Just A Friend

#8

As soon as he left the faculty office, the sorrowful look disappeared from Nam Seonwoo’s face.

‘The big part is done.’

Everything had gone according to plan so far. Now, all that was left was to wait for Kang Jihan’s phone to ring.

In truth, Kang Jihan could have just gotten a leave permit. But in that situation, it would be hard for Kang Jihan to think of a leave permit. If he knew something had happened to his mother, Kang Jihan was the type to rush out immediately. Even if he got caught by the security guard and tried to explain, it was uncertain whether he’d be believed. After all, Kang Jihan didn’t exactly look “diligent” even in the best light. Even if he thought of the leave permit later, he couldn’t get it immediately if the homeroom teacher was in class.

Considering all possibilities, this was the best option.

Nam Seonwoo stopped by the bathroom and turned on Kang Jihan’s phone. Fortunately, there were no missed calls yet. After switching it to vibrate, he entered the classroom to find Kang Jihan sleeping comfortably.

Nam Seonwoo’s gaze was drawn to the desk drawer slightly visible under Kang Jihan’s broad back covering the desk. He couldn’t put it in his pocket, so that place was optimal. As he passed by Kang Jihan, he slipped the phone into the drawer. It made a slight noise, but Kang Jihan remained quiet.

Nam Seonwoo went out to the “wake-up desk” and secured a spot in advance. It was the perfect position to see exactly what Kang Jihan was doing. After completing all preparations, he yawned widely. He felt like dying, probably because he hadn’t slept and had been using his brain since morning.

But contrary to his tension, Kang Jihan’s phone remained silent until near the end of the third period.

“Let’s stop here for today. Good luck on tomorrow’s mock exam.”

At the Korean teacher’s words, the students began closing their books one by one. It wasn’t time for the bell yet, but the teacher also started packing up. Just as Nam Seonwoo was thinking he should catch some sleep during break time if it didn’t ring this time, a vibrating sound was heard amidst the slight commotion.

The teacher paused. Before he could say anything, Nam Seonwoo quickly pushed his desk forward. The noise of the desk legs scraping the floor caught the teacher’s attention. The desk soon lost balance and fell to the floor with a clatter.

Everyone’s attention focused on Nam Seonwoo. He smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. I was dozing off and…”

But that bastard Kang Jihan was also looking this way. Nam Seonwoo tried to convey with his eyes that now wasn’t the time to look here, but Kang Jihan just raised one eyebrow.

‘Drawer! Look at the drawer, you idiot!’

As Nam Seonwoo gestured downwards while mouthing words, Kang Jihan finally put his hand in the drawer with a puzzled expression.

“…?”

Seeing Kang Jihan just staring at the phone, seemingly wondering why it was there, Nam Seonwoo felt like he was going to burst. At that moment, the call ended. Kang Jihan’s finger stopped over the power button, probably after checking the caller. Soon, a text message appeared on the screen. Even from Nam Seonwoo’s view, he could see the message that seemed urgent, not even forming a complete sentence.

Just as Kang Jihan abruptly stood up, the bell rang miraculously. The teacher’s mouth gaped open, dumbfounded, as Kang Jihan boldly put the phone to his ear and rushed out of the classroom. Nam Seonwoo also grabbed the leave permit.

“Bak-gyu, I’m leaving early today! Please take care of the class duties!”

Waving the leave permit at Park Gyuhyeon, Nam Seonwoo followed into the corridor, but Kang Jihan was nowhere to be seen. He ran down the central staircase, taking three steps at a time. Reaching the first floor, he could already see Kang Jihan crossing the playground in the distance.

‘I knew he’d do that, that blockhead!’

He should have just climbed over the wall; if he goes out so openly, the security guard won’t let him pass easily. Nam Seonwoo also gritted his teeth and ran. Soon, he saw the security guard rush out and physically restrain Kang Jihan. Nam Seonwoo approached the two struggling and held out the leave permit.

“I’m sorry. This friend is in such a hurry that he can’t see straight. Here’s the leave permit.”

The security guard looked suspicious. Nam Seonwoo put on a friendly smile and yanked Kang Jihan’s chest.

“3rd year, Class 1, Nam Seonwoo and Kang Jihan.”

Only after confirming that the name tags matched the names on the leave permit did the suspicion subside. With a warning to submit the leave permit first next time to avoid misunderstandings, the security guard opened the gate.

Nam Seonwoo muttered, gasping for breath.

“Maybe because he’s young, huff, he’s so damn fast… Ugh, shit… I’m dying.”

“You…”

Seeing a face that seemed to have many questions, Nam Seonwoo quickly caught his breath and spilled out his prepared words.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snoop, but I saw the text earlier. I happened to have a leave permit because I had something to do.”

Kang Jihan closed his mouth at the explanation that Nam Seonwoo had taken the liberty of writing his name too. Even if he felt suspicious, there was nothing he could do. Nam Seonwoo hurriedly changed the subject.

“Isn’t it urgent?”

