Became an Observer in Love Company

The early morning hours are truly a frightening time.

It makes people emotional and paralyzes their reason.

The magic time that can turn an ordinary person into a philosopher.

And it was no different for me.

[Lee Jian]

>I died tonight.

“And I’m being reborn.”

Muttering to myself as I sat at my desk and opened a book.

Because I need to win the bet and get that wish coupon.

What wish should I make if I get the coupon?

I started to feel good already. I could feel the corners of my mouth creeping up.

Is this level of excitement okay?

It’s fine since I’m using this anticipation as fuel to burn the firewood of studying.

[Kim Dohyun]

>Are you going through middle school second-year syndrome?

I immediately snapped out of it after receiving Dohyun’s message.

When I carefully re-read my own message, it was full of lines that clearly screamed middle school second-year syndrome.

I lightly tapped my desk.

“Guess the early morning hours really are dangerous.”

[Lee Jian]

>Will you not forget this?

>(An emoticon of a duck twisting its body)

[Kim Dohyun]

>(A screenshot of the conversation)

Dohyun showed a firm attitude, as if there was no room for negotiation.

“Ugh~”

I wanted to argue back, but there was nothing to argue with.

Still, it felt unfair to just let this slide, so I called him.

While the ringing tone played, I rocked my chair back and forth.

‘Will he pick up? Won’t he?’

Why did this short moment feel so long?

When I saw his name blinking on the screen, strangely, cold sweat broke out.

Then—

“…Why.”

A low, lazy voice tickled my ear.

“…Ah, you picked up.”

“What is it all of a sudden?”

His voice was different.

It felt closer than when we were just exchanging messages.

His voice was still indifferent, but there was a slight hint that he was resting.

“Are you sleeping?”

“No.”

“What were you doing then?”

“Just…”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Just, what?”

“…”

No response.

A moment of silence passed.

Then, a quiet breath.

It strangely sounded like it was coming from close by.

I curled up in my chair and gripped my phone tighter.

“It’s because of you.”

“…?”

His tone was strangely loose.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been something I could immediately refute or joke about.

But now,

“…What are you talking about?”

He didn’t answer.

Just a small breath.

A silence as if he was gathering his breath from somewhere.

Then, his voice came again, low.

“…Because you kept sending messages.”

That tone felt somehow different.

Much lazier and quieter than usual, but also more honest.

I gripped my phone tightly.

“If you were sleeping, you could have just said so. You didn’t have to reply.”

“It’s not that… Haa.”

Kim Dohyun let out a small sigh.

His breath came through the phone, deeper and richer.

Strangely, my ears itched and my heart was unsettled.

“I was waiting. Thinking you wouldn’t send a message today.”

Clung!

My heart dropped hard.

What did he just say?

He was waiting?

Kim Dohyun, for me?

My head suddenly went blank.

I need to say something.

I need to respond with something.

My mouth wouldn’t open properly.

“Uh? Ah, no, uh?”

It was a mess.

I could feel strength in the hand gripping my phone.

I could feel the heat rising to the tips of my ears.

Did I misunderstand?

Yeah, it’s probably… just my mistake.

But,

“Why are you silent?”

That low and quiet voice.

Slowly, lazily, and slightly lazy tone.

There was a hint of sleepiness, yet somehow it sank in deeper.

“…What do you mean by waiting?”

I asked cautiously, with a tiny bit of hope laced in my voice.

Kim Dohyun didn’t answer.

A brief silence.

The small breaths I could hear in that silence.

Then,

“…Just.”

He mumbled faintly.

“Because I’ve gotten used to exchanging messages with you. I’ve been waiting without realizing since when.”

At that moment,

I really thought my breath had stopped.

I didn’t know what was happening in my head.

A feeling of something warm rising.

My fingertips tingled.

Instinctively, I gripped my phone tighter.

I instinctively moved the speaker, making it closer.

“…I like it.”

I somehow answered without realizing.

“So, this.”

For some reason, my hand flailed in the air.

I bit my lips hard and slowly said,

“Exchanging messages with you.”

Talking without seeing your face strangely gave me courage.

“And the moment we’re talking on the phone now.”

My face was already red. My breath was slightly trembling.

“I like it.”

What expression are you wearing right now?

Kim Dohyun stayed silent for a while.

Then I could hear his even breaths.

Shh. Shh.

Kim Dohyun’s even breaths continued.

I stopped speaking for a moment.

“…Hey?”

I called out softly.

No response.

I pressed my phone closer to my ear and whispered again softly.

“…Kim Dohyun?”

Still no answer.

Shh. Shh.

Then,

I finally realized.

“…You fell asleep?”

I stared blankly at the screen.

I could hear his deep, sleeping breaths.

Everything finally made sense.

Why he was unusually honest today.

Why he kept saying he was waiting.

This guy was fully sleep-intoxicated.

I bit my lips quietly.

