Became an Observer in Love Company

“Do any of you have a type?”

Suddenly, the topic shifted to discussing ideal types.

Ideal type, ideal type… I don’t really know since I’ve never really had my heart skip a beat for anyone.

It was a tough topic to jump into, so I just stayed quiet and listened.

“H-Honestly, the important thing isn’t their traits but the timing! They say timing is everything in love, right?”

“Ah, so have you ever seen the right timing then?”

Someone teased.

Senior Yun Hyee seemed momentarily at a loss for words.

Then, she suddenly threw a question my way as if asking for help.

“Jian, what about you?”

“Huh? Me?”

I was caught off guard by the unexpected question.

Everyone was looking at me expectantly.

“Hmm…”

After some thought, I replied.

For some reason, a person came to mind.

A quiet road, a peaceful bus stop, and a faint sound.

The small sound of opening a can, like carbonated bubbles, rose in my heart.

“Someone who seems indifferent but is affectionate only with me.”

Then—

“What? That’s oddly specific. Do you like someone?”

The girls teased.

“No, I really don’t.”

I waved my hand dismissively as an excuse.

And without realizing, I turned my gaze.

There was Kim Dohyun.

He was packing up the camera equipment.

Slightly apart from everyone else, quietly alone.

As always, his expression was indifferent, like someone detached from this world.

‘But why am I so concerned about him?’

I suddenly realized.

Ever since the topic of ideal types came up,

and I said I liked someone indifferent but warm with me,

Kim Dohyun kept popping into my mind.

‘No, it’s not that.’

It doesn’t make sense.

It’s just a coincidence.

I shook my head vigorously, trying to erase that thought.

‘It can’t be.’

I deliberately focused back on the girls,

but the truth was that Kim Dohyun kept appearing in my mind.

That’s when it happened.

A voice nearby naturally drew my attention.

“Come to think of it, Lee Jian isn’t bad either?”

“Right?”

“That much is obvious.”

Yoon Jihoo tilted his head and said,

‘What’s wrong with that kid? What’s so special about me?’

I subtly gave Yoon Jihoo a glare.

Then a rebuttal immediately came.

“She’s pretty, you know.”

“Yeah, she is.”

“This isn’t a joke.”

“Hey, aren’t you two childhood friends? You’re not dating, are you?”

“What? Are you dating?”

This time, the girl group also buzzed.

At that moment, I had the feeling that my heart dropped.

Everyone’s eyes instantly focused on me and Yoon Jihoo.

At that moment,

“What are you guys talking about? Is Lee Jian dating Jihoo?”

A familiar voice came.

It was Senior Park Nayul.

With a playful expression, she joined the group of boys.

“We’re not like that at all.”

Yoon Jihoo smiled awkwardly and waved his hand.

And he clearly stated,

“Just friends.”

Of course. I never thought of Yoon Jihoo that way in the first place.

I was worried in case someone misunderstood.

I turned my head, feeling a gaze from somewhere.

Sure enough, Kim Dohyun was there.

“This is really nothing. We’re just friends.”

In fact, I said this hoping Kim Dohyun would hear.

Why?

Why do I want him to hear these words?

I didn’t know.

But my lips had already spoken before I realized it.

And our eyes met.

He still had a quiet expression,

but he was looking at me straight.

Listening to every word I said.

Then, he turned his head away with his usual indifferent face,

and there was no trace of any turmoil.

I seemed to be the only one fixated on this matter.

For some reason, I felt annoyed.

‘Hmm, this is strange. What is this feeling?’

Confused, I walked out of the gym.

My emotions didn’t feel like my own. Various incomprehensible feelings kept rising up.

Since I wanted to be alone a little, I headed towards the back of the gym.

Then, in the distance, I heard a soft laugh.

I stopped in my tracks.

It was Kim Dohyun.

He was wearing earphones and chuckling quietly.

‘Oh, so you can make expressions like that too.’

I quietly approached.

He was still unaware of my presence.

Under the dimming sky and the flickering streetlights,

Kim Dohyun sat alone, wearing his earphones and smiling.

For some reason, I just quietly observed this scene.

Whenever I thought of Kim Dohyun,

a completely expressionless face always came to mind first.

His glasses covering his eyes, his indifferent tone, his attitude of not easily showing emotions.

But now,

—He chuckled again.

The faint curve on his lips looked strange.

For some reason, I looked down at his fingertips.

Kim Dohyun’s phone and wired earphones in his hands,

It seemed so typical of him.

And my similarly wired earphones—why did that small commonality make me so happy?

‘What kind of music is he listening to that makes him smile like that?’

Suddenly, curiosity arose.

Even as I approached closely, my heart strangely thumped faster.

My heartbeat, which usually thudded quietly without much presence, now sounded like it was right next to my ear.

My fingertips tingled strangely.

Tap tap. I lightly tapped his shoulder.

Kim Dohyun turned his head.

