Projection Novel (Completed) - Chapter 121

He’s pretending not to know even after coming all this way. Is he teasing me? Or does he think I’m stupid? Sejin looked up at him irritably. Cheon Sejoo looked down at him, then let out an “Ah~” and burst out laughing.

He shook his head, signaling that it wasn’t like that, and said:

“You… you said that last time too, do you think I’m really volunteering?”

“…Yes, you are.”

“No. I’m taking the general college entrance exam, so I don’t need to manage that. My student council president term is also over.”

“What’s the general exam?”

“……”

At Sejin’s counter-question, Cheon Sejoo briefly showed a confused expression. He looked at him as if thinking, “What did I just hear?” but then quickly remembered Sejin was only seventeen and nodded.

“The general exam is the national college entrance exam. ‘Early admission’ uses school academic performance. The school record you’re talking about is something early admission students need to manage, but it’s not related to me.”

Not related? So that means… he didn’t come to my house for that? Sejin stood still, looking up at Cheon Sejoo. He glared at the smiling face and frowned, asking:

“Then… why did you come to my house? How did you know my address?”

Sejin didn’t even know Cheon Sejoo, yet he had been coming to his house for a whole month, wasting so much time. He didn’t need to try so hard for him…

“The teacher told the new student council president to try and find you, but I said I’d go. It’s not volunteering, but it’s voluntary.”

If what Cheon Sejoo said was true, then coming to his house brought him no benefit at all. On the contrary, it only wasted his time studying for the college entrance exam. Sejin quietly opened his mouth, his face bewildered.

“Why did you do that?”

He really didn’t understand. There was nothing to gain in return, yet the other person had patiently endured his coldness and aloofness for such a long time just to give, and then quietly withdrew…

Cheon Sejoo stared at Sejin at that question. His dark eyes swept over every small feature on that tiny face.

“Just because.”

His pleasant voice began to fade. He smiled gently and reached out his hand, that large hand gently stroking Sejin’s head.

“Because I found you interesting.”

Just such a short sentence…

The moment he heard it, his face flushed red. Sejin couldn’t utter a word, just looked up into his eyes. Since he became aware of the existence of those beautiful eyes, they had never once faded from his memory. They were eyes as dark as the deep night sky, as if containing the entire universe. But not scary, even though he felt like he was about to be sucked in, when their eyes met, Sejin felt a strange peace.

The statement that he approached him for no particular purpose shattered all his defenses. He wasn’t there to force him back to school, simply because he was curious about him, that alone made Sejin tremble.

Sejin bit his lip, then softly asked:

“…What were you curious about?”

The hand gently stroking his hair slid down near his ear. Cheon Sejoo smiled gently, his finger brushed his earlobe, then lightly stroked his cheek before withdrawing his hand. Then he gently put his arm around his shoulder, still keeping that smile.

It felt like he was being embraced. Since he was seven, he had never let a man hug him, but now it didn’t feel strange or uncomfortable. He even wanted to lean into that warmth.

“Well… I don’t know…”

Cheon Sejoo didn’t answer directly, just let out a soft chuckle in his throat, then he tilted his head towards him and whispered:

“If one day you want to go back to school, tell me. We’ll go together. I’ll come pick you up.”

He couldn’t utter the words, “You don’t have to,” but as if enchanted, he nodded slightly and said it. I’ll go to school starting tomorrow.

Cheon Sejoo kept his promise. The next morning, at exactly 7:40, he came to the front of the house and called his name.

“Hello, Auntie. I’m here to go to school with Sejin.”

“Oh my, oh my…”

The one who opened the door was his mother, Kim Hyun Kyung. His mother was surprised to see Cheon Sejoo standing at the door, but then she smiled brightly, turned to look at him, and said:

“My son finally made a friend?”

“…He’s not a friend.”

Sejin was afraid Cheon Sejoo wouldn’t come, so he waited barefoot. As soon as he saw him, he quickly put on his socks, shook his head in protest when he heard his mother say “friend,” then put on his backpack and ran out the front door before his mother could start her lament about his terrible social skills.

“I’m leaving.”

“Yes, have fun at school. Say goodbye to your friend too~”

“Thank you. Goodbye, Auntie.”

