Jung Eun-sung is a famous trainee from a famous company.

He has already appeared in several music videos and photoshoots, and even has a fan cafe.

Sometimes, when a few kids in unfamiliar uniforms gathered in front of the school, they were, nine times out of ten, Jung Eun-sung’s fans.

However, even so, it was rare for someone to stake out the front of the school, waiting for Jung Eun-sung to come out this late.

Especially an adult.

The first thing I did upon realizing the person’s identity was to cover my upper body with a book. Because Jung Eun-sung’s name tag was attached to the chest of the knit sweater I was wearing.

I observed the woman with the glistening eyes.

‘I’m sure. It’s her.’

She was the sasaeng fan who would send food to our class on special days like Jung Eun-sung’s birthday, his school trip, mock exam days, or festivals, and would visit the school just to see his face.

She would take pictures of Jung Eun-sung with a camera that looked like something a war correspondent would carry, and even buy meals for our classmates whose faces she recognized.

Then, she would also snap pictures of a passing Seo Jae-gyeom and share them in the sasaeng group chat.

I remember there was a whole mess about getting sued after she doxed Seo Jae-gyeom through his “Chasebook” and sent him messages, only to be caught by his mom.

…I think at some point, Jung Eun-sung started taking a taxi to and from school to avoid this person.

“…”

The sasaeng fan turned her gaze back to me as I stared at her blankly. I quickly looked down.

‘There’s a madness in her eyes.’

Pushing me behind him, Jung Eun-sung bowed his head to the woman.

“Hello.”

“Yes, hello~ Eun-sung, do you remember your noona’s name?”

“…No.”

“Hmph.”

At Jung Eun-sung’s honest answer, the woman pouted coquettishly.

I wanted to stop Jung Eun-sung, telling him that an adult who comes to a school this late at night to wait for a minor is not in their right mind and he shouldn’t engage with her, but…

‘Is this a situation where I should intervene?’

As I hesitated, Jung Eun-sung opened his mouth.

“Did you come to see me?”

“Of course! It was so hard for noona to leave work right on time today just to see you, Eun-sung… Praise me.”

“Um, but coming all the way to the school like this is a bit…”

Despite Jung Eun-sung’s troubled words, the woman was persistent. Looking down at the watch on her wrist, she winked and smiled.

“Ah, I guess it is a bit too late, isn’t it? I’m sorry~ Noona has a business trip next week, so I didn’t have time. Noona is a capable woman, you know?”

“…”

“Noona didn’t know you yet during Valentine’s, so I wanted to at least celebrate White Day with you.”

It’s White Day soon, right? The woman, showing off the shopping bag as if for display, swept her styled hair back with one hand.

So… you’ve known Jung Eun-sung for less than a month and you’re already coming to his school?

“Noona sold some stocks to buy this.”

When Eun-sung debuts, noona will take care of the fan support and the initial sales. Don’t you worry about a thing, Eun-sung, just focus on debuting. The woman added with a smile.

“Noona is a really capable woman, I’m not lying.”

Eun-sung will be capable too when he grows up…

“Here, take it. Noona’s present.”

The woman once again pushed the shopping bag towards Jung Eun-sung.

With a troubled expression, Jung Eun-sung glanced at me behind him. His tone became much firmer.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept things like this.”

“Why not? Your seniors all accepted these things.”

“If I accept this, I’ll get in trouble with my company.”

“Lies. They all said that but took them anyway.”

“I won’t accept it. If you keep doing this, I’m going to call the company.”

As if to prove he would, Jung Eun-sung fumbled in his pocket, pretending to take out his phone.

At that, the sasaeng fan smirked.

The face that had looked shy and cute just moments before was now twisted in a scornful sneer. Tilting her head, the sasaeng said,

“Eun-sung, you don’t have a phone.”

“!”

“You had your phone taken away. Why are you pretending to have one?”

“…”

“Lying to fans even before debuting, this kid is hopeless. Hey, get a grip. You haven’t debuted yet. You don’t even have a ‘beginner’s mindset’ to lose, but have you lost it already?”

“Excuse me.”

This won’t do.

I cut in, interrupting the sasaeng who was suddenly creating a frightening atmosphere.

“Night study session is about to end. The teachers will be coming out soon… If an unfamiliar adult keeps standing in front of the school like this, you could be reported, unni.”

“…”

“And Jung Eun-sung really can’t accept this. Not long ago, someone came to the school and did the same thing, and he got scolded by the teachers. The teachers said that if he causes another disturbance at school, they’ll transfer him back.”

