Projection Novel (Completed) - Chapter 122

Anyway, because of that, after the final exam, for the first time in his life, Sejin felt responsible for his grades. Because his grades had hit rock bottom, he heard his homeroom teacher jokingly ask Cheon Sejoo, who was already busy with a hundred things: “Could you tutor Sejin a bit?” Cheon Sejoo wasn’t really his brother, so why did everyone talk to him like that?

Sejin pursed his lips, his face contorted in a frown as he walked with his head down. He was so angry that Cheon Sejoo had to hear such awkward words because of him. What if he got tired of him because of what the teacher said? He started to feel anxious.

“Hungry? You’ve looked unhappy for a while now.”

While he was thinking, he heard Cheon Sejoo ask in a playful voice. What did mood have to do with hunger? Sejin looked up, finding it illogical, and immediately his eyes met Cheon Sejoo’s cheeks, flushed red from the summer sun.

It was already summer. The sun was blazing high above, and the wind was only a gentle breeze. In his short-sleeved white shirt, Cheon Sejoo’s bright face seemed to glow. He looked very good in his summer uniform.

People usually only wore T-shirts, trying to take off their shirts, but Cheon Sejoo always dressed neatly. Even if he unbuttoned the top button, he was never seen wearing only a T-shirt.

Although he didn’t say it, Sejin thought Cheon Sejoo probably didn’t want to reveal his old clothes. Because Sejin himself was like that.

“Do you think I’m a pig?”

“Then why do you have a hungry face?”

A hungry face? Well, he was hungry, but he wasn’t making that face. What did that face look like? What was he talking about?

“I’m not making that face.”

At Sejin’s cold reply, Cheon Sejoo chuckled softly, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Just then, the traffic light changed. Sejin felt inexplicably awkward and started to walk faster, but Cheon Sejoo had no difficulty catching up with his steps.

As they crossed the street, their fingertips brushed lightly. Sejin’s mouth felt dry. He walked beside Cheon Sejoo, his heart full of tension, when he spoke again.

“Were you upset by what the teacher said earlier?”

“…”

Sejin just shrugged without answering. He felt ashamed and guilty that Cheon Sejoo had to hear unpleasant words just because of him. Cheon Sejoo let out a soft “hmm” and then continued on his own.

“Being 21st out of 21 people is a bit too much, indeed.”

Sejin frowned and turned to look at him. Did this school have any concept of privacy? It wasn’t enough that they casually revealed addresses, now even academic performance was being talked about? Sejin was both astonished and embarrassed to the point of anger. Seeing his pursed lips clearly showing his displeasure, Cheon Sejoo chuckled softly, mixed with a sigh, and continued.

“Do you want me to tutor you? I mainly do past exam papers, so teaching you isn’t difficult.”

Cheon Sejoo was studying for university entrance exams, and now he was only solving last year’s mock exam papers. The vocabulary books and reference materials he used to carry were gone, replaced by answer sheets printed on paper. But at the offer, Sejin shook his head.

“No need.”

Sejin knew how diligently Cheon Sejoo studied. He even knew that this person was not only good at studying but also always ranked first nationwide in mock exams. Just going to school with him already made him feel guilty for bothering him, and now asking him to tutor him was even more impossible. Especially since he knew nothing, Sejin was also afraid that Cheon Sejoo would realize his true level. At the quick refusal, Cheon Sejoo frowned and asked again.

“Why? Don’t you trust me? I’m really good at teaching.”

“…You’re busy, aren’t you?”

When he was with Cheon Sejoo, Sejin had learned to be a little more honest. And Cheon Sejoo always liked that honesty in him. So instead of saying “You should study,” Sejin just said “You’re busy,” and more or less guessed the other person’s reaction.

“I can make a little time for you.”

“…”

The slightly amused tone made Sejin’s face flush again. The sincere words that Cheon Sejoo always blurted out like that always made Sejin flustered.

“Let’s study together. I want to.”

“…”

“Will you study with me?”

