“Ah, thank you? Then say it cutely. Say ‘Dobum-ah, you’re the only one~'”
A bundle of clothes flew at Cha Dobum’s face. The rolled-up short-sleeved shirt was what Cha Ihyun wore under his shirt. Cha Ihyun shouted.
“Get out, you pervert bastard!”
Cha Dobum grumbled but picked up the bundle of clothes. Because he glanced at the pure white bare body, a bag flew at him this time, but thanks to quickly closing the door and leaving, he was able to avoid the second hit.
***
Lee Taeyang and Jang Jinsu avoided Cha Ihyun after that. It was visible how hard they tried not to even meet his gaze.
There was also the homeroom teacher’s threat to convene the discipline committee if they caused problems again, but more than that, they were conscious of Cha Dobum.
‘Why is our Ihyun limping like this? Did you fucking step in shit somewhere? Where is it, that shit? I should go clean it up.’
Because of Cha Dobum going on about shit, shit, shit all day, the two didn’t even come to school for several days. Even after that, they went around with their heads buried like dead mice, so later he didn’t even remember their faces.
There was one more thing that changed after that day—Cha Dobum became even more of a ‘Cha Ihyun barnacle.’
He didn’t go out in the afternoons anymore and stuck right next to him, being annoying, so Cha Ihyun didn’t even have time to realize he’d become alone from the group. Because he was busy playing piano in the music room for someone who pestered him to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star awesomely, and being forced to the school store by someone saying a new menu came out, taste-testing all sorts of junk food.
With that came troublesome matters. When together with Cha Dobum, thugs would talk to them whether in the classroom or hallway. When he briefly stepped back because he hated the gazes that treated him like an invisible person and looked him over, Cha Dobum would chase after him going ‘Where are you going!’ That repeated a few times, so Cha Dobum would glare and chase away anyone who tried to talk to them.
‘Still, it’s tiring after all.’
During PE time, Cha Ihyun was sitting in the music room thinking to spend time alone for once.
He quietly took out a book on top of the piano. It was a book he’d borrowed from hyung’s room. Looking at books hyung’s hands had touched made him feel closer to hyung, which was nice. Moreover, he had even higher expectations for this book. Because of the phrase written on the book’s obi.
[The story of a boy who liked a boy]
It was a book that didn’t match hyung’s bookshelf. Why did hyung read this novel, what did he think after reading this novel—he was curious but also a bit nervous.
It was when Cha Ihyun, who had been fiddling with the book cover, turned the cover. The sound of clattering footsteps rang out in the quiet hallway.
At the sound of running footsteps getting closer, Cha Ihyun closed the book with a sigh. As expected, the door burst open and Cha Dobum entered.
Though he thought he’d gone to play ball since it was PE, it seemed he’d been to the school store. Cha Dobum, who had two bulging plastic bags hung on his wrists, looked happy.
“I’m really fucking confident this time.”
Cha Dobum, who strode in, sat on the edge of the piano chair. A creaking sound came from the chair that became cramped in an instant. He took out a bread from the bag.
“The owner said this will definitely succeed this time.”
By owner, he meant the school store ahjussi. Cha Dobum, a regular at the school store, stimulated the store ahjussi saying his relative younger brother’s taste was picky, and the ahjussi, burning with competitive spirit, would get new items.
Cha Ihyun’s gaze touched the junk food filling the bag. The snacks that looked high in calories just from the outer packaging seemed to be Cha Dobum’s share.
“You’re not even a pig, so why do you eat so much?”
“Are you saying I’m a pig or not? Here, princess, try it.”
Cha Dobum tore open the packaging that said ‘milk bread’ and handed it over. Like its name, it was a pure white and round bread. Cha Ihyun, who had gotten used to Cha Dobum’s antics, naturally received the bread. Anyway, if it didn’t taste good, he could just spit it out to Cha Dobum, so he bit into it without expectations.
He hadn’t even chewed a few times when Cha Dobum asked urgently.
“How does it taste? They say this is more popular than choco.”
Cha Ihyun, who was about to say it was nothing special out of habit, hesitated.
Better than he thought… It was quite good. Maybe even better than choco bread.
Cha Dobum’s eyes sparkled.
“Must be fucking delicious?”
“Just. Ordinary.”
“If it’s not good, give it here. Let me try it too.”
Cha Ihyun pulled the bread back with a snap. It was a reaction that didn’t go through thought. Cha Dobum was just as surprised. At the reaction speed unlike Cha Ihyun, Cha Dobum blinked. Embarrassed, Cha Ihyun deliberately said gruffly.
“I, I didn’t say it wasn’t good.”
