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“Ah, okay.”
“You rest until the next class. I’ll let your teacher know.”
“You’d do that? Thanks.”
“Rest well, then.”
“Wait, hold on a second!”
Just as Guk was about to leave, Hyun-soo quickly grabbed his hand. The ice pack on her head nearly fell off due to her sudden movement. Guk’s gaze shifted from her face to where she had grabbed his hand—and only then did Hyun-soo realize she had impulsively taken hold of it.
“Oh no.”
Startled, Guk fully turned back toward her, his expression suggesting he’d humor whatever she had to say.
“No, it’s not that... it’s just—”
“Just what?”
“Your hand.”
“What about my hand?”
“I think it’s hurt. You should get it treated before you go.”
“Hurt? Me?” Raising an eyebrow, Guk spread out both hands and examined them. That’s when he noticed the deep abrasion on the fleshy part beneath his left thumb.
“Oh, this?”
“Let me take care of it.”
“It’s fine.”
“You should listen when someone says something once in a while.”
“What?”
Ignoring his bemused look, Hyun-soo scrambled to her feet, hurrying to gather disinfectant, ointment, and bandages. Part of her rushed because she wasn’t sure what else he might say if she lingered too long—but mostly, she wanted to help.
Somehow, they ended up sitting side by side on the bed where Hyun-soo had been resting earlier. To her surprise, Guk willingly offered his hand without protest, and she managed not to make any major mistakes—though she was admittedly a little nervous.
“Does it sting?”
“Yeah.”
“Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
“It stings, doesn’t it?”
“You’re not the cause of the sting, so why apologize?”
“...True.”
Hyun-soo nodded, biting her lip as she lowered her head further. She was worried her flushed face might be visible to him. Why did her cheeks keep heating up like this when she hadn’t done anything wrong?
“Are you treating it properly?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, is slapping it together like that really going to heal it?”
“Uh... What else am I supposed to do? This is all we’ve got for disinfectant and ointment.”
“No, you need to examine the wound properly.”
“What?”
“Hold it steady.”
Until now, Hyun-soo had avoided direct contact, using cotton swabs to dab at the wound gently. She had hesitated to touch his hand directly, fearing he might find it unpleasant—but apparently, her excessive caution had irked him instead. Hence the demand to “hold it steady.”
“Hold it.”
“Uh...”
In the end, Guk took matters into his own hands, guiding her sluggish grip onto his palm before placing his other hand over hers. Only then did the “proper examination” finally conclude. Hyun-soo, supporting his much larger hand, couldn’t help but break into a light sweat. His skin was softer than expected, warm to the touch, and carried that same faintly pleasant scent...
“I’ll apply the ointment now.”
Guk nodded. Carefully spreading the clear gel with a cotton swab, Hyun-soo suddenly found herself recalling moments from their physical education class.
The way Guk had effortlessly lifted her during the three-legged race, securing second place; how he shielded her from Song Tae-yeon’s relentless spikes; the broad expanse of his back as he carried her limp body after she fainted.
She couldn’t put into words how grateful she felt. Her heart seemed to agree, pounding wildly against her chest.
“I’ll handle the bandage myself.”
“Huh?”
“I need to change before the next class.”
“Right. Okay, hurry back.”
“Later. Rest well.”
Just as she was debating whether to say something, he left without a trace of hesitation. The warmth of his palm disappeared, the comforting scent of his presence faded, and the pleasant pressure of his demeanor dissipated entirely. What on earth was this feeling? She had no idea. Not a clue.
Hyun-soo flopped back onto the bed, pulling the blanket over her head. The cold from the ice pack seeped slowly into her skull, making her mind feel sharp and clear—as if it were urging her to get a grip. With a deep sigh, she exhaled heavily.
---
By now, it was Sunday afternoon, past noon, and the house was eerily quiet. Her parents were out for a couples’ outing, and Mrs. Ah-san and the housekeeper had gone grocery shopping. Hyun-soo, ignoring the homework Guk had given her, was sprawled on her bed absorbed in a comic book.
The manga, strongly recommended and borrowed from Yeong-mi and Joo-yeon, was a passionate romance about a woman who falls in love with a werewolf. It was less about plot development and more about the werewolf’s intense heat cycles—80% of the story revolved around steamy, adult-rated scenes.
Hunched over, swallowing nervously as she flipped through the pages, Hyun-soo was more engrossed than ever. That’s when—
Crash!
“Mom!”
Startled by the sudden shattering sound behind her, Hyun-soo bolted upright. Pressing herself against the wall, heart racing, she slowly turned to look.
“Huh?”
Her bedroom window was shattered into pieces.
