Chapter 160: December (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: December (4)
“You didn't bring your textbook?”
“Mhm.”
She really hadn't.
The textbook was nowhere to be seen. She must have been in such a rush that she hadn't even grabbed her pencil case.
“Fine.”
I had no choice but to open my textbook and place it right on the line dividing our desks.
“Oh, and... can I borrow a mechanical pencil?”
“…….”
I pulled a spare pencil out of my case and handed it to her. While I was at it, I tore a page out of my notebook and gave that to her, too.
“Thanks~”
There it was again—that cutesy tone.
As she took the pencil, her hand brushed against mine. It seemed accidental, but I knew better. It was a very deliberate move.
“…Hehe.”
Just look at that smile.
“Everyone, take your seats.”
Just then, the front door opened, and the teacher walked into the classroom. He set his laptop and textbook down on the lectern.
“How far did we get last time?”
Class began with the teacher’s routine question.
Screeeak—
I heard the sound of a chair dragging. Shin A-young moved her seat closer to mine.
“I can’t see very well….”
A-young tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and muttered a barely audible monologue. Her slender frame leaned toward me.
And then.
Thump—
Our shoulders met right in the middle.
Sss….
Huuu…….
I could faintly hear the sound of A-young’s breathing.
‘…Is she planning to keep this up?’
This was getting a bit dangerous. I tried to create a little distance, but—
“…Where are you going? You won't be able to see, Seung-ho.”
A-young whispered, catching me. She completely blocked my attempt to move away.
‘…Fine, let’s just study.’
I focused on my notes. I tried to ignore her breathing and turned my attention to the scratching sound of my pen instead.
— “……Mmm. I guess this much is okay.”
Shin A-young’s Mini-me let out a nasal hum, pressing her index finger to her lips.
When I didn't react, she seemed to get stubborn. Her next move came immediately.
Tap, tap—
I felt a strange sensation against my foot under the desk.
‘What the…?’
I could tell exactly what was happening by looking at the Mini-me sitting on the desk. The little thing’s toes were wiggling.
A-young was touching my foot with hers.
‘Wait, that’s….’
I lowered my head. I didn't know where she’d left her indoor shoes, but her toes, clad in black stockings, were wiggling against me.
Slide, slide—
She moved her foot as if grazing my ankle.
“…Hey.”
I called out to A-young in a low voice. Finals were over and it was the end of the year, so the pace of the lessons was relatively relaxed, but still. This was a bit much.
As a guy, it would be weirder if I didn't notice. My concentration was completely shattered.
“You two in the back, stop chatting and focus.”
The teacher gave a casual warning while writing on the whiteboard.
“…….”
I shut my mouth.
— “…Wh-whoa, that scared me.”
Shin A-young’s Mini-me flinched as well.
‘…Seriously. Let’s just focus on the lesson.’
Thanks to that interruption, I managed to regain my composure. I bit my lip and silently continued taking notes.
“…….”
For some reason, A-young’s antics quieted down after that.
‘I guess she’s decided to stop.’
However, what I had overlooked... was the fact that the Mini-me had also gone silent.
“……If you don't like it, just say so.”
A-young’s low voice drifted into my ear. Her right hand on the desk fidgeted as it crept toward me. Then, her pinky finger came to rest on top of my left hand.
Soon after, very gently... she softly covered my palm with hers.
— “……Hng.”
Shin A-young’s Mini-me’s shoulders trembled. She was surprised by her own actions.
A long silence followed.
— “…….”
A-young’s Mini-me just let her mouth hang open. She didn't say a word. Her thoughts were so complicated and her mind so tangled that she looked like someone who had gone completely blank.
“…….”
“…….”
It was incredibly quiet. In a classroom filled with the noise of other Mini-mes, Shin A-young’s was the only one that was still.
The silence of a Mini-me. It was similar to Yu Ha-neul’s, yet a different kind of quiet. Or so it felt.
“…….”
Startled, I looked at A-young without a word. She was also scanning my face.
“……Hehe.”
A-young rested her chin on her hand and looked at me. On the outside, she was acting bold, but her Mini-me was as limp as boiled seaweed.
‘Well, that’s just how Shin A-young is….’
That habit of constantly gauging others' reactions wasn't going anywhere. Even as she relentlessly closed the distance, she was always checking my mood. Even as she acted boldly... part of her was constantly reading the room.
That was how she differed from Yu Ha-neul. If I had shown even the slightest hint of discomfort, A-young would have probably backed off immediately.
— “…….”
The Mini-me’s face was already flushed bright red, looking like it might explode. The contrast between her flirtatious exterior and her innocent interior was striking. That gap felt even more mischievous.
And the fact that I was the only one who could see it...
……Ah.
I knew I should restrain myself. But sometimes, I just couldn't. Even patience has its limits.
“…Don't overdo it.”
