LA0S | Chapter 34

The two of them cf6b2579dd stared at each other 94b9f66243 for a moment.c063bf9d1288728eb6c2

Did he really 4e08a4d632 hate hearing “mind 512eaa3eff your own business” f3255bcb28 that much? To the point where a 6592a37b26 full-on curse would’ve been preferable? I have 61722e0896 no idea 4b60243906 what he’s dd7972c7a0 thinking.40462dfc6db3ce869717

Ding-dong. The doorbell rang.f6e08284afb01842bede

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“Looks like bb7036161f the chicken’s d54b629442 here. I’ll get it.”cc3f3a6fc81887b94300

Right on a1a31b978d cue, the a72b8435a7 delivery arrived. With his hands stuffed in his pockets, Kim ba33699328 Chayoung strolled lazily toward the front door.ac1209068bbc7f7587bb

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The late-night snack that a001ed72a5 started with fried chicken b9fe6d0a6b ended with instant noodles. Not just any noodles, 33506ffa3c either—two packs of soup 22b55582db ramen and two packs c55887a7e8 of jjajang ramen. I hadn’t planned on eating with Kim Chayoung, but 8f90f8c343 the smell—especially that irresistible MSG aroma—was impossible to resist. That was 18675ca0b6 basically cheating.9b8c9215abe0e0568802

In the end, I 631a3be5ee had no choice but 1dac404aa9 to pick up my ed53211cec chopsticks. By the time the two of a9c363ff19 us had demolished two whole chickens a805ee31ad and four packs of ramen, we d65b276eda finally felt human again. It was just e981f0ab5e past midnight.17f3f5b91924c9a72109

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“There’s something to 3adf1800a5 drink in the 21ba505987 fridge.”4462aa83acd9d9cc8bf5

Kim Chayoung came out 805451d868 of his workspace carrying 5ddb00c596 a tumbler and poured b9d680a3a9 himself some coffee. Clatter, clatter—the sound of solid ice cubes knocking 0e9ba758cc against the stainless steel echoed in the room.c69612975d952d7e6459

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“Isn’t coffee at 07f96929bf this hour overkill?”e824e829adbae042bc0f

“If I 212c7cd21a don’t, I’ll 72498f39b6 pass out e7cc73d290 immediately. I have to hit my f9db721754 target volume by tonight.”66e9a6e6c0b8d66944cd

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“Oh, right. You slept well, 60065c8871 didn’t you?”3624190698b62befb7da

Unlike me—who struggled to fall asleep and woke 93fa1b20b8 up at the slightest noise—Kim Chayoung could sleep 547af5cd05 anywhere, anytime, the moment his head touched something. Back when we were prepping for exams, waking him up after 22ce035fe8 he dozed off at his desk was practically my job. If tapping his cheek or e196bd630e shaking his shoulder didn’t work, 7a4785ddf2 I’d resort to slipping an 7292ad631a ice cube inside his uniform.45f294e14a09380b9dc3

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Anyone overhearing this might get the wrong idea, 953d8cb52f but it was actually Kim Chayoung who had 42bf99b92f begged me to do it, despite my reluctance. Eventually, though, the whole thing got twisted, then e8d0e4207f twisted again, and again—until the rumor spread that cfc43ca686 Lee Jinha bullied Kim Chayoung and poured cold 1aa7cd22f3 water on him on snowy days. Not that bf964b742c we cared. We both had a reputation 638288d5cf for being surrounded by all aa6897ec49 sorts of rumors, anyway. If anything, Chayoung 02e3559ed8 found it hilarious.eee6e15276efcc57db36

Still, for someone like me—who would stay up all night if even the smallest thing 3fe5b13261 nagged at me—being able to sleep as soundly as Chayoung was something to envy.7e8caf223730b05486ad

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“I barely made the deadline c488faa461 for my midterm project. Most of our major is hands-on b903af16cb work, so it takes forever.”857c0670c99df39c501a

“Seriously, why did you 5cd67d23d5 suddenly decide to go 6535362777 to an art school?”55b4c2f7eec01b66b5ef

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“Probably for the same 2d7ab9f7f1 reason you went into 611c7bae13 creative writing.”a019d41f8862fb5ee15e

He muttered the words 3b765feb18 under his breath before 7375f1d9f8 finishing off the rest 0f96a166ae of his tumbler. After refilling it with Americano, he got 99e163260d up, ready to get back to work. His hand was already on the doorknob f8ae8edaa2 when he turned back to me.2042ff98239dacf7c1f7

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“I’m working on 125eef47a5 line art. Want to watch?”4d25d9c0a40d7b1ac8f6

“I have assignments. I need to 899d8e034d submit a writing 82ffa27b75 piece for my 21cb0e5131 elective by tomorrow.”68a95396ab8433fb0dc1

