Soon, the curtain shifted slightly—
—and Jea-Hyun walked in like he owned the place.
One hand holding a chocolate bar.
The other casually in his pocket.
"Your royal treatment has arrived," he said, tossing it lightly onto my chest.
I caught it weakly.
"…You went all the way for this?"
He scoffed.
"It's my duty as your best friend."
Then he leaned closer, squinting.
"…Also, I like it when you say thank you."
I stared at him.
"…You're weird."
"Say it."
I sighed.
"…Thank you."
He froze dramatically—
then grabbed his chest.
"Oh wow… that hit."
I blinked.
"…You need help."
"I feel appreciated," he corrected, dropping into the chair beside the bed.
I rolled my eyes but opened the chocolate anyway.
Still lying flat on my back.
My shirt had shifted up slightly from earlier—
I didn't even notice.
He did.
"Why is your shirt like that?" he asked, pointing.
I looked down.
"…Huh."
Then shrugged.
"Life happened."
He narrowed his eyes.
"…What happened to your back?"
I opened my mouth—
"…I got a massage—"
I froze.
He leaned in immediately.
"…You got a WHAT?"
My brain restarted.
"…I mean—uh—message."
He blinked.
"…Message?"
"Yes."
"From who?"
I stared at him.
Then immediately turned away.
"…How's your nose?"
He didn't even hesitate.
"Don't change the topic."
I sat up slightly, pointing at him.
"I'm not. Your nose. It looks… very nose."
He deadpanned.
"…It's bandaged."
I nodded.
"Stylish."
He glared.
"How does it look like, Min-Jun?"
I smiled slightly.
"…You look good."
He paused.
Then slowly nodded.
"…Take a picture and send it to my girlfriend."
I blinked.
"…You still date that junior?"
He scoffed.
"Of course I do."
Then casually added—
"I even bought her chocolate too."
I looked at the one in my hand.
"…Wow. I feel less special now."
"You should."
I rolled my eyes.
"…Greet her for me."
He nodded.
"Obviously."
Then he stood up and stretched.
"Come on. It's lunch."
I groaned slightly but pushed myself up.
"My back still hurts."
"Then walk slower."
"You punched someone today."
"For you."
"That doesn't make it better."
"It does for me."
I shook my head, grabbing my bag.
Then he added casually as we walked—
"You owe me lunch."
I looked at him.
"…For the chocolate?"
"For being a good friend."
I snorted.
"…Whatever."
He grinned.
"Say thank you again."
"Get out."
"Say it."
"…No."
"Say it."
"…I regret knowing you."
"Close enough."
The cafeteria was louder than usual—chairs scraping, trays clattering, people talking over each other like the room couldn't decide on one conversation.
I stood there for a second with my tray, scanning.
Then I saw her.
Lalita.
Black uniform, neat but slightly loose tie, hair falling just right like she didn't care but somehow still looked intentional about it. Headphones around her neck instead of on her ears this time. Book beside her tray.
She looked up once.
Just once.
And that was enough for my brain to go: nope, this is a bad idea.
Still—
I walked over.
Slowly.
Like my legs were negotiating with my dignity.
I stopped at the seat beside her.
"…Hey."
She looked at me.
Quiet.
Waiting.
I cleared my throat.
"…About earlier."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You're late."
"…I was recovering from gravity."
That earned the tiniest shift of her eyes—almost amusement, but she didn't give me the satisfaction of calling it that.
I sat down carefully anyway.
"…Thanks," I said.
She blinked.
"For what?"
"For earlier. You know. The whole… chaos situation."
She leaned back slightly.
"I didn't do anything."
I nodded quickly.
"…You did. You just did it quietly and aggressively."
That made her pause for half a second.
"…They were too loud."
"Yeah," I admitted. "Still helped."
She shrugged.
"You're welcome to survive another day."
I let out a small breath of relief.
Then, before my brain could stop me—
"…We should hang out sometime."
Silence.
Not awkward.
Worse.
Measured.
She looked at me properly now.
Then said, lightly,
"You're cute."
I froze.
"…That's not an answer."
Her lips curved just slightly.
"I didn't say it was."
I blinked.
"…I'm not trying anything weird," I said quickly. "Just—like—normal hanging out. Friend stuff."
She leaned forward a little.
Close enough that my brain briefly stopped functioning.
"…You're easy to fluster," she observed.
"I'm not—"
I stopped.
Because she reached out—
and lightly tapped my collarbone like she was adjusting something that didn't exist.
Slow.
Casual.
Intentional.
My entire soul left my body for a second.
She watched my reaction like she was reading a book.
