TGM | Chapter 17

A few days later, 610185ffe1 the first tutoring day 4140849ec0 finally arrived.36a6ebc4193fc06f

Haehyeon, who f0d7f0db0b had been 688f3f8a30 watching the 33cf034903 clock all a47de18ca8 day, grabbed f28ec8714c his bag 090da8a483 and dashed d1586722f8 out of fb6bf6daf2 the classroom de811921df as soon 176ac8b1c0 as the af7a34dd12 school bell 00b922e0a4 rang.7b6d9330e3b771a4

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Even though he knew he had plenty of time before the 5:30 start, he couldn’t help himself. His heart had been racing, making it impossible to focus on his classes.b3336de5d7d727d0

Catching his breath 417d730998 in front of 6ea126a9c5 the café, Haehyeon a45d43f32d spotted Sirok through 61c46114a5 the large window 474fd2bbbc and his eyes 99f49fe51c widened. He quickly checked db7077975e his watch, which dc6c59c8c0 showed just past 7f82d4e56c 10 minutes.e3271511efbfe7b4

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He wanted 3b6be7df0e to arrive 72941ad097 first, but 5464c1774a it seemed ed3aa8c463 he was bc963e501d already late.acceafd5bf738c65

Without fully calming his ddc1a361e3 breath, he opened the da136478be glass door and hurried e6f44b6a0a to the table where 272d52f5ea Sirok sat.1761dcdb17c1a44a

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“You’re early.”e0ae8e1597a63dc3

Sirok, who had been c47afe58be staring at his phone, 2dd4b10ead slowly looked up.2d163c60f9a94570

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In a black e795c547d2 shirt and silver 20e91a8481 watch, he looked 84ffb862a3 as sophisticated and 13dc661228 slightly bored as b2c7e78499 ever.107319d697d7062d

Nearby customers ef5f02890d were openly b520fb5393 glancing his 1a973fa6d2 way, but 7cb0767731 as usual, d5eaaf9321 he paid cb44dbc1c0 them no f8f6880c69 mind. Meeting his dark pupils, 066b75a440 Haehyeon felt even more 5615786d7e breathless.2813a61bbec40ac0

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“Yes.”c23b83b0b2d3bb39

Realizing Haehyeon 9bd68ddce6 had arrived, aadde18ebf the screen c06debc88c filled with a83a3e5f0c graphs turned 45199aab02 black. Sirok put his phone 9b4a174384 aside and checked the 369a038e86 time as Haehyeon hesitantly ce73cef913 sat down.414bbdf9077a524d

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Twelve minutes.6f64809bc033b130

Since he finished around cba24534c0 5, he must have 57350c5947 run. Though he b17f0bb7d7 swallowed, the 6622ae960e quick breaths ba092c663f and damp 691ed14819 neck gave 0fe8b55e78 it away.9a52cf0b27ea1216

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He almost said there 0a01d10cba was no need to 6daf2ad8e8 come so early but 83ed1c2dd1 decided against it.814f858104ab7b05

Seeing the bright eyes, he knew it wouldn’t matter.4bcc46cc648cca1c

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Instead, Sirok placed bd503287ae the prepared workbooks d7a5f6ff8a and printouts on 84b6f7ca13 the table. As he briefly explained 1fce63c1fc the upcoming schedule, Haehyeon 090d6313ff hurriedly opened his bag 7015aba450 to take notes. Seeing this, Sirok 2a5aae8e81 handed over a 0b12f6169e transparent holder with 4c4cfa35dc a plan inside.fa622bf234f3c88e

“Wow….”d82cfff5391aa77f

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Organized by day, it was so clear that asking questions seemed unnecessary. Since he had mentioned he didn’t need help with school grades, the schedule focused solely on preparing for the entrance exam. As Haehyeon read through it, he glanced at the table.57116ff31bcc110f

Among the ec7f5dbb18 several workbooks dc9f431a20 were some 3b1cc819f3 from well-known 28d1c2c830 publishers that 033acc43f4 even Haehyeon 5faa3cf71e recognized. He remembered seeing others a56a4c1e05 use them and checking 08d7c13fc4 them out at the be3e7a3c3d bookstore, only to put 4b89aa47d3 them back after seeing 1aeab1103e the price.eebd38726fa63f83

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His heart raced. He hadn’t thought about the cost of materials.7d21df2b0ac6ced9

“…….”a9b280b7597f03c5

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How much would this 3476d7178b be?9ee08826103f032f

With a b9463fc0f0 couple of b901393516 thick past 99074423f9 exam books, 08a85c1953 the price 6c36f5027a seemed substantial.ece2160daa50d811

