Between the lifted eyelids, I saw indifferent eyes. The pupils, which had shifted sluggishly at the sudden light, reflected me—and the moment they did, they widened sharply.
I sucked in a breath in surprise, and as if he hadn’t missed the timing, Min Siheon reached out.
His hand, burning hot as if it were boiling over, wrapped around mine as though it were seizing it.
My surprise lasted only a second. On the back of his hand, I noticed injuries I’d never seen before. Over the raw-looking scrapes—ones that didn’t seem very old—bandages were messily plastered on.
When I tried to pull his hand closer to examine the wounds, Min Siheon tightened his grip.
His knuckles blanched white, veins standing out across the back of his hand, the thick line of bone visible beneath the skin—his grip was that strong.
“Ah, that hurts.”
“…Jungwoo, it’s you.”
“Of course it’s me. Who else would it be? Move over a bit, I need to sit too.”
At my words, Min Siheon blinked as if he’d finally come to his senses. Only after he loosened his hold on my hand was I able to sit beside him.
Looking more closely at the injuries on the back of his hand, the flushed redness and peeling skin made it seem like he’d scraped it against something rough.
Blood was already seeping through a half-peeled bandage. Even at a glance, it looked like it would sting badly.
Without realizing it, I frowned. Min Siheon’s hand came up to smooth the crease between my brows, pressing lightly with his thumb and forefinger as if to iron it out.
“The back of your hand—how did this even happen?”
“Mm. Scraped it against a wall.”
“What kind of impact does that take to end up like this? You don’t look clumsy, but you really are careless.”
Despite the stream of scolding, Min Siheon looked satisfied.
Clicking my tongue briefly at the sight, I rummaged through my bag that I’d tossed aside.
After digging around with my hand, I found a few bandages rolling around in the corner.
It was a shame I didn’t have disinfectant or ointment, but leaving it like that seemed worse. Changing the bandage would at least be better than doing nothing.
“Your hand.”
“Here.”
At my cue, Min Siheon offered it. I removed the tattered bandage from his large fist resting on his palm.
It had looked painful even when covered, but now that the original wound was fully exposed, it looked even worse.
Judging by the delicate skin on the back of his hand, it would take a while before a proper scab formed. Without meaning to, I murmured,
“I hope it doesn’t get infected….”
Using a clean wet towel from the table, I carefully wiped the back of Min Siheon’s hand. Even though I could clearly see the skin shifting as I cleaned it, his expression remained calm.
After seeing the towel stained with blood, I opened a new bandage and attached it over the wound. I pressed gently around the edges, careful not to hurt him—and from above my head, I heard what sounded like air leaking out of something.
“What, does it hurt?”
“No. It just… feels good.”
“You’re insane. What are you, a pervert? Why would you like this?”
I lightly tapped his shoulder. Saying that was enough, I returned my bag to its place and turned to face forward.
From what I could roughly see, most of them—including Yoo In-ho—were fairly drunk. It was strange that Min Siheon alone had been sitting here looking so miserable.
Don’t tell me… they didn’t let him join?
I remembered that some of them had pretended otherwise but seemed uncomfortable around him. Thinking back to the rumors from the start of the semester, I couldn’t help but resent the idiot who’d first brought them up.
“How’s your condition?”
“I’m fine.”
“Well, yeah. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have come. Oh, right.”
I handed Min Siheon something I’d kept in my bag. He took the plastic bag, tilting his head.
“…This is?”
“…It’s nothing much. While I was out buying Heemin’s gift, I saw it and picked one out. You’ve been looking so sick lately. If that’s the case, at least dress properly. Even if you don’t like it, just wear it. I can’t afford the kind of stuff you usually wear anyway….”
It was at the department store, while I was looking for Go Heemin’s present, that I happened to pass by a clothing section. Seeing a thin summer cardigan on a mannequin made me think of Min Siheon.
That’s all it was. I’d just bought it because I remembered how he’d been sniffling with a cold. I told myself it was only a temporary measure so he wouldn’t be annoying if he got sick again.
Min Siheon tore open the plastic bag and pulled out the cardigan. Then he held the thin fabric tightly in his hand, blinking for a long time.
His long eyelashes fluttered up and down, yet beneath them, his eyes seemed to carry a strange chill.
Thinking something was wrong, I turned to look at him. Only then did his lips part slightly. He seemed to whisper something, but with the noisy surroundings, I couldn’t quite catch it.
“…ga …until yesterday I endu… s… could…?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“It’s nothing. Thank you. I’ll wear it well.”
When he lifted his head again, it was the face I was used to seeing. I stared at the faint dimple in his cheek before lightly patting his pale skin.
“Cha Jung! What are you doing over there! Huh? Min Siheon, you’re feeling better now?”
At that moment, a voice called out from behind me. Recognizing it instantly, I turned with a groan to see Yoo In-ho approaching, holding up a beer glass.
“Hey, if he’s like this, you could at least look after him a bit. You’re just leaving him alone?”
“The moment I even go near him, he goes all ‘I’m low pressure~’ and starts freezing the place over. I’m scared to even talk to him.”
Yoo In-ho’s face was flushed bright red—he must’ve already downed several glasses.
He kept sneaking glances at Min Siheon, acting wronged, but when he noticed the cardigan in Min Siheon’s hand, he shook his head at me.
“Seriously, you bastards are intense. So intense. Sometimes I think Kang Taeyoon’s less crazy than what’s going on here.”
“Why’d you come over just to pick a fight? Bored? Want me to entertain you?”
“Oh, now that’s good news. Cha Jung, beer? It’s free, so you’ve gotta go for it. Kang Taeyoon’s treating for Go Heemin’s birthday today.”
