EAR Ch 15

“Don’t hang out at my desk anymore.”

Oh Seungpyo’s sudden declaration that morning left the other kids dumbfounded, as if a fundamental right had been snatched away overnight.

Seungpyo’s desk had always been a sort of common area. Whether Oh Seungpyo was studying, sleeping, scrolling through his phone, or playing games, the other kids would gather there like clockwork, chatting, exchanging information, and making plans for after school.

Now, they looked uneasy, like regulars facing the closure of their favorite shop. They voiced their discontent, each in their own way.

“Why again?”

“Are you saying you’re gonna study?”

“Midterms are still ages away. You always cram anyway.”

Instead of answering, Oh Seungpyo opened his textbook.

“Cramming was a middle school thing. How long are you going to see me that way?”

“So you’re not joining the game tonight either?”

“Nope, not until after the exams.”

“Aw, man, we need you.”

They grumbled their disappointment, but there was nothing they could do. Interfering with a friend’s determined study plan was something you just couldn’t do, not if you had even a shred of friendship.

Although no one dared say it aloud for fear of incurring Oh Seungpyo’s wrath, they all shared the same suspicion: it was because he was in the same class as Ryu Jaemin. Those close to Seungpyo since their first year remembered how he’d go into a frenzy every exam period, declaring he’d focus solely on studying, giving up games, basketball, soccer, and all other forms of entertainment.

This year, with Ryu Jaemin right there in front of him, the frenzy had come early. Midterms were still over a month away, yet here he was, having his pre-exam meltdown before mid-March.

Ranking second in the entire school, Oh Seungpyo held a position most mid-tier students could only dream of. It was a score he could brag about endlessly, and in truth, he wasn’t exactly humble. Yet, despite his rather arrogant nature, he wasn’t disliked. Perhaps it was because his periodic bouts of insecurity-driven theatrics were comical… no, perhaps they were… endearing. One of the kids nodded and spoke.

“You’re a good guy.”

“What?”

Seungpyo asked, bewildered. After banning them from his desk and the game, it was an unexpectedly warm comment. But instead of explaining, the other kids simply offered words of encouragement – “Good luck,” “Study hard” – before migrating to someone else’s desk.

Watching them boisterously gather elsewhere, Seungpyo felt a pang of loneliness, like a large dog separated from the pack. He glanced at Jaemin’s desk.

Ryu Jaemin was usually quiet and kept to himself in class, but today, he radiated an even more unapproachable aura. While not as popular as Seungpyo, Jaemin had a few kids who usually hovered around him. Even they were keeping their distance today, chattering amongst themselves.

This “bet” must have spurred Ryu Jaemin on as well. The intensity with which he stared at his textbook, even during break time, was remarkable. He muttered to himself as he moved his pen, either memorizing or solving problems. Watching him, Seungpyo’s briefly relaxed resolve hardened once more.

His renewed determination held firm even after he returned home from school and cram school. He showered, changed, and immediately sat down at his desk to continue studying.

“Hey, wanna order pizza?”

He ignored his older brother’s usually tempting offer, which he normally would have jumped at.

“No. Eat it yourself.”

“Seriously? I’m only ordering one. Don’t even think about asking for a slice later or you’re dead.”

“I’m not eating. I’m studying, so don’t bother me.”

“This punk… Like you’re the only one with exams? With all this fuss, you’re destined to fail again.”

“Ugh, just leave me alone!”

Even with Seungpyo raising his voice, his brother simply clicked his tongue and slammed the door shut. Seungpyo sighed and returned his attention to his books.

Ryu Jaemin, living with his university professor parents, was probably studying in a perfectly conducive environment… It was a disadvantageous bet in many ways, but that only fueled Seungpyo’s competitive spirit.

‘Just you wait. If I win, you’re not getting away with this.’

The first thing that came to mind when he thought of Ryu Jaemin was his slightly condescending, emotionless expression. He often smiled when with others, but Oh Seungpyo knew it was a carefully crafted facade.

Discovering those rare moments when Ryu Jaemin was surprised, flustered, angry, or embarrassed… expressions rarely seen in the crowded classroom or cram school… had become Oh Seungpyo’s latest amusement.

It was a similar pleasure to collecting trading cards as a kid. The thrill of acquiring a rare SSS-grade card was addictive, and seeing Ryu Jaemin’s rare reactions evoked a similar feeling.

Logically, who would bet on seeing another guy jerk off as a condition for winning a bet? He couldn’t even bring himself to do it while running his exhibitionist account, so he must have had his reasons. He simply wanted to see Ryu Jaemin squirm. In short, it was an opportunity to obtain a super rare card.

