Chapter 5 …
While listening to music and gazing out the window, my eyes gradually grew heavy.
I hugged my bag and closed my eyes. I thought it would be hard to fall asleep because of the loud pop song, but surprisingly, my consciousness drifted away almost instantly.
I dozed off, then suddenly hit my head against the window with a thud and woke up startled. I hadn’t heard the stop announcement because my earphones were still in. I looked around out the window, only to realize the bus had only passed a few stops since I got on.
Ah, what the… that startled me.
I could’ve slept more. Feeling oddly annoyed at having woken up, I rubbed my eyes. While I had been asleep, more passengers must have gotten on at the stops I passed, because someone was now standing next to me.
Tap, tap—the person’s shoulder bag kept bumping into me.
I unconsciously turned my head.
And I saw, standing right next to me holding the handrail, a high school girl who somehow radiated an intimidating presence.
Her eyebrows were sharply shaped into a seagull-like arch, and she kept chewing gum, blowing bubbles and popping them. The moment our eyes met, my chest tightened.
She had only glanced down at me, but somehow it felt like she was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me… or was I just too much of a coward?
“Ah, sorry.”
Realizing belatedly why I was looking, she shifted her bag to the other shoulder.
“No, it’s okay,” I said, turning away.
Just standing there, yet somehow I felt extremely self-conscious.
Scratching near my eye, I glanced downward. I saw her foot—she was wearing a sneaker on only one foot. The other ankle was bandaged, and she was wearing a slipper, probably because she had twisted it.
I took out my earphones, put them back in the case, and straightened my bag. Then I stood up and offered her my seat.
As I got up, she looked at me, and I politely held onto the handrail.
“Please sit…”
But she didn’t seem to hear me because of her earphones. The moment I stood, she immediately sat down.
Maybe she thought I was getting off at the next stop. But I stayed standing at the next stop… and the one after that. She, now seated, crossed her arms and fell asleep instantly, unaware of anything.
I fiddled with the handrail and glanced toward the back seats.
That was when our eyes met.
A man sitting by the window on the left side of the back row was looking at me.
“……”
The moment our eyes met, I froze.
I felt my embarrassment spread clearly across my face.
Chaehyun was sitting by the sunlit window, looking at me. When our eyes met, he smiled slightly as if he had been waiting for that moment—and my heart dropped and started pounding uncontrollably.
Oh my god, I’m done.
I quickly turned my head away, furrowing my brows. There was nowhere to hide, so I pressed my face into my arm holding the handrail and stomped my feet in embarrassment. There was still a long way until I had to get off.
Of all places, I had to go to a dental clinic my mom insisted on because she knew someone there. So instead of a nearby clinic, I had to go to one 40 minutes away by bus.
If I got off here and took another bus, I could escape Chaehyun’s line of sight and feel less embarrassed—but then I’d be late for my appointment.
This is insane… Unnie, please just switch seats back for a second. Please?
I silently screamed at the girl sitting in front of me, but then slumped my head in defeat.
Let’s just pretend I don’t know him… and listen to music.
I reached for my earphones again in my bag pocket, but just as I let go of the handrail and grabbed the zipper—
The bus jolted.
I lost my balance, my body swayed, and my feet moved awkwardly.
After stumbling backward in a ridiculous step, I came to a stop. Gripping the handrail like a lifeline, I felt my face burn with humiliation.
Biting my lip tightly, I glanced sideways.
Of course. As expected—Chaehyun was within arm’s reach.
“Hey,” he greeted me.
It was too close to pretend not to know him, so I turned properly and greeted him back.
“Hello.”
Without realizing it, I bowed deeply—my upper body folding in half—and quickly straightened back up. Chaehyun seemed startled by my intense greeting and then smiled faintly.
“Where are you going?”
“Ah, I… I’m going to the dentist…”
Why am I stuttering like this? I wanted to smack my lips in frustration, but since he was watching, I just gripped the handrail tighter.
“Which dentist do you go to this far away?”
“There’s one in Girim-dong.”
“Girim-dong? That’s far.”
“Yes… my mom said there’s someone she knows there, so they give better treatment and it’s cheaper…”
Why am I even explaining this? I realized too late I was rambling unnecessarily and slowly trailed off. I awkwardly avoided his gaze, and he let out a small laugh.
“Did Seoyeon go to her academy?”
At his question, I nodded vigorously. I had once covered for Seoyeon when she skipped her academy, so my nod was extra intense.
