Rumor has it that Lim Dae-han is the son of a butcher in Jaecheon-dong.

There was a large market in Jaecheon-dong, where the livestock market was particularly active.

They said he lived at a place where animals’ limbs were cut, bones were smashed, blood was drained, and intestines were combined to fill human stomachs.

When the other guys saw Lim Dae-han’s father, they started joking about butchers and other low-quality noises. It was funny to see the people who couldn’t care less about meat looked down on Lim Dae-han’s father because he was a butcher. What’s even more ridiculous was the fact that they were talking behind the scenes while remaining silent in front of Lim Dae-han.

They were terrified of him because he was huge, being over 190 centimeters tall, taller than the members of the school’s basketball team.

They acted like a stick that shrinks when baked in an oil stove in front of Lim Dae-han, and then giggling behind him that was not pleasant to see. When I looked at them closely, I couldn’t figure out why they were talking behind his back. But, in fact, I was no different from them.

I was also uncomfortable with the overbearing and violent Lim Dae-han, but on the other side, I was terrified.

***

The summer of my sophomore year of high school was uneventful. School was tedious, and it was the ideal time to be bored. Compared to the third year, where there is no room for boredom as the college entrance exams are just around the corner and a busy first year. Whether adjusting to school or becoming anxious for college, the sophomore year is… literally a sophomore year. There was nothing interesting about it.

As an ordinary student, I normally spend my time in class studying and looking at various things. But it was different today.

I really wanted to go home. The air conditioner in the classroom was broken. There was wind, but it was not much different from the hot wind. Even so, I couldn’t even ventilate the room because of the classmates who insisted on closing the windows. The stinky smell of dust kept tickling my nostrils. I relied on the loud fan barely hanging from the ceiling, but honestly I was dying from the heat.

I was weaker than my peers in handling the heat. Because of the heat, I was sweating profusely and my face had turned red. My lips were pale and dry as if I were sick, and I was squirming helplessly on the desk.

“Hey, tell the teacher and go home. It’s self-study after all.”

My friend patted me on the shoulder and said that. I opened my eyes and gave a hazy response. I replied, “Okay, I’ll go to the teacher’s office then… I tried my hardest to pronounce it correctly, but I couldn’t.”

“So… Then I’m going to the office… I will be back.”

In fact, the voice that came out of my mouth was full of strange breathing sounds.

I was allowed to leave as soon as I went to the office and met the teacher. It was because my face had turned a ripe red and I was breathing weirdly. I wasn’t the type of person who would normally be lethargic enough to go early.

“Oh, I’d like to go to the teacher’s office as well.” my friends murmured as I returned to the classroom. “Still, I can’t win over Ki Young-hyun. Take a look at that bastard’s face.” The same jealousy could be heard. I silently packed my bag while listening to that voice in the background. I couldn’t even answer since I didn’t have the energy. All I wanted to do was get home and take a rest.

Comfortable in my space.

***

It wasn’t a long walk from school to my house. I walked for roughly 20 minutes after exiting the rear door to get to my home. Although the bus ride was only a few stations, it took longer than walking because the intervals were long and the bus going around. At the very least, walking down the alley from the back gate was better.

There were no people in the alley as usual. It was awkward to walk on hot streets at this time because it was unusual to return home in broad daylight except during the exam period.

Then I met Lim Dae-han in the alley.

Dae-han was smoking near the lane in the parking lot on the first level of the villa. He wasn’t accompanied by his usual underling. The black half-sleeved shirt, which was worn under a school uniform shirt and had a button loosened from the top, stood out significantly. In the parking lot marked with four lines of paint, he was holding a thick pack of cigarettes in one hand and a lighter in the other and staring at me.

“…”

“…”

I stopped for a moment when I saw him, and I continued my step forward.? My face darkened at the prospect of trekking uphill on the road ahead of me. The tearing sound of cicadas, the burning asphalt, and the blazing sunlight that seem to melt everything. Everything was inconvenient, bothersome, and killing me.

