Became an Observer in Love Company

These past few mornings had been refreshing.

Not just the mornings, but the entire day felt invigorating.

It was because, since the message stating that the system was being updated, there hadn’t been any other interference.

There was no need to send daily reports via email either.

Although I don’t know how long the update will last, the freedom I’ve tasted for the first time in a while was quite sweet.

So sweet that I almost drowned in it.

Was that why? I ended up saying something unnecessary.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say that. Today, you won’t send a message, right?”

The words I had spoken wouldn’t leave my mind.

What on earth was I thinking when I said something like that?

Even worse…

“I like you.”

A vague statement, uncertain whether it was a dream or reality, continued to linger in my ears.

In the quietness of dawn, one word that pierced through the silence kept knocking on my heart.

I saw Lee Jian coming in.

Quietly, I turned my body around.

I could see from a distance that she was gleefully planning to tease me for the words I had said in my sleep.

She walked in leisurely as usual, heading towards her seat, but stopped in front of mine and slightly looked down at me.

“Dohyun, hey?”

Her eyes were twinkling, as if expecting something.

I thought I could maintain my calm demeanor, but upon seeing her face, it was harder than expected to keep it hidden.

I tried my best to keep my composure and turned the page of the book.

“Hey.”

I briefly answered and turned my gaze back to the book.

But the words on the page wouldn’t register.

She was too distracting.

Lee Jian stood still for a moment, then slowly leaned her arms on my desk.

Her slightly tilted posture brought her closer, and her hair fell down, carrying a soft scent.

She was too close.

Too close.

“…Why.”

I asked while deliberately avoiding eye contact.

“Just~”

She playfully rested her chin on her arms on the desk and stared at me intently.

What is this?

Why is she acting like this in the morning?

There was no escape.

I tried my best to remain unfazed as I flipped the page of the book again.

But the pages wouldn’t turn properly.

My hands were trembling strangely.

Then—

“Huh?”

Something suddenly grazed the back of my hand.

Very lightly. So lightly.

I instinctively flinched and pulled my hand back slightly.

“Something was on it.”

She remained composed as ever.

“Did I scare you?”

“…No.”

“Really~?”

She narrowed her eyes playfully, analyzing my reaction.

I have to stay indifferent.

I have to act normal as usual—

“Dohyun.”

And then,

She called out my name from very close.

Just her name… and yet…

I clenched my hands.

But her voice kept echoing in my ears.

At the same time, a vague recollection came up.

That dreamlike statement, one that blurred the line between dream and reality:

“I like you.”

Why is my heart beating so oddly?

“Sigh.”

I exhaled softly and closed the book.

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen your face.”

Satisfied, she smiled, her lips curving up.

I glanced at her and took a deep breath.

“…Why are you like this today?”

“What?”

“You’re different from usual.”

She tilted her head slightly.

With a mischievous smile, she propped her chin and looked up at me.

“Me?”

And then, she slowly added,

“Why, are you nervous?”

“…”

I tried my best to keep a blank expression on my face.

But at that moment,

I felt my neck starting to burn.

“Hehe. Since yesterday when someone became unusually honest, I decided to follow suit.”

My face turned red so completely that it was impossible to hide, and I hurriedly turned away.

Lee Jian watched my expression and smiled brightly, satisfied.

Then she nonchalantly walked to her seat, which was right next to mine.

I had a strong premonition that today was going to be exhausting.

Sure enough, from that moment on, Lee Jian started teasing me at every opportunity.

It annoyed me, but she also looked quite adorable with her excited arm flailing and slightly flushed cheeks, which was quite the trouble.

I tried to retaliate a bit.

Questions like whether her “I like you” was genuine.

But the ensuing words, “…I haven’t forgotten about today’s call,” made me feel that she was actually waiting for the moment I’d admit I heard them.

Not yet… It wasn’t time yet.

I just needed a little more time.

At least until I get a reply from the email.

Time for PE class came.

As usual, I quietly changed into my gym uniform and headed to the playground.

I could see Lee Jian doing warm-ups on one side of the field.

Even though she was far away, I kept feeling anxious.

I kept having an odd sensation.

My gaze kept drifting towards one spot.

Even without switching to observer mode,

My gaze instinctively fixated on her.

“Kim Dohyun!”

“…”

Startled by my name being suddenly called, I turned around.

And—

“Let’s do it together.”

