PAID

"Move."

Yohan’s farewell was as absurd and empty as the ending of a B-grade movie.

***

"Of all things, why did it have to be your right arm? How are you going to take notes?"

My homeroom teacher looked at my cast with sympathy.

"They said I only have to wear it for three months."@@novelbin@@

I muttered my response like an excuse. The teacher lowered their gaze.

"Sigh, how did you even get hurt?"

It was a light scolding. I wondered—was my soft-hearted teacher really worried about my grades? Or was it the thought of the class average dropping that concerned them? Maybe it was both. People always think in ways that benefit them.

At least, that’s how the adults I grew up watching behaved.

I had skipped morning classes today, using my injury as an excuse to avoid Yohan. The result was a one-on-one conversation with my homeroom teacher, but that was still better than facing Yohan. I really didn’t want to come today. But skipping school without permission would lead to my parents being contacted. What scared me most wasn’t their reaction—it was the questions they would ask.

"I fell. Down the stairs."

"You should be more careful. You’re usually so quick on your feet. Why would you make a mistake like that?"

Yeah. Why did I make a mistake like that?

I forced a slight smile, hiding my sour mood. Then, like an idiot, I unconsciously scratched my neck with my left hand. A sharp pain, like a knife slicing through my skin, made me wince.

"Ah…"

"Oh dear, you hurt yourself there too?"

"Ah, yeah."

"What a mess. Even I feel frustrated just looking at you."

"I’m sorry."

"You’ll still do well on your exams, right? Even with your left hand?"

"Probably, yeah. I think I can manage."

I nodded to myself.

"I have to do well."

"If you ever have any trouble, don’t hesitate to talk to me, okay? I’ll help however I can."

"Min, you don’t have to worry so much. He said he’s fine, didn’t he?"

The voice belonged to the geography teacher, an older man lounging in his chair, reading a newspaper. Apparently, he didn’t have a class right now.

"Why did you have to get hurt now, of all times?"