🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 6
That evening, during study hall.
Summer sat with Haein, their desks pushed together, notebooks spread wide. After rounds of tic-tac-toe and omok, they finally decided to do some studying and pulled their desks apart.
With earphones plugged in, Summer hit play on her old MP3, letting some random track run in the background as she opened her book.
But no matter how long she stared, the words refused to sink in. Her eyes kept drifting sideways—toward Hyunho.
He was buried in his work, utterly unshaken except for the occasional twist of his mechanical pencil. Even the pleasant breeze spilling in through the half-open window didn’t make him blink.
Summer’s thoughts circled back to earlier in the day. When it came to Hyunho, everything seemed to spark her curiosity. Even that person they kept referring to as “that kid”.
Whenever the subject of that kid came up, Haein’s tone sharpened like broken glass. She claimed even thinking about them made her angry. And it wasn’t just Haein—others who were usually easygoing stiffened the moment the name was mentioned.
“Wouldn’t it be better if Hyunho didn’t even go to the same school as her?”
“You know what’s weird? She’s never once shown up to our class. That’s not like her at all.”
“Obvious, isn’t it? Not many friends in that class. Gotta manage her image.”
“Only a handful of kids who were in her class last time dislike her. Everyone else? They love her.”
“She’s gorgeous, has a sweet personality, and knows all the popular seniors, juniors, and friends.”
The looks on their faces as they said it—all scowls, brows knitted in distaste.
Summer tapped her pen.
Who exactly is this girl?
The only clue she had: a very pretty girl from Class 4. That was it. She didn’t know enough people in other classes to piece together more.
Then another thought popped up, uninvited.
Why does it feel like everyone knows me, when I barely know anyone? Even kids in the vocational track know my name.
It happened often enough—someone waving in the hallway, or striking up a greeting in the lunch line. Summer couldn’t figure out why. She wasn’t particularly remarkable.
She shook her head, realizing how far she’d drifted.
Wait. I started with Hyunho and that girl… How did I end up here? Why am I even thinking so hard about this?
It was ridiculous, even to her.
Guess it’s just because I really don’t want to study right now.
With a sigh, she mimicked Hyunho—sliding her pencil between her fingers, spinning it round and round.
“Haa…”
The sigh was barely audible, but it froze Hyunho mid-scribble. He glanced her way, lips parting—
“Ni, what are you—”
But Haein leaned in suddenly, cutting across.
“Hey. You gonna join a club or what?”
Summer blinked, then laughed softly at the timing. Haein was referring to the seniors’ recent recruitment pitches.
“Yeah. You?”
“Nah. You?”
“Broadcasting club.”
A smile spread across Summer’s face, certain and decided as if she’d known the answer for years.
“Ooh, broadcasting club.”
Beside them, Hyunho, who had clearly been listening in, spoke up for the first time.
Haein teased him at once.
“What, Hyunho. You eavesdropping now?”
Summer turned slightly toward him and asked in a low voice:
“What about you?”
“Me? Band club.”
“Ohh, band club.”
Summer echoed his tone deliberately, playful. Hyunho snorted, laughing despite himself.
“You really are scatterbrained.”
The nickname again. Summer raised a finger to herself dramatically.
“Wait… me?”
“Yeah. You.”
“Tch.”
Feigning annoyance, she shot him a glare, though the smile tugging her lips betrayed her. Hyunho, sliding his chair just a little closer, leaned into their circle. The shortened distance made Summer’s pulse skip; she rubbed her fingertip nervously along the edge of her textbook.
“So, why broadcasting?”
“I’ve been in the broadcasting club since elementary school.”
“Oh.”
“And you? Why band?”
“Since middle school.”
“Oh.”
They volleyed back and forth until Hyunho smirked.
“Don’t you have an interview for the broadcasting club?”
“Yeah. The seniors said they’ll call individually. What about band club? No interview?”
“I’m already in.”
“…Why?”
Before he could answer, Jungwoo poked his head in from beside Haein.
“The band guys said if middle school band kids join, some get a straight pass. Hyunho’s one of them.”
“So, you’re a parachute.”
“Nope. Scouted. ’Cause he’s good.”
Hyunho folded his arms smugly, chin tilted up.
Excited, Haein clapped.
“Then if Summer joins broadcasting and you join band, let’s celebrate!”
“Always about food with you. Stop saying you’ll diet then.”
“What, it’s perfect! Food makes everything better. Jungwoo, you don’t get any.”
The banter flowed easily, laughter spilling across their desks.
Hyunho, still with arms crossed, turned to Haein.
“So Jungwoo’s Jjungwoo, Summer’s Summer… Why do you still call me Choi Hyunho?”
“Want me to drop your last name too? Hyunho, do you like that, Hyunho?”
“Forget it.”
“Aw, come on. My Hyunho~”
“Go away.”
Their teasing felt effortless, practiced. To Summer, who remembered how Hyunho had barely acknowledged other girls before, it was strange. At first, he seemed incapable of mixing with them.
But then…
Why was he so different with me?
He’d greet her casually with a “You’re here”, toss in pointless jokes, or call her scatterbrained as though it were second nature. She realized now why the others found it odd—Hyunho rarely showed that side of himself.
Maybe he thought of her as “just one of the guys.” Maybe she simply made him feel at ease. Either way, she was glad she didn’t make him uncomfortable.
And honestly…
He really has loosened up a lot since then.
He smiled more now, not just the fleeting twitch of a lip but wide, bright grins. Even his trademark smirk, the way one corner of his mouth curved up—Summer caught herself admiring it.
Her cheeks warmed.
Damn it. Did I just think he’s handsome?
She tapped her cheeks quickly, flustered. When Haein asked what was wrong, she lied, saying she had a muscle spasm.
Naturally, Hyunho muttered the word again—
“Scatterbrained.”
The weekend finally arrived.
After school Friday, Summer headed straight to her aunt’s house. Early the next morning she was already bustling around. She had plans to meet Boram in person—the first time in ages after weeks of only chatting online.
Her aunt’s home was spacious for one person, but it fit her well. Wherever she went, her two little dogs trotted faithfully at her heels.
“So, you’re staying all weekend?”
Her aunt set freshly baked bread, butter, and jam on the table, peering into the fridge for drinks Summer might like.
“Yeah. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
She pulled out a bottle of banana-flavored milk—the kind Summer adored. Summer refused a cup, happily drinking it straight from the container.
Her aunt, sipping homemade milk tea, spread butter and jam thickly over a slice of bread. She stacked cheese and a fried egg on top, then pressed another slice down before handing it over.
“You’ll be back for dinner?”
“Maybe. It’s been so long since we met. Who knows when we’ll get another chance.”
“Don’t stay out too late. If it’s past seven, I’m calling.”
“Seven? That’s too early! Ten o’clock!”
“You’re still a kid. Students shouldn’t be out past ten. You know how many bars there are in Seomyeon?”
“But still…”
“Eight. Be home by eight.”
“Thanks, Auntie!”
Her aunt sighed, defeated, and pulled out thirty thousand won from her wallet.
“Buy something tasty.”
Summer beamed, throwing her arms around her.
“Love you, Auntie!”
