Ball-Boy Tactics

“Hey, think about it. Do you really think Jiwon is single because he can’t date? The fact is, it’s a choice. You know how Jiwon has been all about gymnastics since he was a kid.”

“Yeah, I saw that documentary too. But honestly, it’s kind of shocking. How about I introduce you to someone instead? There are a lot of cute girls in swimming.”

The topic just wouldn’t change. Though I hadn’t meant to, I started regretting revealing that I had no dating experience at all.

“It’s fine. I don’t really want to date anyone right now. I’m happy with how things are.”

“Alright, but… Wow, that’s really surprising. Honestly, at this point, aren’t you almost like… gay?”

Laughter erupted around the table at his comment. Words like “crazy bastard” and “old-fashioned phobic idiot” flew amidst the laughter. I was the only one who felt a sinking feeling in my chest. I quickly realized it was just a joke, but without thinking, I glanced at Kwon Jungwoo.

And then, I met his eyes, staring straight at me.

Ah, I shouldn’t have looked.

I quickly averted my gaze, like someone with something to hide, and immediately regretted it. At the very least, I shouldn’t have looked away.

“Th-that’s not it. I like girls. Haha.”

I managed to reply awkwardly, but it was probably unnecessary as the players didn’t seem to care, continuing to chat playfully. Only Kwon Jungwoo remained silent.

While everyone else laughed, Kwon Jungwoo quietly watched me, not breaking his gaze like before, as he slowly sipped his drink. His glass, once full, was now empty as he placed it back on the table, yet his meaningful gaze remained fixed on me.

The reason Kwon Jungwoo was watching me probably wasn’t anything special. Whether he was annoyed by my blatant lies or just found them ridiculous.

Whatever the case, I was sure it was a look of disappointment, so I couldn’t bear to look at him anymore. I was still too new to this crush to endure the scornful gaze of someone I liked.

The after-party for the group project had turned into a basketball team gathering, but the atmosphere was good. The get-together lasted until 10 PM, well after the hot pot was emptied. To be precise, it was the end of the “first round.”

“Um… I think I’ll head out now.”

I spoke up as we transitioned to the second location, drawing everyone’s attention. I had subtly turned my back to Kwon Jungwoo while speaking, so I wasn’t sure how he reacted.

“What? What’s the point of drinking without Jiwon?”

“Sorry. I didn’t bring my car, so I need to catch the last bus if I want to get home.”

“Forget the bus and take a taxi. Just come with us for the second round! Okay?”

“Um, well… I feel like if I drink any more, I’ll be in trouble….”

“C’mon, let’s go.”

Byun Seungjin led the chorus of disappointed voices, joined by the other players who had also started speaking informally. They insisted I join them, even if just for the second round.

Though tired, I could still stick around if I had to. Despite the noise making my ears ring, the players’ banter was so entertaining that time flew by.

However, being with such a lively crowd for so long was exhausting. I’m not one to get physically tired easily, but mentally, I felt drained… like my energy was being sapped.

I couldn’t just sit there with a guilty conscience, smiling at Kwon Jungwoo. The vibe of the after-party I had eagerly awaited was different from what I’d expected, leaving me a bit deflated. So even though this kind of gathering might not happen often, I really just wanted to go home today.

But after refusing three times, I didn’t have the strength to say no again. I felt like I was ruining the mood by insisting on leaving. So, reluctantly, I was about to agree to stay.

That’s when a familiar, comforting scent wafted over.

“Let’s go together. I’m tired, too.”

Kwon Jungwoo came over and stood beside me. The invisible wall that had been between us throughout the gathering seemed to vanish.

“…With me?”

I hadn’t expected his offer, so I asked again, meeting his gaze for the first time in a while. Kwon Jungwoo looked down at me, then leaned in closer, his cool eyes twinkling playfully.

“What? Does it feel awkward all of a sudden?”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that….”

“If there’s no problem, then let’s go. Or are you going to make me walk home alone at night?”

Kwon Jungwoo smiled slyly as he added, “I’m scared.”

His sparkling smile left me defenseless, and I mumbled and nodded in agreement. There wasn’t even time to add anything else, as the players became rowdy when Kwon Jungwoo mentioned he was leaving too.

“Jungwoo, you didn’t bring your car. Just go to the second round and then catch a ride with me! You’ll be able to get a cab easily tonight anyway.”

“I’ll take a taxi.”

