* * *

Jeongseo finished putting on his shoes, stood up straight, and stretched his back.

“Yoontae said he couldn’t come to school today. Are you heading home?”

“I’m going to the library to study.”

I see, Jeongseo nodded and stepped out of the shoe rack, and Hayan followed closely beside him.

The sun hadn’t set yet, and the bright light made Jeongseo squint.

With mid-June’s heat intensifying, he unbuttoned the top button of his school shirt.

“Are you heading home?”

As they neared the front gate, Jeongseo veered off toward the riverside path.

“Yeah, I’m heading home!”

Since the library would be out of the way if he went by the riverside, Jeongseo was about to wave goodbye to Hayan when, for some reason, he noticed Hayan following him down the path.

Was he planning to take the long route?

Although the riverside lacked shade, it was ideal for a stroll. Jeongseo lowered the hand he’d raised.

As the two walked along the riverside, Hayan tilted his head curiously, stopping to look back at Jeongseo.

“Hey, why do you keep making that clattering sound?”

From the shoe rack to where they stood now, every step Jeongseo took echoed with a clinking noise.

Hayan, narrowing his eyes in curiosity, wondered what on earth Jeongseo was carrying to make such a racket.

Jeongseo swung his backpack to the front, unzipping it slightly to show him.

Hayan’s eyes widened in disbelief as he peered inside.

“…Are you planning to stay overnight at school?”

Empty lunch containers… how many are in here?

Looking at Jeongseo, Hayan was genuinely baffled, wondering why someone would bring so many containers to school.

Jeongseo, however, smiled nonchalantly, completely unbothered.

“I’m bringing melon tomorrow. Want some?”

“Do you bring food to school every day?”

“Yeah, I get hungry pretty often.”

This time, Jeongseo sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed for reasons Hayan couldn’t fathom.

He just nodded, unable to figure out what part of this made Jeongseo shy.

Silence settled between them as they walked, Jeongseo counting the black tiles on the patterned walkway.

He turned his head slightly to the side.

The sunlight shimmering on the water seemed especially beautiful today, and without realizing it, he thought it’d be nice if Pyo Yoontae were there too.

That’s when it hit him—he’d forgotten to reply to Yoontae.

As soon as he took out his phone, it rang, displaying Yoontae as the caller.

“I need to take this call.”

Hayan motioned for him to hurry, as if it were nothing.

“Hello…?”

• Why didn’t you respond all of a sudden?

“Oh, I ran into Hayan at the shoe rack and forgot to reply.”

There was a brief silence before a soft sigh came from the other end.

• This is why I can’t leave you alone. What are you two up to?

Detecting irritation, Jeongseo glanced at Hayan, who was already looking at him.

Surprised that their eyes met, Jeongseo’s shoulder flinched.

Hayan smirked and moved in closer.

“Hey, Jeongseo, come study with me at the library. I’m a better tutor than Pyo Yoontae.”

“Huh?”

• What’s wrong with you, you lunatic?

Jeongseo’s eyes widened at the sudden outburst. Hayan, one hand on Jeongseo’s shoulder, leaned toward the phone.

Being slightly taller, Hayan’s soft, white hair brushed against Jeongseo’s forehead.

“We could even have dinner together, right?”

Hayan’s playful face was so close, dark eyes fixed on Jeongseo.

Caught off guard, Jeongseo nodded without thinking, and Hayan promptly took the phone from his ear.

Yoontae’s voice faintly shouted, “Jeongseo, run away! You’re great at escaping!” before Hayan ended the call.

Returning the phone to Jeongseo, Hayan wore a satisfied expression.

The phone rang again, and Hayan reached for it, but it stopped before he could pick up.

Looking at the blank screen, Jeongseo raised his head.

Were they really going to study?

Was Hayan serious or just teasing Yoontae?

Jeongseo couldn’t tell.

As he hesitated, Hayan waved a hand.

“If we’re late, we won’t get seats.”

“Oh, okay!”

So, they really were studying together!

It was the first time studying with someone other than Yoontae, which made Jeongseo feel a little excited.

