Chapter 64
The lesson wasn’t exactly gripping, but knowing it was all the last time made me want to savor it a little more. As the teacher droned on about classical literature, my gaze drifted to Yu Hyunjae.
“Yu Chanhee.”
“Hey. He’s calling you.”
Go Hankyul poked my arm with his pen, whispering. I jolted and looked at the teacher.
“Did you smear honey on Yu Hyunjae’s seat? Why are you staring at him like that?”
Snickers erupted from all corners of the classroom. Yu Hyunjae lifted his head and met my eyes. Our gazes locked in midair, and my face burned crimson. I flailed my hands, denying it.
“W-What? It’s not like that!”
“Sure it’s not. Rumor has it you two are dating—even the teachers’ lounge knows.”
“What are you talking about?”
HAHAHA. The class burst into laughter, Go Hankyul included.
“Are you actually dating? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He slapped my back as he spoke.
“We’re not.”
“Not? Dude, the way you’re dead serious about denying it is way more suspicious.”
“I said we’re not!”
I glared at him, unable to deny it strongly. Go Hankyul just grinned.
“Fine, fine. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
His words hung in the air—lighthearted, but somehow stinging.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Huh? What?”
“Your ‘enjoy it while it lasts’ comment.”
I pressed, and Go Hankyul blinked at me, confused.
“What’d I say?”
“You said ‘enjoy it while it lasts.’”
“Uh… I just meant it literally?”
His clueless, innocent expression made me sigh. I was being oversensitive again. The thought that Han Jaemin might have planted someone here kept gnawing at me, no matter how hard I tried to ignore it.
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re not… weird, right?”
Go Hankyul looked at me like I’d lost it.
“Do I seem weird?”
“No.”
He patted my back at my lame reply.
“Dude, relax. I don’t care if you date a girl or Yu Hyunjae. I’m that open-minded.”
“Shut up, seriously.”
He snickered and looked back at his textbook. Whether he meant it or not, I chose to believe him. Today had to be a happy day, after all.
***
“Hey, wanna skip 5th period?”
Go Hankyul suddenly suggested over lunch. Yu Hyunjae hesitated, smiling awkwardly.
“Shouldn’t we… go to class?”
“Nah. Let’s ditch.”
I agreed without hesitation. Go Hankyul high-fived me. As I slapped his hand back, I glanced at Yu Hyunjae.
“You’re skipping too, right?”
At my question, Yu Hyunjae finally sighed and nodded.
“Where are we even going? You sound super sketchy.”
“I found this amazing spot. Trust me.”
“Sketchy as hell.”
“It’s not weird, man. Just a secret spot in school.”
“Really?”
Go Hankyul had already put down his chopsticks, waiting for us to finish. I deliberately drained my soup and stood up, tray in hand.
“Let’s go.”
***
Go Hankyul led us through the innermost courtyard behind the freshman building, following a path lined with cherry blossom trees.
“This isn’t exactly hidden.”
“Ah, just wait.”
At the end of the cherry blossom path, the school fence blocked the way, leading into the mountain.
“So we’re climbing a mountain?”
“Damn, you’re so impatient.”
Behind the last tree, tall grasses bent slightly, as if someone had already trampled them. Go Hankyul stepped confidently inward. Yu Hyunjae and I followed, emerging into a small clearing—just big enough for five or six people to lie down.
“They say the brightest light casts the darkest shadow.”
“Whoa, how’d you find this?”
Yu Hyunjae marveled, looking around. Go Hankyul smirked, calling it a secret.
“The teachers’ lounge is right there, but somehow no one notices.”
“You checked from the lounge?”
“Yep. Dude, it’s literally a crime scene.”
He rolled up the blanket he’d brought and plopped it in the center of the grass.
“I’m gonna nap, so don’t wake me.”
After scanning the area, I looked at Yu Hyunjae. He grinned mischievously, pulling me to a spot a little farther from Go Hankyul.
“And don’t do anything weird while I’m asleep.”
Go Hankyul called out, eyes closed. Yu Hyunjae and I exchanged a silent laugh. I pretended to be annoyed.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Just sleep.”
“I will. Don’t talk to me.”
We sat facing each other, staring. Yu Hyunjae started it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I whispered, making sure Go Hankyul couldn’t hear.
“Just because.”
At his silly answer, I widened my eyes and deliberately challenged him to a staring contest.
“Let’s come here a lot.”
“Here?”
“Yeah. Even when Go Hankyul’s not around.”
I knew what “not around” implied, but I couldn’t bring myself to nod. Would we even have a “next time” after today?
“Whatever you want.”
“Why just what I want?”
“Huh?”
“You should want it too.”
Yu Hyunjae answered like it was obvious.
“I always will.”
“‘Always will’? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Yu Hyunjae just smiled. I squeezed his hand tighter.
“Seriously. We can come every day if you want.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah.”
Yu Hyunjae slowly leaned in, pressing his lips softly to mine. The brief touch ended just as quickly.
“Go Hankyul’s here, so this is as far as we go.”
He grinned. I bit my upper lip where his had just been and leaned closer.
“I don’t like that.”
Before he could respond, I kissed him again. My gripping hand tingled.
***
We’d only planned to skip 5th period, but we ended up ditching the rest of the day. Go Hankyul showed no signs of waking, and honestly, I didn’t want to leave Yu Hyunjae’s side either. Lying on his lap, fooling around, stealing kisses—our time only ended when Go Hankyul finally jolted awake.
“Damn, I slept. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You wouldn’t budge even when we kicked you. Did you pull an all-nighter?”
“Yeah. You were snoring, dude.”
“I do not snore.”
His serious denial to my obvious lie sent Yu Hyunjae and me into fits of laughter. We agreed to head straight home and brushed off our clothes. Blending into the crowd of students leaving school, we slipped out naturally. Only after parting ways with Go Hankyul did Yu Hyunjae and I finally hold hands—once we’d ducked into a quiet alley.
“You seem different today, Chanhee.”
“Different how?”
I steadied my pounding heart, feigning calm.
“Just… different.”
“Different how?”
“Cuter.”
His blunt words sent my pulse racing. At this rate, I’d die of a heart attack before tomorrow even came. Then I’d loop back again. Date him again, loop again. Was that all this was? A stupid cycle? Lost in thought, I shoved his chest.
“Stop using lines like you’ve seduced a million people.”
“I haven’t seduced anyone.”
“I know.”
“I just mean it.”
“…Main character vibes, I guess.”
Yu Hyunjae tilted his head at my muttering. I shook mine and quickened my pace.
“Let’s go home. I’m hungry.”
“Let’s go together.”
As we neared my house, we naturally let go of each other’s hands. Instead, Yu Hyunjae slung an arm around my shoulders.
“Friends do shoulder-bumps too, right?”
“S-Sure…”
I imagined Yu Hyunjae and Go Hankyul walking like that and frowned. Nope. Don’t like it. But this much was fine, I guess. I didn’t shake him off, and we walked home together.
Inside, the house smelled like a normal home for once. My mother greeted us in the living room, her face softer than usual.
“Chanhee, Hyunjae, you’re back. Wash up and eat—dinner’s ready.”
The housekeeper waved us over too. I glanced at Yu Hyunjae, hesitant, before nodding. My mother had never been this warm to him before.
