Chapter 6

Tae Min felt it before he understood it.

Haru was avoiding his eyes.

He had glanced at him once in the car — just once — but Haru immediately looked away, pretending to adjust his earphones.

Why is he acting like that?

Tae Ha continued driving toward school, humming softly to herself. Tae Yeon was half-asleep in the front seat.

Tae Min slowly pulled out his phone and opened the map application. He searched the mall again. Arcade location. Movie times. A small gift shop on the second floor.

He smiled unconsciously.

Haru noticed.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Tae Min’s lips curve upward — that quiet, secret smile.

What is he smiling about?

Haru leaned slightly to peek.

The moment Tae Min sensed movement, he turned his body away and lowered his phone out of sight.

Then he giggled.

Softly.

Haru’s eyebrow twitched.

Oh, he wants to play like that?

Haru pulled out his phone and typed aggressively.

WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!

Tae Min’s phone buzzed. He read it — and laughed under his breath.

Haru narrowed his eyes and typed again.

Keep doing that and I will punch you.

Tae Min replied instantly.

What are you talking about? 😂

Haru inhaled sharply.

One more time. If you irritate me, I won’t hesitate.

Tae Min smirked.

Why are you so dramatic?

Haru shot him a glare.

Why do you keep acting like that?

Tae Min paused before replying.

Like what?

Haru’s thumbs hesitated over the screen.

Avoiding me. Getting irritated. Smiling to yourself. Hiding your phone.

Tae Min blinked.

Avoiding him?

When did I avoid you?

Haru responded immediately.

Just now. Don’t pretend you don’t know.

Tae Min glanced sideways at him.

He looks genuinely annoyed.

I moved because you were trying to look at my phone.

Haru stared at the message.

So what if I was?

You can’t look without permission.

There was a pause.

Oh. I didn’t know you were hiding secrets.

Tae Min’s heart skipped.

It’s not a secret. Not yet.

Why are you so irritated anyway? Tae Min typed.

Haru didn’t reply for a full ten seconds.

Then:

Ask yourself.

Tae Min’s chest tightened.

What do you mean?

Do you remember earlier? In my room?

The memory flashed instantly — Haru bending under the bed, shirt lifting slightly, Tae Min looking away too quickly.

His ears burned.

What about it? Tae Min replied cautiously.

You came in when I called you. Then you left like you were mad.

Tae Min swallowed.

So he noticed.

You called me for nothing.

So? I was joking.

You were harsh.

There was another long pause.

Then:

Was I?

Tae Min stared at the screen.

Why does it matter so much?

Because I wanted him to mean it.

A little. I just… want you to value the things I do for you.

The message sat there between them like something fragile.

Haru read it twice.

Three times.

His expression softened.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.

Tae Min’s shoulders relaxed.

I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have acted weird.

Haru leaned back against the seat.

Why does it feel like every small thing between us becomes complicated?

Then he typed:

What do I need to do for you to forgive me?

Tae Min smiled again.

I’ll tell you later.

Haru rolled his eyes.

Fine.

---

They stepped out of the car five minutes later.

“Have a great day!” Tae Ha called.

“Bye, Mrs. Tae Ha!” Haru said cheerfully.

“Bye, Mom,” Tae Yeon chimed.

Haru nudged Tae Min gently. “Say bye properly.”

“Bye, Mom!” Tae Min waved lazily.

“Don’t fight with Haru!” Tae Ha teased.

Haru smirked. Tae Min pretended not to hear.

---

Inside the classroom, their seats were far apart.

Haru sat near the front. Tae Min sat near the back.

Too far.

Tae Min leaned back in his chair, watching Haru discreetly.

Haru’s seatmate, Taki, leaned closer.

“What’s first period again?”

“Japanese,” Taki replied. “You okay? You look tired.”

Haru rested his head on his desk.

“Just didn’t sleep well.”

Taki reached over and lightly touched Haru’s forehead.

Tae Min’s stomach twisted.

Why is he touching him?

“He’s not hot,” Taki said casually. “You’re fine.”

“Thanks,” Haru murmured.

Tae Min gripped his pen tightly.

Since when were they that close?

He pulled out his phone.

Are you not feeling well?

Haru’s phone buzzed.

He read it.

I’m fine. Don’t worry.

You look sick.

Haru sighed.

Stop texting. I want to rest.

He put his phone face-down and glanced back briefly.

Their eyes met.

Haru held his gaze this time.

Don’t overthink everything.

But Tae Min already was.

Did he just glare at me?

Fine.

If you don’t want to talk here…

Tae Min typed quickly.

Meet me at the rooftop later.

