Chapter 49 Part 1

What just happened? Lee Jun blinked, replaying the situation that had just unfolded. He had forgotten this was the Study Room. Kim Gyeong-hun was the one who booked this room, and he had gone to class first. So, he should have expected Kim Gyeong-hun could come back, but why did he forget?

Even though he had been with Chaeheon all this time, he hadn’t thought their relationship would reach this point, and he worried about what rumors would spread after today.

“Lee Jun.”

As Chaeheon called his name and he gave no reply, a hand touched his face. Chaeheon’s hand gently cupped his chin and turned it, causing Lee Jun to weakly turn his head. At the same moment, soft lips pressed firmly against his own, then pulled away.

Did he really want to do this even after being caught by Kim Gyeong-hun?

“If you’re worried about Kim Gyeong-hun, I’ll call him now and tell him to come. I can tell him to keep quiet, or even if I don’t, he’s not the type to go around spreading rumors.”

Chaeheon gently stroked Lee Jun’s cheek. The touch felt as if he was reassuring him not to be surprised, and Lee Jun frowned.

“I quite like Kim Gyeong-hun. He’s good at sensing other people’s feelings, which is unusual for his age.”

At Chaeheon’s chuckle, Lee Jun’s eyes widened, and he looked back at him. Was Kim Gyeong-hun like that? Before that thought, he found it remarkable that Chaeheon regarded someone in such a way.

“Why?”

“No, it’s just…”

“Right, I guess I look like someone who wouldn’t like anyone else, even if everyone liked me?”

It wasn’t exactly that, but as Han Jeong-min said, Chaeheon was very popular. So, for him to say he liked a specific person was surprising.

“I consider Kim Gyeong-hun a Junior from my department, someone I’d be happy to keep meeting. But doesn’t this feel really strange right now?”

“What does?”

He should have felt that something was strange earlier. Now that Chaeheon brought it up, Lee Jun looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“You know that I like you, Lee Jun, with romantic feelings, and I’ve shown that affection a lot, right?”

“Why are you saying that?”

“When everyone was giving me attention, I only looked at you. It was only you. From the first time I met you until now.”

“Even if you say that…”

“It’s true. Why? Does it seem like it’s not?”

Lee Jun couldn’t easily deny Chaeheon’s confident tone. It didn’t feel right, but strangely, he couldn’t speak. Hadn’t their feelings clashed and developed for each other during the group project?

“I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s not that. I’ve been interested in you and hoping to date you.”

Chaeheon moved away from Lee Jun, as if granting a favor. He was disappointed he couldn’t share the kiss he had approached him for, but that could be done anytime. Instead, he wanted to clearly state to Lee Jun when his feelings had begun.

“I’m hungry.”

Chaeheon caught Lee Jun’s gaze with a very bright smile.

“What do you want to eat?”

He had just completely stirred Lee Jun’s emotions, yet he nonchalantly changed the subject, pretending not to notice. Then he packed his belongings with an unconcerned expression.

“Kim Gyeong-hun won’t be in the right state of mind to extend the Study Room booking, so we should leave.”

Chaeheon, who had packed his things first, said he would call Kim Gyeong-hun and told Lee Jun to take his time coming out, then left.

He didn’t know if he had been left alone on purpose. But once he had time to think, Lee Jun ran his hand through his hair, his mind in turmoil. He pulled at the hem of his clothes, but the suffocating feeling wouldn’t go away.

Chaeheon, who had left the Study Room first, spotted Kim Gyeong-hun standing not far away and put his phone in his pocket. He was about to contact him anyway, but now there was no need.

“Kim Gyeong-hun.”

Kim Gyeong-hun, who had been distractedly scratching his head, then his neck, and biting his nails while looking elsewhere, turned around at the sound of his name.

“Chaeheon.”

Kim Gyeong-hun ran happily like a puppy at Chaeheon’s gesture for him to come closer.

“Let’s talk.”

“Yes.”

Knowing well what they would talk about, Kim Gyeong-hun obediently followed him.

“Shall we go to the corridor over there? No one is in the room.”

Kim Gyeong-hun pointed, seemingly having a spot in mind, and Chaeheon readily moved, thinking they could resolve it not far away.

As they came to a corridor that turned in a ‘ㄱ’ shape, Chaeheon, realizing he could see Lee Jun coming out through the window, kept his gaze there and opened his mouth.

“Kim Gyeong-hun.”

“I won’t tell anyone. No, I didn’t see anything.”

Before Chaeheon could even begin, Kim Gyeong-hun preemptively confessed. He had been extremely observant, especially since he had interrupted the two of them about to kiss earlier.

“Why pretend you didn’t see it when you did?”

“Huh?”

Kim Gyeong-hun, who had intended to say he didn’t know because he had entered with his eyes closed, widened his eyes. Chaeheon smiled, finding him cute, and asked,

“What was the atmosphere like between Lee Jun and me?”

“Well… you two looked very close.”

Kim Gyeong-hun didn’t grasp the gist of the question but spoke whatever came to mind.

“And more than just Senior and Junior…”

“Did we look like we were dating?”

“Yes.”

They were about to kiss, so weren’t they dating? Kim Gyeong-hun hadn’t said it directly out of caution, but Chaeheon was saying it for him.

“But we couldn’t kiss earlier. Because you came in.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll accept your apology. So, let’s clarify. We didn’t kiss, but we looked like a couple. What kind of relationship does that imply?”

“Something like ‘something’?”

Chaeheon nodded. To be precise, they were dating, but he intentionally created an ambiguous situation. There was no particular reason; if they said they were dating, big rumors would spread and make Lee Jun uncomfortable. Since he didn’t want to completely silence Kim Gyeong-hun, he simply created an appropriate relationship status.

“Okay. Let’s leave it at that. There’s no need to mention it unless someone specifically asks.”

Chaeheon, seeing Lee Jun finally emerge, quickly concluded.

“Instead, if someone seems to have feelings for Lee Jun, tell them he seems to be seeing someone and cut them off.”

“Yes…”

As Kim Gyeong-hun trailed off, not finishing his sentence clearly, Chaeheon patted his shoulder twice.

“I’m telling you to make sure no one approaches Lee Jun. I’m counting on you.”