Park Chan-min sat beside Park Min-ah as if frozen, and as the atmosphere shifted towards everyone getting up to leave, he was the first to bolt upright. I figured he was just nervous because Min-ah was so pretty, but for a guy who was usually so loud, it was a little concerning. What's wrong with him...
"Are you leaving now?"
"Yeah. What about you, Min-ah?"
"Me too, I guess..."
Park Min-ah dragged out the end of her sentence as if she was disappointed. I felt a little bad, so I asked if she wanted me to walk her. I was feeling a bit low on energy, but... At my question, Min-ah's face lit up and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, walk me home," she quickly added, her voice a little higher.
Oh, whatever. I figured a short walk wouldn't completely drain me, so I nodded too.
Jin Nari looked back and forth between me and Min-ah, then gently tugged on the sleeve of Seo Jaehoon's shirt. Seo Jaehoon had been standing there looking at me and Min-ah—no, to be precise, he was looking at me—then sharply turned his head towards Jin Nari, who was tugging his sleeve.
"What."
"Ah, sunbae-nim... I was just wondering where you were headed..."
With a blank expression, Seo Jaehoon looked not at Jin Nari, but at his captured sleeve, his expression subtle.
"I'm going to the library."
"I-I'm heading that way too."
"Oh, are you?" Seo Jaehoon replied, then reached out and grabbed my wrist.
"Ha Yeoul."
"Huh? Yeah."
"Gen ed?"
I nodded at his short question. It seemed like he had something more to say, but instead of speaking his mind, Seo Jaehoon just smiled mysteriously.
Still standing awkwardly around the table, we began to move one by one. I looked down at my captured wrist, then twisted it slightly to pull it free. Staring at the warmth left on my skin, I pulled my sleeve down to cover it.
When we got outside, Park Chanmin naturally came over to where Min-ah and I were standing. Seo Jaehoon and Jin Nari said a brief goodbye and started to walk away. My gaze... followed the back of Seo Jaehoon.
It felt... strange. I pressed a hand firmly against my rapidly beating heart.
"Yeoul, that girl."
"...Hmm?"
"Jin Nari, or whatever. Are you two close?"
Park Min-ah asked as she naturally linked her arm through mine and started walking.
"Close... probably not. I think..."
"She's, um... not great."
A prim voice slipped past Park Min-ah's lips. After pursing her lips, she let out a breath and turned her head to call my name. "Yeoul."
"I mean, this might sound bad... but I hope you don't get too close with her."
As if worried she might hurt my feelings, Park Min-ah rolled her large eyes and continued in a gentle tone.
"You know, when you're making friends, you get a certain feeling... just, like, an intuition."
"An intuition?"
"I don't think she'll be a very good friend to you."
Park Min-ah seemed to feel sorry for even saying such a thing. My head, which had been facing forward, turned toward her. She met my eyes with her large, worried gaze, then her eyes crinkled into a natural smile.
"It's because I like you, Yeoul. I'm worried."
She said sweetly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I like you too, Min-ah."
"Tsk, about time you said it. Oh, by the way, I'm going on a blind date."
At the news of her blind date, I stopped walking and asked, "What?" Finding my reaction amusing, Min-ah giggled again.
"I realized it when I went on that trip. Ah, I guess those three aren't that into me anymore."
"Th-th-that's... no, it's—"
"I guess I weighed my options for too long."
She grumbled as if she were a little disappointed. The guilt I felt towards Min-ah grew larger. I didn't know what to say. Then, something Park Chanmin had said flashed through my mind.
"...If I were you, I would've been weighing my options with thirty guys, not just three."
At my quiet words, Min-ah smiled, though her face was still full of disappointment.
***
My energy completely drained, I was lying with my head down, alone in the lecture hall. Park Chanmin had been worrying about me the whole time, and when the lecture ended, he started nagging me to go to the hospital.
I knew my own body. I lived in this state for pretty much the entire week. This damn body of mine just wouldn't build up any stamina.
Somehow knowing class was over, Mo Taehee called at the perfect time. Park Chanmin had asked over and over, "Is he really coming?" In the end, I almost swore at him, but I barely held it in and mumbled that it was fine, he could go.
I figured if Mo Taehee didn't come, one of the other bastards would come here anyway.
Lying with my head down, I just blinked slowly. The image of Seo Jaehoon's back lingered in my mind like an afterimage.
"...Annoying."
