BJ Villainess

The ominous atmosphere surrounding Ozworld, who was slumped in the shade of a tree, was chilling.

“Why are you here?” I asked in a startled voice, and Ozworld suddenly staggered. Without thinking, I rushed to support him.

His whole body was burning up.

He wasn’t lying about being sick.

“If you’re this sick, you should’ve gone to the hospital!”

I was about to hail a taxi to take him to the hospital when he leaned on me like a waterlogged sponge and spoke. “Then you wouldn’t have come to me first.”

I couldn’t deny that.

Ozworld let out a hot sigh. “It’s okay, though. Because you came out first before I had to find you.”

“

…?”

“Let’s go home. The car’s waiting.” Ozworld held my hand tightly and started walking towards a familiar black sedan but staggered again.

“Hey!” I quickly supported him and helped him into the car.

I thought we should go to the hospital, but the driver explained that a doctor was waiting at home. Despite being sick, Ozworld clung to me with surprising strength, preventing me from going anywhere.

“It feels cool.” He mumbled dreamily, clinging to me.

When we arrived at his home, he managed to walk to his bedroom with my help and lie down. The doctor gave him an IV and advised him to rest before leaving the room.

“How on earth did you get this fever?” I asked, frustrated, and Ozworld laughed weakly, answering in a hoarse voice.

“I overdid it a bit.”

I couldn’t even imagine what could make such a strong guy this ill.

“Still, I got it right this time…” He mumbled something incomprehensible and, under the influence of the medicine, fell asleep.

What did he mean by getting it right?

“You’re like an alien.”

Maybe that’s why I couldn’t figure him out.

* * *

Ozworld’s condition was a severe cold. As expected, he was absent from school the next day. His absence was noticeable, and even students who had never spoken to me asked about him. They didn’t seem to consider it a big deal that we hadn’t spoken for days. I couldn’t concentrate in class, feeling unsettled.

Having spent the past few days hanging out with Hamin and Jin Wonwoo, I naturally went home with them again today. Hamin, disappointed about not going to Jin Wonwoo’s house yesterday, checked her phone.

“

, wait a minute. I need to take this call.” She answered with a delighted expression, her face lighting up with affection. After a brief call, she informed us cheerfully. “A friend called, so I need to go. See you tomorrow!”

Jin Wonwoo watched her leave and then turned to me. “She seems to be hitting it off with her crush.”

“Her crush?”

“A senior from the boys’ school across the street. She met him on a blind date.”

A blind date… something that had never been part of my life. I nodded absentmindedly.

When we reached the point where Jin Wonwoo and I usually parted ways, I greeted him before mounting my bike. “See you tomorrow.”

As I was about to ride off, Jin Wonwoo pointed to the main street. “Want to go to the bookstore? You need new textbooks, right?”

I shook my head. “I should check on Oz.”

Jin Wonwoo looked at me incredulously. “Isn’t that a bit much for just a friend?”

“…He’s a close friend, so it’s natural to worry.”

“It’s just a cold. Most people wouldn’t be this concerned.”

Maybe he was right. Ozworld had always stayed by my side whenever I was sick. And this was the first time he had been this ill, so I felt I should do the same. Was it actually strange?

Of course, it was because Ozworld liked me, so the standard might be different.  But leaving him alone and going about my day didn’t feel right.

“He’s been my only friend.”

I had more friends before my regression, but Ozworld was unique.

“So I don’t know other people’s standards.”

Jin Wonwoo ruffled his hair in frustration. “

, fu…” Then he confessed.  “I like you. That’s why I don’t want you to go to Ozworld. I’m jealous.”

His confession was so sudden. I stood there, bewildered, as he continued. “Will you go out with me?”

Jin Wonwoo was one of my few friends. Unlike Ozworld, I hadn’t expected him to confess to me. But it didn’t feel like the world was ending or my world was turning upside down like when Ozworld had confessed. I was just really surprised.

“I’m sorry.”

So I could refuse him clearly.

I didn’t worry about our future relationship or how to face him, or the idea of eternity. I was just curious why he had confessed now when we had only recently started talking.

“I figured you’d say no.” Jin Wonwoo smiled bitterly. “I didn’t plan to confess, but I felt oddly urgent and blurted it out.”

Should I comfort him? Or just stay quiet?

As I stood there, confused, he asked. “You like Ozworld, don’t you?”

He wasn’t asking as a friend.

“…I’m not sure.”

A few days ago, I would have said no, but our recent cold war had confused my thoughts.

Do I like Ozworld? Am I mistaking my feelings because of the confession?

One certain thing was that distancing myself from Ozworld would be incredibly difficult. Removing him from my life would be like tearing out a part of myself, leaving a wound that would bleed until new skin formed and a permanent scar remained.

I still didn’t know if we could be a couple. But I couldn’t lose him now. He was too deeply ingrained in my life. Thinking of him as a family member, it didn’t make sense to push him away and remain indecisive.

I decided not to be a coward anymore.

“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.”

Leaving Jin Wonwoo with a bittersweet expression, I headed to Ozworld.

This damned uphill road. It was incredibly challenging to ride my bike quickly through this upscale neighborhood. I almost jumped off my bike and urgently rang the doorbell. Instead of asking who it was, the front gate opened.

Actually, I didn’t need to enter this way.  I knew the back door code, which was practically my private entrance. But today, I didn’t sneak into his house like we had a secret relationship. I walked through the front gate confidently and urgently.

I passed the corridor, climbed the stairs, walked along the stone path, crossed the garden, and finally reached the front door. Ozworld was just stepping out and stopped when he saw me.

Out of breath, I shouted as if I was declaring war. “I like you.”

Ozworld, who was about to say something, closed his mouth.

“But I’m not sure if it’s friendship or love.”

Before he could respond, I spilled my unrefined thoughts like a person making excuses.

“I just don’t want you to be lonely or hurt. And I don’t want to get hurt by you. You’re my priority. It just feels natural…”

Then, I regretted it immediately. What if my impulsive confession accelerated our breakup?

Still unsure, I asked in a trembling voice. “…What should I do now?” I felt like a child who had broken a vase, clutching my hands tightly.

He stormed over, looking angry, and pulled me inside the house. The massive mansion’s door closed behind us. He embraced me with his warm body. As our eyes met, I had a premonition. We were going to kiss.

Our lips met in a desperate and clumsy kiss. I felt dizzy, as if something exploded in my mind, making it hard to breathe. Clinging to his thin shirt like someone holding an umbrella in a storm, I felt weak.

Our first kiss, which should have been special, was rushed and chaotic, making my legs feel weak. We were both gasping for breath as if we had been submerged in deep water.

Ozworld asked in a hoarse voice. “How was it?”

His question was vague but oddly understandable. He was asking if my feelings had clarified after his kiss.

“…I feel like my heart will burst.”

Ozworld laughed. “Me too.”

We continued to catch our breath, staring at each other.

Something had changed. Starting with the kiss just now, something had definitely changed. Realizing this made my palms itch and my hair stand on end.

Ozworld touched my cheek, looking anxious. “Can I be your boyfriend now?”

I nodded silently.

“…I want to kiss you again.”

I closed my eyes at his words. Then, our lips met again. Again, it was a clumsy kiss where we forgot how to breathe.