The steam hung thick in the sauna, everyone's hair damp, skin glistening under the heat.
"So… you're going for a bracelet?" someone asked.
Seojin lay on his back, one arm folded behind his head, eyes closed as if half-asleep.
Beside him, Park Dong was sprawled out too, eyes shut, one hand lazily raised toward the ceiling. "That girl, Seolhyo, really hit the jackpot,"
he muttered. "Seojin… how many girls have confessed to you, anyway?"
I cracked one eye open and glanced at him. "Why do you care?"
Suwon scoffed. "You're seriously asking him? he probably don't even know cause there's too many to count."
Inseop snorted from the wall. "Pft. Are you really asking that? This guy?"
He raised his two fingers. "It's gotta be double digits at least right?."
Park Dong clicked his tongue. "Must be nice getting girls anytime you want without even trying."
I opened my eyes fully and looked straight at him.
He'd been acting strange since earlier. "What's with the sudden interest on this? You shouldn't worry about this, You should be more worried about what you're going to do with Irina."
Suwon immediately jumped in. "Yeah when are you planning to confess? Aren't you ever going to try being more than just friends with her?"
Park Dong sat up slightly. "You don't get a say in this if you've never even held a hand of a girl."
Suwon bristled. "You! I hope Irina dumps you before you even confess!"
That did it.
Both of them shot upright, glaring at each other before shoving shoulders and grabbing at each other's arms, the wooden platform creaking under the sudden movement.
Inseop stayed where he was, leaning against the wall, completely uninterested.
Daegyu lay in front of him on his side, propping his head up with one hand as he watched the scene unfold.
He burst out laughing. "HAHAHA seriously, you two are ridiculous."
Then, turning to me, he asked, "So where are you buying it? Want us to come along?"
I shook my head. "No, I've got it, but thanks."
Daegyu smiled. "Suit yourself."
Behind us, Suwon and Park Dong were still arguing, their voices mixing with their curses at each other and steam as the sauna buzzed with noise
-
The next day, during lunch, we were on our way to the cafeteria, chatting idly as usual, when I felt a light tug at my sleeve.
I glanced down. Seolhyo was walking close beside me, her expression more serious than I was used to seeing. She slipped her phone out of her pocket.
"I want to show you something," she said quietly.
I took the phone she handed me. "What is it?"
"Look at the messages."
I pressed a few buttons, scrolling through the inbox.
My name was pinned right at the top but just beneath it was a thread from an unknown number.
'I saw you once near the station. You're so pretty I couldn't stop looking. Please answer me, even just once. I'll wait.'
There were more messages like it.
Too many.
I stopped walking.
"…What is this?" I raised an eyebrow. "Some random creep?"
Seolhyo nodded, clearly nervous, watching my reaction carefully. "Someone from Baekhan High. I don't even know who he is. There's more message but I already deleted it, but this one came in just yesterday."
She bit her lip, lowering her voice. "I didn't reply. But… I thought I should show you."
I noticed the way her fingers curled anxiously at her side, how tense she looked waiting for my response.
I chuckled softly and reached out, pinching her cheek.
"You did the right thing,"
I said. "Next time, don't even open it. Just block it right away."
"…You're not angry?" Seolhyo asked softly.
Ahead of us, Park Dong and Irina glanced back at us.
They exchanged a look and turn around silently not wanting to see those two flirting.
I shrugged. "Why would I be angry? It's not your fault. It's not like you can stop people from being annoying."
Seolhyo smiled faintly. "…It's just frustrating. Even when I keep rejecting them, they still wont stop."
"Well," I said, thinking out loud, "you could change your number."
She immediately shook her head. "No way. I have so many contacts friends, classmates. If I suddenly changed it…"
I started walking again, and she quickly fell into step beside me.
"Then I guess you'll just have to bear with it," I said lightly. "Haha."
She hooked her arm through mine and pinched me hard enough to sting."…You're supposed to comfort me, you idiot."
I laughed, glancing down at her. "Alright, alright. Come here."
She stayed right where she was arm still linked with mine as we headed toward the cafeteria together.
We reached the cafeteria soon after, grabbed our food, and carried our trays around until we spotted an empty table.
"Where did those two go?" Seolhyo asked, glancing around.
"Beats me," I said, sitting down. "They probably already finished. Those two eat like beasts."
We'd just started eating when Seolhyo deliberately placed her phone on the table between us
.
I glanced at her and immediately caught the way her eyes flicked between the phone and me, clear as day.
I showed you mine… now show me yours.
I couldn't help but chuckle at how obvious she was.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and handed it over."Here. Look for yourself."
She flipped it open and scrolled through my inbox, lips slowly pressing together.
Most of what she texts with the guys and some people she don't know probably just some guy in school and a few missed calls.
Then her gaze lingered on the blocked numbers.
I leaned closer, still chewing on a rolled omelet. "I don't even read them. I just block them right away. Honestly, I have no idea how they keep getting my number. I heard someone who has it sell it to girls."
Her eyes flicked up to me. "That's smart… but isn't this kind of a lot?"
"Don't mind it too much," I said casually.
Seolhyo nodded and looked back at the screen, clearly struggling and failing to hide the smile creeping onto her face.
"Happy?" I asked, leaning in a little closer.
She handed the phone back, trying to sound neutral."…What's there to be happy about?"
I smirked. "Eat the rest of your food. It's going to get cold."
After that, we stopped by the snack store, grabbed a few things, then headed back to our classroom. We split up there since I had to change into my gym uniform.
When I got to the room, most of the guys were already changing.
Since our class was all boys, no one even bothered going to the locker room shirts off, bags open, total chaos.
Park Dong spotted me and immediately barked, "Hurry up! The teacher said we need to move if we're late, we're dead. We're seriously gonna get a beating if we don't make it to the auditorium on time."
I quickly changed into my light gray shorts that hit just above the knee and a short-sleeved shirt.
The moment I was done, the others bolted for the door, panic kicking in all at once.
I soon followed suit.
all of us can be seen sprinting down the hallway like our lives depended on it
We rushed in, most was out of breath only for the teacher to wave us off casually.
"Do whatever you want," he said.
Everyone shot the teacher a glare, irritation written all over their faces—but no one dared to say a word.
Soon, the gym filled with noise.
Sneakers squeaked sharply against the polished floor, cutting through the air as people moved.
A ball thumped steadily, bouncing crisp and clean, the sound echoing beneath the high ceiling.
Each bounce rang out, rhythmic and loud, mixing with laughter, shouts, and the slap of shoes against wood.
The wide space that had felt intimidating moments ago now buzzed with restless energy.