NILWM - 14

[Don’t even get me started. Senior Ju-hyeok really quietly pressures people... My energy was completely drained for an hour. Still, it felt really productive, like we intensely studied in a compact way, so it was worthwhile.] [I see. You worked hard.] [But it seems Senior’s parents also run a pharmacy. Song Yu-yeong shamelessly asked what his parents do, and I was shocked, but he readily answered. You didn’t know either, did you?]

The reply came after a slight pause.

[No. I didn’t know. Sae-eun, Mom’s calling, I think I have to go. See you at school tomorrow!] [Okay, okay, sleep well.]

Hmph, another yawn escaped, and the phone slipped from her hand. The image of Han Ju-hyeok calmly pressuring them at the cafe came back to mind. He was unrealistically cool, handsome, and smart, but encountering such a boss at a company later would be quite challenging.

She might desperately want to quit every single day. Though his looks were truly top-notch.

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The project concluded successfully. Individual scores would be out in a few days, but it seemed everyone would get at least an A or A+. This was because the professor, who was famously strict, had listened intently throughout the presentation and looked pleased.

Everyone left the lecture hall with bright faces, congratulating each other on a job well done, but unlike last time, they couldn’t gather and relax together. Only one mission, which replaced an exam, was over, and other subject assignments were still scattered about. Final exams were also officially starting next week.

Ju-hyeok sat on the spiral staircase of the library annex, casting his gaze out the window. Min Ye-seo was crossing the plaza towards the main library building, alongside her best friends, Chae-rin and Sae-eun.

He didn’t take his eyes off her back until she completely disappeared. Since that day, there had been no direct contact between them. They had met many times as a group for the project, but there had been no moments alone. Their gazes hadn’t even met.

Is it my imagination? This feeling that she’s deliberately avoiding him.

An unpleasant ripple spread across his calm chest. He slowly rose from his seat. An unfamiliar chill, which hadn’t visited him recently, began to press down on some part of his brain. It was a pressure he hadn’t encountered even once since he started taking his medication.

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Min Ye-seo remained firmly seated by the window even after her friends had left one by one. Her back was straight, and her absorbed posture, focused on studying, was as neat as a painting.

The only thing disheveled was her loosely tied hair, which cascaded down to her ribs, abundant, lustrous, and shimmering. Even that disarray seemed intentionally styled, delicate and elegant like a portrait.

How much time had passed? Her back and shoulders, which had been straight against the chair, slumped, and her head gently tilted onto the desk. Sleepiness was heavily imprinted on her small, cute nape, and the ends of her casually spread hair curled up and fell over her shoulder. Swish, swish, her delicate breaths transcended sight, creating the illusion that they were even transmitting to his heart.

A sudden heat made him unclench his fist. His palm was sticky with sweat. He hadn’t felt hot a single day, even as June arrived, but today was different. Of course, this heat had nothing to do with the temperature. More precisely, it was excitement.

The library, past 6 PM, had scattered empty seats with only bags and books left, and the window side where Min Ye-seo was seated was hidden by bookshelves, making it hard to see. Just then, a student sitting a distance away from Min Ye-seo began packing their bag.

Despite the bustle, Min Ye-seo didn’t lift her head, remaining still. From the rhythmic rise and fall of her rounded shoulders, she seemed to be deeply asleep.

As soon as the seat became available, Ju-hyeok placed his bag down and sat right next to Min Ye-seo. The setting sun’s light filtered through the almost fully lowered blinds, escaping the harsh sunlight. Her downy soft hair shimmered bright yellow, reflecting in that light. Her head was turned away, so her face was completely hidden.

On top of the piles of materials, almost touching Min Ye-seo’s elbow, there was a notebook. The notebook, about the size of a diary, had “Setting Book” written on it in tiny, meticulous handwriting. Why? A sudden wicked impulse swept over him.

Before he knew it, he had pulled the notebook towards him and stealthily opened it. Whatever it was a setting for, taking someone else’s notebook and secretly peeking into it was an outrageous act. But his reason and actions had completely parted ways, and he had no will to correct it.

The surroundings were as silent as a grave, not even the sound of a pencil dropping. Even Min Ye-seo herself was deeply asleep, not making a single sound.

From the second page, types of medieval swords, sword masters, and explanations of magical creatures and magic were neatly organized. There was also a piece of paper with an original English science magazine article about alchemy glued on.

The start of Western alchemy may generally be traced to ancient and Hellenistic Egypt, where the city of Alexandria was a center of alchemical knowledge, and retained its pre-eminence through most of the Greek and Roman periods…(omitted) (, 24-31)

He briefly lifted his head from the notebook. Were there any liberal arts courses related to medieval swords, sword masters, magical creatures, dragons, and alchemy? English literature? Philosophy? No, this clearly looks like the world-building and settings for a fantasy novel.

