Before he knew it, lush green trees and flower buds just beginning to bloom started to reflect in the window. On the quiet road, the cool shade created by the street trees and the warm late March spring sunlight blended together, creating a leisurely atmosphere.
Without realizing it, Jang Juwon became intoxicated by this peaceful atmosphere and stared blankly out the window. He was definitely annoyed earlier, but now he just felt comfortable and cozy. At this moment, looking at this scenery, no one would be angry. In a good mood, Jang Juwon unconsciously raised a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.
In front of a large two-story cafe located in the outskirts, Baek Iseon’s car finally stopped. Jang Juwon stretched pleasantly and got out of the car. He turned to look at Baek Iseon with a brightly smiling face. When their eyes met, Baek Iseon also smiled at him.
“Should we hold hands?”
“……”
Jang Juwon glared at Baek Iseon, who brazenly held out his hand.
“Hurry. There’s no one around.”
“……Just this once.”
This was definitely because he was swept up in the atmosphere. Jang Juwon raised his hand and placed it over Baek Iseon’s large hand. Baek Iseon’s fingers dug between Jang Juwon’s fingers. As if afraid of letting go, he could feel strength gripping his palm tightly. It was nothing much, they were just holding hands, but the memory of his touch caressing his body came to mind and heat rose to his face for no reason.
“……Let go now.”
“Okay.”
Just before entering the cafe entrance, Jang Juwon said. Baek Iseon, who he thought would stubbornly refuse, surprisingly obediently let go of his hand. His long fingers slipped out through the gaps between his fingers. The warmth that had been touching just a moment ago disappeared in an instant, and for some reason the early spring breeze seemed to feel even chillier.
* * *
Early April. It became midterm exam season.
“I don’t know…… I don’t know……”
Even though it was Friday evening, the cafe was crowded with students gathered to study for exams. The three of them likewise gathered with their heads together in the cafe, having brought stacks of books. Choi Yeonho, with a tired expression, buried his head between thick major textbooks. Jang Juwon felt like he had seen this somewhere before. The book Choi Yeonho had buried his head in was Machine Element Design, the subject Choi Yeonho hated most.
“No way. Choi Yeonho, get up! You’re our hope.”
Shin Jisu shook his collapsed body. However, Choi Yeonho’s body only swayed limply back and forth following Shin Jisu’s hands.
“Juwon-ah…….”
“Yeah.”
“Go get me some study guides.”
“……You entrusted it to me.”
Jang Juwon was curious about what Choi Yeonho would say if he knew that to get the study guides, he’d have to sleep with Baek Iseon.
“Please. I want to die.”
“Even if you die, solve all the fluid practice problems before you go.”
Shin Jisu crossed one leg and said coldly. Jang Juwon closed his eyes tightly and replied to Choi Yeonho as if he had no choice.
“That’s…… not as easy as you think.”
“But if you can’t get the study guides for fluids, you’re fucked, right?”
Shin Jisu, who was still sitting in a slouched position, interjected in a dry voice.
“What do you mean?”
“You got 3rd place on the fluids quiz, but try bombing the exam. What do you think the professor will think?”
“……Huh?”
“Obviously they’ll think there was some kind of cheating involved. Whatever it was.”
“But that can’t be called cheating.”
“Right. But will that professor think so too? Maybe they’ll change all the quiz questions from now on. So that study guides won’t work anymore.”
“…….”
He hadn’t thought that far ahead. Shin Jisu sometimes made sharp observations in unexpected places. Everything she said was right. If he got a low exam score, the professor would definitely think it was suspicious. But even so, it was impossible to study for 2 weeks now and get similar grades to the quiz.
“Hurry up and contact Baek Iseon, Jang Juwon.”
“Ugh…….”
“If you don’t want to retake Applied Fluid Mechanics.”
At the word retake, Jang Juwon’s shoulders drooped down. Jang Juwon reluctantly picked up his phone and started sending him a message. Just then, Choi Yeonho whispered in a small voice from the side.
“Ask for Machine Element Design too.”
Smack. Shin Jisu hit Choi Yeonho’s forehead with the pen she was holding. Choi Yeonho made a tearful face again and buried his head in the textbook. Jang Juwon pressed the send button on the message with a slightly anxious heart.
*Sunbae, can I come to your place?*
As soon as he sent the text, a reply came from him.
*Kyaa >< Naughty! Come quickly baby ^0^*
“I’m…… going to go.”
Jang Juwon gathered his things and got up from his seat. He felt like he knew a little bit how a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse feels.
“Jang Juwon, you can do it!”
“Our Juwon, you know I love you so much, right?”
Behind Jang Juwon’s drooping back, the two people’s extremely excited voices could be heard.
* * *
“So, you need study guides for the Applied Fluid Mechanics midterm?”
It was the first time visiting Baek Iseon’s house since getting the lab report. Baek Iseon had already finished bathing, wearing a thick robe. He was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, looking at Jang Juwon with a smug expression.
“……Yes.”
“Good. If it’s okay, shall we start right now?”
“Ah, okay.”
Jang Juwon slowly began to take off the cardigan he was wearing. He was about to say he’d use the bathroom. Baek Iseon began to fold his fingers one by one and mutter.
“If we do it today, and again tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, that means……. You can get them the day after tomorrow!”
“Wait, what are you saying right now…….”
“Why? To study, you need to get them as soon as possible, right? Even doing it every other day is almost a week.”
“No, what’s this about tomorrow……. And what about the day after tomorrow?”
Jang Juwon’s voice, sensing danger, trembled.
“Why?”
“What do you mean why, it was one night per thing. You definitely said so in March. But…….”
“Why have you become so shameless, Jang Juwon?”
“……What?”
Jang Juwon was momentarily flustered by his tone, which sounded quite cold.
“That was when it was March. It’s April now. Midterm exam period, right?”
“……Right?”
“So naturally the price has to go up too, doesn’t it?”
“What……!”
“You don’t know about peak season and off-season? Asking for peak season at off-season prices is too conscienceless.”
Jang Juwon could only freeze at Baek Iseon’s miraculous logic. Baek Iseon was deliberately holding his forehead pretending to be troubled, but in reality his mouth corners were pulled up high, laughing as if he was enjoying himself.
“So, are you going to do it? Or not?”
There was no choice. Retake. Shin Jisu’s words came to mind. Having already gotten a high score on the quiz, maintaining this grade without his help was impossible. Was he being punished for being greedy? He was being manipulated by Baek Iseon again.
“……Two times.”
“Three times.”
“Two times!”
“Three times!”
“…….”
“…….”
The two glared at each other in silence for a moment. To Baek Iseon, Jang Juwon didn’t look like he was going to back down. Of course, if he took a hard line here, it wouldn’t be difficult to get what he wanted, but……. Just then, a more interesting thought came to Baek Iseon’s mind.
“Alright, fine. I’ll specially make it one time.”
“……Really?”
“Well, I can show that much favor for our lovely hoobae.”
Color returned to Jang Juwon’s face. Being so easy to read.
“Instead, you do what I tell you to.”
“……What does that…….”
