Became an Observer in Love Company

“What is it, what is it? What’s this atmosphere about? Surely you two aren’t dating, are you?”

Park Nayul’s voice came from behind.

Turning my head, Yoon Jihoo was walking towards us with her.

“Are you two going out?”

Yoon Jihoo glanced at me and Lee Jian, asking.

“No.”

I replied curtly, cutting it off.

I may not be able to help the two of them, but I definitely didn’t want to get in the way. Hence there was a need to clearly state this.

“…It’s not like that.”

Lee Jian said this somewhat uncomfortably. She didn’t look too pleased.

‘It’s understandable that someone in a one-sided love wouldn’t feel good if the object of their affection misunderstands things like this.’

Her bright face from just a moment ago darkened in an instant.

Perhaps it’s better to keep some distance then?

I’m just an observer. A traveler who stays for a fleeting moment, so faint in presence.

Therefore, getting too involved probably isn’t the best move.

Quietly perceiving this, I put some distance between myself and Lee Jian.

Whoosh. And whoosh.

She noticed this and moved to keep up.

Glancing at her, she mouthed the words “What? Why?”

She furrowed her brows, clearly showing she wasn’t in a good mood.

“Haa.”

I let out a quiet sigh.

‘Not perceptive at all.’

I glanced again and created some space.

Whoosh. And whoosh.

She immediately followed.

I whispered softly.

“What? Why are you following me?”

“Why are you the one running away all the time?”

Her tone carried a hint of irritation.

Saying that, she stepped closer with purposeful strides.

Pressed by the situation, I instinctively stepped back.

“Why are you running away…”

I wasn’t fully aware, but my words blurted out.

“Such an observant person.”

These were meant to be mere murmurs to myself.

However, she heard these words, her eyes growing larger.

It was as though a small ripple spread through those large eyes.

Like someone who’s been hurt, or feels resentment.

I don’t understand why she has such an expression.

“Is it really fine with them like that? They aren’t dating, right?”

In response to Park Nayul’s words, Yoon Jihoo tilted his head.

“Oh come on, those two are just friends. They’re just making jokes, you know.”

Park Nayul looked at Yoon Jihoo with a sense of disbelief.

“You’re not very perceptive, are you?”

“Am I?”

I subtly intervened in their conversation.

“It’s really not like that.”

“That’s right. We really aren’t like that.”

Lee Jian responded with an irritated expression, a trace of anger lingering in her voice.

“Alright, alright. Got it, let’s go home now. We’ll get scolded by the teacher if we’re late.”

Under the streetlight, we walked down the long road together.

Even though it was late evening, the streetlight dimly illuminated the way for us.

The distant sound of cars and occasional snippets of conversation covered the awkwardness of the air.

I looked ahead and stepped forward slowly. It was probably because of the night that the air felt unusually colder today.

“Ooh, the weather is great!”

Park Nayul stretched her arms and yawned.

“On a day like this, a night walk is perfect, isn’t it?”

“Even though you seem to have slightly red ears, huh, senior?”

Yoon Jihoo humorously pointed out, making Park Nayul grumble as she covered her ears.

“Stop it! It’s just the night breeze.”

While looking ahead, I sneaked a glance at Lee Jian beside me.

She was walking silently.

She hadn’t spoken much since before now.

Normally, she’d chatter about anything by now.

‘Is she still upset?’

As we walked under the string of streetlights, we eventually came to a crossroads.

Park Nayul and Yoon Jihoo naturally headed in the same direction while exchanging pleasantries.

I casually waved goodbye, then without hesitation, moved in the opposite direction to them.

Suddenly, the quiet Lee Jian turned and stared at me.

“…Why?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

She tapped the ground with her toes. It looked like she wanted to say something, but quickly turned her head away.

“Oh, it’s because the senior and Yoon Jiho’s houses are in the same direction, right?”

“Huh?”

Lee Jian narrowed her eyes in a subtle manner.

“You seem to know a lot about Senior Nayul’s house.”

Her voice was lower than usual.

“Well, I once followed her.”

I answered nonchalantly. Still, her expression looked strange.

After speaking, I realized that Lee Jian had been staring at me the whole time.

“…Why?”

“Nope. Never mind.”

She tapped the ground again and moved her steps.

It felt strange. Definitely strange.

Ordinarily, she would have asked something like “What? Why did you two go together? When?” and teased about it.

But right now, it seemed to carry a different emotion.

However, I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

‘Is she upset?’

Did she want to go home with Yoon Jihoo?

I followed her silently.

*

The street stretched long under the streetlights.

The evening was quieter due to the late hour.

