COAC 41

“I’m looking forward to working with you, Mr. Hyeonjun. I think it’ll be fun.”

“Hyeonjun is fun. Contrary to how he looks, he’s surprisingly considerate, and he’s popular because he’s unintentionally funny.”

Seo Jeong smoothly responded to Lee Dojae’s words.

“Of course, I figured he’d be popular. Anyone can see he’s handsome. It seems like people around him wouldn’t leave him alone. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. He’s gotten quite a few confessions. It’s gotten to the point where they say one of the required courses for freshmen is confessing to Do Hyeonjun and getting rejected.”

“Oh, so getting rejected completes the course? That sounds like something out of a drama.”

“As far as I know, he’s never accepted one. The kids were saying there was another victim this year.”

It was an uncomfortable topic. Even when the three of them were together, they mostly talked about their studies, hobbies, or travels, but almost never about romance. It wasn’t an unwritten rule, but he had subconsciously avoided it, afraid his feelings would be revealed.

“Come to think of it, Hyeonjun, is there anyone you like? What’s your ideal type? I’m curious.”

Why now, of all times, was he asking a question he hadn’t asked once in the past few years? More than Seo Jeong’s sparkling eyes and Lee Dojae’s intrigued expression, the silent Kim Chayeon was what concerned him. The first person he had ever liked in his life, and the person he had confessed to just once, happened to be the same person. The rejection, which left no room for hope, made it even more painful.

“There’s nothing like that.”

“Come on, even if it’s not a specific ideal type, you must have a style you prefer. I think it’d be helpful for coming up with inspiration for the objet if you told us. Even just something simple would be fine, so tell us whatever comes to mind.”

Lee Dojae delivered the final blow. It seemed he would keep pressing the issue even if he tried to change the subject, so it was better to just answer quickly and get it over with. Do Hyeonjun, who had moistened his lower lip with his tongue, hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Since I have this kind of personality, I find myself drawn to people who are the opposite—bright and talkative. It would be even better if I feel comfortable and have fun when I’m with them. As for age… I think it would be a little better if they were older than me. And… I’d like it if they had a pretty smile.”

He intentionally listed conditions that were far from describing Kim Chayeon. But ridiculously, his last words, “I’d like it if they had a pretty smile,” were sincere. The youthful face that had smiled brightly from beyond a volleyball flying swiftly through the air still remained as his most beautiful memory.

“Wow, my friends nag me to please stop talking so much. And I can become best friends with someone I’ve just met right away. As for age, I’m older than you, Mr. Hyeonjun. And my smile, well… does this pass?”

Lee Dojae’s lips curled into a grin. His face, with its good-natured features and added smile, was quite charming. Though his heart didn’t pound like it did when he looked at Kim Chayeon.

“You’re right. Hyeonjun’s ideal type is totally you, sunbae-nim. Still, I’m sure Hyeonjun will follow his heart, right?”

“There’s nothing that changes as easily as a person’s heart, Ms. Seo Jeong, junior.”

Listening to their conversation, Do Hyeonjun smiled bitterly. Why was it that the heart, which others said changed so easily, was so difficult for Kim Chayeon and himself? If it wasn’t going to change, he wished he could at least throw it away.

He added chives to the blood sausage soup that had just arrived and glanced at Kim Chayeon. He was smiling because Seo Jeong was there, but his eyes were cold. He seemed to be trying not to show it, but he couldn’t fool him, who had watched him to the point of exhaustion over the past few years. Right now, Kim Chayeon was in a bad mood. Why? Because Seo Jeong was talking a lot with Lee Dojae? He should have just gone to eat with him separately, so why did he have to follow them?

“How is Do Hyeonjun helping you, sunbae-nim?”

Lee Dojae, who had received a question from Kim Chayeon for the first time in a while, looked this way. He smiled a little awkwardly while holding his spoon. He had remembered Lee Dojae’s request.

“I asked for help with an assignment, just the same. My graduation project, to be precise. As long as I have Mr. Hyeonjun, I don’t think I’ll fall behind because of poor time management.”

One of Kim Chayeon’s eyebrows shot up before returning to its place.

