“Have your meal. What time do you have to go?”
“6:30. Huh?”
Heewoon’s eyes widened. It was already 6:20. From that moment on, Heewoon quickly maneuvered his chopsticks. He almost emptied the remaining food in about five minutes.
“Leave it. I’ll clean up.”
“Oh, thanks.”
As Heewoon stood up to clear the dishes, Kangwoo stopped him.
“Call me when you’re done.”
“Oh. But I’m going straight home.”
“That’s for sure.”
Kangwoo said that while looking up at Heewoon. Heewoon nodded, and Kangwoo nudged his hip. Heewoon, who was pushed one step, turned around, and Kangwoo gestured with his hand.
At a quick glance, it seemed Kangwoo hadn’t finished eating his box. Heewoon walked away in quick steps, thinking that Kangwoo seemed to be quite good at playing the role of a caring partner.
He even waited for Heewoon until the group meeting was over.
After receiving a message to come to the parking lot, Heewoon left the meeting room and ran at full speed.
“Did you wait long?”
Heewoon breathed heavily. His hair was tangled because he ran there, revealing his white forehead. Kangwoo opened his mouth while looking at him with a soft gaze.
“How can you act like this outside? What if other bastards get to you? I’ve been worried a lot lately.”
He reached out to tidy Heewoon’s bangs. His fingers gently brushed against Heewoon’s forehead.
“I’m worried if you can go around well without me. But seeing you today…”
Heewoon held Kangwoo’s hand and silently gazed at Kangwoo. The corners of Kangwoo’s lips slowly raised up,
“How pretty.”
Instead of what he originally intended to say, those words flowed out of Kangwoo’s mouth.
The caress on his cheek was tender. Kangwoo’s gaze was the same as Heewoon’s. As Heewoon dropped his gaze, Kangwoo used his fingers to gently touch his eyelashes.
“Do you want anything?”
Heewoon blinked. Kangwoo’s fingers lightly stroked his long eyelashes.
“Yeah? Anything?”
“I don’t have any…”
“Why not?”
Kangwoo kissed Heewoon’s nose. Then he said,
“Try making an unreasonable request.”
“Huh?”
“I’m curious about how far I’ll go to fulfill it.”
Heewoon looked at Kangwoo. The faint smile that had appeared before deepened a bit. Heewoon slowly opened his mouth.
“Can I join a job seeking study group?”
“Yes.”
“…How about an academy?”
“You’re already doing a job study group, and you still want to go to an academy? ”
Kangwoo frowned slightly.
“The study group is for interview preparation, and the academy is for getting a certification… Can’t I?”
Heewoon asked cautiously, locking eyes with Kangwoo. The wrinkled forehead smoothed out as he did so.
“You can.”
At the soft response, Heewoon’s mouth fell open. Kangwoo smiled a little, inserting and withdrawing his finger into Heewoon’s opened mouth.
“If you use studying as an excuse to go out drinking, I won’t let you off.”
“I-I won’t! I won’t drink anymore…”
Heewoon denied with a frightened expression, recalling the previous incident.
“For real, Kangwoo. I won’t drink outside again.”
As Heewoon added anxious words, Kangwoo brushed his lips on Heewoon’s cheek. Kangwoo patted his back and said reassuringly,
“I know. Anything else you want?”
“Hmm…”
A large hand gently swept down his back.
“I can’t think of one.”
That was the answer Heewoon came up with after contemplating for a while, and Kangwoo burst into laughter. He hugged Heewoon’s head, ruffling his hair and holding him close, feeling Heewoon was too cute.
“If it were me, I’d at least ask for a whole building.”
“Oh…”
Heewoon hadn’t thought of that. Hearing it now, that didn’t seem like a bad choice. Kangwoo laughed loudly, finding Heewoon’s admiration amusing.
And later, Heewoon received a building that he didn’t even ask for.
***
Heewoon did well in the midterms. Then, he joined the job study group with a relaxed mind. Kangwoo’s only had one condition.
Don’t get too close to the study group members.
It was because of him getting jealous. It was easy to keep since Heewoon only needed to avoid acting overly familiar while mentioning names in front of Kangwoo.
The study was held in a study room near the university. After the study, around 8 pm, others often went to drink, but Heewoon only went with them when it was for dinner. They went for drinks so often that Heewoon only went out for dinner with them twice.
Heewoon went to the study group on Monday and Wednesday, and attended the academy on Tuesday and Thursday. Recently, he had been returning home late. So, he changed his class time to morning lectures for next month. It meant he had to wake up early, but it seemed much better that way.
“Heewoon-ssi, we’re going for chicken and beer. Please join us.”
