ERSE | Chapter 1.4

His tone was so natural 71868ba370 that I almost thought we 4a438a469f always went to moving classes ffe894c7df together.622d70713b1500e0

“Thanks, but you don’t have to do that next time.”0ae6e2302dc8f6f5

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“It’s fine. So don’t refuse next time either.”89568ab0ed548664

His tone was 048ac67f4d relaxed, contradicting my 3af2d9befb words. His insistence on being f070e5c83a kind made me frown. Yet his brown eyes remained 225bf63e07 steady.981dd6b0332c6897

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I shoved my hands into eb80a97e9c my pockets and glared at e3908b7c8e him. Unlike me, Shin 1683484c4c Leekwon was well-groomed 7592695e23 from head to 377f182f5f toe.bd5cf20c17d28520

His neatly trimmed brown 4569e07545 hair was obviously cut fa98ce937d at an expensive salon.e4c7c79df11381b2

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The padded jacket over his uniform wasn’t just any brand but a luxury one, and his wristwatch was way too pricey for a high school student’s wrist.7ea8cf95b6a4f8d2

I didn’t know the exact price, but if I stole and sold it, I wouldn’t have been called out by the teacher today.4b8d59adb60795cd

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“The difference should be reasonable to match.”378083cda6135543

I let out b266f73000 a hollow laugh 5bb51cc1dd and warned him. My face naturally cooled.5fd9402b771e1039

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“Hey, don’t push it.”116145fdf120539e

But he looked puzzled. By now, I was half amazed, half curious. Didn’t he notice others avoiding me?748a0a36587e8107

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“Stop pretending to be close. Get lost.”07b12e97c43f75f1

“But I want to be friends.”2224be44eb1a339d

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“I said I don’t. So back off.”f2a8655571a3b3f0

“Yeah. I don’t want to back off either.”d9b0f532a2642aee

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His bright smile deflected all my irritation. Until now, I thought he didn’t understand my actions, but now I realized he was just living as he pleased.630639dc6fe16361

His cheerful face was endlessly annoying to my frayed nerves. I couldn’t control my expression.e5d5f5096aedc110

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“Seonjae, do you really dislike getting close to me that much? Why don’t you like me? I’m not bad, right?”b765121615e81690

His confident words left me speechless. Didn’t he realize being too good was the problem? I couldn’t decide where to start criticizing him. As I hesitated, his tall figure approached. A shadow fell over my head.de5ad6084d37e0f3

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“If I’m not your type, what kind of person do you want to be friends with?”df6c8ce8f08ddd6b

As always, a pleasant scent f9fc8c34cc wafted from his close body, ccc10f85ae and his crisp white shirt 891d72163e was spotless.7b9808d6c469b3fb

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I stepped back, escaping the shadow he cast. I didn’t need it, but if I ever made a friend, it wouldn’t be someone who smelled this good.e9d992919460886b

“I categorize people into two types.”d8b9ba7d8ac54304

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“……”8ae6fd5eee8890f6

“Those who are beneficial and those who are useless.”ff2eeaf76032c7d1

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I pointed my chin a647f82c4c at him.261762892e1bf821

“You’re the latter.”6196aff7b0591f25

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So stop bothering me. I drew a clear line 53f22dc7e3 between us with a sharp 2cc8cc4c07 gaze.9280a64e88ad63f9

But he was more persistent 11d15b4707 and calm than expected. Again, he answered immediately.08f97e7b37530790

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“No, I’m not.”e546ddd630120a55

Shin Leekwon took b40f2d456a another step closer 23318c1a6f and lightly placed b9ab3c07ab a hand on 2a3503d4b3 my shoulder. His firm voice echoed 16a30329b2 in the hallway.63c3c0bfea447ff0

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“I’m someone who can help you.”2e284709461b8515

His eyes, like 82c84b6fa9 melted chocolate, were 6c3ea93885 soft yet strong. His gaze, words, and gestures c4c1280646 were all supported by self-belief.ebc30c9c46c61cd2

