Chapter 53: Library Date (2)

This must be what they mean by a powder keg situation.

The head of student affairs approaching from the front.

Solid concrete walls standing firmly behind.

Bookshelves filled with countless volumes surrounding both sides.

We were truly like cornered rats.

What’s worse, no one made us come here – we walked right in ourselves. Could there be bigger idiots in the world?

If it had been anyone but the head of student affairs, we could have made up some excuse. For instance, if another student or teacher was approaching, we could have claimed we just happened to run into each other while looking for books.

But of all people…

No, maybe that wasn’t quite right.

Was it really ‘of all people’ that it was the head of student affairs? This seemed too coincidental. Maybe they’d spotted us entering the library and came looking for a chance to catch us in the act.

This wasn’t the time to be lost in useless thoughts.

I turned to face So-yul. Perhaps reading the anxiety in my wide eyes, her gaze started darting around.

Thanks to experiencing countless situations like this, we now understood without even speaking. It was truly a joyous development.

‘What do we do?’

So-yul asked with just her lips while her whole body trembled.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have any brilliant plan ready either. So-yul asking if there was a way meant exactly that – we had no alternative to escape this crisis.

It was an incredibly difficult situation.

But we couldn’t just give up and do nothing either.

The punishment for getting caught by the teacher was one thing, but right in front of me, So-yul was trembling and trying to rely on me.

I’d long since thrown away the option of giving up saying nothing could be done.

‘Just trust me.’

I answered using only my lips.

What came back wasn’t a response but hands tightly gripping my sleeve.

Let’s think this through.

The reading room’s bookshelves were arranged in three per row, eight rows total. From the entrance, they were numbered sequentially, with alphabetical order from left within the same row.

We were at the rightmost shelf in the back. If the teacher checked each row one by one, we’d have enough time to form a plan.

There were paths between the bookshelves. Though there was a path on the opposite side from where the teacher was walking, even crossing over there carried huge risks.

Well, having ended up like this, we couldn’t afford to be picky. We had to take a gamble now.

While the teacher checked one row, we’d secretly cross to the A-B path on the opposite side.

Finally when the teacher reached the very back, we’d dash to the reading room exit.

Making any noise during all this would be fatal. We had to move without making even footsteps, let alone speaking. It was definitely not an easy mission.

Now how to convey this plan to So-yul?

Getting caught while escaping would be like confessing to our special relationship. If we got separated or our timing was off, we’d be caught for sure. The attempt would be meaningless if So-yul didn’t follow along.

I turned to look at So-yul. Though I tried to convey the plan through my eyes… So-yul just tilted her head in confusion. I guess even this was too much.

I couldn’t explain verbally either. The moment my voice reached the teacher’s ears, the plan would fail.

Therefore, with absolutely no ulterior motives, just to match timing…

I extended one hand toward So-yul.

So-yul’s body jerked when she saw the suddenly offered hand. Well, it was natural to be startled when asked to hold hands in this situation.

But I believed she’d quickly understand my intention. There was no time to delay.

Indeed, that lasted only a moment.

So-yul raised her gaze to meet my eyes… then gently took my outstretched hand.

An incredibly delicate trembling transmitted through our joined hands.

Wanting to reassure her, I gripped So-yul’s hand tightly.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out.’

How did So-yul take the determination I conveyed with just my lips?

I couldn’t tell just from her wide round eyes and tightly bitten lower lip.

Anyway, the operation started now.

I peeked out from the edge of the bookshelf again.

As expected, the teacher was approaching row by row, checking left and right.

“I saw them enter the library earlier?”

Hearing their muttered words confirmed my guess.

A teacher stalking students. Really just ridiculous.

If they’d glanced quickly and walked straight to the back, we would have been caught for sure. But the teacher was thoroughly checking every nook and cranny as if not wanting to miss a speck. Well, that worked in our favor.

Left, right, and front. Having finished searching this row, the teacher moved forward.

When they turned their head left again.

I pulled So-yul’s hand and lifted my planted foot.

We slipped past the path where the teacher stood, moving stealthily behind the opposite bookshelf.

So-yul’s small, light body followed me obediently, led by our firmly joined hands.

Thump thump. Two sets of heartbeats spread to each other through our clasped hands.

Tok.

A small sound rang out when we finally stepped to our destination.