My footsteps sounded unusually loud.

I walked quietly.

Under normal circumstances, I would have made a light joke to pass the time, but today, I didn’t want to.

Even though Kim Dohyun was by my side, I didn’t feel like talking.

Something had felt off since before now.

It was the feeling in my heart.

It was strangely uncomfortable.

And I couldn’t figure out why it was like this.

It felt like my heart was swaying with the wind.

“…Ooh, the weather is really great!”

The senior stretched her arms and yawned.

“On a day like this, a night stroll is perfect, isn’t it?”

I didn’t answer.

I just continued walking silently.

The streetlights followed us.

Under their glow, Kim Dohyun’s ashen hair gleamed dimly.

I stared at it for a while before looking away.

When I turned my head, we’d already arrived at a crossroads.

Yoon Jihoo and Senior Nayul naturally walked in the same direction.

I turned my head expressionlessly and watched the two of them.

Yoon Jihoo and Senior Nayul.

They looked so good together as they walked.

The senior walking in gentle, flowing steps while Yoon Jihoo quietly matched her pace.

There didn’t seem to be any room for anyone to intrude.

Meanwhile, we…

I walk ahead, Kim Dohyun follows behind.

Our steps don’t match.

I thought it was silly, so foolish.

My steps paused momentarily.

His footsteps also stopped, one step behind me like always.

The scene from the practice room came to mind.

Kim Dohyun’s firm response kept circling in my ears.

“No.”

There was no hesitation in his answer.

It was the same question, the same answer.

But why did Kim Dohyun’s answer grate on my nerves so much?

When Yoon Jihoo said it, I didn’t think much of it. It felt perfectly normal.

But Kim Dohyun’s answer strangely stung.

Always stepping back, yet why was our relationship so distinctly cut off?

If we were just friends, why?

Are we closer than just friends?

“…Why?”

“Huh?”

It was a dazed reaction.

“No, just…”

Then Kim Dohyun glanced at me and replied casually.

“Ah, because the senior and Yoon Jiho’s houses are on the same route.”

At that moment, an inexplicable feeling of unease spread.

I asked reflexively.

“You really seem to know a lot about Senior Nayul’s house.”

My voice dropped slightly.

He replied as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Yeah, I once went with her.”

“…Once?”

I thought about his words, then clenched my mouth shut.

When? Why? The two of them?

Until now, I had never considered Kim Dohyun and Senior Nayul to be close.

At least, I never thought they were closer than me.

But…

Kim Dohyun talked about visiting her house so naturally, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

It kept bothering me.

I inexplicably became irritated.

“…Why are you acting like this?”

He looked at my expression as if checking it.

I didn’t respond.

“It’s nothing.”

I tapped the ground with my foot.

It felt strange to say I was in a bad mood.

But—

I was mad for some reason.

Thinking about it, Kim Dohyun wasn’t someone who showed particular interest in anyone.

Senior Nayul was different, though.

She was extremely popular and could easily get along with anyone.

So if Kim Dohyun started liking Senior Nayul…

It wasn’t really surprising.

“No, no. That can’t be right.”

Strangely, a feeling inside me wanted to deny it.

But my mind had already reached a conclusion.

‘Kim Dohyun likes Senior Nayul.’

I clenched my fists for no reason.

For some reason, it felt like my stomach turned.

Do I need to be this invested in it?

Should I just pretend like it’s nothing and move on?

But now, that’s hard to do.

I quietly looked at Kim Dohyun.

He walked forward as if he knew nothing.

He’s really clueless.

‘While I’m this affected…

And you don’t seem bothered at all.’

That made it even more annoying.

What is this feeling?

I felt like I knew the answer but wasn’t ready to admit it.

So I quietly closed my mouth and walked next to Kim Dohyun.

Just quietly, like this street.

It was chilly, even though it was late April because of the night.

“Want a drink?”

Kim Dohyun, walking beside me, pulled a beverage out of his pocket and offered it.

It was the same barley drink he always had.

“What is it?”

“You know, don’t you?”

“One plus one?”

“Right, that’s it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his easiness.

I took the soda he handed me.

The cold can.

But strangely,

I felt a small warmth from the can in my hand.

Was it because it was in his pocket?

Or because he gave it to me?

I took a sip and swallowed it.

The drink’s sweetness, its slight acidity, and more than that, the fact that he gave it to me.

It made me smile naturally from that sweetness.

“You look happier now. You’re so simple.”

“Yeah, well.”

I guess I am that simple.

Because you gave it to me, I smiled like this.

Something that hurt before, now, I’m smiling because of you.

“You’re really simple, aren’t you?”

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