* * *

“…A whisker?”

It was Seo Jeongseo who echoed the word, stunned.

Asking for a whisker was so absurd that both Seo Jeongseo and Pyo Yoontae stared at Hyun Junhyun in disbelief.

“I saw online that cat whiskers are supposed to be lucky charms! If I mess up these finals, I’m getting kicked out of the house. Please, just one—just one!”

Pyo Yoontae let out a hollow laugh at the ridiculous request.

“Do I look like a cat to you? Are you out of your mind?”

“You’re technically in the feline family, so it’s close enough.”

He wasn’t worth engaging with.

Pyo Yoontae dismissed him and started to head back to his seat, but Seo Jeongseo asked, “Are cat whiskers really lucky charms?”

“I don’t know. They say having one brings good luck.”

“Wow…!”

At Seo Jeongseo’s awed response, Pyo Yoontae pinched his ears tightly, making him yelp.

Seo Jeongseo had recently gotten better at hiding his animal traits, so only one ear needed to be covered.

“Seo Jeongseo, don’t listen to nonsense like that.”

“But it’s supposed to bring good luck…”

His eyes sparkled as he looked up at Pyo Yoontae.

Never in his life did Pyo Yoontae think he’d be treated like an actual cat.

Lowering his eyelids halfway, he muttered, “Seo Jeongseo, do you want one of my whiskers?”

“No! I was just curious if it’s true about the luck, but it’s fine…!”

As Pyo Yoontae’s golden eyes narrowed coldly, Seo Jeongseo hastily shook his head, though he couldn’t move much with his ears still in Pyo Yoontae’s grip.

In fact, the firm hold on his face left him unable to look away, making him gulp nervously.

“Are you really fine with that…?”

“How about this: one wish per whisker. I can’t just give them away for free.”

“W-Wish? What kind of wish…?”

Pyo Yoontae’s half-lidded gaze curved into a sly smile as his hands slowly slid from Seo Jeongseo’s ears to his cheeks, then down to just below his lips.

Seo Jeongseo shivered at the feather-light touch, his eyes trembling subtly.

Pyo Yoontae leaned in and whispered softly near his ear, sending a warm breath against his skin.

Seo Jeongseo flinched, jumping back with a yelp.

His hair turned stark white, his flushed skin standing out even more.

Watching him, Pyo Yoontae tilted his head slightly, smirking.

“What kind of wish do you think I’d make, Seo Jeongseo?”

The lingering warmth on his ear made Seo Jeongseo rub it furiously as he shouted, “I—I don’t know!”

After Seo Jeongseo bolted away in a panic, Pyo Yoontae chuckled contentedly and followed at a leisurely pace, leaving Hyun Junhyun forgotten and sulking alone.

❀°•❀°•❀°

The finals and the much-anticipated festival had ended, marking the beginning of winter break.

As with last year, the break started with Jeongseo staying at his family’s home in Seoul.

His mom had mentioned they might go on a short trip during the break if time allowed.

Lying on his bed and fiddling with his phone, Jeongseo mulled over potential destinations.

“Seobok, where do you think would be nice to gooo?”

He stretched out the end of his words as he flipped over, reaching down to the floor.

Stroking Seobok’s head, he showed various vacation photos on his phone to the dog, who only stared at him blankly as if wondering what this was all about.

Lost in thought, Jeongseo suddenly thought of Pyo Yoontae.

At the same time, it struck him how surreal it felt that after this winter break, his final year of high school, senior year, would begin.

At Dangang High School, the science track students were divided into just two classes based on their second foreign language.

Unless someone requested a change, the classes from sophomore year remained the same in junior year.

This meant it was certain that Pyo Yoontae would be in the same class again, Seo Jeongseo didn’t have much to worry about.

However, there was one thing he hoped for: that he could be seatmates with Pyo Yoontae again.

Once again caught up in thoughts of Yoontae, Jeongseo hesitated for a moment before deciding to call him.

Listening to the dial tone, Jeongseo couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

This was the first time he would hear Yoontae’s voice since their New Year’s call.

-Hello, Jeongseo.

“What were you doing? Are you busy?

-No, I’m free. What about you?

“I’m just lying down, looking for places to visit! Are you going anywhere during winter break?”

Yoontae said he had spent New Year’s in Dan-Gang.

