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Skeptical, the underclassman scanned the documents.
"PTSD. Depression. Social anxiety. Claustrophobia…"
Adjustment disorder. Sleep disorder. Anorexia. Vomiting. Panic attacks.
The diagnoses read like a catalog of mental illnesses.
"The aftermath of the abuse left Woojin with lasting psychological trauma. These documents were submitted to excuse him from group activities like MTs or team projects due to his unstable condition."
"…Is this real? Shouldn't he be hospitalized if it's this bad?"
The president shook her head at the wide-eyed girl.
"As long as he isn't externally triggered, he's fine. Most importantly, he wants to keep attending school. He's trying, bit by bit, to adapt to social life. Even the professors have asked us to help him graduate safely."
"I see… Then I'll make sure to stay by Woojin sunbae-nim's side so he can adjust..."
Bang!
Before the junior could even finish speaking, the club president abruptly stood up and slammed her fist on the desk.
"I told you not to provoke him from the outside! Because of a bitch like you, Woojin had to take a whole month off school last year! You know why?!"
"W-why?"
The president's sudden outburst made the junior flinch as she shrank back.
"Because a thoughtless girl like you followed him around like a stalker and sent Woojin into a panic attack! Thanks to that, we had to go to school for a whole month without him!"
"W-why are you yelling at me? I didn't even do anything…"
At the junior's words, the president finally sat back down.
Her face was drained, and she pressed her fingers hard against her eyelids, as if forcing back exhaustion. She took a deep breath to swallow her anger.
"...So, what happened to that girl?"
"You wanna know?"
"...No."
The president slid another piece of paper toward the junior, who hesitated.
"Sign here. It's a club application form."
"But… I already joined another club?"
"Double membership is fine. It's not like we do much activity anyway. This is just a pledge to follow the rules set by our club."
Looking closer, the text at the top of the paper didn't say "Application Form," it said "Oath."
After skimming through it, the junior frowned in dissatisfaction.
"What's in it for me if I join? It just seems like a bunch of restrictions with no benefits."
In response, the president pulled a photo from her breast pocket.
The junior's eyes followed it greedily.
"Woojin. High school uniform photo."
The moment she heard that, the junior lunged to snatch it, but the president was faster. Her hand swiped through empty air.
Frustrated, the junior scowled.
"Aren't you the stalker here? Recruiting members with someone else's photo is a crime, you know."
"No need for you to worry. I got guardian consent."
"Guardian?"
"That's none of your business. So, are you signing or not?"
Grumbling, the junior read the oath again.
The text was long, but in short, it was a promise to cooperate in ensuring Woojin could graduate safely.
Signing meant she could never approach him again.
But not signing didn't guarantee she'd get close to him either.
She'd just keep getting blocked like today. And these fanatics would probably watch her even more closely.
Even if she did sneak close to him, there was no telling how Woojin, unstable as he was, would react.
What if she triggered another episode and he stopped coming to school?
She couldn't even imagine what these zealots would do to her.
"...Fine. I just write my name here, right?"
And so, another name was added to the Bird Watching Club's list of collaborators.
Humming to herself, the junior slipped the photo the president gave her into her wallet before leaving.
"Alright, we're done for today. Everyone, dismissed."
At the president's words, the members filed out one by one.
"Haaah…"
Alone in the now-silent clubroom, the president quietly pulled something from her pocket.
A smartphone.
She unlocked it with her fingerprint, then stroked the screen lovingly.
"Woojin… ♡"
On the display, Woojin and the president stood side by side in their school uniforms, smiling.
***
Noona came home late that night.
With a championship trophy in hand.
"Haaah~ Nothing beats home."
And immediately, I was dragged into her room.
"Staying in hotels too long gets so boring."
Even with me right there, Noona began stripping off her clothes without hesitation.
By now, it was routine.
I had no choice but to turn toward the wall.
"Noona. Congrats on the win."
It had been a while since her last victory.
She'd been in a slump lately, after all.
She never said it, but the stress must've been eating at her.
That's why tonight, she was in an unusually good mood.
"Woojin, you want anything? A car? A watch?"
"No. I'm good."
"Really? If you say it now, I'll buy it for you. Don't regret it later."
"I'm just happy you won."
"Awww. Since when did you learn to say such cute things?"
Now changed into her slip, Noona locked me in a headscissor.
My face pressed into her chest.
Almost like she was doing it on purpose…
"Time! I surrender!"
I tapped her arm and shouted, barely managing to break free.
Honestly, more than pain, it was just embarrassing.
Noona's casual skinship wasn't new.
But ever since that day when our relationship shifted, I couldn't help but be hyper-aware of it.
"Phone."
Noona sat on the bed and held out her hand.
"Why?"
"I told you I'd check it."
Right.
Noona was keeping tabs on my relationship with Mia.
She'd made me promise before leaving for the tournament.
Hesitating, I placed my phone in her palm.
Noona swiped through it, pulling up my chat with Mia.
[Mia]: Oppa, what are you doing?
[Mia]: Can you come pick me up today?
[Mia]: Oppa
[Mia]: I know you read my messages.
[Mia]: Hello???
[Mia]: ?
[Mia]: (Crying emoji)
[Mia]: Oppa?
[Mia]: Oppa, you asleep?
[Mia]: Are you ignoring me?
[Mia]: Oppa
[Mia]: (Angry emoji)
[Mia]: You don't wanna answer?
[Mia]: HEY!!! Woojin!!!!
[Mia]: ....
***
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