# Chapter 98
“No way!”
My body flinched at the sudden loud voice. I looked at Maeng Moa with bewildered eyes and saw his resolute expression.
What’s his problem? I glanced at Maeng Moa with cloudy eyes, then turned my head toward Jung Hyoin.
“Your house?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of appointment requires inviting someone to your house? Don’t tell me it’s about drawing pictures?”
Maeng Moa, who had jumped into our conversation, didn’t stop there but suddenly stood up and moved between Jung Hyoin and me. As his face came right next to mine, his pink hair fluttered, tickling my skin. I twisted and pulled to free my wrist, and Jung Hyoin let go willingly. I immediately pushed away Maeng Moa’s face that was too close.
“Why do you keep interrupting conversations?”
“Well, I’m curious. Besides, why are you pushing my face?”
Because it’s uncomfortable. Maeng Moa’s cheek was squished under my hand. Though I was the startled one, Maeng Moa’s eyes widened slightly as if he were the surprised one, and soon he started complaining.
“You pushed me because I suddenly got close.”
“That doesn’t mean you should push someone’s face. Wow, I’m starting to feel hurt.”
Somehow, it seems like he’s becoming more whiny over time. He always had a talent for saying annoying things, but lately, he seems to be throwing more tantrums, which made me feel strange.
Maybe he’s becoming more comfortable with me too? No, that’s a ridiculous thought. What reason would this guy have to feel uncomfortable around me? Even his claim about feeling hurt was probably just talk. I clicked my tongue inwardly at his expression, deliberately exaggerated with drooping eyebrows.
“So, what time?”
“Ah… well…”
Jung Hyoin got up and approached me. I shifted my gaze from watching Maeng Moa to look at Jung Hyoin.
Only then did I recall Jung Hyoin’s invitation to his house, making it hard to speak. Honestly, his home might be better than the school, which feels unsafe since someone could walk in at any moment. But I wasn’t keen on going to Jung Hyoin’s house either. It was obviously going to be very uncomfortable.
I had been uncomfortable enough modeling at school after getting used to it, but his house? The thought of being alone with Jung Hyoin in his house was painful just to imagine.
“I want to use the garden as a background. It’s better than here.”
Jung Hyoin waved his arms, pointing to the garden. His eyes were gleaming as if he wanted to start right now. His face was full of determination, as if he’d just been struck by inspiration.
Still, when he said it would be better than here, I guess he meant doing it in his garden since his house has one. Even if it’s at his house, it’s still outdoors, right? I shook my head, feeling uneasy.
“You mean we should do it in your house’s garden? That’s a bit…”
“Why?”
“I don’t like outdoors. I’d rather be in an enclosed space.”
The guys frowned at my words. Wondering if I’d said something strange, I added:
“Someone might see us. Even if there’s nobody around, I don’t really like doing it outside.”
In truth, I simply didn’t want to do it at all. Still, I had made a promise, and I felt both grateful and sorry toward Jung Hyoin, so I wanted to accommodate him somehow, but I couldn’t relax. After experiencing all sorts of incidents, I wanted to avoid any situation that could cause even the slightest harm.
Instead, I decided to suggest doing it indoors. It would obviously be uncomfortable, but I was planning to end this after this time anyway. It would be good to set aside a day leisurely. I made up my mind and spoke.
“How about just doing it in your room? If you want flowers as a background, we can do it where the garden is visible.”
Jung Hyoin rolled his eyes as if considering. Since I hadn’t rejected the invitation, he might think that was good enough, and it seemed like he would agree with a little more persuasion.
“How is doing it in a room better? The outdoors would be better.”
“What are you talking about? It’s safer inside.”
“How is being inside safer? If that’s the case, let’s do it at my house.”
What’s with this kid now? I let out a hollow laugh at Maeng Moa’s statement. Right then, Jung Hyoin, who had furrowed his brows, spoke up, representing my thoughts.
“What’s your basis for saying your house is safer than mine?”
“I’m just saying if we’re going to hang out, let’s do it at my house together.”
Maeng Moa smiled and spewed nonsense. I couldn’t understand why he was suggesting we all hang out together when this was something arranged between Jung Hyoin and me. His attitude of trying to subtly butt in again was suspicious. If this guy was treating it as just play, it was giving me a headache, and I clicked my tongue.
“I wasn’t suggesting we all hang out together.”
“Why not? If you’re meeting on the weekend, let’s meet together.”
Maeng Moa said while pulling on Moon Seoheon’s arm. Moon Seoheon, who had been quietly eating ice cream, stared intensely at Jung Hyoin. Jung Hyoin’s eyes narrowed as if he was conflicted.
In this situation where a decision wasn’t coming easily, I recalled the day that soon turned into chaos. The memory of Jung Hyoin’s sister being called to take me home, only for me to end up going back alone, unfolded like a panorama. Feeling fed up, I was about to speak up and tell them to stop, but Moon Seoheon was faster.
“How about doing it at Ace? You want to do it in an open outdoor space, not just with flowers, right? The top of Ace is surrounded by tinted glass, so it’s not visible from the outside.”
“Ah, that’s right. There’s also a swimming pool on the rooftop, so we can swim in between sessions.”
