7MoH 3.6
by Springlila18. Ode to the Beloved
Jeong-in had come to love his Honors English Composition class the most.
Twirling a pen in his hand, Jeong-in deliberately loosened his fingers and dropped it. Then, pretending to bend down to pick it up, he glanced diagonally behind him toward Chase’s seat. Chase seemed to see through his little maneuver, wearing a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
When their eyes met, it felt like an electrifying current running through his entire body. Even when other students were tapping their desks out of boredom or yawning, these two never had a moment of dullness in this classroom.
As time passed and the class was about halfway through, Ms. Davis, the teacher, clapped her hands lightly to get everyone’s attention.
“This assignment will require a bit of creativity.”
With that, Davis wrote ‘Sonnet Writing Assignment’ on the board.
“We’ve learned about the types and forms of sonnets so far, right? Now, you’re going to travel back to a moment in the medieval era. Whether it’s a royal palace, a knight’s quarters, or a poet’s small room, it doesn’t matter. You’ll become a person of that era and write a sonnet with the sensibilities of that time.”
A murmur of discontent spread among the students. Ignoring it, Ms. Davis continued.
“And in the next class, I’ll select a few people to present their work.”
Sighs and complaints erupted from various corners.
Just then, Josh Turner, who was sitting in the very back, was heard snickering and mocking.
“So does Jay Lim have to write a Chinese poem?”
This was followed by gibberish Chinese mimicked in a ridiculous accent. Jeong-in’s hand clenched on the desk. His insides were boiling with anger.
But the very next moment, an unexpected crash filled the classroom.
Jeong-in instinctively turned his head at the sound of a desk and chair hitting the floor. He immediately drew in a shocked breath.
Josh Turner was sprawled on the floor. One side of his face was already swollen red as if he had been hit, and bright red blood was dripping from his nose. Chase, sitting on top of Josh Turner, raised his fist as high as he could, ready to strike again.
“What are you doing!”
“Chase!”
Along with Ms. Davis’s sharp cry, Jeong-in immediately ran to Chase and grabbed his raised arm in an embrace. Chase’s eyes were half-glazed with anger.
“What are you doing during class time! Get off him now!”
Jeong-in clutched his arm and pulled with all his might, but Chase didn’t budge. He just kept staring down at Josh Turner with a murderous expression, his fist still tightly clenched.
Only then did the murmuring students hurriedly rush in. It took three or four of them together to finally pry Chase away.
Josh Turner roughly wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand. Then, with a flushed face, he glared at Chase while panting heavily.
But Chase stared back at him calmly, without even a change in his breathing. His eyes were full of killing intent.
“Mr. Prescott! What on earth is this about?”
Chase remained silent at Ms. Davis’s question. To explain the reason, he would have to repeat with his own mouth the things Josh Turner had said to Jeong-in, those malicious mockeries.
“I just don’t like how he looks.”
Jeong-in stepped forward without hesitation.
“Josh Turner made racially discriminatory remarks toward me. He asked if Jay Lim should write a Chinese poem instead. He also mimicked nonsensical Chinese.”
His voice trembled slightly as he finished speaking, but he couldn’t predict how Ms. Davis would respond. He had felt several times that she treated him unfairly because he was Asian.
Ms. Davis spoke in a firm voice.
“Go to the principal’s office right now.”
For a moment, the classroom fell into a breathless silence.
Josh Turner, sitting on the floor, wiped his nose with his bloodied hand and smiled slyly. Then he cast a triumphant glance toward Chase Prescott.
But Ms. Davis’s finger was pointing at Josh Turner.
“Josh Turner.”
“…Huh?”
A stupid exclamation escaped his lips. Josh Turner looked at Ms. Davis with disbelieving eyes.
“Wincrest High School has a zero-tolerance policy for all types of discrimination. Your remarks were clearly racist, and such issues can be grounds for suspension. Go to the principal’s office immediately.”
Jeong-in blinked in surprise as he looked at Ms. Davis. This was an unexpected development.
He hadn’t anticipated such a resolute stance from her.