Cheon Sejoo politely bowed and then turned to go down the stairs first. He hesitated, waiting for him to go far, then turned back to kiss his mother and close the door.

But just as Sejin thought he had gone up, he suddenly saw Cheon Sejoo standing in the middle of the stairs, looking down at him with a strange smile. He blushed and said in an annoyed tone:

“…What?”

“What’s what? I didn’t say anything.”

It seemed he had heard the kiss. Sejin blushed, snorted, and then walked past him up the stairs. Cheon Sejoo tried to press his lips together to hold back his laughter, but as soon as he passed the old iron gate, he burst out laughing loudly.

“Haha… You’re really cute.”

That remark made him grit his teeth. “Cute,” “pretty,” those were the compliments Sejin hated most in the world.

“Don’t call me cute.”

“But if I think you’re cute, I want to call you that.”

“I said don’t, so don’t call me that!”

He yelled, his cheeks flushed. Then, seeing him step back a few paces, he stomped away, leaving echoing footsteps. Cheon Sejoo ran his hand through his hair, trying to suppress his smile, then quickly chased after him.

“Let’s go together~”

His chubby cheeks under his cold, curved eyes made him look very childish. Cheon Sejoo suddenly felt clearly that Sejin was two grades younger than him, and asked:

“You’re in class 1-2, right?”

“So what?”

A blunt answer. He’s sulking. Really cute. Cheon Sejoo tried to resist reaching out to stroke his cheek and said:

“I’m in class 3-2. Right below your class.”

“And then?”

“If you want to see me during break, just come to my class.”

“….”

What the heck? Sejin narrowed his eyes and stared at him. Who would want to see him? He only said he would go to school to repay him for the snacks. But he thought that was a sign of wanting to be close. He snorted, strode away from him, and replied:

“No way.”

“Then I’ll come see you.”

“Are you crazy? Go study.”

If someone like him appeared in the classroom, he would surely attract too much attention. Just thinking about a bunch of strangers coming up and asking, “Hey, hey, do you know senior Cheon Sejoo?” made him tired.

“Why? What if I miss you?”

“How should I know? Then come to my house…”

…and hang out. Sejin was about to say that but then choked.

Come to my house for what? He’s not mine. If he misses me, so what? He had no reason to be responsible for his feelings. No, calling it “responsibility” sounds ridiculous, he’s clearly just joking.

“Come to your house? Will you let me in?”

His voice laughed clearly. See, he’s clearly joking! Sejin blushed and quickly turned his head away, glaring at him and then stomping quickly forward.

From the first time he saw that sly smile, he knew Cheon Sejoo was good with words. He knew how to use his handsome face at the right time and place to make others lower their guard. And he wasn’t used to interacting with others, so he couldn’t get along.

If they kept talking like this, he would probably be led by him.

Sejin hated that. He was a person with his own opinions, he didn’t want to be led around like a leashed puppy by someone who joked around all the time like him.

He pressed his lips together, vowing not to talk to such a sly person anymore. Sejin thought, if he stayed silent, phrases like “I miss you” probably wouldn’t appear anymore. But despite his will, he was eventually dragged along by him.

That afternoon.

School, after so many days away, was still as boring as ever. He was hungry, so he couldn’t concentrate on any lessons, just waiting for lunchtime. At exactly 12 o’clock, Sejin left the classroom, intending to go to the cafeteria, but the hallway today was unusually quiet.

Feeling something was off, he looked up and saw Cheon Sejoo leaning against the windowsill, holding an English vocabulary book.

Normally, the boys would be screaming and running towards the cafeteria, but today, everyone was silently walking past him. The area was packed with people. Not only the girls but even the young boys looked at him with admiration.

He suddenly felt annoyed. Annoyed that he came even though he told him not to, and even more hated that he came down here to talk nonsense with others, blocking the way like an inconsiderate person.

Sejin’s stomach growled, and he quietly tried to slip past him, but at some point, Cheon Sejoo, who had been focused on his vocabulary book and chatting, suddenly turned his head and grabbed his hand.

“Sejin, let’s go eat together.”

“….”

