No Way You'd Like <em>Half Half Island</em> Anyway (8)
"Choi Sa-hyung... Yoo Hye-rang...."
"Oh, hey...."
"What's this, what's this? Do-youngie and Ha-minie. Why are you two at the station together?"
"Do Ha-min, why are you still in your uniform? Didn't you go home yesterday?"
Ban Do-young and Do Ha-min, along with Choi Sa-hyung and Yoo Hye-rang. It wasn't unusual for these four to end up in the same place.
Even though Do Ha-min was the one getting dragged around one-sidedly by the rest of us, we were still a tight-knit group sitting in the same section of the classroom. And of course, it wasn't rare to hang out with Sa-hyung and Hye-rang on weekends either. Do Ha-min lived pretty far away, so we didn't see each other much on weekends, but whenever there was nothing going on, I'd often meet up with Sa-hyung and Hye-rang.
"Talk about an unexpected reunion on a random day."
But just changing the time and place turned this familiar combo into something extremely special.
"Eep."
"Bumping into you two first thing in the morning—today's off to a good start."
"Y-yeah, guess so."
Sa-hyung and Hye-rang plopped down naturally on the waiting room chairs in front of me and Do Ha-min.
I mean, sure. As locals in this neighborhood with most people our age knowing each other, running into acquaintances at the station wasn't that weird for Ban Do-young. But these two? Talk about luck—or lack thereof.
Sa-hyung might've been thrilled, but for me and Do Ha-min, this was bad news. Hye-rang was pretty sharp, after all. She was already side-eyeing Do Ha-min's exact same uniform from yesterday.
"So what's up with you two? Coming out all cute and dressed up like that."
Time to pivot fast. Better to draw attention to our outfits today than his clothes.
"Huh, really? I was trying to play it casual without overdoing it! Hehe, I am cute!"
Luckily, Sa-hyung bit immediately. She was a total girly-girl who lived for compliments like that. Boyfriend or no.
"What do you think? These are the spring outfits we bought last week. They match, right?"
"Yeah. Like a chick and a Cornish hen."
"What?! That's basically calling us a chicken coop!"
"Hehe."
Aigoo, I accidentally let my usual snark slip out when I meant to say they looked great. Still, it distracted Hye-rang from her question, so until Do Ha-min's train came, I should keep the interrogation going my way.
"Dressed up like that—got some fun plans?"
"Sigh, Choi Sa-hyung here dragged me to a God Pink fan sign event."
"God Pink... Oh, that super popular girl group lately. You actually scored tickets?"
"What, you know them too, Do Ha-min?"
"H-huh? W-well... I mean... Their songs are good, so I added a few to my playlists."
"No way..."
This was genuinely surprising. Do Ha-min into idols? I figured his playlists were all Clarice and Yoasobi knockoffs. I thought he was a total novel-anime otaku into magic girls only. Who the hell was God Pink to get a reaction out of this total nerd?
"Phew, I don't even know the members' names. Hope I don't embarrass myself."
"Hey, you'll love it once you're there, Hye-rangie! God Pink hype train—you miss it now, you're screwed! Only four members, easy to memorize!"
"Anyway, that's how I ended up spending my precious weekend at a sign event with this one."
"G-good luck...."
Their train was going the opposite direction from ours. Thank god—no chance of them riding with Do Ha-min. Just wait for his train and we'd be golden.
"So, Do Ha-min, why the uniform?"
"Hic!"
I'd just steered the topic away, and now this? Thanks a lot, Cornish Hen #2.
"Uh... well."
Do Ha-min's lying skills were zilch. Could he even come up with a believable excuse to dodge Hye-rang's glare?
"I-I thought today was a school day!"
I smacked my forehead with a groan at the jaw-droppingly lame excuse.
"I rushed out yelling 'I'm late, I'm late!' but when I got to the station, I realized it's Saturday... S-so...."
"..."
"...That doesn't even make sense—"
"Pfft, what?! That's hilarious, Ha-minie! So that's why the uniform! You're so smart with studies, but you forget stuff even Do-youngie remembers? Guess being too diligent backfires!"
"Phew... Y-yeah. I got bored and texted him, he said he was at the station, so I came to tease. Isn't it ridiculous? Heh."
Nice save. Thanks, Chick #1. Zero Lime on me later.
The train is now arriving. Passengers, please exercise caution for your safety....
Perfect timing—the announcement for Do Ha-min's train. Hye-rang still looked suspicious, but it didn't matter now. We'd survived the three-minute gauntlet.
"Alright, I'll see this idiot off! Can't have him messing up the direction again!"
"Heh, yeah. Might as well stick the landing since you came to tease."
"You two have fun at the sign event! God Pink rules!"
"Oh, bye! See you next week!"
"Byeee, Do-youngie and Ha-minie! Next week!"
I left Sa-hyung and Hye-rang in the waiting room and headed through the gates with Do Ha-min down to the platform stairs.
Phew, morning sweat-fest over.
....
