# Chapter 45
As I gathered my things from the reading room and left the library, I made eye contact with several people. There were enough people to understand why Kwon Dojin had said it was dangerous.
Not everyone here was here because of me, but those looking in this direction definitely had me as their target.
Because the gazes were burdensome, I hid behind Dojin and lowered my eyes. There were also quite a few people with somewhat scary expressions, so I didn’t want to make eye contact.
“Habin?”
Perhaps because I was timidly walking while holding onto his sleeve, Dojin called out to me.
“What.”
“Are you scared?”
“If you were in my place, wouldn’t you be scared with so many people staring menacingly at you?”
No, you probably wouldn’t be scared. That’s why you’re walking confidently with me trailing behind you. After all, you’re Rank 2, so you don’t need to be afraid.
“Should we take a taxi? I’ll pay.”
“That would be nice, but… aren’t you spending too much money lately?”
“You’re the only one who worries about my wallet situation, Habin.”
Dojin took my hand and headed toward the road, then hailed a passing taxi. His smooth actions made me worry about his finances again, but since he insisted he was fine, I decided to let it go. Or maybe I could quickly present my card first when we got out.
Once we got in the taxi and were cut off from the outside, I finally felt at ease. Relieved that I hadn’t been caught up in anything troublesome or frightening, I leaned back against the seat.
“What time are you going home today?”
“I was planning to go home at 6, but if we eat dinner first, wouldn’t it be later than that?”
Maybe around 8 or 9? As I was estimating the time, Dojin tapped the back of my hand.
“What?”
“Take your time. I’ll take you home.”
“You don’t need to take me home. I know how to get home by myself.”
Having gone to Dojin’s place frequently lately, I’d unintentionally memorized which bus to take. When I voiced my refusal, Dojin naturally rested his head on my shoulder.
“I want to take you home.”
“And I want to refuse.”
“It’s dangerous, Habin. Hmm?”
Dojin looked up at me, slowly fluttering his eyelids and creating a gentle gaze. I averted my eyes from him as he once again made full use of his advantages.
As I looked out the window, pretending not to hear anything, he took my hand that was resting on my thigh and rubbed his cheek against my shoulder as if being cute.
Somehow, I pressed myself against the window to avoid Dojin, who was getting closer and closer. When he followed me, I eventually pressed firmly on his forehead and pushed him to the other side.
“Take it easy, take it easy.”
“I’m just so worried about you.”
“You worry too much. It’s not like I’m going down some empty alley; I’m taking public transportation.”
The apartment where I lived was less than a minute’s walk from the bus stop. I clicked my tongue at his unnecessary concern, and Dojin drooped like a rain-soaked puppy.
That sight made me uncomfortable even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I patted his shoulder to cheer him up.
“Or do you want to stay over?”
“Rejected. I don’t have my uniform.”
At my response, Dojin raised his head as if he’d been waiting for it, his eyes shining. Despite his expression being full of meaning, as if he’d thought of something amazing and wanted praise, I mercilessly rejected him without caring.
“That’s true… you have school tomorrow.”
After muttering weakly for a moment, Dojin backed off neatly. He smiled, saying he wouldn’t press further since I said no, but I should tell him without hesitation if I changed my mind. I just nodded.
Before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination while chatting about trivial things. I fumbled for my card, but Dojin naturally nudged me aside and handed his card to the driver.
Somehow, every time I met with Dojin, he was the only one spending money, which made me uncomfortable. Although it was Dojin who insisted on spending, normal friends don’t do that. Treating occasionally would be fine, but it wasn’t occasional—it was every time, which was the problem.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“I feel like I’m extorting you.”
“…Huh?”
Dojin’s body stiffened in surprise. His eyes shook violently as he looked at me, but I opened my mouth to express the words I hadn’t yet spoken.
“You always spend your money, and I’ve never spent mine. Occasionally, very occasionally, I have spent some, but it was always a small amount.”
“I… guess so?”
“I thought about where I’ve heard of this kind of relationship before, and it seemed like typical extortion.”
Of course, I’ve never threatened Dojin, and I’m not capable of doing so. But looking only at the results, it was very similar to an extortion relationship. It was as if the power in the relationship between Dojin and me was one-sidedly tilted toward me.
“So let’s not do this anymore. We need improvement in our relationship.”
“Is it not okay even if I want to do it?”
“No, it’s not okay. This kind of one-sided relationship doesn’t last long. Are you only going to see me for a short time?”
When I deliberately used somewhat threatening words, Dojin hurriedly shook his head. It was a bit funny, and I almost laughed inappropriately, but I held it in.
“So from now on, we split the bill. Got it?”
When I spoke in a firm tone, Dojin nodded with a reluctant face.
