EAR Ch 4

It was only natural for growing boys to feel hungry before lunchtime, especially after keeping their nerves on edge since first period.

When Seungpyo and his friends arrived at the cafeteria, they quickly grabbed their lunch trays and searched for empty seats. One of Seungpyo’s friends pointed to a spot, looking pleased.

“There are some kids from Class 2. Let’s go eat over there.”

“Let’s also finalize the basketball game schedule while we’re at it. We only settled on a date.”

As Oh Seungpyo absentmindedly looked toward where his friends were pointing, his eyes landed on a very familiar round head. Running into the maniac he’d just argued with in the cafeteria would usually ruin anyone’s appetite, and most people would avoid such a situation.

But Oh Seungpyo still had unfinished business with Ryu Jaemin, so he had no choice but to head in that direction. He straightened his shoulders more than usual, puffing himself up like a male preparing for a showdown with a rival.

“Oh, it’s Oh Seungpyo.”

Before he even sat down, the kids from Class 2 cheerfully waved at him. Jaemin, who was sitting with them, barely lifted his eyelids to glance at Seungpyo before breaking into a smile and greeting him.

“Hi.”

“Oh, uh, hi…”

The kids from Class 4 widened their eyes in surprise. Among the Class 2 kids they often played basketball with, there was now a new addition.

“Do you eat with Ryu Jaemin these days?”

As they took their seats, the attention of the kids shifted to Jaemin, the unexpected newcomer to their lunch group. One of them cautiously asked, as if curious about something they’d always wondered.

“Do you like basketball too?”

“I’m not very good at sports.”

One of the Class 2 kids shook his head, as if to dismiss Jaemin’s humility.

“That can’t be true. Didn’t Ryu Jaemin get perfect scores in PE last year?”

“PE exams and basketball games are different. Still, what a waste. You’re tall, so you’d probably be good at basketball. How tall are you?”

“I measured 180 cm last spring, but I think I might’ve grown a bit since then…”

At that, the kids stole glances at Jaemin with renewed interest.

Really? He’s that tall? They were taken aback by the thought, as their image of Ryu Jaemin had always been that of a quiet, studious model student seated at his desk. Hearing that he was 180 centimeters tall now felt oddly new. Though they’d often stood next to him and known he was above average in height, hearing the exact number seemed to highlight the difference even more. Their expressions soon turned into hushed murmurs.

“Isn’t 180 the same as Hyungseo? No, I bet Ryu Jaemin’s taller now.”

“Ryu Jaemin, can’t you just join us this one time? Just three days—no, even two days of practice, and you could totally play with us. It’s not like we’re professional players or anything.”

Jaemin smiled awkwardly, looking friendly as ever, while Seungpyo’s expression quietly twisted in disbelief.

“I’d like to, but I don’t have time. As soon as supplementary lessons are over, I have to go home. My family is really strict…”

“Seriously? Not even two days?”

Most of the kids were aware that both of Ryu Jaemin’s parents were professors at prestigious universities. Stories about his strict upbringing had been circulating since elementary school. So while they understood that he wasn’t making excuses, it only made them feel more regretful.

“Sorry. I don’t think it’s possible.”

As Seungpyo quietly ate his food, he suddenly took a sip of water and added an unexpected comment.

“Your parents are strict? That’s surprising.”

Jaemin, still wearing the same polite smile he’d been using to apologize to the kids, turned his gaze toward Seungpyo. Narrowing his eyes, Seungpyo thought to himself, Look at that. He’s only smiling with his mouth.

The kids, who didn’t know the context, tilted their heads in confusion.

“Why? Doesn’t he seem like the type to have strict parents? I imagine he lives in a house straight out of a drama, with marble staircases and parents who wear suits even at home. But it’s not really like that, is it?”

“Hmm… My parents don’t wear suits, but they don’t slack off much even at home. And we don’t have marble staircases—our house isn’t a duplex.”

When Jaemin answered with a light laugh, almost like a joke, Seungpyo continued.

“You seemed like a free spirit, so I thought your home atmosphere would be the same.”

“Him?”

The kids blinked, finding Seungpyo’s remark surprising, before slowly starting to nod in agreement, one by one.

“There’s a bit of that vibe. Like he’s kind of transcendent or something.”

“Is it because you’re good at studying? As expected, a person needs to have abilities.”

