As I hesitated over what to say, Min Siheon’s gaze grew more persistent. It hadn’t even been that long, yet the way he reacted made it clear—his instincts were sharp.
“Um, well…”
I gave an awkward smile, about to confess honestly. Then I sensed movement from across the table.
Go Heemin had stood up, saying he was going to the convenience store.
“Where’re you guys going?”
“Convenience store. After drinking, I’m craving something sweet. In-ho, want me to grab you anything?”
“Then ice cream for me. If you’re paying, get the most expensive one.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll get you the cheapest popsicle.”
“You’ve got tons of money and you’re still that stingy…. Ah, I’ll pay you later, so get something good!”
Despite Yoo In-ho’s grumbling, Go Heemin maintained his easygoing attitude and headed toward the entrance. Naturally, Kang Taeyoon followed behind him, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.
As Kang Taeyoon turned to follow Go Heemin out, he glanced this way. When our eyes met briefly, I realized this was my chance to slip out.
“I’ll come too.”
“I’m just going to the convenience store.”
“I’m out of cigarettes. So let’s go together.”
“Suit yourself~”
It wasn’t a lie that I was out. I needed to buy some anyway.
“I’ll step out for a bit too. Ah, we’ll finish talking about this later.”
I grabbed my phone from the table and stood. I’d already told Min Siheon I’d be back shortly.
I’d dodged it earlier, but I planned to tell him everything about meeting my old classmates.
With Min Siheon, I intended to share my full schedule—who I met, everything. But he’d suddenly pushed first, and it caught me off guard. The timing had ended up slightly off.
With Heemin outside and Kang Taeyoon gone too, that would leave just me, Min Siheon, and Yoo In-ho at the table.
There’d be no one to distract Yoo In-ho or pull his attention elsewhere. Talking in that strange, quiet tension didn’t sound appealing.
So I figured it’d be better to talk on the way home, or later on our own.
With a soothing sort of gesture, I placed a hand on Min Siheon’s shoulder and gave him a look. As if understanding I’d be back soon, he nodded obediently.
“Need anything?”
“No. Just hurry back.”
“Okay.”
Min Siheon probably knew I wasn’t the type to lie, which was why he let it go. He seemed a little pouty, but he gave his permission easily enough.
In the middle of it, Yoo In-ho mouthed something at me, but I ignored him.
It looked like he was asking what exactly Min Siheon and I were doing together…. I just laughed it off lightly, as if telling him to take this chance to have a heartfelt one-on-one conversation with Min Siheon.
And like that, catching Yoo In-ho’s silent SOS and Min Siheon’s persistent gaze, I left the bar.
Go Heemin, who’d been walking ahead, slowed down and came up beside me.
“So, you really ran out of cigarettes?”
“Why else would I come out?”
“Hm, well, Cha Jungwoo… you’ve always been terrible at lying….”
Looking at him now, maybe he’d come over just to pick a fight.
“If that’s the case, back off,” I muttered, lightly kicking his calf with the top of my foot. Even at that faint contact, he went, “Ow,” pretending to be hurt.
Watching the two of us, Kang Taeyoon changed course toward the smoking booth right next to the convenience store. Without even stepping inside, he pulled out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, clearly not planning to enter.
“Taeyoon, want me to grab you something?”
“I’m fine.”
I went into the store alone with Go Heemin. I was about to pick out a drink for Siheon when I spotted Go Heemin in the dairy aisle holding chocolate milk.
“That good?”
“This? After drinking, it tastes freaking amazing.”
When I stepped closer, Go Heemin, cheeks flushed red from alcohol, grinned lazily. Show that kind of expression to Kang Taeyoon, not me. With an indifferent face, I held out my hand.
“Give me one too.”
“You don’t look like it, but you really like sweet stuff.”
“Something like that.”
It wasn’t for me. Min Siheon had simply come to mind.
He actually likes sweets more than he lets on. I tilted my head at the small rectangular carton in my hand.
The first time we met, in the lecture hall too—whenever I gave him something sweet, his expression changed.
How should I put it… he seemed softer somehow. Anyway, it shifted in a way I liked.
So I decided to buy one chocolate milk for Min Siheon as well. I was about to head to the register when I found myself paying attention to the person beside me.
“Hmm. Should I try the new flavor?”
Go Heemin had made a significant contribution to our relationship.
I’d thanked him several times, but I knew the debt ran deeper than I could repay.
Anyway, both him and the one outside—different types, but both stubborn in their own way.
Even though Min Siheon had once spoken harshly to him, he didn’t show discomfort and continued to act friendly. I was grateful for that.
“Huh? What?”
“You grab something for Kang Taeyoon. I don’t know his tastes.”
Seeing Go Heemin hesitate between a new product and the original one he’d planned to buy, I snatched all the milk cartons from his hands.
