Shin Gi-hyeok was moistening his lips with water while choosing his words. As he turned his head, he suddenly froze. His eyes shifted diagonally and widened in surprise. Puzzled, I followed his gaze.
Do Jihoon was there. Surrounded by several classmates.
“That’s Do Jihoon. But why are you so surprised?”
“Ah. It’s because of Lee Daeju…”
“Lee Daeju?”
The moment Shin Gi-hyeok said that, I remembered the conversation I’d had with Lee Daeju a few days ago. He had mistaken my alpha friend for Do Jihoon.
“Don’t tell me this is about that two-timing story with Do Jihoon?”
“……”
One look at Shin Gi-hyeok’s rotten expression and I knew. That was exactly the story. Worried about the ridiculous rumor surrounding Do Jihoon, I protested.
“That’s not Do Jiho—”
“I know. It’s not Do Jihoon, it’s you, right?”
“……”
Did this guy have psychic powers or something? I stared at him in shock. Shin Gi-hyeok looked straight at my face and nodded as if everything made sense.
And Lee Daeju, that bastard. I told him it wasn’t like that, and he still went around running his mouth?
“We only told each other. Don’t get too mad. It wasn’t meant to be gossip—we were worried, that’s all. Seriously.”
It must have shown on my face. Shin Gi-hyeok hurriedly defended Lee Daeju with passionate sincerity.
“So what happened with that senior? Is it okay if I ask?”
Since Shin Gi-hyeok asked carefully, I recited the conclusion I had reached after some deep contemplation. Shin Gi-hyeok smiled and nodded as if he found it commendable.
“You did well.”
“Right?”
Being praised by someone as sensible as Shin Gi-hyeok oddly made me feel good. I puffed up with pride and grinned.
Just then, something heavy pressed down firmly on my hair.
“Yuri.”
It was Do Jihoon’s palm.
“Doji-doji. Move your hand. You’re squashing my hair.”
“I told you to stop using that nickname.”
Like a wildcat, I scratched at his hand from every direction. Leaving behind the warmth of his palm in my hair, he readily pulled his hand away.
When I lifted my head, it felt like I was upside down—Do Jihoon was hanging in the sky above me.
“What? Got something to say?”
“I just saw you.”
“Why’d you come to the café? Free period, so you came to relax with your classmates? Honestly, you’re so classy.”
Do Jihoon crossed his arms and stared down at me. Keeping my head tilted back like that started to make the back of my neck hurt. When I returned my head to its normal position, I saw Shin Gi-hyeok sitting awkwardly across from me.
“Oh, right. This is my classmate. Shin Gi-hyeok.”
I introduced Shin Gi-hyeok to Do Jihoon.
“Ah.”
Do Jihoon nodded and attached a smile to his face. That bastard’s smile was definitely detachable, like a rabbit’s liver.
“You know him, right? Do Jihoon.”
Shin Gi-hyeok nodded, frowning slightly.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Do Jihoon.”
The tone sounded extremely familiar. It was almost identical to the insincere greeting he’d used when we first met.
Shin Gi-hyeok seemed uncomfortable and didn’t say anything. His complexion was gradually turning worse. Thinking he might be feeling awkward, I gestured for Do Jihoon to leave.
“Hey. Go back to your friends. Didn’t you come here because you had plans?”
“…That’s true.”
“Then hurry up and disappear.”
At my shooing gesture, Do Jihoon let out a dry laugh.
He flicked his finger against my forehead. Tock! The sharp sound rang out.
“Ah! Fuck, that hurts!”
I punched him in the stomach. Do Jihoon just stared at me blankly. It didn’t look like it did even one bit of damage. Only my hand hurt.
“…Do you work out?”
“I go to the gym about four times a week.”
“Traitor. Building a body all by yourself.”
Halfway through saying that, I snapped back to my senses and chased him off again.
“Anyway, just go.”
“Alright. Got it. See you at home later, Yuri.”
“Why even say that—whatever, just disappear.”
Do Jihoon waved his hand dismissively and returned to his classmates. Getting into it with him was fun, but it was exhausting.
I sighed and looked at Shin Gi-hyeok. He was staring at me with a fed-up expression.
“What’s with that look?”
“I’m trying to figure out whether Lee Daeju was lying, or if you’re just oblivious.”
“You little—watch your mouth.”
“At the very least, it doesn’t seem like Do Jihoon dislikes you.”
