OTC Chapter 1

“Ready!”

With the start signal, Lee Jaeheon grabbed her hand and started filling in the answers. Cheers erupted, and the students’ laughter filled the gaps. But Eunkyo couldn’t think of anything else. 

The feeling of his cheek against hers, the moisture of his hand covering hers, and the warmth of the man’s body conveyed through her back made her heart pound as if it would burst.

“Oh!”

Jihoon shouted, seeing the marker go way off course.

“Oh, oh, oh! It’s a fail!”

Her mind snapping back to the present at his cry, she lowered her gaze and saw a red line drawn straight in the wrong direction, not towards the exit at the end of the maze.

Wondering how this happened, she turned her head and saw the tips of Lee Jaeheon’s ears, cheeks, and neck flushed as if they were on fire as he covered his face with one hand.

“Sunbae.“

He whispered quietly, just loud enough for her to hear. In the midst of the distracted gazes of the students laughing and chattering, delighted at Lee Jaeheon’s failure…

“You know I’m a crazy bastard, right?”

“…What?”

“Fuck, why is my heart racing like this?”

“Huh?”

“I want to kiss you right now.”

When Lee Jaeheon sets his mind to something, he does it.

Eunkyo was startled and pushed his face away. At that, he was pushed back, gritted his teeth, then smiled faintly. Sensing the strange atmosphere, he waved goodbye to the children, then took her hand and started walking.

This time, she couldn’t help but follow.

Strong sunlight peeking through the branches overhead created a net-like pattern of shadows. With every step she took, as if being led by him, curious gazes gathered and dispersed repeatedly.

“Where are we going? Look, people are watching. Let go of my hand.”

“The condoms are supposed to arrive this week.”

Ah.

Her steps became slow and sluggish, and her face flushed red with heat.

On a day when summer wailed and cried, I met that person.