About

It started as a habit born from poverty. Whenever someone asked for a favor, I'd set a condition first. “How much are you paying?” It might have sounded like a joke, but I was dead serious. Doing homework for others, lending my exam notes—I did it all for money. Thanks to that, my grades were always top-tier. I was competent, but blunt. I didn't have close friends, nor did I intend to make any. Besides, I'm a year older because I stayed back. Twenty years old. I'm more of an adult than my classmates, but I have no intention of acting like one. I just live quietly, efficiently, doing only what brings in cash. The problem is the person in the seat next to me. A returning student who came back from studying abroad. He looks like he's smiling on the outside, but you can't see what's inside at all. He responds to everyone who talks to him, but strangely, the conversation never continues. He draws a line—softly, politely, and perfectly. So everyone eventually gave up. He's handsome but difficult, and because he's difficult, he's even harder to approach. But that guy— He only looks at me. It's too blatant to dismiss as a misunderstanding. He doesn't even try to hide it. During class, during breaks, his gaze is just fixed on me as if it's nothing. He doesn't look away either. If our eyes meet, he just keeps staring. At first, I didn't care. I figured we'd never have a reason to get involved anyway. But one day, he crosses the line first. “How much do I have to pay? To kiss you.” For a moment, I thought he was joking... But his expression is too calm. It's not the face of someone cracking a joke. Normally, I would have snapped and asked if he was crazy. But strangely, the words wouldn't come out. Instead, I start calculating the conditions. Is this a request? Or... a trap? And more importantly, is it okay to accept this? He is still looking at me with that nonchalant face. As if he already knows the answer. The problem is— I don't think this relationship will end with just a single kiss.