This World is too Cruel to Men

“Huff… huff… pant…!”

Gasps for air escaped both my and Yun-Seo’s lips.

“Haa… haa… ugh…”

Our breaths, swirling white in the frigid air, fogged up the glass door we leaned against for support.

Both Yun-Seo and I were completely out of breath.

“My heart… huff, I thought my heart was going to explode…”

Of course, if I had to pick who was in worse shape, it would be Yun-Seo, without a doubt.

I jogged occasionally, but Yun-Seo avoided exercise like the plague unless absolutely necessary.

This was the natural consequence.

In any case, I recovered much faster.

“Whew… It wasn’t even that long of a run, and you’re practically dying.”

Yun-Seo didn’t even have the energy to respond.

Aside from the squeak of her hand gripping the glass door, just like mine, her only reaction was continued panting.

“That’s why you should run with me sometimes… Urk?!”

“Be quiet if you don’t want more water in your face… Who made us almost late?”

“Wait, are you blaming me for this?”

“If you hadn’t been so distracted by the necklace, we wouldn’t have had to run!”

“Well, that’s… true.”

But what could I do? It was fascinating.

And besides, she was looking at it with me.

Who was she to lecture me?

I grumbled to myself, wiping my face with my sleeve.

Yun-Seo finally seemed to have caught her breath and straightened up.

“…We’re not late, are we?”

“Time-wise, we’re barely safe…”

“Let’s hurry.”

I’d imagined us having to walk in while everyone was already seated in the auditorium, their gazes fixed on us.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

Everyone was still gathered in their classrooms, probably because it was a little early to move to the auditorium.

Our class was the same.

Still, it felt awkward to walk in as if nothing had happened after being late, so Yun-Seo and I exchanged glances and slipped into the classroom as discreetly as possible.

“So, Yun-Seo and Dokgun are here too. Come up front and get your albums.”

“…Yes.”

“Y-yes…”

I thought we’d moved with the stealth of action movie heroes, but we were immediately caught.

“Now that everyone has their albums, I’ll head to the auditorium first. You all come over when the bell rings.”

“Yes!”

“And don’t wander off and be late like ‘some’ people!”

“Yes, Teacher!”

She was really laying it on thick on the last day.

Still, we weren’t late for the main event – the graduation ceremony itself.

Yun-Seo and I exchanged relieved sighs.

While the teacher was at her desk, everyone had stayed put.

But the moment she was gone, they swarmed around us like hyenas smelling blood.

Leading the pack were the classmates who were somewhat close to us.

“So, you finally made it? I thought you two had eloped since we hadn’t heard from either of you.”

“I’m about to die from running all the way here, and you’re spouting nonsense.”

My breathing had returned to normal, but my arms and legs were still aching.

I waved my hand dismissively, trying to shoo them away like flies.

But these hyenas were persistent.

“Wait a second… are you two…”

“Are we what?”

When was that bell going to ring?

Was it a lie?

“Are you two finally dating?”

“…What?”

Right after I responded, someone choked on their water next to me.

‘Seriously?’

I thought she’d been unusually quiet… She was just busy drinking water by herself.

The old saying goes, “Share even a single bean,” and my throat was parched from running. How dare she drink all the water herself?

Indignation welled up inside me, but dealing with the gossipmonger was more important.

“Are you crazy?”

I raised my hand threateningly, and the annoying kid pretended to cower even before I swung it.

“Ouch! The groom’s hitting people!”

“Looks like you’re itching for a graduation beating, my friend.”

“You’re so obvious, and yet you’re still trying to deny it.”

“What?”

Honestly, I was baffled.

I couldn’t figure out what I’d supposedly done to make them think that.

My genuine confusion seemed to confuse them in return.

“You’re denying it?”

“It’s not even something to deny…”

“You’re wearing matching scarves, and even matching necklaces, and you’re denying it?”

“…Huh?”

Now I wasn’t baffled, I was bewildered.

My friend, looking exasperated, pointed at me, then at Yun-Seo, as if telling me to see for myself.

I followed his finger… and finally understood.

I understood why they’d made such a ridiculous assumption.

To put it simply… it was understandable.

The necklace I was wearing was a graduation gift I’d received this morning.

That was fine.

But the scarf… that was definitely misleading.

‘Ah, I knew it…’

I thought the scarf looked familiar when I bought it… It wasn’t because of a common design.

It was because it looked almost identical to the one Yun-Seo always wore.

Of course, I had an explanation.

My scarf and Yun-Seo’s looked the same at first glance – both red with a brown pattern.

But they were actually completely different items, despite their similar appearance.

Mine was from a market stall, and hers was from a department store.

They couldn’t be the same.

I almost said it, but I stopped myself.

Everyone was looking at us with a “You’ve been caught!” expression.

Anything I said would fall on deaf ears.

So, in situations like this, it’s best not to over-explain—

“Cut it out. You guys are making her mad with your nonsense.”

Using Yun-Seo as an excuse was the best strategy.

***

“Cut it out. You guys are making her mad with your nonsense.”

I heard those words as I felt my face flush with embarrassment from my classmates’ teasing.

I stood there in stunned silence.

‘Mad…’

That wasn’t it…

That wasn’t it at all…

The words reached my throat, but I couldn’t speak.

I was too embarrassed.

Saying anything here would be like a public confession.

I secretly wished they would tease me more, but unfortunately, it ended there.

Dokgun’s ridiculous warning was surprisingly effective.

Everyone stopped their teasing and started looking at us cautiously.

‘Ugh…’

I should have been nicer to my classmates.

Regret washed over me, but it was too late now.

As I was wallowing in my disappointment—

“It seems like it’s time to go.”

The announcement to gather in the auditorium echoed from the speakers on the ceiling.

“Hey, let’s go. Stop being mad.”

‘I’m not mad…’

I pouted slightly, hiding it behind my scarf, and stood up next to Dokgun.

We’d be sitting in rows in the auditorium, and I wanted to sit next to him.

“Alright, everyone, find your seats and settle down.”

But the chatter continued.

“Hey! Be quiet!”

Finally, the homeroom teacher procured a stick from somewhere and banged it against the podium.

Only then did everyone start moving to their designated class areas.

“Hey! You there! Fill the front rows first! Are you seriously going to act like this even on graduation day?”

Now a silent battle began among those who wanted to sit in the back.

Ignoring the wary glances from around us, I asked Dokgun, “Hey…”

“Yeah?”

“Where do you want to sit?”

“Hmm… anywhere is fine.”

“Not the very back?”

“The back isn’t bad, but… they’ll probably leave the auditorium doors open for the parents. If we sit in the back, we’ll be freezing throughout the whole ceremony.”

I hadn’t wanted anyone sitting behind us, but that didn’t sound appealing either.

“And if we sit in the middle, it’ll be inconvenient… Let’s go to the end.”

“Left or right?”

“Definitely left.”

“Because of the teachers?”

“Yeah.”

Even on graduation day, they wouldn’t just ignore students messing around right in front of them.

Based on this strategic decision, we settled into seats at the left end of a middle row.

Soon, all the remaining seats were filled.

And once everyone was seated?

A cold gust of wind swept through the open doors of the auditorium as parents began to enter.

The auditorium was packed.

-Before we begin the graduation ceremony, we ask that everyone please turn off their cell phones or switch them to vibrate mode.

Finally, the graduation ceremony began.