Fortunately, the teacher showed no reaction, busy searching for us.

With this, we’d passed the first hurdle.

“Hic…”

I heard So-yul’s suppressed voice beside me.

When I faced her, So-yul’s lips were trembling with a terrified expression.

Sweat had formed on her forehead, probably from tensing her whole body to avoid making noise.

She acted so confident usually, yet what a scaredy-cat she could be.

Of course, if the teacher had turned around just a bit earlier, or if their field of vision had been slightly wider, we would have been caught for sure. So her fear was understandable, but…

This wasn’t time to feel relieved yet.

We still had to dash to the entrance without the teacher noticing.

I squeezed our joined hands.

This was all I could do. All I could hope was that it would help ease So-yul’s tension.

‘It’s almost over. Just follow me slowly from now on.’

I sent silent encouragement by moving my lips.

So-yul gave a slight nod with stiff movements.

Right, time to move again.

Earlier the teacher had been between paths B-C in the 5th row.

Our current position was the A-B path in the 8th row. The distance was getting closer. We needed to be careful.

From now on it was a battle of timing.

The moment the teacher passed our row, we had to move toward the entrance.

Moving one row at a time toward the entrance like that, then slip out of the reading room without the teacher noticing. That would complete the operation.

I sensed strange movement from the row ahead. Seems the teacher was checking the 7th row.

This was the crucial part. The moment the teacher moved to check the last row, we had to move together to the 7th row. Needless to say, this was the greatest challenge.

Finally footsteps could be heard from the opposite path.

For So-yul and me, it was the starting signal with everything on the line.

We lifted our feet together and walked to the row ahead.

Glancing at the side path while moving, I saw the teacher taking steps with a stern expression.

Really doing something completely unfunny here. It was a moment of sudden realization.

After passing by the teacher like that with just a bookshelf between us.

Finally, we reached the 7th row.

“…Phew.”

I let out a faint sigh of relief so no one would hear.

We’d finally escaped the dangerous situation. Realizing this made goosebumps rise all over my body.

We’d nearly been caught red-handed by the head of student affairs, but thanks to moving as one with So-yul, we’d smoothly passed even the final hurdle. I couldn’t help feeling moved.

So-yul seemed to feel the same, as I heard a suppressed sigh beside me.

Always trying to act strong yet more scared than anyone at times like this. She always managed to stimulate both protective instincts and sadistic desires.

As we were both wrapped in deep relief like that.

For some reason, the teacher’s voice came from the opposite path.

“Wait. What was that just now?”

A deeply suspicious mutter.

Then footsteps followed.

Footsteps changing direction, as if to check the 7th row where we stood.

Thump thump, my heart beat terrifyingly hard.

I could clearly feel So-yul’s hand trembling in mine.

The teacher, who couldn’t understand these feelings.

Finally poked their head between the bookshelves where we stood and…

“…Tch. What? Not here?”

Just muttered these words as if not finding us.

Then from the opposite path came quick footsteps leaving the reading room. Presumably, they’d gone to search other parts of the library.

And we heard this entire situation without missing a thing.

While I had So-yul pinned against the side of the bookshelf.

It had been a reflexive reaction.

Could we dash to the entrance like this? Or should we try to hide somehow? I had to make a decision in less than 0.1 seconds. There was no time to keep thinking.

In the end, this was the choice I made.

Hide against the side of the bookshelf with So-yul.

Though I worried whether I could hide too, not just the small So-yul, it worked out in the end. We must have just barely managed to hide.

This time we’d truly escaped the crisis.

Relief washed over me from deep inside. I wondered if my heart had ever pounded this hard in my life. Even getting caught in the club room had been less nerve-wracking than this.

“Hic.”

A thin breath escaped from So-yul’s lips as she faced me.

I thought she might have felt relieved too late but… seems that wasn’t it.

Coming to my senses, I realized So-yul and my bodies were pressed close enough for our lips to touch.

Since I’d pushed So-yul against the bookshelf side and tried to hide myself too, it was natural we ended up in a half-embracing position.

“…”

“…”

Thump thump, my heart beating so hard it hurt my ears.

So-yul’s pink lips holding a delicate trembling as if nervous.

Our warm, ticklish breaths… touching each other’s lips.

Whether from lingering fear of getting caught by the teacher, or remembering almost kissing while filming the movie recently, both So-yul’s and my cheeks flushed red simultaneously.

