episode_0017

Episode 16: Nothing Happened.

If I touch it, will it break?

Kang Hyun’s hand stiffened.

His hand, suspended in the air, hesitated on where to go.

What should I do?

Even though he was close with men,

Even though he understood men’s psychology,

He didn’t know love well.

With his small body tightly pressed against him,

He was precariously holding on.

His irregularly twitching body was so difficult to endure that one could empathize.

In the end,

Kang Hyun chose desire.

A slowly descending hand.

The hand that had been wavering in the air landed on Han Se-in’s head.

As if a scene from a novel he had read.

Unconsciously, he stroked the head of a man much smaller than himself.

It was soft.

The fluttering hair tickled between his fingers.

The more he touched, the more addictive it became.

It wasn’t just because of the sensation; it was because there was a willing mind.

He could have caressed Kim Hyung-min at any time, but he hadn’t, which was evidence.

As he stroked his head,

Han Se-in’s trembling breath gradually began to calm down.

Was it a coincidence?

At a strange moment, Kang Hyun felt excitement.

No, how could any woman not feel excited when the man she liked was embracing her?

“Sorry, uh, hm. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

But, could you let go of this?

Han Se-in clearly loosened his hand.

However, it seemed like the hand that wrapped around his waist at some point had no intention of letting go.

In the end, only after the request was uttered did the grip loosen.

“If I let go…?”

Was it because of his rough breathing?

His voice cracked, and a cute tone seeped into his clear voice.

Kang Hyun was the one who was taken aback by the unintended aegyo.

So cute, too cute that he wanted to stroke him again.

With the still flushed cheeks and wavering eyes,

Could any woman resist?

It’s driving me crazy.

Is he a bit sweaty? What should I do?

Kang Hyun tried his best to control his emotions.

Calm down. Stay calm, Kang Hyun.

First, let go and then think.

“Ah…”

“…?”

Swoosh.

Han Se-in’s body leaving his embrace.

It felt like spring, and it wasn’t because of the multiple layers of clothing but because of the warmth that a person gives.

He sighed with a face full of regret.

It seemed like it was just a hug that lasted a few minutes.

The empty space quickly cooled off.

“I need to buy bread.”

“Uh, um…”

“Haha…”

Why am I like this?

Kang Hyun seemed a bit out of sorts.

Being so different from his usual self made him feel awkward and flustered.

Once again, Han Se-in was the first to move.

The tardiness was already confirmed.

Still, shouldn’t he finish what he started?

Behind the steps heading towards the store was Kang Hyun.

Not beside, but behind.

Anyway,

The store was surprisingly quiet.

Well, going out of the academy is freedom.

There was a perception of a relatively cheap supermarket here.

“Are you a couple? Gotta give you a discount.”

“Cough, ahem, no…”

“Hahaha…”

Han Se-in awkwardly laughed.

Kang Hyun responded strongly.

The old man sure loves to chat.

After eating about 4 or 5, they tend to throw a word or two at young folks as a pastime.

For adults who spend their lives in the store, it must be one of the few amusements.

However, it came back with a slightly stronger impact for Kang Hyun.

To an onlooker, it might seem like he was scolding, but

It was more like fidgeting due to having a willing heart.

Kang Hyun felt like his face would flush for no reason, so he changed the subject.

“Cheese bread and a picnic, please.”

“Sure, sure.”

“I’m… fine.”

Crunch, crunch.

I hand over the ten thousand won I received.

Kang Hyun pulled out his wallet, but was stopped by Jaeyi.

“No, it’s not my money. Keep it. I’ll take care of it.”

“O-Okay…”

Was I blinded?

Even such trivial actions.

Why do they look so cute and lovely?

Even the way he accepted the bread and drink.

Just adorable and endearing for no reason.

Kang Hyun stared at him for a long time.

—

*Sob…*

“Wow, is he crying?”

“He really seems to be.”

“A nerd and a rag met.”

“Hey.”

Various voices mingled in the classroom.

It was 1st grade Class 3, where everyone was eating and chatting.

A typical school scene.

Perhaps due to a mix of high school and college backgrounds.

They still hadn’t shed their immature appearances.

Meanwhile,

The woman writhing on the desk was none other than Jung Ah-young.

At the back.

Her lunch partner had disappeared a while ago.

Please, just this once.

