133. Caught a Strange Disease -3
Florence is quite a livable city.
No, not just quite livable—it’s hard to find a city this pleasant to live in.
As a citizen of Florence, at least, that’s what I think.
No, honestly, it’s not just my subjective opinion... Objectively speaking, isn’t it?
First of all, everywhere you look is a cultural heritage site, so there’s lots to see and it’s beautiful.
The food is delicious, and the weather is good too. Thanks to that, the people are all nice as well.
There’s really nothing lacking.
I’ve been around quite a bit, so you can trust me on this.
There’s truly no better city to live in.
...That’s why.
That journey from Turin to Seville, and then back from Seville to Florence, felt as long as a month.
Right now, preparing to get off the plane after arriving at Florence Airport, the reason I was in a better mood than ever was surely because of that.
It was absolutely not because I missed someone like crazy, but simply because I wanted to go home.
...Yeah.
“Alright, let’s get off. Good work, everyone.”
See, look.
How dazzling the Florence sunshine is—
As dazzling as it was in Seville or Barcelona...
“Huh, it’s raining.”
“What, it’s chilly.”
“It’s raining? Seville’s weather was already amazing. Now it’s gloomy with the rain, man.”
......Hmm.
Th-that’s what I’m saying, look.
Rain has its own atmosphere, doesn’t it?
This is what Florence is like, I’m telling you.
And, huh? I’ve always liked rainy days more than sunny ones.
...Really.
“Man, it’s been tough. Feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been home.”
“Wasn’t this the first time we went straight from one away game to another?”
“We’ve got a home game soon too. Let’s all make sure we manage our condition.”
I hurried onto the waiting bus and looked out the window as the seniors threw themselves into their seats and spoke.
They all had dark stubble growing, their faces looking quite exhausted.
Right.
So it wasn’t just me.
I wasn’t the only one who felt this schedule was long; everyone felt the same.
Why? Because it actually was long.
So now, let’s hurry home...
“Hey, it’d be a shame to just go home like this. Want to grab a bite together first?”
“Food? Sounds good to me.”
“Right? Good, good. Everyone okay with that?”
“Sure. The later you get home, the better.”
...Hmm.
What kind of talk is this again.
An unwelcome voice popped up just as the bus departed, and I felt a frown form between my brows, reflected in the bus window.
Surely I don’t have to go with them too.
“What about the kid? He’ll come too, right?”
“Ah, of course he’s coming. Surely the kid wouldn’t skip out?”
“Right. The kid can’t skip out. Hey, speaking of which, this reminds me of when I was the youngest. Back then, really—”
...Who said I’m obviously going anywhere.
The seniors’ stories about their own days as the youngest began to bloom out of nowhere, stories I had no interest in, while my face darkened like the weather outside.
At this, Senior Saponara, sitting next to me, looked at my face and spoke.
“He looks like he doesn’t want to go.”
Then, from the front seats, gopher-like faces popped up here and there.
“What? He doesn’t want to go? Why?”
“He’s not coming? The kid?”
“It’s for team unity?”
...Everyone looked like angry gophers whose homes had been disturbed.
Team unity was just an excuse; they were just married men who didn’t want to go home.
“Why, do you have plans?”
“...No.”
“But why? It’s not like you’re sick.”
“...Right.”
“Then what is it? Tell us why you don’t want to go. If it’s justified, we’ll let it go.”
Ugh.
I racked my brain frantically at their promise to let me off if I gave a reason, but no good excuse came to mind.
I don’t know why my brain stops working the moment I leave the stadium.
And I couldn’t be honest either, because then I’d clearly be grilled by these nosy old men the entire way.
Unable to find an appropriate answer, I just moved my lips when Senior Bonaventura snapped his fingers and spoke.
“Looks like you’ve got a date with your girlfriend. Am I right?”
“Ah, really? Is that it?”
“That’s acceptable.”
“Wow, our kid’s romantic. Well, I used to burn like fire back then too.”
...I never said that was right.
Regardless, they burst into strange cheers among themselves.
