Family on paper
Love Maze 06
김남준
“No. I haven’t heard anything⋯.”
여주
“⋯.”
김남준
“⋯I’ll contact you again later.”
Why is the timing so odd today? I was eating and watching the lecture, my tablet on one side and my bowl on the other, when Kim Namjoon came in with a familiar voice.
Kim Namjoon usually studied late into the night in the study room and came home at dawn... but why did he come home so early? The problem, if anything, was that he happened to run into me while I was eating.
여주
“⋯Over there.”
I called out to Kim Namjoon, who was taking an electrolyte drink from the fridge. I was afraid I might speak too softly and come across as overly irritating, but contrary to my worries, Kim Namjoon froze in his tracks the moment I spoke.
여주
“I’m thinking of changing my private tutor.”
Kim Namjoon's expressionless gaze turned to me. Kim Seokjin was Kim Seokjin, but Kim Namjoon was also Kim Namjoon. Since he'd been so open about his dislike for me since we were kids, I couldn't help but find him difficult.
김남준
"okay."
여주
“Oh, I’ll look for a new teacher.”
김남준
“As you wish.”
Short. Too short. The reply I received was incredibly short. Not having anything else to say, I kept my mouth shut and picked up my spoon again. Kim Namjoon, who had passed the table, turned around, saying, "Ah."
김남준
“Be selective about your friends.”
여주
“⋯?”
김남준
“Don’t show off that it’s fake.”
As I watched Kim Namjoon climb the stairs, the spoon slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. I couldn't even hear the lecture coming through my AirPods.
‘Don’t show that it’s fake.’
여주
“⋯I know that too.”
My appetite was gone. Half my meal was still left, but I stood up without a second thought. "Fake." I hadn't even tried to pretend, but the words struck me deeply.
My mind wandered, and I couldn't focus on my studies. I stuffed the unopened book back into my bag and threw myself onto the bed. The bed, perhaps because it was so expensive, was soft enough to support my body as I jumped.
KakaoTalk. KakaoTalk. The phone on the bedside table rang. I'd put it on silent mode after talking to Kim Taehyung earlier, and thanks to that, I could finally hear the notification sound properly.
‘Who is it at this hour⋯.’
I'd never had any friends, so no one would contact me. Thinking it might be spam, I grabbed my phone to block it, then turned on the screen, and an unexpected person's name popped up in the center of the screen.
여주
“⋯Park Jimin?”
Four missed calls, five KakaoTalk messages. Park Jimin didn't hesitate, wondering why he had so much to say after just meeting her.
‘⋯What is this kid?’
Anyone who saw me would think we were close. Just as I was about to check Park Jimin's KakaoTalk, he called me again. Without a moment's hesitation, I declined, replying to his message with a simple "Good night," then closing my phone.
여주
“I’m tired⋯.”
I hadn't done anything today, yet fatigue washed over me. I laid my head on the pillow, my arms covering my eyes, and my eyelids closed on their own. I hoped tomorrow would be quieter than today... I drifted into unconsciousness, wishing for a wish no one would hear.