I fell for an obvious provocation.
His expression was so infuriating that I almost punched him.
I agreed out of anger, but there was no way my classmates would participate in such a stupid thing.
‘A courage test?’ That’s something elementary school kids do.
It was clear from the beginning that no one would be interested in such childish games.
‘We’re all grown up; there’s no way.’
Expecting it to fizzle out, I sat at my desk, killing time.
***
Ding-dong―daeng―dong.
As soon as the break bell rang, Jinyoung started moving between the boys like he had a strategy prepared, talking to them relentlessly.
“Persuade them all you want. Who would even agree to this?”
Just as I was certain it wouldn’t work:
“Hey, Sang-hyuk.”
“What?”
“Don’t you feel lonely these days?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah, just listen. Do you know about the suspension bridge effect?”
Sang-hyuk gave Jinyoung an annoyed look.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“They say when your heart races in a scary situation, you might mistake it for romantic feelings. It’s a psychologically proven theory.”
“So?”
“This is the perfect opportunity. During the courage test, you can get closer to the girls.”
Hearing Jinyoung’s words, Sang-hyuk scoffed.
“As if the girls would participate.”
“They will. Even Kim Dohyun agreed to do it.”
At that moment, Sang-hyuk’s expression changed.
“She did?”
“Yup. Pretty much all the girls are in.”
That bastard.
He casually used my name as bait.
‘That brain of his…’
He’s destined to excel in scams someday.
In just 30 seconds, one was hooked.
After that, Jinyoung, with his sly tongue, began convincing the other boys one by one.
***
“Hey, Minho.”
“What?”
“Don’t you want to experience love?”
“…What nonsense is this?”
“If you miss this chance, you’ll stay single forever.”
“Not interested.”
“Dohyun is doing it, and so are the girls.”
“…Really?”
It wasn’t long before all the boys were on board.
“Why is this working? You idiots.”
“Make sure you never cosign for them in the future.”
Now they were even getting excited amongst themselves, scheming about how the courage test would bring some romantic summer night vibes.
And they were doing all of this at my desk.
***
“There’s a problem. The numbers don’t match.”
One of them pointed it out.
“There are 20 boys in the class but only 17 girls.”
The atmosphere fell silent.
“Does that mean three guys are automatically out?”
Murmurs erupted from every corner.
As if he had foreseen this situation, Jinyoung smiled confidently.
“Decide by drawing lots. If you’re scared, you’re out.”
“Deal.”
“If anyone messes with the draw, I’ll break their fingers.”
These guys.
They really just wanted to do it.
As soon as Jinyoung finished convincing all the boys, he turned to the girls.
I shook my head.
‘There’s no way the girls will agree.’
The boys might have been swayed by Jinyoung’s “suspension bridge effect” theory, but the girls would be different.
If they didn’t agree, the boys would back out too.
What a dumb move.
A checkmate.
Their reaction was obvious.
“This is so childish, isn’t it?”
“We’re too old for this kind of thing.”
“Are we elementary schoolers?”
‘See?’
I crossed my arms and watched the scene unfold.
There was no way the girls, who barely had enough time to take Instagram-worthy pictures at cafés after school, would waste it on a courage test.
But Jinyoung remained unfazed by their reactions.
“You’ll regret it later.”
“Whatever. Go play with the idiots.”
“Hey, Hye-jin, karaoke after school?”
“Sure.”
At that moment, Jinyoung’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“Kim Dohyun is participating, though. Too bad for you.”
“What?”
The atmosphere shifted in an instant.
“Kim Dohyun?”
“Dohyun is?”
“Isn’t that kind of thing not her style?”
The murmur among the girls grew louder.
“Well, she didn’t seem interested, so I’ll just ask someone else. Take care~”
Jinyoung turned away with a nonchalant expression.
Then came the hurried shouts.
“Wait a second! Are you saying we could partner with Dohyun?”
“Yup. We’ll decide by drawing lots.”
“Then I’ll do it!”
“Me too!”
I stared at Jinyoung in disbelief.
‘That bastard. He’s using my name again?’
And he lied to the boys about already convincing the girls.
When our eyes met, Jinyoung flinched slightly but then boldly flashed a cocky grin.
His attitude screamed, “What are you gonna do about it?”
“Because Kim Dohyun is doing it? You won’t get a chance like this again.”
“But won’t it be scary?”
“It’s fine since it’s a team of two.”
“With Dohyun… hehe…”
“Then it’s decided. All the girls are participating.”
“Wait, I haven’t―”
Someone tried to object, but the atmosphere already seemed set in stone.
Jinyoung raised his hand confidently, like a general who was sure of victory.
“Alright then! We’ll draw lots during lunch, so look forward to it.”
I grabbed my head in frustration.
‘This is really happening…’
From the girls’ group, whispers of “Could I end up paired with Dohyun?” were heard now and then.
Feeling a headache coming on, I instinctively pressed my forehead.
***
Seo Yuna, sitting by the classroom window, quietly sighed as she stared outside.
Lately, like a madwoman, she had been constantly drawing attention to herself, and now, for no reason, Kim Dohyun was getting dragged into all of this.
‘Choi Gihoon, you bastard.’
While she muttered curses internally, she could hear the boys chatting noisily.
They were talking about a ghost story involving strange sounds coming from a shrine.