After telling the dumbfounded Go Heemin to pick something for Kang Taeyoon, I turned away.
I wasn’t the warmest person. This was about the best I could do.
It felt awkward to face him directly, so I turned my head to the opposite side to avoid the guy on my right.
“Hey, um… anyway, thanks.”
“Hah, don’t tell me you’re still—”
“Ah, whatever. Just hurry and pick something for Kang Taeyoon.”
With that one line, Go Heemin seemed to grasp everything. He let out an incredulous laugh and slung an arm over my shoulder.
“Geez, Cha Jung, what’re we gonna do with you being this cute~”
“Are you insane?!”
I jerked away from his ticklish touch. I might’ve reacted even more strongly because I felt the part-timer at the counter staring.
I’d chosen the wrong target. I should’ve said that to Kang Taeyoon instead.
If it had been him, he’d have brushed it off coolly and that would’ve been the end. I’d forgotten this was Go Heemin, and now the conversation was dragging.
Regretting it wouldn’t help, so I tried to change the subject. Then something suddenly crossed my mind.
It was something I’d known but never properly examined.
When the hell did Go Heemin and Kang Taeyoon get together?
Ever since Min Siheon and I had gotten on the same page, those two had been acting without hesitation.
Even if they didn’t say it outright, they’d been subtly implying they were a couple.
I’d been certain the novel had veered off course from the moment Min Siheon’s feelings turned toward me instead of Go Heemin. And yet, the way these two progressed still felt strange.
I didn’t need all the details, but I should at least understand the situation.
After peeling Go Heemin off me, I asked quietly. The answer I got was unexpected.
“When did you two start dating?”
“Us? About three months? Not long after I came back to school.”
Go Heemin really was unusual, not caring at all that I knew everything.
But the content itself shocked me more, leaving no room to dwell on that.
“Right after you returned?”
In the original, those two didn’t get together until two years after he returned.
It was only when Kang Taeyoon went off the rails, seeing Go Heemin drift away as graduation approached, that their relationship progressed.
But we were still only second-years. The first semester had just ended. In the original, this was when they’d walked the tightrope of “just friendship.”
Hadn’t Go Heemin denied his love for Kang Taeyoon at the beginning? It seemed like something had changed in his heart.
If it was early in the semester, that meant he and Min Siheon hadn’t even properly gotten acquainted yet.
So even if Siheon had fallen for Go Heemin, he wouldn’t have stood a chance….
Relief washed over me.
At the same time, I felt like trash.
Cha Jungwoo, what happened to you? I didn’t think I could ever admit this to Min Siheon—it was too pathetic.
As I stood there, mind tangled, Go Heemin let out a small snort and stuffed a meal-replacement shake into my arms.
“This one’s for Taeyoon. He didn’t eat dinner today. Seriously, you and Kang Taeyoon both. You’ve got the builds, but you’re such high-maintenance.”
“Bullshit. And your size isn’t that different from mine.”
I barely managed to snap back to reality and respond. As Go Heemin walked past me toward the counter, he glanced over his shoulder.
“Honestly, you played a pretty big part.”
“What?”
“What do you expect from a dense idiot~ Hurry up and pay. I want to drink that already.”
And just like that, he disappeared toward the register. I could only blink, stunned.
***
“Taeyoon~ I squeezed Cha Jung’s wallet dry. This is yours.”
“Mine?”
“Yeah. If you skip meals again tomorrow, you’re dead. Once we go back inside, chug this first.”
After paying, we rejoined Kang Taeyoon outside the store. Go Heemin ran straight to him and took the lead walking back with him.
Meanwhile, I was still dazed from what Go Heemin had said just before checkout.
It felt like there was something I didn’t know. But I couldn’t piece it together, and my head felt cluttered.
And yet somehow, I’d still bought chocolate milk for Min Siheon. I found that absurd.
I hadn’t even bought the cigarettes I originally came out for.
Ignoring the dull craving in my mouth, I licked my dry lips.
Maybe I should quit while I’m at it. I didn’t like having to leave Min Siheon behind because of cigarettes.
He was the type who’d follow me out regardless of secondhand smoke. For someone as sensitive as Min Siheon, maybe I should seriously consider quitting for his health.
“Ah, I really must like him.”
Honestly, even when I was working, I’d never made a resolution like that.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried…. I just remembered declaring I’d quit, only to give up two days later and decide I’d live as a smoker until I died.
For me to overturn that resolution now—seems I like him more than I thought.
If we break up, I’m screwed…. Maybe the alcohol was making it harder to control my emotions.
Just then, walking ahead, Go Heemin spoke.
“Seriously, that guy’s persistent.”
“……”
I lifted my head and met eyes with Min Siheon, who was standing alone in front of the bar as if he’d come out to greet us.