“I don’t know what it is, but Do Hyeonjun’s department classes are tough. Don’t take up too much of his time. Sunbae-nim.”

He probably wasn’t genuinely worried. It was more likely that he was conscious of Lee Dojae, who had contradicted what he himself had said. But his clueless heart reacted positively to Kim Chayeon’s words. It was amazing how his mood could swing so drastically within a few minutes. Even after being subjected to a rejection that was beyond refusal, his feelings were still directed toward Kim Chayeon. Still.

---

“What are you two doing? This isn’t a joke.”

The doctor threw the papers onto the desk as if in disbelief. At the hospital, which he was visiting again after about two weeks, Do Hyeonjun had his head bowed, silent as a clam. Kim Chayeon, who had come with him, was getting scolded alongside him.

“These numbers right now, they’re no different from two weeks ago. The pheromones need to stabilize at least a little so we can use medication or find another alternative. Patient, do you really want to collapse on the street? And Mr. Kim Chayeon, if you agreed to help, you need to do it properly. At this rate, the patient is the only one who will be in danger.”

Thanks to staying in the same space as Kim Chayeon, his levels had stabilized a bit, but they were still at a precarious level. The doctor’s opinion was that if things didn’t improve from here, he could lose consciousness or develop physical problems.

“I believe I told you that if you’re not going to spend the cycle together, you should have at least minimal contact. A kiss, a hug, or even just holding hands. Thankfully, the patient is naturally healthy, so he’s holding on for now, but I can’t guarantee anything if the imprinting level drops any further from here. The level of danger is different from a simple pheromone deficiency.”

After the doctor’s scolding, the two left the examination room in a heavy silence.

By the time they left the hospital, the sun that had been high in the sky was gradually setting. The smell of soil wafting from the flowerbed in front of the building mixed with the faint scent of disinfectant, filling the air.

“…”

The test results were not good. It was a warning that it would be dangerous if his stability levels dropped any further, and that he had to maintain this precarious state at the very least.

It was clearly a diagnosis about his own body, but for some reason, it sounded like it was about his relationship with Kim Chayeon.

Rash expectations or emotional turmoil could shatter even the current precarious balance that was barely holding on. He couldn’t let it be known that he still liked Kim Chayeon.

His foot, which had been descending the steps in front of the hospital, missed a step in midair. I’m going to fall. Just before his balance shifted forward, a firm hand forcefully snatched his arm. When he turned with a startled face, the expressionless Kim Chayeon was holding his arm.

“You fell once and you’re still walking around with your head in the clouds? These stairs are high, so if you tumble, it won’t just end with a sprained ankle.”

Kim Chayeon immediately let go of his hand.

“Thanks. That was a close call.”

He replied awkwardly and started down the stairs again.

“Don’t take what the doctor said too much to heart. All that talk about contact and what not, we don’t need to do any of that.”

Do Hyeonjun deliberately shrugged his shoulders, pretending to be even more unfazed.

“I’ll take care of my own body, so you don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t it great that I’m maintaining this level? The doctor said I’m healthy, too. It’s just unstable because it’s the beginning; it’ll get better soon. Thanks for your trouble coming to the hospital with me today.”

A mix of “thank you” and “I’m sorry” got caught in his throat. He knew that this whole situation was just a bothersome burden to Kim Chayeon, so he was careful with every single word.

“You should go to school now. You have an afternoon class.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Me? I don’t have class, so I was planning to meet Dojae hyung and work on our assignment.”

“…Isn’t the pheromone issue more urgent?”

It was urgent, but other than taking pheromone suppressants, there was nothing he could really do. It was better to get a grip by working on an assignment than to be needlessly distressed.

“Go home.”

It was an unexpected suggestion. He looked at Kim Chayeon with wide eyes. Instead of saying more, he was checking his phone.

On a Thursday afternoon, the early summer sunlight pouring through the large window was dazzling. The living room, where golden dust floated lazily, was even quieter than usual. After taking off his shoes, Do Hyeonjun hesitantly stepped inside. The whole way back from the hospital, Kim Chayeon had remained silent with a thoughtful expression.

“Do Hyeonjun.”

Do Hyeonjun, who was about to head to his room, stopped in his tracks.