Just Twilight

Curse my stupid mouth. No, the real curse should go to the math teacher. The root of all evil.

May he get his fly stuck while zipping up his pants!

Junyoung hurled silent curses as she stopped walking. The sky was overcast, and a heavy gloom hung in the air. She really didn’t want to go.

She’d barely slept, even though there weren’t many clothes to choose from. She ended up wearing the cleanest blouse and a knee-length skirt she owned, but all she wanted to do was toss the whole thing aside.

She’d debated dozens of times whether to spend her savings, meant for buying workbooks, on a new outfit at the market. But in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

No matter what I wear, I’ll look shabby anyway.

“May you wake up with a hangover so bad you fall and hit the back of your head on your bedframe,” she muttered under her breath.

Not that I want him to die. Just… suffer a little.

With that, Junyoung sighed deeply and resumed walking.

Her mother, who had staggered home drunk again last night, had been quiet, giving Junyoung the rare chance to think.

Why did she invite me?

Maybe she thought Junyoung’s comment about the gymnasium was arrogant. Or perhaps, as the woman had said, she was curious about the girl her son kept mentioning. She might’ve felt obligated since Junyoung had been hit by the ball and passed out.

Just eat politely, make an excuse about studying or chores, and leave quickly. No need to be nervous.

“Junyoung!”

Her self-pep talk was interrupted by a voice calling her name. She looked up to see Seungwoon walking toward her with his usual bright smile.

His shirt, the color of a clear blue sky, paired with crisp white pants, was so dazzling she wanted to turn around and run. Suppressing the urge, she gave him an awkward nod.

“Why are you here? The church is that way.”

“Oh, I was waiting and saw you.”

Seungwoon, seeming a bit shy, quickly started walking ahead of her, making small talk.

“Are you hungry? Did you eat breakfast? Was it hard getting here? At least it’s not raining.”

“Your mother…”

“Hm?”

“Does she usually like inviting people over?”

The sudden question made Seungwoon’s eyes dart around nervously. “Uh… sometimes?”

So, no.

Ignoring the added pressure that response brought, Junyoung pressed her lips together. Seungwoon glanced at her and smiled.

“Well, it’s the first time she’s invited one of my friends from here. I think she’s really excited. She kept fussing over the food, saying she didn’t know what you’d like.”

“I don’t have favorite foods. Or foods I hate,” she replied curtly.

Only people with the luxury of choice worry about things like that. Beomjin and I eat ramen every day without complaint.

Junyoung sighed again, her brows furrowing as frustration seeped into her voice.

“I don’t even know why I’m going.”

“It’s because of me,” Seungwoon said sheepishly.

“My mom cares a lot about my grades and school life. She keeps asking who’s the top student in our class and whether anything interesting happened. I guess your name came up the most, and she got curious.”

His gaze softened as he sneaked a glance at her.

“So… she wanted to meet you.”

Of course she did. Adults are so predictable.

Junyoung’s thoughts shifted to the woman’s earlier statement in the teachers’ office: I don’t expect much from the school; I just want the kids to stay healthy.

The word control settled heavily in her mind.

She relaxed her stiff shoulders and looked at Seungwoon.

“She came to school because of the reflection paper, didn’t she? She knows it was because of me.”

“She won’t bring it up with you,” Seungwoon assured her. “At home, I told her the math teacher was being unfair. It wasn’t a big deal, but he still made you, me, and even Kwon Beomjin write a reflection paper.”

“Well, Beomjin kind of deserved it. He threw a basketball at the teacher.”

Junyoung couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling Beomjin’s excuse about his sleep habits when confronted.

What did he mean by that anyway? That he was there because something scared him?

Ugh. I can’t ask him now. How do I even handle this?

Lost in thought, Junyoung didn’t notice Seungwoon watching her. His slow, deliberate voice broke the silence.

“Maybe we should’ve invited Beomjin, too. He was part of the reflection paper drama, after all.”

“As if he’d come,” Junyoung replied without thinking. “If he had the time, he’d just sleep.”

Realizing how casual her tone sounded, she quickly added, “He’s always sleeping. At school, I mean.”

An odd silence followed, but Junyoung couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She stared at the ground instead, pretending not to notice the weight of his gaze on her.

As they turned up a hill, Seungwoon finally spoke.

“It’s strange, you know? I’ve never seen you and Beomjin together, but sometimes it feels like you know each other well. Normally, he’s so quiet, like he’s not even there. But when it comes to you, it’s like he pays attention.”

Junyoung’s heart sank. She hadn’t expected Seungwoon to notice something like that.

No, no, he’s just guessing. And even if he does figure it out, it’s not the end of the world. I can deny it if it comes up.

“Maybe he’s just a humanitarian. Or maybe he hates the math teacher,” she muttered, narrowing her eyes irritably.

The sky grew darker, and a damp breeze swept past them.

“That day,” Seungwoon started again, his voice low.

Junyoung had assumed he’d drop the subject, but she was wrong.