No wonder everyone looked so bright.
I shook my head at Yoo In-ho’s exaggerated gestures.
Still, now that I’d confirmed Min Siheon was fine, I figured I should at least show my face properly.
When I lifted my empty glass and asked for a drink, Min Siheon’s gaze dropped to my hand.
“No way—hey! Get him some beer!”
Yoo In-ho excitedly gestured for someone to pass over a bottle. Beyond him, I saw Kang Taeyoon sitting there, with Go Heemin practically leaning against him.
Go Heemin was talking to Kang Taeyoon, but his expression was oddly subtle. From the way he kept glancing this way, it felt like he might be talking about us.
I looked up at Kang Taeyoon, wondering if it was because of In-ho’s racket. My eyes met his—he was holding Go Heemin firmly by the shoulder, wearing an indifferent expression.
I mouthed, What? and he clicked his tongue softly, tilting his head to the side. Ever since we’d gone to the department store together, Kang Taeyoon seemed to act a little more casual around me.
But I had no intention of being kind to that guy.
As I flicked my hand dismissively, Yoo In-ho returned with beer and filled my glass to the brim.
Then he clinked his bottle and my glass together so hard they nearly tipped. The sharp clang rang out, and I felt like I was already getting tipsy.
“Alright, cheers, cheers. First glass is bottoms up. You won’t betray a man’s code, right?”
“Fine. I’ll drink.”
I decided to give in to Yoo In-ho’s provocation just this once. I’d already confirmed Min Siheon wasn’t in bad shape, and it seemed like the birthday boy, Go Heemin, was watching too.
I brought the glass to my lips and gulped the beer down. The sharp sting of carbonation struck my throat over and over.
It had been a while since I’d felt that strange sensation, and my brows furrowed.
Beside me, Min Siheon had been silently watching the entire time. The way he stared was so persistent, I half-worried he might burn a hole through my cheek.
The beer filled my empty stomach, and I could feel it sloshing inside.
After finishing it all, I waved the empty glass above my head. A few lingering drops clung to the rim and flicked past my eyes.
“Happy now?”
“As expected~ Business Administration’s top man, Cha Jungwoo! So cool!”
“Cha Jungwoo, this is the first time I’ve seen you drink like that.”
“Whoa, at this rate we might actually see him get drunk tonight.”
“Why are you all so eager to see someone make a fool of themselves?”
When I set the empty glass down on the table, the classmates cheered along with Yoo In-ho. Some even whistled and beckoned me over to sit with them.
An atmosphere formed where it felt impossible to refuse.
With a sigh, I started to stand, but Min Siheon grabbed my forearm.
“What?”
“Let’s go together.”
“You’re going to drink too?”
“Yeah.”
“…You sure you’ll be okay?”
“Holy crap! Guys, Min Siheon’s joining too!”
“What’s gotten into him? Hey, Min Siheon. Come over here. Let’s change your image while we’re at it.”
Thanks to Yoo In-ho overhearing us, chaos broke out in every direction. Everyone tapped empty seats, calling us over.
Well, Min Siheon’s looks were no joke. It wasn’t that strange a reaction.
There were plenty of guys who disliked him because of money rumors and his usual image, but honestly, most people were more neutral about Min Siheon.
It wasn’t like he had a bad attitude. With his good looks and quiet demeanor, this kind of response was only natural.
If anything, it was jealousy. He wasn’t the type to make enemies because of his personality.
Even the classmates who had returned from military service and those a year above us, who’d once seemed unsure about him, now looked like they wanted to treat him more comfortably.
And the rumors about Min Siheon were old enough that the freshmen didn’t even know about them. Maybe it was finally time for him to shake off those stale misunderstandings.
So I decided not to stop his proactive attitude. With a faint grin, I sat down with him at an available table.
Since the space had been made suddenly, it felt cramped for two people. I turned, thinking we might sit separately, but Min Siheon’s hand pressed down on my shoulder.
“Control your strength a bit today.”
I’d barely lifted my hips before he plopped me back down. Embarrassment washed over me.
As I grumbled in protest, Min Siheon subtly rested his head against my shoulder.
This trick again….
Min Siheon knew himself too well. And he also knew that I was weak to him when he acted vulnerable like this—even if I pretended otherwise.
Annoyed, I lightly flicked his forehead. He closed his eyes at the sharp sting.
It didn’t last long. He soon opened them again, flashing a faint, playful eye-smile.
“What’s going on, what’s going on~ What are you two?”
“Already drunk? Keep your drunken nonsense in check. You’ve gotta at least make it home.”
The nearby classmates seemed fascinated by how obedient—almost gentle—Min Siheon was being. Seeing him bury his head against my shoulder, some of the girls giggled.
“Hey, hey, you just don’t see it. They’re always like that. I swear, between Kang Taeyoon on the left and Min Siheon on the right, I’m going crazy. Go Heemin, Cha Jung! Stop indulging them.”
“I don’t mind. Since you guys hang around together, the girls give us chances too. So honestly, keep sticking together from now on.”
“These guys are insane.”
Yoo In-ho made a face like he’d had enough and lifted the beer bottle again. A few others snickered and tossed in more jokes.
From the looks of it, this was turning into a drink-until-you-drop kind of night.
Go Heemin, now seated much closer, looked this way with a faint smile.
When our eyes met, he even shrugged slightly, as if to say he’d stay out of it.
Judging by the birthday boy’s attitude, tonight wasn’t going to end easily.
I’d planned not to get dragged into this mess any further.
What a complete disaster.
Well, as classmates, having a few drinks together should be fine, right?
I pushed away Min Siheon’s head as it rubbed against my shoulder and watched as my glass was filled to the brim with beer once more.