Then hummed.
"…Interesting."
I sat there completely frozen.
"…Why did you do that?"
"To see if you'd short-circuit."
"…And?"
She leaned back.
"Confirmed."
I stared at my tray like it had betrayed me.
Then forced my voice to work again.
"…So. Saturday?"
She tilted her head.
"Saturday."
"…You're actually agreeing?"
"I don't say things twice."
I nodded too fast.
"Great. I mean—yes. Okay. Good. Perfect."
She picked up her fork again like nothing happened.
"Try not to run away this time."
I stood up immediately.
"I won't."
I paused.
"…I might."
She gave a small, knowing look.
That was it.
I turned.
Walked.
Then speed-walked.
Then basically left my dignity behind somewhere between the tables and the exit.
Behind me, I heard nothing.
But I could feel it.
That calm, quiet amusement following me all the way out of the cafeteria like I had just lost a fight I didn't even know I started.
I was still standing a little too long in the cafeteria exit like my brain had not fully rejoined his body yet.
Then—
someone stepped right into my path.
Seo-Yeon.
Calm as always. Polite face. That soft expression that made everything feel like a normal day even when it clearly wasn't.
"…Min-Jun," she said. "Can I ask you something?"
I straightened immediately.
"…Yeah?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Are you free this Saturday? I was thinking we could—"
My soul left my body.
Because Saturday was already booked.
By chaos.
By black uniforms.
By—
"…I mean," I said quickly, too quickly, "Lalita asked first."
I didn't even know why I said it like that. Like I was submitting a formal apology to the universe.
Seo-Yeon looked down for a second.
Then she noticed.
My hand.
Still awkwardly half-gesturing.
She blinked.
I panicked and gently grabbed her hand mid-air like I was stopping a traffic accident.
"…Sorry—no, I mean—"
She looked at it.
Then smiled.
"It's okay."
I immediately let go like it burned me.
"…Right. Okay. Cool. Normal."
She stepped back.
And just like that—
she left.
No anger.
No questions.
Just calm acceptance.
Which somehow made me feel like I had failed an invisible test.
"…That was too easy," I whispered.
Then—
a voice slid in from my side.
Slow.
Amused.
"You really did it."
I turned.
Of course.
Niran.
Standing there like he had been watching the entire thing for entertainment purposes only.
I sighed.
"…Do you just spawn when I make bad decisions?"
"Yes."
"Honest at least."
He tilted his head.
"You're getting good at this."
"…At what?"
"Talking to girls without dying."
"I don't die from talking."
He looked at me.
"…Debatable."
I ignored him.
Then he suddenly leaned in a little.
"Lalita said yes?"
I froze.
"…That is not a date."
"It is."
"It's not."
"It's a date."
I groaned.
"…You're weirdly invested."
"I'm invested in your survival arc."
"That sounds worse."
He hummed.
Then, very casually—
"…Also."
He looked at me.
Slowly.
"…Your back is improving."
I blinked.
"…My what?"
He nodded seriously.
"Your posture. Your back. It's better than yesterday."
"…That is the strangest compliment I've ever received."
"It's true."
I crossed my arms.
"You're obsessed with my back."
He didn't even deny it.
"It's very expressive."
"What does that even mean?"
"It reacts honestly."
"…Stop analyzing my spine."
He stepped closer, completely serious now.
"Also it's still pretty."
I froze.
"…You cannot just say that."
"I can."
"That's not normal friendship behavior."
He tilted his head.
"…Isn't it?"
I stared at him.
"…Only Jea-Hyun does this kind of nonsense to me."
He nodded like that was useful data.
"Noted."
Then he sighed softly.
"…I love her."
Everything paused.
I blinked.
"…I see."
He looked at me like I was supposed to react more dramatically.
"You're supposed to say something."
"I did."
"What does 'I see' mean?"
"It means I heard you and I am emotionally underprepared for more information."
He stared at me.
Then suddenly—
smiled.
"Good."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…That smile is suspicious."
"It's not."
"It is."
He stretched slightly like he had no bones to worry about.
"Saturday," he said.
I groaned.
"…Don't remind me."
"I will."
"Of course you will."
He leaned back slightly, hands behind his head.
"And Min-Jun?"
"…What."
He glanced at me.
Soft again, but still teasing.
"Try not to run away this time."
I immediately pointed at him.
"I am not a runner."
He raised a brow.
"…You ran in a straight line for thirty seconds."
"That was strategic retreat."
"That was panic."
I turned away.
"…Whatever."
Behind me, I heard him laugh quietly.
And somehow—
my back felt like it had become his favorite topic of conversation for life.