TSCEIAB Ch. 24

 

“Do you know me?”

 

My head was filled with question marks. Then I heard Hugo’s low voice in my ears.

 

“Uh, y-yeah… You’re…famous… so ……..”

 

“Ah, right. I am famous.”

 

Was he bragging……?

When I widened my eyes slightly at the unexpected appearance, he averted my gaze. Then, as if to change the subject, he pointed to my sneakers.

 

“Your shoelaces are untied.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“Hold still. I’ll tie them.”

 

Before I could stop him, he got down on one knee.

 

“W-what are you doing? I can tie it myself! Get up!”

 

“You look like you are carrying a lot of baggage. It’ll be easier to tie it up for you since I’m empty-handed. You’ll be comfortable, too.”

 

No. I’m very uncomfortable right now!

The children’s glances were now fixed on me and Hugo.

 

“You transferred? At this time of year?”

 

He tied my shoelaces at a very slow pace. I squirmed, but I was deeply relieved that he didn’t recognize me.

 

“Uh, y-yeah……. Somehow…….”

 

“I see. Congratulations on your transfer.”

 

Hugo said playfully and began to unlace my other sneakers, which were still tied neatly.

 

“…… What are you doing?”

 

“I think this one will come undone soon, so I’m tying it up again.”

 

He replied nonchalantly and skillfully tied a ribbon. As I watched him, images of our childhood came to mind.

 

‘Hugo used to tie my shoelaces for me back then, too.’

Even back then, his hands were slender, and now that was grown, it hadn’t changed.

As I stared at him, reminiscing, Hugo suddenly twisted the corners of his mouth and muttered:

 

“…… You still tie your knots weirdly.”

 

…… What?

 

“W-what did you just say?”

 

“Huh? I said you tie your knots weirdly.”

 

“…… You just said still……. .”

 

“Still? Did I say that?”

 

What? What the heck? Did I hear that wrong?

He shook himself off and straightened up. Then he held out his hand to me.

 

“I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m Hugo Alexis. You can call me Hugo.”

 

Even though I already called you Hugo.

The words he added were playful. As I became awkwardly stiff, he gave up the handshake and withdrew his hand.

 

“Transfer student, what’s your name?”

 

“…… H-Haley. Haley Baek.”

 

“Haley Baek. Nice name.”

 

‘You don’t recognize me, do you……?’

My mind was so jumbled that I couldn’t feel the students’ gazes. I don’t know if he knew what I was thinking or not, Hugo tilted his head and spoke softly.

 

“Looking forward to getting along with you, Haley.”

 

The round, curved eyes weren’t as awkward as they were when he was younger.

It was a very, very beautiful smile.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

My reunion with Hugo in a long time, was short.

He glanced at the map in my hand and asked, “Are you looking for the teacher’s office?” and pointed in the opposite direction I was going.

 

“The teacher’s office is that way. Do you want me to take you there?”

 

“…… No. It’s alright.”

 

My expression and voice naturally hardened. I was wary because I couldn’t grasp his intentions in showing kindness to someone he just met.

 

“Okay. Then take care, it was nice meeting you. See you around, Haley.”

 

Hugo didn’t press further at my refusal. He shrugged his shoulders lightly and started walking in the other direction.

I stared at Hugo’s back as he walked away and thought.

 

‘…… Let’s avoid it just in case.’

It felt a little awkward to face the relationship I let go, no……. I had pushed away.

It was hard for me to pretend not to know him when he didn’t recognize me.

 

‘…… He doesn’t recognize me, right?’

There was some doubt, but I soon let out a sigh and dispelled my doubts.

I belatedly noticed the glances directed at me and quickly moved in the direction Hugo had pointed out.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

After checking the sign that said “Teacher’s Office,” I knocked on the door. I heard a reply from inside to come in.

 

Click –

When I opened the door, I saw a counter. A woman sitting behind it looked at me with puzzled eyes.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“Hello. I’m Haley Baek.”

 

“Oh! You’re the one transferring today?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded, and the eyes of everyone in the office fell on me.

 

“That kid…….”

 

“Shhh! Quiet.”

 

Normally 12th graders don’t transfer at a time like this, so it seemed strange.

 

“You came sooner than I thought. Come this way.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders in discomfort with the gazes on me, but the woman who first greeted me beckoned.