I shuddered at their sly, grinning faces.
But I couldn’t exactly deny it, so I just pouted and looked out the window.
I don’t know why lies don’t come easily to me at times like this.
“Hey, he must have missed her a lot. Going to see her right away like this.”
“We all went through that. It’s a good time. A good time.”
“Let’s cut him some slack. How much he must have missed her while away.”
“Those few days must have felt like a month. Ugh, why am I getting all soft?”
...My fist clenched tight.
If it weren’t for the seniors, I would have flipped everything over.
They should be grateful I come from the land of Eastern courtesy.
“...”
But honestly, the strangest one, even in my own opinion, is me.
I could just say no if it wasn’t true.
But... the problem is that it’s not untrue.
That’s why all I can do is pout and clench my fist.
...This is annoying.
“Hey, hey, cut it out. He’s trembling. At this rate, I’ll be the one who gets hit.”
Since I was literally trembling like that, Senior Saponara spoke.
Then the captain, who had been poking his gopher-like face out, asked with wide eyes.
“What. Why are you mad? Surely you’re not still keeping up that concept that you’re not dating, the one nobody believes?”
“...It’s not a concept.”
“Huh?”
“I said we’re not dating.”
By now, I couldn’t help but snap, and my tone came out so irritable that even I was surprised.
So I flinched a little... but what came back was just a big burst of laughter.
“Puhaha!”
“Our kid really is shameless, huh? Wow, he’s got talent for acting too.”
“So you’re telling us to believe that now?”
What the hell is so funny.
And it’s the truth, not a lie, so why are they making such a fuss about it.
Sigh.
At times like this, ignoring them is the answer.
What’s the point of talking to people who won’t listen.
...But their laughter was too loud to ignore, filling the bus.
Then, Senior Bonaventura suddenly silenced everyone and spoke in a serious voice.
“No, but look. Seeing him deny it so adamantly, could there be another reason?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“No, think about it. For example...”
What nonsense was he going to say now.
Seeing him hesitate with an incredibly serious expression, I swallowed nervously without realizing it.
But at the question that followed, I was completely deflated.
“...Kid, do you like men? Ah, I’m just asking in case, but I’m someone who respects diversity. So be honest...”
“...What are you talking about.”
“Huh? No?”
“It’s not like that...”
“Really? Hah, that’s strange. Then what is it? Why won’t you admit it!”
...Everyone clutched their chests as if frustrated.
At this point, I felt like I’d done something wrong.
I’ve been told “frustrating” a few times in my life, but I couldn’t understand why this was something they should be frustrated about.
I silently looked out the window, wondering why they were so nosy about other people’s business, and soon they began debating among themselves.
“Maybe her parents oppose it?”
“Come on, not in this day and age.”
“Then what, is there some reason it shouldn’t happen?”
“What would that be?”
“How would I know?”
“Maybe she’s not interested?”
“Hey, didn’t you see him bring bentos? He said his girlfriend packed them. Would she do that if she wasn’t interested?”
“Then what, what is it?”
There are so many things in the world to worry about.
Is this really something worth debating?
If they have energy to spend on this, they should kick the ball a few more times.
I was sighing deeply inwardly when this time the captain put on a serious expression and spoke.
“Hey, surely not... I believe it’s not, but.”
“Why, what now?”
“No, why. The kid’s pretty popular lately, right?”
“He could take a dump on the street and they’d preserve it as cultural heritage.”
“That’s what I mean. He must be getting contacted from everywhere. Like, so many DMs from pretty girls he can’t handle them.”
“Probably.”
“So maybe...”
When the captain’s words reached that point, the seniors who had been debating face-to-face suddenly turned toward me.
...What.
Why are you all suddenly looking at me with that “I didn’t know you were like that” expression?
The captain continued.
“Kid. Surely you’re not...”
“...Not what?”
“Like, you’re weighing your options because prettier girls are showing interest, and it’d be bad if a scandal broke out, so...”
...So that’s how rumors spread like this.
This is how rumors spread.
I don’t even know what I’d be weighing.