Well… if he was really that free, teaching a little wouldn’t hurt. If he liked teaching others that much, Sejin could sacrifice a little and be his temporary student. Sejin glanced at Cheon Sejoo, nodding so slightly it was almost imperceptible.

Seeing that, Cheon Sejoo, who was intently looking at his neck, chuckled happily and asked again.

“So, starting today? Do you have books?”

Books? No way. Sejin didn’t even know where the textbooks he was given at the beginning of the semester were. He seemed to have lent a few to a friend during break, but he wasn’t even sure if he had received enough. Seeing Sejin not answer, Cheon Sejoo nodded as if he had already guessed.

“I have a few books I used in 10th grade at the orphanage. I’ll give them to you. So, shall we stop by your house for you to put away your bag and then go? It’s on the way to the orphanage anyway.”

Sejin’s house didn’t have air conditioning. Since the weather got hot, Cheon Sejoo hadn’t come to his house anymore. Actually, it was because Sejin deliberately didn’t let him. In the summer, the two always parted ways at Sejin’s doorstep. Occasionally, before getting home, they would sit and eat ice cream or buy some snacks at the convenience store, but today it was so hot that even candy would melt, so they had to go empty-handed.

“Yes.”

Sejin stopped by his house for a moment to put away his bag, then only brought an empty ballpoint pen and an eraser with him to follow Cheon Sejoo. All the way to the church, the two walked side by side again, their fingers lightly brushing against each other as if touching, as if not.

“Sejin’s here?”

Since that day he came to find him, Sejin had gone to the church with Cheon Sejoo a few more times. When he said he would lend him a novel, Sejin used the excuse of wanting to read it right away to follow him. Even though he had only been there a few times, Sister Maria already remembered his face. Seeing her happily greet him, Sejin also bowed in return.

“Hello, Sister.”

“Oh~ Is it hot? The sun is really strong today.”

“Yes. Where’s Hyein?”

“Down in the basement for choir practice.”

“She’s been so diligent lately. Sister, today I’ll be studying with Sejin on the second floor. We’re starting to study together today.”

“Oh my, really? Then Sejin must be very good at studying too. Study hard, my child.”

Sister Maria smiled brightly and nodded when she heard Cheon Sejoo’s words.

He’s not good at all… He’s even afraid he’ll bother him. Sejin felt a little guilty but still pretended it was nothing and replied, “Yes.”

He stood waiting for him in the room, and a moment later Cheon Sejoo returned with several mock exam practice books and notebooks. He thought they would study on the second floor of the orphanage, but he led Sejin towards the side door of the church.

“Isa, take this to eat with Sejin…”

As soon as he opened the door, Sister Maria called him by his baptismal name and handed them two vanilla ice creams. Sejin took them for the one holding the books, bowed again, and followed behind Cheon Sejoo.

“This way.”

He led him to the church next to the orphanage. Sejin secretly wondered if they were allowed in, but as soon as he opened the outer door, a murmuring sound echoed inside. An afternoon service was taking place. Sejin was startled and pulled on Cheon Sejoo’s uniform sleeve.

“Huh?” – He turned to look, then seemed to understand, smiled, and pointed to the stairs next to the door.

“We’re going up to the second floor. Not there.”

“Is it okay for us to go in during the service?”

“It’s fine. No one can see down from up there, so no one will notice. The priest lets us study up there in the summer. As long as you don’t mind hearing the service.”

“I don’t mind…”

“Then let’s go up.”

Cheon Sejoo gently pushed his hesitant back. The stairs to the second floor had a “No Entry” sign. Cheon Sejoo pushed Sejin aside and whispered behind him.

“You’ll like it once you go up.”

And just as he said. The second floor was a space like a small hall, with a high ceiling reaching up to the church roof. The south wall was decorated with stained glass, and the north side opened up between columns, allowing a view down to the service taking place on the first floor.

However, due to the height difference, if one sat at the table under the stained glass, those below would see nothing unless they climbed all the way up. Although he could clearly hear the prayers below, the only person Sejin saw was Cheon Sejoo.