‘A courage test? How childish.’
This wasn’t the first time weird rumors and ghost stories had circulated at the academy.
Yet, they were getting all excited about it.
‘Ghosts? As if those exist. Idiots.’
Crossing her arms, she shook her head.
She vowed to never take part in such a silly prank.
But then.
“Kim Dohyun is doing it too.”
Yuna instinctively whipped her head around.
‘Kim Dohyun?’
She thought she must have misheard.
But her classmates were already talking and laughing, taking Dohyun’s participation as a fact.
And since the one who said it was Jinyoung, who was always with Dohyun, it was unlikely to be a lie.
‘Surprising… I thought he’d hate this kind of thing.’
Yuna bit her lip and turned her gaze back to the window.
Dohyun was usually calm and reserved.
While he occasionally played along with jokes, he didn’t seem like the type to get swept up in the moment.
‘Someone like him participating in such a childish prank?’
‘No way…’
Yuna thought about it deeply.
‘Is it because of Jinyoung?’
It must have been because his constant companion dragged him into it.
‘Of course…’
She forced herself to that conclusion, but the girls’ reactions continued to irritate her.
“Kyaa, if I pair with Dohyun, I’d feel so safe!”
“Should I act scared and hold his arm?”
“No, I’d snuggle right into his arms.”
“If I pair with him, should I wear my ‘victory’ underwear today?”
“Pfft, you’re insane!”
Snap.
A surge of anger rose within her, like a fire igniting from her core.
‘What are they even saying?’
Her shoulders began to feel stiff.
Unbidden, an unpleasant image formed in her mind.
A dark place where Kim Dohyun was walking hand in hand with another girl.
“Don’t worry. I’m here.”
“Dohyun…”
“Shh, my cute little bird.”
As the girl, scared, buried herself into his chest, Dohyun gently held her.
‘Argh, this is so annoying!’
Yuna couldn’t even understand why she was having these thoughts.
‘Why do I care? This is crazy.’
It wasn’t her concern.
Even if that scenario did happen, it wasn’t something she needed to care about.
‘But why?’
‘Why did it bother her so much?’
‘Why did her chest feel tight every time she imagined it?’
‘This is so frustrating…’
The thought made her mood even worse.
She had always kept a proper distance from Kim Dohyun.
Too distant to call him a friend, yet too close to call him just an acquaintance.
But now, the idea of other girls suddenly closing that gap was intolerable.
At that moment, Jinyoung’s voice filled the classroom.
“Then it’s settled. All the girls are participating!”
Yuna almost stood up from her seat.
‘What?’
Initially, the girls had said no.
But the moment Kim Dohyun’s name was mentioned, everything had changed.
“Wait a second―”
She tried to object, but her voice was drowned out by the classroom’s laughter.
Clenching her fists, she gritted her teeth.
‘This isn’t right…’
Her gaze naturally drifted toward Dohyun.
He was sitting quietly, watching the others.
His indifferent expression was so frustrating.
‘Kim Dohyun, you’re the problem here.’
Blaming him for no reason, she still felt a strange discomfort in her chest, like something was stuck in her throat.
The helpless feeling left her restless.
Yuna bitterly looked back out the window.
‘…Fine, I’ll join in on this childish prank too.’
***
By lunchtime, the classroom buzzed with excitement.
Jinyoung stood at the teacher’s desk, shaking a box filled with papers.
“Alright, let’s start the draw! No complaining about your partner!”
Among the girls, a strange tension filled the air.
“Kim Dohyun… please…”
“God, Buddha, anyone…”
Some girls were laughing and chatting as if trying to hide their nervousness.
“If you pair with a gorilla like you, everyone will run away!”
“What? You want to die?!”
Amidst the lively chaos, my name was finally called.
“Kim Dohyun.”
All eyes turned toward me.
“Guys, I’m not that great.”
This is too much pressure.
The unpicked girls lit up with anticipation, their eyes sparkling.
Jinyoung, smirking, pulled out the next slip of paper.
“Kim Dohyun’s partner is… Seo Yuna. Congratulations!”
“What? Redraw! This is rigged!”
“Yuna again? How does this make sense?!”
Groans of protest erupted from all around.
Beside me, I heard a quiet gasp.
I glanced at Yuna.
‘I thought she wouldn’t be interested in this kind of thing.’
‘I couldn’t understand why she had joined.’
“You decided to participate?”
Avoiding my gaze, Yuna muttered irritably.
“Why? Am I not allowed to?”
Her tone was sharper than usual.
‘Had I done something to upset her?’
“It’s not that. It’s just unexpected.”
“I just… Everyone else was doing it.”
Shrugging, I replied, “Alright. Let’s get along then.”
I tried to lighten the mood, but Yuna glared at me, her cheeks puffing slightly.
“But, um…”
“What?”
“You know…”
“Stop stalling and just say it.”
“Are you… not happy about being my partner? Would you rather pair with someone else? Not that it matters. Just asking since you don’t seem close to anyone.”
‘Hmm… Honestly, Seo Yuna?’
She’s pretty and has a good personality.
‘Being her partner sounds like a win to me.’
“Not really, I don’t mind.”
Her eyes widened at my answer, then she quickly turned her head away.
‘What’s with her? She’s the one who asked.’