‘…I have to work hard.’

He would make Ryu Jaemin so embarrassed and flustered that he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Seungpyo turned the page, reaffirming his resolve. He did have to yell, “I said I’m not eating!” when his brother knocked again after receiving the pizza delivery, but that was a minor inconvenience.

It seemed like a simple wager, each focused on studying, but there was an unexpected problem.

Midterms were still a month away. It was only March, and the exact exam dates hadn’t even been announced yet.

The next day, during a class change, Seungpyo sidled up to Jaemin. Pretending to stretch, he leaned in and whispered,

“So, when and where today?”

Ryu Jaemin’s reply was curt.

“There’s no time for that.”

“What? It doesn’t take that long.”

“I plan my study schedule down to the minute, to the second, during exam periods. I don’t have time for your games.”

A faint sneer played on Jaemin’s lips as he finished speaking.

“Do I look like I’m here to relieve your pent-up frustrations?”

“Get your facts straight. You’re the pervert, not me.”

“Who suggested it in the first place?”

In a situation where every second counted towards securing first place, it was only natural to exploit even the opponent’s desires. Oh Seungpyo regretted not clarifying this aspect when they initially set the terms of the bet, but it was too late now.

Compared to Ryu Jaemin, who could strip in front of countless people and put on a show to fulfill his desires, Seungpyo was a mere fledgling in the world of perversion, still intoxicated by the newly discovered sweetness of a kiss. Frustrated, Oh Seungpyo resorted to whining.

“Hey, you’re not allowed to make another one of those accounts behind my back.”

“When are you going to stop bringing that up?”

Jaemin snapped coldly and walked away. Oh Seungpyo stared after him resentfully, sighing deeply before trudging along.

…However, even this kiss ban eventually became a source of motivation for Oh Seungpyo’s studies.

Whether they encountered each other at school, cram school, in the hallway, passed each other in the faculty room, accidentally brushed against each other during PE, or were called by a teacher to run errands together…

The moments when he could have stolen a kiss, all slipped through Oh Seungpyo’s fingers like sand. He knew how Ryu Jaemin’s lips felt against his, he knew the look on Jaemin’s face, the soft sounds he sometimes made….

Being forbidden from that sweet act for nearly a month was driving him crazy. Frustrated, he’d even asked Ryu Jaemin directly once.

“Doesn’t it bother you that we can’t do it? Why are you being so strict about this?”

“I’m fine. Watching you freak out because you can’t have it is stress relieving.”

“…You’re such a freakin’ pervert.”

After that day, Seungpyo had to suppress even the urge to show how much he wanted to kiss Ryu Jaemin.

Ryu Jaemin in Oh Seungpyo’s eyes was becoming less of a person and more of a tempting prize he could win, a trophy made of sugar. Every time Seungpyo opened a book, he gritted his teeth. Sometimes, he’d stare at the pictures of Ryu Jaemin he’d secretly taken last year on his phone, trying to console himself.

Just you wait. Once he got first place, he was going to demand an entire Saturday or Sunday, at least one full weekend day. He needed at least 12 hours to do everything he wanted to make up for this cruel month of abstinence.

Day by day, time steadily passed. Spring deepened, and cherry blossoms bloomed. During cherry blossom season, the Seungpyo brothers usually went on outings with their cousins who lived nearby, but this year, Seungpyo devoted himself to studying, forgoing even the flower viewing.

As performance assessments progressed and the midterm exam period was announced, the test range was also set. Not just Oh Seungpyo and Ryu Jaemin, but all the students in the class began cramming as if their pants were on fire. It was hard to find them playing outside or chatting loudly during breaks or lunch.

The day before the exam, the student sitting next to Seungpyo startled and stammered.

“Hey, Oh Seungpyo. You, you’re bleeding!”

“What?”

“Your nose is bleeding.”

Seungpyo touched the area under his nose with the back of his hand. A small amount of blood was indeed flowing.

He’d had countless nosebleeds from exercising or bumping into other kids while playing, but this was the first time he’d had a nosebleed while studying.

Another student quickly brought him some tissue. Instead of being alarmed, Seungpyo wiped the blood away, feeling a sense of pride. A nosebleed from studying? I must be working my ass off this time. The student who brought the tissue asked with concern,

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“My body is just overflowing with passion.”

The sudden bleeding incident caused a commotion around Seungpyo’s desk, and Ryu Jaemin seemed to have been watching. Their eyes met for the first time in a while. Though he quickly turned his head away with a bored expression.