“…Hey, you shameless guy.”

How could you make my heart race like this and then fall asleep alone?

My heart is still racing wildly.

“Then, I’ll be shameless too?”

I took a quiet breath.

My fingertips were trembling slightly.

But right now—

If he can’t hear me,

I think I can be honest too.

I took a small deep breath and slowly opened my mouth.

“…I like you.”

In that instant, my heart beat strongly.

I was so embarrassed that my face felt hot,

but I gathered my courage and added one more sentence.

“The call we had tonight, I hope you never forget it.”

I smiled softly as I said it.

And—

Click.

I ended the call.

Only then could I exhale.

But my chest was still pounding.

I placed my phone on my chest and looked at the ceiling.

“…Maybe I’m crazy, for real.”

My heart felt like it was going to explode.

Still, strangely,

I thought this moment was really good.

The dense early morning air. That cold air had given me an unknown courage.

Even if that courage will vanish like a mirage when I wake up in the morning.

Even if a great sense of shame will come as a side effect after the courage fades.

Doping on the morning air, I thought I was okay.

I even hoped that Kim Dohyun would remember this conversation despite the embarrassment.

I unconsciously fiddled with the sleeve of the gym uniform I was wearing.

The gym uniform Kim Dohyun lent me.

The clean, soft fabric. The sensation that gently enveloped my fingertips.

It was probably just an ordinary piece of clothing, yet I couldn’t detach my hand.

The three letters “Kim Dohyun” inscribed on the gym uniform caught my eye.

Then,

Sniff sniff.

A familiar fabric softener scent.

And a faintly foreign but somehow familiar smell.

A fresh scent like a breeze.

But for some reason, it felt familiar.

Something I had never paid attention to but now recognized instantly.

Kim Dohyun’s scent.

It seemed like some things can’t be washed away.

Especially since it’s lingering so vividly now.

I quietly buried my face.

And took another deep breath.

I wish I hadn’t noticed.

I didn’t have to sniff.

I wish I hadn’t become so aware.

“…”

I slowly moved my fingertips again.

I gently rubbed the sleeve and carefully unfolded the collar.

Now, every detail I could feel with my fingertips was both familiar and startling.

This is the clothing Kim Dohyun wore,

the fabric that brushed against him whenever he moved,

and the garment he casually handed over to me,

though with a slightly flustered expression—

“…”

I tightly clutched the gym uniform.

I need to return it.

I need to wash it thoroughly and stop having these thoughts,

but,

“Let me keep it just a little longer.”

What’s so special about a gym uniform anyway.

I quietly, quietly—

smiled softly.

“Hey.”

“?!?!”

Only then did I notice the sound.

When I belatedly looked up, the door was already open wide.

My sister was standing there.

Her gaze—

“What are you doing?”

was focused on the gym uniform.

Her gaze moved from the name on the gym uniform to my face.

For a moment, my mind went blank.

How should I explain this, this situation—

“Impossible.”

She frowned.

“No, it’s not that.”

“You’re lying! I clearly heard you sniffing just now!!”

“No I didn’t!!”

“You’re such a creep.”

“No, I swear I didn’t!”

The fact that I couldn’t yell loudly because it was early morning was incredibly frustrating.

“Hmm, the mix of cotton and polyester makes it really soft, doesn’t it? As expected from what I learned.”

I tried to act confidently,

but the attempt failed immediately.

“I’m telling your classmates you’re a weirdo who smells other people’s gym clothes.”

“No, No—!!!!!”

“Idiot.”

She slammed the door and disappeared.

The cold early morning air.

Many people lost themselves to black marks in their history and stumbled from shame due to this dense early morning air.

What a cruel time.

And it was no different for me.

I was entirely humiliated. I felt like my dignity as a human being had fallen.

A sudden sense of sorrow overwhelmed me.

*

The morning sunlight was filling the classroom through the windows.

I was naturally about to find my seat—

“…Huh?”

I caught sight of Kim Dohyun.

He was sitting at his desk with his arm resting on it as usual, but something was odd.

He was facing away.

In a way that was conspicuously unnatural.

Even though just the sound of my footsteps should have told him I was approaching.

Yet, his back was unnaturally stiff, clearly avoiding eye contact on purpose.

I quietly glanced at him as I walked by.

His expression was tense.

Not even trying to act cool as usual.

“…”

…Haha.

So, he does remember.

Our call from last night.

I smirked slightly as I approached Kim Dohyun.

As I passed by his chair, I deliberately leaned close and whispered.

“Dohyun, hello?”

Then—

“…!”

His shoulders twitched slightly.

That small reaction was enough to confirm it.

Kim Dohyun definitely remembers.

And he’s avoiding me because of it.

I don’t know how much he remembers,

but a wicked smile slowly spread across my face.

How should I use this?

Slowly, very slowly.

Today, I plan to enjoy myself leisurely.

I’ll make him more embarrassed than I was.