Chapter 21 (1/2)

Myohan hadn’t thought of participating in the relay race. He didn’t have much enthusiasm to do something like that for his class. I should run slowly and I won’t be picked. He thought so, but then he was confused to see Yuja smiling brightly.

“Okay, then Myohan will be the last runner.”

Myohan had run as fast as he could because he had been distracted. He should have lingered behind, pretending he wasn’t a good runner, but now it was too late. When he came back to his senses, he realized he had run faster than any of his classmates, and he was going to do the relay race with four other boys including O Shin.

“I thought you wouldn’t want to run any race. What a surprise.”

O Shin, who was going to be the third runner in the race, put a hand on Myohan’s shoulder. Myohan dropped his head on his shoulder and sighed deeply.

“And whose fault is this…?”

Independent study time was over when they were done deciding on who would do what sport. When lunchtime started, Myohan and O Shin went to the taps. Jagyeom, Sajun, and even Myo Cheong were waiting for them. They had been meeting there during lunchtime and after classes since the day agreed to find the twelve zodiac animals.

“You actually like getting attention, don’t you?”

That was what Jagyeom said after hearing that Myohan was going to be in the relay race. But Myohan had no energy to scold him, so he just ignored the question and sat down.

“But my class is going to win the race anyway,” Myo Cheong sneered. Yuja had been right. Jino was going to be in the race.

“Hey, rabbit.”

“Shit, how many times do I have to tell you I hate it when you call me that?”

“Are you close to Choi Jino?”

Myo Cheong frowned hard and asked, ‘Why do you want to know that?’ Myohan just stared at him, and he blushed and looked away.

“Well, I guess I’m closer to him than to the other kids.”

“What’s this about Choi Jino?”

That was Sajun. He put a hand around Myohan’s shoulders and tried resting his head on him. Of course, Myohan didn’t hesitate to grab and twist that hand, but he didn’t seem to be feeling the pain. He rubbed a cheek against Myohan’s hair. O Shin gave him a hard look.

“But those twelve zodiac animals, do they all attend this school?”

O Shin’s coldness cracked. Was it because of what Sajun was doing to Myohan, or that unexpected but sharp question? There was no telling.

“We’ve been lucky enough to find a few in this school, but what if, say, some others are abroad?”

Myohan could say nothing to it. Actually, he hadn’t thought about it that way. He was supposed to find twelve people in the whole world, and the only hint he had was that they all turned into animals. He didn’t even know what made them transform. He had been able to find three so far, but only thanks to coincidences and luck.

“I know I promised to cooperate, but it just sounds too…impossible.”

Myohan bit his lips, feeling suddenly lost. It was impossible, unless O Shin, the only one with hints, started talking. Sajun looked at him, his head still on Myohan. He even grinned.

“…They’re all—”

It was that moment when O Shin put out a hand. His somewhat uncomfortable look was gone, and he was cold as usual. He hugged Myohan and pulled him toward him.

“…in this school.”

Sajun’s hand easily let go as Myohan let O Shin make his head rest on his chest. He slowly blinked and looked into his eyes. He could see a tightly closed pair of lips above a sharp chin. He bit his lips, making his neck tremble slightly. His shoulders seemed to be shaking. He took a deep breath and then looked at Sajun. The boy frowned with his python eyes.

“All twelve of them.”

Myohan had thought O Shin would tell him nothing. He had explained nothing, except for when they first met. While Myohan caught Sajun and caught Myo Cheong, he had been just watching from afar. Except for some vague hints Myohan didn’t know the answer to, he had said nothing.

“They’re all at this school…”

Myohan had many things to ask. Why were they all gathered at Myohan’s school? And how did he know about it? But he couldn’t ask. After throwing a sharp gaze at Sajun, O Shin took Myohan out of there. Myohan didn’t bother to shake off his hand.

Myohan thought he could just ask when they were home after classes, but to his surprise, O Shin didn’t come to his home. He disappeared, just like he had before finding the rat. The next day was different.

“Is he absent?”