“I have prior plans.”
Heewoon declined the invitation. He didn’t want to attend any gathering involving alcohol. It was while he was walking through the bustling university district, exchanging greetings and navigating through the crowd.
“Woo Heewoon!”
Someone approached energetically from the opposite side. It was Jihwan.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. What about you?”
Heewoon replied casually. Kangwoo didn’t particularly like Jihwan, but since they shared some classes, ignoring him completely was impossible. They would exchange greetings when they met at school, and sometimes engage in conversations. As long as it wasn’t too excessive, Kangwoo seemed to allow it.
“Great. Let’s grab dinner together. I’m so sick of eating alone.”
Heewoon felt sorry for Jihwan. In Jihwan’s perspective, Heewoon would have been suddenly distancing from him.
After a moment of contemplation, Heewoon spoke.
“Sure. But I have to leave right after dinner.”
These days, Seo Kangwoo was lenient enough to allow Heewoon to have dinner with others.
“Got it, you punk.”
While heading to a cheap rice noodle restaurant, Heewoon sent a message to Kangwoo. ‘Can I have dinner with a classmate before going back?’ he asked. He thought for the slightest moment whether he should mention he was going with the study group members, but Heewoon didn’t want to get his tooth plucked, so he decided to not lie.
Heewoon not mentioning Jihwan’s name was a compromise. Kangwoo was probably busy as he didn’t read the message right away. Heewoon entered the rice noodle restaurant while casually glancing at his phone.
Heewoon placed an order at the counter and waited for the food. Meanwhile, Kangwoo still hadn’t read the message.
“Hey, what’s up? Are you in a relationship or something?”
“…Do you get along well with Yeonji-ssi these days?”
“Ah, I don’t know. She’s busy preparing for a job, and I’m busy too.”
Jihwan spoke bitterly. It seemed like things weren’t going well. Heewoon didn’t ask, but Jihwan started pouring out his concerns. This turned into relationship advice.
“Honestly, if I really like her, should I endure and meet her even when I’m tired?”
“Hmmmm…”
“I like Yeonji. But for now, getting a job is a priority, right?”
“Is Yeonji-ssi preparing for a job too?”
“Well, she is, but…”
Jihwan sighed.
“I really feel like trash.”
Heewoon didn’t know what to say, so he patted Jihwan’s shoulder. Glancing up, Jihwan smiled at Heewoon.
Fortunately, the food came out. Heewoon took the tray and went to his seat, then Jihwan asked.
“Are you working part-time lately?”
“Huh?”
“You’re going to the academy and the study group.”
“Ah… I’ve saved up some money.”
Oh, that’s nice. Jihoon applauded. Heewoon glanced at his phone. Kangwoo had read the message. He put his phone further away so Jihwan wouldn’t be able to see it and started eating.
“Do we finish our academy around the same time? Wanna get dinner together from now on?”
“Starting next month, I’ll have morning classes. Before lectures.”
“Aren’t you taking finance? That’s a 9 am class.”
“Yeah.”
As Heewoon nodded, Jihwam asked, twisting his face confusedly,
“Just why on earth?”
Well, it’s because Heewoon didn’t want to go home late.
“I have things to do in the evening…”
Heewoon hurried changed the subject. He quickly finished his meal and stepped outside. Jihwan suggested getting ice cream, so they stopped by a convenience store. Heewoon paid the bill.
There was still no reply from Kangwoo. Was he busy, or did he not want to allow it? But Heewoon had already finished the meal. Feeling anxious about various thoughts, he made a gloomy expression, prompting Jihwan to pat his back.
“Cheer up, job seeker.”
Heewoon threw away the ice cream wrapper and absentmindedly checked his phone. There was a message from Kangwoo. However, it wasn’t a response to his earlier question.
[Which classmate?]
Ah, as expected, Kangwoo asked that. Choosing between beating around the bush and being honest, Heewoon sent a message to Kangwoo.
Park Jihwan.
[You can’t. I’d get jealous because you’re close with that guy.]
The reply came promptly. Heewoon felt a cold sweat down his back. He glanced briefly at Jihwan and said,
“I’ll go first.”
“Sure. See you at university.”
Without responding to Jihwan’s words, Heewoon walked away while just glancing at his phone. He had a hard time choosing an answer to this question. To be honest, he was very scared of Kangwoo’s reaction if he told him that they already had dinner together.
Already two minutes had passed. Heewoon became restless, imagining Kangwoo’s eerie gaze. He closed his eyes briefly, opened them, and sent a message saying he had already eaten the dinner.
Soon, Kangwoo’s reply came.
[Come quickly.]
***
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