I was so dumbfounded I didn’t even feel like answering, but the other seniors spoke up one by one.
“Kid. I’m a man too, so it’s not that I don’t understand, but you shouldn’t do that.”
“No matter how young you are, we can’t let that slide.”
“Is that what we taught you?”
“I believe it’s not true.”
Pshhh.
I don’t know why I have to be the one explaining myself, but I need to clear up the misunderstanding.
If I keep my mouth shut any longer, I might become trash.
“...It’s not like that.”
“Really? It’s not?”
“Contacts, texts, from whom? From no one.”
“You don’t get DMs?”
“What’s a DM?”
“Ah, right. The kid doesn’t do social media.”
What the hell is a DM anyway.
I didn’t know what it was, but anyway, since I said it wasn’t like that, they finally looked relieved.
But I’d gotten worked up from listening quietly; I should have just ended the explanation here.
Instead, I added one unnecessary remark.
“Besides, well... if we’re talking about looks, not many people can beat her.”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it.
Because the moment I said it... everyone burst into strange cheers.
...What did I just say.
Anyway, the seniors who had cheered soon began to focus their attack on the captain.
“Hey, you trash!”
“The captain doubts our kid?”
“Ooo! Resign!”
“Can you just drop dead?”
“You’re less of a human than a captain! How dare you label the kid trash!”
...A crumpled sock flew at the captain’s bewildered face.
Hmm.
He brought it upon himself, so it’s not my fault.
Anyway... thanks to that one unnecessary remark, the not-quite-misunderstanding seemed to be cleared up.
But the situation was beginning to get even more difficult.
“Hey, so in the end, you both like each other but are just too shy to say it, right?”
“Kids will be kids. What are you hesitating for? The answer’s already out.”
“Is that how it is in Korea? But this is Italy.”
“Just confess already! Why are you squirming?”
“Should I do it for you?”
“You crazy bastard. Do it for him how? You gonna date her yourself?”
“No, I mean deliver the message.”
Why are they more excited than I am.
While I couldn’t understand, the most excited one, Senior Milenkovic, even clapping, asked me.
For someone who looks like he wouldn’t care less about this kind of thing...
“Right. You might not know because you’re still young. Kid, you’ve never dated before, right?”
“...I wasn’t interested.”
“See. That’s why you don’t even know your own feelings. Kid, answer honestly.”
“What.”
“While we were on this away trip, you really wanted to see her, right? Kept thinking about her, wanted to get home quickly.”
“...”
I’m not an idiot, so I could clearly imagine how these sly foxes would react if I said yes here... I wanted to say no.
But strangely, those words wouldn’t come out, so I ended up answering by clamping my mouth shut tight.
Then everyone nodded smugly as if they’d heard an answer, but the next words made my heart skip a beat.
“That’s how it is. You saw her yesterday but want to see her again, feel strangely empty if you don’t see her for a day. Even thinking about it makes your heart tickle.”
...How did he know.
I was so surprised, but I maintained a deliberately calm expression and purposefully looked out the window.
But these curious vipers never let go once they’ve bitten their prey.
“Kid. Do you know what this is called?”
“...”
I wasn’t particularly curious, but—
ears are organs that are always open.
“It’s called love.”
......Wow, I almost spat.
At a completely unexpected word.
I was truly speechless.
What do they know, throwing around such absurd words.
Sigh.
Resolved to truly ignore them now, I turned my body completely toward the window.
Then a persistent voice came from behind.
“Kid. Just trust us seniors once, go today and say just one thing. ‘I missed you.’”
“Holy shit!”
“Ooh! Goosebumps! But I love it!”
“Why do I feel like I’m going crazy?”
...I hate to say it, but
they’re all equally pathetic.
So happy, seriously.
“...”
By the way, why is the bus going so slowly.
It’s not even traffic, yet it’s crawling along.
Then, looking ahead, the driver reflected in the side mirror... was smiling for some reason.
...Everyone was on the same side except me from the start!
“...”
Is teasing the kid that much fun.
All I could do was let out a deep sigh.
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