I Became an Artist in a Romantic Comedy

Chapter 67

Where does a person’s growth stop?

In truth, growth isn’t tied to age.

Whether it’s physical growth or mental growth, the former typically ends during school years, but the latter might never happen, even in adulthood.

For example, puberty doesn’t always arrive in one’s teenage years.

It can come in one’s twenties, thirties, or even later.

But having a late puberty isn’t exactly a good thing.

‘I think it just means I haven’t matured mentally.’

If puberty comes at the right age, it spares you a lot of trouble later.

If it passes at the right time, it resolves potential problems for the future.

Typically, puberty happens in the mid-to-late teenage years.

‘Still... calling my personality “puberty” seems like a bit much.’

In my past life, I never experienced puberty.

It made sense, given the pressure and gazes from those around me.

All of it weighed me down.

Because of that, I never went through the same puberty that others experienced.

I had simply brushed it off, thinking I just skipped it.

But maybe it had already passed at the time—without me even noticing.

‘Even so, calling my current personality puberty feels off, doesn’t it?’

Honestly, I’d prefer if this were just puberty. If not, I might end up as a full-fledged social misfit.

I really needed to figure out the cause, and soon...

‘The most likely culprit is [Angel]. Ugh. Too bad it’s in another country...’

I’ll have to wait for winter break to address it. What else can I do?

I let out a long sigh and stared out the window.

‘The leaves are already falling. Time really flies.’

Resting my chin on my hand, I shifted my eyes lazily.

The trees around the field looked sparse in places.

They’re lucky. Even if they go bald, they’ll grow back.

Why can’t human hair regenerate like that?

‘...Why am I going off on a tangent?’

A string of odd thoughts crossed my mind, but they didn’t last long.

Thunk.

“Ow.”

A jolt on my head snapped me out of my daydreams.

Who was that?

I turned my head slightly upward to see who it was.

“You should just take a nap, kid. Your sighing is disrupting the class.”

A muscular man frowned down at me.

Looking around briefly, I realized he was right.

Everyone was staring at me.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I scratched my head and bowed slightly.

“Sorry. I’ll be more mindful.”

“Oh? Uh... okay, thanks for that.”

The teacher gave me a puzzled look before returning to the podium.

‘Guess I’m used to this by now.’

That teacher must’ve been new this semester.

Apparently, my newly adjusted personality was hard for others to accept. Every time I apologized, they looked bewildered.

It made me want to sigh again, but I held it in. After all, I’d already been warned.

“What’s up?”

Hong Ye-Hwa, sitting next to me, leaned in and whispered.

“It’s nothing, really.”

It was hard to put into words, and besides, it felt like a personal issue I didn’t want to drag her into.

But my answer didn’t seem to satisfy her, and she narrowed her eyes.

“Spill it. Tell me everything.”

“...It’s nothing big.”

Still, since she seemed so insistent, I reluctantly started to explain.

After hearing my story, Hong Ye-Hwa appeared thoughtful for a moment.

Then she asked, “Did you tell Yul and Ye-Seo about this too?”

“No? Not yet.”

She seemed momentarily pleased to be the first to hear about it, but her expression quickly turned serious.

“Let’s tell them. I think it’ll help if they know too.”

“Hmm.”

Solutions for ADHD teenagers.Can puberty mutate?Would hitting them fix it?

“Uh... Yeah? I mean, sure, I guess I have been.”

The sudden comment caught me off guard, but I found myself replying instinctively.

My voice cracked a little, but it didn’t matter.

“You’re the first person, aside from my parents, to treat me so casually.”

Her gaze softened, and her smile carried warmth.

“You don’t know how grateful I was. You were my first real friend, Eun-ie.”

“That so? Same here, though. You were my first friend too.”

Blinking, I smiled faintly.

Her smile widened as she continued.

“Yeah. That’s why I’m so happy. Even now, I’m glad I was your first friend.”

“Uh... thanks? So, when are we heading back?”

Why was she acting like this? Maybe the rain was messing with her head.

“What, don’t you have anything to say?”

She pouted slightly, her face showing mild annoyance.

But before she could finish, something caught my attention.

A car sped by on the road.

It wouldn’t have been an issue, except it was raining.

The car was sure to splash water all over her, so I quickly pulled her toward me.

Whoosh!

‘Tsk. Couldn’t they slow down a little?’

Thankfully, neither of us got wet. At least I had quick reflexes.

“Ugh...”

A muffled groan came from my arms.

“Ah, sorry.”

I apologized and loosened my hold, but she didn’t step away.

Why wasn’t she letting go? I needed both hands for the umbrella.

“Hey, holding the umbrella is kind of—”

As I lightly patted her head, strands of her hair brushed against my nose.

And then—

“......”

Our eyes locked, and a boundary seemed to form.

Soft warmth brushed against my lips.

The distance between her crimson eyes and mine was barely a centimeter.

Her eyes curved gently, forming a crescent shape.

Three seconds.

Those three seconds felt like an eternity, as if the world had stopped.

When the warmth withdrew, a strange sense of longing lingered.

Ha Soo-Yul stepped back slightly and gave me a small smile.

“So, how was it?”

I stared at her blankly, lost in thought, before letting out a faint laugh.

I had suspected it for a while, but I decided to leave it for now.

At least, now I knew for sure.

‘Love, huh? It really doesn’t suit me.’

If it was a blessing, then so be it.

Not just for Ha Soo-Yul, but for the others too.

Today was just the beginning, with her as the spark.

I could already imagine how things might unfold in the future.

Smirking, I closed the distance between us.

Close enough that our shoulders touched.

Close enough to hear each other’s breaths.

Heading back to the workshop would probably feel bittersweet.

But this moment could happen again anytime.

“How was it? Like getting bitten by a shark or something.”

My answer must’ve been the right one.

Seeing her smile like that made it clear.

The tickling sensation in my chest had turned into the steady thumping of my heart.

I wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer.

Before I realized it, we’d reached the convenience store.

It felt... a little disappointing.

***

[010-XXXX-XXXX: Please come to the Chairman’s office for a moment.]

The good mood from yesterday was officially ruined.