Had what he felt all this time been his own inferiority complex? Was she truly a fair person, or was she only now taking proper action?
Jeong-in was confused. Nonetheless, one side of his heart felt lighter as some of the resentment dissipated.
Ms. Davis exhaled a deep, tired sigh and said to Chase,
“Mr. Prescott, clean up the mess you made and sit down. And you should also go to the principal’s office after class. Violence cannot be tolerated for any reason.”
“…I’m sorry.”
He silently righted the overturned desk and chair, then returned to his seat.
Jeong-in looked at Chase with worried eyes. But Chase just propped his arm on the desk and flashed a playful grin, as if it were no big deal.
Josh Turner received a one-week suspension for making racist remarks during class. It was a quite severe measure that would remain on his student record.
This caused murmurs among the students. Some said it was a deserved consequence, while others whispered that Chase hitting him was the bigger issue. But the loudest were Josh Turner’s parents.
Called to the school, they rushed in and, upon seeing Josh Turner’s bruised face, shouted, demanding to know who had done this to their son.
They were furious, threatening to sue and insisting on knowing the identity of the offending student. But upon hearing Chase Prescott’s name, they became humble and left the principal’s office without further protest.
Of course, Chase couldn’t escape punishment either. He received a five-day detention for using violence on school grounds.
Detention is a form of discipline imposed by the school, where students must stay after school to serve their punishment. Students are required to remain quietly in the detention room for a certain period after class, and some are made to write reflective essays.
Fortunately, this incident wasn’t recorded in his official record. But having his free time restricted after school for five days was unavoidable. He couldn’t even participate in the varsity team’s off-season training.
Jeong-in quietly pushed the door open and peeked into the detention room.
The supervising teacher was asleep with a magazine covering their face. Judging by the rhythmic rising and falling of the book, they seemed to be in a deep sleep.
Chase, who had been sitting relaxed at his desk, smiled brightly the moment he spotted Jeong-in.
Jeong-in put his index finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet. Then he tiptoed into the classroom.
There were four students in the detention room, including Chase. One was sleeping face down, another was giggling alone while absorbed in a mobile game. A goth-looking student with a shaved head and piercings was drawing something dark while wearing headphones.
Jeong-in passed by them and sat next to Chase. Then, as if planning to spend time there too, he took out a book to study from his bag.
Jeong-in quietly tore off a corner of his notebook and wrote in small letters,
[Sorry]
The note he handed to Chase was immediately unfolded at his fingertips. Chase thought for a moment, then picked up a red pen and made some corrections.
The twice-folded note returned to Jeong-in’s hand.
He saw that a line had been firmly drawn through his “Sorry.” Below it, in Chase’s handwriting, was a different message:
[‘Thank you’ is correct]
Jeong-in wrote below it with a slight smile:
[Thank you]
And quietly passed the note back to Chase.
He unfolded the note and picked up the red pen again.
This time, a line was lightly drawn through “Thank you,” and a new sentence was added below:
[On second thought, ‘I love you’ seems more appropriate]
Jeong-in suddenly felt his breath catch and quickly covered his mouth with his hand. He hurriedly turned his head toward the window to hide his spreading smile. The blue sky visible through the window looked clear and bright.
Jeong-in carefully folded the note again. Instead of writing a reply, he tucked it deep into his pencil case, lest anyone see it.
Meanwhile, another note flew in from Chase. A paper airplane gently landed on Jeong-in’s desk.
[Want to go see a movie when this is over?]
Below were two small boxes drawn with “Yes” and “No” written next to them. Jeong-in checked “No” and wrote underneath:
[It’s finals time, get your head straight]
The next note Jeong-in received had a crying face drawn with just a few lines.
Looking at the face with drooping eyebrows and large eyes with rolling tears, Jeong-in let out a small laugh.
After the note exchange ended, Jeong-in lowered his gaze to the open book.
Chase stretched one arm across the desk, resting his head on it while looking toward Jeong-in. His profile as he read the textbook with a calm expression seemed like something he could never tire of looking at.