The kids were interpreting and agreeing with Seungpyo’s words without even knowing what he was actually mocking.

Jaemin didn’t really have a best friend. He was good at studying, tall and handsome, with rumors of his wealthy family circulating, and he had a good personality. Naturally, many kids wanted to include him in their group, but Jaemin just mingled here and there, interacting lightly with everyone, and smoothly navigating school life better than anyone else.

Kids who couldn’t form a group and drifted around often ended up being isolated at school, but Ryu Jaemin was different. He didn’t seem so much like an outsider, but more like a voluntary one, so even now, nearing the end of the semester, the kids from Class 2 still wanted to get closer to him.

Without trying to make close friends or desperately seeking to join a group, he wasn’t embarrassed to be alone, and no one looked down on him. Jaemin’s ability to be like that truly matched the description of a free spirit.

“Rather than someone who imposes their standards and is frustrating, a free spirit is much better. Thanks for the compliment.”

Jaemin responded with a smile. One of the Class 2 kids, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, curiously asked,

“By the way, Oh Seungpyo, you rushed off with Ryu Jaemin earlier. What happened?”

“Oh… I just had to ask him something. A relative of mine works in the legal field, so I thought they might know about these kinds of issues. I lost my phone, so I asked if it’s okay to report it.”

“Come on, how would Ryu Jaemin know just because you have a relative like that?”

“He does.”

Jaemin calmly replied.

“There’s a law called possession embezzlement, which means you can’t just keep things you find. If you report it and catch the person who picked up the phone, they can be punished. It’s also possible to settle.”

The kids, who had been quiet for a moment, blinked and were impressed.

“Wow… you said your dad’s a law school professor. Do you talk about things like this at home?”

“No, I came across it in a book I read a while ago.”

Of course, the top student knows a lot. He’d probably win first place in a quiz show. The kids shared a silent understanding and continued eating. The conversation shifted to finalize the details for the upcoming basketball match, and Jaemin and Seungpyo, despite occasionally glaring at each other, ate their food without leaving anything on their trays.

“Then the match is right after school on Friday, right?”

“If anyone skips, there’s a fine.”

As they left the cafeteria and walked down the hallway, Jaemin suddenly stopped walking.

“I’ll stop by the library for a bit. The teacher asked to meet after lunch.”

“Oh, see you later.”

Jaemin turned toward the library. Since not many kids went to the library during lunch, the nearby hallway was quiet.

Unlike when he was with the kids, Jaemin walked slowly, showing a bit of fatigue, when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind him.

“Hey, wait a second.”

At first, Jaemin didn’t realize the footsteps were coming toward him, but when he heard his name being called, he turned his head. Seungpyo was quickly approaching.

“What now?”

“The phone conversation isn’t over. You’re the one committing possession embezzlement.”

“You said you didn’t need it because your contract is over. I heard you say you’d just buy a new one. And you also said you forgot, right? I’ll bring it back if I remember.”

Seungpyo sighed briefly and shoved his hands into his pockets. Then, he took something out and tossed it.

Jaemin instinctively caught it and looked at what was in his hand. It was his internet-only phone, which he hadn’t seen in a while.

“Is that enough? I’ll give it to you first. You bring mine tomorrow.”

He had been mocking Jaemin while eating, but now his tone had changed completely. What was he trying to pull now? Jaemin looked at Seungpyo with a wary eye.

“This isn’t my phone.”

“Let’s stop. It’s not even fun anymore. Neither of us has any use for someone else’s stuff.”

I wasn’t enjoying it from the start. Jaemin complained inwardly and put the phone in his pocket. He noticed that Seungpyo now looked genuinely bored with the situation. After a moment’s hesitation, Jaemin spoke.

“…But you still have it, right? The screenshot.”

“You can just delete it. You wouldn’t believe me even if I said I deleted it. And you’ve got the recording file from earlier, so it’s the same. We both have something on each other.”

Through the window of the hallway, they could see the sports field with its grassy ground. The kids were playing soccer. Seungpyo, with a scowl, turned his gaze far off, as if quietly conceding something.

“Let’s not make each other’s weaknesses grow any further and settle this appropriately. I just wanted to mess with you a little, so I won’t bring this up again. You should return my phone, and let’s not drag this out.”

