By Zephyria 
“Take it quickly, my arm’s getting tired.”
As the standoff continued, Lee Beom grumbled, his eyebrows twitching. I found Lee Beom’s prickly way of speaking absurd, but I couldn’t keep him waiting indefinitely, so I reluctantly and carefully accepted the helmet.
It would be more strange to throw a tantrum here and refuse to ride a motorcycle. After all, even high school students aged 16 and above can get motorcycle licenses…
…Are they even licensed?
“Get on.”
“But do you have a license?”
“Why? Want to see it?”
“No.”
As I put on the helmet, Lee Beom gestured with his chin towards the back seat. Reluctantly, I climbed on behind Lee Beom.
His large, firm back blocked my view. I had thought this before; protagonists seem to have a different genetic makeup when it comes to development. I cautiously gripped the edge of Lee Beom’s clothes.
Then, Lee Beom’s thick hand moved down towards my waist and firmly grabbed the hand that was timidly holding onto his clothes. I gasped in surprise, drawing in a sharp breath.
“Gasp!”
“Hold on tight. Or you’ll fly off. You’re so scrawny.”
“I don’t think I’ll fly off…”
“Hmph.”
I tried to resist timidly, but Lee Beom clicked his tongue sternly and pulled my arm. Pulled awkwardly, I ended up with my arms around Lee Beom’s waist.
‘This is a bit…’
I’m not paper, am I? Would I really fly off?
Realizing my stiff posture, I started to try and pull my arms back. However, the motorcycle with Lee Beom and me on it lurched forward violently.
“Ack!”
You crazy bastard!
The sudden acceleration yanked my head back sharply. In my shock, I instinctively tightened my grip on Lee Beom’s waist. I clung to Lee Beom as if I were a piece of driftwood found while floating away in water. What is this!
As if he’d traded traffic laws for a candy bar, Lee Beom didn’t slow down at all on the way home. It seemed motorcycles weren’t just symbols of teenage rebellion for nothing. He was like a street racer. He didn’t even stop properly at signals. Instead, he sped up even more when the light was a precarious yellow, and paid no mind to red lights.
‘Crazy!’
While cursing him inwardly, I had no choice but to cling to Lee Beom’s waist like a rope. The city scenery blurred past at an incredible speed, but I had no leisure to enjoy it.
By the time we arrived at my house, me fumbling on the motorcycle, my neck felt chilled. Lee Beom stopped the motorcycle with a spectacular, dust-kicking turn.
I had been so tense clinging on that cold sweat broke out on my back. I didn’t even have the energy to yell at Lee Beom for his reckless driving. I dismounted, staggering, looking as pale as if half my blood had drained out. Only when my feet touched the ground did I feel alive.
‘I’ll never ride Lee Beom’s motorcycle again.’
Crazy bastard, lunatic! Cursing him in my head, I wearily took off the helmet and handed it to Lee Beom.
Lee Beom, who had been watching my pale, sweaty face, opened his mouth.
“…Seong Hae-min. He’ll be alright.”
Suddenly?
“Uh-huh.”
I answered a beat late, flustered. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. The already chilly night air felt even colder because of the sweat. My body shivered. I felt an urgent need to go inside and warm up with a hot shower.
I opened my mouth, intending to just say a quick thank you and run home.
“Then…”
“Seong Hae-jun.”
“Huh?”
Lee Beom cut me off. It was late, and the surroundings were pitch black. Only the orange streetlights cast shadows on Lee Beom’s face.
Lee Beom had called my name but had nothing more to say. Silence, accompanied by the cold night breeze, hung between us.
Damn it, I’m cold and want to get home quickly. I nervously watched Lee Beom. The cold sweat was drying, and a chill was creeping in, bordering on shivering.
The cold wind brushed past my neck like a lick. My body reflexively shivered.
And then, Lee Beom pulled me into an embrace.
“Wh-?”
I hadn’t expected such a sudden action, and my body, already trembling from the cold, froze stiff with surprise. Unable to resist, I stood rigid as a statue, held against Lee Beom’s chest.
“I didn’t see anything.”
Lee Beom whispered softly. See what! I wanted to scream, but I was buried so deep in his firm, mattress-like chest that I couldn’t see his face.
His chest, which had driven the motorcycle so roughly, smelled of the cold night air and faint sweat. I held my breath to suppress a surge of cringe.
“So. Even if you cry here, no one will know.”
“…….”
…What?
Cry?
…Me?