The scratching sound of pencil on paper. The occasional snoring of the supervising teacher.
The detention room, permeated with warm sunlight, was peacefully drowsy.
A gentle breeze seeped through the open window gap, making the curtains flutter softly.
The afternoon was deepening in the cozy, comfortable atmosphere.
* * *
“Now, let’s have someone present their poem.”
As Ms. Davis’s words echoed in the classroom, the students simultaneously avoided eye contact, as if coordinated.
No one wanted to volunteer. While reading a review might be acceptable, reciting a self-written poem was much more burdensome and embarrassing.
But Ms. Davis didn’t consider the students’ feelings. She liked having someone present and then conducting peer reviews, where students critiqued each other’s work.
As the classroom sank into a subtle tension, Ms. Davis slowly looked around before speaking.
“The first person to present will be… Mr. Prescott.”
Chase had been selected. Without hesitation, he took his notebook and came to the front.
“I wrote a Shakespearean sonnet with ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme. The last lines pay homage to a verse by Pablo Neruda, whom I admire. The title is ‘Ode to the Beloved.'”
The excessively sentimental title drew playful jeers from around the classroom. Some students cast meaningful glances at Jeong-in.
However, Jeong-in himself was frozen in surprise, staring at Chase.
The title he mentioned was ‘Ode to the Beloved’ in English, and ‘Beloved’ was the same as the English translation of Jeong-in’s name. So the title could also be interpreted as ‘Ode to Jeong-in’. Of course, only the two of them in this classroom knew its true meaning.
He praised spring, and he praised love.
It was a poem expressing spring’s love for flowering trees, but Jeong-in easily recognized that he was talking about him.
It was last spring when Jeong-in and Chase first began to get entangled. Everything started around the time of the Spring Fling.
“I wish to be your wind, and the flutter that shakes you.
I wish to water your roots, and shine light on your branch tips.
All the things spring does for trees, I wish to do for you.”
No one had expected Chase to write this kind of poem. It was full of love, lyrical, and perhaps even excessively emotional.
Moreover, though this might only be Jeong-in’s perception, there was a strangely sensual feeling to it.
After a brief silence, Ms. Davis cleared his throat and looked around the classroom.
“I thought it would be more about teenage rebellion, but teenage love is also quite something. Anyone want to critique this poem?”
Who would dare to critique Prescott? In the midst of silence, one person confidently raised their hand.
“Jay Lim.”
“I thought your interpretation of ‘March’ as a verb rather than a month was brilliant. Overall, it was a good poem.”
Chase, who received the compliment, smiled softly. But Jeong-in’s words didn’t end there.
“But doesn’t ‘Ode’ usually refer to a long, free-verse poem with flexible rhythm? We’re writing sonnets, which have defined rules.It was a good poem, but I think the title is a bit off.”
Jeong-in spoke clearly, and Chase’s mouth dropped open slightly at the criticism.
Ms. Davis nodded, acknowledging Jeong-in’s opinion.
“Good observation. Changing the title from ‘Ode’ to ‘Sonnet’ might indeed be more appropriate.”
How could I dare to beat you?
Chase looked at Jeong-in who had critiqued his poem with an expression that was both bewildered and loving. Then he immediately launched into a rebuttal.
“I wanted to emphasize the element of praise. I know ‘Ode’ typically refers to free verse, but the word ‘Sonnet’ doesn’t quite capture the sentiment I was trying to convey.”
Ms. Davis gently clapped her hands and moved to wrap things up.
“The master of every poem is its speaker, so the title is also up to the speaker’s discretion. What matters most is what you were trying to convey through the poem.”
Chase, looking at Jeong-in who maintained his usual neat, expressionless face, covered his mouth with his large hand. He couldn’t contain the smile that kept escaping.
* * *
The cafeteria was more crowded than usual.
Today was pizza day, one of the students’ favorite menu items, which might explain why there were more people. Some claimed the pizza tasted like cardboard but came for it anyway. It was still better than the other options.
The students sitting in groups at various tables were particularly lively.