Cha Ihyun, whose face had reddened a bit, nonchalantly tore and ate the bread. Cha Dobum’s lips quietly rose, but without saying anything particular, he propped his arm on the keyboard cover and watched Cha Ihyun. As if the snacks he’d bought to eat weren’t even in his mind, his gaze continued at length. Staring at the white cheeks chewing, he muttered.
“Something like milk bread is eating milk bread.”
“……”
“Just how far does your whiteness go?”
Before Cha Ihyun could ask what he meant, his arm was suddenly lifted. Cha Dobum, who lifted someone else’s arm without permission, tilted his head slightly and nodded as if he’d expected it.
“Your armpits are fucking white too.”
Then he put the arm down.
At the harassment that happened in just a few seconds, Cha Ihyun’s lips gaped. The bread he’d missed because he was too surprised was rolling on the floor. Cha Dobum, who picked up the bread and blew on it as if it was a waste, swallowed the remaining bread in one bite. At the too shameless sight, Cha Ihyun finally moved his mouth.
“Don’t tell me you go around doing this elsewhere too?”
“Elsewhere? Why?”
“Didn’t you hear in health class? This is all sexual harassment, you know?”
“Fuck, why is that sexual harassment? I’m the one looking at Cha Ihyun’s armpits.”
“You really…”
As if to console the speechless Cha Ihyun, the bell rang. Cha Ihyun grabbed his book and stood up abruptly.
“Forget it. Just don’t go around doing that outside and get reported.”
“I’m not curious about other people’s armpits at all, so don’t worry.”
“Stop cursing. You look lowclass.”
“Why is dick a curse? It’s such a precious thing.”
“Are you really crazy?”
“Hey, isn’t that the real curse?”
Cha Dobum, who stood up following, trailed after Cha Ihyun. While going to the classroom, glancing gazes followed from here and there, but Cha Ihyun was busy discussing the scope of profanity and didn’t care as usual.
The classroom was noisy unlike homeroom time. ‘No homeroom today’ was written on the blackboard.
Since Cha Ihyun was on cleaning duty, instead of packing his bag, he headed to the cleaning supplies closet. Baek Seunghoon and Kim Hoyoung stuck to Cha Dobum, who was following him out of inertia.
“Dobum-ah. There’s a basketball game with the commercial high school after we’re done today, want to go?”
“Girls’ high school kids are coming too. Want to go to karaoke together after?”
Baek Seunghoon particularly emphasized ‘girls’ high school.’ Cha Ihyun’s brow furrowed at how pathetic he acted as if it were some kind of medal. But Baek Seunghoon just glanced at Cha Ihyun with a victor’s expression. As if trying to steal Cha Dobum away.
He didn’t want to get involved for nothing. Cha Ihyun picked up a broom. He was sweeping with the intention of roughly sweeping just the back and finishing when, with a khaak sound, Baek Seunghoon spat phlegm.
“……”
It didn’t seem like he’d intended it particularly. Behind the act of spitting phlegm was the showing off that he was a smoker, so Baek Seunghoon originally often spat out bravado.
But it felt strangely dirty. The location aside, he seemed to have become sensitive due to the recent Jang Jinsu and Lee Taeyang incident. It was the moment he turned his head to try to ignore it.
SMACK―!
At the sound of tearing through the air, Cha Ihyun flinched. A heavy silence fell over the classroom as if cold water had been poured.
When he slowly raised his gaze, Cha Dobum was grinning. He tapped Baek Seunghoon’s cheek once more and said.
“Hey, Seungjun-ah. What are you doing?”
Even though he got the name wrong, Baek Seunghoon just took the slap. Even as he muttered ‘sorry,’ Cha Dobum’s hand didn’t stop. Smack, smack― Even though only his wrist moved lightly, the sound was sharp as if cutting through the space.
“The classroom is getting dirty. Huh? This is a space we all use together, so we should keep it clean.”
Baek Seunghoon’s cheeks had already swollen up. When Baek Seunghoon lowered his gaze and bit his lips tightly, Cha Dobum asked as if puzzled.
“Isn’t it?”
“Uh, ri, right. I’m sorry. I, it’s a habit…”
“Then go wipe it.”
Cha Dobum tapped the reddened cheek with the back of his hand. As if relieved at the smiling face as usual, Baek Seunghoon giggled along. The smile was so servile that even Cha Ihyun watching furrowed his brows.
Baek Seunghoon approached the cleaning supplies closet. Cha Dobum smiled watching him pick up the mop.
“No, Seungjun-ah― you dumbass bastard.”
He walked over and put his arm around Baek Seunghoon’s shoulders. It was a seemingly intimate posture. The voice that followed was also in a light tone as if joking between friends.
“You have to wipe it with your own tongue. It came out of your mouth.”
“Uh…?”