Even though it did bother him that Yoontae seemed particularly annoyed whenever he was with Hayan, the fact that there were no follow-up calls made him feel it would be okay.

They reached the library, where Hayan led them confidently up to the second floor and toward the terrace area.

Jeongseo clutched his bag tightly to stifle the clattering sound.

Ah, the cool air felt refreshing.

The library’s air conditioning had been running, easing the sweat that had built up from walking.

Since Jeongseo rarely visited the library—usually going to Yoontae’s house or a café—it felt like a while since his last visit.

He looked around, noting a fair number of students in familiar uniforms scattered throughout.

The terrace, separated by a large glass wall, was set up like a lounge, with long sofas and round tables under the covered roof.

“We can talk here,” Hayan whispered in his ear.

Outside, it was warmer than inside but still pleasant due to the cool air seeping through the glass.

Hayan sat on a sofa facing the library’s interior, and Jeongseo took a seat across from him.

“What are you going to study today?”

“Oh? Uh.”

Jeongseo, planning to relax today, glanced around before rummaging through his bag.

Fortunately, he’d brought his chemistry homework.

“Chemistry!”

Hayan saw the handout Jeongseo produced and opened his bag, making Jeongseo inhale sharply at the sight.

Unlike his bag, half-full of empty containers, Hayan’s was packed with books and neatly organized notes.

He took out a worn workbook and some handouts kept tidy in a file.

He must’ve planned to study chemistry too.

“Ask me if you don’t understand something.”

“Really? But won’t it distract you?”

Hayan wondered if Jeongseo was implying he was a bad study partner, but the innocent look on Jeongseo’s face dismissed the thought.

Remembering how defensive he could get because of past snide comments, Hayan swallowed a retort and reassured him to ask anything.

Grateful, Jeongseo started his work.

Exactly 13 minutes later, he glanced at Hayan, hesitating before asking a question.

It was just past 6 PM, and to catch the last bus to Jeongseo’s house at 7:25, they needed to have dinner soon to make it there leisurely.

Jeongseo glanced at Hayan, who was focused on his work, then tore a small piece from his notebook and carefully wrote a note to pass to him.

“I need to eat now if I’m going to have dinner!”

After reading the note, Hayan closed his workbook and started to pack up.

Jeongseo hurriedly gathered his things, and they both left the library.

The evening air was pleasantly cool.

“Convenience store?”

“Sounds good!”

Entering the convenience store near the library, Hayan grabbed a cup of ramen and a roll of kimbap, while Jeongseo, feeling hungry, picked out a cup of ramen, a hot bar, a triangle kimbap, some green pea paste buns, and a soda.

Jeongseo stopped Hayan, who was about to pay.

“I’ll get this since you taught me that thing earlier!”

“Really?”

Hayan hesitated for a moment, looking at Jeongseo, before eventually conceding.

After Jeongseo paid, they poured water into the ramen and heated the kimbap and hot bar in the microwave before sitting at a table in the corner of the store.

Hayan tore into the kimbap first, while Jeongseo opened the lid of his ramen and stirred it with his chopsticks.

“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it.”

As Hayan took a bite of the kimbap, Jeongseo nodded with a smile.

“By the way, you teach really well, Hayan.”

Jeongseo had expected him to explain like Pyo Yoontae did, in a rote fashion, or to give a more concise answer, but surprisingly, Hayan taught the basics in a way that was easy for Jeongseo to understand.

If Jeongseo were a student and both Pyo Yoontae and Hayan were his teachers, he would have chosen Hayan without hesitation.

“Is Pyo Yoontae that bad of a teacher?”

“Um… a little…?”

Jeongseo didn’t want to speak ill of Pyo Yoontae, but he also couldn’t lie about him being a good teacher, so he spoke vaguely, trailing off at the end.

“True, he doesn’t have the personality to teach anyone well.”

Jeongseo thought this about Hayan as well, though he didn’t voice it.

Just as they were enjoying their meal, the table vibrated—his phone was ringing.

* * *