HWAMB — Chapter 29

While I was searching intently, something cold touched my cheek.

I almost screamed silently and turned my head. Standing there was Hyun-woo in a black cap, grinning, holding a chilled can of iced coffee.

I panicked and glanced at the clock on the wall. Only ten minutes had passed since the last time I checked.

He had arrived far earlier than expected. I was both surprised and glad, but then quickly remembered this was a study hall and only gave him a sharp glare.

I opened my notebook and scribbled quickly.

[You scared me!]

Hyun-woo chuckled quietly, then pulled out another mechanical pencil from my case and began writing.

The faint scratching of lead against paper tickled my ears.

[Wanna go on a date?]

At the neatly written words, my shoulders jerked. I tried sneaking a glance at his face, only to meet his eyes head-on.

I quickly looked away.

[Now?? All of a sudden?]

[Yeah. Come on, let’s eat first. I’m hungry.]

At Hyun-woo’s claim of hunger, I found myself nodding without thinking and began packing my bag.

Yeah. Whatever happens, first things first—you have to eat.

* * *

For lunch, we went to a sushi place for the first time in a while. I followed Hyun-woo absentmindedly when he said he’d treat me, but once I saw the not-so-friendly prices, my thoughts changed.

When I said it might be too expensive, Hyun-woo explained it was with allowance money his grandmother had given him, so it was fine.

I didn’t really see how that money was any different from any other, but since we were already there, I decided to just enjoy the food.

Hyun-woo ordered plenty of salmon sushi, my favorite. He left his heavy suitcase by the corner of the seat and wiped his hands with a wet tissue.

When I asked what was inside, since he had grumbled about how unbearably heavy it was, he explained that one of my uncles, always so worried, had secretly packed extra clothes for him.

That was so like my uncle.

I thought about saying, “Listening to adults never hurts,” but knowing it would just earn me nagging, I changed the subject instead.

“By the way, you came back earlier than I thought. You said you wouldn’t be back until tonight.”

“I got bored, so I came early.”

“What was the meeting about, anyway?”

“Just… the same old pointless talk.”

Hyun-woo shrugged lightly as he answered. Since long ago, he’d never given proper answers to questions like that.

I was curious, but since it was family business, I couldn’t push further.

I let out a small sigh and said, “You’re gonna get scolded by your uncle at this rate.”

“I did everything they asked me to, so whatever.”

“And you told him beforehand?”

“Probably?”

“Probably,” he says.

Knowing Hyun-woo, he’d definitely left without telling his uncle a thing.

Sorry, uncle.

I sighed quietly, imagining my uncle being troubled by Hyun-woo’s absence.

Then Hyun-woo pouted, propping his chin on his hand, and muttered, “…What was I supposed to do? I missed you so much.”

“Anyone would think you hadn’t seen me in a month.”

“A month? I’d be dead. It’s a golden weekend. Didn’t you miss me too?”

“Well… yeah… I did…”

Satisfied with the answer, Hyun-woo grinned smugly and said, “See?”

I glared at him for being so cheeky and shoved a salmon sushi topped with a thick red slice into my mouth. The vivid crimson spread across my tongue.

“Got anywhere you want to go? You were searching so hard earlier.”

So he had noticed after all, even while pretending not to. I had found a few interesting spots, but they were a bit far for today.

“There is, but… it’s a bit far. Let’s go after finals are over.”

“Where?”

“The botanical garden. You like taking photos, right? I heard they have really nice walking paths and tons of things to shoot.”

I was always more interested in animals, and Hyun-woo more in plants. I had been to zoos a few times, but never really a botanical garden.

Hyun-woo swapped his salmon sushi for my tamago sushi and said, “Alright. Then dress up nicely that day.”

“…? Why?”

“…? What do you mean why? You’re not gonna show up in sloppy clothes, are you?”

Well, no…

For a second, I thought he was going to say something ridiculous like, “Because I’ll be taking a ton of pictures of you too.” Luckily, it wasn’t that.

So I answered right away, “Not pretty, but stylish. I’ll come looking really cool.”

“Suit yourself.”

Hyun-woo shrugged casually, though he somehow looked even happier. I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d been tricked.

After lunch, before heading home, we decided to watch a movie we’d both wanted to see.

