Chapter 6: White

Unlike yesterday’s flushed face, today her expression was stiff, as if some change of heart had occurred.

“Say it again.”

Her voice carried a cold fury.

Knowing it wouldn’t do any good to provoke her further, Joon put on his most friendly expression and complied.

“Hey?”
“Before that.”
“Mom, where’re my pants?”
“…Are you messing with me right now?”

His attempt at breaking the ice with a joke didn’t land, and the anger in her eyes showed no sign of fading.

‘Ugh… guess there’s no helping it.’

Steeling himself, Joon let go of his restraint and went all in.

“I f*cking love you.”

At his words, Chaerin’s eyes widened in shock, as if caught off guard.

Her friends, quietly watching from behind, let out gasps of amazement.

“He actually said it.”
“Normally, people would freeze up and say nothing here… Oh, wait, it’s not normal, it’s just Joon.”

Everyone at school knew.

The guy who, on the first day a Japanese transfer student arrived, sent a punch flying, and in middle school, jumped out a second-story window just to get to the cafeteria faster—without batting an eye.

He didn’t realize it himself, but he was far from an ordinary student.

“Can’t I like you?”

No, he was just a lunatic.

That was a core trait that didn’t change much even at 25, eight years older.

“You… what…!”

Chaerin, thrown off by the relentless confession onslaught, seemed unable to process the situation.

‘Good, she’s rattled.’

Even someone gearing up to lash out would lose their focus if thrown off like this.

He could just say later it was a casual remark to brush off his friends, and the misunderstanding would clear up.

‘From her perspective, it must feel like I’m screwing around.’

Yesterday, she had to grab his collar and shake him to get a reluctant admission, like prying a 500-won coin from a piggy bank, and now he was spouting it first thing in the morning.

‘But what’s done is done.’

The words were already out, soaking her ears.

He wasn’t sure what would happen next, but… it’d work out somehow, right?

As silence hung in the classroom, he watched her reaction closely.

Her eyes, softened by confusion, started to sharpen again.

“…There’s a limit to messing with people.”

Chaerin’s face twisted, beyond just a frown.

‘Uh… was that the wrong move?’

Sensing something was off, she stepped closer.

“Argh!”

Using the tip of her slipper, she kicked him hard in the shin.

The pain hit his brain like a lightning bolt, forcing him to his knees with an involuntary groan.

“If you talk to me again, I’ll really kill you.”

With that venomous remark, Chaerin sauntered out of the classroom.

“Hiss… that f*cking hurts.”

Pushing through the pain to stand, he saw:

The stunned faces of his classmates, indescribable except as pure shock.

“Joon’s on another level.”
“Joon, please, just say ‘love’ one more time!”

And the awe-filled gazes of the apes around him.

After that, Chaerin skipped first period and only returned just before second period started.

Their eyes met as she walked in, but the “talk to me and die” vibe she exuded kept him from saying anything.

The breaks were filled with teasing from his friends, and soon it was lunchtime.

“Yo, wanna play soccer with Class 3 after lunch?”
“Pass today.”
“Then be a defender.”
“You dumbass, not that pass. I’m not playing.”

Explaining patiently to his clueless friend, the guy responded in a slightly deflated tone.

“Man… you sulking ‘cause we teased you?”
“Piss off. Homeroom teacher called me.”

Truth was, no teacher had called him; he just wanted to wander the school instead of playing soccer.

Unaware of his real intentions, his friend assumed he was being scolded, laughed, threw a casual insult, and Joon left the classroom.

“It’s really the same.”

He’d noticed yesterday, but everything was exactly as he remembered from back then.

The science lab cluttered with alcohol lamps and beakers, the teachers he glimpsed passing by.

Taking in each detail, lost in forgotten memories, he eventually reached the library.

‘What if I go in and end up back at 25?’

Hesitating at the door, wondering whether to enter, someone called from behind.

“Planning to sleep here again?”

Turning around, he saw the class president standing there, arms full of books like last time.