I should have just taken the bus. How could I have imagined walking home through here would be peaceful?

I regretted it, but I couldn’t help it. I wouldn’t be able to get home unless I passed through here. I walked away ignoring Lim Dae-han’s eyes following me. Think of it as a mural. I felt a little comfortable thinking that way. There was no reason for him to speak to me in the first place.

Although Lim Dae-han and I were in the same class, we haven’t spoken to each other since the class started.

It was the moment when I was about to pass by Lim Dae-han while thinking about him. Suddenly I heard a voice.

“Hey.”

Lim Dae-han’s voice was low, like if coming from deep within a cave. That didn’t mean he was humming, though. Lim Dae-han was not as talkative as those who rubbed their hands and feet next to him. If you’re wondering how I know, I just found out.

But even though I heard the voice, I just ignored it. I thought Lim Dae-han was alone, but there was another person beside him. I must have misheard it. While thinking about it. Once again, there was no reason for Dae-han to talk to me.

I pretended I hadn’t heard the voice and was going to continue my walk.

Thud, thud, thud! With the heavy footsteps, the voice could be heard once more.

“Hey, Ki Young-hyun.”

It was then that I realized Dae-han was calling me. I was surprised, so I turned around and checked him. He looked at me and strode towards me after exiting the villa’s shaded parking area and standing on the same road as me.

“Where are you going?”

I looked at him with a questioning expression. Were we close enough for him to ask about where I was going? ‘Did you think that the teacher made me come out to find you?’ I wondered as I slowly rolled my eyes.

There was something strange. Lim? Dae-han didn’t look like a person who was afraid of the teacher’s scolding. If he was afraid, he wouldn’t smoke around school or go out after class.

Nonetheless, I responded to him just in case.

“The teacher didn’t ask me to come to find you.”

Lim Dae-han cocked his brows as soon as the words were spoken. Wrinkles appeared between the brows at the same time. There were a lot more expressions than I expected. Unlike me, who simply considers going home with a blank expression on my face.

“Who asks that? Where are you going?”

Lim Dae-han had a rough tone to his voice. I didn’t think my words were nice or delicate, but when I talked to him, I became a person who spoke softly. I responded with a sluggish voice as I looked at Dae-han.

“I’m going home.”

“Home?”

“Yes…”

“Why home?”

“…”

I don’t think there’s any reason to answer that, so I just stood in front of Lim Dae-han who kept asking questions. Lim Dae-han seems impatient to hear the answer somehow.

“Why are you going?”

“… I’m sick.”

“Where does it hurt? Do you have an upset stomach?”

He looked down at my lower belly as he spoke. Our eyes met once more as he raised his head. I shook my head. It’s hot… I want to go home… I thought to myself but didn’t get it out of my mouth.

“Because of the heat.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Then I…”

I’ve got to go. Before the sentence was finished, Dae-han said another word.

“The hospital.”

“I don’t have to go to the hospital.? I’ll be fine when I get home and rest.”

“Eat something cold?”

“Yes, I drink water, I take a bath… But I’m really having a hard time…”

Dae-han scratched the nape of his neck. He also fiddled with his sideburns for no reason. The pack of cigarettes he was holding in his hand disappeared as if it had never been there.

I made it clear that this was an awkward situation. I glanced sideways in the direction I was heading. However, Dae-han didn’t care at all about where I was looking. And after a while, he grabbed my wrist without hesitation.

“Let’s go get a drink.”

Then he strode forward, leading me and taking his own steps.

***

Rattle, rattle. Each ice cube tangled in the straw collided in the glass, creating a distinct sound. I looked at the green tea latte, which was not even half empty, and then shifted my gaze to the front. Lim Dae-han used a straw to stir the ice in the cup in front of him. There was very little orange juice left in the glass.