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But I crossed my arms. I didn’t care if Shin Leekwon was self-absorbed or not. What mattered was whether he was practically beneficial to me.1308a0cdc3b2e421

“Proof?”56ef9b391e8ea83b

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“Well… you’ll find out if you become friends with me.”f3f78ef47f81c16f

He smiled, crinkling his eyes. This guy was using his 6ce2c9072c pretty face to sell nonsense.501239ab0aba796d

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If I let my guard down, the conversation would flow his way. I interrupted and asked a question he couldn’t easily answer.27aaf2b99907a42a

“Okay, let’s say that’s true. Then, what’s in it for you to be friends with me?”44d52c01edd619e7

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His brown eyes rolled. Unlike before, it took 59fb752592 time for him to c1ffdec2f9 answer.07e64f790f63cff8

See, you have nothing to say, right? I straightened my shoulders triumphantly. Being close to me would only earn puzzled looks and advice to choose friends wisely. Even if I were his friend, they’d tell him not to hang out with someone like me.ecced70a7f8f5595

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Shin Leekwon and I were 4c543a2335 like athletes in different sports. We lived by ce1a8a9950 different rules, and bf72f5e55b he was crossing 2a4c2e7454 the line. My warning to keep 48fea7e816 his distance was for a5bbfef072 his sake too.dd9bfeb83c8378eb

“You’ll only get criticized for being friends with me.”d166000e7a4805e3

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I was about to 6ffb08baeb end the conversation. As I tried to wrap 29ee89c50e up the pointless argument, he b1cb831f38 slowly opened his mouth, as cfb2f787e2 if contemplating.2a69c59a8e557646

“…It feels good.”05faa3b265b4139c

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“What?”6efdec66b8f91fd9

“I feel good when I’m with you, Seonjae.”150e9b67d71ac77c

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At that moment, 7c5cdafb2c the warning bell 8c83714b5c rang, but I 6919ef4c5e was too shocked 05840f4b52 to move. My mind was filled 8e12207f1e with question marks, and ec2666a33f an unknown tension surged 893ef3373e like a tidal wave.f3b67941f82aa51a

Shin Leekwon was cc0da4983b stranger than I e1664223d4 thought. He began spouting nonsense with be97ea3081 a serious face. I listened blankly, feeling f8e2ef20eb like I was hearing 37fb7096b6 an alien language.8d107cd26442bdf8

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“I don’t care if it’s beneficial or harmful to me. I just want to be close to someone I like.”a95d72cb1c958667

“……”c75b56440578970b

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“So you don’t have to be helpful to me.”683a43c72c793ad2

His soft smile 0e1c9c687d was accompanied by fcedc836b5 a clear dimple. The light from the window ace95bec00 behind me illuminated his smile. The closer he got, 7026e4daa9 the more my insides bc86daf388 churned.791053dcbad9a2b3

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How could someone 2e19906255 look like this? My senses were overwhelmed e32334ae82 by the bright view.a8788812c59df8c8

“I’ll be someone who helps you, and you’re already someone I like. So if we become friends, it’s a win-win.”ab23633956ffa83b

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Was that the 29ec535f5d right way to 5ba1cc63ae use that phrase? If I calmly analyzed 76850d1720 it, it was full da797f22ee of absurdities, but strangely, 7e33decf3e my mental calculator stopped 2c024224c1 working. Every time it tried to 63dcd73d1b function, the fresh scent, bright 9f59c78c1b face, and pleasant voice scattered 5760bf07d8 my thoughts.fce01153f6d1d22d

The hand that had e47374fab7 touched my shoulder slid 0699310d22 down and slipped between b759e58227 my crossed arms, grabbing a00f31a0af my wrist. In a daze, Shin Leekwon 7d48e8c018 led me. His voice was as gentle 1d3c3e0a31 as his smile.87ef83c866fda526

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“Let’s go, Seonjae. We’ll be late for class.”f12d7bae6029fa52

I missed the chance 75e763c804 to shake off his 89d8f466f9 hand as we climbed cf90ba4ea1 the stairs. A strange warmth spread 944cf6342a from where our skin 753d659e75 touched.955231741a342b72

