Jaeyoon shook his head vigorously and squeezed his eyes shut. Perhaps because he had seen Lee Jaeyoon’s memories, the emotions he had felt in the dream kept dominating his entire body. Jaeyoon bit his lip hard. This is not my memory, and these emotions are not my emotions. So I can’t let these emotions consume me.
After taking a moment to breathe deeply and feeling the wind tickling his hair, he could feel his loudly pounding heart beginning to calm. As Jaeyoon slowly opened his eyes, he found himself staring wide-eyed at the red eyes right in front of him.
“What is it?”
“When you suddenly closed your eyes, I thought you were asking for a kiss.”
‘What did he say…?’
Jaeyoon couldn’t believe his ears. What did I just hear? Han Doyoon stared intently at Jaeyoon’s expression before letting out a deflating sound, “Pfft,” and laughing.
“I’m joking.”
“Haha…”
“Wash up and come downstairs.”
Han Doyoon said as he gently brushed Jaeyoon’s bangs.
“Okay…”
Han Doyoon smiled with the corners of his eyes curved and left, closing the door behind him. After staring blankly at his retreating figure, Jaeyoon crumpled his expression and touched his own bangs.
“Ah, sweat…”
His bangs were damp with sweat. Had he broken into a cold sweat while sleeping? His body felt clammy; he definitely needed to take a shower.
“Why did I suddenly see Lee Jaeyoon’s memories…?”
Jaeyoon turned on the shower and recalled his dream as the water poured down on his head. Until the middle of the dream, the perspective had progressed as if he had become the Jaeyoon in the dream. That’s why those red eyes that had been looking at Lee Jaeyoon remained strongly in his mind and wouldn’t disappear.
Eyes that were cold and indifferent, as if looking at an insect.
Just recalling it made his heart race. A gaze he had never received in his life. Even though it wasn’t directed at him, those eyes were intense and disturbing enough to leave a trauma.
Jaeyoon looked at himself reflected in the mirror. Chocolate-brown hair, blue eyes so clear they were almost transparent. A pretty boy with a slender frame and snow-white skin who would fit completely in someone’s arms if he were in his original body.
The villain in the game his friend created, ‘Lee Jaeyoon.’
But to simply dismiss him as a villain seemed wrong—the Lee Jaeyoon in the dream looked so precarious that anyone watching would be worried. As if he might disappear at any moment.
Jaeyoon shook his wet hair vigorously. Let’s not think about it. There was nothing he could do for Lee Jaeyoon.
Beyond the fact that this was inside a game and Lee Jaeyoon was a game character, he and Jaeyoon were completely different beings who only shared the same name. He wasn’t meddlesome enough to intrude into someone else’s life, nor was he particularly kind.
‘My own life is overwhelming enough.’
***
Sweet maple syrup dripped down the fluffy pancakes. After watching it moisten the bread, Jaeyoon put the syrup bottle down on the table.
He cut the pancake into bite-sized pieces with a knife, topped it with a generous amount of whipped cream, and brought it to his mouth along with a strawberry.
‘Delicious.’
Han Doyoon smiled slightly as he watched Jaeyoon chew with his cheeks fully puffed out. Taking a sip of hot coffee from his cup, he brought his knife to his own pancake topped with bacon and eggs, unlike Jaeyoon’s sweet version.
“Surprisingly, you like sweet things.”
“It became a habit to eat sweet things when I concentrate. I’ve come to like moderately sweet things.”
“Hmm-.”
Han Doyoon curled the corner of his mouth as he looked at the pancake generously topped with whipped cream. Moderately, yeah right.
“…What is it?”
“What?”
“Why do you look so displeas… Why are you smiling like that?”
“I just remembered that Yeonwoo likes sweet things too.”
“Ah-.”
Having lost interest in a conversation topic he didn’t care about in the slightest, Jaeyoon stabbed a bright red strawberry with his fork and ate it. The strawberry, which was just the right amount of tart and sweet, put him in a good mood.
“Unlike you, Yeonwoo likes extremely sweet things.”
“I see-.”
“So when I bring desserts made in cooking class, they’re very sweet.”
‘I heard that in passing last time.’
Jaeyoon nodded his head and drank the tea that the secretary poured for him. It must have been strawberry-flavored tea, as the scent of strawberries filled his mouth.
“The cookies you made suited my taste better.”
“I see- …What?”
‘What nonsense did I just hear?’
When Jaeyoon looked up, Han Doyoon’s red eyes narrowed.