Lim Dae-han and I were at a room cafe with flowers around that were too much for two boys to come. Because of the strong air conditioner, I got chills under my school uniform. I turned my head and looked around, then returned my gaze to Dae-han.

Lim Dae-han threw the straw on the table because he couldn’t get it to stir the drink any longer. Then he took the glass and poured the ice into his mouth. Crunch crunch crunch. The ice was crushed and broken on the well-kept teeth, and it eventually vanished without a trace. I had a distinct impression that I was about to be chewed on next.

It was purely because of my fragile nature that I couldn’t turn down Dae-han’s offer to go for a drink. Besides, if you look at Dae-han right now, no one will be able to refuse his request.

Lim Dae-han was the son of Jacheon-dong, who was tough and rough, as well as tall and bulky, as opposed to me, who only managed to reach 175 centimeters. I was afraid to say no because he does seem to be a well-built thug. The last reason was that Dae-han grabbed my wrist and strode out, waving at the roadside and grabbing a taxi before I even said anything.

I couldn’t even say no, so I hopped into the back seat of the taxi and headed downtown without saying anything to Dae-han. The taxi driver looked at me through the rearview mirror, as if he was worried about me because of the physical difference. Lim Dae-han, like a real thug, said, “Hey uncle, drive well. Don’t keep staring at me,” threatening the taxi driver.

My blood began to drain from my body as soon as I heard those words, and I got goosebumps all over my body. In an instant, the heat that had been circling inside my body disappeared. I was afraid Dae-han would sell me or ask me to give up everything I had now. Of course, all I had in my hand were a couple of ten thousand won bills.

Contrary to my worries, Dae-han politely offered the taxi fare and completed the calculation. I stood there staring at him. Following that, Dae-han is the closest to where we are standing, with the crudely written ‘Full Air-conditioner! Flying with M House in the hot summer’ We came to this room cafe where we are now seated opposite each other.

Lim Dae-han, in contrast to the brightly colored petals on the sofa, seemed more like a bully up close. He sat on the sofa with one leg crossed. His thighs were thick, so his legs were raised high. Then he glanced at his phone for nothing and looked at me. I quickly lowered my head when I met his gaze.

It was called a room cafe, but it had a structure with perforated ceilings. Despite the fact that there was clearly a separate smoking room next to the entrance, the smell of cigarettes permeated the next room. Even where we were sitting, there were ashtrays on the table, which could be because it’s a room cafe, there’s less regulation, or they turn a blind eye to it. When my gaze slowly reached the ashtray, Dae-han asked.

“Ki Young-hyun, do you smoke?”

Before the question was even finished, I shook my head. I’ve never even touched a cigarette. My father said that when my mother became pregnant, he immediately quit smoking after smoking for ten years, and no one has smoked in the house since then. However, it appeared that my brother smoked outside on occasion.

I have seen my classmates smoking from elementary and middle school to high school. And some of the guys I was close with used to smoke to get in shape, but they never let me. The reason for this was that I, who looked weak at first sight, would collapse after sucking on the smoke just once.

Anyway, Dae-han and I were facing each other. Lim Dae-han looked extremely anxious after talking about cigarettes. It was like a withdrawal symptom. He clenched his fists and trembled his legs. I think he was desperate for cigarettes. I said it as if I was doing it in a good deed.

“If you want to smoke, you can.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’m serious. You can smoke.”

Instead of answering, Lim Dae-han took the ice in the glass to his mouth. Crunch crunch crunch. I opened my mouth as I watched the ice crumble miserably in the gaps between his teeth, like ice being crushed by an icebreaker.

“… But why did you ask me to come?”

At the words, Dae-han returned his gaze to me. He rested one arm on the back of the sofa while scratching his chin with the other. He took a deep breath, moistened his parched lips, and tilted his head. His eyes blinked a little faster.

