A Misplaced Kindness

“What is wrong with you, seriously?”

“No, it’s really nothing….”

“If it’s really nothing, show me your face.”

“Then just a second, wait just a bit…!”

I lunged forward and pecked Michael’s arm. Instinctively, he lowered his guard, and only then could I see his face. It was redder than I had ever seen it before. Every time he had blushed until now didn’t even compare.

If I ask him why he’s so red, it’ll ruin the mood, right? Yeah, let’s not spoil the atmosphere by asking things that don’t need to be said. But I want to hear it from his own lips. I feel this sudden impulse to make him say the words he doesn’t have to, just to see him get even more embarrassed.

Am I a pervert? I must be, right? I want to ask this because I’m a pervert, surely. My pupils shook.

“Um, Cecil? What’s wrong?”

“…You know, Michael.”

Fine, I’ll just be a pervert. I’m willing to be a pervert any day if it means seeing Michael look this cute. Besides, most people are perverts anyway. I asked.

“Why did you get so red?”

“…Ce, Cecil.”

“Was me asking for a hug that embarrassing?”

“No, it’s not that….”

“Then tell me why.”

“Cecil…!”

But I clung to Michael tenaciously. I even held his arms tight so he couldn’t play dirty and hide his face. If he set his mind to it, Michael could easily shake me off, but there was no way he would ever do that.

After a long tug-of-war, Michael finally opened his mouth with great effort.

“The reason I’m so red is….”

“Yeah, red because?”

“Because you….”

“Yeah, because I?”

“I mean, well, it’s because….”

My heart went thump-thump. Michael trailed off for a long time before closing his eyes tight and shouting.

“Because you’re so adorable…! I’m sorry it’s such a cliché answer! But I mean it!”

My pupils instantly turned into hearts. As if it wasn’t enough that he finally told me the truth, he even apologized for it being a cliché. My body trembled.

I never dreamed I had this side to me. Why is a humiliated Michael so cute, precious, and lovely? There’s a limit to being a pervert; I shouldn’t become too much of one—like hell I shouldn’t. I want to see more.

I spread my arms wide.

“Michael, hug me.”

“…Cecil!”

“Why? You said I was cute in this position.”

“Well, that’s true, but…!”

With my arms still wide open, I said:

“Hug me.”

Michael trembled for a moment before suddenly pulling me into a fierce embrace. He buried his face in my shoulder and spoke in a shaking voice.

“Cecil, you’re really mean.”

“I’m sorry.”

Because I’m a pervert. I patted Michael’s back. Having finally calmed down thanks to that, Michael gave me a piggyback ride.

“I’m heading out then.”

“Okay.”

I gazed at Michael’s broad, reliable back with ecstatic eyes. Looking at a back normally versus looking at it while being carried is on a whole different level. I buried my face in his back and spoke.

“Michael.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to write something on your back, so want to guess what I’m saying?”

“So suddenly? Sure, okay.”

Using my finger, I wrote the words I wanted to say to Michael most on his back. In Korean, no less. Naturally, Michael couldn’t figure out what it was, and I repeated the words until we arrived at the dormitory. Michael said regretfully:

“In the end, I couldn’t figure it out before we got here. Cecil, what did you write?”

Marry me. But I just gave a bright smile.

“You’ll find out later.”

“Can’t you tell me now?”

“Nope.”

I gave Michael’s back a light push.

“Goodnight, Michael. Good luck on your last practical exam.”

“Alright…. Work hard on your studies too, Cecil.”

“Yep! Ah, wait. Hold on, Michael.”

One moment I was pushing him away, and the next I was grabbing his arm. A smile played on Michael’s lips.

“You just told me to go, and now what? Do you hate the thought of leaving me already?”

“No, it’s not that. I just remembered something I had to say. I have to find where Fendil is today.”

“Fendil? The one who topped the class in the first year, right? I’ve seen him a few times at the dorm.”

“Yeah.”

In the novels and webtoons I’ve read, the protagonist usually thinks, ‘Eh, it’s a trivial thing, let’s not mention it,’ only for a misunderstanding to happen and cause friction later.

But I’m different. I’ve read enough novels to know how to block that kind of friction in advance. I explained the earlier situation in great detail, and Michael understood. He even went as far as telling me the location of Fendil’s room.

“If it’s Fendil, it should be the last room on the second floor.”

“Aha, really? Thanks.”

“Then I’m really going now.”

“No, wait.”

The moment Michael waved and tried to move away, I grabbed his arm again. I asked with a smiling face.

“How do you know where Fendil’s room is?”

“I happened to see him going in there while I was heading to your room. I told you I’ve seen him a few times at the dorm.”

“Ah, right.”

