* * *

It was also the date of an important school inspection that the principal and teachers had been stressing about for weeks.

The school board and district officials would be there, and he knew they were insisting that absolutely nothing go wrong that day.

Jungin had decided, ‘If I’m going to expose the truth, that’s the day for maximum impact.’

“Please, just for one day, act like you don’t know,” he pleaded.

There were teachers who hadn’t shown any concern for him, even when he missed classes or was bullied, and others who ignored or even encouraged it.

The school was rotten, and it would be better if it disappeared for the sake of future students.

Even with his family’s influence, other students here had backgrounds just as powerful.

What happened to him could easily be buried unless it was exposed in front of everyone.

And there was one more thing: he still hadn’t gathered proof that his homeroom teacher was complicit.

He needed undeniable evidence, like a video of the teacher’s more blatant attacks.

But ever since then, the teacher had become more guarded, and Jungin hadn’t been able to gather proof.

If Ki Beomhyeon got involved now, everything would be ruined.

“Tomorrow is inspection day. I want everyone to know then.”

“So I should just stand by and let the ones who did this to you go? I can’t just do that.”

His unexpectedly firm tone left Jungin speechless.

This was exactly why he didn’t want to be found out.

“And do you really think your brothers would stand by after seeing your face like this?”

Jungin had been hiding his injuries for so long, covering bruises with makeup, hiding bloodstained clothes, and avoiding his brothers’ concern.

Luckily, they’d been busy with work, and even his third brother, Jungseo, was preoccupied with his own school life.

This was the first time his face had been visibly injured, but he’d thought he could cover it up and make it through the day without anyone noticing.

“I can handle this. Just pretend you don’t know,” he insisted.

“Jungin.”

“I’ll tell them eventually… Just not today.”

Jungin’s determined gaze met Ki Beomhyeon’s intense stare, and Ki Beomhyeon frowned, clearly frustrated.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

“But there’s a condition.”

“…What is it?”

“Stay by my side until tomorrow. Don’t leave.”

“Oh… even to the bathroom?”

“We’ve already seen everything; what difference does it make?”

Embarrassing memories of their last encounter at the hotel rushed back to Jungin, his face heating up.

As Jungin narrowed his eyes at him, Ki Beomhyeon clicked his tongue and examined his face closely.

“Until tomorrow, remember?”

“…Yes.”

“Just one day.”

Relief washed over Jungin at Ki Beomhyeon’s promise, a small smile tugging at his lips.

But the smile faded as pain flared up in his split lip.

“Ouch.”

“Tsk. You’re careless,” Ki Beomhyeon muttered, holding Jungin’s chin to inspect his face before leading him to the school’s infirmary.

They found a sign on the door reading, “Out on a Call.”

“Doesn’t seem like they’re here,” Jungin mumbled, suggesting they go back, but Ki Beomhyeon opened the door without hesitation, walking in as if it were his own room.

“Wait, are we allowed to just… walk in?” Jungin asked nervously, watching as Ki Beomhyeon opened a drawer and took out ointment and cotton swabs.

“Quiet,” Ki Beomhyeon replied, exhaling deeply.

He gently applied ointment to Jungin’s lip, a far cry from his earlier fury.

Jungin noticed how close he was, catching a hint of his warm scent.

Was he wearing cologne?

His eyes lingered on Ki Beomhyeon’s broad chest, and he swallowed dryly, his temperature rising.

Then, he noticed the name embroidered on Ki Beomhyeon’s right chest pocket.

‘Oh, right. This is his uniform?’

The way Ki Beomhyeon wore his shirt, two buttons undone, gave him a mature aura, and Jungin found himself wondering about his age.

‘Is he really a returning student?’

Jungin looked up to observe Ki Beomhyeon’s face—no wrinkles, no visible pores.

“What?”

“Hic—!”

Jungin jumped, his heart racing as Ki Beomhyeon suddenly leaned closer, making his smartwatch beep with his elevated heartbeat.

Ki Beomhyeon chuckled, shaking his head with an amused smile.

“Y-you startled me!”

Jungin’s embarrassment flared, and he raised his voice in protest.

“When did you finish applying the ointment anyway? Who stares at someone so intently?”

“Seriously…”

“Well, weren’t you going to ask me something? Go on.”

“Oh, right.”

Clearing his throat, Jungin asked the question he’d been curious about.

“So, how old are you really, Ki Beomhyeon?”

“Nineteen.”

“What…?”

Jungin’s mouth fell open.

“You’re not my hyung? So… we’re the same age?”

“Yeah,” Ki Beomhyeon replied, looking slightly offended.

He felt wronged…

‘If we’re the same age, then why did I have to call him ‘hyung’ all this time?’

“Hey!”

Jungin, feeling a surge of frustration, shouted at Beomhyeon.

He wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him, but facing that massive build, he couldn’t bring himself to.

“I tried to tell you so many times. Every time, you missed the chance, Lee Jungin.”

Now that he thought about it, maybe that was true…

But still, he could’ve just told him. It’s not like a phone is just for decoration.

“Then why don’t you call me ‘hyung’ for once?”

“Me?”

“I’ve been calling you ‘hyung’ all this time. It’s unfair!”

“I don’t remember ever forcing you to call me ‘hyung.’ And besides… calling you ‘hyung’ just doesn’t feel…”

Why was he trailing off like that?

And why were his eyes drifting downward?

Embarrassed, Jungin’s face flushed as he tried to bite down on his lip, but Beomhyeon’s hand reached his mouth first.

“Don’t bite.”

“Ah!”

He was startled, jolting as Beomhyeon’s fingers touched his lips.

He pushed Beomhyeon’s shoulders away and took a deep breath, but just then, his stomach let out a loud growl.

Ah… At this point, he couldn’t be any more humiliated.

As Jungin lowered his head and rubbed his flushed cheeks, Beomhyeon bent down to look at his face, then mussed his hair and said, “I’ll buy you a meal. Let’s go.”

“Now?”

“You don’t seem to mind.”

Well, that was true. But… should a student really be doing this?

Jungin pressed his lips together in thought, and Beomhyeon continued, “It’s not like those jerks are coming back here. Do we really need to stay?”

‘I mean… he had a point.’

Nodding slowly, Jungin lowered his head, and Beomhyeon led him to the infirmary bed and sat him down.

“Wait here. I’ll lock the door, so don’t open it for anyone.”

“What if a teacher comes…?”

“They won’t.”

How could he be so sure?

Yet somehow, Jungin trusted him. He nodded and lay on the bed as Beomhyeon instructed.

After covering him with a blanket and turning on the electric pad, Jungin’s body relaxed, and he felt himself drifting off.

Fighting sleep, he widened his eyes, but Beomhyeon chuckled, placing a hand over them.

“Take a nap. I’ll be back soon.”

“Mm…”

With that, all tension melted away, and Jungin surrendered to a drowsy calm.

Watching him fall asleep, Beomhyeon finally left the infirmary, his expression darkening as he headed toward the classroom.

If he’d known Jungin was being treated like this in his absence, he would’ve never left.

Damn those idiot Hyun punks.

It was obvious they’d kept this from him on purpose.

If they weren’t going to keep an eye on Jungin, why leave him so vulnerable?

Honestly, he wanted to take him home right now.

* * *