Is he requesting a difficult favor from me?? I didn’t have much contact with Dae-han, and the only difficult thing I could do was giving money. But would he look so embarrassed when he’s extorting money from someone? If he simply says, “Lend me some money,” I believe they’ll have the bills in their hands as soon as he does.? Anyway, I will said what I thought for now.

“I don’t have money.”

“…”

Lim Dae-han’s eyebrows furrowed. The brow ridges protruded. In summary, it was ferocious and scary. Was it obvious that I had money? I quickly searched my pocket, biting my lips inward. I pulled out two 10,000 won bills that were in the back of my phone case. I carefully held it with both hands, as if it were a precious treasure, and held it out in front of Dae-han giving it to him.

“This is the only thing I have. I’m telling the truth.”

“Hey, Ki Young-hyun.”

“Huh?”

“I have a lot of money. Who are you looking at as a bully?”

But you are a bully.

I felt like crying.

“… Then why did you ask me to come with you?”

“It’s hot?”

Lim Han did not respond to my questions and instead asked what he wanted to ask. The voice’s pitch wasn’t too high. Recognizing that it was an eloquent question, I shook my head and replied.

“It’s all right.”

“Why aren’t you drinking?”

“I’m going to drink…”

“When you come to a cafe, do you usually drink green tea?”

“Yeah… I can’t drink coffee.”

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“No.”

I felt uneasy after answering and looked at Dae-han with suspicion. What’s with the seeing someone question? Does he want to be introduced to someone? But I don’t know any women whom I could introduce him to. This is because I entered the current school after attending a middle school full of boys. Although it was a coeducational class, it was divided into two classes, male and female. And I wasn’t the type of person who went wild and poked around looking for a way to talk to the girls.

I wasn’t really interested in women.

Dae-han asked again as if to confirm.

“You don’t have a lover?”

Lim Dae-han’s expression and voice softened a bit. I was embarrassed by the word he used. I’m not sure if it was because he wasn’t using a girlfriend or a boyfriend, but the word lover felt strange to me. I glanced at him and nodded slowly. Lim Dae-han seemed to be threatening me at any moment, but he grinned at the moment as the hardened corner of his mouth loosened.

What’s wrong with him…

I swallowed the words that I couldn’t get out of my mouth. Lim Dae-han smacks his lips. Then he rubbed his hand on his thigh. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out to me with his big and thick hand.

“Then go out with me.”

“No.”

After I finished speaking, I stuck my lips together and kept silent. It was a word that popped out of my mouth. I couldn’t take that back. Unconsciously, I took my hands and humbly placed them on my lap. The gaze that had been fixed on Dae-han gradually shifted to the hand. Lim Dae-han remained silent. I slowly raised my eyes and looked into Lim Dae-han’s eyes at that moment.

“…”

“…”

Lim Dae-han who had been smirking became desolate in an instant. The shape of the eyebrows protruded from one side like a wave. It looked like he was about to grab me by the neck and throw me on the sofa at any moment. I suddenly felt embarrassed.

It would have been better than this if he had ripped me out 20,000 won. If he had asked for 20,000 won, I would have given it to him without hesitation. The 10,000-won bill, which had crumpled folds, was lying on the table without being opened properly. It was just like me.

I took turns looking at the table and then at Dae-han before slowly raising my eyes. Then I let out a weak, trembling voice, regardless of who heard it.

“I-I don’t think we can…”

“Why?”

Dae-han asked without hesitation. You have no idea why not? I was completely freaked out.

“You and I are both men.”

“Ki Young-hyun, you are so outdated.”

“…”

Outdated?

When I heard the word outdated from Lim Dae-han, a bully at school, I felt emotional and something boiling inside of me. But I couldn’t show it, and I couldn’t deny his words. Lim Dae-han didn’t seem to like what I said.

“And…?”

“A-and… We never really talked before.”

Do I even have to say this?

Should there even be a reason for rejection? I didn’t like him, no matter how handsome, tall, and well-built Lim Dae-han was, even if he was popular with the girls at school. In fact, if Dae-han asks them to date, they will turn around and run away without hesitation. Isn’t there a difference between being interested and dating? Anyway, Lim Dae-han is that kind of guy.