Haru’s phone buzzed again.

He frowned and handed it to Taki.

“Can you check that? I’m too tired.”

Tae Min saw it.

Saw the handoff.

Something snapped.

Before thinking, he stood up, walked quickly down the aisle, and grabbed the phone from Taki’s hand.

“I’m sorry,” Tae Min said stiffly. “Haru should read it himself. It’s important.”

Taki blinked. “Uh… okay?”

Haru stared at Tae Min, surprised.

“What are you doing?”

Tae Min placed his palm against Haru’s forehead again.

“You’re not hot. You’re not sweating.”

“I told you I’m fine.”

“Switch seats with me,” Tae Min said suddenly, turning to Taki. “Please.”

Taki looked between them.

“Sure… but you’re explaining to the teacher.”

“I will.”

Moments later, Tae Min was seated beside Haru.

Close.

Too close.

“I’ll sit here,” Tae Min said quietly. “Tell me if you need anything.”

Haru looked at him carefully.

“Why are you acting like I’m dying?”

“Because you said you didn’t feel well.”

“I just needed sleep.”

“Then sleep.”

Haru rested his head down again.

And Tae Min stayed there.

Guarding.

Watching.

When the teacher entered, Tae Min leaned closer and whispered softly near Haru’s ear.

“Haru. Wake up.”

Haru flinched.

“You scared me!”

“I’m sorry.”

Haru studied his face.

Why does he look more nervous than me?

“Good morning, class,” the teacher began.

They stood, greeted politely, and sat.

Throughout the lesson, Tae Min kept glancing sideways.

Haru caught him once and smiled faintly.

“I like that you take care of me,” Haru whispered.

Tae Min’s face immediately turned red.

“Focus on the book,” he muttered.

Haru chuckled quietly.

---

After two classes, it was finally recess.

“Check your phone,” Tae Min said, standing quickly.

“Why?”

“Just check.”

Tae Min hurried toward the rooftop before Haru could ask more.

Haru opened his messages.

Meet me at the rooftop later.

He blinked.

Is that why he grabbed my phone earlier?

He smiled slightly.

Idiot.

He headed upstairs.

---

Meanwhile, Tae Min’s phone rang.

“Mom?”

“I already know,” Tae Ha said teasingly. “Aika texted me.”

Tae Min froze.

“So? Do you approve?”

“Why are you so desperate?”

“Mom.”

She laughed softly. “Of course I approve. But why just the two of you?”

Tae Min hesitated.

“Because our birthdays are close. I want to buy him a gift.”

Silence.

“That’s sweet,” she said gently. “Be home on time.”

“I will.”

“And Tae Min?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t rush things you don’t understand yet.”

His heart skipped.

“…Okay.”

---

When the call ended, Haru stepped onto the rooftop.

The wind was light. The sky bright.

“Why did you call me up here?” Haru asked.

Tae Min handed him a bottle of water without a word.

Haru took it.

“Thanks. So?”

Tae Min inhaled slowly.

“Our birthdays are in two weeks.”

“I know.”

“I was planning… to go to the mall with you.”

Haru blinked.

“Did our parents agree?”

“Yes.”

“And yours?”

“Mom said yes.”

Haru looked down at the bottle cap.

“I was going to ask you first,” he admitted quietly.

Tae Min’s heart stopped.

“What?”

“I was planning to ask if you wanted to go out. Just us.”

The world felt suddenly too quiet.

“Really?”

Haru nodded, smiling.

“But you always move away lately. I thought maybe you didn’t want to.”

Tae Min stepped closer.

“I move away because I don’t know what to do when you get close.”

Haru’s breath caught.

“What does that mean?”

Tae Min swallowed.

“It means… when you look at me too long, I forget how to act normal.”

Silence stretched between them.

The wind picked up slightly.

Haru’s cheeks flushed.

“So… are we going or not?” he asked softly.

Tae Min smiled.

“Of course we are.”

Haru stepped even closer now.

“Then tell me what I need to do to be forgiven.”

Tae Min leaned in slightly.

“Spend the whole day with me. No running off. No Taki. No excuses.”

Haru laughed.

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not.”

“You ran across the classroom because I handed my phone to him.”

“…That was different.”

“How?”

Tae Min looked directly into his eyes.

“Because I don’t like someone else reading messages meant for you.”

Haru’s smile faded into something softer.

Warmer.

“Then I won’t let anyone else read them.”

Their hands brushed lightly in the wind.

Neither pulled away.

Below them, the school bell rang.

Neither moved.

Because for the first time—

The tension between them wasn’t confusing.

It was real.

And neither of them were pretending anymore.