Seungpyo felt confident. He’d studied so hard he’d gotten a nosebleed, so he could easily overcome a small point difference. He often heard athletes in interviews say they weren’t nervous on the big stage because they’d prepared their best during training. Was this the confidence one felt after pouring in all their effort?

Oh Seungpyo faced the first midterm of his sophomore year with the tranquility of an enlightened being.

📚

The Ilyang Boys’ High School midterm exams lasted for five days, from April 20th to 25th.

The academy that Seungpyo and Jaemin attended also held supplementary classes during the midterm period. The intensive internal assessment preparation class was made up of students from the same school. Every day after the exams, the students brought their test papers to the academy and checked their answers with the instructors.

It was a period of hardship unlike any exam period before. Even Oh Seungpyo, who had never felt particularly tired during exam periods, was different this time. After checking the answers for the last subject, all he could think about was going home and sleeping.

On the last day of the midterms, Seungpyo dragged himself to the academy, fighting off sleep. He finished reviewing the test with the instructor and checked the estimated scores for the remaining subjects with the other students.

“How many did you get wrong?”

The students’ curious questions were directed at Seungpyo. Since everyone knew how intensely Seungpyo had prepared for this exam, it was natural for them to be curious about the results.

Seungpyo didn’t answer immediately. Staring at the test paper with an indifferent expression, he replied in a tone as blunt as his face.

“About the same as usual.”

“Really?”

It didn’t seem like it. The students gauged Oh Seungpyo’s reaction, but he didn’t seem inclined to elaborate.

“I need to use the restroom.”

“Okay.”

As Seungpyo abruptly stood up, the other students quickly moved aside. Only after he strode out of the classroom did they quietly whisper amongst themselves.

“Did he bomb the test? His face looked terrible.”

“If he says it’s the same as usual, that means he messed up by Oh Seungpyo standards. He worked so hard this time.”

“Ryu Jaemin probably did well, right?”

Leaving behind the whispers about him, Seungpyo walked down the long hallway. His stiff, angry expression gradually softened, and the corners of his mouth began to creep upwards.

Seungpyo pressed his hand firmly over his mouth. Suppressing the triumphant joy resounding within him required superhuman levels of patience for a high school student.

‘This time, there’s a real chance…!’

Sincere effort brings its own rewards.

Even on his best internal assessment test in his freshman year, he had gotten three questions wrong in all subjects. Based on the preliminary scoring, after checking the answers so far, Seungpyo had only one wrong answer out of all the questions.

This meant there was a high chance of victory, or at least a tie, unless Ryu Jaemin got a perfect score on all subjects. He hadn’t heard of Ryu Jaemin getting a perfect score in the past year. News like that would inevitably spread, but that accolade had never been attached to the perfect top student.

Just then, he saw Ryu Jaemin talking with the instructor on one side of the hallway. Jaemin’s back was completely unguarded, unaware that Seungpyo was approaching.

“Did you check your scores? How did it go?”

“I think I missed one.”

“One? You did well again this time.”

One.

At those words, Seungpyo’s jaw dropped open.

“Oh Seungpyo, how was your exam?”

The instructor, finally noticing Seungpyo approaching, greeted him. Ryu Jaemin, realizing Seungpyo’s presence, also turned around. The gazes of Seungpyo, who had stopped in his tracks, and Jaemin clashed sharply.

Following the unexpected kiss ban, Seungpyo realized once again how carelessly they had set the terms of this bet.

‘What if it’s actually a tie?’

Seungpyo approached the two and answered,

“I think I missed one question.”

Jaemin’s eyes flickered.

“Oh, really? The average score at Ilyang is going to go up a lot this time because you two did so well.”

The academy instructor was equally surprised. The instructor seemed to have the same thought as Seungpyo. Maybe the two would tie, or maybe the school rankings would be reversed this time.

However, the experienced instructor, instead of prying further about the test scores, chose to quickly wrap up the potentially sensitive conversation.

“It’s not easy to get these kinds of scores on the first midterm of sophomore year. You both worked really hard. Good job.”

The two bowed their heads slightly to the instructor, who subtly excused himself, and then looked at each other. Seungpyo’s face, which had been leaking a smile just moments ago, hardened completely. Jaemin, who usually maintained a blank expression in front of Seungpyo, was no different.

After standing in awkward silence for a moment, Seungpyo was the first to break the ice.

“What did you get wrong?”

“One in English. You?”

“One in Korean. How many points was it worth?”

“You first.”