Some had taken out their yearbooks from their bags and were exchanging them to leave messages and signatures.
At the popular kids’ tables, there were even lines of people waiting to get signatures. Some were playfully waving their pens around.
This was a typical scene this time of year.
In American high schools, yearbooks are distributed around the time of final exams every year. A yearbook is like an annual record containing not only class ID photos but also pictures from sports teams, club activities, and school events.
Unlike graduation albums in Korea, yearbooks include ID photos from all grades. Therefore, students who weren’t in the graduating class could freely order one. Of course, the seniors’ pages took up more space, but underclassmen could also look back on the year and create memories through this book.
The last few pages of the yearbook were intentionally left blank. Friends would sign and leave messages for each other there. Sometimes teachers would also participate by writing words of encouragement, and some students enjoyed competing to see who could collect the most signatures.
Jeong-in ordered a yearbook every year. Of course, for the past two years, his yearbook only contained messages from Mathlete Society members and teachers.
Today, Jeong-in sat at a table with Justin and Rajesh, the president of the Mathlete Society. It was a day when Chase would finish his advanced PE class late, and Jeong-in wanted to have lunch with his original friends a couple of times a week anyway.
At the table, the conversation revolved around extracurricular activities for college applications.
“Sigh, I really don’t know what to do.”
Justin, who seemed to have a lot on his mind, sighed deeply with his chin resting on his hand. His first choice was MIT for Computer Science, and he was thinking of creating an app to make a strong impression on the admissions officers.
Technically, he could certainly build it, but the problem was that he didn’t have any compelling ideas for what kind of app to make. What mattered wasn’t just any project, but something that would show something meaningful about himself.
“Ooh! Vivian Sinclair and three cheerleaders approaching from 11 o’clock! Stealth mode activated!”
At Rajesh’s warning, Justin immediately shut his mouth.
From the front, Vivian Sinclair, Madison Wilkes, and Ava Winslow, who reportedly broke up with Brian Cole after prom, were walking over.
Just before sitting at the table, Madison spotted Jeong-in and whispered something to Vivian. Vivian looked over briefly. Then, as if about to make a “hmph” sound, she abruptly turned her head away.
Madison, after putting down her tray, approached their table. She appeared to have told Vivian she’d be back in a moment.
As she approached, the nerds went quiet as if they’d hit the mute button. Rajesh, severely flustered, was repeatedly eating pickles.
Madison sat down in the empty seat without hesitation and took out her yearbook and a colored pen from her bag, extending them to Jeong-in.
“Jay, will you sign my yearbook?”
Jeong-in briefly looked at Madison’s smiling face before lowering his gaze. Looking down at the hand offering him a pen, he fell into thought.
In the past, Jeong-in had been full of prejudices stemming from his inferiority complex. He had considered cheerleaders like Madison and Vivian to be stupid materialists without seriousness, intensity, or concerns. If he hadn’t become involved with Chase, he might have graduated still holding those thoughts.
He felt newly grateful that this hadn’t happened.
Jeong-in nodded nonchalantly and opened Madison’s yearbook. Then he looked for an empty space on the already densely signed page.
Just as he was removing the pen cap, Madison issued a warning.
“Don’t you dare write something obvious like H.A.G.S.”
H.A.G.S (Have a Great Summer) was an abbreviation commonly written formally in the yearbooks of people you weren’t close with.
“And Jay, where’s your yearbook? Can I sign yours too?”
At Madison’s words, Jeong-in quietly took out his yearbook from his bag and handed it over. As soon as she turned the pages, Madison raised her eyebrows high.
“Wow, it’s completely new?”
Jeong-in’s yearbook was practically brand new as he hadn’t yet asked anyone to sign it.
Madison, looking somehow pleased, carefully left her signature with floral embellishments. Watching her, Jeong-in slowly picked up his pen. Then he neatly wrote in an empty space in Madison’s yearbook.
[May physics always be on your side in all lifts and backflips. — Jay. Lim]
Madison burst into laughter after seeing what Jeong-in had written.
“What? Is it bad?”