I was speechless. In that state, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything. Not until my held breath finally escaped.
“It’s okay.”
“…Puhah.”
At Lee Beom’s voice, sensation slowly returned to my fingertips. Electricity, known as goosebumps, coursed through my entire body. I couldn’t even speak properly. A chilling goosebump like a ghost passing through my body! Numb hands and feet! A trembling body!
It felt like the cold night wind was licking my neck and descending my spine. My pounding heart seemed to have gained a vibration function, as my chest quaked like a quivering aspen.
‘So cringe!’
I wanted to shake off all the goosebumps, but his strong arms held me so tightly I couldn’t move.
Trying to control my trembling, I held my breath again, stiffened my body, and pushed Lee Beom away. This time, unlike before, he let go easily.
I wanted to go home, wash, and sleep. As soon as I got inside, I’d have to wash my ears first.
“I… I’m not, hic, not crying…”
“Stubborn.”
“Hic.”
I inhaled to stop myself from hiccuping. His firm voice, tinged with an affectionate chuckle, silenced me. My jaw trembled.
“Your voice is shaking too.”
That’s because… I’m desperately trying to stop my fingers from curling up like squid on a grill, you crazy bastard.
“You’re panting, and your face is red.”
That’s because I’m holding my breath to endure the goosebumps…
While making excuses in my head, I clamped my mouth shut.
If I were you, I wouldn’t believe it either. It was absurd.
‘What kind of situation is this?’
“If you say you’re not crying, who would believe you? You dummy.”
…….
…….
…Du-dummy…?
‘What was dummy again?’
My brain froze. I almost collapsed, clutching the back of my neck at Lee Beom’s choice of words, but I managed to stand there, reduced to ashes like wood burned in a brazier.
I snapped back to reality. No, this wasn’t the time. I had to get home, yes, go home, take a warm shower, and rest. Lying in a cozy bed…
“Don’t try to bear it alone. If it hurts, tell me.”
“…….”
“To me, you are also…”
You are also what.
Lee Beom, who had interrupted my planning, vaguely averted his gaze and trailed off. I caught a glimpse of his ear tips. That wasn’t his ears turning red; it must have been the orange streetlights. I was so tired I was seeing illusions.
“You are also precious. Got it?”
“…….”
“Hurry inside, dummy! I’m leaving then.”
“…….”
Fsssh…
My head felt like it was turning into stone dust, scattering in the wind. Lee Beom, perhaps realizing the shock of his own words, quickly left.
A handsome face, only his ears red, grumbling sullenly.
I’ll buy eyes that haven’t seen this.
This is a 100% nightmare. I creaked my body, frozen like ice from the cold wind, and headed home. And, as predicted, I had a nightmare.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Joonie, are you sick today?”
“No.”
“Uuuung, no matter how I look at it, your face is weird!”
…Are you trying to pick a fight?
I went to school with a haggard face, and Min Si-hu was whining beside me. I couldn’t tell if it was concern or provocation. Jeon Jae-hyung and Lee Beom were also nearby. Why were they always coming to my seat when they weren’t even in my class?
It was just last night that Lee Beom took me home after leaving Seong Hae-min at the hospital. And today, the next day, I went to school as usual. Seong Hae-min probably sent me home out of consideration, wanting me to go to school comfortably.
But the fact that he sent me with Lee Beom was a critical mistake Seong Hae-min wouldn’t realize!
Sitting here in the classroom, the events of the weekend, when I heard Seong Hae-min was injured and went to the hospital, felt like a dream. I ran my hand over my gaunt, dry cheeks.
It was fine if the Four Heavenly Kings mistook my dry face for worry about Seong Hae-min. My face was dry because I had truly lost sleep last night.
Of course, I wasn’t without concern for Seong Hae-min. But it wasn’t enough to make me lose sleep. Just as I was about to drift off, Lee Beom would appear in my dreams, whispering like an echo, ‘Dummy… Dummy… Dummy….’ It gave me goosebumps, making it impossible to sleep.
I felt like fatigue had settled on my neck. My eyelids felt heavy.
I definitely felt weaker since coming here. Could I be this tired from just one night of no sleep?
“You were worried about Min all night, so Joonie couldn’t sleep! Yeah! Si-hu can tell when he sees it!”
“It’s not like that… Sigh.”
I knew this would happen. I let out a big sigh without realizing it.
Min Si-hu’s already large eyes widened.
“Min Si-hu, stop bothering Hae-jun.”