"Hey, Hye-rangie."
"Yeah."
"Why do Do-youngie and Ha-minie smell like the same shampoo?"
"...Choi Sa-hyung, you knew the whole time, didn't you?"
"Hye-rangie's half-genius, half-clueless as always."
"Sly little chick."
"Maybe I need a boyfriend too."
....
Just as we reached the bottom of the stairs, Do Ha-min's train pulled in smoothly.
"I can hop right on—I'll head out first...! Whoa!"
"Hey, Do Ha-min!"
Thud—I barely caught him as he tripped on the stairs.
Good thing Ban Do-young had long limbs; a normal girl's arms probably would've let him tumble.
"Ow, getting addicted to self-harm? Guys who flop around aren't popular, you know?"
"S-sorry. Guess yesterday's fall still has me off-balance."
"Sigh... Hold on."
I helped him up, then pulled a box from my pocket and slipped it into his.
"Huh...? What was that?"
"Bandages I bought at the convenience store yesterday. Just in case you get hurt on the way home."
"Th-thanks."
"Don't thank me. If these pile up at home, Dad might figure out you got hurt."
"Oh... Got it."
"Plus, if you get more banged up, how am I supposed to face your mom? 'Sorry, I made your already ugly son even uglier'—parent complaint incoming."
"..."
Do Ha-min frowned, but it was softer this time—a plea to ease up on the jokes rather than full offense.
"Quit glaring. If you don't wanna get uglier, be careful."
"...Got it. Okay. But promise me something."
"Promise what?"
"I'll work hard not to get uglier... so show me you're studying hard like yesterday for the rest of exams."
"..."
"If scores drop... your future husband's face will naturally... get uglier too."
Teacher Mi-so said studying well changes your future husband's looks. Was that why Do Ha-min seemed a bit more handsome the day after we studied? My rising grades? His determined eyes to match me? Or just my eyes changing?
Who knows. Not now. Ban Do-young's thick skull must be clouding my brain too.
"Hmph, talking like you're already my future husband. Fine, I'll bust my ass like you said—just don't bail midway calling me thick-headed."
"I won't. If I was gonna quit, I wouldn't have started."
"...Ooh, that sounded pretty protagonist."
"Hehe... See ya. Monday."
"Safe trip. Leg hurts or not, no priority seats! That's for when future Ban Do-young's pregnant!"
"I w-won't! And girls shouldn't say that so casually—"
Do Ha-min's yell cut off as the doors shut with a clang.
The train rumbled off, tail car vanishing from sight. Only then did I leave the station and head home.
"I'm back."
"Welcome. Ha-min get off okay?"
"Yup, saw him off fine. I'll text when he gets home."
After greeting Dad, I headed to my room. Just in case he left something.
"Nothing left behind."
Aside from the practice problems he made for me, no Do Ha-min traces. Clumsy in a rush, but meticulous otherwise—good at keeping track of his stuff.
"By the way, Do-young, what's the bandage box on your desk?"
"Huh? Bandages?"
"After you two left, I cleaned the room he used and checked yours. Saw a lime-scented bandage box on the desk. Did Ha-min get hurt?"
"N-no! I just saw lime-scented ones and bought 'em on a whim!"
"...Alright, if you say so."
I brushed off Dad and shut the door to check the desk.
"Fuck, why's this still here?"
The bandage box I'd given Do Ha-min was right there. I'd confirmed it was in his pocket after taking it this morning.
"Then what I gave him earlier..."
Mom's lime-scented condoms. Where'd I put those?
**
"I'm back."
"Welcome home, son. Fun studying at your friend's?"
"Y-yeah... It was okay."
Ha-min got home around lunch. Mom joyfully welcomed her son back from his first sleepover in ages.
"Oh my, Ha-min. Bandage on your forehead..."
"...Ah."
Mom spotted the bandage and gasped, rubbing his forehead frantically.
His bangs had hidden it fine in the morning, but wind on the train and walk home must've blown them aside.
"Did you fall? Hurt somewhere?"
"I-I'm fine...! My fault, tripped... My study buddy bought bandages and put some ointment on."
"Ooh...! Really? What a great friend! Making friends like that even at a far school! That's my boy. And so thoughtful—such a cute bandage too."
"Y-yeah. Gave me extras to use at home. Wanna see...? Whoa!"
Ha-min pulled the green box Do-young gave him from his pocket. But spotting the suggestive fruit graphic, he dropped it in shock.
He'd heard "lime-scented bandage box," but somehow, it had turned into a lime-scented condom box once out of his pocket.
"Oh my, Ha-min, this box..."
"N-no, that's...!"
Mom picked it up, tilting her head, then smirked slyly at her son.
"Hehe, my boy's a player. Your 'study buddy' was your girlfriend, huh?"
"N-no! Not like that...!"
"Eh...? Then a boyfriend? Th-that might take Mom some adjusting!"
"No, she's a girl...!"
We just kissed. Ha-min couldn't bring himself to say it.