“But you have to walk all the way to the main gate to catch a taxi. It’s hard to get one here.”

“It’s fine. If it gets boring, I’ll just ask Han Jiwon to sing for me.”

“Are you really just going to leave?”

“I’m tired.”

The players were even more insistent with Kwon Jungwoo than they had been with me, but they didn’t push too hard. Kwon Jungwoo stood firm, and as a result, I suddenly found myself part of a makeshift “heading home” team. The team, of course, consisted only of me and Kwon Jungwoo.

Byun Seungjin and Yang Eunoh, in particular, looked full of regret as they watched us leave.

“Hey, seriously… If it gets dark and scary, you guys should come back, okay?”

“Should we?”

Kwon Jungwoo glanced back at me as if asking for my opinion. It might have been my imagination, but his plump, playful eye bags seemed more pronounced when he looked at me.

“Sure. But I’m actually less scared than I look….”

Though I might seem timid, I’ve never really been frightened by ghosts or goblins since I was a child. So I admitted the truth, but that seemed to amuse Kwon Jungwoo, who laughed out loud.

“See, I knew I’d feel safe with Han Jiwon around.”

As he spoke with a smile, he placed a large hand on top of my hat and then withdrew it. The weight of his touch reminded me of the difference in size between Kwon Jungwoo and me, while also giving me a sliver of hope—a hope that maybe, just maybe, the awareness we had of each other during the night wasn’t all in my head.

In reality, Kwon Jungwoo, who is quite generous, might have already forgiven me for pretending to be a dating expert. Perhaps that’s why he was smiling at me so warmly.

But then, Kwon Jungwoo shattered that fragile hope.

“Let’s go. You’ve got a lot to say to me, don’t you?”

“……”

It didn’t feel entirely accurate to say we had ‘safely’ separated from the group, given that the walk back with Kwon Jungwoo felt far from safe in a psychological sense.

The campus was dark as we walked, with only the occasional streetlight providing some illumination. The scattered lamps weren’t enough to fully overcome the darkness, and only a few windows in the nearby buildings were lit. The wide campus, with its few lights here and there, resembled the patchwork view of land from a plane at night.

But it wasn’t frightening. The weather was perfect for a walk, and the subtle lighting added to the atmosphere. The only thing that would normally be a source of excitement—walking alone with Kwon Jungwoo through a quiet campus—was dulled by the fact that tonight, it wasn’t just excitement I felt, but also a mix of anxiety after all that had been exposed.

“Are you drunk?”

Kwon Jungwoo asked softly.

“To be honest, I’m not completely sober… just a little tipsy? But not enough to make mistakes.”

I quickly added, recalling the night I asked him to drive me home, and Kwon Jungwoo chuckled as if he was thinking the same thing. Despite having had some alcohol, his laugh was refreshingly clear, almost as if he hadn’t been drinking at all but had just been sipping on a sports drink.

After a few more steps of walking in silence, Kwon Jungwoo suddenly spoke up as if something had just occurred to him.

“You were so well-known for your gymnastics, but I keep forgetting that you were an athlete. I guess I didn’t expect you to have such a strong competitive streak when it comes to dating, too.”

“Competitive streak?”

The unfamiliar word made me repeat it, and Kwon Jungwoo slowly nodded.

“I didn’t think that competitive streak would extend to your love life, too.”

“Oh…”

Only then did I realize he was talking about the lies I had told. I hadn’t lied out of some competitive spirit, but it was hard to explain that. After all, I had deceived him, and there was no excuse for that, so I ended up trailing off and eventually just closing my mouth.

Kwon Jungwoo spoke again after a brief, somewhat empty pause, almost as if he’d been waiting to see if I would say anything more.

“You don’t need to feel embarrassed. I get it, wanting to seem like you’ve got a lot of experience in dating. Athletes are like that, right? I can understand not wanting to feel left out.”

“……”

“It’s just that I don’t like liars.”

He said it with a smile that seemed genuine, even though he claimed to dislike liars. Kwon Jungwoo was the type to say difficult things without blushing or hesitating.

“…I’m sorry.”

I finally managed to squeak out an apology, late as it was, but Kwon Jungwoo didn’t seem to take it seriously. He just stared straight ahead, saying it was fine, while continuing to walk.

His indifference made me feel like I was burning up inside. It felt like I had been pushed out of Kwon Jungwoo’s world, and that if I didn’t seize this moment, I would never have another chance to make things right.