Seungpyo swallowed and shoved his hands into his pockets. He was incredibly nervous for some reason. He clenched and unclenched his fist in his pocket, then answered solemnly, as if revealing a hidden card.

“3 points.”

Jaemin’s already stiff expression paled further. For a brief moment, Seungpyo saw the tension in his long neck above his shirt collar.

Seungpyo’s mind raced. Could it be… Could he have actually beaten Ryu Jaemin? Not a tie, but a win?

Jaemin, who had been silent, spoke heavily.

“Me too.”

Seungpyo closed his mouth tight. This was the first time he had a different outcome in their constant battles, but now that the result was right in front of him, he couldn’t just laugh it off. He had worked really hard compared to last year, but it felt surreal to catch up so easily in a race he had been losing for a year.

Of course, exams always involved a significant element of luck in addition to natural talent and constant effort. It was still just a preliminary score, but written test scores rarely changed or flipped after the initial check. Seungpyo cautiously raised the question that had been on his mind.

“…What if it’s a tie? Do we both have to do what we promised? Should we play rock-paper-scissors?”

“We could just not do it,” Jaemin replied swiftly. But Seungpyo shook his head.

“What’s the point of making a bet if we’re not going to have any fun?”

“Did you do this for fun?”

“Of course bets are for fun. What else would they be for?”

Why would he make a bet with such perverted conditions if it wasn’t for fun? Seungpyo shrugged.

“Thanks to the bet, my grades improved a lot. You didn’t lose either, so you’ll be first in the school again. Joint first, but still.”

“….”

“Let’s postpone deciding what to do until the scores are officially confirmed. There are a lot of people here, so let’s talk again tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Seungpyo quickly left. Jaemin stayed there for a moment longer, then also walked away quickly.

📚

Since it was the last day of exams, classes at the academy ended early, and Jaemin got home earlier than usual.

The sound of the door opening seemed eerily loud today. He quietly entered, and the housekeeper came to the entrance to greet him.

“Today was the last day of exams, right? Are you tired?”

“No. It’s not like it’s my first time taking an exam.”

“Your parents won’t be back until dinner time. Get some rest. Do you want a snack?”

“It’s okay. I’m not hungry.”

“Tell me if you want something to eat. I’ll prepare it right away.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The housekeeper, who had been forced to help inspect Jaemin’s belongings at his father’s request, understood better than anyone besides his family how unusual Jaemin’s parents were. She wouldn’t be telling him to rest with such an anxious expression unless she knew. Jaemin was embarrassed that these people, who valued appearances so much, didn’t seem to care at all about what the housekeeper thought.

He went to his room, changed his clothes, and sat down on the bed, almost lying down. He took out his test paper and checked the question he got wrong again. Or rather, he checked the points written next to it.

[3.2]

Unbelievable.

He had lied in the crowded hallway of the academy, saying he had also missed a 3-point question because he didn’t want to reveal the truth. But the question Jaemin missed was worth 0.2 points more than Seungpyo’s. If the rankings were based on the preliminary scores, Seungpyo would be ahead of Jaemin.

‘I overthought it.’

It wasn’t an essay question; it was a multiple-choice question, a school internal assessment question. He shouldn’t have thought too deeply about it, but he made a mistake. He had forgotten the intent of the question while agonizing over it.

There hadn’t been any particular discussion during the answer review session at the academy. There was a clear answer, so there was nothing to worry about, but why did he do that? Studying and taking exams were completely different things; it was an uncharacteristic mistake for Jaemin.

‘My average score is higher than last semester’s final.’

It wasn’t easy for Jaemin to miss only one question on all subjects, so even if he dropped to second place, his parents wouldn’t scold him.

…He knew Oh Seungpyo resented him for taking the top spot in high school after Seungpyo had been first in his class throughout middle school. But Ryu Jaemin was also a top student who had always been first in everything. Just the thought of Oh Seungpyo’s name being above his on the announcement board made his heart race unpleasantly.

He hated it all. He hated the thought of carrying out the vulgar terms of the bet in front of Oh Seungpyo, and he hated the thought of hearing even a slightly sarcastic remark, even if he wasn’t scolded for dropping in rank.

But what he hated most was the fact that he was second.

It was too early to be certain, but he lost to Oh Seungpyo. He could lose.

He bit down hard on his finger. Even biting hard enough to hurt his soft skin didn’t calm him down. The anger at himself for messing things up with a trivial mistake heated his entire body, overriding the pain.

