Became an Observer in Love Company

The exams are over.

In other words, the final exams are over.

What’s more, summer vacation is just around the corner.

The students were all buzzing with excitement at the sense of liberation that came with the end of the long, hellish schedule.

Some were already making vacation plans, while others sighed, thinking about their report cards.

But I might just be the most anxious person right now.

“So~”

Lee Jian, who had been walking beside me, turned to face me and looked at me.

“You have to keep your promise, right?”

At her words, I sighed.

A bet.

The ridiculous bet we had made regarding our final exam scores.

Of course, objectively, my grades were higher. But the issue was the content of the bet.

“Will Lee Jian’s grades improve or not?”

I thought there was no way Lee Jian could win.

Considering her previous midterm scores were already her highest, I believed there was no chance for a higher score.

With only about a week before the exam, she wouldn’t have had enough time to study properly.

And with someone as laid-back as Lee Jian, I doubted she would have prepared much—it would have been at most some last-minute cramming.

However, her tenacity.

When I noticed how tired she looked over the last few days, I had assumed she was just sitting at her desk, pretending to study.

Every time we talked, she mentioned she was studying, but I didn’t think much of it.

Now what? The results are already out, and a promise is a promise.

And what’s the big deal about a wish token anyway?

It’s not like it’s anything special.

It’s probably just a request to get rid of one of the wish tokens I already have or something equally trivial.

Frankly speaking, I’m also unsure what to do with the wish token I currently possess, and I’m at a loss on how to handle it.

I assumed Lee Jian would be in a similar situation.

Lee Jian quietly extended her hand.

“What is it?”

“What else? You owe me a wish token.”

“How do you give it?”

“Just write it on a piece of paper and hand it over. That’s your wish token.”

“Then you have to give yours too.”

I pulled out a notebook from my bag and tore out a page.

A wish token. A piece of A4 paper folded in half to the size of a palm.

On top of it, in clumsy handwriting, “Wish Token” was written.

We each handed our wish tokens to each other.

Her delicate, rounded, cute handwriting contrasted with my rigid, angular writing.

Lee Jian slowly and carefully unfolded the paper.

It was just an ordinary event flyer-like piece of paper.

Yet her expression was unexpectedly serious, unlike what I had expected.

“Nothing special, don’t expect too much.”

“……”

But she didn’t respond.

She just stared silently at the wish token.

Contrastingly quiet from the spirited chatter just moments ago.

Her gaze moved quietly and heavily along the paper.

As if she was holding something significant.

Her demeanor oddly unsettled me.

I averted my eyes and added,

“So… don’t wish for anything strange.”

At that, she slowly lifted her head.

And,

She smiled.

A slowly spreading smile.

Different from her previous mischievous expression.

An oddly quiet, subtly thrilling smile.

I felt a sudden chill run down my back.

…Ah, this is bad.

I regretted it.

“Should I make you act cute? Or would you rather I be called ‘sister’?”

Lee Jian slowly folded the paper, deliberately drawing out the moment.

And she playfully waved it in front of me.

Looking at her, I also waved my paper.

“You know? I have one too.”

“Who would suffer more if both of us act cute?”

Though said in jest, her eyes were shining brighter than ever.

At her words, I momentarily lost my speech.

I sighed once more.

…I really feel uneasy.

Truly, really.

This was the first time I felt this way about exams ending.

*

The final exams are over.

We are finally free.

After finishing the long, hellish schedule, we are finally liberated.

My schoolbag feels light. My steps feel light.

There are so many things I want to do now that the exams are over,

And what I wanted the most was—

To get the wish token.

I glanced sideways at Kim Dohyun, who was walking beside me.

“So~”

I stepped in front of him, turning abruptly to face him.

“You have to keep your promise, right?”

A tiny sigh escaped Kim Dohyun’s face.

I found that amusing.

How much effort had I put in to seize this opportunity?

I studied late into the night, pulled my hair out, and even did some last-minute cramming.

All of that effort was purely for this moment.

And finally, I won.

“What?”

I gently took the small piece of paper Kim Dohyun extended.

A folded wish token from an A4 sheet.