Afraid of losing that chance, I stopped in front of him. Whether or not he knew how scared I was, Kwon Jungwoo just looked at me with a slight tilt of his head.

“I’m really sorry. I feel terrible and embarrassed, but I don’t know how to properly apologize. It wasn’t because of some competitive spirit that I lied, but because….”

“……”

“…I just wanted to keep talking with you. I think I wanted you to see me in a better light.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but that’s the truth.”

The only reason I could be this honest was because of the alcohol. Kwon Jungwoo watched me with a curious expression as I kept apologizing. At some point, he seemed less focused on what I was saying and more on simply looking at my face. Standing this close, even though he was clearly taller, I somehow felt like we were almost the same height.

The soft moonlight combined with the streetlights made Kwon Jungwoo’s already handsome face look like a sculpture. His delicate features seemed to have been chiseled out, and his eyes looked like they held tiny jewels. I hoped that under the same moonlight, I looked just as good to him. That’s what I was thinking when he finally spoke again.

“Han Jiwon.”

He was still staring straight at me.

“You mentioned you had a cousin, a female cousin.”

“……”

“Does she look like you, or….”

Kwon Jungwoo paused as if searching for the right words, then looked down at his feet for a moment before continuing.

“Does she look like you?”

There was a subtle hopefulness in Kwon Jungwoo’s expression, like he really wanted to hear a certain answer. He seemed eager to hear what I would say, even though I hesitated longer than usual.

I was too busy silently cursing myself for forgetting about that lie.

Why was Kwon Jungwoo suddenly interested in my cousin? I tried to think of a plausible reason, but nothing made sense. His words made me feel confused and uncertain, and it was clear that my crush was making me dumber.

Giving up on thinking too hard, I shook my head at Kwon Jungwoo. He sighed softly.

“That’s a shame.”

“No, that’s not it….”

“Wait, don’t tell me that was a lie too?”

“……”

“I really don’t like you.”

Kwon Jungwoo let out a light laugh, as if he was somewhat exasperated, and walked past me as I continued to block his path. Afraid of the scent of his cologne drifting away, I quickly followed after him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve realized I’m more naive than I thought.”

“……”

All the things I wanted to say vanished, leaving only a sense of remorse as I walked silently. I couldn’t bring myself to even glance at Kwon Jungwoo and kept my eyes fixed on the ground. The unhealthy emotions of shame and embarrassment weighed heavily on me, causing my head to hang low.

“Watch where you’re going, you might trip.”

Kwon Jungwoo tugged lightly on my hoodie, causing my upper body to tilt back. When he came back into view, he didn’t seem as angry as I had thought. His familiar cute eye smile and the pleasant curve of his lips made it seem like he was rather enjoying himself.

“You’re allowed to be mad, you know….”

“Why bother getting mad? I can just dislike you.”

“…Oh.”

“What’s with the ‘oh’?”

Kwon Jungwoo responded grumpily as he continued to walk forward, then turned to look at me. Our eyes met briefly before he came to a sudden stop, this time frowning slightly.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“…What do you mean…?”

“Stop making me have weird thoughts.”

He said this with an expression that seemed to be asking if I understood, but I couldn’t bring myself to say that I didn’t. So I simply pursed my lips and nodded while staring at his collarbone.

As we walked in silence, I couldn’t help but think that Kwon Jungwoo had grown to dislike me so much that he didn’t even want me to look at him. His words echoed in my head, and my expression hardened. I regretted all the lies I had told and clenched and unclenched my hands, as if trying to hold on to time. The thought that we might never have a chance to talk like this again made me feel more and more downhearted.

Thump.

Our hands brushed against each other as we walked side by side. Even though it was just for a moment, the sensation of his bare skin against mine lingered, probably because of the stark difference in our body temperatures. Startled, I quickly clasped my hands in front of me, but Kwon Jungwoo stepped to the side, increasing the distance between us.

“……”

The night air felt even more awkward, perhaps because of the distance that had grown between us. Just a few days ago, Kwon Jungwoo had practically covered my hand with his as he took the pen from me, but now his reaction was completely different, making me feel even more miserable.

The large campus felt especially small today. As we passed through the main gate, I saw a line of taxis parked along the main road. The closer we got to the taxis, the more anxious I became. I didn’t know when I would have another chance to talk to Kwon Jungwoo like this, and if we parted ways now, I knew only bad memories would remain.