Had a bird flown into it? What on earth had happened? She wanted to inspect it closely, but the floor was littered with shards of glass, making it impossible to approach. Reluctantly, she leaned over the edge of the bed to peer down below. And then she saw it—a worn-out baseball rolling toward her after bumping against the wall.
“A baseball?”
There was no one in the house who played baseball. What was going on? Just as she bent down to pick it up, she heard movement outside. It was coming from downstairs.
“So, I’m asking again—whose permission did you get to come in here?”
Curious about the commotion, Hyun-soo peeked out onto the landing. Sure enough, a confrontation was unfolding in the living room below. Hyun-seo’s sharp voice echoed loudly through the house.
“You’re not answering?”
“I’m sorry...”
“Not a thief, but sneaking around like this—I have no idea what you’re trying to do.”
As Hyun-seo stepped aside, the figure standing before her came into view. His face looked familiar... Ah! It was Yoon Han, Guk’s younger brother. But why was he here?
Hyun-seo twirled a glass of orange juice in her hand as she circled young Yoon Han, her gaze sharp and disapproving.
“Do you know that entering someone’s house without permission is a crime? Should I call the police?”
“...”
“Hey, I asked you a question. Answer me.”
Seeing the boy flinch under Hyun-seo’s pointed finger jabbing at his chest, Hyun-soo couldn’t stand by any longer.
“What’s going on?”
She quickly descended the stairs. Glancing briefly at Hyun-soo, Hyun-seo turned her attention back to Han.
“When I came out of the kitchen, this kid was wandering around the living room. No one’s home, and he just waltzes in like he owns the place. Were you planning to steal something?”
“No, that’s not it!”
“Then why were you snooping around my room?”
“I was looking for something...”
“Look at him. What could you possibly be looking for in our house? If you’re going to make excuses, at least make them believable. Hmm?”
Hyun-seo burst into mocking laughter.
“Alright, spill it. When and how did you get in here?”
“That is...”
“You’re not answering?”
It seemed like Hyun-soo might throw her juice at him any second. Knowing her sister’s fiery temper, Hyun-soo couldn’t just stand there. Before she knew it, she blurted out a lie.
“It was me! I told him to come in.”
“What?”
“He came to get something that belongs to him—it’s in my room. I called him in myself. Right?”
Hyun-soo glanced at Han, seeking confirmation. Han stared back at her with wide, clear eyes.
“Really?”
This time, Hyun-seo turned to ask him directly. Han hesitated, glancing between Hyun-soo and Hyun-seo without giving a definitive answer. Hyun-seo’s expression grew increasingly fierce.
“These two are working together...”
Three seconds, two seconds, one second until her fiery rage erupted.
“Stop picking on a kid for no reason!”
Frustrated by Han’s inability to back up her lie, Hyun-soo rushed down and grabbed his hand. Dodging Hyun-seo, who was reaching out to grab them, she pulled Han along and bolted upstairs.
“Kim Hyun-soo, you’ve got some nerve saying that!”
Hyun-seo’s furious yelling seemed ready to snatch the backs of their necks at any moment. Bang! Hyun-soo barely managed to slam the door shut before taking a deep breath to steady herself. Surely, Hyun-seo wouldn’t chase them up here to cause trouble, right?
“I can’t believe I stood up to her like that. Haha...”
The absurdity of how nervous she felt after just one defiant comment made her laugh despite herself.
Releasing Han’s hand, Hyun-soo carefully stepped into the room, now littered with shards of glass. For some reason, Han’s ears were bright red.
Sticking close to the wall, Hyun-soo bent down and picked up the baseball. Though worn, it seemed sturdy enough to last a while longer. It was definitely better to return it to its owner.
Turning around, she held the ball out to Han. He quietly stared at it for a moment before extending his small hand to take it.
“Not bad. That was a home run.”
As if on cue, a bird flew past the shattered window, narrowly gliding through the broken glass. Han, looking at the ruined window, seemed deflated with worry.
“Don’t worry. I’ll say it was my fault that the window broke.”
“...”
“Our house has more money than we know what to do with. Replacing a window is no big deal.”
“...”
“I’m serious. Don’t you believe me?”
Still silent, Han bowed his head deeply. His rounded crown and small shoulders made him look even younger and more fragile.
“How old are you?”
“...Thirteen.”
Hyun-soo was slightly taken aback. At thirteen, he seemed smaller than most kids his age. Unlike his brother, Yoon Guk, who towered over his peers by at least half a head, Han had a delicate, almost fragile presence. Even their features were different—while Guk exuded strength and composure, Han gave off an impression of sensitivity and gentleness.
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