My gaze was always on you.

09 | There's no way Ji-an would do that.

김태형.

Ji-an? Suddenly?

김태형.

Were you always this playful? You're being particularly serious about your jokes today.

Ji-an, who had been seriously answering my question, smiled when I came out and gently tapped my forehead a couple of times as if to ask if I was joking. I felt a little relieved, realizing that Tae-hyung didn't seem to care much about Ji-an, who had liked him for so long.

배주현.

Just! We were friends before we started dating. I asked because Ji-an is that close to us.

If I got any more serious here, Taehyung would start to get suspicious. I couldn't rule out the possibility that Ji-an might even reconsider her actions toward me, thinking, "No way."

김태형.

Really? Yeah, somehow, there's no way Ji-an would do that.

He quickly opened his eyes and smiled as he answered. His eyes quickly returned, but he adjusted his clothes, keeping his lips raised. No, he lowered them slightly, making it seem as if he was smiling. Perhaps he'd lost himself in thought for a moment, just in case.

배주현.

Should we go home now?

김태형.

Yeah, right.

Taehyung must have thought about what I said. When I suggested we head home, he just smiled and got up without even a joking suggestion to stay longer. Seeing Taehyung continue to smile, I can't really tell what he's thinking. It's almost surprising that he even noticed that I liked him.

So I woke up and was a little nervous about the conversation with Taehyung, so I kept biting my lips and the tint that had worn off a little went away, so I reapplied it and left the cafe.

김태형.

Should I take you home?

배주현.

Oh.. Kim Taehyung, have you ever been in a relationship?

김태형.

No.. I just thought it might be a little dangerous

배주현.

It's still early evening. Do you just want to stay with me?

김태형.

Right. You don't like it?

Kim Taehyung comes in. Honestly, I didn't hate him. I liked Taehyung too, and it was a sincere feeling that came across unintentionally, but I was worried that being around him would make me anxious and I wouldn't be able to control my facial expressions, so I told him to go home today.

배주현.

I know I wouldn't hate it. But since we're playing after school, I'm worried I'll be tired!

배주현.

Go home first and then take me next time. How about that? Or should I take you next time?

김태형.

No.. I'll take you there.

I'm so happy that I'm dating Taehyung, and I feel like I've avoided the worst situation with Ji-an, but what should I do? There's no way Ji-an would forget Taehyung so quickly. Am I being too sensitive?

김태형.

Are you over there? Be careful on your way in, and I'll take you next time.

배주현.

Go in carefully.

김태형.

you also.

He chuckled and waved, then quickly turned around and walked away slowly. As soon as I parted ways with Taehyung, I sighed deeply. It seemed like I was the only one who thought everything was going in a good direction.

As I walked, lost in thought, I found myself in front of my house. Even after arriving home, I couldn't rest comfortably. I wondered how I should treat Ji-an, what I should do if she got angry. But if I had truly given up on Tae-hyung, was it okay to ignore him?

배주현.

Ha... I don't know, I guess I'll just sleep. If I sleep now, it'll be morning soon...

[Jian's point of view]

Time flew by faster than I expected. I was so shocked to learn that Joohyun was dating Taehyung that I didn't even realize the night had passed. I hated going to school with a couple, so I left early without even contacting them.

이지안.

Bae Joo-hyun. But still... Are you dating me because you confessed first, knowing I like you?

I really couldn't give up. Even if Taehyung really liked Joohyun. If I couldn't have her, I couldn't give her to anyone else. Especially if it was Bae Joohyun.

이지안.

But honestly, it's not right to confess after saying you like someone... Kim Taehyung accepts it, and does he like Bae Joohyun that much?

It was the perfect way to vent, mumbling to myself in an empty classroom with no one around. Maybe it was because it was so large, but my voice seemed to echo a little... The large, empty classroom was the perfect way to soothe my lonely heart.

이지안.

I'm going crazy..

김태형.

Oh, what's up? Why are you here so early, Lee Ji-an?

배주현.

Yeah, there was no contact at all.

이지안.

Why did you guys come so early?

I can't say out loud that I didn't receive a call from them asking me to go with them because they were a couple. It's obvious they contacted each other early in the morning and arrived early. Normally, they'd never be in the classroom at this hour.

배주현.

Taehyung gave me a wake-up call today. I woke up too early, so I just did it... because everyone else did it.

Every time Joohyun spoke, he would only look at her, and when she smiled, he would smile back, saying he liked it. When she told him she'd given him a wake-up call, his face flushed, perhaps thrilled. He hated the sight, and wanted to storm out of there, but he couldn't, so all he could say was, "Don't be so picky."

이지안.

Please do some salting. It's already quiet so I can hear you very well.

배주현.

I was really surprised by how low his voice was, perhaps because it was morning.

Taehyung, blushing and just laughing at the thought of them being a couple, pinched her cheek. He hated the fact that Bae Joohyun had always been the winner, despite her hiding her feelings, hurting her, and even claiming she liked someone else.

이지안.

But what happened to that senior you said was your ideal type? Taehyung probably knows too. That you liked that senior.

이지안.

Oh, or could it be the current Jinhyung? Taehyung confessed after finding out.