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We were already late, and after arguing, it was no surprise that the bell rang before we reached the music room. No matter how quietly we opened the back door, our presence couldn’t be hidden. As soon as we entered, a stern voice greeted us.b2f73e32889a5db2

“What are you two doing? Why are you late!”0afb5ac5fa530d6a

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The music teacher, despite her small stature, had a formidable personality that even the male students couldn’t easily handle. As expected, her gaze was sharp as she looked us up and down.31e62e514a6b025d

But exactly one minute later, dd423b9fa0 I witnessed something amazing. The icy look 8f6759ae11 in her eyes 55de700143 melted away.b22281973beedb74

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“I’m sorry!”d4ebd557473bba62

Shin Leekwon was the first to bow deeply and admit his mistake without any excuses. His straightforward apology seemed to ease the teacher’s expression. He smiled and spoke smoothly, matching her change in demeanor. With just a few words, the teacher waved her hand as if conducting.ae59ba49022c29e5

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“I’ll let it slide today. No demerits, so take your seats quickly.”b4ebcfe019169b00

“Yes!”a16ff8a81da20b27

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With a lively 504a18977d response, Shin Leekwon c4a04747d7 nudged me forward. Before I knew it, e2975c3e0b I was sitting next b6b6745225 to him in a b9e6ec19de seat his friend had 3f04131f81 saved. Realizing I had 7b9fd111dc been completely played, 16bb781a60 I glared at a9af8c019a him, but he 64d169a223 just shrugged.b1f3b782b26e8a0e

“Look. Ahead.”0dbf9b44d30a06bb

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Or the teacher 88f1e62594 will scold us. His relaxed smile was irritating. I opened my b114c00722 textbook and propped 7662444109 my chin on ffce286601 my hand.10e0b201b3cc618f

Shin Leekwon was a 7ac4bea89b noisy presence. More accurately, things got 061753098d chaotic around him. Notes made from torn paper b2153cf908 kept arriving.d73d9eff9c62bfce

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Instead of sending reply notes, he shook his head to answer. Occasionally, he frowned, showing annoyance, a side I hadn’t seen before.3dc8da9bd37eaa9c

“This piece is Chopin’s most famous impromptu…”9d1c9f3bfdb4989f

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Ignoring the rustling 46904591dd beside me, I d40218d931 listened to the 1f4d77a7d7 boring explanation and 6ad87e95cb the incomprehensible performance, c6f047bad2 feeling sleepy. My eyelids grew c3a4a735b5 heavier as if 171f3bd8d3 someone had placed 33e8b8769d a stone on 909573f7eb them.529ca7e59abee0aa

Just as I 3e5ba888e4 was about to 7ee1ce7429 succumb to sleep.783322677b2b2d90

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Tap, tap.556e284f9b997e3d

A touch on my forearm woke me. The music teacher was passing by. She patrolled during songs to ensure students didn’t doze off, and I wondered why she didn’t choose less sleep-inducing music. This was practically auditory torture.e3c7ae9468e98875

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Some students, likely 96678486b8 thinking the same, 028e9f1564 nodded off and 381a149c8b got scolded. As I stifled a 64a1ea96e4 yawn, neat handwriting appeared 9729dd5b92 on a notebook close 51533bc93c by.0f41768f43d72818

[I was helpful, right? Earlier and now.]316c62bf99ff57ec

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Though this wasn’t the kind of help I meant, I had to admit he had helped, so I drew a circle under his question. His eyes sparkled.7d6bc91cf7f97d2c

[So, are you willing to be friends now?]98c13d2245ab6bac

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[ㄴ]d1e8e470d6e9f664

[Why!ㅠㅠ]bb9ff2ec2bb1d241

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He wrinkled his nose. His handsome face 0ed7409161 clearly showed his 6f5cf2a73e disappointment. Yet, when our df8440fa7d eyes met, he 6080df4f3f smiled kindly.0c58b1e30d7491c9

