HWAMB — Chapter 33

I kept staring at him without understanding.

Lately, Hyun-woo would burst into laughter over the smallest things.

* * *

After class ended, Hyun-woo and I walked side by side down the hill on our way home.

The warm sunlight was blazing, and the cicadas hadn’t stopped crying.

After walking for a while, the shadows cast by the buildings fell across my pale skin, tinting it with a faint blue.

In the short time we were in class, it must have rained a sudden shower, because the ground still held damp traces of water.

Along the roadside, drops of water clung to neat green leaves, growing larger as they slid down, finally falling with a splash.

Here and there, puddles reflected a cool blue picture.

In that picture were white clouds, falling drops of water, a red roof, and also Hyun-woo and me.

As if something had just crossed his mind, Hyun-woo spoke.

“Did you write your essay well?”

“Oh, you mean that Career Dream thing?”

“Yeah.”

“I just did it half-heartedly.”

When I answered casually, Hyun-woo gave a crooked smile and replied.

“Half-heartedly, huh? Funny, since you won the writing contest last week.”

“Wow, how’d you even know that?”

“What was the topic again?”

“World peace, something like that.”

World peace, equality, and so on… the usual themes that always showed up in middle and high school assignments.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“I like your writing.”

“…”

That easy smile of his was quietly invading my heart.

I stared blankly at him, suppressing the warmth swelling in my chest.

“…Might be out of nowhere, but do you have anything you want to do later? Like a major you’re interested in… we’ll be seniors soon, so we have to start thinking about college.”

“Well… not really. I’ve never given it much thought. You?”

“Me neither.”

Even though I asked him, I didn’t have any clear career plans either.

Doing well in school was one thing, but I only studied hard because I didn’t know what else to do, not because I actually liked it.

That was why I’d been troubled lately.

For now, the top priority would be finding a school and major where the tuition wasn’t too expensive.

After thinking it over seriously, Hyun-woo asked,

“What about being a novelist?”

“That would be… hard, wouldn’t it? The income’s unstable, unpredictable, and there’s no guarantee of success…”

“Maybe. Then how about a drama writer, or even an advertising copywriter? I think you’d be good at that…”

“I actually thought you’d go into photography.”

“Me?”

“You take pictures really well, like a pro.”

I meant it as genuine praise, but Hyun-woo’s reaction was lukewarm.

He had never learned it formally, yet he was excellent at photography.

I thought he’d do well working with cameras or filming, but he didn’t seem interested.

‘I thought at least he liked taking photos…’

Whenever he took pictures, with a camera or even just his phone, his expression grew unusually serious.

But it seemed he himself didn’t notice that.

“And even if things don’t go well for you later, I’ll fatten you up and keep you by my side forever, so you won’t have to worry about starving.”

Sometimes, I forgot that Hyun-woo’s family was really wealthy.

Watching him, already thinking about marriage, I reached out and ruffled his hair.

His soft hair felt like the well-kept fur of a pleasant puppy. I teased back playfully.

“Even if everything you try fails, I’ll still feed you and keep you alive, so don’t lose confidence. Chin up.”

“You’re so reassuring I might faint, Eun-jae.”

Of course, the chances of Hyun-woo ever ending up on the street were slim.

We exchanged silly jokes like “You’re thrilled, right? Just trust me,” and carried on with our warm banter.

Then suddenly, I remembered the talk I had with my brother in the car after going to the hospital yesterday.

I was the one who said we should be careful not to get caught… but I ended up being the first one exposed.

Glancing at Hyun-woo nervously, I carefully brought it up.

“Ah, yesterday… I didn’t go to the hospital alone. I went with my brother.”

“Yeah? Good.”

“And… your clothes… they’re all dry now, so you can take them whenever you have time.”

“Really? Then I’ll pick them up today.”

“…”

“…? Did something happen?”

Noticing my expression, Hyun-woo frowned.

I forced a vague smile and finally admitted, pressured by his gaze.

“…Actually, my brother found out that day. About us dating.”

“Oh. That’s all?”

That’s all? My heart had been pounding like crazy when it happened!

Hyun-woo relaxed his stiff expression, saying, “And here I thought it was something serious.”

Then he spoke as if it were nothing.

“What’s there to worry about? Sooner or later, it was bound to happen.”

“There is something to worry about… What if your father disapproves?”

At that, Hyun-woo gave me a look like I was being ridiculous.

But I had thought about it seriously. He pressed down on my head and said,

“You’ve got such a small head, but why do you cram it with so many worries?”

“…What can I do, it’s just my personality.”