I asked if we should stop by home to drop off his suitcase first, but Hyun-woo said we’d be late for the show and brushed it off.

I carried onion-flavored popcorn in one hand and a drink in the other, while Hyun-woo held an iced Americano.

Second row from the back.

Since it was an unpopular movie, the theater was quiet even though it was the weekend. After a long stream of commercials, the lights dimmed.

With grand music, the screen lit up with beautiful scenery. I stared blankly, entranced.

Honestly, we’d just picked at random. There was a movie I wanted to see, but it was too popular to get seats on short notice.

Not wanting to part ways just yet, I had hurriedly booked whatever was available. So I knew nothing about the movie itself.

“If it’s boring, I’ll just watch Hyun-woo’s face…”

Early on, during the peaceful beginning of the movie, something warm covered the back of my hand.

I turned my head and saw Hyun-woo’s profile. Without looking my way, he tightened his grip naturally, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. His hand, slightly larger than mine, somehow felt even bigger today.

Hyun-woo never once looked at me. He just kept staring at the screen, though his stiff posture made him look a little nervous.

I couldn’t follow the movie at all. My head was bursting with fireworks of adrenaline.

It was our first real skinship since we started dating—with no one to interrupt us!

“Unreal.”

Sure, we had accidentally held hands a few times as kids and even now, but since when did it make my heart explode like this?

The only difference was one thing. Whether we were just friends, or not. That was it.

Hyun-woo himself hadn’t changed—neither his looks nor his personality.

I slowly slipped out from under his hand. This time, I placed my own hand over his and laced our fingers together.

Each time I squeezed lightly, Hyun-woo stiffened up even more.

“…Shit.”

“Hyun-woo, focus on the movie.”

“You’re dead, seriously.”

Teasing him quietly as he cursed under his breath made me laugh, but I barely managed to hold it in.

I gripped his hand tightly, and though he muttered, Hyun-woo didn’t pull away. He stayed that way, obediently holding my hand until the very end of the movie.

* * *

“Ah, that was fun, right?”

“Bullshit. You didn’t even watch the movie.”

Unlike me, walking out lighthearted, Hyun-woo grumbled beside me.

He was about ninety percent right, so I kept my mouth shut.

While Hyun-woo separated his disposable cup from the trash, I grabbed his suitcase for him.

As we walked side by side, I suddenly caught a sweet, sugary scent.

It smelled like melted sugar. If I put it nicely, it was like expensive confectionery; if I put it cheaply, it was like burnt sugar from street candy.

The theater didn’t sell sugar candy, though…

“Did you put on cologne?”

“No?”

“Don’t you smell something sweet?”

“Sweet? …I don’t smell anything.”

Hyun-woo sniffed at his sleeve, then shook his head.

That was when it hit me.

Like a ringing in my ears, my head went muffled. A stabbing headache began to crawl upward.

When I frowned, Hyun-woo immediately noticed the change in my expression.

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“Mm, my head feels… weird…”

“Let me see. Didn’t you drink something too cold?”

“Maybe…”

Hyun-woo came closer and touched my forehead to check for fever. His usually smooth, picture-perfect eyes knit slightly in concern.

“You’ve got a fever. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Really? I felt completely fine just a minute ago. I didn’t know…”

“How’s your stomach?”

“A bit nauseous.”

“Okay, then let’s stop by the bathroom.”

Hyun-woo led me toward the restroom inside the theater.

Even though we weren’t walking fast—just an ordinary pace—I grew more and more breathless. My vision blurred and cleared in turns, and my head felt hot as if it were boiling.

Weirdly, I felt… good. Almost like I was high on something.

Staggering, I stopped and buried my face against Hyun-woo’s shoulder. That was the scent—it was coming from him.

Like a beast losing control, I clung to him and rubbed my cheek against him.

Hyun-woo stiffened in shock. Sensing the stares of others, he glanced around, then guided me discreetly to a corner by a pillar, holding me close.

He whispered softly to me.

“Eun-jae. Kang Eun-jae.”

“Mmm…”

“Yesterday was your suppressant day, right? Did you take it properly?”

“Mhm…”

His gentle, coaxing words made me nod slowly. Ever since middle school, Hyun-woo had nagged and watched over me so much that I had built the habit of taking them regularly on my own.

I had taken it last night too, without fail.