Finally, as we were right in front of the taxis, my anxiety turned into fear, and that fear, in turn, gave me an uncharacteristic burst of courage.

“Um… Are you really tired? If not, do you want to go for another round?”

When Kwon Jungwoo looked at me, my foolish mouth blurted out even more.

“My place… it’s empty.”

“Weren’t you living alone?”

“Yes, I am. Actually, I’m not sure why I even said that.”

Although I didn’t intend it, my foolishness somehow succeeded in making Kwon Jungwoo laugh. After being lost in thought and silent for a moment, Kwon Jungwoo gave a small laugh and lowered his head slightly toward me, as if he were interested in seeing my reaction.

“Hmm, I don’t want to put myself in a position where I have to forgive you again.”

“I won’t lie to you again.”

“But you just said that drinking more would be a bad idea. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“With you… I think it’ll be okay, even if something happens.”

“…What?”

Kwon Jungwoo frowned slightly, as if he hadn’t heard me clearly or didn’t quite understand. He seemed a bit perplexed. It didn’t seem like what I said was all that complicated, though.

“Uh, I mean, if anything happens to me, I think you’ll be there to help. After all, you’re tall and… reliable.”

It felt like a confession, so saying it made me feel embarrassed. I was suddenly self-conscious, wondering if my emotions had leaked out without me realizing it, and my fingers curled up. Kwon Jungwoo let out a long sigh.

“You always have a way with words… No, actually, this is on me. My brain’s been a little messed up since earlier.”

“Messed up?”

“Let’s go, to your place. I’ll buy the drinks. So—”

He whispered, “I’ll make sure nothing bad happens.”

His softly spoken words made my heart flutter for some reason. Maybe it was because he seemed to be watching me, waiting for my response.

I didn’t quite understand what he meant by his brain being messed up, but in any case, there was no way anything significant was going to happen now that we were going home. The biggest thing on my mind was that I had a chance to make up for my mistakes.

***

“Have you picked a route for our walk?”

I was watching the cheese fondue stretch over the nachos when Kwon Jungwoo asked. His hands were so big that even a 500ml can of beer looked small. With a grip strong enough to hold a basketball in one hand, it was clear that even a little pressure would easily crush the aluminum can.

This was the second time Kwon Jungwoo had been to my place, but the awkwardness remained. Although I had eagerly invited him over, once we were sitting together, the conversation kept fizzling out, and I couldn’t seem to keep the conversation going for long. It wasn’t like this when we got into the elevator. The nervousness started when we stepped into the apartment, and Kwon Jungwoo had smiled slightly, saying, “It smells like you in here.” That’s when I started feeling so tense.

“No, not yet.”

“There’s a lakeside park nearby. It’s nice there, so we should go.”

“Really? I haven’t been there, but I’ll have to check it out.”

“Or, would you like to go with me next time?”

Kwon Jungwoo, who was sitting across from me at the low table, suggested this as he placed his empty beer can on the floor. For some reason, I thought Kwon Jungwoo would crush the empty can without mercy, but when he didn’t, that unexpectedly captured all of my attention. Maybe that’s why I blurted out the most curious part without filtering my words.

“Just the two of us?”

“Why, do you have someone else you’d rather go with?”

“N-no, it’s not like that…”

“Then what is it?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it was because I liked the idea, so I just opened and closed my mouth silently. Kwon Jungwoo rested his chin on his hand and stared at me, as if he was willing to wait forever for an answer. Had the lighting in my house always been this soft? My heart fluttered every time I looked at Kwon Jungwoo’s face, so I couldn’t bring myself to look at him directly.

“Honestly, since our group project is over, I thought I wouldn’t get to spend time with you—no, with you all—anymore. But when you said we should go on a walk together… it made me happy.”

Though my answer slightly missed the point of his question, Kwon Jungwoo didn’t point that out. So, before he could dig any further, I quickly stood up and grabbed another can of beer from the fridge. When I handed it to him, asking, “Want some?” Kwon Jungwoo accepted it. Though our hands didn’t touch, the slight sloshing inside the can made me feel as if we had shared a deeper connection.

“Thanks.”

“Oh, no problem. You’re really good at drinking. It seemed like you had a lot earlier at the bar too.”

“Well, yeah. But what about your ankle? Is it okay?”