“Stop worrying. I don’t want my precious head exploding.”

He gently rubbed my forehead as he spoke. As if it were that easy.

Then he pressed down on my lips, which had jutted out in a pout.

“Then should we go greet your brother soon?”

“…? Who?”

“Your brother. Since he already knows.”

I hurriedly stopped him, saying, “People would think we’re getting married!”

In truth, it was just an excuse. I was more afraid things would get tense and turn into a fight.

I couldn’t shake the image of my brother’s disapproving face as he drove yesterday.

So I quickly changed the subject.

“What about you? Your brother hasn’t caught on?”

“No idea. We barely talk. We don’t care about each other.”

“…Your brother seems to care a lot about you, though.”

Hyun-woo brushed it off again with a flat, “So what.”

When I’d met his brother, he hadn’t seemed like a bad person, so it stung a little to see him treated like that.

Later, at home, Hyun-woo carefully packed the clothes he’d left behind into his bag.

I sat watching him quietly. His eyelashes were longer than I’d realized, and his neatly closed lips were smaller than expected.

With his height and build, I thought everything about him was big, but it surprised me to notice even one small feature.

‘Now that I see him up close, he really might look alike…’

Hyun-woo always claimed, “I look like your bias.”

I’d dismissed it out of denial, never thinking much about it. But if I thought carefully, the celebrities, actors, and even 2D characters I liked over the years all had traits similar to Hyun-woo.

Had he noticed that before I did?

My eyes lingered on his lips. Noticing, Hyun-woo looked back at me curiously, then rubbed his lips with his hand.

After staring at his hand, finding nothing on it, he suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips against mine.

The warmth spread over my lips, stirring my emotions and threatening to swallow everything whole.

Soon, that warmth pulled away, leaving behind a short but strong trace near my lips.

I couldn’t say anything, just opened and closed my mouth soundlessly. Hyun-woo, a little embarrassed himself, lowered his flushed face.

“…How was it?”

“Uh… huh…? Wh-what do you mean?”

“…What I just did to you… Did it feel weird?”

“Uh…”

My silence dragged on, and Hyun-woo’s ears flushed red as he turned his head away.

“I’ve been curious… Back then, on the Ferris wheel… why did you kiss me? You weren’t even planning to date me then.”

A kiss…

Though calling it that felt wrong. It had been closer to a clumsy bump of lips.

“R-right now? Do I have to say it…?”

“Tell me. You avoided explaining back then too.”

“Well… um… it’s just…”

Just out of impulse…

At my small voice, Hyun-woo blinked in surprise.

“At that time… um… I was confused about my feelings. When you asked, ‘Do you ever feel like kissing a friend? I don’t,’ I suddenly got curious. If I kissed you and it felt wrong, then it would mean I only wanted to stay friends. But if it felt… okay, then maybe not…”

“…”

“So honestly, back then I wanted to deny that I liked you, to snap myself out of it. But… it backfired.”

Before I could finish, Hyun-woo pulled me into a tight embrace.

His large frame pressed against me, making the chair creak under the impact.

Then he whispered things so sweet and embarrassing I almost couldn’t bear to hear them—how he loved me so much it was driving him crazy, how I was too cute to stand.

“Eun-jae, I love you. I love you…”

It was the same familiar phrase I always heard. And I loved hearing those words from him.

I love you too.

* * *

The end of summer.

Final exams were over, with only the closing ceremony of vacation left.

Some kids checked their answers after grading themselves, while others, relieved that exams were done, were already worrying about where to go hang out.

If I had to pick, I was in the latter group.

Because of my personality, I preferred blowing off stress first and then checking my answers slowly at home later.

Before leaving the classroom, I took a picture of the answer sheet. From behind, I heard Young-ho calling.

“Eun-jae, exams are over, want to grab something to eat? Sang-su said he found a good place.”

“Ah, sorry. I already have plans today, so I can’t… You guys go ahead and enjoy.”

“Huh? With who? Where are you going?”

Young-ho widened his eyes and bombarded me with questions, so I avoided his gaze.

There was no way I could tell them I was going to the ‘bias collaboration café,’ no matter how close we were.

So I just mumbled some vague excuse and quickly left.

As I headed toward Hyun-woo’s classroom, I checked the time. If I stopped home first to change and then left, I’d still arrive with plenty of time.

Once home, I got ready to meet Hyun-woo in front of the station. I pulled a black ball cap low over my face and packed my bag.

I wore a plain white T-shirt and jeans so I wouldn’t stand out too much, and just in case, I packed another cap.