“…You really do whatever you want.”

“Why? Don’t want to settle?”

Whether he liked it or not, Jaemin was finding Oh Seungpyo even more obnoxious than he had been in the resource room.

It was wrong to take and share inappropriate photos on the internet as a high school student. But it was absurd that Oh Seungpyo, who was nothing more than a classmate at the same school, was treating Jaemin like a criminal and threatening him.

If it had been out of concern or a sense of justice as a fellow student, Jaemin would have at least pretended to reflect on it. But it was obvious that Seungpyo just enjoyed mocking him, wanting to vent the accumulated frustration from always being outperformed in test scores. Jaemin could clearly see that Seungpyo was looking for an opportunity to take out his frustration on him, and he hated the idea of bowing to him as Seungpyo wanted.

And now, when it seemed like Jaemin might get into trouble, Seungpyo was suddenly acting as though he was conceding. Jaemin knew Seungpyo needed to feel superior to be at ease, but still…

‘What kind of person is this?’

Jaemin felt disgusted inside, but following Seungpyo’s words was still the most rational decision. No matter how much Seungpyo had recorded his threats, the situation was still more unfavorable for Jaemin.

If anyone was desperate to end this quickly and pretend it never happened, it would be Jaemin, not Seungpyo. Although he would never show that side of himself. Jaemin responded bluntly.

“Fine.”

“Then, bring my phone tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Jaemin nodded, and Seungpyo sighed briefly, but he didn’t leave right away. What else did he have to say? Jaemin stood still, waiting for the rest, and Seungpyo, staring at him, whispered as if he were curious.

“By the way, why did you do something like that?”

“…What?”

“Like, was it because you have an exhibitionism problem, or was there another reason…?”

“Didn’t we just agree to end that topic? You just said it yourself.”

Jaemin, who had been keeping a neutral expression, couldn’t hold back and frowned. Seungpyo let out a small sound of realization and nodded.

“Okay, okay. I’ll forget about it.”

Then he traced his finger across his lips and mimicked zipping his mouth. Jaemin couldn’t believe how untrustworthy he was. How unlucky for him to have been caught by someone like this…

“Hey, Oh Seungpyo! We don’t have much time, where did you go?!”

Jaemin sighed inwardly, glaring at the jerk in front of him when he suddenly heard a voice calling from the end of the hallway. “I’m coming!” Seungpyo shouted back. Then, without even greeting Jaemin, he turned swiftly and ran toward the sound of the voice.

Jaemin watched his back with an irritated expression for a moment before also turning and heading toward the library.

Like many model students, Jaemin loved books. Naturally, he often visited the library and had become friendly with the librarian teacher.

Jaemin had been part of the reading club since middle school. When he got to high school, he became too busy with exam preparation to participate in club activities, but visiting the library during lunch to borrow books he wanted to read and sneaking in a few pages here and there had become one of his few cherished hobbies.

However, it felt a little embarrassing to openly read books other than study guides or textbooks in class. His middle school principal had been passionate about creating a school of readers, so there had been times when he had to read even when he didn’t want to. But in high school, it was hard to find any students who read books.

Already, because the kids exaggerated his personality and grades, Jaemin often didn’t know whether they were sincere or teasing him, so he would awkwardly laugh it off. If he were caught reading a book during break, he would be treated even more like an oddball. So Jaemin always made excuses to visit the library.

“Jaemin, if you have time, could you deliver this on your way?”

“What is it?”

Just as Jaemin was about to leave after borrowing a book, the librarian teacher handed him a shopping bag with books in it.

“There’s a delivery guy in front of the main gate on the first floor. He’s wearing a vest, so you’ll recognize him. Just hand it over.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Thanks. I’ll buy you a snack later.”

“I’ll do this much as a free service.”

Jaemin smiled and bowed slightly before leaving the library. He quickly descended the stairs and approached the main gate, where a middle-aged man wearing a vest with a delivery company logo was waiting.

The man, who had been looking at his phone, seemed to notice that a reserved customer had arrived, turned his head, and Jaemin nodded slightly to greet him.

“Hello…”

But before he could finish his greeting, the man widened his eyes in surprise. Jaemin was unable to respond and was left to face the situation as it unfolded.