Then, puff,

I extended my finger and poked his cheek.

“What?”

Kim Dohyun looked at me, wide-eyed with surprise.

“Haha, you do have expressions after all?”

I laughed playfully, trying to hide the emotions stirring inside me.

The seemingly indifferent expression I knew about him was deeply etched into my mind, without me noticing.

I tilted my head when he said he was listening to funny music.

Can music be funny? Does he mean the lyrics are funny?

It was hard for me to understand.

It also felt like he was hiding something.

I became mischievous.

I smirked and quickly pulled the earphones from his hand.

“Can I listen too?”

“Ah.”

—”Ah~ ♬ Hmm~♬ Approach you~♬”

“…?”

‘That’s my voice!’

“…Hey!!”

I reflexively shouted.

My face turned red.

“What? Why do you have this! You said you didn’t record it!”

“…Just.”

“Whaaat!?”

“To listen when I’m feeling down.”

“What!?”

I glared at Kim Dohyun.

“I tried it once today and it was effective.”

But,

He was just looking at me nonchalantly.

“Thanks to you, I feel a little better.”

He looked at me with a calm expression,

Boom—

My heart thudded loudly.

I quickly averted my gaze.

‘What is this? Why am I so bothered? Is it because I’m embarrassed? Or because I’m shy?’

Or—

I tightly gripped the earphones in my hand.

Yet, this strange feeling kept rising inside me.

Strangely,

It felt like Kim Dohyun was interested in me.

And… surprisingly, I didn’t dislike it.

“This time, I’ll let it slide.”

“Let it slide?”

“Just you. You’re the only one I’m allowing this, and no sharing with others!”

After spitting out those words, I fled the scene like I was running away.

My face was slightly red due to the evening glow.

*

I played with my phone while rolling around in bed.

In the dark room, the faint streetlight seeping through the window dimly lit the space.

I pulled the blanket and tossed my body to the side.

I didn’t have much to do, but I wasn’t quite ready to sleep yet.

Just… for some reason.

Unconsciously, I opened the messaging app.

Among the many names, one particularly caught my eye.

Kim Dohyun.

After hesitating for a moment, I moved my finger without much thought.

-> What are you doing? (Duck emoji lifting glasses)

The duck from the barley drink Kim Dohyun showed me.

After sending, I held my phone and waited.

He didn’t read it right away.

‘Hmm, probably sleeping?’

As I stared blankly at the screen, I covered myself completely with the blanket.

I shouldn’t have sent it. It’s strange. I didn’t have anything particular to say, why did I send it first?

However,

Ding.

The screen lit up with a small vibration.

->Just.

I furrowed my eyebrows slightly.

“…Just what?”

I mumbled quietly under the blanket.

->What is just?

->At least tell me briefly.

He read it immediately this time.

And the reply came right away.

->You were listening to the recording.

I stared at the message for a long while.

‘…What?’

Is he talking about…

The product of my darkest history?

“Are you crazy?!”

I hastily typed furiously.

->Are you crazy?

->You’re seriously weird.

->Delete it immediately!!

->(Angry duck emoji)

And right after that,

->No.

->I definitely won’t delete it.

“…You!”

I pressed my pillow tightly.

Why do you cling to such things?

This is why it bothers me even more.

->Do you like me?

‘You sent it.’

At that moment, my heart ‘thud’ sank.

I froze looking at the message I sent myself.

“Hey, what are you doing!”

I hurriedly tried to cancel it, but,

Ding.

A small vibration, and the read receipt appeared.

…It’s over.

I covered myself with the blanket and shivered.

‘Ah, how do I fix this?’

It’s the first time I’ve flipped the blanket over since I heard there’s a monster under the bed.

It’s that scary.

Why again just to him?

What will he reply? Positively? Negatively?

Is he teasing?

I thought it would be better if he just teased me.

I wished he would let it pass off as a joke.

“Aja!”

I summoned courage and jumped out from under the blanket. I picked up my phone and checked the reply.

->(Duck shaking its head emoji)

->Rather, don’t you like me?

“…Huh?”

I stopped again.

I… what should I reply?

I raised my finger, only to put it down again.

Raised it again, and lowered it once more.

My mind went blank.

“Ah, seriously, what?”

I buried my face in my hands.

Why do you keep making me so anxious?

My heart thumped heavily.

I started typing a message, then stopped.

…What should I say?

->I’m not sure?

I sent it.

After sending, my heart thumped even more.

Kim Dohyun didn’t read it right away.

I waited for a long time, but there was no reply.

“Hey, aren’t you going to reply?”

I muttered to myself while tightly gripping my phone.

Then finally,

->I’m going to sleep.

“…What?”

I glared at the screen, baffled.

Is this the end? Really?

“Ah, seriously, what is he?”

My heart trembled. I hugged my pillow tightly at that incomprehensible flutter.

I didn’t think I’d fall asleep easily tonight.

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