He hadn’t lived a life of winning in every aspect, but at least when it came to studying, he had never tasted defeat. And to lose to that perverted, scheming bastard… Just imagining Oh Seungpyo’s triumphant face made him furious.

“Ah…”

Jaemin lay down completely on the bed and covered his face with his arms. The unfamiliar taste of defeat was more bitter than spicy, and he felt like crying for no reason.

The heat that had been bubbling in his chest rose to his throat and now stung his eyes. Blinking in the dim light under his arm, Jaemin suppressed the heat that threatened to spill over and abruptly sat up.

He shook his head repeatedly until his mind calmed down. The power of physical movement was strange; shaking his head like this really did seem to shake off useless thoughts.

“Auntie, I want a snack.”

“Yes, are you hungry now?”

He opened the door and the housekeeper, who was tidying up the living room, smiled as if she had been waiting for him. It was raining outside the wide-open living room window, as if she had been airing the room out.

“It was clear, but it suddenly started raining. Let’s listen to the rain for a bit if you don’t mind.”

“Okay.”

“Shall I make some potato pancakes? It’s tradition to eat pancakes on rainy days. Your parents don’t really eat flour-based food, so let’s eat and clean up quickly.”

“Okay. Sounds good.”

He sat at the dining table and waited, and soon the sound of sizzling oil tickled his ears. The sounds from outside and the kitchen mixed together, making it difficult to distinguish between the rain and the frying. As he surrendered himself to the pleasant noise, the heat that had been bubbling in his chest seemed to melt away. He gradually felt at peace.

“Eat some more. I’ll make more.”

“This is enough. I’ll feel sick if I eat too much.”

“Oh, at your age, everything you eat turns into height.”

The housekeeper was a very good cook. The thinly sliced potato pancakes were crispy and delicious. The housekeeper tore off a long piece from the edge and placed it on Jaemin’s plate. As he chewed and swallowed the burning hot pancake, the feeling of wanting to cry just moments ago felt slightly silly and absurd.

“Thank you.”

“Really, you won’t have any more? You have such a small appetite.”

“Auntie, this is a lot for me. I finish everything I get for school lunch.”

“That tiny school lunch? You should be eating everything at your age, even iron bars.”

“School lunch portions aren’t small.”

The outcome wasn’t decided yet. It was rare for preliminary scores to change, but they were still just preliminary.

Even though he tried to wash away his feelings with the carefully prepared snack, the bitter, sticky anxiety clinging to a corner of his heart wouldn’t disappear. Jaemin tried to calm himself down.

📚

The rumor that Oh Seungpyo had missed only a 3-point question on the midterm exam spread throughout his class in a single day.

Walls have ears. They had talked in the academy hallway, full of students anxious about their test scores. No matter how quietly they whispered, someone must have overheard and spread the word.

“Oh Seungpyo is really ascending to the heavens.”

“I feel a distance between us now.”

“Are you really going to be first this time? Is it true that Ryu Jaemin got the same question wrong?”

To the students’ exclamations, sighs, and curiosity, Seungpyo replied with a relaxed expression,

“No, I don’t know what question Ryu Jaemin got wrong.”

Even though he tried not to listen, Seungpyo and his friends’ chatter constantly reached Jaemin’s ears as they sat in the same classroom. Jaemin sighed inaudibly and stepped out into the hallway. It seemed better to take a walk indoors until class started.

The rumors were already spreading. What if Oh Seungpyo and the other students found out he could lose by a mere 0.2 points…?

He felt as uneasy as a prisoner awaiting sentencing. As Jaemin walked dejectedly down the hallway, a teacher suddenly came into view, walking from the opposite direction.

“Hello, sir.”

“Oh, hello. You worked hard on the exams.”

Jaemin exchanged a brief greeting and was about to pass by, but he turned around after only a few steps.

Jaemin usually preferred to acknowledge his shortcomings and accept the given outcome rather than cause trouble. But this time was different. Not just his internal assessment, but the bet was at stake, so he had to do whatever he could.

“Sir,”

“Hmm?”

“Question number 10 on the midterm. I think there’s something wrong with it.”

“With the question? What’s wrong?”

The English teacher gestured for him to follow. Jaemin quickly followed him to the teachers’ office.

Today’s English class was the third period. The teacher patted his shoulder with a book and stood at the podium.

The half-lidded gaze he swept over the students felt ominous. They nervously glanced at the teacher’s face.

Did our class do poorly on the English exam? Some students initially worried about that, then concluded it was impossible since Oh Seungpyo and Ryu Jaemin were in the same class. Then, they started blaming themselves, the kind-hearted mid-tier students, for lowering the average score. The teacher spoke.