As if he had been following my movements with his eyes, it seemed he had noticed my steps. Thoughtful Kwon Jungwoo remembered an injury I had almost forgotten myself.

“Yeah. It’s much better now, almost fine. That’s why I’m even doing a tumbling routine at the sports event in a few days…”

“You’re doing what on that sandy field?”

“Tumbling!”

“I wasn’t asking because I didn’t know.”

“Oh… I wasn’t planning to, but it just kind of happened.”

I started with a silly laugh, but the conversation unexpectedly led to everything from a promise I made before entering university to a phone call I had this afternoon. Kwon Jungwoo, who quietly listened to me, occasionally urged me on with “Uh-huh,” and “So?” which made me spill out even the details I hadn’t planned to share.

After I finished talking, I felt like a little kid tattling to an adult, so I felt embarrassed and quickly gulped down some beer and pretended to fix my perfectly fine hair. Kwon Jungwoo had told me to take off my hat as soon as we entered the house, and I had already thoroughly checked in the bathroom mirror to make sure my hair wasn’t flattened or sticking up.

“So, you’ve decided to trust the class rep when they said they’d exempt you from the retreat?”

“Yeah. I mean, they’re the class rep, so I feel like they’ll really keep this promise this time… They even said they’d inform the teaching assistant beforehand.”

“And if they go back on their word, you’ll end up with yet another promise?”

“…I spoke pretty firmly during the call earlier, so I think I can trust them this time. It sounded like they were under pressure from the professor too.”

“Ah.”

Kwon Jungwoo let out a sound of understanding, nodding while keeping his gaze fixed on me. But the longer I looked at him, the sharper his eyes seemed—not so much understanding as…

“What did that class rep do to convince you to make excuses for them like this?”

“…”

“I don’t know if I’m talking to Han Jiwon or that class rep right now.”

What do you think?

Though his tone was clearly sarcastic, there was an indescribable smile on his face. Kwon Jungwoo seemed to be the kind of person who looked you in the eye when he talked. He always did, whether it was a harsh critique or a trivial joke, and as a result, my reactions were always fully exposed.

“Did I really? I guess I was making excuses… The truth is, I wasn’t fully convinced by the promise either.”

“If you don’t trust it, then don’t agree to it. What do you gain by constantly accepting it all with a smile? Just tell them to get lost.”

“…I couldn’t say no.”

Even as I spoke, I felt embarrassed, so I quickly shoved some nachos into my mouth. I didn’t even chew properly before gulping down more beer. Revealing my flaws so blatantly to someone I liked made me feel incredibly small.

Kwon Jungwoo started to say something, but then stopped and closed his mouth. He ran his hand through his hair, as if out of habit, but the non-sweaty strands just fell back into place, looking casually disheveled.

“Well, it’s not really my place to interfere. You must have your reasons too.”

He said this ambiguously, as if he were talking to himself, then gulped down his beer as if trying to wash away the frustration. Each deep swallow emphasized the prominent Adam’s apple in his throat, which contrasted sharply with his casual, tousled hair.

“You.”

Even after finishing his beer, Kwon Jungwoo seemed to have something else he wanted to say, as he bit and released his damp lips several times, hesitating. His lips, almost too smooth to belong to an ordinary guy, looked as tempting as any fruit, and slightly suggestive. Then, he suddenly asked,

“Are you good at taking photos?”

“Photos? Why?”

“If you’re really skilled, you can use that as a reason to refuse. You know that, right?”

“…”

“You don’t have to stress over those things. Just focus on your photography.”

“Yeah… I’ll keep that in mind.”

When I responded, Kwon Jungwoo echoed, “Keep it in mind…” and then let out a small laugh. The light smile that spread across his face didn’t seem like he was teasing me. I waited, thinking he might say more, but that seemed to be the limit of his meddling, as he nonchalantly continued to eat nachos. Then, suddenly, our eyes met.

Swallowing what he had in his mouth, Kwon Jungwoo abruptly stood up. In the short moment it took him to move around the table and sit beside me, I stiffened like someone who had forgotten how to breathe. Even though he saw me in this state, Kwon Jungwoo sat down close beside me.

“Do you have any photos on your phone?”

“Photos? What kind of photos?”

“Just ones you’ve taken as a hobby. If you have any, show me. I’d like to take a look.”

His voice was so close that I could feel his breath. Our knees were almost touching, so I subtly moved away, but Kwon Jungwoo closed the gap again, and our knees eventually bumped.

