Just A Friend

#36

Indeed, it’s the sun that removes a traveler’s clothes. To redirect Kang Jihan’s attention completely to studying, Nam Seonwoo said in a coaxing tone:

“Let’s make a new plan after we see the grades for this mock exam.”

“If I do well on the mock exam,” Kang Jihan started in a suddenly compliant voice.

“What will you do for me?”

“What?”

“You said I could call your name if I solved all of these. So what will you do for me if I do well on the mock exam?”

Now that he looked closer, only the voice was compliant. The content was as mischievous as could be.

“Isn’t your question a bit odd? You’re the one whose scores will improve, shouldn’t you be doing something for me?”

“I’ll do it.”

He clearly knew that Nam Seonwoo was weak to this kind of behavior. Nam Seonwoo pressed his lips together. He couldn’t fall for that guy’s pace again. Since he had proposed such a mischievous deal, the appropriate response was to counter in the same manner.

“Alright.”

The standard for doing ‘well’ on the mock exam hadn’t been set yet. So he just needed to set an impossible goal.

“Get a combined grade of 3 for Korean, English, and Math.”

“…There are three subjects, and you want me to get a combined grade of 3?”

“If you can’t do it, then forget it.”

The gaze questioning his conscience was piercing.

Nam Seonwoo tried to recall the period when Kang Jihan’s grades had noticeably improved in his previous life. It was around October, he thought. The homeroom teacher had dismissed it as an error on the OMR card, but there could be no errors on the college entrance exam results. He vividly remembered the principal visiting the classroom, surprised by the news.

Thinking about that, it seemed he could adjust the target a bit for Kang Jihan’s current level. A completely impossible goal would lead to quick abandonment, and Kang Jihan’s attention needed to be somewhat focused on studying. This was more for Nam Seonwoo’s own sake rather than for Kang Jihan’s future.

‘I’m really going crazy trying to adapt to this.’

Kang Jihan was overwhelmingly burdensome. For instance, the gazes thrown throughout the class, the tickling way he called “Seonwoo-ya,” no, it felt like even the air particles surrounding Kang Jihan were openly conveying his feelings.

So he needed to redirect Kang Jihan’s attention. From Nam Seonwoo to the textbooks.

In that sense, Kang Jihan’s target grade for the September mock exam was dramatically settled from a combined grade of 3 to 6 for Korean, English, and Math. Even this met with strong objections, but when presented with the valid reason that this was about the minimum requirement for most colleges, Kang Jihan finally agreed.

Kang Jihan asked again, as if to confirm:

“Then, when that happens, you’ll do what I ask, right?”

Somehow, the reward had been upgraded to a wish ticket. It was almost like writing a blank check, but it didn’t matter much. Kang Jihan probably hadn’t been able to study during the vacation due to caregiving, so it was unlikely he could achieve a combined grade of 6 in this short time.

‘Unless he pulls all-nighters from today on.’

And even in the unlikely event that he did achieve it, the wish ticket wouldn’t just be for Kang Jihan. Kang Jihan had clearly said he would do something for Nam Seonwoo if he got good scores, so in the end, both sides would essentially get a wish ticket. In that case, no matter what wish Kang Jihan demanded, Nam Seonwoo could use his own wish ticket to cancel it out.

Unaware that Nam Seonwoo was having such mischievous thoughts, Kang Jihan opened his workbook. Despite the dense array of math problems, Kang Jihan immediately took out his mechanical pencil and muttered:

“First, the name.”

It was going according to plan.

Nam Seonwoo rummaged through his school bag with a much more relaxed mind. As he was about to start the studying he couldn’t do because of Kang Jihan, he felt hesitant movement nearby. When he looked up, he met eyes with Kim Jaewoo again.

Like earlier, the constant eye contact suggested he had something to say. The fact that he had come all the way here and was now hesitating and looking unsure reinforced this impression.

As Nam Seonwoo stood up from his chair, Kang Jihan immediately raised his head. After patting Kang Jihan’s shoulder as if to say ‘keep studying,’ Nam Seonwoo approached Kim Jaewoo, whose face instantly brightened.

“Um, Seonwoo-ya.”

His name was being called quite a lot today. Feeling a burning sensation on his back, Nam Seonwoo led Kim Jaewoo out of the classroom. Considering he hadn’t been able to approach until now, it was probably because of Kang Jihan. If Kang Jihan were to interfere now, this hamster-like Kim Jaewoo might just faint with a squeak.

Nam Seonwoo was weak to this type. Even in the class he had taught before, he always felt concerned about shy students like this who tended to be left out. Putting on the mask of a reliable class president again, Nam Seonwoo smiled.

“Yes? Is something wrong?”

Kim Jaewoo, who had been fidgeting with his small frame, seemed to gain courage from that smile and looked up.

“Um, are you… okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, it’s just… you two are always together… Is Kang Jihan bla-blackmailing you or something…?”

But Kim Jaewoo said something strange. His incoherent speech and restless hands made him look quite overwhelmed. Nam Seonwoo grabbed his shoulders as if to calm him down.

“Jaewoo-ya. What are you talking about? Calm down and tell me.”