“Was there anything strange about yesterday’s English exam?”

The students just shifted their eyes instead of answering. Their faces clearly conveyed the thought, “Was there?”

“There was a slight error in question number 10. As you all know from checking your answers, number 3 is the correct answer, but I realized today that number 4 could also be considered correct. This is my mistake in creating the question, so I apologize.”

“Oh, so…”

“Number 4 will also be accepted as a correct answer!”

The murmuring voices gradually turned into loud cheers at the teacher’s firm declaration. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed that even the students who chose number 4 hadn’t clearly thought of it as an error during the exam.

So I got one more right? Wow, my score went up! Excited by the sudden increase in scores, the students, forgetting it was class time, chattered amongst themselves, so the teacher slammed his hand on the podium a few times. The students quickly quieted down.

“Ryu Jaemin was the only student in the entire school who pointed out the error in the question. Let’s all give Ryu Jaemin a round of applause.”

Ooh, wow, as expected of the top student! Some students clapped enthusiastically, even openly flattering him. After all, many of them had benefited from Ryu Jaemin’s initiative, which had raised the average score, so their enthusiasm was genuine.

‘You didn’t have to announce that I was the one who pointed it out.’

Jaemin’s face flushed slightly. He hadn’t mustered the courage to correct the error for the greater good; he had done it for his own benefit.

If he hadn’t been disadvantaged by the error, he wouldn’t have said anything. It wasn’t his style to nitpick and try to overturn results after they were released.

Nevertheless, Jaemin’s elated expression didn’t fade easily. Unlike yesterday, when he had been prematurely defeated by the thought of losing to Oh Seungpyo, his heart pounded pleasantly.

If the incorrect English question was recognized as correct, and there were no other variables in the preliminary scoring, Ryu Jaemin could potentially receive a perfect score on this midterm exam. A perfect score on all subjects. Even for Jaemin, it was a score he hadn’t achieved since middle school.

He glanced involuntarily at Oh Seungpyo’s seat. Seungpyo also seemed to be watching Jaemin. Their eyes met precisely.

He had a very subtle expression. His eyes were narrowed, as if he was suspicious or mocking Jaemin. In any case, it wasn’t a pleasant expression. Feeling guilty even though he had done nothing wrong, Jaemin turned his head to the front, pretending not to see.

The teacher, about to start the class after calming the commotion, stopped flipping through his book and gestured towards a student with his chin.

“Oh Seungpyo, yes?”

Oh Seungpyo had raised his hand. The students’ attention now shifted to Seungpyo.

“But sir, number 3 is still the definite answer, right?”

“That’s true.”

“It’s a multiple-choice test. If there’s an ambiguous answer and a definite answer, shouldn’t only the definite answer be considered correct? I was also confused because there seemed to be two answers to question 10, but I chose number 3 because it was definite. It’s not like only Ryu Jaemin noticed it; there are probably more students who knew about it but chose the more obvious answer.”

As Seungpyo protested point by point, the teacher, seemingly flustered, closed his mouth. Students who hadn’t voiced their complaints when the number 4 group cheered, now spoke up in support of Seungpyo’s opinion, muttering, “That’s right, that’s right,” and “If that question is marked correct for everyone, my ranking might drop.”

Hmm, the teacher nodded and seemed to consider it for a moment, but then looked around at the students.

“Of course, some people will be disadvantaged if this question is considered correct for everyone. But this decision was made after discussion with other teachers before class, and even in the CSAT, multiple answers are sometimes accepted in such cases. I also thought long and hard about whether number 4 could be considered within the range of correct answers, but I had to conclude that it was a mistake in the question creation.”

The teacher’s tone was much more serious than when he had asked, “Was there anything strange about the question?”

“I will make sure this never happens again. I apologize, everyone.”

“No, it’s okay. I didn’t say anything to hear an apology.”

Seungpyo grumbled, but it seemed he had only raised the objection casually, as he didn’t press the issue further. As the teacher formally explained and apologized using honorifics, the complaining students also subsided, and the atmosphere in the classroom returned to normal.

“Let’s start class.”

At the teacher’s words, the students opened their textbooks without further delay. Peace returned to the classroom after the brief commotion, but Jaemin’s face hadn’t fully regained its usual composure.

The teacher who had created the exam had made the decision after discussion and deliberation in the teachers’ office, so there was nothing wrong with Jaemin’s point, but he felt ashamed. As the teacher had said, he knew that some students would be disadvantaged if the results changed, but he still raised an objection to the finished exam because he didn’t want to lose his top rank.