“No, I love it. It’s so you.”
Jeong-in also received his yearbook back, and Madison, seemingly in a good mood, lightly shook her tied-up hair and walked away.
Madison showed off the signature she had received to Vivian and Ava, who were sitting at her table. Ava glanced over here for a moment, looking intrigued, before turning her head away. Vivian also glared intensely once more, but Jeong-in had long since gained the composure to respond to her with a smile.
Lowering his gaze, Jeong-in quietly opened his yearbook. He saw a daisy flower, very typical of Madison, with her signature, and below it a message written in round handwriting.
[I’m glad I got to know you. Keep up the nerd power. That’s what makes you cool. — Madison W.]
Jeong-in stared at the page for a while. A subtle smile gradually spread across his lips.
The nerds who had been glancing over gasped.
“Jay boy, you’re really amazing…”
“Man, you’re our hero…”
Jeong-in, with an unexpectedly emotional feeling, continued to look at his yearbook.
He recalled his first meeting with Madison. In the bathroom at Chase’s house, behind the noise of a lavish party, she had been crying.
Thinking about it, it wasn’t that long ago, but it felt like something from the distant past.
Now he had become friends with someone with whom he couldn’t find any common ground even if he washed his eyes and looked again, exchanging messages in a yearbook.
As he was experiencing this strange feeling, someone’s hand suddenly reached from behind and snatched away his yearbook.
Then a low voice fell on top of Jeong-in’s head.
“Madison W…?”
Chase was standing right behind Jeong-in. Beside him were the varsity team members who always hung out together. Another silence fell over the nerds’ table at this raid by carnivorous predators. Normally, Justin would have shown off by acknowledging Chase, but that was only possible when Chase was alone.
“The first person to sign your yearbook is… Madison Wilkes?”
Jeong-in blinked his innocent eyes as if wondering what the problem was. Chase had his usual smiling face, but the muscles above his jawline were visibly tense.
“Hey, Dumpling.”
Max greeted Justin as carelessly as ever. Justin nodded awkwardly with a forced smile.
Just then, Chase spoke to Max in a sharper voice than usual.
“Cut that out, Schneider. You sound like a racist.”
His tone was irritable, as if venting frustration.
“What, what? How am I being racist…?”
“His name is Justin. Justin Wong.”
As if that hadn’t been his intention, Max embarrassedly scratched the back of his head. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said to Justin,
“Hey, Dum… I mean, Wong. About your parents’ shop. Honestly, as a regular customer like me, couldn’t they add an extra dumpling or something? I go there several times a week. They’re too stingy. No loyalty cards or anything… like a punch card, you know?”
Justin explained in a tiny voice.
“We actually had coupons. But people kept bringing in coupons with just one stamp and asking to combine them…”
“So what?”
“People who weren’t even regulars would dig through trash cans to find them… so it couldn’t really be called a loyalty coupon anymore…”
Max waved his hand dismissively.
“Whatever. Bring them back. You’re a nerd, you’re supposed to be smart. Find a way.”
While the two were bickering, Chase quietly grabbed Jeong-in’s shoulder. The firm grip seemed to convey an unspoken message.
“Enjoy your lunch, Jeong-in. About the yearbook… let’s talk about it later.”
Jeong-in nodded quietly with an ambiguous smile. Inwardly, he thought, “He’s definitely sulking.”
From experience, Chase was surprisingly jealous. He often threw childish tantrums too. But even such a Chase was just adorable in Jeong-in’s eyes.
After the varsity team crowd moved to another table, the usual atmosphere returned. Justin, nibbling on the edge of his pizza slice, muttered with a laugh.
“Who would’ve thought Max Schneider would ever be helpful in my life…”
“Huh?”
Jeong-in looked at Justin quizzically.
“I got an idea. A regular customer coupon app that a devoted son makes for his parents’ store. What do you think?”
“Hmm… isn’t a regular customer coupon app a bit common?”
“This one will be exclusive to real regulars. Plus, a limited number of registered friends can exchange stamps with each other.”
