Just A Friend

#19

“I don’t understand this.”

This time, the visitor was Kang Jihan. Unlike Kim Jaewoo, his boldness in asking was quite arrogant. He even covered Kim Jaewoo’s book with his own.

“Wait a bit.”

Nam Seonwoo pushed Kang Jihan’s textbook aside and finished solving the previous problem. Once he got past the stumbling block, the answer came quickly. After returning the textbook and mechanical pencil to Kim Jaewoo, he pulled Kang Jihan’s book over and asked:

“Why English? It’s not English class tomorrow.”

“You said to study for the college entrance exam.”

Hearing the somewhat grumpy voice, Nam Seonwoo suppressed a laugh and began reading the passage Kang Jihan had shown him quietly. English was a subject Kang Jihan frequently asked about. As Nam Seonwoo was slowly reading through the passage, Kang Jihan spoke:

“Shouldn’t you go?”

“S-Sorry…!”

Nam Seonwoo only then realized that Kim Jaewoo was still there. The boy hurriedly returned to his seat. Perhaps due to the size difference with Kang Jihan, it looked even more pitiful. Nam Seonwoo patted Kang Jihan’s shoulder and said:

“Hey. What’s wrong with you? Since earlier.”

“What?”

“Everyone trembles like aspen leaves when they see you. Is this normal? Life isn’t meant to be lived alone. We’re supposed to get along and live together. That’s why we come to school, to learn these things. Try to treat the others better.”

Despite the sincerity in his words, Kang Jihan’s expression remained blank. Looking at that face reminded Nam Seonwoo of another student he had been in charge of. A kid who took everything as nagging and always had a sour face. Maybe that’s why Nam Seonwoo pinched Kang Jihan’s cheek and pulled it upwards, just as he would with a young student.

“Smile a bit too.”

An unnaturally raised corner of the mouth and slightly surprised eyes. Their gazes locked in the air for a few seconds. Nam Seonwoo, frozen in place, couldn’t think to remove his hand and only wondered, ‘Why isn’t he pushing me away?’ Park Gyuhyeon, who had approached unnoticed, broke the awkward atmosphere.

“Man, Nam Seonwoo’s girlfriend must be really pitiful. His nagging is so severe it’d make your ears bleed. Right, Jihan?”

Taking advantage of the moment, Nam Seonwoo hastily removed his hand. Park Gyuhyeon, who had squeezed between the two, looked at Kang Jihan as if seeking agreement. There was no response, but Park Gyuhyeon, used to Kang Jihan’s behavior, naturally continued the conversation.

“But you’ll set us up on group dates when you get into Korea University, right?”

Nam Seonwoo responded as if nothing had happened.

“Would they even want to meet you?”

“You never know. They say looks don’t last long. Girls prefer funny guys more.”

“No, Bak-gyu, you’re neither of those things.”

“Damn… That’s too harsh.”

But Park Gyuhyeon’s happy circuit continued to fire up.

“But don’t you think it’d be really fun? If the three of us went on a group date. Hey, Jihan, what’s your type? Let’s sort it out in advance so our preferences don’t overlap.”

Kang Jihan’s type, huh. Come to think of it, Nam Seonwoo was a bit curious. What kind of ideal type did Kang Jihan have, who had never dated a girl due to being entangled with him somehow?

Secretly interested, Nam Seonwoo didn’t bother to stop Park Gyuhyeon’s chatter.

“Alright, me first. I like pure and intellectual girls who turn out to be cute and sexy.”

“Didn’t you say we should decide without overlapping? Where’s your conscience?”

“What does it matter? It’s not like it’ll overlap with you anyway. Jihan, what about you?”

Nam Seonwoo also looked at Kang Jihan with curious eyes, following Park Gyuhyeon’s lead. But what came back wasn’t an answer about his ideal type, but a question:

“Why won’t it overlap?”

While he hadn’t expected an easy answer, somehow it felt deflating. On the other hand, Park Gyuhyeon seemed excited just to get a response.

“This bastard Nam Seonwoo likes tall girls. But I’m not really into tall women.”

“What do you mean you’re not into them? It’s because you’re short.”

“Hey, I’m average height! I just look short because I hang out with you guys!”

Kang Jihan, who had been listening silently, suddenly spoke up.

“Are you still dating?”

“What are you talking about? Who’s dating? Park Gyuhyeon, are you in a relationship? You’ve lost your mind.”

“Damn… You’re mocking me now.”

But realizing that Kang Jihan’s gaze was directed at him, Nam Seonwoo laughed in disbelief. Occasionally, he’d hear questions about whether he was really dating someone from some girls’ high school, and it seemed like another false rumor had spread. So, as always, he casually replied:

“What dating in senior year? We don’t even have time to study.”

He didn’t bother to add that he had never liked girls. Besides, Park Gyuhyeon only found out about his relationship with Kang Jihan after becoming an adult, and even for a friend, it might be something he wouldn’t want to know.