This time, she had so many books they stacked up to her chin, making her petite frame stand out even more.

Snapping out of his serious thoughts, Joon smiled and said.

“Nah, just thought I’d read something.”

Opening the door for her, she smiled and walked into the library.

Following her naturally, she whispered to him in a soft voice.

“Thanks. But don’t you usually avoid reading?”
“Gonna start now.”
“Hmm…”

Hayan gave him a playful, suspicious look before flashing a bright smile.

Her smile, like spring sunshine, was so warm it nearly made his lips curl up too.

“Alright, I’ll believe you. But if you fall asleep reading, I’m waking you up.”
“…Got it.”

The kindness in her mischievous smile melted his heart rather than annoying him.

‘I just came to look around.’

But now, feeling like reading, he headed to the classic literature section, spotted a title he’d enjoyed as a movie, and grabbed it with a sense of familiarity before sitting down.

Just as he was about to open the book.

“What’re you reading?”
“Jesus…”

The class president had crept up beside him, her voice tickling his ear.

Before he could answer, she checked the book’s title and said, slightly surprised.

“Pride and Prejudice?”
“It was pretty good.”

He’d only known the title before, but during his public service days, after watching the movie in a class he subbed for, he got curious and read the novel a few times alone in the library.

She seemed surprised he’d picked such a book, her reaction noticeable.

“Didn’t know you read stuff like this.”
“Doesn’t fit my image?”

Considering his usual chaos-causing antics at school, even he thought it didn’t quite suit him.

She nodded, agreeing.

“Honestly, it’s a bit unexpected. I’ve never seen you read before.”
“Fair point.”

He barely read as a student.

He only started during public service, cooped up in the library, bored of his phone, and began reading whatever caught his eye.

From famous works to obscure titles.

‘Though I got bored of that after half a year.’

She seemed genuinely intrigued by this unexpected side of him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Didn’t know you were into books…”
“Not that into them. Just read the famous ones.”

Her eyes lit up even more, and she plopped down beside him, whispering close to his ear, continuing the conversation.

“So, what’d you think of this one?”
“Oh, that one was tough to get through. Had to look up analyses to understand it.”
“Hehe, yeah, I found it tricky too.”

Clearly a book lover, she got excited sharing thoughts on novels, showing a lively side he hadn’t seen before.

When she agreed with something, she’d smile brightly like a puppy; when their opinions differed, she’d close her eyes and think for a moment.

‘First time talking this long with a girl.’

Sharing a hobby with the class president, whispering like they were in a secret meeting, made his heart flutter.

It was a completely different feeling from hanging out with guys.

Like he’d stepped into a rom-com anime he watched daily.

Lost in book talk, time flew until the preliminary bell rang through the library’s external speaker, startling Hayan.

“Already? I haven’t finished organizing!”
“You’re in the library club?”

Her earlier stack of books came to mind, so he asked.

While hurriedly moving books, she answered diligently.

“Yeah, I love books, and it covers volunteer hours, so I joined right after enrolling.”
“I see.”

Volunteer hours…

He hadn’t bothered with them, having no plans or money for college.

‘If this plan works out, I should think about it. If money’s not an issue, I’d definitely want to go to college.’

While thinking, he saw Hayan frantically organizing a stack of books as tall as her and stood to approach.

“Since I kept you talking, I’ll help.”

It’d be awkward to leave her and head back to class alone.

But she waved him off with a smile.

“No, it’s fine. You need to know the numbering system, and it’s tough if you’re new.”

Library books had specific genre numbers and designated spots, making it hard for someone unfamiliar to help.

“No worries, I’m not new to this.”
“Really?”

It wasn’t a problem for Joon.

Having spent a year in a library during public service, he could find book spots blindfolded.

‘Time to shine?’

Joon’s shoulders puffed up slightly.

Helping someone always felt good.

But he overlooked one key detail.

“Hey! That doesn’t go there.”
“…”

Seven years might not change mountains, but it sure changes book placements.