Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: How They Play
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Two weeks had passed since Siwoo started hanging out with Juwon and the others.
The cafeteria air that once felt suffocating was now tolerable, Park Geon's random headlocks no longer startled him, and even Dasom's habit of peeking at his phone had become familiar.
Of course, he still felt like the only one in grayscale amid their vibrant group. But he'd adapted.
Still, one worry had crept up on Siwoo.
'What the heck am I supposed to write about?'
Ever since Juwon suggested he try writing a novel, Siwoo had pulled out his notebook whenever he could, but no ideas came.
"Haa..."
Siwoo sighed deeply, rolling his pen over the black notebook hidden under his textbook.
"Hey, Nam Siwoo. What're you writing now?"
The low voice from beside him made Siwoo jump, slamming the notebook shut.
Juwon, hair a bird's nest like he'd just woken up, was rubbing his eyes and peering at him.
"Huh? Oh, nothing! Just, like, a diary."
"A diary? You write that stuff? Am I in there?"
Juwon grinned slyly, then flopped back onto his desk without a care.
Siwoo calmed his pounding heart and shoved the notebook deep into his bag.
He had a specific reason for freaking out like this.
The notebook was filled with secret notes about Iseol.
Not that he'd written them with any creepy intent.
He'd just been doodling absentmindedly while racking his brain for story ideas, and somehow ended up jotting things down about her.
Stuff like how she couldn't handle spicy food, or her habit of twirling her bobbed hair around her finger.
Of course, he could've just erased it all once he snapped out of it.
'...As long as no one sees it, right?'
For some reason, he didn't want to delete them.
As he kept scribbling meaningless sentences, the break bell rang.
A moment later.
Drag—
Park Geon burst in and immediately claimed Juwon's sleeping spot.
"Yo, karaoke today?"
"Ugh, karaoke every day... When we going?"
Juwon grumbled but surrendered when Park Geon draped an arm over him.
Then he turned to Siwoo.
"And Namjin, you're coming today. You always bail."
Namjin.
One day, fed up with Hyunsu calling him a loser, Dasom had coined the cute nickname.
Siwoo didn't love it, but it beat "loser," so he reluctantly nodded.
Now everyone used it.
Except Iseol.
"Huh? Today—"
About to refuse again, he caught Park Geon's glare and backpedaled.
"Y-yeah, I'll go. Sure, today works."
Park Geon immediately locked Siwoo in a headlock.
"Ooh, gonna hear you sing today?"
"I-I'm not that good at..."
But Siwoo's meek voice drowned in Park Geon's laughter.
Before he knew it, the next class bell rang amid the chatter.
As Siwoo sat through lessons, his mind piled with anxiety.
A karaoke joint a short walk from school.
Siwoo swallowed hard at the entrance.
Honestly, he was scared.
These kids seemed like the type to booze and smoke in places like this.
But the private room scene was nothing like he'd imagined.
"Hey! Park Geon! Hit cancel! Wrong button!"
"Lowest score buys ice cream today!"
Far from sleazy, the vibe was pure fun under Park Geon and Juwon's lead.
Park Geon belted cute tunes in his massive frame, while Dasom and Chaerin shook tambourines in both hands, keeping beat.
'...What is this wholesomeness?'
No cigarette haze—just sweet cola and salty snack scents.
Siwoo watched from the corner in a daze, then burst out laughing despite himself.
Juwon gripping the mic, veins bulging as he poured his soul out—it was hilarious.
"Yo, Namjin! You just laughed? Not mocking, right?"
"No, no! Not funny... I mean, you're good!"
Siwoo waved it off at Juwon's playful shout.
He'd never done this in middle school—laughing carefree with friends felt brand new.
The tension melted, the past two weeks' fatigue easing bit by bit.
Then.
Park Geon and Chaerin dove onto the sofa after wild shakes, shoving Siwoo sideways from the corner.
"Ah, whoa..."
Off-balance, Siwoo's shoulder bumped someone.
"...!"
He froze solid.