 

“Take a seat here. Would you like some tea?”

 

“No, thank you.”

 

“Alright then. I’m Ashley Scott.”

 

She sat down and looked at her computer. She clicked something with her mouse and started talking.

 

“Hmm……. Your grades last semester were good. You took quite a few excellent courses. Is there any college in mind?”

 

“No. Not yet…….”

 

Actually, I didn’t even think about going to college.

It’s still hard for me to get along with people, and ‘school’ was like hell for me.

 

“Alright. If you manage your grades well, you’ll have plenty of options, so think about it a little more. Here, this is the subject timetable. It’s still early in the semester, so if you want to change your schedule, feel free to let me know.”

 

A piece of paper is held out in front of me. The subjects I had selected in advance on my dad’s laptop were on the schedule.

 

‘Oh, come to think of it…….’

Suddenly, I remembered Hugo’s face that I had seen earlier.

 

‘He’s probably in the same grade as me.’

What if the timetables overlap? Should I ask?

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

I glanced at Ashley Scott and immediately shook my head.

If I asked about Hugo’s timetable, I might be mistaken as one of his obsessive fans.

 

‘Let’s wait for a week, and if it overlaps, I’ll request to change my schedule.’

It’s a relief that I can change my timetable.

There were some perks to transferring at the start of a semester. The thought made me want to smile.

 

“Then I’ll be going now.”

 

“Okay, have a nice day.”

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

It’s been a week since the first day of school.

During that time, I introduced myself awkwardly in the classes I took for the first time and listened eagerly.

For the record, there was no overlap with Hugo’s classes.

 

‘No, maybe he’s too busy to come to school at all.’

Whatever it was, I felt comfortable not seeing his face.

 

“Haley. How’s your school life going these days?”

 

At that time, my dad had been snooping around with a curious look. Unable to contain his curiosity, he finally asked me .

 

‘I’m glad he didn’t ask about Hugo…….’

Hugo’s so famous that his story must have reached my dad’s ears.

My dad hasn’t shown any signs of it. I hadn’t brought up Hugo’s name either.

No one had ever promised it, but it became an unspoken rule in my family not to talk about Hugo and other awakened ones.

I was grateful for that uncomfortable consideration at the moment. I shoved a crumbly piece of apple into my mouth and muttered.

 

“It’s fine. The kids are nice and everything’s good.”

 

The apple filling in my mouth made it easy to grimace naturally. Dad also looked relieved that he didn’t notice anything strange.

 

“That’s a good thing. You know that red brick house over there?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“There’s a daughter who goes to the same school as you. Do you know her?”

 

I chewed the apple as slowly as I could. It was hard to come up with a suitable answer in my head.

My dad added perhaps interpreting my silence differently.

 

“They said her name is Angelica. Angelica Klein.”

 

It was a name I knew. But I kept my mouth shut because it wasn’t a name I knew in a good way.

Dad furrowed his brow at the silence that followed again. I hurriedly swallowed the apple and made excuses.

 

“I’ve heard of it. I’ve seen her a few times. But we’re not close. She was always surrounded by her friends.”

 

“Oh, really? I heard from Mr. Klein that Angelica was last year’s prom queen. And that she’s good student. I think it would be nice if you become friends with her ……..”

 

“Dad. I’m sorry, but I’m running late. Can we talk again later tonight?”

 

Actually, it wasn’t that late, but it was getting harder to keep a straight face anymore. As I stomped my feet and said so, my dad checked the time.

 

“Is it time already? Alright. Go ahead.”

 

“I’ll be back! I love you, Dad!”

 

I hugged my dad’s back briefly, who seemed upset, then left the house with him seeing me off.

Before going to the garage, I set my eyes on the red brick house located diagonally in the distance.

 

‘Angelica Klein.’

I thought of the pretty girl’s face with her long dirty blonde hair.

 

‘…… You want me to be friends with her?’

I didn’t want to be offended by my dad’s words, but there was no way to control my frown.

That is…….

‘Because she despised me a lot.’

 

That’s right. Angelica Klein.

The captain of the school’s cheerleading team, the queen bee, and the center of attention, that girl despised me very much.

No, ‘hate’ would be more appropriate.

 

“…….”

 

Recalling the past week of school, I let out a deep sigh.

My steps to the garage became slow and heavy.