As he bent down to meet his eyes, Kim Jaewoo suddenly blushed. After anxiously looking around the corridor, he finally spoke in a mosquito-like voice after a long pause.

“I… I saw it that day. On the last day of school before vacation…”

Last day before vacation. Nam Seonwoo froze at those words. Meanwhile, his mind started racing.

What scene did he see, and from where, to be talking about blackmail? Surely there was no one at school then. At least not within Nam Seonwoo’s field of vision. If so, he probably hadn’t heard the content of their conversation. First, he needed to know exactly what Kim Jaewoo had seen and heard.

“The last day of school?”

Trying to maintain a calm expression, Nam Seonwoo tilted his head.

“What did you see on the last day of school?”

Asked so casually, Kim Jaewoo seemed flustered.

“Th-that time outside… Don’t you remember? On the playground with Kang Jihan…!”

“The playground? What is it. What did I do with Kang Jihan?”

“You fought! You, you were swinging your fists at Kang Jihan like crazy…!”

Fortunately, the following words lacked any crucial information. From what he was saying, it seemed he had been watching from when Nam Seonwoo was on top of Kang Jihan, throwing punches.

“That bad guy Kang Jihan, what did he say to make you… But why are you still together, no, what I mean is, I mean I…”

The class bell rang. As Nam Seonwoo waited for the flustered Kim Jaewoo, he gulped.

“I, I can testify like I did back then.”

“Jaewoo-ya. Just a moment.”

So Kim Jaewoo thought he was being blackmailed and forcibly dragged around by Kang Jihan. Did he think it was something like being forced to be a study buddy? Nam Seonwoo couldn’t help but laugh. Of course, he appreciated Kim Jaewoo’s concern, but somehow it hurt his pride a bit.

“First, thank you. I appreciate it, but it’s not like that. We just had a light fight. We’re always like this.”

We’re close friends. At these added words, Kim Jaewoo’s expression became strange. Despite being told it wasn’t what he was worried about, he seemed to grow paler rather than relieved.

The homeroom teacher appeared at the far end of the corridor. With a look that said ‘What are you doing when the bell has rung?’, Nam Seonwoo was about to go in when:

“Um, Se-Seonwoo-ya!”

Like a hand grabbing his clothes, Kim Jaewoo’s voice trembled.

“We… we were supposed to go see butterflies… remember?”

Nam Seonwoo could finally read Kim Jaewoo’s face and the message he was trying to convey.

“Ah, I guess it’s a bit… with the mock exam coming up… So-sorry.”

Oh dear. Nam Seonwoo swallowed a sigh and reflected on his actions in this life. But no matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t understand why two guys were acting this way towards him. Anyway, feeling sorry for Kim Jaewoo was one thing, but what wasn’t, wasn’t.

“Ah, what to do. I’m sorry. I already went to see them during the vacation.”

“Wi-with who…?”

“Huh? With my girlfriend.”

Who knew Park Gyuhyeon’s earlier chatter about a girlfriend would come in handy like this. Kim Jaewoo must have heard that commotion earlier, as he closed his mouth. Pretending not to see his face that looked like it had been dealt a finishing blow, Nam Seonwoo patted Kim Jaewoo’s back hard.

“You should go see them with your girlfriend later too, Jaewoo. It was nice.”

“Ah…”

“Class is starting. Let’s go in.”

As they entered the classroom, dragging Kim Jaewoo’s stiffened body, the subject teacher came in through the front door. Surprisingly, Kang Jihan only gave a single glance and didn’t pry into what had been said. He seemed busy solving problems in his workbook.

The contract Nam Seonwoo had set up with studying as bait was more effective than expected. The gazes that had been pouring throughout class time were now only felt a handful of times, and Kang Jihan’s mechanical pencil didn’t stop even during breaks and lunch. Occasionally, when he seemed stuck on a problem, he would preface with a slightly hesitant face, saying, “I can ask questions, right?”

In conclusion, Nam Seonwoo was very satisfied.

Although he still couldn’t get used to the fact that Kang Jihan was right next to him and wasted the morning classes a bit, his concentration that had left home returned around the afternoon. Focusing on studying after such a long time even gave him a sense of fulfillment.

Park Gyuhyeon watched the two studying continuously with a bored expression, but their gazes were only directed at their textbooks or, very occasionally, each other’s desks.

When Nam Seonwoo looked at the clock, his neck stiff, it was already time for the evening self-study session to end. At some point, Kang Jihan had already fallen asleep face-down. Seeing the workbook closed under his arm, it seemed he had given up.

‘Still, he’s admirable.’

Even though he hadn’t solved everything, it seemed okay to allow him to call Nam Seonwoo’s name very occasionally.

On one side of the desk was a plum-flavored candy that Kang Jihan had bought during lunch break. Unwrapping one and putting it in his mouth, Nam Seonwoo quietly went to the teacher’s desk, careful not to wake Kang Jihan.

After returning the phones to the other students in advance, only two phones remained in the collection box. Even when he returned with the two phones of the same model in his hand, Kang Jihan was still sleeping in the same position.

Nam Seonwoo laid face-down on his desk. Lying side by side and turning his head towards Kang Jihan, he could see the face slightly revealed above his arm.