“…Um, I think the teacher’s gone,” So-yul whispered in an incredibly small voice.

Well, that’s true. The teacher was gone, so no reason to stay pressed together.

When I immediately pulled my face away, So-yul let out a long breath as if finally relieved.

Her hand still rested on her chest as if her heart was still pounding, then she quietly spoke:

“…I can’t believe even meeting once is this hard.”

“You can say that again.”

No matter where we met, all sorts of chaos unfolded – there really wasn’t anywhere safe.

In a school that banned dating, pretending to be lovers. Though complaining probably wouldn’t help…

“That’s not all. This time…”

“…Yeah. Seems they were watching us.”

So-yul seemed to have noticed too.

Saw us entering the library. The head of student affairs had searched all over the reading room muttering these words to themselves.

Though there was a chance they’d spotted us by coincidence, it seemed more natural to understand it as them tracking our movements.

Dating someone in this school was this difficult.

Even we who were just fake lovers felt it painfully.

So-yul put her hands on her hips and said:

“Guess it’s not the time for a massage, sadly.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What? You were still thinking about the massage?”

“Of course. My boyfriend finally offered to give me service.”

“I see. But yeah, even I can tell now’s not the time.”

They’d seen us enter the library but couldn’t find us searching the reading room.

The teacher was probably searching other parts of the library now. We should use this chance to escape quickly.

Having reached a similar conclusion, So-yul nodded lightly and:

“I’ll have to ask again next time.”

Not giving up completely was very like So-yul.

Anyway, we should leave the reading room quickly. If I sent So-yul out first then left a few minutes later, at least there’d be no physical evidence.

“You go first. I’ll leave later.”

“Okay.”

Just as she was about to turn around:

“…Thank you so much for today.”

She left these words as if wrapping up today’s meeting.

“For what?”

“Acting like you don’t know.”

“I really don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”

“Hmm~”

So-yul made this sound while shooting me probing looks.

The rest followed quickly:

“When the teacher suddenly barged in and I was trembling so much, you told me to just trust you and helped me.”

“Of course. This isn’t exactly new for us. I’m getting used to it. It’s even kind of fun now.”

“Don’t act tough. Dummy.”

At my joking response, So-yul smiled amusedly and:

“Still, I’m grateful every time.”

Somehow those words made me feel shy.

When I shrugged trying to hide my embarrassed feelings, So-yul kept snickering and continued:

“Today you even held my hand and led me. When I was shaking from nerves you gave me strength by squeezing tight. You’re really a reliable boyfriend.”

“Say it right. A reliable fake boyfriend, you mean.”

When I cut in with that comment, So-yul just laughed with a “hmph.”

Neither confirming nor denying anything.

Looking at So-yul like that, I fell into thought.

Lately, moments of curiosity about So-yul’s true feelings suddenly came to me.

Her sudden words and unexpected actions sometimes seemed to hold hidden meanings.

It was like that when we got caught up in Juho’s scheme to film the movie. Going further back, it was the same that night she slept in my room.

Maybe So-yul also… felt some special feelings for me, even if just a little.

Feelings I couldn’t tell were hope or worry kept endlessly welling up in a corner of my heart.

“Han So-yul.”

I unconsciously called out to stop her.

So-yul tilted her head and looked up at me intently.

“What?”

Her delicate high tone tickled my ears.

My voice answering her was infinitely stiff:

“How do you think of me?”

So-yul’s eyes went wide for a moment.

Her pupils lost their composure and wandered around.

“…In what way?”

“In any way.”

In any way, how So-yul thought of me.

That was all I wanted to know. I was curious what kind of existence I was to So-yul.

“…Hmm.”

As if understanding my meaning, So-yul quietly rubbed her chin. Her gaze fell to the floor.

Silence stretched on for a long time. Stillness sometimes makes it hard to breathe. Usually I would have immediately spoken some meaningless words, but this time was different.

Because this time I definitely wanted to hear So-yul’s answer.

After a while, So-yul’s lips slowly opened.

“Actually.”

The opening words as if about to answer.

Naturally I listened for what would follow.

But So-yul randomly reached for a bookshelf behind her.

She pulled out a book, opened it as if hiding her face, and:

“…It’s a secret. Dummy.”

She only gave this answer in a whisper-like voice.