Ordinary people, lacking superhuman reflexes, often cannot avoid unexpected disasters or accidents. Similarly, Jaemin, though fully aware of the soccer ball flying toward him like a comet, failed to dodge it.

Thwack! With a loud noise, his vision went dark for a moment.

“Gasp…!”

“Ryu Jaemin, are you okay?!”

The silence lasted only briefly as the situation became clear. From the far side of the field, kids who had been enthusiastically kicking the ball came running toward the main gate, their faces filled with shock.

Having collided head-on with the ball, Jaemin sat down clutching his face with his palms before slowly looking up.

Among the approaching children, he could see the unlucky Oh Seungpyo running toward him with a noticeably flustered expression. Dammit. Though Jaemin normally refrained from using harsh words, he couldn’t help but mutter a curse under his breath.

As Seungpyo came closer, he crouched down and leaned in to inspect Jaemin’s face.

“Hey… are you hurt?”

Jaemin glared at Seungpyo as if he wanted to kill him, but whether Seungpyo failed to notice his anger or simply didn’t care, he seemed focused solely on assessing Jaemin’s condition. The kids around them each threw in their two cents, a mix of concern and attempts to shirk responsibility.

“The ball came from over there, but it managed to fly all the way here.”

“Oh Seungpyo! Couldn’t you have kicked it a bit lighter?”

“Like I could control that!”

Amid the commotion, Jaemin calmly stood up and waved the kids aside. He handed a shopping bag to a delivery man, who had been standing nearby, observing the situation with wide eyes.

“Here, sir.”

“Oh, uh, thanks….”

The delivery man accepted the bag but hesitated, pointing at Jaemin’s face.

“Uh, student, your nose is bleeding… You should head to the nurse’s office right away.”

“What?”

Jaemin swiped his hand under his nose and found bright red blood staining his fingers. Stunned, he stood there for a moment, lost in disbelief, while the kids erupted into an even louder frenzy.

“He’s bleeding! He’s bleeding!”

“Quick, get some tissues!”

Sighing deeply, Jaemin covered his nose and mouth with his hand. Ignoring the kids making a fuss, he walked into the building. Seungpyo quickly followed after him.

“Ryu Jaemin, you can’t just leave like that!”

“What else am I supposed to do? I’m going to the nurse’s office.”

“Wait a second. Someone went to get tissues.”

“It’s faster to just get there.”

Finishing his sentence, Jaemin spun around and gave Oh Seungpyo a hard shove. The sudden force made the larger Seungpyo stumble slightly. Jaemin muttered under his breath, his voice low and bitter.

“You bastard, you did this on purpose.”

“What? Do you think I’m psychic? How could I aim for someone I can’t even see from that distance?”

“I swear I want to kill you right now, so back off. Don’t raise the blood pressure of someone already bleeding.”

“God, your temper… Then why didn’t you use psychic powers to dodge it?”

Instead of replying, Jaemin turned away and continued toward the nurse’s office. Covering his nose with his hand couldn’t stop the bleeding, and each step he took attracted more wide-eyed stares from passing students.

It was his first time being the center of attention for something like this. Even though it wasn’t his fault the ball hit him, the embarrassment made his face burn. Eager to disappear from sight, he quickened his pace, but suddenly something was thrust toward his face.

“Just wait a second.”

Seungpyo’s annoyed voice rang out again. Somehow, he had acquired a large bundle of cloth and held it under Jaemin’s nose. Frowning, Jaemin reluctantly took it. Only then did Seungpyo step back a few paces.

Jaemin didn’t throw it away. After all, pressing something against the wound to stop the bleeding was better than letting blood drip through his fingers as he walked.

Finally reaching the nurse’s office, he opened the door, only to find it empty—apparently, the nurse was still out for lunch. Seungpyo pulled over a rolling chair and said,

“Sit here.”

Then he began rummaging through the desk and shelves, looking for something. Jaemin stood there sulking, ignoring the chair that had been pushed in front of him.

“What are you doing? Sit down already.”

When Seungpyo turned around to scold him, he was holding a large bag of cotton pads and a bottle of alcohol. Using alcohol to treat a nosebleed was something Jaemin had never heard of before. Frowning, Jaemin turned his head away.

“I’m waiting for the school nurse.”

“Even if you wait, you need to stop the bleeding. Are you just going to stand there letting it drip?”

“I said I’m fine.”