“But who are you?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean, you’re both coming out of school together at this hour. Who are you? Are you his girlfriend?”

“No.”

Jung Eun-sung cut her off sharply.

“She’s our class president. I transferred not too long ago, so the teacher asked her to help me out, that’s why we were left behind together.”

“I see…”

The woman looked me up and down and smirked.

She restlessly moved, her hand unnaturally shoved in her pocket. It was only then that I thought this woman might have been recording our conversation, if not filming.

‘It would have been a disaster if I had cursed her out and told her to get lost.’

In any case, after mentioning the teachers, the woman’s aggressive demeanor subsided just a little.

“Let’s go.”

Taking that chance, I quickly pulled Jung Eun-sung away from the spot.

“Eun-sung-ah!”

The woman who was chasing us stumbled, her ankle twisting in her high heels. Undeterred, she started running towards us again, but then,

“Who do you think you are!”

She flinched at the shouts of some passing middle-aged women.

“Why are you chasing those students? Do you know them?”

By then, I had already dragged Jung Eun-sung into an alley.

I slowly let go of the wrist I was holding.

Freed from my grasp, Jung Eun-sung massaged his own wrist. When I asked about his leg that he had bumped earlier, he said it was fine. I asked Jung Eun-sung, who was peering out of the alley,

“Is she following us?”

“I don’t think so.”

“She’s not following now that adults have intervened. She completely ignored what we said.”

“I know, right.”

“She says she likes me, so why doesn’t she listen to what I say?” Jung Eun-sung grumbled.

“There are a lot of strange adults these days…”

Like the man who followed Gaeun yesterday.

If so, maybe that man will stop coming if an adult says something to him…

As I was lost in thought, Jung Eun-sung suddenly said,

“I’ll walk you home.”

“Huh? No, it’s fine.”

“It’s late. And you don’t have your phone.”

“It’s okay. The way to my house is complicated. I’ll just take the bus from here.”

I pointed to the bus stop across the street.

“The bus is coming in 6 minutes.”

“…Alright.”

He said “alright,” but he followed me.

Even after seating me on the bench at the bus stop, Jung Eun-sung didn’t leave. He stood in front of me, looking down.

“…”

“…”

“Jung Eun-sung…”

“What.”

“You’re going to study when you get home, right? Science? You have to teach me. The reason why the upper air is warmer.”

“…You really nag a lot.”

“I’m getting dizzy,” Jung Eun-sung said, squeezing his eyes shut and then opening them. Still, he didn’t seem to be in a bad mood.

“No matter how hard I study, I can’t do better than you anyway.”

“Have you tried?”

“No…?”

“Then how would you know.”

“Do I really have to try to…”

“Don’t sound so weak. You can do anything. Except for president.”

Because you have to be at least 40 years old to be president. At my added words, the corners of Jung Eun-sung’s mouth lifted.

“Only people over 40 can be president?”

“You didn’t know?”

“I didn’t.”

“Tsk tsk. That’s why you should have studied politics…”

“I should have studied.”

Jung Eun-sung finished my sentence and said,

“The bus is here.”

“Ah. Okay.”

“Get home safe.”

“…You too.”

I waved my hand, telling him to go quickly.

But Jung Eun-sung didn’t leave. Not until I found a seat on the bus and the bus started moving.

“…What time is it.”

Even though I needed to get home quickly and sleep to be in the best condition for studying tomorrow, I thought that it wouldn’t have been so bad if the bus had been a little later.

I buried my nose in Jung Eun-sung’s school uniform knit that I had forgotten to take off. It still smelled nice.

“Kang Da-hye! Why are you so late! And you’re not answering your phone!”

“Mom…”

“What!”

“I think the night sky is so beautiful today.”

“…? Are you sick?”

The next day, the first place I went after arriving at school was the teachers’ office.

I was planning to plead with my homeroom teacher that Song Yeoreum had locked me in the club room.

‘I threw all the drama club’s props out the window, so if I stay quiet, I’ll be the one to take the blame.’

When I can’t solve something on my own and have to tattle to an adult…

I…

I feel that I’ve returned to being a teenager.

But there was already a guest in the teachers’ office.

“Jung Eun-sung?”

Jung Eun-sung, sitting on the round chair in front of the homeroom teacher, was dropping large, chicken-dropping-like tears.

Through his wet eyelashes, transparent teardrops rolled down his cheeks.

“!”

Why are you crying