Chaehyun leaned slightly toward the window and suddenly held out his hand.
“Eun-saem, give me your bag.”
“My bag?”
“Yeah, that one.”
It’s not even that heavy… is he trying to help?
“It’s okay,” I said.
“What do you mean okay? Do you even know what I’m going to do?”
He smiled lightly and tapped the small doll hanging from my bag.
So I reluctantly handed it over.
When the bus stopped briefly, Chaehyun stood up and motioned to the empty seat.
“You still have a long way to Girim-dong.”
His actions mirrored what I had done earlier. I blinked, and he chuckled, gently pushing my shoulder down into the seat.
So I ended up sitting down, almost being guided into it.
He placed my bag in my lap and held onto the handrail.
Wow… what is this? My heart is racing.
I hugged my bag tightly with both hands and looked up at him.
“Thank you.”
Chaehyun looked down at me from a slight angle and gave a faint smile.
I fiddled with the doll on my bag, thinking.
Should I stay quiet? Or keep talking? I hesitated, glancing out the window, then looked back up at him.
Our eyes met again.
He was holding the handrail with one hand, looking at me.
I was about to ask where he was going, but the moment our eyes tangled, I lost my words.
“Why?” he asked first.
I opened my mouth late.
“Don’t forget to eat the ice cream.”
The words slipped out before I could think.
Huh—what the hell am I saying? He gave me a gift and now I’m acting like this?
I shut my mouth and blinked.
He looked at me quietly for a moment, then laughed softly and rubbed his eye.
“How do you know I haven’t eaten it yet?”
It felt like a bell ringing in my head. I panicked.
It was like I had been caught checking whether a voucher had been used or not.
“Ah… I just saw it said unused…”
I pressed my lips together.
If he asked how I saw that, what would I even say? I want to get off this bus right now.
Trying to avoid the conversation, I looked away, and his voice followed.
“What was it again? Your favorite flavor?”
I glanced up. He was looking at me.
“Strawberry falling in love?”
“What did I say when I asked you that last time?”
Was he referring to our previous conversation?
“…That we should eat it together?”
“I said it was cute.”
Chaehyun said it casually.
Ah, right… that did happen.
My heart started pounding again and I struggled to keep a straight face.
Rubbing my now-warm cheeks, I forced a smile.
“That’s true. The ice cream names are all pretty cute.”
He looked at me quietly.
Why is he staring?
As I awkwardly fiddled with my hair near my sideburns, he suddenly spoke again.
“Let’s go eat it before summer ends. Or you and Seoyeon can come over and eat it at my place. It’s too much for one person.”
I nodded.
“You said it’s your heart, didn’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“You wrote, ‘It’s a small but sincere heart.’”
He was talking about the message I sent with the mobile ice cream voucher.
“It was like a birthday wish… something like that. Why?”
“Eun-saem’s heart is half-gallon size.”
Chaehyun said it calmly.
Why does it feel like he’s teasing me?
“Seoyeon only got a pint, though.”
Yeah, he’s definitely teasing me.
A few days ago, I had sent Seoyeon an ice cream voucher to cheer her up because she was struggling with her academy workload.
“No, that’s…”
My birthday is a bigger occasion for me. I tried to explain, but he cut me off.
“So you like me more than Seoyeon.”
“Huh? No.”
“No?”
“No…”
“You’re denying it by denying it.”
Why am I like this? Why can’t I finish a sentence properly?
My face gradually crumpled into a sulk as Chaehyun raised the corners of his lips.
“Alright, I’ll stop.”
“Okay…”
I didn’t know whether I should be grateful or not.
Brushing my hair back, I looked out the window as Chaehyun said,
“I’m getting off now. Have a good visit at the dentist.”
I glanced outside and then at him.
“Goodbye.”
As I bowed, he placed his hand gently on my forehead.
Startled, I looked up, and he tapped my forehead lightly.
“Eun-saem, we’re not that far apart in age. Don’t bow like that next time.”
“Pardon?”
“Okay?”
I nodded without thinking.
The bus stopped and the back door opened. It was time for him to leave.
I watched him go down the steps.
He walked away casually, then took out his phone and held it to his ear.
Who was he going to meet? Who could it be? A girlfriend?
I had heard from Seoyeon a few times about Chaehyun’s dating life. But it never lasted long.
According to her, the girls always confessed first—and also always initiated the breakups.
Seoyeon said the problem was her brother, but I couldn’t help thinking—at least it’s a relief he doesn’t stay with one girl for long.
