SAV Chapter 23

I don’t know why that “honey” sounds so ticklish to my ears. I wanted to rub my ears vigorously, but I held back for fear Kim Juyoung would think I was crazy.

 

“What?”

 

“I found out it’s true that students who don’t go on the school trip have to do self-study until fourth period.”

 

Kim Juyoung asked what I thought about systematically studying together for three days.

 

Come to think of it, Kim Juyoung had also canceled his participation in the field trip.

 

I thought he didn’t want to go or was concerned about Choi Jeha, using me as an excuse. But seeing him bring up studying, it seems he really gave up Jeju Island for Cha Eunseong’s sake.

 

‘Were Cha Eunseong and Kim Juyoung this close?’

 

Close enough to give up a school trip to help Cha Eunseong study when his grades were single digits?

 

In the synopsis, their relationship didn’t seem that intimate. If it had been, the protagonists would have been Kim Juyoung and Cha Eunseong.

 

Or did they have feelings for each other, but Cha Eunseong died so he chose Choi Jeha instead? Or is he planning revenge on Choi Jeha for causing Cha Eunseong’s death? Is that too dark? While I was lost in these thoughts, Kim Juyoung tapped my knee again.

 

“Are you listening to me?”

 

“Huh? Yeah, I’m listening.”

 

“What did I just say?”

 

“That we’ll do self-study.”

 

“My friend in Class 7 says there are a lot of students not going. Should we gather a few and make a study group?”

 

“Sure. Let’s invite Jeha too.”

 

It would be a shame to exclude the top student in school from our study group. Besides, during those three field trip days, classes would end much earlier than his part-time job hours, so Choi Jeha would have plenty of time.

 

But after I said that, Kim Juyoung’s gaze turned strangely cold.

 

Kim Juyoung and Choi Jeha weren’t strangers; if anything, he was always looking after Choi Jeha whenever possible, so I expected him to agree right away. But contrary to my expectations, Kim Juyoung showed his displeasure by raising the corners of his eyes.

 

Come to think of it, since I entered Cha Eunseong’s body, I don’t think I’ve actually seen Kim Juyoung taking care of Choi Jeha even once.

 

I really don’t understand what’s going on.

 

“You’re suddenly so caring? Did something really happen between you two while I was gone?”

 

“What could have happened? Isn’t it natural to want a good student in a study group?”

 

“I’m good at studying too, you know.”

 

Right. Good for you, jerk.

 

As we were bickering, a suggestive sound came from the TV speakers. Kim Juyoung’s and my eyes simultaneously turned to the monitor.

 

Of all times, the 100-inch TV was showing an intense kissing scene between the female lead lying on the sofa and the male lead who was giving her a lap pillow.

 

My face flushed hot. Without thinking, I grabbed the remote and changed the channel. Seeing my reaction, Kim Juyoung, who had been glaring at me with a serious expression until just now, started howling with laughter, holding his stomach.

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Because you’re cute.”

 

Kim Juyoung said, wiping away the tears that had formed with the back of his hand. I didn’t think there was anything in my actions that was funny enough to make him cry from laughter.

 

“Oh, you’re seriously so cute. Aww, did our honey get surprised by the sexy scene? Is that why you changed the channel right away?”

 

“I wasn’t surprised. I just changed it because it was boring.”

 

I replied curtly.

 

“Then why is your face red?”

 

At Kim Juyoung’s words, I hurriedly covered my face with the back of my hand. Seeing this, Kim Juyoung laughed so hard he was practically convulsing. I lowered my hand and abruptly stood up from my seat. This caused Kim Juyoung, who had been lying with his head on my lap, to roll off and fall onto the rug on the floor.

 

“Hey, just go home.”

 

“Like this?”

 

Kim Juyoung, who had been pushed to get up, spread his arms wide.

 

“I’ll give you some clothes.”

 

“I told you your clothes won’t fit me.”

 

“I’ll give you my dad’s clothes. My dad wears XXL.”

 

Kim Juyoung laughed with a “huh” as if he couldn’t believe it. Then suddenly, with his characteristic eye-smile, he thrust his handsome face right in front of mine again. I instinctively backed away.

 

“Suspicious.”

 

“What is?”

 

“The reason you suddenly want me to leave is because that kiss scene made you hor-”

 

“Stop talking nonsense!”

 

I hurriedly covered Kim Juyoung’s mouth with my hand.

 

Is this how Choi Jeha felt when I was being forceful?

 

No. This guy seems a bit more shameless than me. At least I was somewhat mindful of Choi Jeha, but Kim Juyoung’s slickness knew no bounds.

 

Just as I was reflecting that I should refrain from being so forceful with Choi Jeha in the future, I felt something wet touch my palm. It was because Kim Juyoung had stuck out his tongue and poked my palm with the tip.

 

“Ah, seriously. Are you crazy, Kim Juyoung?”

 

I rolled my eyes and quickly removed my hand from his mouth. My neck felt hot from the shock.

 

“Wow, honey, what’s this? Why are your reactions so entertaining now?”

 

Kim Juyoung said with an expression of admiration.

 

He said that normally I would just stay still when he joked around, but since coming back from the hospital, I’d become cute. He approached and pinched my cheek hard.