In response to my answer, Lim Dae-han tilted his head for a moment before straightening up again. Perhaps because he was tall or because of my fear, his attitude appeared arrogant when he looked down at the person at an angle.

“I’ve seen you talk a lot. Can’t you just talk like that with me?”

“… Where?”

After asking, I regretted it. Where do you see it? He must have seen it at school. However, there were many people around Dae-han who rubbed their palms like flies to get something from him. He doesn’t seem to speak much, but he had always been twisted. In fact, he wouldn’t even have time to see? I’m talking.

“In the classroom.”

Lim Dae-han answered the obvious question. In a way, it was a kind gesture.

"Seeing you talk and having a conversation with you are two different things.”

Lim Dae-han poked his red tongue out from between his lips and lightly licked his lips. Then, out of annoyance, he quietly uttered a swears words. My body stiffened, and I made eye contact with Lim Dae-han.

“What should I do then?”

Lim Dae-han asked me with an annoyed face. What should I say if you ask me about that?

I only dated once when I was in the first year of middle school. A girl from the same elementary school sent a message asking me to go out with her and we only dated for about two weeks. Even then, we had only met twice. We went to the same academy, but we couldn’t even speak properly.

I just blinked and looked at Dae-han. Lim Dae-han swore again when I couldn’t answer. There was no hesitation in the swear words that came out of his mouth. He rubbed his face with his hand as if it were a pot lid. Then he let out a heavy sigh.

“Talk.”

.

“Huh?”

A random word came out.

“You said that you didn’t want to go out with me right away. Then let’s talk. And then we go out.”

The only difference is in delaying and pulling the timing. Will it become natural for them to date?

With that ridiculous force, I scratched my chin. Why does he want to go out with me? It was just awkward. Then suddenly, ‘Why should we go out? What kind of emotions do people usually have when dating?’ I thought. Gradually, emotions took a direction. It felt like blood was drying up all over my body. Then I asked,

“Do you like me?”

Only then did the expression of Lim Dae-han, who was confident in everything, slowly collapsed.? Dae-han did not answer and hesitated. He didn’t know that I was more embarrassed by that look. Lim Dae-han couldn’t make eye contact with me, so I turned my gaze to the tips of Lim Dae-han’s red ears. It’s summer… but I keep getting goosebumps all over my body.

I guess he really likes me…

Dae-han drank two more drinks while I was emptying mine. There was a reason he was so big. We haven’t had a conversation in the meantime. Lim Dae-han simply repeated the order and drinking as if he was so thirsty. When the glass in front of me was nearly empty, Lim Dae-han pulled out his phone.

“What?”

I looked into Lim Dae-han’s eyes and asked with a little annoyed tone. Dae-han raised his chin. It was still overbearing, but the atmosphere became more ferocious.

“Phone number.”

“You want it?”

“Hmm.”

I took the phone with both hands, cautiously. I pressed my lips together and typed the number 010… I politely handed the phone to me after I finished typing, without thinking about saving or calling the number.

Lim Dae-han rubbed his chin, looked at his phone, and dialed without hesitation.

Vibrate Vibrate Vibrate.

My pocket began to vibrate. I smiled wryly and looked at the phone, which had Dae-han’s eleven digit number displayed on it. I gripped the phone tightly in my hand.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Eat?”

My voice rang out unintentionally. One of Lim Dae- han’s brows furrowed.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I-I want to go home.”

“Hmm.”

Lim Dae-han did not hide his dissatisfaction. I pursed up my lips and wondered why Dae-han liked me. I had never spoken to him, and he was always surrounded by girls wearing short skirts and heavy makeup.

There were more men out there if Dae-han had a taste for that. Didn’t they say there are people who rub their arms and legs like flies in order to pick up bean powder and eat it?