When Jaemin dodged the cotton pads that Seungpyo held out, Seungpyo frowned and leaned in closer.

“I can’t check your face unless you move your hand. If there’s an injury, it needs to be disinfected.”

“I’m not hurt. The nurse will be here soon, so just leave.”

“You’re so stubborn over the most pointless things, seriously.”

Seungpyo reached out as if to move Jaemin’s hand from his nose. The moment his fingers barely brushed against Jaemin’s wrist peeking out of his sleeve, the door to the nurse’s office slid open, and the nurse walked in.

Letting out a weary sigh, the nurse moved toward them.

“I just stepped out to use the restroom and didn’t even bother locking the door, and someone’s already gotten hurt again?”

“He has a nosebleed,” Seungpyo said, stepping back and pointing at Jaemin as if tattling.

The nurse approached the two of them with a nonchalant expression. It seemed nosebleeds during lunch were a common occurrence.

“Sit down. Were you playing soccer? Basketball?”

“I was playing soccer, and he got hit by the ball while passing by.”

“Ah, unlucky.”

True. Incredibly unlucky. Jaemin unconsciously nodded in agreement. The nurse carefully touched the bridge of his nose.

“The bone seems fine. Does it hurt? What about your head?”

“I’m fine.”

“All right, now take your hand away.”

The nurse tore off a small piece of cotton, placed it on the bleeding area, and guided Jaemin’s hand to press on the upper part of his nostrils. What Seungpyo had been planning to do with the cotton and alcohol didn’t seem all that different from what the nurse was doing.

“Press here firmly. Since there’s no other issue, you can leave once the bleeding stops.”

As Jaemin followed the nurse’s instructions to press his nose, Oh Seungpyo stood nearby, silently watching him. Annoyed, Jaemin frowned.

“What are you staring at? Go already.”

“Yeah.”

“…And I’ll wash this and return it.”

Jaemin wanted to throw away the item he had received from Seungpyo but couldn’t bring himself to. It wasn’t polite to hand back something stained with his own blood.

As he unfolded the crumpled bundle he had been holding, Jaemin was startled. He had assumed it was some hastily obtained rag, but it turned out to be a dark gray short-sleeved T-shirt, the kind students often wore under their uniforms.

The scent that had mingled with the metallic smell of blood suddenly became more noticeable. It smelled like laundry detergent or maybe even someone’s personal scent. Jaemin had practically buried his nose in it this whole time.

Before he could ask what this was all about, Seungpyo reached out with an expressionless face.

“Just give it back.”

“I told you I’ll wash it first.”

As the argument seemed about to escalate, the nurse interjected.

“Just hand it over. Blood stains come out better if you rinse them right away. Take it to the bathroom now and wash it with cold water.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

With the two against him, Jaemin had no choice but to hand over the bloodstained shirt. Feeling awkward, he realized there had been no need for Seungpyo to follow him and stain his shirt over this. Although it wasn’t his fault, Jaemin couldn’t shake the feeling that he had overreacted.

Even after finishing what he had to say, Seungpyo didn’t leave right away and continued looking at Jaemin. Wondering if he had more to say, Jaemin glanced up, only to see Seungpyo covering his mouth and letting out a short, awkward cough.

The nurse noticed and asked, “Are you feeling sick?”

“No, I’m fine. Ahem. I’ll be going now.”

“Right. Next time you play soccer, be more mindful of your surroundings.”

Jaemin glared coldly in the direction where Seungpyo had disappeared until he was completely out of sight, then tilted his head in confusion.

“Did Oh Seungpyo just smile a little while pretending to cough?”

Puzzled, Jaemin shifted his gaze and spotted a desk mirror on the teacher’s table. He froze on the spot.

He looked ridiculous. His forehead and the center of his face were still swollen from being hit head-on by a ball that had flown from afar, and a piece of cotton was stuffed into one of his nostrils. His hair was disheveled, far from his usual tidy appearance, making him look almost foolish.

So that’s why Oh Seungpyo had laughed…

“Is this funny?”

“Huh?”

“Oh, sorry. I was talking to myself.”

Jaemin looked back at the mirror. Staring at his messy appearance, even he found it slightly amusing. Still, for the guy who had caused this to laugh outright wasn’t exactly appropriate.

