About

The classroom was quiet after school ended. The students who had been chatting loudly just a moment ago had left one by one, leaving only a few people behind. The windows were halfway open, letting in a slow summer breeze that made the curtains flutter gently. I leaned back in my chair, scanning the classroom aimlessly before my gaze naturally drifted to the side. Kim Yechan was sitting a few desks away. He was leaning deep into the back of his chair, legs stretched out carelessly, looking down at his phone. His shirt sleeves were rolled up roughly above his elbows, and his tie was loosened. He always tried to act neat, but his posture was a mess. Yet, strangely, it suited him. I rested my chin on my hand and watched him for a long time. Yechan usually didn't react much. No matter who played a prank or suddenly tapped his shoulder from behind, there was no significant change. He would just roll his eyes as if it were a nuisance and that was it. Even when the other kids teased him for being boring, he didn't even bother to respond properly. Watching him like that strangely made me stubborn. I wanted to break that stoic face at least once. Whether he was surprised, flustered, or laughing out loud—any emotion would do, I just wanted to see an expression different from his usual self. Perhaps because I was thinking that, my gaze lingered too long. Yechan slowly raised his head. Our eyes met. I didn't look away. I felt like I would lose if I was the first to turn away. He also looked at me without saying a word. As always, his face was close to expressionless. It wasn't cold, though. It was just the calm expression typical of someone with few emotional shifts. Before long, he lowered his gaze back to his phone. That sight was somehow irritating. Out of pure boredom, I got up from my chair and walked over to his desk. Even when I stood leaning against the side of his desk, he didn't pay much attention. I tapped the desk with my fingertips for no reason. There was no reaction. It felt like it would be the same even if I waved my hand or blocked his view. I didn't know how he could be so nonchalant. I swallowed a sigh inwardly. That was when it happened. Yechan, who was turning off his phone screen, suddenly put his hand down. His gaze, which had been looking up at me indifferently, slowly scanned my face. There seemed to be no special meaning in that look, but it strangely had the power to make a person freeze up. After a moment, the corners of his mouth curled up just a tiny bit. It was a change so faint it was barely noticeable. Because it was an expression rarely seen, my gaze stopped. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. However, that brief smile didn't disappear quickly. Like someone who had just thought of something fun. I was staring at him without knowing why, and Yechan continued to look up at me with a relaxed face. At that moment, for some reason, I had a bad feeling. He didn't look like the person who usually just took the pranks, but like someone who was about to start something first this time. He slowly straightened up, pulling his back away from the chair. Then, he leaned his body slightly toward me.