Right next to the table was a standing air conditioner; the air was cool, bright, airy, and pleasant.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Cheon Sejoo sat down in the chair first. Sejin nodded slightly and sat beside him. Then he leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the altar.

Light from the two side windows shone on the statue of Jesus hanging on the wall behind the altar. Although not religious, Sejin suddenly felt his heart calm. While he was still gazing, Cheon Sejoo took the two ice creams he was holding, unwrapped them gently, and then brought one to Sejin’s mouth. The cold ice cream startled him. Sejin lightly licked it and listened to his voice echoing in his ear.

“Normally, I study at the orphanage, but it gets too hot in the summer, and the air conditioner isn’t cool enough. So, since last year, the priest told us to study up here in the summer. Even when the air conditioner is off at night, this place is still quite cool.”

Cheon Sejoo was loved by many people. The girls at school, the boys, even the teachers liked him, and of course Sister Maria, the children at the orphanage, and even the priest adored him.

That was obvious. Cheon Sejoo was not only dazzlingly handsome but also had a good personality and was excellent at studying; he was someone no one could help but like. Even Sejin…

Just the fact that he wasn’t the only one who liked him made Sejin feel a little jealous. Sejin said nothing, just quietly ate his ice cream and listened to the prayers echoing somewhere. He suddenly lowered his voice and asked curiously:

“Do they wear hoods during the service?”

Calling him “senior” or “hyung” felt strange no matter what. So Sejin often omitted the subject when talking to him, but Cheon Sejoo seemed to find that quite cute. He seemed to think it was because Sejin was trying to show self-respect.

At Sejin’s vague question, Cheon Sejoo chuckled softly and gently replied:

“Boys don’t wear them. Why, do you want to see me in a hood?”

“…Not exactly.”

He only asked because he remembered the pristine, beautiful white ceremonial hoods he had seen on TV. So boys don’t wear them. Faced with this illogical gender distinction, Sejin turned his head away and continued to suck on his ice cream.

Under the sunlight shining from behind, the ice cream melted very quickly. Sejin continuously licked the ice cream while letting his mind drift to the sounds in his ears. The priest’s prayers echoed. The voice through the loudspeaker reverberated high up to the ceiling, making it impossible for him to hear the content clearly. But that simple reverberation sounded very pleasant.

Did Cheon Sejoo also pray? In difficult times, or when he was tired and wanted to give up, did he clasp his hands and pray in silence, hoping to find peace? Just as Sejin was thinking that—

“Why is your neck so red?”

Cheon Sejoo unexpectedly reached out and touched Sejin’s neck.

The sunlight seemed to burn his skin. Sejin turned his head in surprise at the warmth from his fingertips. And then, his beautiful face, drawing closer, came into view. Cheon Sejoo lowered his eyes and was gently stroking Sejin’s collarbone at such a close distance that every eyelash could be counted.

He couldn’t say anything. Every time he exhaled softly, there was a faint sweet scent of vanilla.

Sejin’s throat felt dry. He looked up at him, completely unaware that the ice cream in his hand was melting. Cheon Sejoo’s face was intently gazing at his collarbone, seemingly unaware that they had gotten so close. Just then—

“You can close your eyes if you want.”

Cheon Sejoo said something incomprehensible, then slowly looked up. He looked directly into Sejin’s eyes with pupils as dark as bottomless darkness.

Sejin suddenly realized that his words were just an excuse, that Cheon Sejoo had deliberately come close to him, but his mind couldn’t process it. The world gradually blurred, the priest’s prayers became indistinct in his ears. Only Cheon Sejoo’s voice was clear.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

As soon as the sentence ended, his face moved closer. His lips, still slightly sweet, gently touched Sejin’s moist lips, making his heart feel as if it had stopped. It felt like it was about to burst.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. The prayers of the priest and the congregation echoed throughout the sanctuary.

In Sejin’s ears, there was only the sound of wet skin touching and then separating. And it echoed many times.