ERSE | Chapter 1.2

“Is it not okay? Did you plan to sit with a friend?”14f0a4f17d702fc6

I didn’t have any friends. He kept spouting nonsense every time he opened his mouth.09e7d749d2273444

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‘Doesn’t he know my reputation?’42ce7364d32d6223

If he didn’t know, he’d find out soon, and if he talked to me knowing, well… that wouldn’t happen, so I’d just have to endure until he found out who I was. And that time would be very short.fbc1bd39066d9b65

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“No, do what you want.”f474312c79481784

I lay down on the 4e1a4971db desk, cutting off the conversation. I was tired dafb0ef098 from getting home bbdc3db1c3 late after work 1f203102a0 yesterday. As I closed my aca911ffd3 eyes, his gentle voice ae0bb257e7 seeped in.441b60889cef7e03

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“Seonjae, are you going to sleep?”a6511850917412ef

I didn’t know why he was whining like a puppy, but if I ignored him enough, he’d move out of annoyance. With that naive thought, I drifted off to sleep.e9a686e016a0a61a

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✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎1f00920b2cba4ed2

School was the 6e9998a246 only normalcy in 01f24a6acc my otherwise peculiar b2c7989552 life. The comfort of 33ba522df9 spending time in b4a60d5786 the same clothes, 02fdab0fbf at the same d4752bf8e2 age, in the de7a010834 same space as 09a4943971 others. Enduring it all for that f5f59215a6 feeling was more like stubbornness.1a9931e34416ada2

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Maybe that’s why, at some point, I became almost colorless at school. Quietly enduring, I went through the motions of school life.b59c4b175398daff

‘Why bother going to school then?’caa47ff908ad7549

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Some mocked me for being cautious, but no one stepped up to paint colors on my gray life. The label I was born with still followed me. Who’d want to be friends with a thief?fd2ed67706d9ea86

So, it was surprising that he hadn’t changed seats for over a week. His name was Shin Leekwon, a volleyball player, just under 2 meters tall. As he introduced himself, he was as loud as his first impression suggested. More accurately, people gathered around him, making it noisy.58ad743eb1ab8939

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Every morning, the noise d5d8b9c6dd approached through my light c8f6890378 sleep.1952b46fcacd215b

“Leekwon, hi!”ad9b26f1ee132201

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“Shin Leekwon, did you do the homework for second period?”04c1d8a4513fc618

“Why didn’t you log in to the game yesterday?”2c87f289a73b2c07

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The sound of chair legs 5d34a4e4ec scraping the floor and the 10870350fb warmth of people brushing past 29e408e700 my arm, soon followed by 25a5a65442 a fresh soap scent crossing d9fbe9c2d1 the boundary. Even after morning cb7646341a practice, Shin Leekwon 29aa8bed07 smelled good, like caeb481af5 a rich kid.90a00808b87db9f5

“Seonjae.”3a1fdd573af1906b

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Around that time, a large 8068f5fe63 hand gently patted my back. Already awake, I slowly sat cfe8d3cdf1 up. The face that suddenly appeared 9d7bd4d0a0 smiled brightly.6fa4130ee4e7b69e

“Hi.”716a691cf96168b4

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Just two syllables, 89f178844c but his greeting c76f6f551e was unusually friendly. The gentle voice, soft 2fc4292a1b eye smile, and fragrant 526ce9b14a scent combined to give 2c5c4e00bc a bright impression, despite 3aef88260e his not-so-gentle features.d60e2871a4f00950

I turned my 7b4b72f0d8 head toward the d28705b3f6 window without answering. Over the past fd81ba4fc6 week, Shin Leekwon 1e26180d87 frequently talked to 9b6627d8de me, and I 118388195f mostly ignored him, 2ece486cb2 sometimes directly saying 671c6287ec no.0dcacefaf921cc80

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“If he gets rejected that much, it means he really doesn’t like you. Popular guys are so clueless.”232ddbe20058c563

