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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: You Can't Hide a Cold
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Yesterday's chaos had left Jun-woo's body feeling heavier than usual today.
Every cell in his body ached as if electricity were prickling through it.
He felt his energy drain away all at once, making it hard to even sit up.
*A cold?*
Jun-woo always got up on his own to prepare for school without anyone waking him. But when he didn't come out even after breakfast time had passed, his mom Hee-jin grew suspicious and entered his room to wake him.
"Son?"
Hee-jin's voice was gentle and kind.
She was as beautiful and elegant as her husband Sung-hoon, with a youthful glow that turned heads from younger men too.
Her kind heart matched her looks—she loved plants and animals and was generous with everyone.
That's why the neighborhood ladies all wanted to befriend her.
Her speech, fashion, and makeup were hot topics among them, objects of envy.
"What's this? Son? Not going to school?"
At Hee-jin's voice, Jun-woo barely managed to open his eyes.
His whole body throbbed like he'd been beaten.
He shivered with cold, yet heat radiated from his skin.
"You look like you're in pain."
Seeing his pale face, Hee-jin pressed the back of her hand to his forehead worriedly.
"You've got a fever."
"I'm fine."
Jun-woo pushed her hand away and forced himself up.
"Skip school today. Your face looks awful."
"No, it's not that bad."
"It's okay. Rest when you're sick."
"I'll go home early if it gets tough."
Any other kid would have played it up, pretended to be sicker, and stayed in bed.
But he stubbornly got up and prepared for school anyway.
Hee-jin watched his overly mature behavior with even more concern.
* * *
Seeing A-jin first thing in the morning was a delight.
As she trudged down the hallway, Kwang-hyun greeted her brightly, thrilled.
"Good morning, A-jin."
"Yes. Good morning."
But her expression was utterly indifferent.
Kwang-hyun was eager to hear about her troubles right away.
"How's school life?"
"Just okay, I guess."
"Who do you get along with best...?"
"I'll head in first."
He'd wanted to ask about her friendships, but she ignored him completely and went into the classroom.
Kwang-hyun felt a pang of regret, wrinkling his nose pointlessly.
From watching her these past few days, she seemed to get along fine with friends, and no one was bullying her.
Maybe it was something else?
She used to light up whenever she saw him, not knowing what to do with her joy.
Her bright smile had been so pure and lovely.
This wilted, lifeless version of her felt so unfamiliar.
* * *
His chills worsened until he couldn't even lift his head.
At lunchtime, Jun-woo promptly collapsed face-first onto his desk, as if he'd been waiting for it.
A-jin noticed he wasn't heading to the cafeteria and asked.
"Not eating?"
"Yeah."
"You sick?"
Today his face was deathly pale, and she asked worriedly.
"No."
"You look sick..."
Sorry, but her questions were annoying.
"..."
"Your color's really bad. Caught a cold?"
Her voice echoed in his head, making it feel like it might split open.
"..."
"At least go to the nurse..."
Jun-woo scowled deeply.
"Stop bothering me."
Stung by his irritated tone, A-jin clamped her lips shut, regretting her nosiness.
She left the classroom with a subtly hurt look.
He felt bad for not answering her, but he really was unwell.
He just wanted to sleep.
But then Jong-min—who'd been glaring at him all morning—spun around backward onto the chair in front of Jun-woo's desk.
He deserved a thousand apologies, no—a beating every day for months,
yet here he was, voice full of resentment at Jun-woo's silent ignoring.
"Hey, what's your deal?"
"What?"
"Ha, look at this attitude."
Jun-woo knew he'd messed up and needed to smooth things over, but he felt too awful.
He lifted his head slightly, then buried it back in his arms.
Jong-min's face twisted in greater outrage.
He kicked the desk leg to jolt him awake.
"You sleeping right now?"
"..."
"Ha! Unbelievable. Fasting in protest 'cause I flipped out yesterday?"
"..."
"Hey! No one's taking your appetite!"
Jun-woo said nothing, and Jong-min took it as more ignoring, his face flushing red.
"Ah!! Damn it. Lift your head!"
Jong-min shoved Jun-woo's forehead hard to force his head up.
Jun-woo's head thudded back onto the desk.
Jong-min panicked, staring at his hand.
It was slick with Jun-woo's cold sweat.
Only then did Jong-min realize he was sick.
* * *
Lunch ended and class started, but Jun-woo still hadn't returned.
A-jin glanced back and forth between the clock and his empty seat.