His gentle voice calling his name made all the first-year students turn to look at him. Sejin felt his skin prickle from those gazes. He tried to ignore the stares and continued walking towards the cafeteria. And then he walked side by side, close to him, naturally putting his arm around his shoulder.

“Ah, I’m so hungry. I’ve been waiting for you for ten minutes now.”

“…Who told you to wait?”

Unreasonable. Who’s he blaming? He stared at him and saw Cheon Sejoo looking at him with affectionate eyes as if he found him very adorable.

“You’re really rude, but so cute.”

It was unclear whether it was an insult or a compliment. Sejin could only sneer without being able to reply. He just glared at him, then saw him turn his head and chuckle.

So annoying…

Sejin suddenly felt annoyed for no reason and remained silent. He took his meal tray without a word and went to a secluded corner of the dining hall, but Cheon Sejoo followed him all the way there. He sat opposite Sejin and calmly began to eat.

Even while eating, he didn’t take his eyes off the vocabulary notebook placed next to his meal tray. Seeing that, a vague memory Sejin had forgotten suddenly resurfaced. That’s right, students used to whisper that the handsome, tall senior always got perfect scores on every mock exam.

Sejin wasn’t quite sure about the exact difference between a mock exam and a mid-term exam, but at least he knew that mock exams were related to the college entrance exam.

Since he heard that he was a student who only took the college entrance exam and didn’t consider school records, perhaps the mock exams were related to that exam? Sejin thought this while secretly glancing at Cheon Sejoo throughout the meal. When he had eaten about half a bowl of rice, then—

“Oh! Hyung, you really brought him along? Hello!”

A noisy voice rang out, and then a stranger Sejin had never seen before sat down next to Cheon Sejoo. Sejin’s eyes immediately narrowed. He turned his head with an annoyed expression and saw someone grinning like a thug.

The person smiled brightly at Sejin and said:

“It’s really nice to see you at school like this, Sejin.”

He acted familiar even though Sejin didn’t know his name. Moreover, his way of speaking was as if they had met somewhere outside of school. But Sejin really didn’t know who that person was. Who was he? A delinquent? Or someone who bullied Cheon Sejoo? Just as he was tense and on guard, Cheon Sejoo looked at him and chuckled softly.

“Woojin, it seems Sejin doesn’t like you.”

“Huh? Oh no, I’m not a bad person, Sejin.”

Woojin? Cheon Sejoo called that person by his first name intimately. He thought he was only pretending to be friendly with him, but it turned out he treated everyone he knew by name kindly.

Therefore, Sejin felt even more annoyed. He puffed out his cheeks and bowed his head close to his meal tray. Regardless of what the two of them were saying, he just quietly scooped up his rice and ate. He ate very quickly and then stood up to clear his tray when suddenly a hand reached out and snatched the meal tray from his hand.

“Let me do it.”

It was Cheon Sejoo. He smiled gently, took both Sejin’s tray and his own with one hand, and walked towards the tray return area. Sejin just stood still, watching his retreating figure with an annoyed face, then immediately turned around and slowly walked back to class. Although he had clearly just helped him with a tiring task, he should have been grateful, but for some reason, Sejin’s mood became even more unpleasant.

From that day on, Cheon Sejoo often sought out Sejin. Kwon Sejin’s desk was at the end of the row near the hallway, and whenever the bell rang for break, he would slump down on his desk to rest and always hear a soft voice in his ear.

“Sleeping?”

Whenever he heard someone ask that, Sejin would turn his head and see Cheon Sejoo resting his chin on his hand, smiling at him through the window between the classroom and the hallway.

“Sleeping again?”

He heard that question and turned his head to see Cheon Sejoo standing there looking at him with a reference book in his hand.

“You just sleep all the time. You’re not a baby.”

Sejin turned his head away because he didn’t want to listen, then saw Cheon Sejoo smiling slyly with his eyes curved. Sejin sat up abruptly, glaring at him.

“Why do you keep coming?”

Seeing Sejin speak loudly, the whole class turned to look like scurrying cockroaches. Wherever Cheon Sejoo was, attention was drawn. Standing next to him, even Sejin received excessive attention. The question “How long have you two been close?” had been asked for the 2863rd time. Sejin stood up irritably, walked out into the hallway, grabbed Cheon Sejoo’s wrist, and dragged him straight into the restroom. He was dragged staggering but still smiled.

