Vol. 1 Chapter 21  

Tak, tak, tak!

I walked out of the apartment building with a light footstep. Lim Dae-han stood in a straight line. Leaning against the front gate, he closed his eyes with a sleepy expression.

I approached Lim Dae-han, who was standing crookedly. Lim Dae-han, who had opened his eyes, closed one of them as if he was tired. He yawned loudly when I carefully followed to the side and took the familiar path.

“Did you sleep late?”

I asked carefully because I was worried. He shook his head to both sides.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

His voice was a little lower than usual. It was a gloomy voice. I raised my head and looked at him in the eyes. I was exhausted as well. I didn’t sleep because I couldn’t, but I did sleep later than usual. The sensation of kisses on my lips returned as soon as I closed my eyes to sleep, and I rolled my legs. The blanket bounced like a helium-filled balloon. Is it the same with Dae-han? My heart was racing so fast, in contrast to him, who appeared tired and lethargic.

We walked down the main road together and entered the alley. As usual, Lim Han stopped in front of the convenience store.

“Wait a minute.”

He asked for my understanding.

“No.”

I caught Lim Dae-han, who seemed to stop and enter the convenience store right away. Lim Dae-han tilted his head at my actions. I coughed a few times. Then he led Lim Dae-han around the corner next to the convenience store and shoved him into the wall between the villas on either side.

“What are you doing, Ki Young-hyun?”

I looked up at him. I wanted to ask what kind of relationship we have now. However, his soft lips first caught my eye. I can ask him about it later. “I want to kiss you…”

I thought I could kiss him once and ask bout it. I reached out and grabbed his shoulder. I pressed my lips against Dae-han’s soft lips. It made a silent contact and then fell off. Lim Dae-han grabbed both of my cheeks. His hands were huge. I was a little self-conscious because my cheeks seemed to be pressed down. On the other hand, he didn’t seem to mind. He sucked my lower lip instead. The cool taste of toothpaste from his breath lingered in his mouth.

“Did you really not smoke?”

“Yeah.”

My lips curled up in response to his answer. My mouth was filled with emotions that couldn’t be contained. Lim Dae-han kissed my cheek again when I raised the corner of my lips. There was no need for PXNIC or AngX. The scarce drink was also fine, whether it was 2 percent or 3 percent.

The tongue was mingled in playfully. We exchanged a few more kisses before falling off and heading to school. Lim Dae-han looked around the convenience store a few times. He used to buy me drinks on a daily basis, but he couldn’t today, so he seemed disappointed.

“You don’t have to buy me a drink. Can’t you meet me a little earlier in the morning?”

“Why.”

“I want to add this…”

I was embarrassed to say anything about kissing and stuff. Lim Dae-han widened his stride and turned to face me. He locked his gaze on my lips.

“It’s swollen.”

“Y-yeah…”

I raised my hand and fiddled with my lips. Is it swollen to the point of being noticeable? I’m actually not sure. Lim Dae-han grabbed my hand and lowered it at that moment. He was definitely strong. He walked off again. On the bright morning street, I rubbed my hands on my lips. I shrank my shoulders because it was cold and strange. Lim Dae-hand han’s crept up and rubbed my ears vigorously.

“Ah, it hurts…”

I pushed his hand away from me. Lim Dae-han was reinstated in his previous position. I continued down the street, staring in the same direction. I looked around to see if anyone had seen his action. There was no one around. However, just in time, a student wearing Bluetooth earphones appeared from the alley. After sneaking a peek at us he went his own way. Phew, we almost got caught. I wiped my lips, which Dae-han had recklessly rubbed with the back of my hand.

“Come on, let’s go to school.”

Lim Dae-han followed me like that. I felt like I was dragging a large dog behind me.

***

“Didn’t you say you were going to eat with your brother yesterday?”

Jung Ji-pil, who was stuck in the corner, approached me as soon as I walked into the classroom. Lim Dae-han walked past me on his way to the class leader. I cast a sidelong glance at him and locked my gaze on Jung Ji-pil. However, all of my attention was on Lim Dae-han.

“You said you were having dinner with your brother yesterday, did I hear it right? With Lim Dae-han…”

“Class leader, when are we going to change our seat?” Lim Dae-han asked the class leader to rearrange the desks while Jung Ji-pil was constantly buzzing. Their seats were bound to fall during the exam period due to someone with the first names Ki and Lim. I clenched my fist and covered my lips with a burst of laughter. Is it possible to do this just because we kissed once? The human heart is extremely cunning.

But soon, my gaze was fixed to Jung Ji-pil, who showed a lot of sadness.

“Huh? I’m really upset, Ki Young-hyun. If you’re going to play with Dae-han, you have to call me too.”

“Why would you…?”

“Didn’t you know that Lim Dae-han and I became friends? I’m sad. I’m sad that my friend was taken away from me. Ki Young-hyun, oh, my Ki Young-hyun.”

Jung Ji-pil pressed his hand against my cheek. He pinched me as if I were a child, so it didn’t hurt.

“Stop it.”

I pulled my body back. Jung Ji-pil sat with his legs crossed. I’m curious if Lim Dae-han would be jealous. I tried to ignore Jung Ji-pil, but this time he looked me in the eyes.

“Why, why…”

I covered my lips, which had been bitten and sucked since the morning, with the back of my hand when he looked at them. “Ah, that can’t be the case. Ki Young-hyun this is…” Jung Ji-pil said, opening his eyes wide like a fish.? On the contrary, I chose to ignore him.

What is it?!

I felt oddly bad, but I still avoided Jung Ji-pil’s gaze. I returned my gaze to Dae-han and the class leader. When Lim Dae-han asked when the seat would be returned to its original state, the class leader responded calmly.

“Ah, the teacher actually said this. We’re going to change seats for summer supplementation.”

“… Changing seats?”

I pushed my hand on Jung Ji-pil’s chest and approached the class leader. Jung Ji-pil quickly followed after.

“You need to switch seats. You can’t spend the entire year in the same seat. And the teacher said this too. Don’t force the others to change seats.”

The class leader looked at me, Jung Ji-pil, and Lim Dae-han in turn. Jung Ji-pil and I, who had never switched seats before, felt it was unfair, and Lim Dae-han assumed we were uncomfortable, averted his gaze. It was because he had a history of forcing for a seat change in a classroom where everyone else was present.

“…”

“…”

I made eye contact with Lim Dae-han at the same time. He then brushed the corner of my mouth as I bit my lips. Swoosh, my head turned.

“Don’t bite your lip.”

His hand gestures were so rough that I thought he had slapped me on the cheek.

***