Became an Observer in Love Company

The classroom was quiet.

Outside the window, the dim glow of streetlights illuminated the evening air.

A gentle breeze pushed the window slightly ajar, causing the curtain to sway slowly.

Occasional murmurs from afar only seemed to emphasize the tranquility of this place.

On the desk lay a pile of ungraded test papers.

The grip on the pen tightened ever so slightly.

Swish. Swipe. The sound of the pen grazing the paper became the only noise.

Kim Dohyun called out the answers in a calm voice.

“4, 2, 3, 4, 1.”

“4, 2, 3, 4, 1.”

I quietly echoed the numbers he spoke.

Carefully, one by one, circles appeared on the test paper.

There were more circles than crosses.

My grade went up, and I couldn’t help but feel cheerful as I thrust my test paper in front of Kim Dohyun.

“Look at this!”

Kim Dohyun quietly examined my test paper.

“Oh, your grade really improved.”

“Isn’t that impressive? Wait, hold on…”

“What is it now?”

“How do you even know my grade improved?”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him.

‘Could he possibly have feelings for me?’

Thinking back, it seemed so.

At the bus stop, he had offered me a drink that matched my preferences, and he even gave me his portion of tamagoyaki (egg casserole), knowing I liked it.

Of course, it was hard to definitively conclude.

But even so, the thought made me inexplicably happy.

“…I can kind of guess from how you’re doing things.”

Yeah, there’s no way that would be true.

I knew it, but for some reason, it made me feel worse.

I glared at him and said,

“You keep looking down on me. What about you? How much did you score?!”

I had wanted to make a simple wish with my “wish coupon,” but now I didn’t want to because his attitude was grating on me.

I needed to humiliate him somehow—like making him call me “sister” or act cute.

‘I should record it on video and torment him with it later.’

I glanced at his fingertips with half-anticipation and half-worry.

Swish, swipe—

A red pen trailed along the surface of his test paper.

The faint light from outside danced across Kim Dohyun’s face.

In this dim, reddish classroom, his ash-colored hair stood out.

A stoic, expressionless face.

Even though he looked unfazed, for some reason, I found myself wanting to see that expression.

Swish, swipe—

Each time he marked his answers, his fingers moved.

And my gaze followed those movements.

Before I knew it, I was staring at his lips.

The calm breaths escaping them.

The neat, composed corners compared to usual.

I quietly looked down.

‘What am I doing?’

I had never focused this intensely on someone’s face.

Because of this, I completely missed seeing the numerous circles on his test paper.

I tried to hide my wavering feelings by speaking loudly.

“Don’t forget our deal! Wish coupon! You remember that, right? You’re not backing out now, are you?”

He handed me his completed test sheet without saying much.

I took it and checked it—then froze.

“…”

“How’s it going? You changing your mind now?”

I bit my lip.

I lost.

Completely lost.

“Will you still use it?”

I asked, trying to preserve what little dignity I had left.

“No, it was just a joke.”

His betrayed expression made me glower at him even more.

“Relationships are supposed to be cold and ruthless, you know.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit too harsh for our friendship?”

I kicked a pebble lying nearby in irritation.

“What kind of friends are we?”

“…Just… friends.”

I lowered my head.

I was disappointed that I had lost, but there was something else about this conversation that didn’t sit well with me.

Just friends.

We’re just friends.

That phrase echoed in my ears, replaying endlessly inside my head.

This was strange.

“You may have lost, but you fought well.”

He gave me a light tap on the shoulder.

I rudely brushed his hand off.

“Stop that and step back, would you?”

“No.”

“Cheapskate!”

I playfully slapped his arm.

He didn’t even flinch.

“Since you lost, my wish coupon is valid.”

“…”

“It’s cheating if you don’t honor it.”

I tightly closed my lips.

He was right.

“Can I ask you one thing, though?”

“The wish coupon is supposed to be used by you, isn’t it?”

“If you’re trying to console me, then fine, one question.”

“What is it?”

I looked up at him.

After some pondering, the words escaped me without my consent.

“Do you like someone?”

“…”

His steps halted at that moment.

I stared at him half-expecting something but also half-teasing.

But Kim Dohyun’s reaction was unusual.

His usual quick reply didn’t come.

His hesitancy hovered and then vanished like carbonated bubbles.

“No.”

His answer was brief. But the short silence before the answer.

That bothered me. I felt a strange discomfort grow in my stomach.

“Is that so?”

I feigned nonchalance.

However, his answer kept lingering in my mind.

It felt like a lie.

That’s what I thought.

The practice room door was slightly ajar.

The faint light from inside spilled out.

Unconsciously, I peeked inside.

There, I saw Yoon Jihoo and Senior Nayul.

Yoon Jihoo was in a martial arts stance.

More accurately, Senior Nayul was helping him adjust his stance.

“The angle of your arm has to be lower.”

The senior lightly held his arm to adjust it.

Her fingertips lightly glided along Yoon Jihoo’s forearm.

In a seemingly casual, yet soft manner.

Yoon Jihoo, without much expression, followed her corrections.

The distance between them was close.

I watched their interaction with interest.

They looked quite well-suited for each other.

Senior Nayul had always been popular with people, and Yoon Jihoo was also well-liked, creating a cozy atmosphere wherever he was.