At the cramped sofa's end, right beside him, sat Baek Iseol.
Amid the chaos, she scrolled her phone calmly.
Her glossy black bob caught the lights, wafting faint shampoo scent.
Siwoo stiffened, breath caught.
"S-sorry... They pushed me..."
"It's fine. Just sit."
Iseol stopped him from scooting away with a shrug, then refocused on her screen.
But Siwoo felt it.
Her warmth, so close yet not quite touching, thanks to the tight sofa.
And occasionally, when Park Geon hit a high note, her lips twitched, suppressing a smile.
Was she enjoying this too?
As Siwoo pondered, danger struck.
Across from him, Hyunsu—next to Jiyoon on her phone game, glaring at Siwoo—suddenly grinned and called to Park Geon.
"Geon! Let's hear Namjin sing!"
"Oh yeah! Your turn!"
Park Geon shoved the mic at Siwoo, dragged him center, then collapsed on the sofa panting.
"Huh? No, I... singing..."
Flustered, Siwoo took the remote.
'What song...'
Sweat slicked his palms on the remote.
Hyunsu had slyly swapped to Iseol's side with a smug grin; friends watched expectantly.
The silence dragged, vibe sinking.
'Screw it... Just pick!'
He chose an upbeat song he knew.
Bam— bam bam—!
The flashy intro blared; Park Geon whooped, shaking his tambourine.
"You know this one?"
"J-just the chorus...!"
Siwoo gripped the mic tight and started.
Pitch wobbled on the edges, voice shaky from nerves.
Still, he gave it his all.
Hesitating here would play right into Hyunsu's hands—mockery guaranteed.
At the climax, to hype it up, Siwoo flailed awkwardly.
Limbs creaking, steps off-beat.
Obvious bad dancer trying hard—but it was comically endearing.
"Puhaha! Namjin, that your dance?"
Park Geon rolled laughing; others clapped, chuckling.
Siwoo glanced back sheepishly—and did a double-take.
Iseol, chin on knee, smiled faintly, watching his performance.
Better yet: Hyunsu, who'd been beside her, was now shoved aside.
Emboldened, Siwoo flushed and sang harder.
Song ended: a pitiful 60 points.
Siwoo didn't care.
Panting, he passed the mic to Juwon and returned to his seat.
Then, Iseol spoke to him first.
"...Heard this one a lot? It's pretty tough."
"Huh? Oh, listened every day in middle school..."
She nodded, turning back to her phone.
Nothing deep, but her tone was warmer than before.
Siwoo gulped water to soothe his burning throat.
And Iseol's gaze lingered on his face—just a second.
How many more songs after that?
Time flew; the fun session ended.
"Kekeke. Siwoo, I'll let you off ice cream duty. First time. You were hilarious."
Outside, Park Geon and Juwon flanked Siwoo, cracking up nonstop.
Siwoo brushed sweaty bangs, grinning bashfully—but a strange freedom bloomed in his chest.
"What? Sparing just Namjin? My score wasn't last—why me?"
Hyunsu grumbled, rattling the convenience store bag after paying up.
His sharp glare pierced Siwoo—resentment over money, or Siwoo's central spot?
But Siwoo didn't bow his head like before.
He felt like one of the group now.
At the bus stop, they waved and split ways.
Siwoo bid farewell and turned.
Then realized: only he and silent-walking Baek Iseol remained.
"..."
Awkward quiet.
Iseol munched a popsicle from the store.
Sky had darkened.
A breeze tousled her bob.
As Siwoo fumbled for words, she held out her phone.
"This."
"H-huh?"
"Songs you know here?"
Siwoo took it, scrolling her playlist hesitantly.
"This one, this... and this too."
Most were familiar.
"...Not bad taste."
Iseol murmured, heading into her apartment complex.
"I live here. Bye."
She turned without waiting, vanishing from sight.
"Uh, yeah! Bye!"
Siwoo waved at air, then walked off.
"That was more fun than I thought..."
He muttered, adjusting his glasses.