Vol 7 Chapter 26

'He said school, didn't he?'

The bustling surroundings and glimpses of unfamiliar, large lecture halls.

Though Kapros was technically a university student himself, he had never actually visited his university since he had handled all classes through VT port and video lectures, and even that was now on hold as he was taking a break from school. To be honest, it would be more accurate to say he hadn't wanted to go. Just moving around among many people made him queasy, and he didn't even want to imagine himself walking while dragging his leg in the middle of a university campus. But...

Min-hoo being class president and people speaking to him familiarly around him. Only now, watching Jin Je-hwan, did it belatedly occur to Kapros that there was probably a gap he didn't know about between the friend he knew as Kran and Jung Min-hoo, and the Jung Min-hoo others knew.

'It's nothing special but... it does feel a bit strange.'

Kapros glanced at Je-hwan's face as he concentrated on his work. Come to think of it, he had never known what Je-hwan did either.

"What do you do?"

Though there was no answer, black eyes moved this way questioningly, clearly indicating he had heard Kapros's words. Kapros rested his chin on his hand and muttered while meeting those eyes without avoiding them.

"In reality, I mean. School? Work?"

"...What about you?"

"Me? I'm taking a break from university."

"You were attending university?"

Je-hwan showed interest in a strange part without answering his turn.

"Yeah."

Though he had never seen the university building, Kapros kept that part buried as he answered, and Je-hwan finally responded to the question he had received first.

"I just... work."

What did he mean by "just work"? Was he employed? Had someone with a job been visiting at all hours even in broad daylight? Seeing Kapros's expression reveal such doubts, Je-hwan seemed to decide he needed to elaborate and briefly stopped his hands that had been moving automatically even while looking this way.

"I help out a bit when I get requests from outside. Don't misunderstand."

"With what?"

"Computers."

Ah... so he was something like a freelancer working with computers. That's how Kapros understood it. So that's why he had boasted about being good with computers. Though it was a late realization, the fact that Je-hwan, who was the same age as him, was already working somehow felt surprising.

"Aren't you busy with work? Seems like you wouldn't have time..."

"I'm not busy."

Hearing him firmly state he wasn't busy made Kapros suspicious again.

'Is he really skilled with computers?'

He could almost see an illusion of his innocent computer being held hostage by Je-hwan's hands. While watching Je-hwan's hand movements with an internal laugh, this time Je-hwan spoke to him instead.

"Tell me if you're uncomfortable."

"With what?"

"...Being like this."

Kapros blinked several times to understand the meaning of those words. Being like this just meant sitting side by side on the same sofa, so what...

'Ah.'

At some point, Je-hwan's arms and legs had come close to his body. Was that what he meant? That he had come too close?

"We're not even touching, what's uncomfortable about it."

"Just. I was a bit worried."

'Worried...?'

Before Kapros could ask what he was worried about, Je-hwan continued speaking while still looking only at the monitor.

"You said you didn't regret it before but... today might be different. Maybe you've come to dislike it more."

Who? The subject implied in those words could be understood immediately.

"I still don't regret it now, and I'm fine."

"If you haven't come to dislike it more, then what about liking it more?"

"...I'm not sure about that yet."

He should consider that if emotions could change so dramatically in a day, he wouldn't have attempted such things in the first place. Je-hwan slightly curled up the corners of his mouth at Kapros's answer. It seemed he hadn't said it with too serious an intent either.

"I know. Making you like it more is my goal for the future."

"..."

"Still, I'm happy. Because you asked me questions first today."

Though he had only asked one insignificant question, hearing Je-hwan say that made Kapros's shoulders feel heavy despite having started this already prepared.

Je-hwan spoke clearly without avoiding Kapros's gaze for even a moment.

"So... I'm happy."

After that, Je-hwan silently finished all his work and said that he actually had other business today so he was just stopping by briefly and couldn't stay long.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Well, he could come again next time. Though it was a bit strange that today, unlike last time, he hadn't initiated any physical contact at all, almost the complete opposite.

"So today...?"

When Kapros subtly questioned if it was right not to do anything, Je-hwan nodded.

"I won't do anything since you're still hurt. I definitely made a mistake last time."

Eyes filled with guilt about not having checked his condition first swept over the still unhealed wounds here and there on his body. Though he certainly still couldn't remove the cast, it didn't seem like something that should be said by someone who hadn't minded at all even when things had been worse... Kapros smiled silently. Though Je-hwan looked like a cold-blooded killer from movies who might shoot at any moment, it somehow seemed cute how he was looking with eyes full of apology and regret.

"What's the point of saying that now? I don't mind."

When Kapros said this teasingly, Je-hwan squinted his eyes and pressed his lips together before turning his gaze away as he continued.

"...Your complexion has gotten worse than before. So I really won't do anything today."

His complexion had gotten worse than before? He had already been discharged, and even when washing this morning he hadn't felt anything different, so what was that about? Kapros blinked and lowered the hand that had been feeling his face.

'This guy and his excuses.'

Seeing him go so far over something trivial, it seemed he really was just going to leave today. Well, Kapros didn't mind either way...

"Fine. Well... come again next time since you're busy today. But make sure to contact me first like today. Sometimes I'm not home because of my part-time job."

Je-hwan's expression, which had brightened briefly at his words, furrowed deeply again at the mention of part-time job.

"Part-time job? Since when? Where?"