Chapter 4 Part 1

Lee Jun unconsciously distanced himself from him. He didn’t welcome Chaeheon speaking to him. Lee Jun subtly glanced around and pushed Chaeheon away. They had broken up, so he wished they wouldn’t pretend to know each other…

“I’m curious, won’t you answer?”

At Chaeheon’s gentle voice, Lee Jun flinched and looked up at him. It was such a tender voice, he wondered if Chaeheon still thought they were dating. This couldn’t be. They had already broken up, and other people wouldn’t know they used to be together. Lee Jun was silent for a moment before speaking softly.

“It would be better not to use informal speech.”

At Lee Jun’s remark, Chaeheon shrugged.

“I was just talking to myself.”

At the immediately reflected answer, Lee Jun seemed relieved and looked forward. His turn was approaching soon.

“Would you like to order?”

“I’ll have an Americano. Hot, please.”

Once Lee Jun finished ordering and went to the pickup counter, Chaeheon watched his retreating back with a wistful gaze. Seeing his hair, which still looked soft, made him want to run his hands through it and pull him into an embrace.

Chaeheon moistened his lips as he looked at Lee Jun, wondering where the one-year gap had gone. He knew the thirst he felt was due to his yearning for Lee Jun, but the way to resolve it remained unclear.

“Would you like to order?”

At the polite employee’s question, Chaeheon ordered an Iced Americano, his gaze still fixed on Lee Jun. Then he approached Lee Jun, who was waiting for his drink to come out.

“Do you know the kids talk about you a lot, Senior?”

Lee Jun glanced back at Chaeheon. Is he mentioning this because he’s bothered by people talking about me?

“They’re very interested in you, Senior. …So much so that it bothers me.”

Right.

Chaeheon’s words trailed off significantly.

“For less than a week, if you, Senior, were just in the same class, everyone would make a comment. It’s like you’re an idol.”

So, does he want to say he doesn’t want to hear it? If it’s not good to keep hearing my name when we’ve broken up…

“I want to tell them to stop bothering you, Senior, but I’m not in a position to step in.”

It was different from what he thought, but he wasn’t particularly pleased. Why not just not say anything at all? No, why not just not hear it at all?

“I don’t care what they say about me. So, you should just let it pass like you’re doing now.”

Lee Jun replied that he didn’t need to do that, then took his Americano and left.

An iron wall.

That was Chaeheon’s brief thought as he watched Lee Jun. He didn’t speak in a harsh tone or show obvious displeasure. Yet, he was strangely difficult to approach.

“Well, he was always like that.”

Chaeheon couldn’t take his eyes off Lee Jun. Lee Jun, who had walked five or six steps from the cafe, took a sip of his coffee and then casually lifted the front of his shirt.

‘Is he hot?’

It was strange that he lifted his clothes while carrying a hot coffee.

“Iced Americano ready.”

As Chaeheon took his Americano, he suddenly wondered what he was doing. He hadn’t intended to stop at a cafe, but he had come in after spotting Lee Jun. After hearing Lee Jun’s order, he had ordered an iced one without much thought.

When Chaeheon turned his head again, Lee Jun was no longer there.

“Senior, over here.”

Upon entering the classroom, the usual faces waved at him. Chaeheon listlessly went to the spot Kim Gyeong-hun pointed to, then paused. He saw the head he had been watching for days in the front row.

“Please, have a seat.”

Chaeheon looked at Kim Gyeong-hun, who was pulling out a chair for him. When he asked with his eyes what was going on, Kim Gyeong-hun grinned, puffing out his chest. It seemed he had deliberately chosen a seat behind Lee Jun. Chaeheon put down his bag and sat down; he was diagonally behind Lee Jun.

He scanned Lee Jun, who was now closer. He could feel Lee Jun’s guard from the back of his head, as he didn’t turn around despite sensing someone sit nearby.

Chaeheon drank his Americano, thinking, ‘Why didn’t I try sitting closer sooner?’ As people came in one by one and gathered around Chaeheon, Lee Jun’s back stiffened. Chaeheon rested his chin on his hand, watching the back of Lee Jun’s head, which seemed rigidly determined not to turn around.

They were ex-lovers, and it would be awkward to meet again. But strangely, he couldn’t take his eyes off Lee Jun and wanted to talk to him. Honestly, he didn’t want to break ties completely.

Perhaps the reason they broke up wasn’t because his feelings had cooled.

When he suggested they study abroad together, Lee Jun told him they should break up. And perhaps thinking he would simply leave for his studies, Lee Jun never contacted him again. Was that all? Even his own calls were cruelly ignored.

The emotional exchange they had shared, smiling at each other and being affectionate, had abruptly ceased.

“Oh? They’re having an opening party today.”

While Chaeheon was recalling that day’s events, Kim Gyeong-hun, who was holding his phone horizontally and playing a game, saw a message pop up at the top and said.

“It’s Friday, so we should really go to a drinking party like this.”

Other men echoed Kim Gyeong-hun’s words, looking pleased.

“You’re going too, Senior?”

Chaeheon merely looked at the back of Lee Jun’s head and didn’t answer. As if that was enough of a reply, Kim Gyeong-hun tried to persuade Chaeheon again.

“Anyway, the Department Head (Student) will look for you first, Senior. You’re so noticeable, you should show your face.”

“It’s not even a class, why bother?”

“Even so, you should go, Senior. You’re our department’s prince, after all.”

When Chaeheon shook his head, Kim Gyeong-hun glumly tapped on his phone. He had thought he could finally look at Lee Jun without worry, but Kim Gyeong-hun wasn’t the only one being pushy.

“Senior Chaeheon, are you free this weekend?”

Lee Jeong-yun, who was looking at her phone, suddenly interjected.

“There’s a famous Pasta Restaurant; let’s go together.”

“Save your date proposals for when Senior is alone. I’m talking right now.”

Kim Gyeong-hun cut in with a snarky tone. Then Lee Jeong-yun wrapped her arm around Kim Gyeong-hun’s neck.

“What are you talking about? We should all go together.”

“All together?”

As Kim Gyeong-hun’s voice softened, Lee Jeong-yun showed Chaeheon the Pasta Restaurant displayed on her phone.

“It’s this place, it’s very popular.”

Honestly, he wasn’t interested at all.

“I’ll think about it.”

Simultaneously with Chaeheon’s reply, Lee Jun turned his head sideways, then turned it back. He was ignoring them, but it was clear he was listening to their entire conversation.