Maybe they would really make a good pair.

Maybe it’s not an impossible idea.

‘Yoon Jihoo is really doing well.’

I discreetly glanced at Kim Dohyun from the corner of my eye. His gaze was directed toward them.

His eyes refused to leave.

Then, he took a step back as if running away, as if unwilling to see.

His expression seemed to waver for a moment.

Rarely did this usually stoic expressionless Kim Dohyun reveal any emotion.

And it was in response to what he saw inside the practice room.

I felt strangely upset.

I tore my gaze away from his face and looked back at Yoon Jihoo and Senior Nayul in the room.

Even though my eyes were on the room, all my attention was on the side where Kim Dohyun stood.

Kim Dohyun’s gaze remained fixed on the practice room.

He seemed unwilling to avert his eyes.

It was strange. The look on his face, the one I saw earlier behind the gym, had been so attractive.

Yet, somehow I didn’t want to see him looking at someone else with that expression.

Something was nagging at me.

Why was I feeling this way?

What was Kim Dohyun’s expression about?

Though he usually wore his indifferent face, there was something different in his eyes.

At that moment, I had a ridiculous thought.

Could it be… does Kim Dohyun like Senior Nayul?

I inconspicuously observed his expression.

Kim Dohyun’s gaze toward Senior Nayul.

Or rather, his gaze toward her when she was with Yoon Jihoo.

I tried to interpret his expression but it wasn’t easy.

Unconsciously, I continued looking at Kim Dohyun.

His feet silently drew a line as he stepped back. As if he shouldn’t intervene.

“Where are you going?”

Without realizing, I grabbed his wrist.

He looked down at me.

“Are you okay?”

I asked an unexpected question.

I was genuinely curious.

Is Kim Dohyun feeling down?

…Could he be jealous?

He stared intensely at me before giving a short answer.

“I’m fine. There’s nothing to feel bad about.”

As I listened to his words, I thought.

If that’s true, then that’s a relief.

If not… a little annoying.

“Could it be…”

(Senior Nayul)

“Do you… like her?”

I had never heard Kim Dohyun talk about liking someone, nor had I ever seen him display such emotions.

Unless…

There was a hint of hesitation in his reply when I asked if he liked someone.

Whom did you think of in that hesitation?

Anyway, it was none of my business. Just like I cheered for Yoon Jihoo, I should cheer for his love too.

Then, why does it bother me so much? What makes Yoon Jihoo and Kim Dohyun different?

Unaware, I fidgeted with my fingertips.

As if scattering the unorganized thoughts from my fingertips.

Let me ask casually. Pretend to not care, just a simple joke.

Always like this.

Do you like Senior Nayul?

The moment I was about to open my mouth, he changed the subject.

“Hey, by the way. Last time I saw you at the bookstore.”

“Really? When? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I didn’t have the chance to say hello.”

As he said that, he quietly handed me a book.

“…What’s this?”

“This. Wasn’t this the one you wanted?”

I was surprised.

That he even knew about the book I wanted to buy.

And that he actually bought it for me.

I tried to act casual, but it was difficult.

“Wait, why did you…?”

‘Why of all people did it have to be you again?’

My face felt slightly warm.

He spoke calmly.

“You need to be more honest.”

“What do you mean, I don’t understand?”

I pretended to be clueless.

He quietly pointed at the book.

“You don’t have to be so accommodating all the time.”

He had a faintly wistful smile on his face.

“If you want something, it’s okay to say it. Otherwise, when you really want something, it might get taken away from you.”

At that moment, Senior Nayul came to mind. And I remembered the way Kim Dohyun looked at her.

Instead of moving closer to the person he liked, I recalled how he stepped back.

‘Who is this advice for? Not for you?’

My heart ached as if it was physically stinging.

You’re still looking at those two with that painful expression now, aren’t you?

No, no.

Instead…

I quietly took hold of the book.

I didn’t want to mix in such emotions during this moment.

Right now, I only wanted to feel grateful. And for him thinking about me like this.

Let’s just express those feelings.

“Thank you.”

A natural smile spread across my face.

This fluttering, overwhelming excitement I feel right now spreads across my face.

My heart felt like it would burst out of my mouth.

With a slightly reddened face, I clutched his shirt while saying it.

He quietly averted his eyes.

And I found myself unconsciously bowing my head.

What is this?

Something, feels suffocating.

For a moment, an awkward silence filled the space between us.

He must have disliked this awkwardness because he tried to joke around.

“Anyway, if you liked something like this, why didn’t you just say so?”

It’s a manga titled Pro-Cuti.

The manga whose title he once mentioned he found amusing during an interview.

For some reason, it felt like he had uncovered my innermost thoughts, making me embarrassed.

“Hyaak! That’s not it! And don’t say that so loudly! You idiot!”

“Why am I the idiot? If we’re talking, you’re more the idiot for losing that bet!”

“Hmph, if you don’t want me to call you that, use your wish coupon.”

“Cheap trick.”

“Right, I’m naturally cheap.”

This somewhat childish conversation. And ironically, within it, there’s a strange sense of ease.

An all-too-familiar voice broke through our little world.

“Hey, what’s going on? What’s this atmosphere about? Are you two, by any chance, dating?”

It was Senior Nayul’s voice.

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