It was a relief that the weekend was in between.
If we had met before that, I might have shown a wavering side.
Thanks to that, I could act like nothing happened, as if that night was nothing at all.
As I was organizing my desk, I suddenly sensed a familiar presence from behind.
“Of.”
Feeling a tap on my forearm, I turned my head and saw a familiar face.
“What.”
“Let me see your homework from yesterday.”
Lee Jian confidently stretched out her hand.
“You didn’t do it?”
“Nope.
But you did, right?
So, no problem.”
A completely shameless logic.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at her.
“You say it like I was supposed to do it for you.”
“But isn’t it important that I at least try to make some effort?”
She puffed out her chest and spoke proudly.
“This is what you call effort?”
“It’s teamwork between the two of us.”
“Feels more like I’m carrying all the weight.”
“Still, I won’t borrow it next time.
Even if you beg me to, I won’t.”
She turned her head as she spoke, as if she knew how ridiculous that sounded.
“Please do.”
Sighing, I pulled out my notebook from yesterday.
Lee Jian grinned and quickly snatched it up.
“Thanks!
You’re the best.”
“You’re the best.”
That phrase, which was nothing special, strangely lingered in my ears.
My hands, which were tidying up my desk, paused for a moment.
But I quickly acted like it was nothing and asked,
“Why do you only do this to me?
You have plenty of friends.
There’s Yoon Jihoo too.”
“They don’t let me borrow theirs.
Stingy bastards.”
Lee Jian grumbled.
[Multiple anomalies detected. Presence slightly increased.]
Presence.
At that word, my heart sank.
A faint static noise, as if something was interfering.
The moment I read that word, an odd sense of incongruity passed through my mind.
Like a spotlight suddenly turning on over a stage.
Like a familiar background becoming unfamiliar.
The simple message—”Presence increased”—felt as if it was exposing everything about me.
Until now, I had lived trying not to stand out.
Letting the story flow as it should, without disrupting the original narrative.
That meant my role was changing.
Not just a camera observing the scene, but an actor stepping onto the stage.
“That can’t be.”
I shook my head, forcing myself to deny it.
“Kim Dohyun, Lee Jian.
Both of you, come forward.”
The teacher’s stern voice rang out from the podium.
This was the first time I had ever been called out like this during class.
Was this also because of the increased presence?
Feeling confused, I stood up.
Lee Jian, too, didn’t seem to have any clue.
The classmates around us were looking, equally puzzled.
All the eyes in the classroom focused on us at once.
Anxiety surged in my chest.
The more I got involved, the stronger my existence in this world became.
“Kim Dohyun ?
Was there a guy like that in our class?”
“I think it’s my first time seeing him.
Is he a transfer student?”
Hearing that, Lee Jian burst into laughter.
“You find this funny?
You’re getting scolded right now.”
The teacher spoke in disbelief.
“Huh?
We are?
Why?”
The teacher tapped a thick stack of homework on the podium with a finger.
“Do you still have anything to say after seeing this?
Are there two Kim Dohyuns in our class?”
My homework.
And another homework with identical content,Jihoo.
Even the name was exactly the same.
The only difference was the handwriting—one neatly written, the other round and cute.
The classroom erupted in laughter.
Lighthearted chuckles, teasing comments tossed around casually.
In the middle of it all, I felt like an outsider, floating in a space that wasn’t mine.
Slowly, I lifted my head and looked at Lee Jian.
“…Mistake.”
And her familiar tone of voice.
She glanced at me with flushed red ears, gauging my reaction.
Familiar.
I never knew that finding familiarity within strangeness could be so comforting.
Only then did I slightly relax my tensed shoulders.
“Both of you stay after class and clean the room.
Alright, everyone, come up and take your homework.”
“The idiot duo, I’m heading out first.”
Yoon Jihoo said before leaving the classroom.
“Hey!
Wait up!”
Lee Jian called out and started chatting with him.
What were they talking about?
I was curious, but I couldn’t know.
Because the system wasn’t running.
Without the system, I knew nothing.
That was the only special thing I had in this strange world.
I fought off the creeping sense of gloom.
My clenched fist tightened involuntarily.
Lee Jian trudged back, looking dejected, probably after getting scolded by Yoon Jihoo.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile.
Naturally, I threw out a teasing remark.
“Why do I have to be dragged into this with you…”
“I told you, it’s teamwork.
We’re in the same boat, so we share the responsibility.”
She nodded seriously and spouted nonsense.
“Why do I have to be in the same boat as you?
I want to get off.”
“It’s already in motion, so that’s impossible.”
“No lifeboats?”
“What, you don’t want to be with me?”
Suddenly, my vision was blocked.
A bright light filled my view.
And then, a familiar face was right in front of me.
“Hey, Kim Dohyun.”
Too close.
Way too close.
Golden hair lightly swayed.
Soft platinum blonde strands, catching the light, formed gentle waves as they fell.
Through the strands cascading over her shoulder, I saw a small face.
Glowing eyes.
Large, round eyes staring straight into mine.
A mysterious blend of pink and violet hues.
Up close, they looked even larger.
I could see the faint tremble in their sparkle.
Long lashes, open and bright eyes.
The corners of her lips curled slightly upward.
A mischievous smile.
“What.”
