SOS! I’m Being Forced to Be a Villain - Chapter 21

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 21

Gripping my bag strap tightly, I peeked my head out from beyond the school gate and looked around. Only after confirming that there were no men in black suits anywhere nearby, not even a single pair of sunglasses visible, did I step outside.

“How about running away from home instead?”

“Bullshit. Why would I run away from…”

I was responding carelessly when I belatedly trembled and turned around. Seo Jung-hoo, who had been sticking close behind me, let out a disappointed sigh and stepped back.

“Our Baek-hwa is too quick-witted.”

‘You just spoke to me! Appearing like a ghost with that pale face!’

My heart was still pounding unpleasantly from the lingering shock. Without realizing it, I raised my hand to press against my chest, and Seo Jung-hoo’s face, which had been endlessly grinning, suddenly darkened.

“Don’t tell me your heart hurts too? Do you have some chronic illness?”

“…”

“This won’t do. Let’s go to the hospital together right now and get a comprehensive checkup.”

Then he skillfully wrapped his arm around my shoulder to drag me along. I immediately frowned and roughly pushed Seo Jung-hoo away. Fortunately, he didn’t insist on resisting and stepped away from me.

“I’m fine. Perfectly fine. Can’t you see how strong my voice is? And even if I weren’t fine…”

“How dare someone like you tell me not to worry.”

Seo Jung-hoo, who cut off my conclusion, grumbled in dissatisfaction that he could hit the mark even with his eyes closed now. Of course he could do it with his eyes closed since speaking only requires the mouth and throat, but before I could retort, he deliberately curved the corners of his eyes.

“So, how about it?”

“What, what about what. What now.”

“Running away from home. If you really have nowhere to stay, you could live with me at my house.”

“So what’s with that. Why should I bother running away when I have my perfectly fine home?”

“Because it’s not a perfectly fine home, that’s why I’m saying this.”

When I narrowed my eyes because I couldn’t understand, Seo Jung-hoo sighed as if he was more frustrated. Soon he lightly swept back his hair that had been disheveled from being pushed away by me and continued speaking.

“Then at least let’s walk home together. This isn’t bothersome, right?”

“What?”

“Let’s go.”

What kind of unreasonable demand is this?

Apparently, the basic guidelines that a main character should possess included not only ‘crazy tendencies’ but also ‘groundless stubbornness’ no different from a child. Seeing Seo Jung-hoo acting like this after Kwon Tae-min, deep fatigue and resignation rose up ahead of rebelliousness.

But that didn’t mean I would let Seo Jung-hoo tag along and walk home with me.

“Haven’t you changed those ear holes yet? I’m really, truly, incredibly fine and okay! I don’t have any heart disease!”

“Got it. So lead the way.”

As I stood there dumbfounded, Seo Jung-hoo gestured toward the path home, asking what I was doing.

I couldn’t understand him wanting to walk home with me when we had to head in completely different directions from the school gate, unless our paths home overlapped even partially. There couldn’t be such extreme devotion.

Wavering in internal conflict, I slowly stepped backward. I thought I was moving secretly, but it must have been quite obvious.

“Why? Planning to run like a rabbit?”

Seo Jung-hoo’s head tilted sideways.

Since I was already caught, there was no need to test the waters further. I spun around and immediately kicked off the ground, running.

And just like that, my face crashed into a chest as wide as a door.

As I staggered while holding my aching nose, firm hands appeared to support me. It was an infinitely careful yet resolute strength, as if afraid I might shatter if something went wrong. I had a feeling I knew whose body temperature that was, so I couldn’t bring myself to lift my head and confirm that face.

But this world never went along with what I wanted. He held my shoulders with gentle strength and separated me from himself.

A familiar face filled my unwilling vision. A sigh filled with lament flowed from my lips as I faced that dry expression.

‘…Kwon Tae-min.’

I looked up at him irritably and wrinkled my stinging nose tip from the pain.

Was it because he had his back to the sun setting beyond the sky?

His face shrouded in shadow looked much more intimidating than usual. Even so, I wasn’t particularly cowed like before, just as when I was with Seo Jung-hoo at school earlier. My attitude alone proved how much I had suffered at their hands during this short time.

Again, this time consciously letting out a sigh, Kwon Tae-min turned his gaze from me and spoke in a heavy voice to the person standing behind me.

“What are you doing.”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I’m providing security escort for Baek-hwa on her way home.”

“Then why is the kid running away.”

“Who knows. Maybe staring at my dazzling beauty for too long strained her eyesight.”

There were so many things I wanted to pick apart in their brief exchange, but that wasn’t what was important right now.

“Your hands, don’t touch me carelessly, let go. I’m going home.”

Emphasizing each part with accent was almost entirely my own will. However, when I shook my arm to shake off Kwon Tae-min, who still showed no signs of letting go, he finally withdrew his hands.

“…Are you really going home?”

“What the hell is wrong with this bastard now. Do you want me to sit on the street and freeze to death too?”

“Even if someone held a knife to her throat, she’d still go home. I tried to persuade her, but she won’t bend her stubbornness.”

I don’t think I ever used such a brutal analogy. But since it wasn’t entirely wrong, I didn’t bother to deny it.

I could see Kwon Tae-min and Seo Jung-hoo exchanging glances in silence. Taking this as my chance, I slowly extracted myself from between them.

“Baek-hwa, where are you going.”

I ignored him and readjusted my bag. However, before I could take another step forward, the tediously familiar warmth wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into his embrace.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t been taking care of our Baek-hwa’s meals.”

In the suddenly closer distance, Seo Jung-hoo’s quiet words tickled my ear.

“Won’t you come have dinner with me?”

That was closer to a notification than a suggestion.

I opened and closed my mouth helplessly.

Dinner, me, with you?

Seo Jung-hoo’s words, which were already sufficiently disagreeable, grated on my nerves more than usual. It was probably because he didn’t use the tone of simply suggesting a meal to a close friend, but used expressions like ‘taking care of meals.’

It’s not like he’s taking care of some animal that can’t fend for itself.

“Shit, why would I… Mmph, mmm!”

My mouth was skillfully covered by his palm. If Seo Jung-hoo ever became a skilled kidnapper in the distant future, 90% of that process would surely be thanks to me.

I tried my best to move my pressed lips and vibrated my vocal cords. But what came out of me wasn’t sentences or words. It was only a rampage of being completely blocked and throwing a tantrum.

Seo Jung-hoo, who had already subdued my arms that were trying to swing with all their might, turned his head.

“Baek-hwa says she’d like that.”

“…”

“What about you?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————