“The day you fainted and were lying in the nurse’s office—I thanked you for the heater and the window, remember?”

“What about it? Are you bringing that up to show off or something?”

“That wasn’t me,” Seungwoon said calmly. “I just sat next to you during break. I didn’t even know where the heater was.”

Junyoung stopped walking, staring at him.

Seungwoon, who had been looking at the ground, slowly lifted his head to meet her gaze.

When their eyes met, he gave her a small, knowing smile.

“So, who are you thinking about right now?”

***

In some ways, being half out of it was a blessing. Otherwise, Junyoung might have been crushed under the weight of her inferiority complex.

Seungwoon’s house wasn’t just nice—it was breathtaking. Originally a three-story structure, it had been remodeled into two floors, with ceilings so high it felt like the walls soared into the sky. The enormous medieval-style chandelier hanging in the center was nothing short of overwhelming.

Junyoung had assumed there might be a single housekeeper helping out. Instead, she was met with the sight of five or six people bustling about, all dressed in identical white shirts and black pants or skirts.

“She has a bit of a flair for extravagance,” Seungwoon muttered under his breath as he led the way inside.

In the living room stood a woman in a blue dress, waving cheerfully as they entered.

“You’re here! Right on time.”

“Hello,” Junyoung mumbled, bowing stiffly as she glanced at the woman.

Her hair was styled in a flawless updo, not a single strand out of place. Her dress was more like a gown, sleek and form-fitting, embroidered with intricate lace patterns in shimmering white thread. There was no mistaking its expensive quality.

The woman smiled with her crimson lips, her eyes scanning Junyoung from head to toe. The sharp, scrutinizing gaze felt like the flick of a snake’s tongue, and Junyoung clenched her fists at her sides to keep from shivering.

“Are you hungry? Come, sit. Kim, show her the way.”

“Yes, ma’am. This way, please.”

The woman in glasses and a tailored black suit gestured for Junyoung to follow. Stepping into the dining area, Junyoung had to fight to keep her mouth from falling open.

A long dining table stretched before her, large enough to seat at least a dozen people. Spread across it was an array of dishes so picturesque they looked like they belonged in a food magazine.

“Are there other guests coming today?” Junyoung asked hesitantly.

“No, it’s just you. Since I wasn’t sure what you liked, I had them prepare a variety.”

“Isn’t this a bit much, Mom?” Seungwoon protested, looking embarrassed.

“She’s your first female friend to visit the house. How could it be too much?”@@novelbin@@

“Mom!”

Ignoring her son’s flustered outburst, the woman sat down gracefully. Junyoung pulled out an intricately carved chair and sat as well. The chair was polished and smooth, its surface so firm it felt unyielding.

At the sound of a bell, Junyoung turned to see the woman smiling slyly, her eyes curving in amusement.

“I didn’t want the warm dishes to get cold, so we’ll bring them out as we go. Eat as much as you’d like.”

“...Thank you for the meal,” Junyoung replied quietly.

She hadn’t come here intending to eat much. Picking at the simplest dishes with her chopsticks, she cautiously took a few bites. Many of the foods were unfamiliar, and she wasn’t sure how to eat them.

“They say the teachers speak highly of you and that you’re an excellent student. Do you go to an academy or have private tutoring?”

“I study on my own.”

“My, how impressive.”

“Mom, do you have to talk about school even at the table? Are you trying to ruin my appetite?”

“And how do you expect to survive senior year with such a delicate stomach?” the woman retorted, shaking her head.

With a resigned sigh, Seungwoon pushed a plate toward Junyoung. On it was something that looked like a crustacean she had never seen before.

“It’s good. Try it.”

“Why don’t you show the same consideration for your mother?”

At the woman’s sarcastic comment, Seungwoon tossed a piece of food onto an empty plate and handed it to her.

“Here you go, Mother.”

Junyoung was startled by how effortlessly Seungwoon handled the situation. He even signaled discreetly to a staff member behind him, who immediately took the plate and served it. The entire process felt unnervingly natural.

“Is this your first time trying it?”

“No,” Junyoung replied instinctively.

Her short answer made the woman’s fork pause midair. The amused curve of her lips suggested she already knew the truth, but Junyoung added anyway, “I just don’t really like it.”

“That’s fair. Everyone has their preferences. So, what school are you aiming for? Is it the same as Seungwoon’s?”

Anywhere that offers a scholarship and gets me a job quickly.

“I plan to go where my grades allow,” Junyoung said flatly.

“Don’t you have anything you really want to do?”

Once again, the woman’s words carried a serrated edge, scraping uncomfortably against Junyoung’s nerves.

“With your grades, medicine might be a good choice. Or maybe studying abroad. Law school could be another option if you prefer something less intense.”

Why does it feel like she’s deliberately mentioning the most expensive paths?

Junyoung set her chopsticks down, meeting the woman’s gaze head-on.

“Yes. With my grades, I’ll take my time and consider my options.”

The woman smiled as if entertained, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

She thought she’d win, didn’t she.