It seemed like Seungpyo had tried to hide his laughter but failed. Whether hitting him with the ball was intentional or accidental didn’t matter… Actually, everything about this guy since their first encounter had been irritating and baffling.

Even feeling slightly guilty for momentarily appreciating the ruined T-shirt felt infuriating. Jaemin could feel his temper rising again.

“Teacher, I think I’m okay now. I’ll be heading back.”

“All right. But if your head starts to hurt or feels strange later, come back. And after school, if it still feels off, make sure to visit a hospital.”

“Okay.”

Lunch break was almost over. Kids who had been playing in the schoolyard or chatting in the hallways were returning to their classrooms one by one.

When Jaemin returned to his classroom, a few classmates who had witnessed the incident earlier greeted him eagerly.

“Are you okay? Is your nose fine?”

“Yeah, it was just a nosebleed. No other problems.”

“Why’d the ball have to hit you there of all places? Oh, there’s blood here.”

At someone’s pointing, Jaemin finally noticed a small bloodstain on the edge of his uniform shirt.

Seeing the vivid bloodstain seemed to reignite the simmering anger in his head and chest, making him feel even hotter. Thump, thump, thump. His heart was racing faster than usual, and he felt the heat spread to his fingertips. It was a sensation Jaemin had never experienced at school before.

Staring silently at the bloodstain, Jaemin impulsively spoke up.

“Kim Minjun, for the basketball match against Class 4, can I really join?”

His classmates lit up at his suggestion, clearly enthusiastic about the idea.

“Did you change your mind? That’d be awesome! Tall players are always welcome.”

“I’ve never played basketball before. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“We’re not that good either. Everyone’s skills are pretty similar, so physical attributes matter the most. You already know the basics, like dribbling and shooting, from gym class, right?”

“Yeah, but I’ve never been in a game.”

“It’s fine. Let’s practice together tomorrow and the day after. Honestly, Oh Seungpyo is really good and tall, so we urgently need a center to block him. Our usual center can’t play this time.”

“Center?”

One classmate was about to enthusiastically explain basketball positions when the teacher entered the classroom, cutting the lecture short. “I’ll explain later!” the classmate whispered quickly before returning to his seat.

Among players of similar skill levels, Oh Seungpyo not only had height but also excelled at basketball. Even so, Jaemin knew that as a beginner, practicing for just two days wouldn’t make much of a difference in the game.

But despite knowing this, Jaemin couldn’t help but indulge in sweet daydreams. Losing focus during class wasn’t typical for him, yet his mind kept wandering.

If he had hidden basketball talent, he could see Oh Seungpyo’s face contorted in defeat. Although he had already beaten him in test scores, forcing Seungpyo to taste defeat in basketball, a sport where he was supposedly unbeatable, would deal a much bigger blow. The thought of a crushed and sprawled-out Oh Seungpyo lifted Jaemin’s mood significantly.

As a child, Jaemin had never been given much time to play sports with schoolmates. However, both his parents believed that a certain level of physical fitness was essential for academic success. Because of this, Jaemin had attended a sports academy in his early years. There, he practiced activities like jump rope and running, and even played indoor soccer and basketball.

Among all the academies he attended, Jaemin had enjoyed the sports academy the most. But that was a long time ago, back when he was very young.

During middle school, Jaemin managed his physical fitness twice a week at a sports center specializing in personal training. After starting high school, even the time spent commuting to exercise was deemed too precious, so a trainer began coming directly to his home during free hours between tutoring or academy classes.

Because of this, he wasn’t physically weak compared to others, nor did he lack athletic coordination. However, while he had always exercised alone, he hadn’t participated in team sports since elementary school.

“The area we’re weakest in right now is under the basket. Oh Seungpyo is about 187 cm tall, right? Just by stretching out his arms, he has an advantage over us when scoring. So, the tallest person needs to cover him physically under the basket.”

“That’s the center’s role?”

“Well, at our level, positions don’t mean much, but still, sort of.”

After class, Jaemin attentively listened to his friends’ basketball explanations. As with anything, achieving good results requires a combination of theory and practice. This was especially true for Jaemin, who was starting late and needed to catch up quickly.

“Alright, I’ll study a bit by tomorrow so it’s easier when we practice together.”

“Study? You’re going to study basketball? Classic Jaemin.”

“Just watching a few videos might make it easier to understand during practice.”