Some might argue that he raised the issue for a legitimate reason, and it was natural to prioritize his own interests. But Jaemin had never struggled and clawed his way to victory before. He felt uncomfortable, like he had done something uncharacteristically unseemly, even though no one was criticizing him.

‘I shouldn’t have made that bet… I’m completely screwed.’

If it weren’t for the bet, Oh Seungpyo wouldn’t have studied so hard he got a nosebleed, chasing so closely behind him.

Oh Seungpyo had stuck in Jaemin’s mind since their freshman year. Since the day they stood together in front of the announcement board after the first exam of the first semester.

It couldn’t be helped. That large boy, whom he had never even exchanged names with, had stared at him intently in the hallway. At first, Jaemin pretended not to notice, thinking he would look away after a while. But even after a long time, the gaze didn’t break, so Jaemin stared back. Only then did the boy, Oh Seungpyo, avert his eyes.

When Seungpyo left, the surrounding students whispered, “That’s Oh Seungpyo,” so Jaemin learned his name. But even without anyone telling him, Jaemin would have easily figured out who he was. On the day the test scores were announced, who else but the second-ranked student would express such blatant hostility towards him, a complete stranger?

Even though they hadn’t spoken once all year, Jaemin knew from their first encounter that Seungpyo disliked him. And every time their paths crossed in shared spaces like classrooms for joint elective classes, the playground, or the cafeteria, the discomfort Oh Seungpyo displayed on that first day never lessened.

He never paid it much attention. Ever since elementary school, let alone middle school, there had always been kids who resented him. Oh Seungpyo was just another one of those kids who couldn’t overcome their inferiority complex. That is, until his second phone ended up in Oh Seungpyo’s hands.

‘…He should have just been one of those kids. He caught up this much because of one lousy bet?’

Jaemin gritted his teeth. He couldn’t quite distinguish whether his current discomfort stemmed from the unflattering way he was clinging to his first-place rank, or from the fact that Oh Seungpyo was catching up and threatening him faster than he had expected. Maybe it was both.

As soon as class ended, Seungpyo, as expected, came to Jaemin’s desk. He knocked lightly on the desk and lowered his voice so only Jaemin could hear,

“Come out.”

Jaemin obediently got up and left the classroom. The resource room was out of the question since they had already been caught there by a teacher once. Seungpyo led the way to the common club room. It would be empty during class, but locked.

However, Seungpyo took a key out of his pocket and opened the door. Jaemin blinked.

“Where did you get the key?”

“Sangyeon said he used it yesterday and forgot to return it. I asked him if I could return it for him.”

They entered the empty club room. Unlike the classroom bustling with students, it was quiet, and the noise from beyond the door felt distant, as if they were in a different place altogether, not school.

Seungpyo locked the door, leaned against it, and smirked. Despite his expression, he didn’t look particularly cheerful. His lips were smiling, but his eyes resembled the ones from their first encounter in front of the announcement board back in their freshman year.

“Why did you lie?”

“What lie?”

Though he tried to deny it, Jaemin knew he couldn’t fool him any longer. Oh Seungpyo couldn’t possibly have missed a lie that even a moderately perceptive person would have noticed.

“You said you missed a 3-point question like me. Why did you lie when you missed the 3.2-point question number 10 in English?”

“I thought it was worth 3 points at the time.”

“You mistook that?”

“What difference does it make if it was a mistake or a lie? Was I obligated to honestly reveal how many points I missed in that academy hallway? Because of all the talk there, rumors spread.”

“Ah, you lied because you were worried about rumors.”

Seungpyo nodded, then changed the subject.

“So, are you getting a perfect score?”

Jaemin simply met his gaze. Seungpyo seemed to take the silence as an answer, letting out a low, “Ha,” in admiration. A perfect score on all subjects seemed to be something special for him as well.

“I thought I finally had you this time…”

He muttered to himself and shrugged.

“Well…I would have done the same if I could get a perfect score by arguing with the teacher.”

“I didn’t argue. I just told him the question was strange, and the teacher considered it and made a decision.”

“That’s still preferential treatment. Do you think the English teacher would have taken you seriously if you weren’t the top student? If someone ranked 100th went to the teacher and complained about a question, they would have been told to shut up and maybe even gotten hit on the back of the head.”

Although it wasn’t entirely wrong, Jaemin scoffed.

“As you said, the teachers take me seriously because I’ve consistently been first in the school. Why do people say ‘do your best’? Nobody calls that preferential treatment.”