She hoped he wouldn’t leave.

Ah-young didn’t dare voice her hopes.

Does she even have the right to say anything to anyone?

Even she, who had been bullied for years, was scared.

A weaker male student than herself.

To overcome that, to resist. Can she even dare to say it?

No.

*Sniff…*

She must hide her breathing.

She must not cry, she must not…

Ah-young’s throat was choked with tears.

A woman cries three times in her life.

Ah-young, who never shed a tear even when harassed or hit in the stomach, now cried a little.

How miserable must she have been?

Self-loathing, self-blame.

Everything seemed to be her fault.

If only she were good at fighting like Kang Hyun.

If only she had strength in her household.

If only…

*Cry…*

If she were like other people.

Kind-hearted, getting along well with friends, just an ordinary person.

How nice would that have been?

Ah-young glanced from under the desk.

Ignoring worries about her swollen face.

She prayed for lunchtime to end quickly.

Still,

Kim Hyung-min’s group was usually punctual.

How much time had passed?

10 minutes before the bell for class.

—

“What, sleeping?”

Startled.

It wasn’t a woman’s voice.

Since no one in the class talked to Ah-young,

By process of elimination, only one person remained.

Han Se-in.

His voice still filled with moisture, but with joy and concern.

“Ar-Are you okay? Are you okay…?”

“Uh, I-I cried…?”

Ah-young quickly got up.

Wiping away tears with her sleeves.

She began to feel Han Se-in’s body with both hands.

A hand passing over the school uniform.

Feeling embarrassed by the question if she cried, thoughts raced through Ah-young’s mind.

Only Han Se-in’s condition mattered.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah. You speak well…”

“Oh…”

Only then did Ah-young look at Han Se-in.

Red eyes. Still beautiful features and a gentle voice.

Are you really not hurt?

Tears fell from Ah-young’s eyes once again.

“Why are you crying? Why.”

“N-No, no.”

She must not cry.

Women shouldn’t cry.

As the worry accumulated for about 30 minutes, relief flooded in.

Overwhelmed by relief, Ah-young cried.

“Could you please let go of my hand…?”

“Oh… Oh? Ohhh?!!”

Ah-young shouted for the class to leave.

The hands fumbling around here and there felt out of place.

Between the thigh and buttock.

Although somewhat awkward, it was a strategic focal point where one could fully appreciate the softness of the squishy buttocks.

“Ah…!! S-Sorry…!!”

“It’s okay.”

Amidst her embarrassment, Jung Ah-young’s face turned crimson.

Almost as if about to explode like a bomb.

Even Han Se-in blushed deeply enough to worry.

The sound of her breathing escaping her lips was almost like boiling a kettle.

The steam of embarrassment filled the air and dissipated.

And then, Han Se-in’s voice filling one side of the classroom.

It became a kind of bomb.

“It’s not that bad, but it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“S-Sorry. I’m sorry…”

“I get it. Stop apologizing.”

A chuckle escaped from Han Se-in’s lips.

Seeing Jung Ah-young react with a start when lightly touched was quite adorable.

And there was one gaze fixed on them.

Not from Class 3-1 but from Class 5.

Kang Hyeon.

“……”

Why is she hiding and watching?

Initially, it seemed to be out of concern.

Feeling guilty for snapping at Han Se-in with foul language.

Even though it was a show to divert attention from Kim Hyeong-min’s fault.

Knowing that Han Se-in wouldn’t take it that way.

Worried about how he might be feeling, Kang Hyeon made her way to Class 3-1.

Through the slightly open door crack.

Kang Hyeon heard all of Han Se-in and Jung Ah-young’s conversation and observed their actions.

Thump, thump.

It felt like Kang Hyeon’s heart was tightening.

In fact, her impression of Jung Ah-young was ordinary.

She didn’t think of her as a trivial existence. She even felt sorry for her at times.

After all, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

But.

Seeing Jung Ah-young embarrassed and happy while conversing with Han Se-in.

It was the happiest Kang Hyeon had ever seen Jung Ah-young.

Was that why?

The constricting emotion in her heart began to twist more and more.

Me too, me too…

I want to talk and laugh with Han Se-in too.

With a heavy heart, Kang Hyeon left this place.

Back to where she belonged. Her own class. Where Kim Hyeong-min was.

It was the first time she didn’t want to return like this.