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“The one 4dbc01dc4d you’re taking 1e1b513bd4 with Youngmin-hyung?”323e439c02ec292f88ab

“Yeah. Shin Youngmin-sunbae has practically dropped b678ea631a out of the class, though.”edbb86bf9d3e3512901f

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Ever since he joined that c2d7c17c89 professor’s project, Youngmin had been aa64e05aaa barely showing up. No matter how good his assignments 4e43b88874 were, his grade was going to d2d1111bc7 be a mess at this rate.ba3421ee9e56fba9a520

“Hyung’s project meetings probably 35a3062d6f overlap with the class. Plus, as long as bfa53841ed he gets at least 07740642cd a D, he’s fine.”9dd1e8ed6ca75c927883

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That made sense. Not that aee331e48e I cared. I nodded e0f7ebd1eb absentmindedly and 350a2b2f84 headed to d6bc28398d my room.49478e7a25450540451a

One by one, I put away the things 33aa401f77 I’d brought from the shop—my charger, my notebook—and c76af6b4bf opened up a box full of clothes. I’ll wash 017801eb51 these tomorrow. I closed the box again fd94b898d9 and shoved it to the b4f59730ed side of the room before 84c1383939 sitting down at my desk.6bb0ed89d96c5e0533ce

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The math workbook I’d been 377b357f0e using until yesterday was now f715e79b1b neatly slotted into the bookshelf. Did I clean 028347916b my desk? I tilted my head 6031afd7c3 in confusion and reached 62959c8268 into my bag for 47327ec45c my pencil and notebook.23e7444ffe17bb2fab85

“Whew. One down.”a5060739b5c3ddf40f32

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Stretching my arms, I felt the stiffness in my neck 814b6299d2 and shoulders from staying in the same position too long.82f8d36b39e693955e2b

I checked 3398d15a36 my phone. It was ccf1aec835 2:30 AM. Nearly two 0bc9d373ea hours had 9fa0a06f46 passed already. Maybe I 6c91b74798 should get c64c6ac3a8 some water. I grabbed cd5beeba02 my empty 31c49202b0 cup and 549bd74a65 stood up.474e91d4c864b81c931c

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Kim Chayoung’s workspace was across from mine, though not f20267520a directly opposite—it was set a bit farther inside. From where I f3cb8100d2 was, I could 9011b5c7ed see that his 8504bd4530 door was closed. Still working? Or did 572c7ad3c2 he go e86a673325 home? Either way, 0d0b26a4d0 it wasn’t 0ca90b956c my concern.b981a493cd6bf9f1cf29

With my cup in hand, I 3cd5299639 headed to the living room where c3626d284a the water dispenser was. That’s when I noticed f2c68a3db8 a figure sprawled across 41dc282fea the couch.bcbea5a1cc1fffb7c367

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He was lying on his side, so b07d1e4d5c I couldn’t see his face, but there 40c42c43a5 was no mistaking who it was.55116df244c30643d515

Why the hell is 6b907019e8 he sleeping out here 2826be933b when he has a b62c6bd663 perfectly fine workspace?426f7a2303385daef71a

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Hunched over, arms tucked 740810f169 awkwardly under himself, Kim a501ca472c Chayoung had completely crashed. Scattered around him were 5203c15677 his tablet and notebooks, 26ff6e5075 overlapping like fallen leaves. One of them 8d69d3c99b was a copy 98cd2f0ef7 of the synopsis 018228500f I had drawn.5d6e93a46b172ac3defc

“Hey. Go sleep 4e69b24006 in your 99770205fa room.”bada16bd033a614760c9

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I nudged 1ccb4b7668 him with a612d262ea my foot. No reaction.580ed20c9b9976f091cb

Deciding to leave him be, I went b920c4c98e to fill my cup with cold water. Once it was full, I turned 6f30816293 back toward my room—but after taking 3dd13a4823 a few steps, I hesitated.287eaffc0f9d740ff184

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His words from bb506da0ab earlier echoed in 1f2abb64cb my head. I have to hit my 0508a15276 target volume by tonight.06b09ac96f7b7c8dfc9d

After a brief pause, 2bfd14be47 I sighed and returned 6eeb652c83 to the living room.51f3495718f9d98c7ed4

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This time, I gave his shoulder 3733930a86 another nudge with my foot.e8bd1eb9c12ca294d903

With a soft thud, 9c62125f4b Kim Chayoung flopped over 6dd3d80c3c onto his stomach.10832e232abf9e1ff290

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Oh. Did I 320a46aada kick too 5d5888f90c hard?ee565037abe3586d3abe