*Why isn't he back? Class started.*
If she had her phone, she could've texted,
but she couldn't touch it until classes ended, leaving her anxious.
*Did he go home early? He looked sick.*
As she worried, she overheard girls in the back talking about him.
"What? Where's my Jun-woo?"
"Oh! Earlier Jong-min told the teacher he was taking him to the nurse."
"Why? Is my Jun-woo sick?"
"Think it's a cold. No wonder he seemed drained all day..."
"No way! Really? I should've paid attention... Wonder how bad it is!"
"Who are you to worry?"
"What do you mean? Future girlfriend. This is prime time to nurse him and say, 'You're so kind, just like my mom,' then he falls for me."
"'You're as plump as my mom,' you mean?"
"What, you bitch?"
A-jin listened in, twitching her eyebrows.
*Sick?*
Sitting right next to him, she hadn't realized how bad it was—guilt washed over her for being so oblivious.
* * *
After sleeping soundly, he felt refreshed, like he'd gotten an IV.
Jun-woo sat up, body much lighter.
His shirt clung damply from all the sweat, like it hadn't dried.
*What time is it?*
He reached for his phone to check.
"Ah, damn! You scared me."
That's when he spotted Jong-min sitting in the guardian's chair by the bed.
He sat rigidly sulking, lips pursed out poutily.
He'd been waiting for him to wake, arms crossed, glaring.
"What're you doing here?"
"Why am I here? That's how you talk to your lifesaver?"
"What're you on about?"
"You'd be dead without me. No thanks?"
"You brought me?"
"Who else? Think you walked here?"
He grumbled, but Jun-woo knew it came from worry.
Jun-woo awkwardly smiled his gratitude.
"Let's go."
"Not yet."
Jun-woo tried to get up from bed; Jong-min pushed his chest to sit him back down.
"What. Move."
"We ain't done talking."
"Later."
"No. Now."
"Here?"
"Yeah. Don't think you'll brush it off 'cause you're sick!"
Maybe this was for the best.
Jun-woo was grateful for the opening Jong-min had laid.
"Sorry."
"You knew and didn't say? Enjoyed it?"
"Pervert? What was I supposed to say? 'Han Cho-hee likes me, so quit chasing her and wake up'? If you were me, would you?"
"..."
"Didn't wanna make it awkward by bringing it up."
"Fair."
"Nothing even happened between us for me to tell you—I turned her down flat."
"..."
"No point telling you when I don't even know what'll happen."
"Looking out for me?"
"You asking 'cause you don't know?"
"You really got no interest in Cho-hee?"
Any guy would be drawn to a goddess like Cho-hee.
Jong-min narrowed his eyes suspiciously, like a flounder.
"..."
"No interest?"
Jun-woo's hesitation deepened Jong-min's suspicion.
"Thought so. You're a guy too!"
Jong-min jumped to conclusions alone.
Jun-woo's cheeks flushed; he snapped irritably.
"You idiot. You know who I like."
*Just play dumb and move on.*
His cheeks burned even redder.
"Whoa! You're admitting it?"
"..."
"But why Kang A-jin?"
It was the first time hearing Jun-woo's feelings.
He'd never wavered at confessions, shown interest in any girl.
Jong-min couldn't hide his shock and excitement, making a fuss.
"Quiet. What if someone hears?"
"Who's here but us? Ah!! Why? Why her?"
"..."
"Tell me quick. I'm dizzy."
The hurt feelings were long forgotten.
Jong-min shook Jun-woo's arm, urging him on.
"Quick, spill? It'll be our secret."
Jun-woo looked ready to smack him at the cutesy plea, but Jong-min persisted.
Finally, Jun-woo burst out laughing and bared his soul as requested.
"Just... At first, she was fun. Her reactions are hilarious. Falls for stuff easy."
"And?"
Jong-min blinked like a girl hearing about first love.
"Those reactions started seeming cute. She's so scatterbrained, makes you wanna look after her. Kinda sticks in your mind? Now quit shoving that burdensome mug in my face?"
Jun-woo leaned back from Jong-min's looming face.
But the more he did, the closer Jong-min shoved it.
"Aw, come on. More? So how far along are you now?"
"You burdensome jerk... Along? She doesn't even know I like her."
From then on, Jun-woo spilled everything unguardedly to Jong-min.
No one else around, he thought.
So he let all his feelings pour out defenselessly.
But besides Jong-min, one other person was listening to Jun-woo's words.