Lee Jian was standing right in front of me.

What’s more, she was smiling brightly.

I sighed lightly.

“Why.”

“Since it’s free time anyway, there’s nothing else to do, right? Let’s play catch.”

“Do we have a glove and a ball?”

“Aren’t there some in the storage?”

Why would they be in the storage?

“…Can’t you do it with someone else?”

She crossed her arms and tilted her head.

“Don’t want to. I like you better.”

The moment I heard those words, my fingertips tensed instinctively.

For some reason, my body was strangely tense.

“…Do as you please.”

I tried to sound indifferent as I said this.

Then, she grinned widely and said,

“Alright! It’s decided!”

She suddenly grabbed my arm.

“…”

I stopped abruptly.

Her hand.

Even though it was a light grip, the sensation was oddly clear.

Instinctively, I tried to pull my hand away.

Then—

“Hey? Why are you withdrawing your hand? Don’t you like it?”

“…”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“No.”

“Then don’t move.”

And then,

She didn’t let go.

Looking at her quietly, I noticed her ears were turning red.

It looked like I wasn’t the only one feeling embarrassed. It oddly comforted me.

A secluded corner of the playground. Where long shadows fell.

There were people around,

But strangely—

It felt like we were the only two there.

I moved my fingertips quietly.

It wasn’t because I wanted to feel her hand,

Nor was it because I wanted to reject her.

I simply let it be.

By this point,

I was already drawn into her pace.

A quiet corner of the playground. We started playing catch casually.

Midday when the sunlight gently shone down.

We stood facing each other at close range.

“Isn’t that too close?”

Lee Jian mumbled.

“If it’s too far, you won’t be able to throw it, right?”

I lightly tapped my glove while speaking.

On purpose, I teased her with a sly remark, and she glared at me.

“Are you looking down on me?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

In response, Lee Jian gave a chilling smile and threw the ball with all her strength.

Puff—

My hand tingled with pain.

I quietly moved a little further back.

Seeing this, Lee Jian raised the corners of her lips mockingly.

Clack—

She easily caught the ball I threw.

“Thankfully, you’re not completely clumsy. With just being tone-deaf and rhythmically challenged, life’s hard enough.”

Puff—

The ball was thrown with force and easily sank into the glove.

I quietly moved back further. Indeed, we were too close.

So we faced each other from an appropriate distance.

Throwing, and catching.

The ball went back and forth rhythmically.

Conversations followed as the ball was thrown back and forth.

“Like baseball?”

“Just watch occasionally.”

“Cheering for which team?”

“No preference. I only watch highlights sometimes.”

I quietly threw the ball.

“Isn’t your gym uniform a bit big?”

Clack.

Lee Jian neatly caught it.

She grabbed the ball and suddenly pulled her sports top.

“Of course. It’s yours, so when are you going to take it back?”

I caught the ball again while glancing at her.

“I have plenty of extras, so you can return it whenever.”

She grinned cunningly.

“Okay. Then I’ll keep it.”

“…That’s a bit…”

I paused briefly.

She playfully pulled down her shorts slightly,

“Relax. I’ll return the pants.”

Her shorts. Her long legs stretched out. Smooth, white skin. Tiny sweat beads.

I turned away quietly. More weird thoughts kept surfacing.

“…It’s not like we’re doing hostage negotiation.”

I sighed briefly.

“I don’t care. Do whatever you want.”

The moment those words left my mouth, she grinned widely.

“Yes! ”

She squeezed her fists happily. Was it really something worth getting so excited about?

“So, are you going to wait again today?”

Lee Jian, with a playful smile, threw the ball.

As the ball came flying towards me again,

I caught it and said quietly.

“…This was my first time.”

The moment those words came out of my mouth, I realized what they meant.

At that instant, the feeling of the ball in my fingertips became even clearer.

It felt too solid to let go easily,

Neither too light nor too heavy,

It reminded me of the ball we were throwing back and forth and the emotions we were exchanging.

“Eh?”

Lee Jian tilted her head.

I threw the ball again quietly.

“Privately messaging, calling…”

Clack.

She caught the ball while looking at me.

I exhaled slowly.

“…I’ve never communicated so frequently with someone before.”

At that moment,

Lee Jian’s expression changed slightly.

The playful look from earlier subtly shifted.

With the ball held lightly, she opened her mouth.