“You’re really strong.”

“Don’t say meaningless things! I asked why you keep coming.”

Sejin asked in a curt voice, making Cheon Sejoo stand in front of the empty sink. Cheon Sejoo shrugged, turned his head to look in the mirror, placed a hand on Sejin’s head to estimate that his forehead almost touched his lips, then chuckled softly and replied:

“I told you to come to my class if you wanted to see me.”

“Don’t beat around the bush.”

“…”

At Sejin’s sophisticated words, Cheon Sejoo pursed his lips and looked down at him. Then he raised his hand and placed it on Sejin’s small head, gently rubbing it as if measuring his head circumference, then mumbled as if he couldn’t understand:

“Maybe it’s because your head is too small…”

“I asked why you keep coming? Would it kill you to answer once?”

“Because you said I couldn’t come, so I had to.”

“What are you talking about? So annoying…”

Sejin couldn’t understand what this person was saying. He couldn’t understand why he was so popular. Always playing around, laughing carelessly, even his good grades seemed suspicious, and if he spoke in riddles like that, how could he solve problems?

Saying more would only make him angrier. Sejin turned away grumpily, intending to leave the restroom, when Cheon Sejoo smiled and added another sentence from behind him.

“I won’t come over there.”

Why would he go there? Sejin would rather die than go to class 12. Because he didn’t want to see Cheon Sejoo.

“You’re so good at reverse psychology.”

But right after that sentence, his cheeks burned. He had automatically assumed that Sejin wanted to see him. What… Who? Him? Want to see him? Why?! Sejin stammered in his head, then spun around to look at Cheon Sejoo, who was standing nonchalantly. He tried to make his voice as cold as possible:

“Who, who said I wanted to see you?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Of course not!”

He yelled, but Cheon Sejoo wasn’t angry, he just laughed like a child. As if he had anticipated that reaction, he laughed contentedly for a long time, until Sejin glared at him as if to pierce him, then he stopped. Then Cheon Sejoo smiled and lightly touched his cheek. Warm fingertips brushed against soft skin.

“Then just don’t want to see me.”

“I’d do that even if you didn’t tell me to, wouldn’t I?”

Even if no one told him, he wouldn’t want to see the face of someone who only joked around like that. But while he was thinking that, Cheon Sejoo smiled and added another sentence.

“But I’ll keep wanting to see you.”

A gentle smile bloomed on his handsome face. He looked at Sejin with slightly reddened eyes and smiled. When their eyes met, Cheon Sejoo, like someone who had held their breath for a long time, let out a deep, hot sigh. His trembling gaze had already turned away.

He was nervous. Realizing that, Sejin’s heart pounded as if it would explode. He stood there like an idiot, speechless, then when the bell rang, he quickly ran back to class. His heart was still trembling even after the class ended.

From then on, Cheon Sejoo still frequently came to class 1-2. There were times when Sejin turned around and didn’t see him, and he felt disappointed. But then in the next period, when he heard that Cheon Sejoo was busy meeting a teacher, his anger subsided.

Like a soap bubble swelling larger and larger, something was growing inside Sejin’s heart. He seemed to vaguely guess what it was but deliberately avoided looking at it. Partly because he felt embarrassed, and partly because whenever he saw Cheon Sejoo as if he understood his whole heart, a feeling of resistance arose, making him want to ignore it even more.

Spring passed quickly with Cheon Sejoo. Sejin went to school with him, met him every break, and went home together after school. Sometimes, if class 12 had a later finish, Sejin wouldn’t go home immediately but would lie face down on his desk, forcing himself to sleep to wait for Cheon Sejoo to pick him up.

Every time, Cheon Sejoo always came to find Sejin. Even though he teased, “Are you still hibernating even though winter is over?”, he gently stroked Sejin’s closed eyes to wake him up, and then they went home together.

By the end of the first semester, people had begun to combine Sejin and Cheon Sejoo’s names into a couple. Teachers and friends found nothing strange about them being together; in fact, if one of them was absent, the other would be asked about.

How funny.