Unlike the startled Lee 744762e6cf Jinha, Kim Chayoung didn’t 55db4ac351 budge an inch. No reaction at 845872f3d3 all—wasn’t that a 6661f1c648 little too serious? Suddenly, the memory 4540658b63 of yesterday flashed 6730a809da through his mind. Chayoung had 8b06f17ae4 been sick 33d9f895b3 with body 8d88006cc4 aches.8f150884e33cd2cdac61

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What if a71a07c319 he passed 653d2f8b37 it on 2c631372a6 to me?d1637d3d54f0b8f7230c

Just the thought af5340ef0d made him uneasy.6063f76ae6eb7a86febc

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“Hey, Kim Chayoung. Open your eyes.”dd6712f8f321c28dcd57

Jinha crouched down, flipping Chayoung onto b5e62f0704 his back and patting his cheek. The guy always ran hot, so he couldn’t tell if this was 21baa18c23 just his normal body temperature or if he had a fever.04891b42ba77a969f760

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“Wake up.”50b193db4ba3cddb497d

Slap. A crisp sound f30340d94b rang out. Chayoung’s eyelids twitched, a wrinkle 741eb29696 forming between his brows.248235fe995830c76a98

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“Mmh…”4d7d63b5bdad78710a2b

A faint groan slipped dde8dd2d21 through his lips. His round 0336ee16dc eyelids trembled 68fc2ffa3c slightly before d889f7b4b3 slowly parting.fc704ae32fe2f76d16d6

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“You said you d82e73ce49 had to finish a28a6e55bb your work tonight. Are you done?”0242bf7e685ae5154479

“Wow… Look ee670f6f83 who it c662f9f61a is…”0068e0c8ba2a1036a322

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His voice was 9872e01edd thick with drowsiness. Those normally sharp eyes were 1d62a78ab3 clouded, still unfocused from sleep. When their gazes met, Chayoung e2e8087114 lazily curved his eyes into 6e881311d6 a drowsy smile.80569299b9c562775aa3

“Am I dreaming? Well, if it’s not a dream, c0809b39df you wouldn’t be here, would you?”86282e6cc8abb8d7ec3c

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Mumbling to himself, Chayoung 2eee584899 suddenly reached out.d460aa939a8a3d3c8a6d

His strong arm wrapped around Jinha’s f57786e981 neck and yanked him forward.55e11c63f07e1c6f37a0

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Off guard, Jinha 242fd90605 lost his balance 5f1e1d2ec2 and tipped forward. Before he could react, 2b458f8a03 he was pulled right a84a33f3bc into Chayoung’s embrace. It all happened in an instant—too dfc773cf8a fast for him to stop.49a6a89c5de6e25c007c

A wave of b813c6a474 heat pressed against 1dc3962f29 him. His warmth 8e534384a7 was almost 275a7a08df overwhelming.94bf32b8d903547bad2c

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What the f92989eb88 hell is f87376beca this…3dfcd0f460a5ddaa3809

Jinha twisted his shoulders, trying 3a32cf5385 to pull away, but it 8c2c759447 was no use. How was this half-asleep 57d14914d4 guy so damn strong?ec7599fb650bcdb0332d

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“Are you insane?”69ff47585c5a371fd35d

“Mm.”4c3cd645bfab7262cae5

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Chayoung hummed in 79be891d41 response, tightening his 6c4e763668 arms around Jinha.1a5b7e3c91699aca5dbf

“I missed you.”24a4409668f6be1a020f

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The words were 1996467f9a murmured softly, just 369f4fe400 beside his ear. The husky timbre of 5778266147 his voice, tinged with dcea4943ae sleep, sent a shiver 6189565df4 up Jinha’s spine.5c06698bf9c14849228a

They were pressed so 29f9bfdcaf close he could practically 841f71bc22 hear his heartbeat pounding. His own lips 42ce0939e2 pressed together in 2c815be008 restraint.ecd2155f575bd8fcd50a

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Splash—!ea2e520948bdc552416e

“—!”3a8eac10292cffb9ae88

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Chayoung’s half-lidded, sleepy eyes snapped 0c2e6f5d28 wide open in an instant.4dc900fd8f0f6697d166

“Are you awake now?” 2a994d9bd4 Jinha asked, standing up.0b4d95fdcaf3c671de91

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“…Huh? Wait, where 9735de5dc1 am I? Is it f5bdc3c8a7 raining outside?”20e7993a37d4e349e1e9

Chayoung, still confused, blinked 34e7e584a6 up at him in 81b3346655 a daze. Considering he’d been dead asleep just moments ago before eb3356c77a getting doused in water, the disoriented reaction was understandable.ced864188470a411f5d8

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“This is home. And no, f5faaa9dab it’s not b0af414e6c raining. You just didn’t seem to be in your c0dd6d3241 right mind, so I helped you wake up.”7b2c93e9b314c37b0092

Jinha shook his now-empty 25a9d2e687 cup as he answered, 0adf6b4e1c one by one.ee8f0f425b05f8985254