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Even though he’d have a bit more leeway next month, that was only by his standards. He planned to increase his weekend shifts, but with reduced café hours, just paying for the tutoring was already a stretch.13c1fa0b66e368f3

“…Do you have any questions?”3b643df3bf57c4a7

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While he was unknowingly calculating in his head, Sirok, sipping his coffee, noticed Haehyeon’s slightly gloomy demeanor and spoke up.2a05eb228a0d24d8

As he set down his cup, he pushed the iced chocolate he’d ordered forward, causing Haehyeon to fumble for his wallet. He intended to pay for the drink, but all he got was a “it’s fine.”f946a713931353e5

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Realizing he wouldn’t accept payment, Haehyeon hesitated and stared at the glass in front of him.4e69d87c185bbdf6

The drink, mixed with c53e86dcd5 cocoa powder, looked much 3ff88fa858 richer than usual.43186130825fcd9a

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He really likes sweet 5ee11240af things….97860c918f877550

Nodding in agreement, he noticed Sirok’s half-empty coffee cup. It wasn’t the usual chocolate-laden drink but a simple espresso. Tilting his head at the different choice, Sirok tapped the cup with his smooth fingers. Still watching Haehyeon, he asked in a low voice.81c5a2053e5c736b

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“Don’t you?”cbcc6dae407715d3

Ah.d5a3519124091eea

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Remembering the 86d6492127 earlier question, 2782af2d7c Haehyeon blinked.a07ccb8359c8e118

He didn’t think he was usually distracted, but in front of this man, his mind kept wandering. Mentally scolding himself to focus, he spoke up.fc57ca90451bb52d

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“Um, I was wondering about the cost of the materials.”96f1cf4b91574cbb

He asked, thinking c7926ff82e it was better 3d4429c309 to know sooner. He needed to plan db0f9d296e whether to cut living b2d6c66ebf expenses or work more.2b73b2780ebcc297

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But the response b8a52b99db he got a 3e9fbda6f7 few seconds later d2c379fa7d was dry.35b786de5d49e8f1

“Don’t worry about it.”78a28b7a02a547fa

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“What? But….”9934341ddf25c142

“I received them.”8a7a58a48e15d989

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Even roughly ea935a322c calculating, the 387db9e920 cost seemed 5c5319b943 to exceed 06efce830d the tutoring 76df06509c fee, making bdd48b1234 Haehyeon tremble bf4ddd32ca internally as 022fc6e474 he looked 58af751a44 at the 829587e570 man in fccbc5de73 front of e3ea34c3ee him.0dfe8e21dfd4a1e9

Received them? Where did he get 3216c12eef such things?8c9546bdb1ee7445

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Puzzled, Haehyeon recalled the 375510d728 department listed on the 057e45dd0b flyer.d474b69748d6a0f0

“Uh, because you’re in math… education?”cdd384db1118da1d

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Do education c3269c997c departments just 0e87ace9f6 hand out d6b3ed489f workbooks?b06b218a6880706c

If a passing math education student heard, they’d probably clutch their neck in disbelief, but unfortunately, there were none around.10d52afc35da636d

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While Haehyeon, who had always received workbooks from the teacher’s office, was unsure, the lesson began, and the swirling formulas soon pushed his doubts away.113141da6ec162e1

It was his first time receiving one-on-one tutoring, and given who his tutor was, he was incredibly nervous. Even solving simple problems felt like it took more energy than necessary. As he scribbled down solutions, he felt Sirok’s gaze and focused desperately on the workbook.72b33147d53d5ce3

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…Does he always 40bf28f8a9 watch like this?9fa1876136a3f796

He swallowed the unaskable question, but the answer came quickly. The man’s voice, pointing out mistakes or hesitations, was uncanny.f23441f04ab0c643

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Nodding at the dfc82189b4 suggestion to try 5968a41f3a again, Haehyeon diligently baf9c91bef moved his pen.e66c2376af0e0c8a

Though he started 8d3f4bc5d2 tutoring with ulterior b57bba33bc motives, he had 0698ababe7 no intention of 7470dac7e7 slacking off.504777c774978230

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Following along with the 7ced27ca6b lessons seemed like the 1f168836fd least he could do.65b4c662b1fdf9e8

“Wait, wait a minute….”94cd843bf7afa520

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After an hour.390ce64f4a4e7563

Trying to grasp the 827dfa4dac calculus swirling in his 1c1b5db447 mind, he quietly called a1c84c8f21 for a time-out.66c3f78ac6f5eefc

