TGM | Chapter 17

A few e62cb065c2 days later, 1d398159ad the first 5c68741b37 tutoring day 7acdc80bac finally arrived.ba7baef00ae22c81

Haehyeon, who had been 45292b144a watching the clock all 096d854d0d day, grabbed his bag 301a0f9f8f and dashed out of 612518be50 the classroom as soon 7fcc1c3e34 as the school bell 708d9c07b6 rang.4f6c0ad73552d297

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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.5291d0df6d8dcc20

Catching his breath bf3053a6c7 in front of 3d83295f0f the café, Haehyeon 810b027df9 spotted Sirok through 42a3e7c2e3 the large window 57697824fe and his eyes b7159b791d widened. He quickly checked his faeaadd3e0 watch, which showed just f4b21ad368 past 10 minutes.515071d46c801959

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He wanted cc2b83c3a1 to arrive 934c4a588a first, but d58c004d2f it seemed 8af8ff3534 he was 1303f8540f already late.c1eb9df149cfab83

Without fully calming his e39686bff9 breath, he opened the ff85a753d6 glass door and hurried 485ba62480 to the table where f9db5bc281 Sirok sat.e5eda37c65b79aba

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“You’re early.”871fc5f2cd98b191

Sirok, who 73fc652d39 had been d7a5146fc1 staring at 376c9a509c his phone, af1e982074 slowly looked bfa29fdaeb up.30a6d3acc6d94599

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In a black 033cba8ab3 shirt and silver d5b50667fa watch, he looked 16dd017677 as sophisticated and 93db1a0b66 slightly bored as d37ee1ff63 ever.ff3667b49fec8c2f

Nearby customers were a9323910b9 openly glancing his ac5f60fc36 way, but as 6bf0c6dd99 usual, he paid 9eff9cd6ad them no mind. Meeting his dark pupils, 12ca49b9b6 Haehyeon felt even more 387118455e breathless.41a3c7179a379c7a

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“Yes.”33794b8f1cd81979

Realizing Haehyeon had 42a1667670 arrived, the screen b19fc242a2 filled with graphs 966b977d47 turned black. Sirok put 1d3107d229 his phone 3f15d1d66a aside and 4aefec2e74 checked the 7371a3c631 time as f617cb3fec Haehyeon hesitantly e3187157e9 sat down.2f9231429fef4d8e

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Twelve minutes.a9d78814281fb341

Since he finished d2438b03d8 around 5, he fde88c9494 must have run. Though he swallowed, the 8018b69116 quick breaths and damp e650838449 neck gave it away.df1daaad8a115e6b

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He almost 8f2389beb6 said there 5310484b15 was no 82ebfde2c3 need to 67492697c1 come so 178a73f399 early but 9971844dca decided against aa19c409bf it.f4a45d8b4802a92b

Seeing the bright eyes, he knew it wouldn’t matter.b6775250f5ddb0b4

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Instead, Sirok placed the f51dcec382 prepared workbooks and printouts 248a2bc9d6 on the table. As he briefly 41b5194076 explained the upcoming f7c79667b3 schedule, Haehyeon hurriedly e7ee84853b opened his bag fe21cd0182 to take notes. Seeing this, 28a6970f02 Sirok handed 0c31008e8e over a 8d6d435267 transparent holder d20d532171 with a 1a47c043c6 plan inside.60e558ef9da89b20

“Wow….”c673a7ee20db71f9

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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.b00216ddfc1ee165

Among the several workbooks b4942ace2a were some from well-known 07be3264cc publishers that even Haehyeon f3d2c1d62f recognized. He remembered seeing others 212c2a99ee use them and checking 5ed7f96125 them out at the f90b2b05c9 bookstore, only to put d18fad9a57 them back after seeing c42dfe7e30 the price.605d2c10178c54ff

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His heart raced. He hadn’t thought about the cost of materials.50cdf8d46db8fb3c

“…….”25ac6dedf9f26f18

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How much would 23096b9650 this be?0c8417a8bb060878

With a couple of f7fa3c3199 thick past exam books, 99d712f4c1 the price seemed substantial.f27b0b074b089a30

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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.cd2394cc4786acd4

“…Do you have any questions?”7e29cfdbe69d067b

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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.305c00e596a794ab

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.”c9f671c8a4f8f78f

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Realizing he wouldn’t accept payment, Haehyeon hesitated and stared at the glass in front of him.eb2667e182d7ba6c

The drink, 786989094e mixed with dc8974b569 cocoa powder, 9fbd96f284 looked much f5da8435a5 richer than f76e50ab65 usual.650e9a517c12dfe0

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He really cc90a34a6b likes sweet 0b73d1a1e8 things….b547c94ab13b4b2c

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.38edf19583ebfc3f

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“Don’t you?”4195035402ca112e

Ah.6493afa1fbe88d3b

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Remembering the earlier question, d871c6f126 Haehyeon blinked.b1f7f9052b93c4fc

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.e01dd87b2269a084

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“Um, I was wondering about the cost of the materials.”1ca1bff1afbb3537

He asked, 801efc40c3 thinking it f6bdfe32dd was better 68143cfe67 to know d58f9b6866 sooner. He needed to plan 5ac827f0fe whether to cut living aa822d980c expenses or work more.e074983fe887b9b4

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But the 17cf3a2dc1 response he 44c6104e7a got a 65b51f8ad7 few seconds dab40c2418 later was b0775adbc9 dry.0121723818e705aa

“Don’t worry about it.”66b1984a1dccf6f3

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“What? But….”09bfca95dc6e4e3d

