2) Sit Down
After lunch, it was already almost time for afternoon classes.
“You’re really going back to school?”
“Of course. I have class.”
“……”
Even though it was the most obvious answer in the world, Hae-hyun pouted all the way to campus. And that wasn’t enough—he badgered Jae-ha to come straight home after class until Jae-ha finally promised. Only then did he grudgingly let up. Honestly, what was there to fuss about? He had classes too.
After managing to shake off Hae-hyun, Jae-ha entered the large lecture hall. With plenty of time left before the next lecture, it was still mostly empty. He picked a quiet corner seat, pulled out his phone to kill some time, and sure enough—there was a message from Ji-hyang.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
What the hell was that?
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Spill. All of it.
[Me]
What are you talking about?
He’d left her messages unopened for over an hour, but the read receipt popped up instantly when he replied.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
What do you mean, what?
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
How do you even know him, for him to drag you off like that?
It seemed she had caught on to something that had only just dawned on him. “A monk can’t shave his own head,” indeed. Jae-ha thought it over for a moment, then tapped the screen.
[Me]
So it looks that way to you too?
It was a pattern he knew all too well: the bright curiosity, the easy kindness, the playful sulks, the thoughtful consideration, and even that little flicker of possessiveness.
All the things you only did when you liked someone.
How had he not realized sooner? Suddenly, all of Hae-hyun’s baffling behavior clicked into place the moment he factored in the possibility of a crush.
Ju Hae-hyun liked Seo Jae-ha.
Honestly, it wasn’t something he’d ever considered. Plenty of people had taken a liking to him in a purely platonic way. And among them, there had been no shortage of younger guys who, like Hae-hyun, clung to him, asked endless questions, wanted to tag along for everything—clingy, mischievous puppy types.
It wasn’t as if he’d never been approached by men before. Not many, but a few had shown interest. Their advances, though, had usually been subtle and mostly sexual, making it easy for him to notice right away and politely deflect.
Wait… does that mean some of those guys who just followed me around—were they, too?
Suspicion crept in belatedly. None had been as blatant as Hae-hyun, but now that he thought about it, there were a few who seemed oddly persistent. Had that been the same thing?
…No. He shook his head. Pointless. Digging that up now would only give him a headache. He brushed aside all thoughts of those younger guys and refocused on the present. On Ju Hae-hyun.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Totally obvious.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Honestly looked like he was about to confess today.
Not quite, though. Jae-ha carefully retraced the timeline. Affectionate, yes, but also oddly straightforward at times. If he had to put a name to it….
[Me]
Not exactly.
[Me]
More like… we are kind of talking?
That fluttery, ticklish vibe—yeah, it felt like that.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
LOL what
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Wow, it’s been forever since you even talked to anyone like that.
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Guess he must really be something, huh?
Her replies came so fast it was almost like she’d sent them before his had even gone through. Jae-ha couldn’t blame her excitement. He had been single for a long time. His last relationship had ended badly, leaving him drained and unwilling to start again.
Dating, flirting—even the thought of it had felt like a chore. No one had truly caught his interest, and being single hadn’t been nearly as bad as people claimed. Time had simply slipped by until he’d ended up here.
[Me]
Yeah, I guess.
He weighed it carefully. A tall, handsome puppy. That big frame trailing after him, calling him “Sunbae.” Those lips that constantly pouted in complaint. That cheeky personality—brazen but also used to being doted on.
It didn’t sound so bad.
And he had no reason to pretend otherwise. The kid wasn’t unpleasant. If anything, his antics were… kind of cute.
Sure, he’d never “talked” to a guy before, but it wasn’t like he had sworn off dating altogether. If he met the right person, why not?
“I’ll only date someone I really like!”
That indignant line of Hae-hyun’s suddenly echoed in his head. More than anything, the kid’s cuteness score was through the roof. Being with him definitely wouldn’t be boring. Without realizing, Jae-ha chuckled to himself.
[Me]
If I show up alone for a bit, cut me some slack, okay? lol
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
XD
[Yoo Ji-hyang]
Suit yourself.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this way. He decided to savor it.
“Excuse me.”
A voice came from beside him.
He lifted his head from his phone to see a slim, fresh-faced guy looking straight at him. Judging by the awkward, almost childlike air about him, he looked like a freshman.
“Yes?”
The freshman didn’t answer—just stared. His gaze was obvious, almost scrutinizing.
…What the hell? It had been a while since someone had looked at him so blatantly, right to his face. They sat like that for a long moment until the freshman finally spoke.
“Um… can I sit here?”
“Oh, sure.”
This general education class was one Jae-ha had managed to register for alone, so the seats around him were empty. When he slid his bag aside, the freshman’s face brightened as he sat down. It was a little odd—most people would’ve left at least one seat between them when the room was this empty.
The freshman unpacked a pen and notebook. Wow, still writing notes by hand? With the desks around them crowded with electronics—his own tablet right in front of him—it felt nostalgic.
Still, had this kid been in the class all along?
He wondered for a moment, then dismissed it. This was a huge elective, popular enough to fill a lecture hall of over a hundred students. No way he could recognize everyone’s face, especially with the semester only just beginning.
Even as he set up his notes, the freshman kept sneaking glances. Jae-ha noticed, of course—it was impossible not to when you were the one being stared at—but it wasn’t bothersome enough to call out. He’d seen this before. Leave them alone, they stare their fill, and eventually get back to their own business.
Just then, the professor strode in and greeted the class, his booming voice filling the hall with cheerful energy. Adjusting his posture, Jae-ha flicked his phone awake one last time before putting it away. A new message popped up.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
What are you doing, Sunbae?
Texting him when he knew class had started—when they’d just been together minutes ago. A smile tugged at his lips. He typed back quickly.
[Me]
In class.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
What about after?
[Me]
Not sure yet.
[Me]
Still deciding.
The replies came rapid-fire. Clearly, the kid had too much free time. Jae-ha, oblivious to the irony of it, focused entirely on the back-and-forth. The professor’s voice blurred into the background.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Wait for me after class. Let’s go home together.
[Me]
Plenty of people are asking me to hang out, though.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Who?
[Ju Hae-hyun]
You already have plans?
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Where at?
The moment he teased a little, the kid flooded him with frantic messages. So earnest, so unfiltered, that Jae-ha’s cheeks burned. Why didn’t I see this before? Idiot.
[Me]
Not yet.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Then you’re coming with me.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
I called it first.
[Ju Hae-hyun]
Okay?
Before he could answer, an emoji popped up—a serious-faced puppy staring at him. The kind of thing only Hae-hyun would use.
Jae-ha gave up trying to hide the grin tugging at his lips. A soft laugh slipped out, and sure enough, the freshman next to him glanced over again.
[Me]
lol, fine.
[Me]
Now pay attention to class.
With a quick send, he locked his phone and put on a straight face, pretending to focus. He wanted to keep chatting, but if he did, he knew he’d be grinning like an idiot through the entire lecture. No way was he about to get called out in front of a hundred students, basically announcing to the world that he was flirting.
Pushing his phone aside, he realized class seemed to crawl more slowly than usual.
Normally, in a lecture this lively, at least some of it would’ve stuck. Today, though, not a single word made it through.