“Then let’s go home.”

Lim Dae-han finished speaking and got up. I didn’t stay in my sear for long, but I stretched out my shoulders because my posture was uncomfortable. There was a crackling sound whenever I tilted my head. I opened my lips slightly, looked at Dae-han, and turned my head to meet his gaze.

“Let’s go home.”

Lim Dae-han tapped the table with his finger. I shuddered when I saw that, but I didn’t want to admit it.

***

“Hey, Ki Young-hyun. Let’s go eat.”

It was Jung Ji-pil who called me. Jung Ji-pil has been a close friend of mine since first grade. His nickname is ‘Feel’, but he especially liked me because I was the only one who didn’t call him that. Honestly, I didn’t want to call him with such a low-quality nickname, and it was annoying to hear the giggle next to Ji-pil, who said, ‘Oh, why are you calling the precious name my parents gave me like that!’

I woke up when I heard it was already lunchtime. However, the air conditioner was cooler than yesterday. Going out of the hallway would be hell. Oh, I’m too lazy to eat. It would have been nice if the cafeteria came out as soon as the door opened, but that was absurd.

As I sat in the back seat of the classroom, I took a step out the back door and looked at the guys who were threatening the other students for no reason. And I made eye contact with Lim Dae-han, who was silently listening in the middle of the guys.

“…”

“…”

I was the one who avoided his gaze first. I put my hands forward and hesitated. Why did our eyes have to meet? In fact, the night before he sent me a text message. He also offered to take me home yesterday. However I didn’t want to show him the way to my house, so I told him that I would go alone. Thankfully, I was able to go alone. But as soon as I got home, three messages came 10 minutes apart.

Dae-han: \[Did you get home safely?\] 5:28 PM

Dae-han: \[Did you eat?\] 5:38 pm

Dae-han: \[Let’s call\] 5:48 pm

Dae-han called to see if I was still there while I was sitting still without responding to the message he sent. Then he went on with an unimportant conversation.

I paused for a moment, thinking about what had happened the day before, but was startled awake by a voice calling my name.

“Hey, Ki Young-hyun.”

Dae-han waved his hand and called me. The five pairs of eyes that looked at Lim Dae-han all turned to me. Instead of responding, I raised my collar like a shriveled fish in the sun and stared at Dae-han.

“Let’s go eat.”

“…”

Jung Ji-pil’s gaze turned to me. I waved my hands. Lim Dae-han put his hand in his pocket and came closer. No. Please don’t come to me. Much to my surprise, Lim Dae-han is already standing in front of me.? He was much taller than me, so even if I tilted my head sharply, I had to look up.

“Eat with me.”

“I, Fri, friend… .”

My gaze was drawn back and forth to Jung Ji-pil.

‘What do you want me to do?‘ Jung Ji-pil mouthed.

“Friend?”

Lim Dae-han’s gaze then turned to Jung Ji-pil. As soon as Jung Ji-pil’s eyes met mine, he forced a smile. Then, cleverly, he joined the group of the class leader who was just about to leave the classroom.

“Ki Young-hyun, hahaha. I’m going to eat with another friend. You two eat together.”

That traitor…!

Jung Ji-pil is originally that kind of guy. A traitor who will betray his country. He seemed to know that he would be in trouble, so he immediately ran away. I stomped my foot in front of Jung Ji-pil, who made an apologetic face saying ‘I’m sorry’. Then he goes away, and I looked at Dae-han in front of me.

“Let’s go.”

It was Dae-han who patted my shoulder with his bear-like size hand and walked ahead.

Munch munch.

There is nothing else that can be said to describe how he eats other than that word.? Lim Dae-han was good at acting cute to the aunts who served food to him. The aunts were overjoyed. ‘Our Daehan eats a lot~’, ‘If it’s not enough, come again. I’ll give you more.’ It followed with this kind of comment.