“Anyway,”

Seungpyo, who had been leaning against the door, strode over and stood in front of Jaemin. His expression was cold.

“You were supposed to be 0.2 points behind me, but you used a trick to turn it around.”

“So I’m saying it wasn’t a trick.”

He knew this would happen. Why did the teacher have to announce that he was the one who pointed it out…? Resenting the English teacher for making a simple matter complicated, Jaemin glared back at Seungpyo.

Seungpyo stared at Jaemin silently for a long time, his gaze sweeping over every part of his face. It went on for so long that Jaemin felt a strange illusion of being touched. When Seungpyo’s gaze reached his lips, he cleared his throat and spoke again.

“I’m not saying you lost. But whether it was a trick or not, you did change the results after the exam was over, so it’s unfair for me to completely adhere to the original terms of the bet.”

“What? Are you just trying to get out of filming the video?”

“Who said I wouldn’t film it? That’s not what I’m saying.”

Seungpyo paused for a moment, then continued.

“You should keep at least one of the conditions.”

“Which one?”

“I told you how far I wanted to go. Kissing, kissing places other than your lips, me giving you a handjob, from behind…”

“Ah, forget it. Why are you even listing all that stuff?”

Jaemin quickly interrupted him.

The exam was over anyway. The answer key would be posted on the school website this afternoon, and once the results were finalized, the chances of them being reversed were close to zero.

He should just accept the outcome. This Oh Seungpyo, trying to drag him down with absurd excuses, seemed incredibly sneaky compared to him, who had legitimately pointed out an error in the exam question. He felt he was being overly conscientious for feeling ashamed about nitpicking over pointing out a problem.

‘I’m not ashamed at all.’

Be confident. As Jaemin regained his confidence watching Oh Seungpyo’s despicable behavior, Seungpyo got to the main point.

“I won’t ask you to do everything. Just kiss me somewhere other than your lips. That’s easy, right?”

“….”

“Hey, honestly, other than, you know, from behind… there’s nothing in the conditions that’s disadvantageous to you. Did I ask for a kiss? Did I ask for a handjob? I’m offering to do it for you, so it’s a good deal for you.”

“Did I say I wanted it? You’re the one who wanted to do it.”

“So I’m asking you to just do this one thing. You did tamper with the results after the exam was over.”

He could have just told him to fulfill the conditions he set, but for some reason, Jaemin didn’t answer right away. His thoughts were taking a new direction.

‘It’s true that I won’t be at a disadvantage.’

He would have to clarify exactly where Seungpyo wanted to kiss besides his lips, but if it was somewhere around his neck, like when Oh Seungpyo suddenly kissed him last time…

A kiss on the lips or a kiss on the neck, it was all the same. If the kiss had clear boundaries, there seemed to be no reason not to do it. Honestly, he was curious. Would kissing his body feel better than kissing his lips?

“Why are you so quiet?”

“Wait a minute.”

Once he started thinking about it, Jaemin kept glancing at Seungpyo’s lips. Because of that damn bet, their kissing had been on hold throughout the exam period.

While studying, his desire to thoroughly crush Oh Seungpyo had overshadowed his usual urge to cling to him and kiss him. But now that it was over, the forgotten feeling crept up from somewhere unknown, tickling places like the small of his back.

Oh Seungpyo probably felt the same way. That’s probably why he brought up kissing after arguing about the exam results. As Jaemin’s thoughts reached Seungpyo’s desires, he spoke as if pushed by an invisible force,

“Fine.”

“…Really?”

As soon as he agreed, Seungpyo grabbed his shoulders as if he was about to carry out the terms of the bet right then and there. Jaemin slapped his hands away.

“Hey, why?”

“Do it in order. The loser has to fulfill the conditions first. Send me the video.”

“I have to do that at home. This, we can do right now.”

“It’s not something that has to be done right now, so what does it matter?”

At Jaemin’s firm reply, Seungpyo groaned briefly and moved his face closer.

“Okay. We’ll do that later, and now, just the usual kiss.”

As a yearning tone crept into his voice, Jaemin couldn’t refuse. Jaemin parted his lips slightly and tilted his face up. Seungpyo, seizing the opportunity, lunged forward and delved into his open mouth with his tongue.

Online “how to kiss” guides suggested caressing the back of the neck or cheek while kissing, but today, the two just grabbed each other haphazardly. Even though Seungpyo’s strong arms held him so tightly that his back and waist ached, neither of them complained or told the other to let go.

Only the wet sounds of their lips and tongues entwined whispered through the empty club room.