I was so blinded by the fact that he knew Fendil’s room that I had forgotten Michael frequented the General Department dormitory like it was his own house because of me. The title of this story almost changed from Time to Drop Out to Time to Break Up.

Feeling embarrassed, I gave Michael a tight hug.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I would’ve felt weird too if you knew my friend’s room location.”

“Thanks for understanding. You can really go now.”

“…….”

But this time, Michael grabbed my arm. When I looked at him with questioning eyes, he clung to me and whined.

“I really don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave either.”

In the end, we couldn’t help but hug each other again.

“Michael, should I really transfer to the Swordsmanship Department?”

“No, you hate physical exertion. It’s more realistic for me to transfer to the General Department.”

“But you love using a sword. I don’t want you to give up what you love because of me.”

“I don’t want that either.”

“Then I guess we just have to work hard in our respective places.”

“Right. That’s what’s best for each other.”

We hugged each other even tighter.

“I still don’t want to leave…!”

“Me neither…!”

Just then, I felt someone nearby. We snapped apart like lightning as a student carrying a mountain of books passed us by. Even if we’re crazy about each other, we don’t want to damage other people’s eyesight with excessive PDA.

Back in my original world, I used to see couples being too touchy and think, ‘They’re gonna get arrested for public indecency.’ And so, we barely managed to grab hold of our reason and part ways.

“Train hard. Don’t get hurt.”

“If your head starts hurting while studying, rest immediately.”

Actually, we didn’t part immediately. After confirming the student had completely disappeared, I squeezed my eyes shut. Then, I raised my arms to form a heart. It was embarrassing, but I couldn’t control my feelings for Michael.

Michael caught my heart, covered his mouth in shock, and then waved his hand grandly. It was a clear signal that he’d come to my room the moment training ended. I really wish an hour would pass like a minute. Brimming with more energy than ever, I pulled the notebook out of my bag.

The footprint was still clearly marked on the cover. Since the contents were safe, I’ll just leave it quietly in front of the door. I climbed up to the second floor of the General Department dormitory.

“The last room, he said, right?”

What a relief. Honestly, I felt a bit awkward about facing him. Just as I was about to set the notebook down with a sigh of relief—my eyes widened. Fendil’s door was slightly ajar. And from the gap, I heard the sound of something breaking.

True to my worrying nature, ten thousand different scenarios immediately unfolded in my head. Were people who looked down on him for being a commoner trashing his room? Or maybe people jealous of his high grades?

Ah, it could be a thief after his study notes. Or maybe Fendil, stressed out by exam period, was throwing a fit. Everyone explodes at least once during finals.

I hesitated in front of the door. Should I go in and check the noise? But if I did, I might be mistaken for the thief instead. What should I do in a situation like this? Just then, a loud thump sounded, as if something heavy had fallen.

It was a noise loud enough to echo through the hallway. I had no choice but to knock. This much should be okay, right? I spoke clearly.

“Is everything okay in there?”

Since I didn’t know who was inside, I asked very politely. But no one answered. I knocked harder.

“Are you alright? What’s happening? I hear strange noises from inside.”

The moment I finished speaking, the door swung open.

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry for being loud….”

Fendil and I locked eyes. I had a hunch, but the person inside really was Fendil. However, his eyes were rimmed with red, and they were completely bloodshot. He looked like someone who had been bawling his eyes out, and I froze.

I hadn’t expected this situation; regardless of the noise, I should have just left the notebook and gone. But logically, if a loud ruckus comes from inside a room, wouldn’t anyone knock? The world is a dangerous place these days.

While I was mentally rattling off excuses that didn’t really matter, Fendil frowned.

“What? I thought you were on the third floor.”

“No, I just came to deliver this and accidentally….”

Though I had improved lately, I was still a natural-born loser at heart, so I instinctively acted subservient.

“Deliver what?”

I held out the notebook.

“I think someone dropped this. So….”

Before I could even finish, Fendil snatched the notebook away. To reassure him, I said:

“There’s a footprint on it because someone stepped on it, but the contents are safe. Ah, I’m sorry for looking at it without permission. But I closed it the moment I confirmed it was yours….”

Thwack. Before I could finish, Fendil hurled the notebook toward the back of the room and spoke.

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

“Huh?”

“Were you that bitter about losing the top spot to a commoner? Enough to use such petty methods?”

“What are you talking about? I told you, I didn’t do that. I really just found it while walking….”

“Stop acting. It’s disgusting.”

Why do I have to get cursed at by this guy? Sure, I get that life at school is hard for a commoner. He probably hates the aristocrats who act territorial. I’ve experienced how sensitive one gets when the environment is bad, so I understand.

But he shouldn’t be taking it out on me.