard voice, the Class 2 students stopped practicing for a moment. Before they knew it, near the court, the Class 4 kids who had agreed to play a match had drawn close.

Jaemin, holding the ball he had just received, panted with heavy breath and quietly looked at one person. The target of his gaze was, needless to say, Oh Seungpyo, who stood a head taller among the average-sized boys. A Class 4 guy asked fussily.

“Ryu Jaemin, did you really agree to play the match together?”

“Just for this time, I decided to do it together instead of Hyeongseo.”

“Awesome. Hey, how is it? Is he good at basketball, too?”

In the midst of the noisy atmosphere from the unexpected sight, Oh Seungpyo was quiet without much to say. He merely looked back at Jaemin, and only the corners of his mouth moved slightly, barely visible.

It was an expression that looked like snickering sneer, and also like letting out a dumbfounded sigh. The kids, who couldn’t possibly know the invisible battle of nerves between Seungpyo and Jaemin, were just thrilled and chatteringly made plans.

“Should we practice together here, too? We can use that basket over there.”

Then Oh Seungpyo pointed toward the outside of the school gate with a chin gesture.

“How can we practice together with the guys we’re gonna match against. Let’s go do it over there, at the park court.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“You guys work hard, too.”

Oh Seungpyo left behind words that were unknown whether they were encouragement or mockery, and moved his steps. Whether stimulated by Class 2’s passionate special training, the Class 4 kids also became a bit more triumphant and left the spot.

Jaemin watched the line of receding kids to the end. Oh Seungpyo was arrogant even from his back view. It was shoulders, a back, and the back of a head where it was plainly revealed that he didn’t entertain even a 0.01% possibility of losing in basketball, not in the slightest.

“There’s not much time. Let’s hurry up and finish practicing.”

Jaemin encouraged the kids first, who had been loafing around like break time for a moment because the flow was cut off. There were less than 30 minutes left until the time the pickup hyung agreed to pick him up.

Jaemin’s heart was rushed. Like an examinee preparing for a last-minute cram, if there was even a 0.01% possibility, he wanted to bet on it.

📚

“Oh Seungpyo, a Class 2 kid is looking for you.”

During break time, Seungpyo, who was laughing while exchanging jokes with his friends, turned his head toward the back door at a kid’s message. The only Class 2 kid worth coming to find him was one person, and the expected figure was standing there.

Seungpyo stood up from his seat without hurrying. Slowly approaching the back door, he stood blocking Jaemin’s front and asked.

“Did you bring my phone?”

“Before returning it, let’s talk for a second.”

“What do you want to talk about again.”

Even while grumbling, Seungpyo followed Jaemin out. The whole time walking behind him, Seungpyo looked at the black crown of the head slightly below him. He endured the urge to poke the white whorl of hair with his finger and stir up his temper.

Looking at how things were going, it seemed the offer to return each other’s items and end it was not to Ryu Jaemin’s satisfaction. Even though the person who would benefit if the accident between the two was treated as if it never happened would be Ryu Jaemin himself, it was clear he couldn’t let it pass smoothly because his personality was filthy.

As if anyone wouldn’t know that he said he was coming out for the basketball match because he explicitly wanted to retaliate against him. A guy who hasn’t even played a match once not knowing his place.

“What do you have to say.”

The place Jaemin took Seungpyo to was the resource room, which had become their secret meeting location before they knew it. Click—locking the door, Jaemin took a deep breath like a person about to make a major announcement. Because his expression was so serious, Oh Seungpyo ended up swallowing a small breath as well.

Jaemin pulled out the familiar clear-case cell phone from his pocket and held it out. Receiving it, Seungpyo turned on the screen, touched it a few times, and knitted his brows. Glancing a crooked gaze at Jaemin in front of his eyes, he wore an expression that said what are you doing.

“You brought the wrong one? It’s not mine.”

“I know. I didn’t bring your phone.”

“What? Why?”

“Ending the story like this doesn’t solve things. I can’t trust whether you’ll keep your promise either.”

Seungpyo let out a dry, empty breath, “Ha.”

“Do I look that free to you? How long do you think I’d drag that matter out? I don’t have a single bit of interest in your pervert pictures anymore. Looking at it that way, how can I trust you in the first place? A double-faced psycho freak like you.”

“Yeah. Just like you said, since both of us can’t trust each other, let’s make it a bit more definitive.”

“How?”

Jaemin had a serious expression throughout. Even while thinking he was listening to nonsense that didn’t even sound like words, Oh Seungpyo couldn’t withdraw his curiosity and waited for the next words.

“Bet on the basketball match. If your class wins, I’ll return your phone and delete the recording file, too. I’ll delete both the ones saved in the cloud and on the phone in front of your eyes. You return my phone again after the bet ends, too.”

“Without knowing how many more copies of the file you might have made, what meaning is there in that kind of thing?”

“If necessary, I’ll write a written pledge, too.”

It was a continuation of words that made him doubt his ears. Seungpyo stared intently as if gauging Jaemin’s sincerity. It was because he couldn’t distinguish whether it was a joke or for real.

Originally, Class 2 didn’t have many times winning against Class 4, but this time, since they were in a state of entrusting even under the basket to a complete novice, the possibility was further away. Seungpyo felt that proposing a bet so full of confidence was absurd in itself, and thought the conditions Jaemin presented were still without much meaning, but he was curious about the opposite case.

“That won’t happen, but what if your class wins?”

“Say you’re sorry to me.”

“…”

“And delete the pictures you said you saved in front of my eyes, too.”

Seungpyo didn’t hold back and knitted his brows. His voice heightened slightly.

“What do I have to be sorry to you for? From the start, you suddenly popped out and bumped into me, and you’re the one who dropped your phone and took mine as you pleased.”

“Apologize for threatening me with that matter. And you didn’t say sorry to me after hitting me with a soccer ball, either.”

His words were blocked right away. Seungpyo, who was staring at Jaemin with his mouth slightly opened, narrowed his eyes and let out a powerless sigh.

“Your hold-a-grudge spirit is incredible.”

“Don’t pretend you’re not. From what I see, you’re worse.”

“You absolutely don’t lose a single word, do you.”

“That’s right. I’ve never lost to you even once.”

He thought Seungpyo would get angry at those words, but Seungpyo rolled his eyes with a scowling face and suddenly giggled.

“Well, that’s true, isn’t it?”

When he readily agreed to the words intended to poke at him, Jaemin, who had been coming out aggressively, was rather brought down a notch and gave a dry cough. However, it wasn’t that Seungpyo was suddenly showing tolerance. He was simply finding it funny inside.

Seungpyo lowered his gaze slightly as if pondering over the bet proposal.

‘It seems he thinks he can really beat me at basketball and acts brazen. Is he confusing a basketball match with exam preparation as the same thing?’

Because he always took 1st place while receiving expensive tutoring and attending academies, his sense of reality in these matters might be a bit lacking. That Ryu Jaemin himself is a person who can take top spot anywhere if he only sets his mind to it.

It was funny that a guy who would be an ignorant pup on the court acted insolently talking about a bet or whatever without knowing a thing. Even if Ryu Jaemin were a basketball genius out of a comic book, it would be impossible for him to be active to the extent of keeping Oh Seungpyo in check within a few days, that is.