“What do you mean, what?”
Even her voice was too close.
Her small, sharp chin stopped just inches from my nose.
She leaned in, eyes sparkling like she was analyzing me.
I tried to back away, but there was nowhere to retreat.
“…You’re way too close.”
Only then did she blink.
Then, as if it was nothing, she shrugged and replied.
“Really?
I don’t mind.”
I do.
Even up close, her skin was clear and flawless.
Her hair had a soft golden sheen under the sunlight.
And her lips, curled up in a sly smile.
It looked like she was about to say something teasing.
“Why?
Think you’re going to fall for me?”
Against her pale skin, a soft blush bloomed as she murmured the words.
Lee Jian’s pupils trembled violently.
I chuckled.
If she was going to get flustered this easily, why did she even start this?
I gently pushed her forehead away and spoke as if nothing had happened.
“Just clean up.
What are you doing holding a mop like that?”
Lee Jian grumbled while rubbing her forehead.
“I was going to do it anyway.”
Has pretending to be indifferent always been this hard?
I thought I just had to avoid eye contact, keep a neutral expression like always.
But right now, the sound resonating in my chest was too loud.
Thump.
Even though I tried not to be conscious of it,the steady rhythm of my heartbeat had somehow fallen out of sync.
I slowly turned my head.
I looked out the window.
Maybe it was a bit of a cowardly act.
But at this moment, I didn’t want her to notice that something inside me was shaking.
The orange sunset spilled into the classroom,coloring the room in warm hues.
Long shadows stretched across the floor.
The lingering warmth on my fingertips.
The sensation was still vivid.
I pressed my lips together tightly.
I was glad she hadn’t noticed my racing heart,or my slightly flushed face.
That’s what I told myself.
“What, are you saying you don’t like being with me?”
It was a casual, teasing remark.
But the way Kim Dohyun avoided me—for some reason, it bothered me.
So I stepped closer.
One step, two steps.
The moment I confirmed that he had no space left to retreat,I leaned in even further.
“Hey, Kim Dohyun.”
The world in front of me brightened.
I lifted my face, blocking his view.
His ash-gray hair swayed slightly.
Kim Dohyun furrowed his brow.
“What.”
“What do you mean, what?”
A flood of messages exchanged over the phone flashed through my mind.
Messages scrolling by, one after another.
The reply I received after mustering up the courage to say something—”I should sleep.”
So dry.
I didn’t like that answer.
That night we walked together, the strange warmth in the air,the lyrics we shared from our favorite songs.
My heart had pounded so fast,yet he looked like nothing had happened.
I didn’t like that either.
And I didn’t want to see him waver for someone else.
I wanted to be the one who made him falter.
I wanted to see him shaken because of me.
With a mischievous smile, I teased him.
“What, are you going to fall for me?”
At that moment—
I swallowed hard.
Embarrassment.
I felt a rush of heat crawling up my face.
I was the one who said it,but somehow, I was the one getting flustered.
I could feel my cheeks burning.
But I forced myself to act like it was nothing,pretending it was just a joke.
Then, Kim Dohyun looked down at me.
His ash-gray eyes held mine without wavering.
And then, something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
And slowly, he leaned in.
Closer.
My breath caught in my throat.
Thump.
My heart pounded wildly.
He didn’t say anything.
Just looked at me, quietly.
I was the one who started this—
So why was I the one caught off guard?
I hadn’t expected this.
My eyes darted away reflexively.
I bit my lip.
I wanted to respond casually like I always did,but my voice wouldn’t come out.
From this close, I could see everything—his steady gaze,the subtle flicker of his eyelashes,
the slight curve of his lips.
Too close.
Way too close.
My body froze.
“Why am I reacting like this…?”
If I keep this up…
I’ll be the only one looking like a fool.
And then—
Kim Dohyun quietly raised his hand and gently pushed my forehead.
“Just clean up already. What are you doing standing there with a mop?”
“……!”
Suddenly, I snapped back to my senses.
I quickly turned my head away.
My fingertips trembled slightly.
I had to make sure he didn’t see how red my face had gotten.
My heart was racing too fast.
This…
This wasn’t how I planned it.
I pursed my lips and muttered,
“I was going to clean anyway.”
I gripped the mop tightly.
But I couldn’t stop my hands from tensing up.
When Kim Dohyun had looked into my eyes just now—
For that brief moment,I was the only one getting flustered.
He hadn’t wavered at all.
For some reason…
That really annoyed me.
I stole a glance at him.
He had already turned away,looking out the window,expression unreadable as ever.
The same indifferent face.
My mood soured.
“Am I the only one?”
I bit my lower lip.
“Why am I the only one whose heart races like this?”
It felt unfair.
“You’re completely fine.”
Why was it always just me?
I felt like an idiot.
So, I didn’t want to play the fool anymore.
I wanted to cross the line.
I wanted to stop him from pulling away all the time.
I wanted to be selfish—just a little.
At least until I could put a name to this feeling.
Until I could face it properly.
So, I smiled brightly and spoke.
“I’m going to enter the competition this time.”
“Not as a director, but for lighting design.”
His eyes widened.
A ripple of surprise spread across his face.
The biggest reaction I’d ever seen from him.
And the fact that I had caused it—
That was the part I liked the most.