The Probability of Becoming a Couple with Your Bias 59

As it somehow became mid-June, final exams were right around the corner.

“There’s cream on you here.”

“Where?”

Han-gyeom felt around the area near his lips, but unfortunately, he couldn’t reach the dollop of pure white cream stuck at the corner of his mouth. Won-hyeok, who had been staring right at him from beside him, let out a small snicker, then casually swept his thumb across Han-gyeom’s mouth and brought it to his own lips. Watching the white cream disappear into that red mouth, Han-gyeom unconsciously tightened his grip.

“S-sunbae.”

“Why?”

At that, Han-gyeom glanced awkwardly toward the other side, his face burnt-red like a roasted sweet potato. There, Kim Sun-woo and Kwon Han-ul were sipping their drinks through straws, openly watching the two of them like they were seeing a movie.

“So what?”

Having instantly read why Han-gyeom was embarrassed, Won-hyeok looked over at the two of them and flashed a grin.

“If you’re jealous, get yourselves lovers too.”

His smiling face looked incredibly kind, but the words coming out of his mouth were anything but.

“Was that sunbae always this obnoxious a character?”

“Who knows. They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but I think I could do it today.”

Sun-woo and Han-ul each added a comment, but right now, neither of them managed to land even a scratch on Won-hyeok. This group of four had really come together entirely by chance.

Han-gyeom had been studying at the library with Won-hyeok during this finals period too. Today, just like always, they’d headed straight for the library after class, but for some reason his body felt sluggish today, and he couldn’t focus at all. Maybe Won-hyeok had noticed, because he suggested they go to a café for a change of pace.

And then, just as they were leaving the library, they ran right into Sun-woo and Han-ul. As it turned out, by a funny coincidence, those two had also been studying for exams in the same reading room and had just been on their way to the café to get coffee. When Han-gyeom heard that, he’d said—

“Then come with us!”

—to Han-ul. By now, Han-ul naturally checked Won-hyeok’s reaction first, but Sun-woo, his mischievous streak activated, gladly accepted. Won-hyeok had pulled a thoroughly displeased face, then immediately changed his attitude when Han-gyeom said it would be more fun with more people.

And that was how the four of them ended up sitting around together drinking coffee like this.

“But people are still posting exposé posts.”

Han-ul said it while flicking rapidly through his phone screen.

“Han Su-hyeon?”

“Yes.”

Sun-woo peered at Han-ul’s phone with interest.

Not long after that post went up claiming to reveal the “truth” about Do Won-hyeok, a post about Han Su-hyeon had immediately followed. It said that he had a record of violence and called out his usual behavior, and just like that, the post about Won-hyeok got buried before anyone even noticed.

After that, like peeling an onion, more and more exposé posts about him came up one by one. Starting with people he’d dated in the past, even people he’d had conflicts with began adding their voices. So even now, this close to summer break, he was still a hot potato.

“Han-gyeom, does this guy still come to school?”

When Sun-woo asked, Han-gyeom shook his head. Once that post went up, there’d naturally been chaos among the second-years in the English Department. Even classmates who had known better than anyone how bad his personality was and how filthy he lived had spent those days cursing him nonstop. One way or another, Han Su-hyeon was currently absent from all of his classes.

“Still, I was really shocked when I read the posts. I didn’t know he was that scary of a person.”

“I just thought there was something wrong with his views on dating and his personality, but a record of violence…”

As he said that, Han-gyeom looked at Won-hyeok.

“Sunbae, you could’ve been in danger that time too.”

The image of Won-hyeok facing off against Han Su-hyeon in the alley behind the dinner gathering came back to him. To think he’d made him confront someone that scary. The thought that something terrible could have happened filled him with delayed relief. In truth, Han Su-hyeon hadn’t even managed to put up a real counterattack that day and had just gotten kicked around by Won-hyeok, but Han-gyeom’s worry was directed toward one person only.

“I didn’t know he was that rotten either.”

Won-hyeok cut a slice of the cake they’d ordered for dessert and held it out to Han-gyeom. Seeing him shyly but obediently accept it and eat it made the corners of Won-hyeok’s mouth soften sweetly.

“But I’m glad the post about you got buried, sunbae!”

Han-gyeom kept talking about how incredible the timing had been. Of course, no one would have believed the post about Won-hyeok anyway, but back then, he still hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that a crack had formed in Won-hyeok’s image, so he’d worried terribly. Then the moment the Han Su-hyeon issue exploded, everything had been resolved.

“Seriously.”

Won-hyeok speared one of the delicious-looking fruits sitting on top of the shortcake and put it into Han-gyeom’s mouth. There were four mouths sitting here right now, and yet he casually gave the one and only piece of fruit to Han-gyeom.

“I’m honestly grateful to whoever posted that, whoever they are.”

Even as he said that, Won-hyeok smiled as though he were especially pleased. In any case, thankfully, that matter hadn’t grown any bigger, and they’d been able to move past it as a mere incident.

And so the four of them chatted quietly in the café. Before long, it was almost time to head back to the library, and Sun-woo let out a groan.