A common event flyer-like piece of paper.

But…

I slowly unfolded the paper.

Why am I feeling so nervous?

My heart throbbed a bit.

Truthfully, the wish token itself isn’t anything special.

Under normal circumstances, I would have joked around asking, “What should I wish for?”

But now, strangely…

I found myself looking at it with caution.

“…Don’t wish for anything strange.”

Kim Dohyun quietly added.

I slowly lifted my head.

And,

I looked at him, smiling gently.

A gradually spreading, subtle smile.

At that moment, Kim Dohyun slightly avoided my gaze.

…How cute.

For no reason, I bit my lip.

My heartbeat tickled.

“Should I make you act cute? Or would you rather I be called ‘sister’?”

I made a light joke.

Kim Dohyun looked at me expressionlessly.

But his fingertips moved subtly.

I didn’t miss it.

…He’s really nervous, isn’t he?

That made it even more fun.

“Who would suffer more if both of us act cute?”

At that, Kim Dohyun’s mouth slightly closed.

He sighed briefly.

I smiled happily.

Maybe this is the best reward?

The fact that he’s starting to care about me.

Realizing that fact.

It’s so thrilling that I slowly, deliberately folded the wish token and put it in my bag.

On the way home.

The street was bathed in long sunlight, the unique lazy summer air swirling around.

It was the last day of the exams, and I had no practice today.

Thanks to that, it was still daytime.

Then, my eyes caught a poster stuck to a pole on the road.

“Huh?”

I stopped and pointed at the poster.

A summer festival poster.

A dazzling fireworks photo filling the night sky caught my eye.

The sparkling fireworks. The romance of a summer night.

“Fireworks.”

Then, Kim Dohyun said calmly from the side.

“I’ve never seen them live.”

“…What?”

I instantly looked at him.

Kim Dohyun met my gaze unfazed, adding matter-of-factly,

“I’ve never seen fireworks in person.”

What kind of talk is this?

I looked at him dumbfounded.

However, Kim Dohyun’s expression was completely calm.

He was telling the truth—he had never seen fireworks.

I closed my mouth, then opened it again.

“…Then, let’s go together.”

Though I tried to say it casually, my heart was pounding fiercely.

He glanced down at me.

For a moment, his gaze wavered.

‘What if he declines?’

I wavered slightly as well, but I hid it and smiled brightly, repeating,

“For real. Let’s watch them together at this year’s festival.”

Kim Dohyun took in a quiet breath.

The few seconds before he answered stretched endlessly. Strangely, my heart was pounding faster.

“…Alright.”

His quiet answer had a peculiar tone.

Even though it was said in a nonchalant manner, strangely it made my heart flutter even more.

“According to the promise, your first time is mine.”

The thrill of the word ‘first’.

I wonder what expression he will have on his face when he looks at it?

And what about me, at that moment?

Thinking about it, a pleasant thrill washed over me.

Suddenly,

“…Ah.”

I suddenly felt my legs go limp.

My body swayed.

For a moment, I lost my balance and stumbled.

Fortunately, I didn’t fall.

But I could feel the sudden weakness.

“Hey.”

Kim Dohyun quickly grabbed my arm from the side.

His hand touched my shoulder.

And, my heart beat strongly.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“…Maybe I’m just a bit tired. Must’ve pushed myself too hard.”

I chuckled, a bit sheepishly.

But inside, I felt somewhat different.

I was embarrassed.

Embarrassed that I stayed up all night studying to get this wish token.

And even more embarrassing because it’s true.

But still, embarrassment is embarrassment.

Kim Dohyun looked at me, his hand still on my arm.

The warmth transmitted from his fingertips.

For some reason, I wanted him to hold on a little longer.

So, I joked,

“Gimme a piggyback ride.”

I didn’t realize what I had said until after I said it.

Just because I was so tired. So exhausted.

It was a joke I threw out there—but—

“…What? Why should I?”

When Kim Dohyun asked incredulously, I stuck out my lower lip.

“You’re so stingy.”

I muttered, deliberately speaking with a cuter tone.