Only then did Kang Jihan start moving. He tried to catch a taxi, but because the school was inside an apartment complex, there wasn’t a single taxi in sight. Nam Seonwoo quickly scanned the apartment complex parking lot. There was one motorcycle with its engine running.

Nam Seonwoo immediately took off his school uniform shirt, jumped on the motorcycle, and shouted.

“Hey!”

Kang Jihan turned his head. Seeing Nam Seonwoo grip the handlebars familiarly, he stood there blankly. Nam Seonwoo urged him again.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get on!”

It seemed to be Kang Jihan’s first time riding on the back, as he awkwardly took his seat. Even so, he continued to make phone calls with one hand. His complexion wasn’t good, as if unpleasant thoughts were creeping in. Seeing him like this, he didn’t seem like the ‘Kang Jihan’ Nam Seonwoo knew, but just a nineteen-year-old kid.

In fact, that was correct. This barely nineteen-year-old kid hadn’t done anything wrong.

“We’re going home. Hold on tight.”

He couldn’t hand over the handlebars to this young, inexperienced kid. After putting a helmet on Kang Jihan, Nam Seonwoo gripped the handles, and the engine roared loudly.

He had ridden a motorcycle a few times in college. The feeling of gripping the handlebars after so long felt unfamiliar. But as if his body remembered, the motorcycle soon stabilized its ride.

While Kang Jihan went inside to check on his mother, Nam Seonwoo called an ambulance. He immediately put Kang Jihan’s mother, who had collapsed, into the ambulance. He thought about leaving after that, but seeing how flustered Kang Jihan looked, he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

Not wanting to intrude on family matters, he waited outside the hospital building during the examination. In the meantime, he didn’t forget to explain the situation to the motorcycle owner who had been contacted and earnestly apologize.

After the call ended, he felt drained. Nam Seonwoo, who had slumped against the outer wall of the building, let out a deep sigh.

“Haah…”

What’s the point of becoming young again? He was burying his face in workbooks without even having fun, and now he was giving up that time to help Kang Jihan.

It seemed like he was going to completely mess up tomorrow’s mock exam. But he didn’t regret it.

‘I wonder how his mother is doing.’

Kang Jihan’s mother was a good person. He remembered that she was kind and warm, enough to be certain of it despite meeting her only a few times. …Her face was blurry in his memory because she had passed away not long after he entered university. Nam Seonwoo’s expression darkened.

It was the first funeral he had attended. For Nam Seonwoo, who was an adult in name only and had taken off his school uniform just a few months ago, attending the funeral of his new boyfriend’s mother was an incredibly difficult experience. If it was this hard for him, he couldn’t even imagine how it was for Kang Jihan. He didn’t know what words of comfort to offer and could only stay by Kang Jihan’s side.

This time, Nam Seonwoo sincerely hoped that she would stay healthy since it was discovered early. Thinking about the physical education performance evaluation, there was a possibility. A possibility that the past wouldn’t repeat itself.

The hospital door opened and someone approached. Thinking it was just a passerby, he stared into space, but a shadow fell in front of him. The shoes visible on the ground were the same three-striped slippers as his. He laughed, suddenly realizing that he had come without even changing out of his indoor shoes.

“Thank you.”

Nam Seonwoo looked up at the low voice spreading across the floor. The short but straightforward voice, and the eyes that met his directly, were filled with sincerity. Feeling awkward for no reason, Nam Seonwoo scratched his neck before answering.

“It’s nothing. I had something to do at the hospital anyway.”

Kang Jihan’s gaze lingered. Knowing that he was the type to thoroughly repay what he received, Nam Seonwoo knew exactly what he was thinking. As if trying to break the gaze, he waved his hand and added.

“If you’re really grateful, think of it as repayment for the 100 won from yesterday.”

“…100 won?”

Kang Jihan didn’t seem to remember the incident at the phone booth yesterday. When Nam Seonwoo made a phone gesture with his thumb and pinky outstretched, Kang Jihan finally made a dumbfounded expression. After a moment of silence, Kang Jihan stood to the side and asked.

“How did you know my home address?”

Nam Seonwoo inwardly flinched. Come to think of it, he had driven the motorcycle to Kang Jihan’s house too naturally. How did he know? Because he had dated Kang Jihan. He couldn’t say that, so he rolled his eyes around, trying to come up with a plausible excuse.

“I’m the class president, you know.”

“Does the class president memorize addresses too?”

Ha, this kid. He’s really not easy to deal with. Nam Seonwoo put on a nonchalant face and replied casually.

“Yeah. I’m pretty smart, you know.”

There’s no defense against shamelessness, and Kang Jihan’s questioning stopped. Nam Seonwoo felt Kang Jihan’s gaze on his cheek, but he desperately kept looking straight ahead.

It was Kang Jihan who broke the silence again.

“Why are you going this far?”

Faced with this direct question, Nam Seonwoo finally laughed helplessly. As expected of Kang Jihan. He never let things slide.