“But let me treat you occasionally.”
“Okay.”
I expressed my agreement with a sour face, feeling like our positions as the one asking and the one being asked had reversed. That seemed to be enough, as Dojin’s face, which had gone slightly pale, was now tinged with a pretty crimson.
“Let’s go now. My bag is heavy.”
Actually, I was used to this weight, so it wasn’t that heavy, but I deliberately exaggerated. Dojin, who had been somewhat stiff, immediately stretched out his arm and took my bag, which was slung over one shoulder.
“I can carry it myself.”
“Habin, the corners of your mouth are turned up.”
At Dojin’s observation, I looked far away and awkwardly hummed a tune. Hearing a “pfft,” a sound like air escaping, I looked at Dojin, and he took my hand.
“Rest a bit when you get home before studying. It must have been tiring to be on guard around people before taking the taxi.”
“It wasn’t that tiring… but maybe I should rest first?”
“Yeah. Do that.”
I decided to pretend to give in to his repeated persuasion. I disliked Korean literature that much.
* * *
On a Tuesday in mid-April, the mock exam that I had been waiting for in many ways finally ended. Baek Han, who had come to our classroom after each test to compare his answers with mine, burst through the back door of our classroom more energetically than usual once the mock exam was completely over.
“I think I’ll get level 2 in everything!”
“Congratulations.”
“My ears are going to fall off.”
Ignoring Kwon Dojin, who frowned slightly and spoke sarcastically, Baek Han casually placed his arm on my shoulder.
“As a reward, I’ll buy you something delicious. Let’s go.”
I nodded without hesitation at Baek Han’s suggestion. There was no reason to refuse when someone offered to buy me something tasty.
“You’re going with him… just the two of you?”
Hearing the voice filled with shock, I turned to look at Dojin. When our eyes met, he immediately made a sad expression and gently wrapped his hand around mine, which was resting on the desk.
“I’ll buy you something even more delicious than he will. Don’t follow a guy like that.”
“This ‘guy like that’ can hear you, asshole.”
Baek Han, who had suddenly become “a guy like that,” frowned. Dojin ignored Baek Han’s reaction and just looked at me. They were really experts at ignoring each other.
Baek Han’s expression became more and more distorted at the blatant disregard, and I first removed my hand from Dojin’s grasp, worried they might fight again.
“Why don’t you come along too?”
“What?! I don’t want to pay for him!”
“Who asked you to pay? And if I’m going with Habin alone, I’m going. I don’t want to go with you—”
“If you don’t want to come, forget it. I’ll go with Baek Han, just the two of us.”
I stared blankly at the two of them reacting immediately to my words and then interrupted Dojin. When I spoke with the implied meaning of whether he really wasn’t going to come, his shoulders trembled.
His actions of looking at Baek Han and then back at me were full of the meaning, “Do I really have to go with him?” So when I nodded firmly, he became dejected.
“…I’ll endure it.”
“Good. Let’s all go together nicely.”
“Who does he think he is, butting in.”
Baek Han sighed as he irritably ran his fingers through his hair. Recognizing that action as silent permission, I smiled brightly.
I was about to refuse Baek Han’s suggestion to leave right away since homeroom wasn’t even over, but Dojin was the first to agree with Baek Han. I watched him naturally packing his things and then came to my senses when I saw him packing my things as well.
“Wait, I’ll do it myself.”
“I don’t mind doing it.”
His hands, dripping with reluctance, hovered around. Pretending not to notice, I quickly packed my things, and a lament flowed from beside me. Why was he reacting like that when I just wanted to pack my own bag?
It was beyond baffling; it was absurd. As if to check if it was just me, Baek Han pressed his forehead with a “thud” sound.
“What kind of sight is this?”
“…That’s what I’m saying.”
Despite seeing us sighing, Dojin displayed his usual smile. His shameless demeanor was so familiar that I showed no particular reaction and just stood up.
“Let’s just go eat.”
I pointed to the back door of the classroom as attention naturally focused on me.
“You’re impressive in your own way.”
Shaking his head and leaving the classroom first, Baek Han’s actions made me shrug. Even I didn’t have a way to deal with Dojin when he acted like that. So I just used the easiest method of changing the subject.
As I followed behind Baek Han with my somewhat heavy bag, Dojin also stuck close beside me. The sight of the two walking while pretending not to see each other was extremely incongruous, but it was better than them arguing, so I also pretended not to notice.
“So, Lee Habin. What do you want to eat?”
“Me? Hmm, let’s see. What would be good?”
Since we hadn’t discussed it in advance, I was unsure. Tapping my chin as I continued to ponder, I thought it would be good to hear both of their opinions, so I began to speak.