Fox.
Jaeyoon vigorously shook his head to erase the word that had popped into his mind.
‘How can I think such a disrespectful thought about how cute foxes are…’
“Why don’t you ask Kim Yeonwoo to make them less sweet?”
Jaeyoon turned his gaze away from Han Doyoon and looked at his pancake. Between the cut sections, sweet maple syrup dripped down, slowly spreading across the white plate.
Is that how he made Lee Jaeyoon misunderstand?
As if to suggest that Jaeyoon was special to him, as if there was meaning behind it. Making him misunderstand like that, and then coldly rejecting him when Lee Jaeyoon reached out.
Jaeyoon couldn’t even begin to fathom the feeling of falling from cloud nine into the abyss in an instant.
Jaeyoon looked up at Han Doyoon. Meeting the gaze directed at him, Han Doyoon smiled, curling the corners of his mouth as if amused by Jaeyoon’s lowered blue eyes.
Jaeyoon put down the silver utensils on the table.
“Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.”
“I’m glad. Let me know if you need anything more. I’ll have it prepared right away.”
“No, it’s fine. I’d like to go back now because I have some studying to review tomorrow.”
“If it’s studying, I could help you?”
If the school’s top student and student council president offered to help, other students would welcome it with open arms.
Jaeyoon smiled brightly.
“It’s okay.”
Studying in the same space as Han Doyoon? He might suffocate to death. Besides, Jaeyoon was actually a college student. He didn’t need to learn from someone else what he already knew.
“You’re cold. I’m hurt.”
‘Saying things you don’t mean…’
When Jaeyoon frowned, Han Doyoon let out a small laugh.
“Get ready and come down.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Though there was nothing to prepare. After finishing brushing his teeth, Jaeyoon grabbed the drawing he had put in the drawer and came down the stairs. Han Doyoon must have already finished preparing and was outside, as the secretary was holding the front door open, waiting for Jaeyoon.
Receiving the secretary’s greeting as he went out, Jaeyoon spotted Han Doyoon standing next to a black sedan. Seeing Han Doyoon personally opening the car door—the same car he had been dragged in—Jaeyoon awkwardly smiled and got in.
“We look forward to your next visit.”
‘There won’t be a next time.’
Ignoring the secretary’s words, Jaeyoon gazed out the window.
Feeling relieved as the mansion receded into the distance, Jaeyoon leaned back against the car seat and silently stared at the quickly passing scenery outside the window until they arrived at school.
How long had he been gone that he felt this happy to be back? As soon as they arrived in front of the dormitory, Jaeyoon opened the car door and got out, inwardly cheering as he looked at the dormitory.
Jaeyoon never thought there would come a day when he’d be happy to see the dormitory. Life is full of surprises.
“Ah, thank you for bringing me back, Student Council President.”
Thinking he should at least express his gratitude since he had slept well and eaten well thanks to him, Jaeyoon turned around and greeted Han Doyoon as he got out of the car.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You’re welcome to come anytime if you want.”
“I’ll have to decline.”
As Jaeyoon turned his head, vowing never to go there again, he froze on the spot.
“Senior Doyoon…?”
A voice tinged with confusion was heard. Seeing the brown eyes trembling, Jaeyoon bit his lip.
‘Why at this timing of all times…!’
In a situation perfect for misunderstandings, Jaeyoon closed his eyes tightly and opened them again. Kim Yeonwoo was standing blankly in front of the dormitory, with Kim Doha and Im Hangyeol standing like knights on either side of him.
Im Hangyeol’s mouth was hanging open, and his expression seemed to say, ‘You! I thought you didn’t like him!’ Seeing this, Jaeyoon quickly shook his head.
“Why are you two… together?”
“He was at my house…”
“Coincidence!”
Before Han Doyoon could say anything, Jaeyoon shouted loudly. He could feel Han Doyoon’s piercing gaze on his back, but the most important thing for Jaeyoon was to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings from them.
‘I absolutely refuse any bad ending!’
“How can you coincidentally get out of the same car?”
Hearing the cold voice devoid of any warmth, Jaeyoon gave a bitter smile and looked at the speaker. Blue hair and navy eyes.
‘Kim Doha.’
Having finally encountered the romance option he second least wanted to meet, Jaeyoon inwardly held back tears.
“I went out and coincidentally met him. The kind student council president just gave me a ride. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t misunderstand.”
Jaeyoon decided to get away from there as soon as possible.
“Thank you for the ride, Student Council President.”