Rajesh, who was also aiming for computer science, pointed out,
“That system already exists at Starbucks. Are you going to use P2P? There could be potential for misuse.”
“I’ll have to think about a new authentication algorithm.”
What mattered now was that Justin had come up with his own project. And a project like this could not only showcase his technical skills but also incorporate his personal narrative.
Feeling proud himself, Jeong-in gave Justin a big hug.
“Congratulations, Justin!”
“Celebrating already?”
“Because you’ll definitely succeed.”
As Jeong-in patted Justin’s back a couple of times and broke the hug, he felt an intense gaze from somewhere. Chase was sitting at a distance, staring at them with a clearly displeased expression.
“Yikes! What now, Jay? Your boyfriend seems jealous.”
Rajesh leaned forward with a worried expression and whispered.
Jeong-in blinked in momentary confusion, then immediately became serious and firmly replied,
“Boyfriend? What are you talking about? I’m not dating anyone.”
As if playing along while knowing the truth, Rajesh repeated the same sentence with just one word changed,
“Your ‘friend’ seems jealous.”
He made a gesture with the index and middle fingers of both hands when saying ‘friend,’ making air quotation marks to emphasize that the word wasn’t meant literally.
“It’s not like that… Oh! Have you guys decided what to do during summer break?”
Jeong-in awkwardly mumbled and quickly changed the subject.
Jeong-in thought that nobody except Justin knew about his relationship with Chase. However, most students at Wincrest High School, and even some faculty members, already knew they were dating.
The sight of them walking side by side in the hallway, exchanging glances in the classroom, sitting naturally at the same table during lunch, and Chase’s gaze searching for Jeong-in after games. It was questionable whether they had even intended to hide it in the first place.
Some people even said: the quarterback, who had been involved in scandals with different people every time despite having a public girlfriend, had finally scored a touchdown in true love.
* * *
Jeong-in was still struggling with his essay. He was staring blankly at the blinking cursor when the messaging app opened with a notification from Chase.
Chase Prescott: [Want a late-night snack? I know a really good spaghetti place. I’ll bring takeout and we can eat together, Lady and the Tramp style.]
Lady and the Tramp style?
It was a phrase Jeong-in had never heard before. Maybe it was some latest trend he wasn’t familiar with, like keto spaghetti that used something other than noodles, or the pink sauce spaghetti that was once popular. Not wanting to seem out of touch, Jeong-in quickly replied,
To Chase Prescott: [Yeah, sounds good. That style is delicious.]
After sending the reply, he opened the search bar and typed ‘Lady and the Tramp style spaghetti.’ He hoped it wasn’t seafood. As he thought that, Jeong-in’s expression gradually became desolate.
Lady and the Tramp wasn’t a spaghetti menu item but the title of a Disney animated film. The search results showed not recipes, but numerous images of two dogs eating a single strand of spaghetti from opposite ends until their lips met in a kiss.
Chase Prescott: [You’re googling it right now, aren’t you?]
Flustered, Jeong-in slammed his laptop shut.
About 30 minutes later, there was a knock on the window. Chase climbed through it as naturally as if it were his own home.
In his hand was a brown paper bag with the logo of an Italian restaurant clearly printed on it. It was a place famous for classic spaghetti and meatballs. The tangy tomato sauce and fragrant herb smell tickled Jeong-in’s nose.
As Chase opened the paper bag and took out the contents, Jeong-in’s face brightened.
“Meatballs? Great! I was worried you might bring seafood.”
“Jeong-in, you could have just told me that beforehand.”
“I didn’t want to seem picky when you were offering to buy. It makes me look difficult.”
“What’s there to be awkward about between us? We agreed to be honest with each other, right?”
Jeong-in nodded in agreement. Seizing the momentum, Chase added another comment.
“So I can also be honestly upset that Madison signed your yearbook before me, right?”
Jeong-in let out a light sigh of resignation, as if surrendering.
“It’s not a big deal.”
“Jeong-in, your jealous retriever might chew up that yearbook. Or maybe bury it in the backyard.”