“Uh… well, true. I sometimes watch basketball videos when we have matches. I’ll show you some good channels.”

The kids holding their phones all turned their attention to Jaemin at once. One of them extended his phone as their representative.

“Alright, give me your number then. If we’re playing together, we need to contact each other when necessary.”

Even though they had recently eaten together a few times, they hadn’t exchanged phone numbers yet. Because Jaemin’s parents had forbidden idle chatter with friends, he had rarely shared his number with anyone.

After entering Jaemin’s number, the kids eagerly sent him links to useful videos—sports tutorial videos explaining basketball techniques and actual professional game footage.

For the first time in a while, Jaemin’s phone messenger filled up with messages from people other than his tutors or parents. Though the unfamiliar situation instinctively triggered some anxiety, Jaemin quickly changed his perspective. The basketball match was only a few days away; he just had to be careful not to get caught in the meantime.

“We’re going to practice after school today too. Want to join us if you can?”

“Well… not sure. Today might be tricky.”

Jaemin was scheduled to go straight to an academy with the chauffeur after school. He planned to study in the self-study room for about an hour before attending class.

It was too late to explain the situation and reschedule. Still, Jaemin, unwilling to let go of his newfound enthusiasm, decided to make the most of the time he had.

“Wait. I’m supposed to head to the academy right after school, but I’ll ask if I can delay it by an hour.”

“Alright, sure.”

Jaemin quickly called the chauffeur. At first, the driver hesitated, saying, “If your parents find out, I’m done for,” but eventually relented, hinting that he too had something unexpected come up. They agreed to keep today’s events a secret before hanging up. Jaemin turned back to his friends with a smile.

“It’s fine. I can stay.”

“Awesome!” The kids cheered softly. Soon after, another break ended, and when the classroom door opened, the group scattered like startled animals back to their seats.

Usually, whether at school or at the academy, Jaemin never found himself eagerly awaiting the end of the day. After classes, it was always more classes, followed by returning to a dull home with his reserved parents. But today was different. For the first time, he wished the school day would hurry up and end. His heart, now racing, refused to calm down.

Feeling restless and unable to focus during class was a first for him. As soon as the final bell rang, Jaemin hurried along with the other kids to claim the basketball court. Learning basketball from school friends was another novelty for Jaemin, who had always been taught by “teachers” and other adults.

“You should start with layups and defense.”

“Whoever’s shooting is going to try to break through you, right? So don’t block just because they fake a shot. It could be a feint.”

Jaemin wasn’t the only one excited. The other kids, too, seemed unusually animated. Just as Jaemin had never experienced learning from his peers, the other students had rarely had the chance to teach something to the school’s top student.

Although the kids enthusiastically explained basketball strategies, the theory lesson ended quickly. “You’ll figure it out once you start playing,” they shouted as they began moving their bodies.

Even though the weather was too cold to play outside, the basketball court in one corner of the schoolyard buzzed with energy as if someone had lit a fire. Kids began shedding their jackets one by one as they warmed up. Other students, drawn by the lively scene, began making their way toward the court as well.

“Practicing?”

At the unexpected voice, the students from Class 2 momentarily paused their practice. Before they realized it, the students from Class 4, the ones they were supposed to play against, had approached near the court.

Jaemin, holding the ball he had just received, caught his breath and fixed his gaze on one person. There was no need to guess—his target was Oh Seungpyo, whose head towered above the other boys. A Class 4 student spoke up excitedly.

“Ryu Jaemin, are you really playing in the match?”

“Just this time, I’m filling in for Hyungseo.”

“Wow. Hey, how is he? Is he good at basketball?”

In the midst of the lively commotion over this unexpected scene, Oh Seungpyo remained silent. He merely glanced at Jaemin and allowed the corners of his mouth to twitch slightly.

It looked like a sneer or perhaps a disbelieving sigh. The other students, oblivious to the silent tension between Seungpyo and Jaemin, eagerly chattered and made plans.

“Should we practice here too? We can just use the other hoop.”

But Oh Seungpyo gestured toward the gate outside the school.

“How does it make sense to practice with the team we’re playing against? Let’s head to the park court.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“You guys better work hard, too.”

Leaving behind words that could be interpreted as either encouragement or mockery, Seungpyo started walking away. Perhaps spurred on by the sight of Class 2’s fervent training, the students from Class 4 also left, looking more determined than before.