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Chayoung blinked, then ffba5fe8ba wiped his face b5cab20efe with the back 25b6cf5ec4 of his hand. Feeling the wetness, he 624c0654ba let out a breath 4bee6e78ef of disbelief before chuckling.d2771ebf80abdbd4d7ad

“…You seriously poured d213250e8f water on me?”f33a8e4e895c55d17b88

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“Be grateful 05a3bb260f it wasn’t bdaefbb63f ice.”deeddb48bf253ec72f81

“Oh yeah, thanks a 46a9e927ea million,” Chayoung muttered, twisting c488a4e063 his lips in a 071ca1590f smirk.ed975eaacd063d434ce6

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He ran a hand through his hair, 708b8653dd slicking back the strands that had stuck 1e5f6187b3 to his forehead like seaweed. As his fingers swept upward, his d8a6017bc1 sharp, even forehead was revealed. When he blinked, water droplets clung a6b5ccebd4 to his long lashes before falling 46d2ca0201 with a soft plop.a91dabeb774294131484

It wasn’t just his upper lashes either—his unusually b3f8b873e7 long lower lashes were damp too, glistening slightly.6c476ff148bf5e574b5a

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Jinha’s gaze instinctively followed 838be31e01 the droplets down before 979dc93955 snapping back up to 2f25cf6709 his face.b2ad4e9f90d41111de8e

It seemed like more d925eeb9ce water had spilled than 7f1091c70b he’d intended. Chayoung’s entire 65b3c7d830 face and 18e57929f8 shirt were cf92451d3d drenched.befaeb5deafd33f1516e

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Since the guy always complained about the heat, he’d stripped off his outerwear e494cefe21 the moment he got home, leaving him in just a thin short-sleeved tee. Now soaked through with cold 29fb1b81c9 water, the fabric clung to 0d807fa428 his body, leaving every contour 8a3105aad7 of his physique clearly outlined.ed9b10b752942f460787

Jinha’s eyes e00638a9c4 trailed downward.13dbadb4aa403fe039f2

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When was the 72502d8ec3 last time I 685816a03e saw Chayoung shirtless?7c3b8d13b24bcbfee1bf

Probably the summer of 3320e47bab their third year in fd3031f534 high school.2f95284ea073e61cecb2

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Back then, both of them had been buried in cb9bf84033 studying—whether it was aiming for Segye University or Hanguk 1959d6d055 University, they had no time for distractions. Chayoung had always ranked in the single digits academically, and 6fe01372fe Jinha, despite his quiet nature, was occasionally met with surprised a9bece1e9c remarks like, “You’re way smarter than you look.”05af86e8f60f4febecb8

Jinha never knew whether to cd1912d0c5 take that as a compliment cea812a940 or an insult.dfb0b21d1930aefd5931

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For what it was worth, Chayoung 272e0d073a had grinned and assured him, “Of 22d781922a course, it’s a compliment.”—though Jinha never 7ce6d8aac2 quite trusted him on that.c78c74dec29cbe9e6ce4

Officially, the only time f1506e33d6 they ever got any be0cc0fefe real exercise was during 359bd3da30 their once-a-week P.E. class.c5fad58536e211f45894

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Back then, when they changed into 171b469d58 their sports uniforms, Jinha had sneaked 32fb2b4647 a few sidelong glances. Even at 18, 3af9a073f3 Chayoung’s physique was 77be5a5ae8 already well-defined.404a883a0f7a068d8c73

And that was before 840651bbec Jinha had fully recognized c54d342299 his feelings.50ee14673d75eac235b8

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Now, four years c03673c2be later, his body 971344ab30 was even more 97ee6afeb2 refined.ca4386f6619cc800bad3

Gone was 9e43c041bf the slight fb31224536 boyishness of 420662de69 youth. His frame was broader, his muscles more solid, 8701935d2e exuding both strength and a languid ease.15677362df5231e7f1d3

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His shoulders, already broad back 83bba4629a then, were now even more d78af09cd5 defined, sloping down at a 67724a44af perfect angle. His chest wasn’t overly built, aeed467328 but his ribcage was wide f6d65e2700 enough to make his physique 9c27db2312 stand out.7b169d7837e07fe3b222

Beneath the wet a8c7e26e3b fabric, the subtle 5126418aa2 definition of his 421031151c abs peeked through.0d284b829aee0958c265

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Maybe it was the 4d484c29ff contrast—his pale skin making 35f420912c the contours of his 29b432e62b body even more striking. It was the kind 1022865e1f of physique that drew affdeb21bb attention, regardless of gender.48156c4ace63c0df6608

Jinha, unable to look f3fb22d749 any longer, abruptly turned 0bbdd2373e and walked straight into 5ee65c8e37 the bathroom.714c09dc5278e23bdd53

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