Maeng Moa’s words reminded me of the accommodation voucher I had carefully stored in my desk drawer. Come to think of it, I had planned to use it this weekend but almost forgot. Though I could use it next week since it’s valid until the end of this month, it seemed better to use it sooner with exams approaching quickly.
Moon Seoheon looked back and forth between Jung Hyoin and me as if asking what we wanted to do. Before asking Jung Hyoin for his opinion, I had a question and said:
“Even if it can’t be seen from outside, how can we use the rooftop alone? It’s not like I have exclusive use of it.”
“That’s fine. We can ask them to keep it empty for a day so no one can enter.”
My eyes widened at his assertive attitude, speaking as if it was no problem. Since it was Moon Seoheon of all people making this bold statement, I wondered if it was really okay. I rolled my eyes to look at Jung Hyoin and Maeng Moa, but they didn’t seem to think anything of it.
Then I quickly realized I was having unnecessary thoughts. If The Four wanted to spend a night at Ace, it would be nothing to them, so the same would apply to Moon Seoheon. Moreover, it seemed like they had done this before, given how naturally he spoke about keeping others out.
If no one could enter as Moon Seoheon said, it would be less uncomfortable than modeling for Jung Hyoin at his house. I nodded at the good idea but double-checked with Jung Hyoin:
“Don’t you need an accommodation voucher to use the rooftop? Are you okay with that?”
I have a voucher, but you don’t, right? Understanding the meaning of my question, Jung Hyoin immediately gave an affirmative answer. I realized it was a silly question after asking it, but I felt embarrassed under his gaze that seemed to ask why I would ask such a thing.
“Then shall we do it at Ace? I need to use my accommodation voucher too.”
“…Okay.”
Jung Hyoin frowned slightly before returning to his usual blank expression. He seemed to sigh somehow, but maybe I was mistaken, as he soon sat down on the bench and stretched out his body.
Anyway, satisfied with the decision, I slung my bag over my shoulder, determined to go home this time.
“Then I’ll be going. I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”
I confirmed with Jung Hyoin, who was nodding, and turned around, but remembering a remaining issue, I put back the foot I was about to lift.
“How will we contact each other?”
“I’ll call you.”
Just as I was about to say okay, my eyebrows twitched at a concerning thought that suddenly came to mind.
“Do you know my phone number?”
“Yeah.”
“I know it too.”
Maeng Moa quickly recited my phone number as if to prove his point. I was about to ask how they knew my number when I couldn’t even memorize it properly myself, but decided against it.
As long as they know, it’s fine. I immediately headed to the trash can and roughly crumpled and threw away the leftover ice cream wrapper. As I was leaving the garden, Moon Seoheon followed behind.
It seems he’s finally going to soccer practice after being absent due to the faculty office matter and then dawdling around. I couldn’t say anything about the other two guys following along naturally.
* * *
I looked up at the sky. It was an action to examine the exterior of the building before entering Ace, which I had arrived at by taxi.
“It really isn’t very visible.”
Standing on the opposite side of the building without crossing the road, I could see the top of the building that I hadn’t noticed before.
The rooftop was finished with glass, including the roof and all four exterior walls. Even though it wasn’t a very far distance, no matter how hard I tried to look inside, the interior was definitely not clearly visible. I felt a bit relieved.
I crossed the road and entered a narrow alley. Going further, I confirmed the Ace sign and entered through a dark corridor. Unlike its shabby and gloomy exterior, the inside was lavish and clean.
“I thought there would be more people since it’s the weekend.”
Even though it was morning, I expected there to be many people inside since it was Saturday, but there were noticeably fewer than the first day I came. Considering that day was also a weekend, there were so obviously few customers that I hesitated to enter.
Maybe it’s because there are no students studying. I couldn’t see any students who looked like they were from Imperial High, and there were three groups of external customers sitting apart from each other.
I guess it was because the monthly evaluation was approaching back then. Well, most people would prioritize studying when exam periods are near.
I approached an employee I hadn’t seen in a while, rummaging through the small bag slung over one shoulder. I took out my wallet from among the hastily packed belongings and checked the accommodation voucher. Then I showed it to the employee.
“Do I submit this here?”
“No. If you go up to the 4th floor, there’s a vending machine. Insert it into the slot and take the key band to enter.”
The employee, who had widened their eyes upon seeing the accommodation voucher, kindly explained. I bowed my head in gratitude and headed to the 4th floor.
Since I had only been up to the 2nd floor before, it felt a bit unfamiliar. Each floor I passed had more customers than the 1st floor, but definitely fewer than last time.
As the employee had said, I inserted the ticket into the vending machine visible immediately upon reaching the 4th floor, and a small, round key band came out.
“It looks just like a public bath key.”
I took the band engraved with the number ‘6’ and went inside. Checking the numbers engraved on the doors as I went in, I could find room number 6. I guess this is the room I’ll use.
As expected, when I inserted the key and turned it, the lock released. Opening the door and entering, I was greeted by a clean, pure white room like a hotel. I started to feel a bit excited, as if I was on a hotel vacation.
Sitting on the spacious bed, I put down my bag and scanned the cityscape beyond the window. After enjoying a moment of peace, I didn’t want to do anything but lie down.
That guy Jung Hyoin said he would call, but he hadn’t contacted me. Just as I was thinking it would be nice if he had forgotten, my phone rang.