Jaemin watched the group as they moved away. Even from behind, Seungpyo carried himself with an air of arrogance. His shoulders, back, and the back of his head seemed to shout that he hadn’t even entertained a 0.01% chance of losing in basketball.

“We don’t have much time. Let’s get back to practice.”

Jaemin took the initiative to rally the students, who had started lounging around during the interruption. Less than 30 minutes remained until the pickup driver was due to arrive.

Jaemin felt pressed for time. Like a student cramming for an exam, he wanted to take his chances, no matter how slim they might be.

📚

“Oh Seungpyo, a student from Class 2 is looking for you.”

During a break, Seungpyo was laughing and joking with his friends when one of them passed on the message. He turned toward the back door, already knowing who it would be. Sure enough, the expected person stood there.

Seungpyo got up from his seat unhurriedly. He strolled toward the back door, where he stood in front of Jaemin and asked, “Did you bring the phone?”

“Before I give it back, let’s talk for a moment.”

“What now?”

Grumbling, Seungpyo followed Jaemin. As they walked, Seungpyo’s gaze lingered on Jaemin’s slightly shorter figure. He resisted the urge to prod the small cowlick at the top of Jaemin’s head with his finger to annoy him.

From the look of things, Ryu Jaemin didn’t seem satisfied with the suggestion of simply returning their items and moving on. Although Jaemin had the most to gain by letting their incident be forgotten, it seemed his prickly personality wouldn’t allow him to let it slide.

Who wouldn’t guess he’s just playing in the basketball match to get back at me? A guy who’s never even played in a game before doesn’t know his place.

“What do you want to say?”

Jaemin led Seungpyo to the resource room, which had somehow become their unofficial meeting spot. With a soft click, Jaemin locked the door and took a deep breath as if preparing to make an important announcement. His serious expression even made Seungpyo unconsciously take a small breath in.

Jaemin pulled a familiar transparent-cased phone from his pocket and held it out. Seungpyo took it, turned on the screen, tapped it a few times, and frowned. He shot a sideways glance at Jaemin, his expression asking what the deal was.

“This isn’t mine. You brought the wrong phone.”

“I know. I didn’t bring your phone.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because just returning the phone doesn’t solve anything. I can’t trust you to keep your word.”

Seungpyo let out a dry laugh.

“Do I look like I have that much free time? How long do you think I’ll drag this out? I’m not interested in your creepy photos anymore, okay? If anything, why should I trust you? You’re the psycho with the split personality, remember?”

“Exactly. Since we don’t trust each other, let’s make things more definitive.”

“How?”

Jaemin maintained a serious expression. Though he thought the suggestion was absurd, Oh Seungpyo couldn’t hide his curiosity and waited for him to continue.

“Let’s bet on the basketball match. If your class wins, I’ll return your phone and delete the recording files. I’ll erase them both from the cloud and my phone right in front of you. You can return my phone after the bet is over.”

“What’s the point? Who knows how many copies of the files you’ve already made?”

“If necessary, I’ll even write a written agreement.”

It was one unbelievable statement after another. Seungpyo stared intently at Jaemin, trying to gauge his sincerity. He couldn’t tell whether Jaemin was joking or serious.

Class 2 had rarely beaten Class 4 before, and this time they’d even have a total beginner playing under the hoop, making their chances even slimmer. The fact that Jaemin was confidently proposing this bet was absurd to Seungpyo, and he still found the conditions meaningless, but he was curious about the opposite outcome.

“Not that it’ll happen, but if your class wins?”

“Apologize to me.”

“…”

“And delete the photos you claim to have saved, right in front of me.”

Unable to hold back, Seungpyo frowned, his voice slightly raised.

“What do I have to apologize to you for? You’re the one who suddenly popped up and bumped into me in the first place, dropped your phone, and took mine without permission.”

“Apologize for using that incident to threaten me. And you still haven’t said sorry for hitting me with a soccer ball.”

He was momentarily at a loss for words. Staring at Jaemin with his mouth slightly open, Seungpyo narrowed his eyes and let out a weary sigh.

“You really know how to hold a grudge.”

“Don’t act like you don’t. You’re worse than me.”

“You just won’t lose an argument, will you?”