Jeong-in burst into laughter as if he found this version of Chase completely adorable.
He had seemed like someone who would be relaxed about everything, but in reality, he wasn’t. Just seeing him hug Justin was enough to light a fire in those blue eyes.
But Jeong-in enjoyed discovering these unexpected aspects of him. It made him feel that he wasn’t some distant star in the sky, but rather someone real by his side in everyday life.
While Jeong-in was putting his things away, Chase naturally made space on the edge of his desk and set up food. The spaghetti in the container was generous enough for at least three people, even at a glance.
“Wow, it smells delicious. Thanks for the food.”
As Jeong-in spoke with an expectant voice, Chase picked up a strand of spaghetti with his fork and said slyly,
“Shall we do it Lady and the Tramp style?”
Chase moved closer with a playful smile, and Jeong-in immediately pushed his forehead away with his palm.
“No. Don’t play with food.”
Chase expressed his dissatisfaction with a pouting lip, and Jeong-in realized anew that this person who always seemed so mature was actually the same age as him.
The two shared the spaghetti until they were full and helped each other study. Of course, they kissed in between, and today again, Snowball had to face the wall the entire time.
“Oh, Jeong-in. Shall we make summer vacation plans together? I’ve looked into a few things.”
“Really?”
Chase didn’t really need any more extracurricular activities, but he had researched and prepared various options for Jeong-in. If he wanted to spend time with Jeong-in, the only way was to enter his world.
“First, I heard that the newly restored Hope Harbor Children’s Ward is recruiting volunteers.”
“The place that had a fire?”
“Yes.”
Chase took one of Jeong-in’s notebooks from his desk to write down possible options. He wrote “Volunteer at Hope Harbor Children’s Ward.”
This time, Jeong-in shared what he had been thinking.
“The community center is also looking for volunteers for their mentoring program. Justin said he’s going there to teach coding to kids.”
“That sounds good too.”
Chase calmly wrote it down at the bottom of the notebook. Suddenly his eyes narrowed. He could faintly see something written on the next page showing through. It clearly said ‘Prescott.’
Chase casually turned the page. And the next moment, he let out a short, hollow laugh.
“Ha…”
Jeong-in, completely unaware that another of his embarrassing secrets had been discovered, was staring into space, trying to think of other volunteer opportunities.
Just then, he heard the sound of fabric rustling beside him.
Chase had suddenly pulled off the sweatshirt he was wearing and tossed it aside. His healthy, tanned body was fully exposed right in front of him.
His strong physique, not just toned from exercise but clearly extraordinary from birth, filled his vision.
Jeong-in’s eyes widened dramatically.
“W-what are you doing all of a sudden!”
“I’m guaranteeing a feast for your eyes with my hot body and hot face.”
As soon as he heard those words, the blood drained from Jeong-in’s face. That ominously familiar phrase. Only then did he notice the notebook lying beside him.
Jeong-in covered his face with both hands in frustration.
“Oh my goodness…”
The second notebook scandal had erupted. He had discovered the list of pros and cons he had written down.
Chase slowly approached the desk. Each time he moved, the muscles that cast deep shadows naturally contracted and relaxed, capturing Jeong-in’s gaze.
Chase took Jeong-in’s hand and placed it on his bare shoulder. He could feel the smooth, elastic skin and the firmly set muscles beneath it.
Still holding Jeong-in’s wrist, Chase slowly guided his hand to run down his body.
“What are you doing…”
“I’m personally proving the point in your pros list that says I’m likely to be good at physical intimacy.”
“J-Justin wrote that!”
“My, my… how cowardly, Jeong-in. Throwing your friend under the bus.”
His voice had settled low and deep. It was mischievous, but with a strangely soft resonance that felt oddly sensual.
Jeong-in’s hand, held captive by Chase, was passing over his clearly defined abs. It would seem about to stop, but then continue slowly, bit by bit, moving downward.
When the base of his palm finally touched near his belt buckle, the feeling of cold metal snapped Jeong-in back to his senses, and he pushed Chase’s solid stomach away with all his might.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Chase fell backward as if landing on his behind.