Hearing that, my previously sour expression brightened instantly.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’m sure.”
“What’s your evidence?”
“Even if I told you, I don’t think you’d believe me, so I won’t.”
“……”
I sniffed bitterly. It seemed Shin Gi-hyeok had finished what he wanted to say. He said we should get going and began clearing away his drink cup. I grabbed my tray and followed behind him.
We had just reached the counter.
Suddenly, a strangely familiar foul scent stabbed sharply at the tip of my nose.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Looking around, I craned my neck this way and that, sniffing the air. But the smell had vanished as if it had been washed away.
“Did I imagine it?”
“Yeon Yuri, what are you doing just standing there? Hurry up.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.”
At Shin Gi-hyeok’s call, I turned and walked toward him. Yet I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that an ominous scent still lingered faintly at the edge of my nose.
***
Today was a happy weekend. I was lying comfortably on my bed, rolling around.
Do Jihoon’s bed had arrived the day before yesterday. Not having to worry about losing my sleeping spot anymore was truly a wonderful thing.
I stretched my waist and yawned. The living room was filled with the fragrant smell of coffee.
“Knock knock knock knock. Do you wanna build a snowman.”
“That trend is ancient. Come in.”
Inside Do Jihoon’s room, the scent of coffee mixed with the smell of books. I looked at his bookshelf with tired eyes. The shelf that used to be completely empty was now filled to the brim, taking up an entire wall.
“I’m curious—have you actually read all those books?”
“Some of them.”
“I’m already tired just thinking about it.”
Do Jihoon was sitting in a chair by the window, reading a book. Bright sunlight poured in behind him.
This bastard’s doing a photoshoot from the morning, seriously.
Leaving him to his reading, I flopped down onto his bed. Thump. The mattress sank under my weight.
“Yuri.”
“Yeah?”
“Go lie on the bed in your own room.”
“Hyung, I’m bored. Play with me.”
“Open your eyes wide, Yuri. Can’t you see I’m reading?”
Without moving his gaze from the book even a little, Do Jihoon just moved his lips. I sat pitifully on the bed and spoke.
“Boo hoo. I’m the mistreated Yu-derella. Stepmother Do only hates me.”
“Thank goodness people don’t just look at your appearance and push you into the entertainment industry.”
“……”
“Yuri. Acting isn’t your thing.”
A cold sneer formed on Do Jihoon’s face. What an irritating bastard.
“Do Jihoon. Do you have clothes to wear this spring?”
“I do.”
“Really? That’s surprising. You already bought some?”
Then I guess I’ll have to go shopping for clothes with the guys. I picked up my phone and started typing a KakaoTalk message to them.
“I bought them. Last year.”
[Spring clothes]
“…?”
Last year? My fingers stopped moving at Do Jihoon’s absurd remark.
I looked at him. His expression was as prim and proper as usual. Seriously.
“Clothes from last year are last year’s clothes. You should buy new ones this year too.”
“That sounds unnecessarily troublesome.”
He sounded completely serious. I deleted the KakaoTalk message I’d been typing and looked at Do Jihoon with pity.
Poor soul who doesn’t understand the beauty of fashion… I released a bit of pheromone and patted him comfortingly. His face instantly twisted into a deep frown as he lifted his gaze from the book to look at me.
“This feels extremely unpleasant.”
“Why?”
“Because I was having a happy weekend until you came in.”
“…Doji. You know you’ve got a really nasty personality, right?”
“There’s a saying about knowing yourself.”
He never lets a single comment slide.
“You should spend your whole life being grateful that you’re engaged to me.”
“That’s the one hundred ninety-eighth time I’ve heard that bullshit this year.”
“Who else would tolerate your personality and live with you? Next time you go to your family home, bow to your parents in gratitude.”
“One hundred ninety-nine.”
“You bastard.”
I left his room and went into the walk-in closet. Sure enough, Do Jihoon didn’t have many clothes. Most of them were mine. I returned to his room.
Do Jihoon covered his forehead with his hand and groaned.
“Please go back to your room.”
“You really don’t have many clothes.”
“It’s not inconvenient for living.”
“Honestly, this is why tall, handsome guys are hopeless. They just trust their body and face and throw on anything.”
“You know you’re not the one to say that, right?”
“…? Was that a compliment?”
“If that’s how it sounds to you, then take it that way.”
His tone was blunt. I scrunched my nose and continued speaking.