Is this her taste...?

He turned his gaze back to the notebook’s contents, as if realizing something. Since it was called a “Setting Book,” it was definitely a setting for something, but he couldn’t figure out what. Surely she wouldn’t be writing a fantasy novel.

Putting aside his bewilderment, he opened it to the end. The last few pages were filled with scribbles, like sleep-talking.

Scholarship. Fighting! Ugh, Accounting Principles. The most annoying thing in the world. If it weren’t for this, all the other subjects would be fine. I wish there were more S&U (pass/fail) easy courses before graduation. Fountain pens are annoying too. Tibaldi, the Hermes of fountain pens. Why give me chicken drumsticks and confuse my heart like that? If you’re going to buy me food, why not just pick a day and buy it all at once, why me first...? Are you kidding me? How unlucky.

Ju-hyeok bit his lower lip tightly. He nearly burst out laughing. So, the things that annoyed Min Ye-seo the most in the world were accounting and himself.

On the very last page, her summer semester course registration plan was written. Is she planning to come to school without a break even in the summer? She’s diligent, anyway.

He turned back to the front page and stared at the scribble that targeted him. The smile that had lingered on his lips had disappeared, and his expression had hardened.

He carefully returned the notebook to its original place and looked at the back of Min Ye-seo’s head, still sleeping face down on the desk. Her head was so small and cute; he imagined that if he hugged and caressed it, it would feel as soft as silk.

Just then, at the bottom of the window, through the gap where the blinds hadn’t been fully lowered, a large insect, like a cicada, flew in and clung to the glass. It was on the side where Min Ye-seo’s head was resting. If she were to open her eyes in that state, she would surely be startled.

Ju-hyeok stood up and moved to the opposite side of Min Ye-seo. He fully lowered the blinds to block the insect from view, then stood there for a moment. Over her neatly clasped hands, Min Ye-seo’s sleeping profile was faintly visible.

Her round forehead, elegant eyebrows, cute nose, and charmingly plump lips were as soft as a baby’s. Her face was as lovely and beautiful as when she was awake. He instinctively turned his head. No one was looking at the window side, which was obscured by the large bookshelves.

He carefully brushed away the hair clinging to her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. His hand moved on its own. The desire to touch her was greater than the thought of not waking her. That yearning only grew stronger the more he took in Min Ye-seo’s face.

As he tilted his head closer, a pleasant scent tickled his nose. It was unlike artificial perfumes. It seemed as if a floral scent wafted from Min Ye-seo every time she breathed in and out. To think such a scent could emanate from a person’s breath.

The tip of his thumb instinctively traced the line of her lips. The sensation of her red, plump lips was as soft as a baby’s. What would they taste like? He desperately wanted to know what taste he would feel under his own lips, and on the tip of his tongue.

When he came to his senses, his lips were already softly pressed against hers. To prevent anyone from seeing, he had one arm extended, resting on the desk over her shoulder, shielding her face. The mere thought of someone seeing them, specifically Min Ye-seo’s sleeping face, made his nerves intensely taut.

His lips barely, almost imperceptibly, grazed Min Ye-seo’s, then lightly nipped her lower lip. Min Ye-seo’s shoulder seemed to twitch faintly. But he didn’t pull away.

Let her wake up if she wakes up.

His heart felt like it would burst. He truly didn’t care what happened. Rather than a “whatever happens, happens” mentality, it was more a desire to be caught.

He lightly pulled his lips away, then took hers again. They were incredibly moist and soft. By now, the warmth from his own lips seemed to have transferred, and Min Ye-seo’s lips also felt warm. He wanted to push his tongue in, but he couldn’t, fearing she would truly wake up.

You pathetic fool. You just said you didn’t care if she woke up.

He scoffed at himself. He couldn’t figure out exactly what he wanted. Everything had always been clear-cut, like black and white logic, and the right answer was always obvious. But strangely, it wasn’t like that only when it came to Min Ye-seo.

He wanted her to not wake up, oblivious to everything, even if he pushed his tongue in and intensely intertwined it with hers, and at the same time, he also wished she would open her eyes now and stop him. The struggle to control his dual desires was solely his burden.

Just before pushing his tongue in, he pulled his lips away and lifted his head. His arm, which had been protectively draped over her shoulder, slowly retracted. Min Ye-seo didn’t open her eyes, only maintaining her steady breathing.

Ju-hyeok looked down at her for a moment, then left his seat. Unlike someone who had just attempted a stolen kiss, his gaze was not kind.