As a result, Daehan’s food tray was piled higher than the teachers’, and he held three bottles of angX served as dessert. That’s incredible. A hand capable of holding three angX on the plate.

Lim Dae-han lifted the edge of the plate and scooped it up. He didn’t even need chopsticks. His determination to eat everything with only one spoon stood out.

“…”

I quietly enjoyed my meal like a normal person in front of him. It was a pity that there was no one to talk to, but I hadn’t been bored since seeing Dae-han eat with such skill.

Lim Dae-han, who had been eating with his nose stuck on the plate for a while, raised his head.

“What are you looking at like that?”

I shook my head when he asked. Lim Dae-han sighed and looked at his plate, then mine. After scratching the back of his nose, he handed me all the angX on his side.

“Why are you giving me this?”

“Drink. You are skinny and look weak.”

I haven’t seen any advertisements saying that drinking angX is good for your health. However, angX had good taste, so I only accepted one. Lim Dae-han took turns looking at the other two and me.

“You drink the rest. I don’t drink that much.”

“…”

Lim Dae-han just looked at me and nodded once. Then, he opened the bottle with his large hand and placed it in his mouth. When I saw Dae-han drinking angX like a deer drinking from a bottle, I couldn’t help but laugh and frown.

“…”

Then I had another encounter with this interesting fact that the tip of Dae-han’s ear was red again. However, I didn’t make any reaction to this fact. Does he actually have red ears? It was probably not originally red because I only noticed that his ears were turning red after a certain moment. I looked at him with my eyes wide open like a flounder, but I pretended not to know and focused on my meal.

Lim Dae-han finished his meal and went to the concession stand. Naturally, I followed him and stood quietly behind him. He was like Moses crossing the Red Sea. When the students saw Dae-han they did not split in half; instead, Dae-han pushed the students in front of him and split them in half.

Despite the fact that he had just finished eating, he went to buy a lot of snacks. There were three pieces of bread and two drinks. Lim Dae-han was carrying all of the snacks in his arms.

“…?”

I looked at Dae-han because I didn’t know why he bought so much food, and he scratched his nose as if embarrassed.

“You eat it.”

“I just ate.”

“Are you full of just that?”

“I’m full…”

Lim Dae-han made a strange expression. I’ll also have the same expression as him. We’re not in sync. One, two, three, there was no response from him.

“You eat it.”

I handed over bread and drinks to Dae-han. Lim Dae-han let out a deep sigh and handed me a drink. It was an apple-flavored pack drink.

“Let’s go out and drink.”

Then we went to the empty stairs, where no one was around. I didn’t really like this place. There was a warehouse next to it where the waste tissue was thrown away because students were frequently caught smoking in it. Of course, one of them is Dae-han.

However, I couldn’t say I didn’t like it. He sat me down on the stairs and then he sat next to me. He was so big that the school uniform that wrapped around his thigh felt like it was going to burst anytime. His ankles were also visible. Contrary to my expectation that it would have a rough shape, his ankle bone was round like a real ripe peach and was dyed a deep pink color.

I put a straw in the drink pack and sucked it next to Dae-han. Lim Dae-han turned around and stared at my face. I remained polite and said nothing to Lim Dae-han, who gave me angX and bought me a drink. Originally, I would have asked what you were looking at. It wasn’t because I was scared of Dae-han.

Dae-han’s tenacious gaze did not last long. I closed my eyes for a long time and then opened them again. Drinking didn’t make the heat go away. I fanned my hands because it was hot. In fact, it was difficult to tell which was hotter, the weather or Dae-han’s gaze, but it was definitely the weather. Even though it was a staircase beneath a leafy tree, it was still a perfect steaming.

Dae-han, on the other hand, was preoccupied with whether or not I feel hot. One of his legs was draped on the steps, and the other leg stretched all the way down. Then he rested his elbows on his thighs and gave me a soft look. I sucked the drink pack while pretending not to notice his gaze. Because the floor was already empty, all that could be heard was the wind blowing.