 

‘Why is this guy so natural with skinship?’

 

If he had been joking around with Cha Eunseong like this all the time, Cha Eunseong might have misunderstood and thought Kim Juyoung had feelings for him. That’s what I thought.

 

Kim Juyoung’s actions were that prone to misinterpretation. I had reasonable suspicions that Choi Jeha might have developed feelings for Kim Juyoung in the same way.

 

Just as I was removing Kim Juyoung’s hand that was pinching my cheek…

 

Ding-ding-diriree-

 

The notification sound for the end of the drying cycle rang out.

 

“I’ll bring you clothes, so put them on and go to academy.”

 

I pushed Kim Juyoung away and headed to the laundry room. As I did, I rubbed my neck, which had grown hot from the unfamiliar teasing.

 

Even on the way to academy, I felt guilty and kept glancing at Kim Juyoung’s discolored shirt. Despite pouring in detergent, the coffee stains hadn’t completely disappeared.

 

Although Kim Juyoung told me not to worry about it, how could I not be concerned when a perfectly good shirt had been ruined because of me?

 

I hung my head like a guilty person.

 

“I’ll buy a uniform on Monday and wait for you in front of the school gate. I’m really sorry.”

 

“The shirt is really fine. Don’t worry about it. And I have extras at home.”

 

Kim Juyoung smiled brightly and was about to pat my shoulder but hesitated. He must have been concerned about my injured shoulder.

 

“Call me when your academy ends. I’ll walk you to the study cafe.”

 

The study cafe was just an excuse to visit the jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) where Choi Jeha worked. So I told him I didn’t know when my last class would end, and that I wasn’t a child who needed to be walked home, saying I’d go by myself.

 

“Honey.”

 

Kim Juyoung, who usually spoke with a playful voice, unexpectedly lowered his tone.

 

“What?”

 

“By any chance…”

 

Kim Juyoung leaned his upper body slightly forward and looked straight into my eyes.

 

“Did you get a girlfriend?”

 

This guy is talking nonsense again.

 

“Are you making fun of me?”

 

“You didn’t?”

 

“As if! If I had one, I’d really like to see where she’s living and breathing, and if she even exists in the same era as me.”

 

Kim Juyoung said if I wanted a boyfriend, he was right here, making a flower-cup gesture with his hands under his chin.

 

As I was about to leave, Kim Juyoung grabbed my wrist. When I turned my head, he poked my cheek with his finger.

 

“Why are you like this?”

 

I looked at Kim Juyoung with annoyed eyes, then quickly turned away saying I’d be late for English class.

 

“Honey.”

 

“Falling for the same trick again, idiot.”

 

It might have happened to Cha Eunseong before, but it was my first time experiencing this.

 

With an incredulous face, I asked what he was doing with such childish behavior, and Kim Juyoung smiled and released my wrist. Then he told me to keep some time free tomorrow before running off to the building with academies on the opposite side. Wondering why he was so frivolous, I ran at full speed toward my academy, afraid I might miss my English class too.

 

As soon as the academy ended, I headed to the jjimjilbang where Choi Jeha worked.

 

As expected, the counter owner looked me up and down in my school uniform.

 

‘I have my mom’s consent form that can block any external intervention!’

 

I confidently presented the consent form from my bag to the suspicious eyes. After calling the number on the form, the owner came back and handed me a locker key and clothes.

 

I grabbed them and rushed inside, heading straight to the restaurant where Choi Jeha worked. Since it was late-night snack time, the restaurant was packed with customers.

 

“Hey, good thing I came.”

 

Choi Jeha was busy working alone, running back and forth across the hall. I had planned to wash up first, but I came directly because I was hungry and thought Choi Jeha would be starving too. I was right. Seeing how overwhelmed he looked, I thought this was a perfect opportunity to earn points by helping with the hall service.

 

I rolled up my sleeves and approached him as he was clearing a table.

 

“……”

 

But something seemed off.

 

Usually, with his good instincts, he would have noticed me before I got close and given me a sharp look, but today he didn’t sense my presence until I walked right behind him and stopped.

 

‘What’s going on?’

 

Wondering, I tapped the back of Choi Jeha, who was bent over cleaning a low table due to his height.

 

“Busy? Let me help you clean…”

 

Choi Jeha turned his head heavily.

 

His complexion looked terrible. He was pale as if anemic, looking so unsteady he might collapse at any moment.

 

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

 

“Move. I don’t have the energy to argue with you…”

 

Choi Jeha staggered as he straightened his back while holding a bowl on a tray.

 

I couldn’t just stand by watching him like that, so I forcibly took the tray from his hands and placed it on an empty table. Then I pushed his bothersome bangs aside and pressed my palm against his forehead.

 

The fever was serious. Beyond the fever, my palm became completely damp from the sweat pooling on his skin.

 

“You have a really high fever. And you’re sweating excessively.”

 

“Please, just go today…”

 

Struggling to speak, Choi Jeha bit his lower lip hard.

 

Thinking this could become dangerous, I grabbed his wrist despite his protests and dragged him to a corner where the hall wasn’t visible.