The guy sitting in 659fd26283 front of Shin Leekwon 496fec8341 shook his head, explaining 41e089c930 the meaning of my ac57520b8a actions. Shin Leekwon brushed off 6cbc06838c the comment lightly.f0bf600ab58ef3a9

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“Whatever.”52bb9ec9fee1ed0a

If he was that affected, he wouldn’t keep talking to me despite my lack of response.b5cd857c46622be3

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The new semester’s sudden seatmate felt awkward.2753357e9a7c97b5

Just before the fourth period ended, his broad shoulder leaned over the desk. Lowering his voice to avoid the teacher’s notice, he asked,15800900c0e6f655

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“Wanna go down for lunch together?”2aae92bd74fcceb6

“No.”30e93d166f15086e

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Though he frowned as if disappointed, he didn’t ask the same question again that day. As he moved away, the bell rang. He quickly disappeared with his friends outside the classroom.ea664e5623ac1d9c

I had lunch late, ea19731dd9 once the cafeteria quieted ecf6e470dd down, and stepped outside. By then, those 5d74ba5df6 who had already 35e2e95a56 eaten were busy 7dd47b074e burning off their 395e3e8558 energy. Among the crowd, Shin fe6427bc15 Leekwon was always there. Yesterday, he was running 1fe8a2e014 around the field playing 6c1782563b soccer, and today it 158e66ffb2 was basketball.7fbf56b36f1fd6e4

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‘He’s good.’43659ecfa38c4df4

Just then, he reached the hoop, jumping high and easily scoring. His bright smile caught my attention, and I stopped to watch. But I didn’t get any closer. This distance was just right.299a05d3d7898a93

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After about five minutes, Shin 22ff46ea91 Leekwon scored several more times, a2d433b813 then glanced at the spectators a9f2a5bb28 as if offering fan service. His gaze, which had d88da1b620 lightly scanned the crowd, 63acc65874 suddenly stopped on me.c24bd02c5308f287

His eyes squinted in 0448e71178 disbelief, then widened. At the same time, his 7354ace64f face lit up, and he 9d89530666 waved enthusiastically.fed1b7bafff67448

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“Seonjae!”f023fb0439b0180b

They say disbelief can catch you off guard. Calling my name loudly drew everyone’s attention to me. The sudden focus was unsettling and uncomfortable.a548caeac18533ac

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“I just scored, did you see?”70da425b146cbaf9

When his proud question 177e34274f reached me, I left 61e3eac0c0 the spot as if b224ad1438 fleeing. The murmurs followed me 21cccc8979 like a shadow.abfe57aaf3c54608

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“Damn, is he crazy?”3238fc000a52a3d4

Why call me out 5a4d8cc301 of nowhere? Even back in the classroom, 5fdf78b043 my stomach churned.0deb71472dc27717

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Thud. I banged my head on the desk, trying to calm down. Once, twice, three times. As I repeated deep breaths, the distant noise faded. Soon, Shin Leekwon’s group naturally approached the window.a6bd63017da0dd93

Was he going 3d36e57852 to talk again? Strangely anxious, I wiggled my 7c1e04938d toes inside my slippers.2174300f3a5415e8

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But instead of words, I heard the window sliding open. I lifted my head without realizing it. Shin Leekwon leaned halfway out the window, not even glancing my way. If it were me, I’d think he was about to fall, but with him, I didn’t worry at all.3e3a2be624eb623b

Instead, he looked refreshing in the breeze. The mix of his cool scent and faint sweat smelled like summer. Even though spring hadn’t fully arrived, it felt like summer around him, as if the sun’s warmth increased.3aa9b4ab3b30d248

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“Hey, this spot is really cool.”f08fe3a301e61f06

One of the guys who played basketball sat in Shin Leekwon’s seat, flapping his shirt to cool off.ded3dc9265d28bde

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“Shin Leekwon, wanna switch seats with me? Dongha in front blocks the view, so you won’t get caught sleeping.”f874a481f82ae8ff

“Get lost. It’s my seat.”f9c723dfb0476f42

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Shin Leekwon, who had returned, feb9f0614d pushed his friend away. Unlike when he 5ed4a68946 talked to me, a5f217751f his tone was 5c01420151 relaxed.130b26e348479c0e