Nam Seonwoo started reading the English passage again. The sentences were quite long, so all his attention was focused there, and he didn’t notice the gaze that lingered on him for a while.

* * *

First day of final exams.

Being in the position of solving problems instead of creating them, Nam Seonwoo regretted not making the questions easier for the students.

His brain worked intensely for over three hours to solve these crude problems. After finishing the last exam of the first day, he felt drained of all energy, as if he had exhausted every bit of strength in his body.

During the four days of final exams, the dismissal time was early, and there were no homeroom meetings or night study sessions. Among the students trickling out of the classroom, complaints about the exam creators could be heard frequently. Amidst this noise, Nam Seonwoo was sprawled across his desk, having just submitted his last exam paper.

“Are you dead?”

Only moving his eyeballs at the voice, he saw Park Gyuhyeon standing there with his backpack on. He looked equally haggard. Nam Seonwoo mumbled, barely wiggling his fingers dangling under the chair:

“Go ahead. I feel like I’m dying.”

Of course, Park Gyuhyeon wouldn’t listen. He pushed Nam Seonwoo’s head aside to grab the exam paper and started grading it himself. Judging by the occasional sighs and curses, it seemed he had messed up pretty badly.

“By the way, if you’re not going to eat this, can I have it? Thinking about how my grades are going to turn out is making my blood sugar drop.”

At the sound of a wrapper being opened, Nam Seonwoo raised his head to see Park Gyuhyeon unwrapping a candy. It was more like a chewy jelly than a candy, something Nam Seonwoo didn’t particularly like. But he jerked his head up and exclaimed:

“How could you? Give it back!”

But once again, Park Gyuhyeon wouldn’t listen, and the square candy disappeared entirely into his mouth. Park Gyuhyeon taunted:

“You stingy bastard. I’m helping you with your grades, and you can’t even give me this? Mmm, it’s delicious. I can feel my blood sugar rising.”

“Ah, you pig.”

“Oink oink, I’m a happy pig.”

Nam Seonwoo collapsed back onto his desk.

Before the first period exam started, Kang Jihan had left that candy instead of a greeting. It seemed to mean “good luck on the exam” in his own way. Although it wasn’t a snack he particularly liked, it felt like a “student’s gratitude,” and he never thought he’d feel this regretful about accepting it.

Something dropped onto Nam Seonwoo’s desk with a thud, just like in the morning. It was identical to what Park Gyuhyeon had quickly eaten. Nam Seonwoo stared blankly at the silver wrapper in front of him, then rolled his eyes. At the same time, Park Gyuhyeon’s exaggerated chewing sound stopped abruptly.

“You’re giving more?”

As the two just stared blankly, Kang Jihan pulled out one more candy. Looking at the “Chew” written on the wrapper, Nam Seonwoo thought: It really doesn’t suit Kang Jihan. As a silly smile crept onto his face, Kang Jihan’s brow furrowed.

“Did you mess up the exam?”

He seemed to think Nam Seonwoo had lost his mind. Sitting up, Nam Seonwoo popped the candy Kang Jihan had given him into his mouth and said:

“How could this hyung possibly do that?”

It was excessively sweet and chewy. As he was oddly enjoying the junk food-like texture, another candy was placed on the desk. Nam Seonwoo’s laughter grew louder.

“Hey, Kang Ji. Are you raising animals? Why are you giving them one by one?”

At the suggestion to give them all at once, Kang Jihan gave a look that seemed to say ‘you complain even when I give you something.’ Yet, the sight of him handing over all the remaining candies was hilarious. That’s when Park Gyuhyeon mumbled:

“Um, Jihan. Could I maybe have one more…?”

After a moment of silence, Kang Jihan took out a candy and handed it to Park Gyuhyeon. Park Gyuhyeon was visibly flustered, his voice even trembling:

“W-Why, Jihan? Did I do something wrong…? Ah, I’m definitely not saying no!”

He seemed to have thought he’d be rejected for sure. As Kang Jihan silently held out the candy, Park Gyuhyeon’s eyes filled with emotion. The way he received the candy with both hands was like accepting a sacred offering.

Look how nice it is when you don’t needlessly create tension. It seemed he hadn’t completely ignored the advice to get along with everyone. Feeling somewhat proud, Nam Seonwoo’s hand moved on its own.

“Kid. You’ve grown up now.”

His palm landed on Kang Jihan’s bottom. As Nam Seonwoo patted it like praising a young nephew, Kang Jihan recoiled in shock, glaring at him. He looked just like a cat with its fur standing on end. Nam Seonwoo burst out laughing, ignoring the strange looks directed at him.

“Did the exam go well?”

As he stuffed his few belongings into his backpack and asked, Kang Jihan’s wary eyes followed him.

“How do you think? Everything I pointed out came out, right?”

Only then did the bristled fur seem to settle. Kang Jihan nodded with a slightly disgruntled expression. Nam Seonwoo grinned and patted Kang Jihan’s shoulder as he was about to pass by.