Ice Cream
Na-eun's vacation had started, and she and I were heading to the cafe to study together almost every day. Even though we'd changed study spots, her insane focus hadn't wavered a bit. If anything, she seemed even more locked in.
Before, she'd at least stretch her neck or shift around every 30 or 40 minutes, but since coming to the cafe, even those little movements had dwindled.
With concentration like this, she could probably aim higher than Jinhan University.
Watching her skills improve so rapidly turned that thought into certainty.
"Na-eun, grading's done."
"How'd I do?"
"Take a look."
I showed her the graded worksheet. Her face lit up instantly.
Today was English and social studies. She'd scored a 97 on the English mock exam.
Yeah, just one wrong. One.
This was seriously impressive. I wanted to applaud.
"Amazing. You could ease up on English now."
"Really?"
"Yeah, just keep up the basics, and you won't drop below top grade."
"Phew…"
I said that, but as long as Na-eun didn't completely abandon English and let it rust, her top grade was basically locked in.
Today's English mock was from a private publisher—tougher than standard mocks or even the CSAT.
Scoring 97 on that meant she no longer needed my tutoring for English. Her level had surpassed mine from my prime. Hell, she might even beat me now.
"You did really well."
"Can't you praise me more?"
"Nah, that's your limit."
Na-eun giggled at my response and eyed the dessert in front of her.
"But why's so much left?"
"You haven't touched it once since ordering."
"Not even once? For real?"
"Why ask me if you didn't eat it?"
"I just… can't believe it?"
Her puzzled tone cracked me up.
How could she be surprised she hadn't eaten her own dessert?
Of course, I got it. When you're deep in the zone, the world vanishes. Na-eun must be like that.
"Dessert time, then social studies?"
"Yup~"
She dug into her treats with a blissful smile. While watching her, I double-checked the English sheet.
It followed my advice perfectly—optimized for max scores on the CSAT. She was evolving beyond her old self, fully absorbing my lessons.
The more I looked, the prouder I got. Our Na-eun.
Pretty, sweet, and a study machine.
How was a girl like this even with me?
Meanwhile, dessert finished, Na-eun pulled out more workbooks from her bag—social studies.
Honestly, I couldn't tutor these. She handled them herself, and they were mostly memorization anyway. No real way for me to help.
Best I could do was tips like this.
"This is testing the theory. Skip reinterpretation—just eliminate the outliers fast."
"Oh… that works…!"
Techniques for speed-solving worked across subjects, so those I could teach.
Otherwise, I just watched, nudging if she slacked—which she never did. "Slacking" wasn't in her vocabulary with that 200% focus.
Look at her now. Even pondering problems, her hands kept moving. Lips parting and closing, eyes blinking repeatedly, but her concentration never broke.
Incredible. Admirable. A little enviable, too.
Don't judge, but compared to her, my focus sucked.
If I had hers, I'd crush studying. That thought hit me.
Shoving aside the envy, I gazed at her again.
Glossy long hair perfectly tended, thin revealing outfit to beat the heat, curves that hugged and flared in all the right places—a body unbelievable on a Korean girl—plus that adorable face.
With looks like that, life's gotta be on very easy mode.
She'd probably gotten street-cast once or twice.
Obviously, I never asked. Even close as we were, boundaries existed.
And right now, those lines were non-negotiable.
No romantic interest anyway. Couldn't, even if I wanted. Old memories haunted me—that icy "let's end this" from months ago.
Better to say I wasn't ready for someone new.
…Weird guy, me. Just watching her study, and my mind wanders there.
I pinched my wrist where she couldn't see. The sting snapped me back.
Shaking off the tingle, I checked her social studies problems.
Lots were beyond me, but Life and Ethics I knew a bit. Back in first year, I tutored both social and science explorers—the easy ones.
Earth Science, Biology, Life and Ethics, that stuff. So I could hold my own there.
That made her even more impressive.
No hesitation in solving. How much effort to attack with such confidence?
Four years younger, a high school girl, but damn respectable. Cool, even.
Lucky me to tutor a kid like this. Hell, grateful to Seung-min Jeong for recommending me.
I'll buy you meat later, Seung-min.
I never noticed my surroundings while studying.
Been that way since I was little. Once immersed, everything else faded.
Great for studying, reading books, webtoons, manga.
But now? Kinda regretting it.
Study session over, I glanced beside me.
Seonwoo oppa smiled softly, eyes on me.
That handsome gaze, that warm face—every look made me fall harder. Sucks I missed it all zoned out.
But so happy he watched even me studying.
"Oppa, why stare so~ intensely?"
He chuckled lightly.
"You were super focused."
"I've always had great concentration~"
"True, it's insane."
His praise lit me up.
Compliments feel good anyway, but his? Extra special. Maybe 'cause he's so kind and sincere. Or just 'cause I love him.
Definitely—he alone made me happy.
"Grading this ends study time, right?"
He checked his watch and nodded.
"Yup, done after this."
"Yay~ Ice cream after grading!"
"Again?"
"Not 'again'—ice cream's always right in summer."
"You had some this morning."
"That was six hours ago—fair game now?"
"You'll get a stomachache."
"I'm healthy! And I wanna eat more~"
Especially with you, oppa. So let's.
He smirked, helpless, and nodded.
We finished grading, savored delicious ice cream, had a blast…
"Cough cough cough…"
…Never dreamed it'd lead to a cold.
Should've listened to oppa and moderated…