“Wow, I seriously don’t want to study.”

“But once finals are over, the semester ends right away.”

At Han-ul’s words, Sun-woo’s eyes lit up. The end of the semester. That also meant summer vacation. As if he’d gained a new source of motivation, Sun-woo suddenly burst with fighting spirit.

“The second classes end, I’m going to sleep like a corpse.”

“I’m saving up money because I’m planning to travel.”

“Travel’s nice. Ah, what about you two?”

The arrow of the conversation naturally turned toward Won-hyeok and Han-gyeom. Won-hyeok had been so overwhelmed he hadn’t even realized the semester was ending. Too many things had happened in a single term, so he hadn’t had the chance to think about plans for the break. After a moment’s thought, his gaze naturally shifted toward Han-gyeom.

Summer break was long, and there’d be plenty of time, so it might not be a bad idea to take this little mutt somewhere on a trip. He’d probably be happy no matter where they went. Or maybe he could keep him at his officetel for a few days. Living together, watching movies, cooking and eating delicious things—that also sounded pretty satisfying.

In Won-hyeok’s head, a whole Spend Summer Vacation with Han-gyeom Plan was being neatly built piece by piece. And right in the middle of that, Han-gyeom brightly opened his mouth.

“I’m thinking of trying a part-time job!”

Pfft.

The Americano Won-hyeok had been drinking sprayed right out of his mouth. Sun-woo, sitting across from him, narrowed his eyes and glared hard at the human spray bottle.

“You’ve been spitting stuff out a lot these days, huh?”

“S-sorry.”

But this was beyond his control. What was he supposed to do when Kang Han-gyeom dropped a verbal bomb like that? Won-hyeok grabbed a few tissues at random, handed them to Sun-woo, and looked at Han-gyeom.

“W-what do you mean? A part-time job?”

It was bad enough that even Won-hyeok was stammering. But Han-gyeom only nodded happily.

“I decided recently. I’m going to try working part-time.”

Won-hyeok wanted to demand to know what on earth had made him decide that and why.

“Did you usually work part-time during breaks?”

But with four pairs of eyes on them from across the table, he couldn’t press Han-gyeom. Won-hyeok kept the gentlest smile he could manage on his face.

“Um, not really… I’m thinking of trying it this time.”

For some reason, Han-gyeom hesitated and cut the answer short. It would’ve been ridiculous to keep picking at it here. For college students, getting a part-time job after the semester ended was an entirely natural plan. So both Sun-woo and Han-ul took it lightly and offered plenty of advice, like what kinds of jobs were good and what kinds of places to avoid.

The only person in that seat who was flustered was Won-hyeok. All the plans he had piled up in his head shattered with a crash.

If it was a part-time job, then was he trying to save money? Considering how much he valued scholarships, that was highly likely. Won-hyeok chewed lightly at his nail. If it was money, he could support him as much as needed from his side. Hourly wage? He could pay more than ten times that garbage amount.

But if he said that, Kang Han-gyeom would definitely respond like this:

“Why would you give me money, sunbae?”

He’d ask with round, bewildered eyes. Even when Won-hyeok paid his emergency room bill, even when he got his glasses made for him, even when Won-hyeok paid for their meals on dates, Han-gyeom was always a fidgety mess about it. Recently, when Won-hyeok said he’d wash his clothes, the little idiot had even worried about the price of detergent.

Wasn’t there some way? Some plausible excuse to put money in Han-gyeom’s hands—some way to make it so he wouldn’t even think about getting a part-time job.

“During the semester, I had to keep my grades up, so I never dared to think about working. It was the same during my first-year break too. But once I really made up my mind, it felt like something I could do during vacation.”

Han-gyeom’s excited voice as he spoke to Han-ul drifted into Won-hyeok’s ears.

“Part-time work is still work, but you look more excited than anything.”

As if he’d read Han-gyeom’s expression, Sun-woo smiled from the side as though he found him cute.

“Yes! It’s my first time doing something like this, so I’m excited. Even though I haven’t even found a job yet, so maybe I shouldn’t be saying that.”

Han-gyeom grinned with a cheerful hehe, apparently just delighted at the prospect of doing something new. Watching him, Won-hyeok lowered the hand he’d been biting.

“But your lover looks pretty shocked.”

Sun-woo glanced at Won-hyeok. It seemed he’d caught at least a tiny bit of what was written on his face.

“Ah, sunbae, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I only decided recently too…”

Han-gyeom fidgeted, then lightly caught Won-hyeok’s pinky, which was draped over the armrest of his chair.

“S-should I not do it?”

Only then did it occur to him that maybe this was the kind of thing he should’ve discussed with his lover too. At Han-gyeom’s pitiful question, Won-hyeok shook his head with an odd expression that was neither a smile nor quite a grimace.

“No. There’s no reason for you to get my permission. If Han-gyeom wants to do it, then do it.”

A smile lit up by the excitement of something as small as a part-time job. The moment he saw that, all the plans he’d been making about how to put money into those hands suddenly felt meaningless.

And so Won-hyeok clenched his teeth and supported Han-gyeom anyway.

Author: Levia