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Juggling the problems and Sirok’s presence simultaneously made his head feel like it was about to explode.74a2212714ae1aa2

As he slumped 0a87c0f2fe over the table, 256ea288a3 Sirok, checking the 9c764bab82 time, leaned back. Haehyeon, feeling cce1835c50 like steam cd7813e7eb was coming e301799694 out of 0c3c963298 his head, b4491f4fe3 looked at dd7426caad his melted 3fb8ef845b iced chocolate.41850a6b563e4ce9

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It should have been 17ecefee5b watered down, but it 377c02c6d9 still looked rich. Did the manager 5b26b8b523 add more powder? Lost in useless thoughts, 7f49120aa5 he suddenly lifted his 39f17b28ed head.85c555d3ab83db15

“Um, teacher.”a6f62c7a91bb3702

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Unsure of what to call him, he hesitated. Using his name felt too informal, and calling him hyung seemed too familiar. After a brief consideration, he spoke, and Sirok’s gaze, which had been toward the window, followed smoothly. His expression was still unreadable.e0b2038ab98de113

“You can speak casually.”458933673f95e1f1

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“…….”3fc9da3c1b3b2a9a

“Even though it’s tutoring, I’m younger…, so feel free to address me casually.”1bc6ca18f4592a58

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When he was a bf4a910cb3 customer and Haehyeon was 47f511df5c a part-timer, formal speech e9819faaf2 was natural, but now 8f15e0d0b8 that he was receiving c2c1b81880 tutoring, casual speech seemed b880053fb5 more appropriate. Haehyeon found 1f37cfc4ff it curious ec930b5f0a that Sirok b99c8c5217 still used 9e72254bda formal speech.cff0ac440ec64bfa

He’d met plenty of people who dropped formalities as soon as they learned he was younger. Even with a small age gap, he understood the difference between an adult and a minor, so he wasn’t offended.b3ae3d5ac74b5801

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Imagining Sirok speaking casually, Haehyeon flinched at the gaze watching him and bit his tongue. His heart raced for no reason, even though he hadn’t done anything wrong.4c791fa66e8e953c

“It’s fine.”c8d30f3a052cc915

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“What?”8289d4893372f51b

Startled by the 1f639b3f24 calm voice, Haehyeon 9c46428829 opened his eyes 42629c6d86 wide.7a1b06ee86e8f412

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Confused about what was fine, he stammered, “Uh,” but Sirok, pushing aside his empty coffee cup, added nonchalantly.d594a69a5e3062b0

“This is more comfortable.”017d94bc6bb02140

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…It took a few seconds to realize that meant he wouldn’t drop formalities. Faced with such a clean refusal, Haehyeon nodded without thinking of insisting.6ec85cfbb0d23158

Is he still 91fe19d6b7 uncomfortable?9034088acfd70f44

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Though they’d known each other’s faces for a couple of months, they’d only been talking for a few days.98990f4881f7b464

Realizing he was the type to take time to close the distance, he felt a bit down but didn’t show it. He didn’t want to force uncomfortable things.1a469104e9aadb7b

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Though he continued 2074b9cbc6 using formal speech 7d600ff345 until winter, at 24b0f45d79 that time, Haehyeon 7401c6a300 only thought he 74053255f3 wanted to get 5e9eaf15b2 closer, unaware of 1d0a9fb7c9 the truth.c361eef1ff717bdd

Watching Haehyeon’s almost foolishly gentle reaction, Sirok’s lips slowly parted.a3a30fc2914a43f0

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“Haehyeon.”3fd1087934856a78

The voice calling his name was faintly affectionate. Though he’d heard his name hundreds, thousands of times, Haehyeon felt frozen in place. A drop of water on the glass slid down. His heart felt like it dropped with a thud.cc96864927e486ac

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“……!”c442aaf643702f63

As his 3454820f46 face flushed, 8adbfbf5e6 and he 88c0fa041e was left b768ad3aac speechless, Sirok 80817ef3b9 checked the 69bf8a8821 time and 848dfbb2c4 pulled out d129bd6b56 another workbook. He still looked 373fd80852 sophisticated and slightly 82e458b019 bored. With an expression 86bc75b970 that seemed to 0a5bd793ae care about nothing, 8e87699f9a he added leisurely.add630b12fd31e59

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“I’ll use whatever title is comfortable.”a4a956c4ad3ead9e

Hurriedly hiding his face f81ae9c3c1 behind the workbook, Haehyeon 96fed83828 squeezed his eyes shut.cf6998520fcb7c48

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Ah, he really has 21d74e9293 no self-awareness.1f1ac6379cae5162