“Then—”

And then, she smiled softly.

Above us, the blazing sun was overshadowed, as we stood under the long shadows.

However, it wasn’t entirely cool here.

The summer air, heavy with humidity, filled the shade.

The heat from the scorching playground slowly crept in, making me sweat.

The familiar heat but it carried a different meaning now.

Sweat dripped down Lee Jian’s neck too.

A small droplet followed her neck down.

And,

Her damp hair clung to her collarbone.

She used the back of her hand to wipe below her jaw.

“I’ll give you more experiences.”

At that moment, I felt an even more suffocating sensation than the heat of midsummer.

“…What?”

She paused briefly to catch her breath.

Even though we were in the shade,

Her breathing was slightly labored.

A sweat droplet that slid down her forehead finally dropped from the tip of her chin.

“First.”

Clack—

The ball came flying towards me.

It sailed powerfully from her hand,

Thunk!

Hitting the glove.

The firm impact sank deep into my palm.

The prickly sensation spread, and

My heart began to race.

I looked up.

Her breathing quickened.

Sweat glistened on her forehead.

And yet, her gaze didn’t waver.

On the contrary,

There was something hotter than the midday air lingering in her eyes.

“I’ll give you lots of firsts.”

In the shade away from the sun,

Nevertheless,

The temperature between us was rising.

“This isn’t a joke anymore.”

Her words,

Infiltrated the sultry summer air.

I clenched my hands.

The solid sensation of the ball.

Even though I was just catching the ball.

Even though we were maintaining our distance.

It felt like she was whispering right before my eyes.

Her voice penetrated deeply within.

The cool breeze under the shade and

My increasingly heated heart didn’t harmonize.

The heavy sensation transmitted from my fingertips.

The subtle pressure pressing down.

It felt like she had directly gripped and shaken my heart.

Because I was afraid this moment might slip through my fingers.

I couldn’t help but grip my hands tighter.

“Still not dodging, huh? I thought you’d shy away again after feeling embarrassed?”

Lee Jian said with a full smile.

I quietly looked at her face and threw the ball.

“You said not to.”

Clack.

She caught the ball.

And her face turned red too.

Looking at her face, I said,

“One-on-one. Right?”

Puff.

The ball, thrown with more force than before, quickly sank into the glove.

“Alright, good job!”

I burst into laughter watching her face.

“I’ll wait again this time.”

“What, what for?”

She was flustered earlier while teasing me so well.

“Messages, calls, …first?”

Clack.

She didn’t catch the ball because it wasn’t thrown particularly hard.

She remained blushing crimson, just standing there.

Laughter kept bubbling out of me, endlessly.

…

After the exercise ended, I stood dumbly on the edge of the playground.

The tips of my fingers tingled vaguely.

Strangely enough, the sensation of catching the ball still remained.

When her hand grazed my knuckles while throwing the ball,

When she said, “I’ll give you lots of firsts” while throwing the ball,

All these short moments remained vividly etched in my memory.

I quietly took a deep breath.

When did it start?

When did I become this fixated?

When did I begin reacting to her voice, intonation, every little move?

I tried pretending to be nonchalant, trying to act unaffected,

But it was too late.

I had already lost my balance.

I quietly grabbed the sleeve of my gym uniform.

The gym uniform she claimed she wouldn’t return.

However, what Lee Jian had taken from me wasn’t just the uniform.

I was losing my firsts to her.

All familiar moments felt strangely unfamiliar with Lee Jian by my side.

But I didn’t hate it.

In this strangeness, I felt an overwhelming excitement that overshadowed the tension, restlessness, and anxiety.

On the contrary, I found myself eagerly looking forward.

*

Strands of blonde hair fell down, covering my face.

My hands held the sink, and I stared straight into the mirror.

When I brushed my hair aside, the face revealed was—

Red.

Crimson red.

What is this?

Wasn’t she the one who was embarrassed?

Then why am I redder?

I stretched out my hand, scooped up a handful of cold water, and splashed it on my face.

Still, the heat wouldn’t subside.

I was clearly in control until just a moment ago, but when did I start losing ground?

Damn.

“…This is so unfair.”

I mumbled quietly.

Why am I the one crumbling first?

This was my trap.

This was the joke I started.

Strangely, my mood wasn’t too sour.

Rather, my lips were instinctively curling upwards, which was quite the issue.

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