Let's Study Together
On Saturday, with nothing to do, I was lounging around scrolling on my phone when I got a message from the grim reaper who showed up right on cue.
It was Im Lua's KakaoTalk.
...Honestly, I hadn't even considered that she'd message me, so I was caught off guard. But what threw me even more was how I felt about it right now.
A message from Im Lua. Normally, it'd make my heart skip a beat, fill me with anticipation.
But not this time. Not even a little.
Instead...
"Haa..."
A sigh slipped out first.
I had a pretty good idea why she'd messaged me first.
No way. Not a chance.
I'd just been cackling at some other Kirinuker clip of Aris a minute ago.
I knew it—who knew those words could sting this much? My chest twinged sharply.
Objectively, yeah, I barely studied. But from Seo Jinwoo's perspective, I'd been grinding like crazy.
I felt so wronged, but objectively, Im Lua was right, so I had to shut up.
Ding!
Another KakaoTalk from Im Lua. Curiosity got the better of me, so I opened it...
This was a new tactic.
Study together? Me and her?
Was that even okay? What did she even get out of it?
Doubts piled up, but ridiculously, my fingers were already typing a reply.
Short and sweet.
She replied instantly, like she'd been waiting.
Huh? Coming over now?
Panicking, I scanned my room.
It screamed "bachelor pad" in the worst way—filthy beyond belief. Empty energy drink cans from last night, that unmistakable dude-room stench, all of it.
Why 10 minutes? To salvage my human dignity, that's why.
I fired off the message, then flung open the door.
With the dehumidifier whirring, I started frantically cleaning. Spraying air freshener here and there, prepping for company however I could.
Mom saw me and stared in surprise.
"Second son? Cleaning on his own?"
"I always clean on my own...!"
"I know, but not like this. Not all frantic. What's up?"
What's up? Obvious.
"Im Lua's coming over."
Mom blinked at that, then asked in a dazed voice,
"Right now?"
"Yeah, right now."
She immediately started smacking my back.
Smack! Smack!
"You should've said something...!"
"Ow! That hurts! Hurts!"
"Outta the way, Mom'll handle it."
"No, it's fine...!"
"I'm faster than you!"
"Then let's do it together, together...!"
And so, Mom and I speed-cleaned my room.
What had been a total pigsty transformed into a livable space in no time. Mom beamed at the results after about five minutes.
"Son, not bad, huh? Pretty tidy now."
"Y...yeah..."
Pat pat.
She ruffled my hair, then started saying weird stuff.
"Do your best, okay, son?"
"With what?"
"With Lua~ You two were close as kids, and she's so pretty now, right?"
"No feelings like that. None."
"Really? Hand on heart?"
Hand on heart?
......Not zero. Honestly, that's part of why I invited her over.
But it's just a tiny bit. The main reason I let her come is I wanna hang with her again, get close like before. Nothing more.
"...Mom, I'm heading back to study and prep."
"Okay~ So nice having Lua over~ My son's even studying~"
Studying, so nice... yeah.
Fair enough, from her perspective.
From mine too. I'd never study voluntarily. Without Im Lua, no way.
"Hello~"
"Lua, you're here?"
"Yes, ma'am. A little gift."
"Why bring one every time~?"
"Hehe, Mom and Dad said to~"
"Oh my~ Tell them thanks so much~"
Im Lua handed her bag to Mom, then turned to me.
"Let's start studying right away."
"Yeah, let's."
"Focus till 6 exactly, got it?"
It was 2 p.m. now, so four straight hours. That okay? Would I survive? Might die of study-itis?
Thoughts like that crossed my mind, but I didn't voice them. I know focusing doesn't kill you.
"Haaa... Let's go..."
"Sure."
She grinned and we headed to my room. She pulled out her books.
Super thick Korean and math workbooks.
But they had one thing in common...
"......How are they all super hard ones?"
All advanced problems.
"How'd you know?"
"Dunno, they just look hard. Got that 'I'm tough~' aura."
"No such aura exists."
"Look at this one, then mine."
Our school uses EBS textbooks straight-up, so mine doubled as a workbook.
Im Lua glanced at both, then giggled with a smirk.
"Fair point."
Her laugh mixed smug satisfaction with cuteness.
It annoyed me at first, but her voice and mannerisms were so cute, instant forgiveness.
"Anyway, let's study."
"Yeah."
And so we began...
...Only the sound of pens scratching between us.
Straight-up studying. I figured as much, but zero small talk felt kinda lonely.
Pushing that aside, I kept at it.
Whenever I stretched or zoned out, Im Lua next to me snapped me back.
Having her there made me focus more, somehow. Like it or not, I grinded on...
"...Hey, Jinwoo-ya. Jinwoo-ya?"
"Huh? Oh, uh... yeah. What?"
I'd been silently grinding till she called.
"...You were super focused."
"......Me?"
"Yeah, look."
I checked where her finger pointed and was shocked inside.
My blank textbook page was covered in pen marks—most problems solved.
"You worked hard."
"...Your fault."
"Nah, if you don't wanna, no one's gonna make you. You just did."
She stretched with a grin and suggested,
"Short break?"
"Yeah."
We nodded and finally got that small talk time I'd hoped for.
"Nice computer."
"Why's that?"
"Looks fancy."
"It's decent."
Bittersweet story: After Oppa got back from military, he bought a new PC. Parents "gifted" me his old one by building him an even better one.
Communication fail. I ended up with the weaker spec one—his custom build. Couldn't beat parental cash.
"Oh yeah, what do you do, Jinwoo? Curious."
Her question made me hesitate.
Tell the truth? Video editing, VTuber clipper?
Might be okay, but VTubing's niche, kinda underground. Outsiders might judge. Haven't told parents yet.
So, half-truth.
"......Video editing."
"Video editing?"
"Yeah, Newtube videos."
Silence. I tensed up.
What if she probed deeper?
But Im Lua just...
"That's awesome."
"Huh?"
"You're awesome, Jinwoo."
No prying. Just took my words and praised me.
"......No need."
"For real."
"Still, nothing special."
"I know. Just genuinely think it's cool."
Her bright smile made my earlier worries vanish.
That's Im Lua—purely complimentary, no strings.
"...Thanks, Lua-ya."
"......Huh?"
She looked flustered for a sec.
Then it hit me what I'd said.
Since we reconnected, I'd never called her just "Lua."
First time, her name alone.
Embarrassment crashed in, frying my brain. We went silent, back to studying.
Too shy. Wished I could rewind time.
Couldn't, though.
When study time ended, Im Lua packed frantically.
"S... see ya... next time...!"
"Y-yeah... next time..."
She felt the same, probably.
Ah, damn. Time, rewind. Please.