Turning around, Jaeyoon smiled brightly at Han Doyoon, said “Well then,” and quickly fled the scene.
He thought he heard Im Hangyeol calling after him, but it was just an auditory hallucination. He decided not to pay attention to it.
After getting as far away from the dormitory as possible, Jaeyoon stopped in his tracks, grabbed his hair with both hands, and shouted:
“Ah! I’ve met them all! Every single one without exception!”
Despite trying so hard to avoid them, how could this happen? What if he got unnecessarily entangled in their romantic drama?!
Jaeyoon shook his head vigorously, determined never to let that happen.
“…What are you doing?”
“Ah, Senior Jihoo.”
“Huh…?”
Noticing Jung Jihoo sitting on the grass looking up at him, Jaeyoon fixed his disheveled hair and approached him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah… cats…”
“Cats…?”
Discovering the litter of kittens that had been hidden behind Jung Jihoo’s body, Jaeyoon couldn’t control the corners of his mouth from rising.
“Are these the cats that appeared in that drawing?!”
“Th-that… why, ah, you still have it?!”
Jung Jihoo’s face turned as red as an apple. With his snow-white silver hair, he resembled a strawberry cake, and Jaeyoon pressed his lips together to suppress his laughter.
“I couldn’t return to the dormitory…, so I’ve been carrying it around since then.”
“Eh? W-why couldn’t you return to the dormitory?”
“…Haah…”
Seeing Jaeyoon looking utterly exhausted, Jung Jihoo rolled his eyes, hidden behind his bangs, in confusion before handing something to Jaeyoon.
Confirming what was in Jung Jihoo’s hand, Jaeyoon smiled, curling the corners of his mouth.
“Cat treats, do you always carry them?”
“…Yeah.”
Looking at Jung Jihoo, whose ears had turned bright red, as if finding him cute, Jaeyoon accepted the treats. While happily watching the cats approaching him after smelling the treats, Jaeyoon noticed the sketchbook next to Jung Jihoo.
“Did you draw the cats today too?”
“…Yeah.”
“Can I ask to see it?”
“Ah, no!”
“You don’t have to refuse so strongly…”
“N-no… it’s…”
Jaeyoon waited patiently as Jung Jihoo struggled to find his words.
After waving his hands and trying to decide what to say, Jung Jihoo finally opened his mouth.
“For you! I want to show you a more impressive drawing!”
“Why?”
“Th-that’s… because you… said you liked my drawings…”
Hearing the gradually diminishing voice, Jaeyoon let out a pleased laugh.
‘He’s cute.’
“I think I’d like any drawing Senior Jihoo makes.”
“Wh-what!?”
“Your drawings make my heart feel warm. That’s why I like them.”
“W-warm…?”
“Yes. But I’ll wait. For the drawing you want to show me. I’ll look forward to it.”
“Huh? Oh… yeah! W-wait! I’ll definitely complete an impressive drawing to show you!”
“Ah, don’t feel pressured. As I said earlier, I like all of your drawings.”
Jaeyoon smiled with the corners of his eyes crinkled. Jung Jihoo, who had been staring at Jaeyoon as if entranced, suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly bowed his head. The tips of his ears were still red.
“M-my name!”
“Yes?”
“My name… isn’t Jihoo!”
“What…? But your name tag…”
Jaeyoon’s gaze shifted to the red name tag. After staring at the name tag where the middle part was quite worn off, Jaeyoon suddenly realized.
‘Ah, did I misread the middle character?’
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t see the name tag clearly…”
“I-it’s okay!”
“Will you tell me your name? I’ll make sure not to get it wrong next time.”
At the sight of Jaeyoon smiling softly, the other fidgeted with his hands before raising his head as if having made a decision. As he did, his bangs parted, revealing his eyes.
‘Ah, beautiful.’
Jaeyoon was captivated by the bright golden eyes that shimmered like golden waves. After staring at them, forgetting even to blink, he slightly furrowed his brow.
‘Wait, silver hair and golden eyes…’
Before Jaeyoon could shake off the unease creeping up his back, the other opened his mouth.
“My name is Jinhoo, Jung Jinhoo!”
Jaeyoon’s pupils contracted. Jung Jinhoo looked at Jaeyoon, who had frozen in shock, with curiosity, but that wasn’t what mattered to Jaeyoon right now.
Jung Jinhoo, Jung Jinhoo…
Inwardly, Jaeyoon grabbed his head again and screamed.
‘Why is the main villain here?!’
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