At that moment, I noticed Kim Dohyun quietly turning his head. His ears were red.

He tried to hide it by scratching them, but I’d already seen.

Hehe. I laughed softly, prompting Kim Dohyun to mutter,

“…I don’t want to. You’re too heavy.”

“Hey!”

I instinctively hit his shoulder.

But, I had no strength.

Really, utterly no strength.

“Aww, I should’ve hit you harder.”

Kim Dohyun glanced at me and sighed briefly.

Then, he sat down and slowly offered his back.

“…Get on.”

He offered his back without any fuss.

A casual gesture.

Yet, it strangely made my heart beat faster.

‘Is he really going to give me a piggyback ride?’

It was a joke after all, but it’s actually happening now.

I froze mid-motion as I reached out my hand.

‘Is it really alright to hope?’

The warmth I could feel from him up close.

My hand would be completely on him if I place it on his back.

That thought made me hesitate strangely.

What if it’s awkward for him?

Should I brush it off as a joke?

Yet,

Kim Dohyun waited quietly.

Not moving.

Not restless.

Just waiting patiently.

I lowered my eyes slightly.

And,

‘…Alright, it’s fine.’

Carefully placing my hand on his shoulder.

Gently, slowly leaning my body.

At that moment, my heart beat strongly.

His back seemed broad.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and entrusted my body to him, feeling his warmth.

The quiet breathing I could hear up close.

The faint warmth that brushed against my shoulder.

“…Too heavy?”

I whispered tentatively.

“…It’s heavy, though.”

Kim Dohyun replied calmly as usual.

“There’s nothing to be done about it.”

“It should feel like being as light as a feather in situations like this.”

“It’s not that light.”

“Then it’s still pretty light, right?”

“…Hmm?”

I looked at the scenery beyond his neck.

His pace moved slowly.

The sensation of swaying with each step was strangely thrilling.

And,

“I’m indebted to you again.”

At my low murmuring, Kim Dohyun reacted.

“What?”

“You helped me carry you the other time too.”

After taking a brief breath, he replied in a low voice,

“…There’s no need to thank me.”

His words felt strangely warm.

I smiled faintly.

At that moment, I could see his shoulder.

Then, this time,

“Is that so? Since I’ve asked for a ride, take me all the way home at least.”

I could feel him pausing.

A brief silence.

Then,

“…Isn’t that pushing it a bit too much?”

I chuckled as I said,

“Only to the bus stop…”

“Alright.”

Kim Dohyun’s voice was softer this time.

I leaned comfortably against his shoulder, a pleasant warmth spreading within.

Just a little longer.

I wanted to savor this feeling for a bit longer.

While waiting for the bus at the bus stop, I remained leaning against him quietly.

Relaxing my body, I could feel the exhaustion creeping in.

“When are you going to return my gym uniform?”

Kim Dohyun suddenly asked.

“You’re not actually planning to keep it, are you?”

“Nope. It’s mine now. Not even if you beg me.”

He looked at me as if I were absurd.

Quietly averting my eyes.

“Why are you so obsessed with my gym uniform?”

“…Because the size is appropriately big. It gives off a feeling of being embraced.”

“By who?”

I startled myself with my own words and my body shivered.

Fortunately, my last words didn’t slip out, thanks to my returning senses.

My face instinctively flushed red.

Fortunately, Kim Dohyun didn’t seem to notice.

“How about buying a new one in that size?”

“…Why bother? It’s a waste of money.”

And it would be meaningless anyway.

“Besides, it’s originally mine. Should I reclaim it with the wish token?”

“Huh, I have one too. Wish token retaliation!”

We jokingly held out our pieces of paper in childish banter.

Then the bus arrived.

After sitting down, we didn’t speak for a while.

It felt like our conversation had noticeably diminished.

Then,

“…Didn’t you say only to the bus stop?”

“That was only for the piggyback ride.”

As the bus started,

In the jolting bus, under the cool air conditioning,

I mustn’t fall asleep here.

I need to get off at the next bus stop.

But my eyelids were so heavy.

I tried to keep them open, but they kept closing slowly.

And, I fell asleep just like that.

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