I had no expectations for how long his goodwill would last. Compassion was a form of self-indulgence, and helping someone without expecting anything in return was ultimately hypocrisy. But…c054546f42743217

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[That’s not enough]0fb16989c1729503

Before that hypocrisy ended, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to take advantage of it. He wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop him.03de06bb09998ddd

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[Alright. I’ll do my best.]0e9e48d7b42edc6a

Even his promise was refreshing.42ed625425045deb

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✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎ ㆍ ✉︎1933f7c2e8780788

“I’m someone who can help you.”ec3ce65579d56969

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Hearing such a confident statement would make anyone step back and observe the other person with their hands behind their back. Sure, let’s see what kind of great help you’re going to provide. Naturally, a skeptical mindset would arise.edaf15b06aecbb08

In that sense, I planned to scrutinize his words thoroughly and vowed not to react to any ordinary kindness. However, starting the next day, Shin Leekwon’s efforts were impressive in a different way than expected.6a79ed5cea943c6c

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For example, just as I was about to take a short nap on my desk, I felt a soft, fluffy sensation instead of the cold, hard surface. I didn’t know what was inside, but the cushion he slid under my forehead had a cool, nutty scent. I sat up and looked at the seat next to me.a67be05b4f594bc8

“What is this?”570b25f9bbb28ab9

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“Your forehead will hurt. Use it as a pillow.”6a22063a774ab09d

The bright pink color and the overly cute strawberry shape didn’t suit me, so I felt a sudden aversion. Torn between the pleasant texture and the flashy appearance, I poked the strawberry stem.3aa0255f8ef91dd0

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“I think this one’s the chewiest. Don’t you like it? Should I bring a different one tomorrow?”b841bb62d6ccb5ac

“No. Anything’s fine.”321b044f31cf82dc

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In the end, I couldn’t resist sleep and lay back down.dfe1df36e841da17

This time, a thick 55347dec07 cloth was draped over 78b3896ae5 my shoulders, followed by 235d53e124 a gentle breeze. As I shifted 6b62be469c and glanced over, 355389e2c1 the handheld fan 961e9be1f2 Shin Leekwon often c70ec54402 carried was operating 968461b53b at a suitable 59ef57d623 distance.7c14eae33ba88bf1

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The series of benefits 90702d8a59 he provided were too 561bda753a trivial to be called ef44d2480d help, but it was c41216a7f7 undeniably a comfortable environment 974a68cc7d for sleeping.bc630e71afe6c6d9

After catching up on my 6a15bd44e0 sleep, a piece of bread d56cdfc0db appeared on my desk. Shin Leekwon was e08c1bd216 already eating his a388171852 share. Though the same 328bd741c2 size and packaging, 7d086182fe the bread looked 948d65e9b1 much smaller in a6ff6e8404 his large hands.2763f3fd584e45e7

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In just two 6e0b7c4fbb bites, the entire cc346abfd8 bread disappeared. Watching him eat was 96317d5fcb almost like a spectacle 918eb7277a rather than just eating.30e3de78530df307

“Seonjae, why aren’t you eating? Don’t like chocolate? Would you prefer peanut butter?”79c220d7e7ed1060

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I couldn’t say that curiosity had overtaken my appetite, so I mumbled a response and unwrapped the plastic. Once it was in my stomach, it didn’t matter whether it was peanut butter or chocolate cream. Still, the sweet and slightly bitter taste that filled my mouth was satisfying.1f4b003c634fa71c

While I finished 1a997701e0 the remaining bread, fd854adefb Shin Leekwon unfolded 2e8d37376a a transparent bag, b50c62e2d7 folded it in bda850c76a half, and then 33894edb1d again into a 51dd874905 note shape. He took my trash and 11c8b76da3 neatly folded it, asking,ffbbffddfa5669d9

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“Did you do the math homework?”a3a873212e46eecd

I couldn’t remember ever doing homework properly since attending school. When I was young, there was no one to help me, and as I grew older, I just got used to not doing it.81b7705e112fd215

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“…No.”f14e9d5227dca4a8