Grab—
I turned my left hand over and grasped the hand that had been resting on mine, as if shaking hands.
“?!”
A-young’s eyes went wide. Her gaze darted around, lost.
Twitch, twitch.
Her captured fingers wiggled. Meanwhile, the lesson continued.
“I’m going to check what I’m teaching you now during the next class. Make sure you write it down.”
At the teacher’s words, A-young hurriedly moved her hand. She tried to pull her right hand away, but when that didn't work... she awkwardly grabbed her pen with her left hand.
— “……I think I just need to move a little more.”
A-young’s hand wiggled and shifted. I had no intention of letting go. It was a radical move on my part, but it was also a speed bump to prevent A-young’s next stunt.
Otherwise, she’d just try something else.
‘Who knows what she’d do next….’
Since she’d been progressively raising the stakes, I couldn't even guess.
— “There….”
A-young managed to twist her palm. However, her hand was still pinned under mine. Escaping from this would be impossible—
— “Hup.”
A-young’s fingers slid between mine. She interlaced our fingers. She squeezed my hand tightly.
“……Hehe.”
A-young’s eyes met mine. Exhaling a slightly excited breath, she let out a smile that seemed to ask, How’s this?
“…….”
My eyes wavered. I could feel it myself. She had completely cleared the speed bump.
I didn't even know anymore. A-young didn't let go of my hand until the bell rang.
……After class ended.
Looking at A-young’s paper, the notes written on it were incredibly crooked and messy.
— “This is good enough…!”
But she didn't seem to care. She had a very satisfied expression on her face.
* * *
Shin A-young let Lee Seung-ho go first before leaving her seat.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
She walked briskly toward the restroom. It wasn't because she had to go; it was because she needed to calm down.
“…….”
Click.
A-young sat down on the closed toilet lid.
“Phew….”
Then, she looked down at her hand. Beads of sweat were forming on her palm. She couldn't tell if it was her sweat, his sweat... or both. There was no way to know.
Actually, it didn't matter either way.
“…….”
A-young pressed her hands together.
Clap.
She tried interlacing her own fingers.
“…Heehee.”
A giddy sound, like a stifled hiccup, escaped from between her teeth. It felt as if his warmth still lingered on her palm. Heat rushed to her face.
“Whew—”
A-young exhaled and shook her hands out.
Stop it. That was really creepy just now.
“…….”
A-young blinked as she looked down at her hands.
‘……I see.’
He didn't hate it.
She had been worried about Ha Seo-rim, but it turned out she didn't need to be. Maybe not with others, but with him, it was okay.
“Haaaa…….”
A-young leaned forward. She was about to wipe her face with her palms in relief, but—
Twitch— She stopped.
That was close. She almost ruined her makeup.
At the same time...
“Hehe… Hehehe….”
She couldn't hold back a foolish giggle.
“…Oops.”
She quickly clamped her lips shut.
“…….”
A-young’s eyes darted around. Holding her breath, she listened for any sounds outside.
I hope no one heard that.
‘Hmm.’
Fortunately, there was no sound. She was the only one in the restroom.
‘Endure it. Just endure.’
A-young patted the back of her neck.
“Whew… whew….”
After several deep breaths, she finally managed to suppress her laughter.
‘Calm down. Just calm down… please….’
After suppressing her emotions over and over again, she finally stepped out of the restroom. Only then did she feel confident enough to face Lee Seung-ho again.
“……Oh.”
On her way back to class, A-young spotted a blonde head peeking into the classroom from the other end of the hallway.
‘No matter how I look at it, that’s….’
It was Ha Seo-rim. A-young recognized her instantly. There were a fair number of blondes in the school, but someone with that specific shade was rare.
“What are you doing here?”
A-young suddenly approached Ha Seo-rim.
“…Ah.”
Seo-rim noticed her and stopped in her tracks.
“No, it’s just….”
Her hands moved restlessly. Seeing her ramble, A-young thought she was the type who really couldn't lie.
“I was just… on my way to class.”
“…Really?”
A-young looked at the textbook Seo-rim was holding. It was a Practical Music textbook.
‘……To get here from the Practical Music practice rooms, you’d have to take quite a detour.’
She knew this well because Ji Nuri was in that department. Besides, usually, the department practice rooms were used by all grades. Classrooms of the same track were usually clustered together.
It seemed like there was another reason, but...
“Hmm, okay.”
A-young just let it slide. It didn't matter. Whatever Ha Seo-rim was thinking didn't seem to matter much at all.
“I’m in your way, right? I’ll head in first.”
A-young let out a triumphant smile and gave a light wave with her right hand.
“……?”
Seo-rim tilted her head.
‘…What was that all of a sudden?’
To her, A-young’s sudden change in expression was baffling. But for some reason, an inexplicable sense of annoyance rose within her.
It just did.
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