How to Escape the Seduction of the Second-Ranked 94

# Chapter 94

For a while, I just stared blankly at the ice cream. Then, as it started to melt and drip due to the temperature, I took a bite.

‘Food is innocent.’

Let’s eat it first. I can’t throw it away.

The ice cream melting in my mouth didn’t change taste depending on who bought it. It was still sweet, refreshing, and delicious. Thanks to it melting appropriately while I hesitated, it was easy to bite into.

After taking another bite, I lowered my arm before the melted ice cream could run down my hand. Just then, the ice cream melted and dripped onto the ground.

“So you’re eating it after all?”

“It’s delicious. And it would be a waste to throw it away.”

I turned my head slightly to look at Baek Han, who nodded glumly.

“You really are something else.”

Muttering that, Baek Han finally started eating his previously neglected ice cream, following my lead. Since none of us were the type to talk while eating, the surroundings were quiet.

As I was nearly finished with my ice cream, my eyes suddenly caught the ice cream Kwon Dojin was eating. To be more precise, with the surroundings so quiet and a bit boring, I naturally looked around and my attention was drawn to Kwon Dojin’s ice cream.

They say the grass is always greener on the other side. Although I had no regrets about the flavor I chose, as I kept looking, the thought of wanting just one bite gradually crept up.

“Want some?”

Was my gaze too obvious? Kwon Dojin slightly turned his body and held out his ice cream. My patience wasn’t good enough to resist the temptation of the ice cream that approached so boldly.

“Can I really have some?”

“Yes.”

When I asked out of courtesy, Kwon Dojin nodded without hesitation. I promptly bent forward and bit the ice cream. I smiled brightly as I rolled around the piece that broke off cleanly with a crunch.

“Is it good?”

“Yeaah.”

With ice cream still in my mouth, my pronunciation was slurred as I answered with tightly closed lips, but no one seemed to care. After eating the dense ice cream, tasting something refreshing and clean was perfect. My lips naturally curled up at the ice cream that was sweet in a different way.

When I held out my ice cream toward Kwon Dojin’s mouth, he opened his eyes wide, as if surprised.

“For me to eat?”

“If you don’t want it, you don’t have to.”

I was about to withdraw my arm, having only offered it because I thought I should give him a bite after taking one, when Kwon Dojin bent down and took the ice cream into his mouth.

Standing there absentmindedly, I was startled by Kwon Dojin’s face coming so close and bit my lower lip. I noticed the movement of his cheeks as he crunched into the ice cream.

As he straightened his back and ate the ice cream with his eyes downcast, he looked up to meet my gaze and smiled.

“It’s delicious.”

“Of all the things to act up about, you choose ice cream…”

Baek Han shook his head and walked past us, going ahead up the stairs. I could hear his footsteps climbing the stairs at a steady pace, but I just stood there, lost in a daze.

“Habin?”

I raised my head vacantly at Kwon Dojin’s call. His voice wasn’t anything special, but it buzzed in my ears.

Thump, thump. All other sounds faded away, and only my heartbeat remained clear. Was that why? I wanted to press down on my chest due to the tickling sensation near my heart, but I held back. Because of an inexplicable thought that I didn’t want to reveal the emotion I was feeling.

As the silence lengthened, I unintentionally appeared to be ignoring his call. Nevertheless, he rolled his eyes as if examining something, then without saying anything, reached out his arm and cupped my cheek.

“Your ice cream is melting.”

Kwon Dojin, speaking as if whispering on purpose, gently brushed my hair. His touch subtly grazed the back of my neck before returning to stroke my cheek with his thumb, making me flinch slightly.

“Ah-, uh, yes. Right.”

I moved my feet, which had stopped, while pulling back my hand, which had become sticky from the ice cream that had inevitably run down. I moved because it felt like things would get strange if I stayed still, but the fog in my mind didn’t clear.

Wondering if eating something cold might help a bit, I quickly finished what little ice cream I had left, but it didn’t make any difference. As I climbed the stairs with my strength completely drained, I noticed there was no sound of footsteps following me, so I turned around.

Kwon Dojin had stopped in the middle of the stairs, head lowered, with his hand covering his mouth, completely hiding his already barely visible expression.

“Kwon Dojin?”

Wondering why he was acting like that, I called out to him with full curiosity. In response, he slowly lowered his arm, raised his head, and smiled with his eye corners prettily creased.

“Habin.”

A gentle, soft, and sweet voice echoed in the quiet stairwell. It also felt like he was harboring some kind of expectation. I bit down on the innocent wooden stick until my teeth hurt before I could finally let it go.

“…What?”

My voice came out cracked, as if I hadn’t spoken for a long time, or as if I had barely managed to break a long silence.

“Want to hold hands?”

I stared blankly at the arm boldly extended, making the distance between us seem insignificant. I continued my contemplation as I looked at his hand, larger than mine, with its calluses.

