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Chapter 5
It had already been two weeks since Yeoreum transferred to Huyeong High.
At first, she had worried about whether she could adjust to school life. After all, most of the kids had grown up together in the same neighborhood or had come up from the same middle school.
She thought she might end up on the outside looking in. But she soon realized her worries were unnecessary.
The other students went out of their way to make her feel welcome, reminding each other, “She’s a transfer student, we should take care of her.” During breaks, someone always came to chat with her. And since Yeoreum reacted immediately whenever they teased her, they only teased her more, quickly drawing her into the class atmosphere.
Now, there were even kids who said things like, “Back in our middle school days—remember that, Yeoreum?” as if she’d been there with them all along.
“Get up. Come on, get up.”
Haein tugged on Yeoreum’s shoulder with a mischievous grin when she tried to nap at her desk during break.
Though she got along well with everyone, she was especially close to Haein, Jungwoo, Gyeol—who sat nearby—and Hyunho. Hyunho wasn’t the talkative type, but whenever the others were joking around, he always added a word or two.
“Haam—so sleepy.”
“Careful, your mouth’s gonna split open.”
“Why am I so tired today?”
“You were like this yesterday too. You even dozed off in class.”
Gyeol, who sat in front of Hyunho, spun his chair around and grinned at her.
“So I’m trying to sleep during break, but you guys won’t let me!” Yeoreum pouted.
Gyeol rummaged through his bag and pulled out a pouch full of diamond-shaped peppermint candies, handing one to her.
“I love these!” Yeoreum beamed, her mood instantly lifted. From the side, Hyunho watched quietly as she accepted the candy.
“Hey, Kim Gyeol. What about us?”
“Here.”
Gyeol handed the bag to Haein and Jungwoo as well. When he glanced at Hyunho, silently asking if he wanted one too, Hyunho reached out—then stopped midway and declined.
“Typical Seoul kid. Always so considerate.”
Yeoreum popped the candy into her mouth with a smile.
Gyeol, Hyunho’s closest friend, had surprised her at first. He didn’t use a regional accent. When Yeoreum pointed it out, he explained that he’d moved here during middle school—that’s when he’d become close to Hyunho.
Unlike the taciturn Hyunho, Gyeol’s tone, expression, and mannerisms were overflowing with warmth. It amazed Yeoreum how two people so opposite could be such good friends. Even more, it was fascinating how Hyunho seemed more natural, more at ease, when he was around people he trusted.
“Yeoreum-ah, say what you just said in a Seoul accent,” Haein teased.
“Ugh, you’re just trying to make fun of me again!”
“Come on—just once.”
“…‘Guess you really are from Seoul?’”
Haein burst out laughing, slapping Jungwoo on the shoulder.
“Told you it’d be hilarious!”
Yeoreum puffed her cheeks and chewed her candy stubbornly.
“Hey, me too.”
It was Taeyoung. Sitting in front of Gyeol, he had been sleeping through most of class. Now, as the bell neared, he finally raised himself sluggishly, squinting one eye, and held out a hand for candy.
“Kim Taeyoung, you come to school just to sleep?”
“Spring fatigue.”
“I still can’t believe you’re class president. How do you sleep this much?”
“She’s not much different from me.”
He tilted his chin toward Yeoreum.
“Fair point,” Haein and Jungwoo chuckled, while Yeoreum glared sideways with pursed lips.
Taeyoung studied her, then muttered under his breath:
“…You’ve got a funny face.”
“Hey!” Yeoreum protested.
“Why are these candies always in a bulk bag? No individual wrappers.”
“Exactly. Wouldn’t it be nicer if they were wrapped?”
“Wow, you actually agree with me for once.”
“Yeah, congrats.”
Yeoreum made an exaggerated, square-mouthed fake smile, her eyes utterly flat. Taeyoung mimicked her expression, which only made her burst out laughing.
All the while, Hyunho rested his chin in his hand, silently watching the two of them.
The bell rang. Students hurried back to their seats. As Yeoreum turned to sit, her eyes met Hyunho’s.
He’d been staring at her the whole time, though he clearly had nothing to say. She tilted her head curiously.
At last, with a blank face, Hyunho muttered:
“What.”
“What.”
Her quick retort caught him off guard. A smirk tugged at his lips.
“Nothing ever goes the way I expect with you.”
Then, with a scrape—
“What, what is it?” Yeoreum stammered as Hyunho dragged his desk beside hers.
Without looking at her, he said casually:
“Forgot my textbook.”
“You had it this morning. Did you lose it?”
“I lent it out. To you.”
“Should’ve gotten it back earlier. Honestly, you’re so scatterbrained.”
Yeoreum mimicked his usual scolding tone, down to the expression. The playfulness in her voice made Hyunho chuckle.
“That’s you, not me. What, you don’t wanna share?”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Her cheeks warmed at the mere handspan between their shoulders. She slid the textbook toward him in a whisper.
The teacher strode in, frowning.
“What’s with these desks? Some paired, some apart—no consistency at all.”
The students piped up—“We’re sharing textbooks!” “We had to wake someone up!”
“Fine, fine. Open your books.”
Class began. But Yeoreum couldn’t focus—Hyunho’s nearness made her back rigid and her shoulder itch as though they were touching.
She hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open earlier, yet now sleep was the last thing on her mind.
Then Hyunho leaned closer, his shoulder brushing toward hers, and whispered:
“Do you like Seoul boys?”
A pleasant scent drifted over, tickling her nose. Startled, Yeoreum’s shoulder shot up to her ear. She forced it back down and tried to answer evenly:
“They’re kind. Even their tone sounds gentle.”
“Only their tone. That’s not enough. You should judge character.”
“You sound like my dad. Why don’t you try being gentle for once?”
“What are you talking about? I’m plenty gentle.”
Gentle or not, all Yeoreum’s attention was on him.
She blamed it on having gone to an all-girls’ middle school—maybe that’s why a boy leaning close made her heart race. But why only with Hyunho? That question lingered as she nudged him away with her elbow, saying:
“Go back to your seat already.”
“Don’t want to. I’ll just go to church.”
“Ugh, that’s such a dad joke!”
By lunchtime, the cafeteria line dwindled fast. Boys rushed off to soccer, girls hurried to the school store.
Yeoreum, as always, grabbed a banana milk and sat with her friends near the field, laughing at every little thing like only seventeen-year-olds could.
Then, suddenly, someone said:
“Hey, hasn’t Choi Hyunho changed lately?”
“Yeah. Feels like he’s back to how he used to be.”
“Right? He never even said hi to us before. But now he does. Talks more, even smiles.”
Yeoreum’s head filled with question marks.
Smiles? Talks more? That didn’t sound like the Hyunho she knew.
Cautiously, she asked:
“What was he like before?”
“Way more talkative. He used to joke around all the time. Then suddenly he got serious and barely spoke. Didn’t greet anyone except his close friends.”
“Really? Why?”
“…Something happened, that’s all.”
“Well, people change when they switch classes and move up to high school. Guess he’s just going back to how he was.”
Yeoreum wanted to press further, but the way her friends shut down made her hold back.
Still—Was it an ex-girlfriend?
That seemed the most likely. And the thought of Hyunho having dated someone before left her with an inexplicable, uncomfortable feeling.
She gazed across the field, watching him sprint under the sun, and found herself lost in thought.