“… Stop staring.”

In the end, I couldn’t stand Dae-han’s gaze, so I looked straight ahead and said that, without even making eye contact with him. Dae-han asked me.

“Is it hot?”

“… Do you not feel hot?”

It’s almost June. It felt like I was in a steamer because of the humidity. The sound of cicada could be heard. Dae-han raised his upper body, straightened his shoulders, and tilted his head.

“I don’t get hot easily.”

Yeah, I can see that.

He raised his hand as he spoke. I immediately shrugged. My legs were lifted together as I shrugged, which was a little pathetic. Anyone who looked at it could tell I was scared. Lim Dae-han paused for a moment, his brow furrowed. But he put his hand close to me without hesitation. He moved his large hands slowly. I shrugged as I watched, trying to figure out what his actions meant.

Dae-han was fanning me.

The wind tickled my skin. However, there was no way the heat could subside just by moving his hands a few times.

I was taken aback when I saw Dae-han doing this. I sucked on a straw and stared at him blankly. Dae-han asked with his eyes. It was a face that asked as to whether the heat had subsided.

“I want to go to class.”

“Why class? You’ll just be sitting absentmindedly in class.”

It wasn’t that I’m ignoring Dae-han, but it was unavoidable given the group we played with is different in the first place. I’ve never befriended Dae-han. Then, I suddenly feel unfair. Why does he make me sit in this hot sun? Even when he isn’t getting hot easily!

My body ached even more as my stomach boiled. I ran my hand down my neck and placed it on my forehead. Lim Dae-han looked at me for a moment before standing up. The shadow fell as soon as he stood in front of me.

“Follow me.”

He then grabbed my wrist and took a step forward. I ascended the stairs, turned the corner, and returned to the canteen. There were a lot more people than when we first came.

There were four sofas in the corner of the canteen, each with its own table. Students ate and drank there frequently. It’s always been a popular gathering place. It was still crowded and there was nowhere to sit.

“Hey, Dae-han.”

On the innermost sofa, there were Dae-han friends. They are a close friend of his. But they were just bullies number 2, 3, or 4 to me. And bully number 1 was holding my wrist.

They pretended to be friendly, waved their hands, and called Dae-han. Dae-han pulled me in front of them.

“Move. Let him sit.”

It was only then that I realized why Dae-han had brought me here. This was the seat with the best view of the air conditioner. Lim Dae-han pulled the guy from the farthest corner and put me in his place.

I leaned over as if tossed into a soft chair. The air conditioner was blowing from the front. Oh, that’s cool. But what is this cold feeling? As I raised my head, I met the original seat owner who was staring at me coldly, and I immediately lowered my gaze.

“I’ll buy you some ice cream.”

Lim Dae-han walked to the canteen again, this time holding out a few thousand won bills at the stand. After accepting a freezie bar, he returned to my seat. The frezzie bar popped out when it was hit from the bottom of the table. It had a chocolate flavor to it. It was chocolate-flavored. Lim Dae-han handed me the frezzie bar.

“What’s your problem, Dae-han?”

The guy who was staring at me spoke to Dae-han with a sad smile. I feel awkward and uncomfortable as I fiddle with the frezzie bar. He eventually ripped the frezzie bar wrapping off and sucked it out with his mouth. Lim Dae-han looked at the guy speaking to him from the side, then staring at my face again.

“…”

“…”

He was staring at my lips, to be precise.? I put my lips together to stop sucking the frezzie bar. When I kneaded the frezzie bar with my hand, Dae-han’s gaze turned to my hand this time. Lim Dae-han didn’t even blink. I got a little scared and handed over a small bite. Lim Dae-han shook his head. My ears, neck, and face were all red. It was better under the scorching sun.

Lim Dae-han covered my eyes with his palm. He muttered without even minding the people around him.

“You eat it.”

“…”

“I’ll buy it for you every day.”

***

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