Despite the space available on the side, I couldn’t move further away because my feelings for Kwon Jungwoo made him feel overwhelming.

In other words, I was completely frozen.

That’s why I handed over my phone to Kwon Jungwoo, almost as if I were showing him my homework. It seemed like he hadn’t intended to take my phone.

So, I ended up sliding through the photos and showing them to him, which brought our faces naturally closer over the screen.

“Isn’t this the campus? It looks different like this.”

“Yeah. The street near the music department is really pretty.”

“It didn’t seem this pretty in real life. Where’s this?”

“Oh… That’s the parking lot of this building.”

“Ah, the atmosphere is nice.”

“……”

“……”

It was a strange silence, too focused to just be simple appreciation. I couldn’t tell if Kwon Jungwoo wasn’t speaking because he felt it too or if the silence was making him not speak. What was certain was that even though I had slowed down considerably while flipping through the photos, he didn’t mention it, which meant he was aware of this subtle atmosphere.

After going through several photos, Kwon Jungwoo, who had been solely focused on the screen, glanced at me.

“Your face is really red.”

“Uh? Ah… I must’ve drunk too much. I kept drinking because I was handling it well today, but I guess it’s showing.”

I awkwardly laughed louder to cover it up. For a moment, Kwon Jungwoo tilted his head and met my gaze. His face, which was already close, was now so near that I could see every detail of his eyebrows.

“…What?”

“I’ve never seen anyone who closes their eyes when they laugh. You always do that when you smile.”

“It’s just a habit I picked up. Makes me look a bit silly, doesn’t it?”

“Not really. I just thought it’s nice to get a good look at your face when you smile.”

“…”

“Is that weird?”

As if he had just realized it might sound strange, Kwon Jungwoo lightly scratched his nose and straightened his posture. Although the distance remained close, the slight space he created made it easier to breathe. Maybe that’s why I ended up saying something I wouldn’t normally dare to.

“I think I understand what you mean. Sometimes, I also want to just watch you smile.”

I probably had a different reason, but I agreed with the surface meaning of his words. I took a sip of my beer and fiddled with the side of the can, pressing and releasing it repeatedly. The soft sound made it seem like I was trying to act casual.

“Well… It’s not like I have a special reason for it. It’s just that when you smile, there’s a big gap from your usual expression. Normally, you’re not like that, but when you smile, how should I say this… You look kind of mischievous.”

“Mischievous?”

It sounded like Kwon Jungwoo hadn’t heard that description before, so he asked again. I quickly tried to explain, thinking the word might have a negative connotation.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way! You just look really energetic when you smile, like when you’re playing basketball.”

“Hmm. I can totally trust what you say.”

“I’m serious! I really didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

“Whether you meant it or not—”

Kwon Jungwoo trailed off, taking my beer can from me. I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed by the noise or if he wanted me to focus on our conversation. The can was quietly placed on the table.

“Do you know what you said to me that stuck with me the most?”

His voice, tinged with amusement, managed to draw my hesitant gaze back to him. When our eyes met again, I realized his face was closer than I had thought.

“You said I wasn’t sexually attractive.”

“…”

“Was that true?”

Kwon Jungwoo’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if recalling that moment, and then returned to normal. The remaining hint of a smile made it hard to tell if he was joking or being serious.

Was he teasing me because I called him mischievous? Either way, I was incredibly flustered by the fact that he brought up this topic, considering that we were both a bit tipsy, and our faces were barely a few inches apart. Asking about sexual attraction at this moment surely had a specific intent.

He blinked slowly, and even that small action seemed relaxed, unlike me.

“…It would be weird if I said you were. We’re both guys, after all.”

“But it’s also weird that you said I wasn’t.”

If you think about it. Right?

His casual question made me nod without realizing it, almost as if it were a drunk confession.

“I guess, um… you might have some charm…”

Even as I said it, I expected Kwon Jungwoo to smirk, but he didn’t. He simply kept his faint smile and then reached out towards my face. It was a slow movement, but in the stillness of the room, it felt monumental.

I flinched and shrank back instinctively, which made Kwon Jungwoo gently brush my cheek with his fingertips as if to soothe me. But I didn’t have time to let my heart swell at that feathery touch. His hand, leaving behind a strong scent, moved past my face and tugged at the hood of my hoodie from behind.

“If you were a girl—”