Became an Observer in Love Company

It was fortunate that the weekend was included.

If we had met before that, I might have shown a wavering appearance.

Thanks to that, I was able to act as if nothing had happened that night.

While I was tidying up my desk, I suddenly felt a familiar presence from behind.

“Hey.”

When I turned my head at the touch on my forearm, I saw a familiar face as always.

“…Why?”

“Can you show me the homework you did yesterday?”

Lee Jian confidently stretched out her hand.

“Didn’t you do the homework?”

“Yeah, but since you already did it, it’s fine, right?”

Her logic was so obvious.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.

“If someone sees, they’ll think you’ve entrusted it to me.”

“Still, isn’t it important to at least make a minimal effort?”

She confidently proclaimed, puffing her chest out.

“Is this really an effort?”

“It’s our teamwork.”

“It feels like the burden is too heavy.”

“Still, from next time, I won’t borrow anymore. Even if you beg me to borrow, I won’t.”

While speaking, she seemed to realize how unreasonable her words were and turned her head away.

“Please do that.”

Sighing, I took out the notebook I had written the notes in yesterday.

Lee Jian smiled brightly and lightly grabbed it.

“Thank you! As expected, I can only count on you!”

Only you.

That insignificant phrase strangely lingered in my ears.

For a moment, my hand stopped tidying up my desk.

But soon, I feigned nonchalance and asked,

“Why do you always come to me? Don’t you have a lot of friends? Like Yoon Jihoo?”

“They wouldn’t lend it. They’re too stingy.”

Lee Jian grumbled as she spoke.

…

[Multiple singularities detected. Your presence is slightly increasing.]

Presence.

At the word, my heart sank unexpectedly.

A slight noise like static. As soon as I read that word, a strange sense of discomfort swept through my mind.

It was like the spotlight turning on on the stage.

Like the familiar background suddenly becoming strange.

The simple message of “presence increase” felt like it was revealing all of me.

Until now, I’ve lived my life trying my best not to be noticed.

According to the flow of this story, without interfering with the original plot.

That meant my role was changing.

Not just being a simple observer, but becoming an actor participating in the play.

‘…That can’t be.’

I shook my head in denial.

“Kim Dohyun, Lee Jian. Both of you, come to the front.”

The teacher’s stern voice came from the podium.

It was the first time I’d been called during class.

Is this also due to the “increase in presence” message?

I curiously stood up. Lee Jian looked as if she didn’t have any particular thoughts.

The classmates also stared at us, seemingly unaware of what was going on.

All eyes in the class were suddenly on us.

A wave of anxiety burst open in my chest.

The more I interfere, the stronger my existence becomes in this world.

“Kim Dohyun? Is there a student like that in our class?”

“Never seen him before? Isn’t he a transfer student?”

Hearing those words, Lee Jian giggled and burst out laughing.

“Laughing? You guys are getting scolded right now.”

The teacher said with an expression of disbelief.

“What? Are we getting scolded? Why?”

Pointing with a finger to the thick stack of homework on the podium, the teacher said,

“Can you explain this? There are two Kim Dohyuns in our class?”

My homework.

And another homework exactly the same.

Even the name was written identically.

There was only a slight difference in the neat lettering and cuter handwriting, but the content was completely the same.

The laughter of classmates grew louder.

Light-hearted laughter and trivial jokes.

In the midst of it, I felt like a lone foreigner floating around.

I slowly raised my head and looked at Lee Jian.

“…Mistake.”

And there was Lee Jian’s familiar tone.

Her face turned bright red, checking how I reacted.

It was familiar.

I didn’t expect this sense of familiarity amid the strangeness to feel this comforting.

I finally slightly relaxed my tense shoulders.

“Both of you clean the classroom after school today. Now, everyone, come out and take your homework.”

…

“Idiot duo, I’m going first.”

Yoon Jihoo said that and left the classroom.

“Hey! Wait!”

Lee Jian said that and started a short conversation with Yoon Jihoo.

What are they talking about? I was curious but couldn’t know.

Because the system wasn’t operating.

Without the system, I couldn’t understand anything.

It was the only special quality I had in this strange world.

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my mind, which was about to become despondent.

Did Yoon Jihoo lecture her? Lee Jian seemed disappointed and shuffled back.

The sight made me smile involuntarily.

I naturally tossed out a teasing line.

“Why are you always grouped with me…?”

“I already said. It’s teamwork. Since we’re riding the same boat, we must share responsibility.”

Mm, I nodded my head while muttering some nonsense.

“Then, why must I share a boat with you? I want to get off.”

“It’s impossible since it’s already in motion.”

“Is there a lifeboat?”

“What? Do you mean you don’t want to be with me?”

Suddenly, my vision was blocked.

It seemed as if the area in front of me was illuminated brightly, and a familiar face came close.

“Hey, Kim Dohyun.”

She was close. Too close.

Her golden hair fluttered slightly.

Her platinum hair, filled with light, fell delicately in waves.

Her small face was visible between the strands of hair that lightly touched my shoulder.

Her shining eyes.

Large, round eyes were staring at me with intensity.

A strange blend of pink and purple-like tones.

Up close, her eyes were definitely large, with her pupils shimmering and slightly wobbling.

Her eyelashes were long, and her eyes were clear and open.

Her slightly raised corners of the mouth.

She was wearing a playful smile.

“…What.”

“What’s what?”

Her voice was even closer.

Her small, sharp jawline stopped right in front of my nose.

