The Law of Webnovels

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While I leaned against the headboard reading other comic books, Yeo Ryung walked around the room in a circle for quite a while, then she suddenly went outside to the living room. Feeling bored to stay alone in her room, I followed her with the book in my hand.

As I shoved myself into the opposite side of the couch where Yeo Ryung was sitting, I picked up the remote control and turned on the TV just to see if there was anything to watch. But as expected, nothing seemed to be interesting today on the TV. Well, it made sense since today was Wednesday, not a day on the weekend nor a day in summer break.

Having those thoughts in mind, I just fixed my gaze apathetically at a movie that failed at the box office a few years ago. Yeo Ryung’s voice then reached my ears.

“Donnie, once you finish reading that book, let’s go outside,” she said.

Holding the remote control in my hand and a book on the other, I turned my head toward her and tossed a question in wonder.

“You mean downtown? You said you don’t want to.”

It was actually Yeo Ryung who objected to our plan to hang out together outside after a while. She even frowned to show how much she hated to do so. According to what she told me, it would have been better if today was the end of the mock exam since kids from other schools would also be hanging outside. However, we were having this short break today to celebrate our school anniversary, so only students from our school would be around.

Hmm… the reason was indeed persuasive.

‘But why all of a sudden?’

While I questioned myself why she suddenly changed her mind, Yeo Ryung responded cheerfully, “Let’s go to the groceries. I’ll cook for you, mama.”

That brightened the look on my face. Stretching out my palm to her, I replied, “Oh, that’s awesome.”

Yeo Ryung also held out her hand and gave me a high five with a cute little grin. In order to survive family life, where her parents were both working and her brother Yeo Dan oppa sucked at cooking, Yeo Ryung’s cooking skills were at a professional level.

In less than ten minutes, I finished the book roughly and swept all the comic books into the plastic bag then left the house with Yeo Ryung.

It was delightful to walk down the slope connecting our apartment to the streets. On both sides, beautiful pink blossoms were everywhere. I also felt excited to walk along the empty street as if we had an early leave. Even the weather was warm and fantastic.

Hmm, besides, my situation right now was so relaxed and enjoyable too. I had Yeo Ryung holding my hand and the plastic bag full of comic books inside on the other. Swinging the bag with light steps, I showed a satisfied smile.

It seemed to be the first time this year to feel this much relief and peace of mind. No, I actually had no moments free from disturbance until now. Tracking back the memories, I soon looked surprised.

During the New Year’s holiday, there was a car accident while I felt upset from fighting with friends. Once the new academic year barely started, we found Hwang Siwoo being in our class and were busy having a power struggle with him. Then around last month, Ban Hwee Hyul’s identity began to reveal, and we were all in the thick of the Ranking Battle. And it was just last week that everything came to an end.

Thinking to that extent, I was astonished, exclaiming, “Wow, to think of it, I really had a hard time this year!”

It was even marvelous that I kept studying amid these things.

“So, that’s why web novels never cover any studying episodes,” I said to myself, but at the same time, something frustrated me.

“No, to be accurate, the main characters in web novels don’t need to study…”

With that thought in my head, Ban Yeo Ryung and Eun Jiho, who always had the highest and the second-highest academic standing in our school, flashed through my mind. I clenched my fist. Life was always unfair, but whenever I came across this fact, it really annoyed me…

Shortly after, I dusted off my head and sneezed because of pollen blown in the air. Wiping out under the nose with my sleeve, I murmured, “Well, but things are now cleared out.”

Big things took place one after another like crazy, so it would be fine for a while. Having that thought in mind, I recovered the satisfied look I had earlier when I was stepping outside the apartment complex with Yeo Ryung.

Above all, I felt so good that our class atmosphere returned to normal, at last. You know classroom was the place where we spent most of our time, so finding peace again in our everyday life meant so much to me.

After the Ranking Battle, Hwang Siwoo came back to class, admitted the things he had done, and apologized to us. Once he came forward that way, those who act wild and violent under Hwang Siwoo’s power became crestfallen, of course.