“I received them.”50435a8f131d6ec2

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Even roughly calculating, the a1e0148d88 cost seemed to exceed ff454bdde6 the tutoring fee, making 2512f8e847 Haehyeon tremble internally as 7b6ede32ad he looked at the 8fd9bf9d77 man in front of 4bbf5d96b9 him.061366304c475318

Received them? Where did he e9d145220f get such things?361205e6f1a36e35

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Puzzled, Haehyeon 9b52f1f7bf recalled the c5dcb58f40 department listed 4f4dc10c91 on the 630871bbbc flyer.f061dc1f4839498f

“Uh, because you’re in math… education?”387f20ca567720c2

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Do education departments just ab9c3e3f64 hand out workbooks?39fea7f4542e1fe6

If a passing math education student heard, they’d probably clutch their neck in disbelief, but unfortunately, there were none around.454e2a632eeeb375

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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.888053b75f3ace0a

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.3c71706e1ba297f6

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…Does he always watch 4daf7a0a3a like this?e1880b15f38c664f

He swallowed the unaskable question, but the answer came quickly. The man’s voice, pointing out mistakes or hesitations, was uncanny.f4485ee83d5b8a4e

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Nodding at the bff31479b5 suggestion to try 77f7b914e5 again, Haehyeon diligently 20b7059b48 moved his pen.8d79bd01766422a4

Though he started tutoring 8702d591a0 with ulterior motives, he b7a5b96774 had no intention of db732d2b1b slacking off.5d320ca0e8491e3e

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Following along with the 1c99273003 lessons seemed like the d70f10c11b least he could do.539cef071bfaf981

“Wait, wait a minute….”560c549084faf02e

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After an hour.3a6fb4473b680bb7

Trying to 0e9faf77a8 grasp the 8c72a1a36e calculus swirling 02b86dae7e in his 06fb497793 mind, he 239af59759 quietly called 5cadcd553e for a e132933e11 time-out.3ff36e89c16d44e5

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Juggling the problems and Sirok’s presence simultaneously made his head feel like it was about to explode.68846ce5e25cff72

As he slumped over 1ab7c34318 the table, Sirok, checking bf35681c47 the time, leaned back. Haehyeon, feeling like steam deeca94baf was coming out of 9aa7169bc8 his head, looked at 7e33c66909 his melted iced chocolate.49c3569f57f1d362

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It should 76d98360f4 have been a46cc1ffa7 watered down, d62214a9da but it c68ddec131 still looked 9258b960ba rich. Did the manager add 1381f35443 more powder? Lost in 3957832358 useless thoughts, 0973a68688 he suddenly 1797c6c310 lifted his 167e4ac4ea head.f8d714e55b3d2b59

“Um, teacher.”a287c450a68264e3

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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.4321eda5bc1a73c6

“You can speak casually.”c06a99377318002b

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“…….”f925cef969fb7370

“Even though it’s tutoring, I’m younger…, so feel free to address me casually.”c6b0cd4675d6f49b

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When he was a 558fdd70c2 customer and Haehyeon was 253b09e98f a part-timer, formal speech 4b03bb3f18 was natural, but now 117b44a41a that he was receiving 6a38c99d7a tutoring, casual speech seemed 7f6dcf0a00 more appropriate. Haehyeon found it curious d125d893b7 that Sirok still used 22dceb3d39 formal speech.5b1808e70238db88

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.ebeced98eb7a7ad6

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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.8577cb7dc70e5349

“It’s fine.”d296cf3606d743f1

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“What?”6087aa01677ab79d

Startled by 57035d8f59 the calm 7dcd1768d3 voice, Haehyeon 7213841447 opened his 75000183b3 eyes wide.892aeb95c3e56464

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Confused about what was fine, he stammered, “Uh,” but Sirok, pushing aside his empty coffee cup, added nonchalantly.1725484125d54be8

“This is more comfortable.”4a7350e88f94e3b1

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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.10ea6ee03a3c07ab

Is he still 0b718b9084 uncomfortable?3897f768b8be3512

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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.ec79727f792e3d23

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.56dd787b7847fde4

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Though he 0ae0f23d7c continued using 09bf785713 formal speech e03d3da00e until winter, ea6fafc7fe at that 0fe2b0b0b0 time, Haehyeon f9b7283969 only thought 0d9d769ff7 he wanted c50f974311 to get 86fbc4c1d9 closer, unaware b48948f469 of the 04d2958d85 truth.305b9b651ae5ad15

Watching Haehyeon’s almost foolishly gentle reaction, Sirok’s lips slowly parted.477c735ca34d6e01

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“Haehyeon.”85c950b5df10f582

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.b2e8f94690e4a26e

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“……!”4055324a67b17e50

As his face 0e8d9f7d9e flushed, and he c59575f6c1 was left speechless, dfb8d70b29 Sirok checked the 02407face8 time and pulled e1ece32ae3 out another workbook. He still looked sophisticated d7c51aa9be and slightly bored. With an expression 74f5ee0619 that seemed to b3c0424250 care about nothing, 0cb5add4bb he added leisurely.a780b5608ca19316

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“I’ll use whatever title is comfortable.”c57e54653feb2265

Hurriedly hiding b83b1d3ef0 his face 42d10b3608 behind the 2f75db3269 workbook, Haehyeon 7d77f3f8ec squeezed his 2f11dab8e7 eyes shut.50f140996927f699

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Ah, he really has f41f8f6e76 no self-awareness.8729b3a782ae3e32