I didn't even know why I was annoyed. It was just, just... My voice echoed in the empty classroom.
I tapped my toes on the floor, then at the sound of a presence from behind, I slowly lifted my head. As I gathered my bag and stood up, a familiar scent wafted from behind me.
The sweet fragrance that brushed past my nose was a scent I knew all too well. Feeling a bit puzzled, I turned around, and a face as familiar as the scent filled my vision.
"Ha Yeoul, did you wait long?"
Seo Jaehoon had stopped behind me and was leaning forward. A hand reached out, grabbed my bag, and lifted it. I shook my head and replied, "No."
"So what's so annoying?"
Sharp-eared bastard... He must have heard me, because his voice sounded amused as he asked the question back at me.
"No, it's nothing... Why... isn't Taehee..."
I moved slowly to stand facing Seo Jaehoon. His glistening eyes scanned my face over and over. As if searching for something.
Then his eyes met mine in a deep gaze. Seo Jaehoon reached out an empty hand and cupped my cheek. It was warm. I slowly blinked at the familiar warmth, and as his fingers brushed against my eyelids, I naturally closed my eyes.
Soft lips touched mine for a moment before pulling away. I shot my eyes open at the unexpected kiss and took a step back.
"Wh-what..."
"You closed your eyes. I thought you were asking for it."
Crazy bastard... I staggered. I think it was partly from the shock, and partly from moving so suddenly.
"I figured I should be the one to come."
"...What?"
Seo Jaehoon murmured in a low voice. His dark eyes, staring intently at mine, were filled with an obvious heat. Probably.
"Today, it's me."
I could roughly guess what Seo Jaehoon was talking about. The hand cupping my cheek slowly caressed my face. I heard a voice ask, "Tired?" and I reflexively nodded.
To be honest, rather than being tired, I felt a little... a little resentful. It didn't take long for that resentment to transform into annoyance.
I stood still, receiving Seo Jaehoon's touch, blinking my eyes. His large eyes scanned every part of my face as if trying to find something.
"Why."
"..."
With a smile on his lips, Seo Jaehoon brought his face right up to mine. At the sudden proximity of his face, I dropped my gaze, which had been locked with his. I flinched enough for him to notice I was flustered. My heart pounded uselessly.
"Tell me why you were annoyed, Ha Yeoul. Hmm?"
Seo Jaehoon coaxed me sweetly, grabbing my chin to lift my face and dropping kisses all over it. I couldn't bring myself to reveal my true feelings.
"...I'm tired."
I mumbled timidly. At my answer, Seo Jaehoon raised an eyebrow slightly, then nodded.
"I'm not letting you off the hook for being tired today."
"..."
Crazy... Heat flared up in my face in an instant. I could clearly feel a flush spreading up from my neck and down my body.
"Your face is red."
Finding my reaction amusing, Seo Jaehoon poked the tip of my nose and took his hand away.
"Let's go."
"...Where..."
"Would you know if I told you?"
This bastard... Seo Jaehoon looked at me with a mischievous face and smiled brightly. As brilliant and fresh as a newly bloomed flower.
My heart ached, and I had a feeling this bastard knew it. My face was burning, like it was about to explode.
"I guess Ha Yeoul likes me."
"..."
"I like Ha Yeoul too."
Spouting such nonsense as if he found it hilarious, Seo Jaehoon grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the classroom. The eyes of people we passed went from Seo Jaehoon's face, to our joined hands, and finally to my face.
Right, we're at school, you could at least let go. You crazy bastard...
I felt like I was being dragged along. And why was he walking so fast?
"Ah... Jae, Jaehoon."
I struggled to pull my wrist out of his grasp. I muttered "let go" loud enough for him to probably hear, but whether he was pretending not to, he didn't let go of my wrist. Not until we reached his neatly parked car.
I was a bit out of breath and panted heavily. I hadn't even run, just walked quickly, but I was this breathless. Damn this body...
Feeling embarrassed by my own panting, I rubbed my lips with my free hand. Seo Jaehoon opened the passenger door, put me—still catching my breath—inside, and walked around the hood to get into the driver's seat.
"Sorry, I was in a bit of a hurry."
"What?"
Instead of answering my question, Seo Jaehoon started the engine. He finally tore his intense gaze away from me and smoothly pulled out of the school parking lot.
My heart started to pound, and it felt like the thumping could be heard outside my body.
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