I had no idea how many of them would smoothly harmonize with the rest of the class, but at least, the first step was taken.

Well, the problem was that Hwang Siwoo wasn’t just offensive to us but also to kids in other classes and even those in different grades. However, that was all his thing to handle with and sort out.

As long as Hwang Siwoo wasn’t making a fuss and ruining the class atmosphere like before, we would feel much satisfied. Putting both hands behind my neck, I knitted my fingers together and smiled again in joy.

But why didn’t I get that things happened at the most unexpected moment?

“Donnie!”

Ban Yeo Ryung shouted to me who was walking across the street. It was green light, so what’s the problem? Turning my head toward her apathetically, I was soon pushed by a hand that reached me urgently.

With a loud thud, I rolled on the ground. Then I lifted my body with a nod.

“Ouch.”

What’s going on? As soon as I tried to get up while touching my dizzy head, I found a bunch of comic books scattered on the ground a few steps away from me. I shrieked, ‘What the heck?! What if they’re all crumpled?’ But shortly after, I wondered who had pushed me out of the blue.

Turning my head back, I soon yelled, “Yeo Ryung!” at the breathtaking sight.

There was a truck pulled over near the place where Yeo Ryung was lying down. Although the vehicle had the size of a vegetable van, it was still a truck. My hands began to tremble as I came up with the dump truck incident that happened last year right around this time.

Pressing down my shivering hand with the other, I thought, ‘So thankful that Eun Hyung isn’t here. Great that we decided to meet later.’

Then I went close to Ban Yeo Ryung. With every step I took, my heart pounded so heavily that it seemed to pop out of my mouth.

Perhaps this was what Eun Hyung had felt while witnessing my car accident. It was awful. I would rather get hit by a car twice than being a witness to an accident.

On the other hand, the truck driver was coming out of his truck in a fluster. Thankfully, he wasn’t trying to run away. With his face as pale as a corpse, the driver uttered, “Oh my god! Miss, are you okay? Miss…”

While he wasn’t able to get closer to Yeo Ryung, I asked a question in a trembling voice, kneeling down in front of her.

“… Yeo Ryung… are you okay…?”

As soon as I said that, Yeo Ryung sat upright all of a sudden. It was so out of the blue that she looked like a vampire getting up at night in search of blood.

If she lifted her upper body carefully, shaking her head, I would have not become this much surprised. Yeo Ryung actually sprang up from the ground at once without looking uncomfortable at all.

While both the truck driver and I looked at her in a daze, Yeo Ryung suddenly waved her hand and said, “Hmm, cool, I bounced it away.”

Uh, excuse me, girl…

Shortly after, Yeo Ryung turned to look at me and shouted briskly, “Good, let’s go, Donnie!”

‘Hey, hold on…’ I said to my thoughts.

Well, I did hear that things like this happen sometimes although there’s a prerequisite–the car should have hit her at a very low speed. But even I didn’t hear the squeaky brake pedal sound from the time I collapsed on the ground to the moment I woke up.

Still, I had never imagined how surreal it was to see someone getting hit by a car and quickly getting up. While I just blinked swiftly out of my mind, Yeo Ryung and the truck driver began to quarrel in the middle of the road.

“But, Miss, you should go check with the doctor. I’ll give you my name card, so please go see the doctor…”

“No, I’m fine! For real! Doesn’t even hurt, and I even have no scratch. Look.”

Replying that way, Yeo Ryung showed her palms and knees boastfully. The truck driver looked bewildered.

“Come on, would you just please go to the hospital? You can later have an aftereffect.”

In the end, the truck driver almost begged Yeo Ryung to go see the doctor, but she refused to do so and just took his name card as if she’s doing a favor for him. She then said to me with spirit, “Donnie, let’s go the groceries.”

‘Do you think that matters right now?’ I murmured.

At some point, Eun Hyung and Yeo Ryung could be a perfect couple, I thought.