Her bright eyes closely examined me from head to toe.

There was no room to retreat.

“…You’re too close.”

Only then did she blink her eyes.

Then, she shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal and replied,

“Is it? I’m fine with it.”

I wasn’t fine with it.

Her skin remained clear and transparent, even under close scrutiny.

Her hair subtly reflected a golden hue under the sunlight.

And her smiling lips.

A mischievous expression, just before saying something playful.

“Why do you look like you’re about to fall for someone?”

A blush rose on her porcelain skin as she murmured those words.

…

Silently, I moved closer to Lee Jian.

Her eyes wavered intensely.

I couldn’t help but smile. I didn’t understand why she was teasing like this when she seemed flustered.

As I slightly pushed her forehead while pretending to be indifferent, I said,

“Why don’t you clean up? What are you doing holding that mop?”

While rubbing her forehead, Lee Jian muttered grumpily,

“I was about to do it anyway.”

Is this how difficult it is to seem unfazed?

I thought I could simply avoid eye contact and keep a solemn expression.

But right now, this voice echoing in my chest was too loud.

Boom.

Even if I tried not to notice,

My steady heartbeat goes off kilter.

I slowly turned my head.

I looked out the window.

Maybe my action was a bit cowardly.

But I didn’t want to reveal that something inside me was wavering right now.

The orange sunset streaming through the window colored the classroom.

Long shadows spread across the floor.

The residual heat lingering at my fingertips.

I clenched my lips tightly.

Fortunately, this loud thumping in my chest and the slight redness in my face were hidden.

That’s what I thought.

…

“Is this about saying you don’t want to be with me?”

It was a casual, teasing remark.

Yet, for some reason, Kim Dohyun’s avoidance kept bothering me.

So, I moved closer.

One step, two steps.

The moment I confirmed he had nowhere to retreat to, I moved even closer.

“Hey, Kim Dohyun.”

The area brightened.

I blocked his vision, bringing my face closer.

I could see his ashen hair wavering at eye level.

Kim Dohyun slightly frowned.

“…What.”

“What’s what?”

Messages exchanged via text came to mind.

As I scrolled down, messages appeared.

A rather bold message of mine was responded to with a dry “I’m going to sleep.”

Because that answer irritated me.

That night, walking together, that peculiar temperature, the song lyrics we shared…

My heart was racing so fast, but he acted as if nothing was different.

I didn’t want to see his emotions crack only when looking at the senior.

I wanted to see him falter. I wanted to see him flustered because of me.

With a mischievous smile, I teasingly asked,

“Why does it seem like you’re falling for someone?”

At that moment, I unconsciously swallowed my breath.

I felt embarrassed. I became even more flustered by the words I had just spoken.

I could feel my face heating up. But I forced myself to seem casual, pretending it was just a joke as I looked at him.

Then, Kim Dohyun stared down at me seriously.

His ashen eyes unwaveringly fixed on me.

At that moment, something unexpected happened.

He smiled.

Then quietly leaned closer.

He got closer.

“…”

My breath caught in my throat.

Boom.

My heart began racing wildly.

He said nothing.

Just his steady gaze that looked straight at me.

Even though I was the one teasing, I was the one surprised right now.

This… was unexpected.

Without realizing it, I averted my eyes.

I clenched my lips tightly.

Trying to maintain composure as usual, but my voice wouldn’t come out.

Looking closely at the distance, his eyes.

His subtly trembling eyelashes.

The faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

…So close.

Too close.

My body stiffened.

‘Why am I reacting like this…?’

If I act like this, I’ll look like a fool.

At that moment, Kim Dohyun quietly raised his hand and lightly pushed my forehead.

“Why don’t you clean up? What are you doing holding a mop?”

“…!”

I snapped out of it instantly.

Hastily, I turned my head.

My fingertips were trembling slightly.

I needed to hide the fact that my face was turning red.

My heart was pounding too fast.

I hadn’t anticipated this.

I did my best to seem nonchalant and pouted as I said,

“I was about to do it anyway.”

I gripped the mop tightly.

But I couldn’t stop the tension in my hands.

Just a while ago when Kim Dohyun looked me in the eyes.

In that brief moment, I was the only one racing my heart.

He showed no signs of wavering.

It… was oddly irritating.

I briefly glanced at Kim Dohyun.

He had already turned his attention away from me and was looking out the window, his usual indifferent expression.

I felt strangely annoyed.

‘Am I the only one feeling this?’

I clenched my lips tightly.

‘Why is it always just my heart that races?’

Somehow, it felt unfair.

‘And you’re completely calm.’

I felt so foolish for reacting this way.

So, I wanted to stop now.

I didn’t want to be the fool anymore.

I wanted to cross the line.

I wanted to keep holding onto you, even though you keep stepping back.

I wanted to try acting spoiled, as you had said.

Until I know the name of this feeling. Until I can face it properly.

I smiled cheerfully as if nothing was troubling me and said,

“I’m going to participate in a competition this time. Not for directing, but for lighting arts.”

His eyes widened at my words.

The surprise spread instantly.

The biggest fluctuation I’d ever seen from him was quite satisfying.

And what pleased me most was that I had brought it out of him.

“And I’ll let you know, I’m going to participate in a play where I’m more visible.”

…

At the news, his eyes widened significantly.

A wave of surprise spread across his face immediately.

The largest fluctuation I’d ever witnessed from him gave me a fair amount of satisfaction.

And knowing that I’d been the one to provoke this response made me the happiest.

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