We had held hands a lot normally. Rather than me initiating it, Kwon Dojin often approached quietly and took my hand. So, in a way, him bringing it up like this and waiting for me to take the initiative was a first.

“Hmm?”

He tilted his head slightly and gently shook his arm as if to urge me. As if entranced by that action, I took his hand. Despite the sticky remnants of ice cream, Kwon Dojin held on firmly without minding.

I vaguely realized from the body heat felt where our skin touched: the wall I had unknowingly built inside myself had started to crack.

* * *

At this point, it was impossible not to know. Honestly, I had prided myself on being perceptive throughout my life, but it seemed like I’d have to fold up that pride neatly and send it flying to the sky. The severity of the situation naturally sobered me as I lowered my head with my elbows on the desk.

“Lee Habin, what are you doing?”

Lee Yumin, who had opened the door wide without knocking, stood holding the doorknob. With her upper body half turned, her face full of disdain was the first thing visible.

“I have something to think about.”

“Whatever. Dad says come eat.”

“Yeah. Coming.”

With nothing to organize, I just got up and headed to the kitchen. Yumin had heartlessly gone ahead and was already seated.

“Were you listening to music? I called several times but got no answer.”

From Dad’s words, I understood why Yumin had opened my door and come in. I thought she wouldn’t come voluntarily since she hated being bothered, but it seems Dad had sent her.

“I was thinking about something, so I didn’t hear. I’ll answer properly next time.”

“Alright.”

I received my bowl of rice and sat next to Yumin. Or more precisely, as I was about to sit, Yumin poked my waist with her index finger.

“I’m not getting water for you.”

“Why are you being so petty? I came all the way to your room to call you!”

Thanks to Yumin, who seemed determined to milk this trivial matter forever, I sighed and went to get water. What could I do? Being the older one, I had to be more understanding.

Since I was getting up anyway, I got some for myself too and returned to my seat. When I handed Yumin the cup, she immediately put down her spoon and drank the water. If she wanted water that badly, she could have gotten it herself.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

After quietly eating until half my rice bowl was empty, I put down my utensils and called my mom. In response to my call, Mom immediately answered, pausing as she was about to pick up some braised lotus root with her chopsticks.

“Since I’m in high school, dating would be-, hmm. Not good, right?”

Clang.

As soon as I finished speaking, there was a sharp sound from the seat next to me. No matter how you heard it, it was the sound of dropped utensils, so I glanced sideways at Yumin.

“Son, are you dating after all?”

“No. I can’t say I’m dating. Since I don’t have anyone I’m seeing yet. Just… I just asked.”

“No! What dating at only 17!”

As I was rambling on, Dad quickly interrupted. Surprised by his uncharacteristically loud voice, I opened my eyes wide.

“Not someone I’m seeing yet,”

“Yes, not yet. Those who say that usually get a girlfriend soon. Dad knows it all.”

“Yes, I’m sure you know everything.”

With Mom’s cynical comment, Dad instantly lost his momentum. Unlike Mom, Dad, who had quite a colorful past, often became dejected on such topics.

“Besides, at 17, it wouldn’t be strange to have someone you’re dating. Why, is there an issue?”

“I’m a student preparing for college entrance exams-.”

“We’ve never once told you to study. Are you just using your student status as an excuse?”

It was such an accurate statement that I was left speechless. Honestly, even I thought my college prep student status was just an excuse. I was still in my first year of high school, and the college entrance exam was still far away.

I was just confused by the unfamiliar situation and wanted to avoid it with any excuse I could find. I knew that myself, but it still hurt when pointed out so directly.

“But Habin is still only 17. Isn’t dating a bit early?”

“And Yumin is only 15, but she has a boyfriend.”

“What? Yumin!”

“Ah, Mom! I told you that was a secret from Dad!”

Yumin, who had been quietly eating, was horrified at this sudden misfortune. I looked at her with a blank expression, having learned information I wasn’t particularly curious about—that Yumin had a boyfriend.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just surprised someone can put up with your temper.”

“…Want to fight?”

I avoided Yumin’s eyes as she fiercely raised her eyebrows. Whew, I wonder if her boyfriend ever gets to stand up for himself.

“Habin.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“If you can’t make up your mind, try keeping some distance from that person for a while. Sometimes stepping away from a problem can help.”

“Isn’t that making the other person anxious if it’s mutual?”

Yumin’s puzzled voice rang out, but Mom and I pretended not to hear. It probably wouldn’t be mutual, so it should be fine, maybe. 

More importantly, the problem is that we’re in the same class and have to stay together for certain reasons. Still, if I time it right, it seems like a pretty good method. And it’s not that I’m definitely going to keep my distance from Kwon Dojin. It’s just that it might be worth trying.

The final exams are coming up soon, and after that, it’s vacation, so maybe that time will come sooner than expected.