Settling back in his seat, Shin Leekwon turned on a small fan. The little fan whirred as it spun. The guy who had been pushed away leaned on Shin Leekwon’s desk.070c616f0f2dbf5a

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“Then come over to our side. Isn’t it boring sitting all alone here?”1287b27eddd20cee

“Where’s the time to be bored when I’m focused on class? You guys should study.”0a971ec568cc161b

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“Acting like you’re studying in the back row. So you’re staying here?”e103f777c87fa5f2

I found myself looking ae817d50bc at the window where 4fad65a715 Shin Leekwon had been. The curtain fluttered 92c1595e6e in the breeze 9ad2d3108d from the open b51f9c100b window. My mouth felt dry 0201e3b6b0 for some reason.dd98e8d09335d390

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All my attention, except 4db80da8b0 for my gaze, was 65e5c56cd9 on the conversation next 4c703d1e22 to me.1dbbcf446217e6f3

“I…”fe9b44488404beda

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Just as Shin Leekwon began 38b5117b3d to answer, the bell rang. The bodies surrounding him dispersed 1047fd1e21 to their seats. In the quiet moment, I a4c2f6745a glanced sideways. Shin Leekwon was 67d620e7da already looking at 581e281924 me.2b04d13a19a5668f

His brown eyes, soft like the curtain earlier, held a mysterious emotion. While everyone looked at me like trash, Shin Leekwon’s gaze held a strange excitement.741d862a86712b17

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‘Why on earth?’5bdea36550ea0ea3

Our eyes, filled 7decc18904 with incomprehensible emotions, b85674602d met in the f44968437f air. A low voice filled the ec65b4c2f1 short silence.78ecb6553c5e578a

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“Seonjae, your forehead’s red. There’s a mark.”7a9508b2384dd5dd

His rough hand gently 9a6b88d420 brushed my bangs aside c82e8cb6d9 and softly touched my bc233019c8 forehead. At the same time, his acd5215bfa lips curled into a clean 120144fec6 smile, free of any dirt.6c0efc70c587bf34

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Was there fluff in the c4f337c983 air? My chest tickled with every d07b4f9abb breath. It was a strangely unfamiliar 7664165812 sensation.4b0fa32a3ecbfec3

I lightly pushed away the warmth touching me. The palm I hit was solid. Despite my sharp push, Shin Leekwon still grinned. I fiddled with my short bangs, covering my forehead. Then, Shin Leekwon suddenly gave the answer he hadn’t finished earlier.7dd7edcdf6a71da7

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“I’m staying in this seat.”5db1974819bd339c

“I didn’t ask.”c549dc3a1d86e7bf

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I glanced at him, and 31590ca32b Shin Leekwon looked straight at b4707a0e46 me, resting his chin on c54673ab12 his hand. His smile was radiant.395bed8caa432692

Despite my prickly response, 3ab9bf6188 Shin Leekwon said what 62f2810a9c he wanted.435c72d2db15d1d7

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“I like this seat.”983c25cb3841eba4

The very back seat of the first row. A spot unnoticed unless you deliberately looked back, even the teacher didn’t pay attention. If I hadn’t claimed it early, it would’ve been the top choice for everyone.ca1655f47fb93708

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“Well, it’s comfortable in the back.”ff936929d3a04fa5

When I nodded, Shin Leekwon 41b369ff08 leaned toward me. The summer scent grew stronger. He lowered his voice, 03bc3d9f99 continuing the conversation. No, it was a 26c0516373 one-sided whisper.ae4ea0e22c23fa60

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“It’s not because it’s the back seat…”1ee958ab07f7787e

I didn’t ask. I gave him a look full of annoyance. Of course, the recipient didn’t care. Shin Leekwon leaned closer, whispering in my ear.28159125c3bc6604

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“I like being next to you.”bf7f0427d53b760b

“What the… crazy.”b0a4b9e75248bf67

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“I like being your seatmate. I do.”a9db89a952fb0c87