A loud crash resounded, and soon Suzy’s voice came from downstairs.
“Jeong-in? Are you okay?”
Flustered, Jeong-in flung the door open and called toward the lower floor.
“I-I’m fine! I just hit my foot on the corner of the bed.”
“Again? Be more careful!”
After hurriedly collecting himself and returning, he found Chase sitting relaxed against the bed, chuckling as if the whole situation was amusing.
“Don’t laugh!”
Chase pulled Jeong-in to sit between his legs, gave him one tight hug, then released him and rested his chin on his shoulder. Then he playfully touched and fiddled with areas that weren’t suggestive, like his forearm, wrist, and the back of his hand, places that wouldn’t earn him a slap.
Suddenly, Chase’s gaze turned toward his feet.
He could see the corner of a yearbook peeking out from the gap in Jeong-in’s bag that he had accidentally knocked over. A strong impulse surged through him. He really wanted to chew it up like a dog would.
“I’ve always wanted to ask, how did you and Madison become friends?”
Jeong-in told him about his first meeting with Madison, who had been crying in the bathroom at his house. As he spoke, he naturally recalled his past self, how narrowly and judgmentally he had viewed people.
“You know, Chase, did you know Antarctica is a desert?”
“Huh?”
Chase blinked at the unexpected question.
“The dictionary definition of a desert is ‘a place with an average annual rainfall of less than 250mm.’ Antarctica gets less than 50mm, which is even lower than a typical desert. That’s why, strictly speaking, it can be classified as a desert.”
“That’s fascinating.”
“There are so many things in the world that are different from how they appear. Don’t you think? Like Madison, and like you.”
Chase looked at Jeong-in quietly, a gentle smile on his lips.
“Like you too.”
The world was full of things that couldn’t be fully judged by appearances alone. And at this moment, even the two of them were part of that unpredictable flow. Who could have ever imagined they would end up like this?
“Are there any other facts I don’t know?”
“Hmm… bananas aren’t actually fruits but berries.”
“Really?”
“Yes, since bananas grow on plants that are technically herbs, not trees, botanically they’re classified as berries. On the other hand, strawberries aren’t berries at all. Surprising, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Really surprising.”
In truth, Chase was the one who found Jeong-in amazing. How could so many things fit into that small head? Jeong-in still felt like an unsolvable equation to Chase. Someone who made him more curious the more he learned about him, an endlessly intriguing presence.
“You should go now. I’m sleepy.”
Jeong-in stretched lazily. The time had already passed midnight.
“I’ll watch you fall asleep before I leave.”
“Being too clingy isn’t attractive.”
Chase chuckled in surrender and put his sweatshirt back on, which he had taken off and left on the floor.
“Good night.”
After saying goodbye, Chase climbed through the window onto the roof with practiced movements. Going across the roof and down the tree had become part of his routine.
He leaped lightly from the roof toward the tree as usual.
At that exact moment, Suzy came out of the front door to retrieve something she’d left in his car. Startled by the sudden opening door sound, Chase flinched reflexively. His timing was thrown off. His foot, which should have landed on the branch, slipped and scraped against the bark.
He tried to regain his footing, but the branch couldn’t bear his weight and broke with a crack. His large body fell into the bushes below with a thud.
“Who’s there!”
Suzy’s voice cut sharply through the night air.
Chase curled up and held his breath.
“Come out right now!”
Scanning the surroundings, Suzy grabbed a garden hoe that was used for tending the yard. She brandished it menacingly in the air. The swishing sound of it cutting through air could be heard.
After a moment of silence, a blond head slowly emerged from the bushes. Suzy’s eyes gradually narrowed.
“Chase?”
“…Hello.”
Chase greeted her with an awkward smile. His body was half-buried in the bushes with dry leaves stuck all over his head.
Suzy looked up at the second-floor window. Through the open window, Jeong-in was looking down at them with both hands covering his mouth.
Her gaze returned to Chase.
From simple curiosity to disbelief, and then gradually to bewilderment.
Her expression slowly changed.