Though Jeongseo secretly wished they could’ve spent it together, his older brother had taken some time off after graduating from university, so they had stayed together here.

Afterward, they lived together for a while, and once winter break began, Jeongseo had gone back to Seoul.

He hadn’t seen Yoontae since the start of the break.

Jeongseo thought that since he would be in Seoul in January, it would be nice to hang out with Yoontae in February if their schedules matched.

-Hmm, I think I’ll visit my family home briefly in February.

“When?”

-Just for a little while in February.

“Oh…”

Of all times, it had to be February.

Still, if it was just a brief visit, there should be plenty of time left.

“Are you staying long at your family home?”

-About three weeks… I’ll be there for most of it.

Hearing it was longer than expected, Jeongseo felt a pang of disappointment, realizing it might be hard to see Yoontae during this break.

But there was nothing he could do.

“I see… It can’t be helped!”

-Are you sad we won’t see each other?

“Yeah, I wanted to hang out, so it’s a shame!”

-Then, how about this? If you haven’t decided on a place for the trip with your family, we have a vacation home near Taebaeksan. You could come there.

“What? A vacation home? Can we really go there?”

-We were planning to visit anyway. If it’s okay with your family, how about coming along?

“With your family?”

Jeongseo sat up straight.

He had never been on a trip with a friend’s family before, and just the idea thrilled him.

The fact that it was Pyo Yoontae’s family made it even more exciting.

His ears perked up in delight, practically showing his excitement.

“I’d love that!”

Through the phone, he could hear the faint sound of Yoontae laughing at his enthusiasm.

-Alright, then let me know after you ask your mom and brother.

“Okay! I’ll ask them when they get home and call you back right away!”

As he was about to hang up, something crossed his mind.

Quickly grabbing the phone again, he asked, “When would it be?”

-January 27th. How’s that?”

Jeongseo’s eyelids twitched slightly.

Of all the days in January, Yoontae had chosen the 27th.

Was it a coincidence?

Somehow, with Yoontae, it didn’t seem like it.

“My….”

-Your birthday, right?

How did Yoontae know his birthday when he had never mentioned it?

Thinking he might’ve told him before and forgotten, Jeongseo racked his brain but couldn’t recall anything.

“How did you know? Did I ever tell you?”

-Yeah, you mentioned it once.

“When?”

Jeongseo tilted his head, puzzled.

-When we were little. You hadn’t even told me your name yet, but you said your birthday was coming up and you wanted a chocolate cake.

Yoontae remembered everything.

Even the most vivid memories faded unless they were revisited often.

How much had Yoontae thought about those times to recall them so clearly?

For a moment, the scent of Yoontae’s wintry pheromones seemed to drift past his nose.

“Yoontae, did you know?”

-What?

“They say pheromone scents are tied to the most memorable experience from childhood. Did something unforgettable happen to you in winter?”

Jeongseo felt he already knew Yoontae’s answer.

It might’ve been a stretch, but… after a brief pause, Yoontae’s warm voice came through the phone.

-I met you in winter.

‘Just how much does this guy… like me?’

Jeongseo’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest if he opened his mouth.

The warmth spread from his face down to his toes, and he clutched his chest, unable to speak for a while, his face flushed red.

That evening, Jeongseo called to confirm they could go.

Sitting at his desk, Yoontae went to knock on the door to the master bedroom.

“May I come in?”

Inside, Han Jaehee was sitting by the window, reading a book.

“Jeongseo said they’d go. I told them January 27th. Is that okay?”

Jaehee’s face lit up at once.

She had taken an unusual liking to Jeongseo, to the point that even Yoontae found it surprising.

Perhaps it was because Yoontae had never introduced any other friends to her before.

Though he didn’t particularly enjoy anyone showing too much interest in Jeongseo, if it was Jaehee, he didn’t mind.

After all, in the future, Jeongseo would marry him.

Having said everything he needed to, Yoontae turned to leave, but Jaehee hurriedly closed her book and spoke.

“Seo Jeongseo’s family will be there too? Then we should…”

“If you’re thinking of inviting Grandma, don’t come either. Dad can take care of the vacation home.”

Yoontae’s firm tone left Jaehee unable to say anything more.

Since the last incident, Yoontae seemed to have completely turned his back on his grandmother, and her concern for him only deepened.

* * *