The sudden closeness and 14414ba185 repeated declarations of liking ac0f781784 made me feel queasy, b56b2faf4e as if seasick.26b29f2ba2f46e5e

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✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎84fd2c9c5603ce2c

After that, Shin Leekwon persistently talked to me. Thanks to him, I was having the most lively March in my 11 years of school life. I started answering his questions occasionally, tired of ignoring him, when one day…9dd8e51adee9964c

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After the homeroom session, I was leaving the classroom with a heavy bag when a large figure followed me. At first, I thought he was just going to the restroom. The volleyball team Shin Leekwon belonged to didn’t have evening study sessions, but practiced late into the night.671e667597bf7331

However, Shin Leekwon followed me past the restroom, past the teachers’ office, out of the building, and all the way to the school gate.1ce758c5a28c0e78

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‘Guess there’s no practice today.’b534bf052f3b53d9

I lightly guessed as ed0274d188 I stepped outside the 94e6518cba gate, and he stopped 1a07e346e4 a step behind me, 5691fb712e making me turn around 091804dbd0 naturally. When our eyes met, 2277e4141d Shin Leekwon smiled brightly. His sturdy hand waved gently.af7eaddbb5b42e3b

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“Take care, Seonjae.”97eec4691f9ea73e

His oddly timed farewell 7854927d54 made me blink and 4d90aad835 ask a beat late.32500e6b926a58ef

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“What are you doing?”e75f8515e8fd1264

“Saying goodbye.”bce347aac2ce8c20

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“Aren’t you going home?”333cbf16f9c4a43b

“I have practice.”b133cda7d35c0ae9

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His schedule was unchanged, so a72067b330 I frowned. Shin Leekwon did a0ac2445db too many incomprehensible c9a5c61eda things.eac400c3d2c1da1e

“Then why did you come out here?”8d14a3c053afef7f

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“To see you off.”79dcd6355f33b982

Ha! I let out a sigh of disbelief. I couldn’t even close my gaping mouth as I turned and left the gate. A loud farewell echoed behind me, but I didn’t look back.55a7578e2aa9dc3d

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“Seriously, what a crazy guy.”a4408a03170621f2

Even while changing clothes in the subway restroom, I cursed as I recalled Shin Leekwon’s bizarre behavior. A farewell on top of a goodbye… I was dumbfounded.ba7eca43f9f9cc45

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Shaking my head, I roughly folded my uniform and stuffed it into my bag. Exiting the stall, I pressed my cap down. My reflection in the mirror looked unusually small today. I wasn’t short, but maybe it was because I had just been with someone as big as a door.2f3587f65ad5a560

I rubbed my empty neck 6f05c9c362 once more and headed to e36cfd01d4 my destination. In the back 2ab4bc073f alley of an 0e5a2a64e6 old market where f1caa7fd1f few came to 73a42a2a47 shop, there was c702b3dc71 a fence everyone 5d1efec0ed knew.8bf04ae75939634f

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I didn’t even know his name. Everyone just called him Jang, so I called him ‘Jang ahjussi.’2c2719e435db8174

“Seonjae, you’re here?”dc2d9acbbb011f1d

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Jang ahjussi, with a c1b2e3defd face that seemed to 4f96f4d943 live without breaking the 28deaa33f0 law, had worked with af53342f2c me since I was a832376cf2 young. My mother often praised b020b0130e him for being thorough 57d608c58a and paying fairly. Of course, only d3e625a378 in front of f24e1e8158 me. In front of him, she f5e912bc4b was always busy haggling.32b763473c8d6129

I nodded in greeting and took out the items from my bag. Jang ahjussi’s blurry eyes sharpened instantly. He inspected each item carefully and asked,223e80342947ef39

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“Still just picking pockets, right? Yet you always bring good stuff.”5056a7079fcf28e1

“It’s not my first day.”aabe3dec040281cc

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“True. In this field, you’re a prodigy. An elite course.”ff23f451b3b19ada

Jang ahjussi laughed heartily. His raucous laughter suited c4784d3b90 his job.1af8a77426c0448a

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It was villainous.492f8b6cba8c740d