Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I found it cute when I considered that this was maybe why Cha Yeowoon didn’t check my messages. For some reason, I imagined him calling as soon as he finished charging his phone at the convenience store.

“When will the electricity come back?”

– “Since I’ve paid, it should be back soon.”

“Hey, Cha Yeowoon. How about sleeping at my place?”

– “…Fine.”

“Then do you want to walk home with me tomorrow? I’m going to tell my Grandma now.”

– “I’m really going to sleep at your place?”

“I can’t just leave you alone. Let’s keep an eye on you for three more days.”

– “Nosy…”

“Yeah, man. I’m nosy.”

– “I don’t need you to keep an eye on me for three more days. Anyway, I’ll stay at senior’s place tomorrow, then.”

For some reason, it was a neutral response. Could it be that this guy had opened up to me?!

– “Even if I say it’s okay, you’re going to keep insisting.”

“…That’s true, but…Brat, you don’t have to find it troublesome.”

– “It’s because senior is troubling me.”

As expected, he was rude and cute. He was handsome, so it was forgiven.

“Alright. You’re coming home with me tomorrow.”

– “Okay.”

“If you run away, I’ll catch you.”

– “I’m not senior, why would I childishly run away.”

I couldn’t argue since I had run away. You didn’t know the circumstances, Yeowoon.

“Are you okay today? Did you eat all three meals?”

– “How many times are you going to ask if I’m sick or if I’ve eaten? I’m fine. I have morning practice tomorrow, so I’m going to bed early.”

“Alright, I’m glad you’re not sick. Goodnight.”

– “…”

Why hadn’t he hung up? After a while of not hearing any sound, I wondered if he had hung up, but the call was still connected when I checked the screen.

Was it a mistake? I was about to hang up when I heard a small whisper from the speaker.

– “Senior, goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

And then the call ended.

I looked at the phone screen in a strange itchy mood.

Anyway, it seemed like I could sleep well tonight.

* * *

One of the advantages of living at the last bus stop was that you could find an empty seat. Of course, you had to wake up early.

I sat by the window at the back. I couldn’t sit in the elderly seats, and I didn’t want to sit in the aisle seats and have the students who would get on later wonder if they should sit next to me.

There were plenty of seats in the back, so I thought I might be able to sit close to Cha Yeowoon once he got on.

“Hello brother.”

If I had known this guy was going to sit next to me, I would have sat directly behind the driver.

Cheon Sangwon greeted me and confidently took the seat next to me as if it was his designated spot.

“Oh, No-License.”

“Is that my nickname now?”

“That’s all I can think of when I see you now. Don’t ride your bike. More than that, why are you sitting next to me? There are still plenty of empty seats.”

“I want to sit next to brother.”

“There are seats over there.”

“Is it Cha Yeowoon?”

Of course, Cheon Sangwon smoothly mentioned Cha Yeowoon’s name. Although he smiled so hard that his sharp eyes were bent, it didn’t seem like a genuine smile.

“I’ve heard everything from Ahn Sia.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I heard you were going to tie me up with Cha Yeowoon.”

“I don’t think you’re interested in that kind of thing. You have a knack for speaking very dirty.”

“Brother, what do you see in Cha Yeowoon?”

“There’s nothing like that. Then what do you see in me?”

When I answered without much thought, Cheon Sangwon stared at me. It seemed like he wanted to have a staring contest, so just as I was about to respond by glaring back, the bus came to a stop and a message appeared.

[ Entering Love Supremacy Zone. ]

Did Cha Yeowoon get on the bus? Students swarmed in through the opened door. As I tried to identify the faces of the students passing, a hand blocked my view.

“Hey, move.”

“Why are you looking like that? Seeing if Cha Yeowoon got on?”

“Yeah, move.”

“Can’t you pay attention to me too?”

“If you bother me and get hit, it’ll hurt.”

“Please hit me.”

This punk.

Glancing to my side, Cheon Sangwon was showing a satisfied expression as if he had achieved his goal.

In my opinion, this guy was picking a fight. It wasn’t cutely asking for attention.

I might have punched him if I had the same temper as when I was 19, but I was already 29, so I let it go.

“I heard you’re going to be working with Ahn Sia. I also occasionally go to the same modeling agency. We also visit the set frequently. We’ll probably see each other outside of school, right?”

“What if we see each other?”

He was a model and I would be busy working hard, so even if we worked at the same place, would we have time to meet each other? That was the general idea. It was annoying to keep talking.

“Isn’t it so different when dealing with Cha Yeowoon?”

“Why should it be the same? You’re not Cha Yeowoon.”

“Wow, that hurt.”

“At least make it sound believable.”

“What’s so special about Cha Yeowoon?”

“Just shut up and leave.”

“If you answer me this one thing, I’ll keep my mouth shut until we arrive at school. I promise.”

This bastard was persistent. I should just not involve myself with him. By the time I made up my mind the bus was already crowded with students and finding Cha Yeowoon in the sea of heads had become difficult.

“Like Ahn Sia, is it because brother like that he’s good at running?”

As I leaned my forehead against the window, another question came from beside me.

“What’s so great about that?”

It was a provocation I couldn’t ignore. I couldn’t resist my temper and turned my head.

“What are you good at? Don’t talk like that about other people’s business.”

I couldn’t just sit still and listen when I recalled Cha Yeowoon muttering that he ran around the schoolyard because he wanted to escape, and questioning who would be friends with someone like that.

“You don’t even know how hard he’s trying.”

Almost simultaneously with my retort, the bus came to a stop.

This time, it was in front of the school gate. After most of the students had disembarked, there was still someone standing near the back door of the bus.

Cha Yeowoon stopped, looked at me, and slowly got off the bus.

“Ah, shit.”

Did he hear me? Why such a reaction? Why did I just say that publicly on the bus? I was so embarrassed that I passed by Cheon Sangwon and got off the bus.

[ Calculating Cha Yeowoon’s favorability. ]

Stepping off the bus, an unexpected message appeared that I hadn’t anticipated, causing me to stop.

Could it finally be positive?

So far, I had only encountered debuffs, but if my favorability turned positive, there might be a buff. I started to have a faint hope.

[ Recalculating Cha Yeowoon’s favorability. ]

For some time, the screen just displayed that message, much like a loading screen. I waited for the result with a slight nervousness.

How much will it increase? Three? One? Anyway, now the important thing was for it to be positive. If it increased, I might be able to help Cha Yeowoon by being close by.

And finally, the result appeared.

[ Favorability: 0 ]

“Huh?”

It didn’t increase?

This was the first time this had happened. If there was no change, why did it take so long to calculate?

“What?”

Suddenly, Cheon Sangwon beside me spoke.

He was naturally easygoing. After hearing my blunt responses on the bus, he should have been stunned. But nevermind being hurt or whatever, he didn’t care whether I liked him or not at all.

“Nothing. Go your own way.”

“If you continue to ignore me, I’ll want to follow you around even more.”

“Lunatic.”

Was he crazy? If it had been the original self, he wouldn’t have gotten away unscathed. He should be thankful that I was an adult with self-control.

As I ignored him and hurried my steps, I saw Cha Yeowoon’s back in the distance. He was walking absentmindedly as if lost in thought.

Could he be sick? I was worried.

“Cha Yeowoon!”

Although he must have heard me, he paused for a moment before quickly walking away.

He was definitely avoiding me. I stood still, feeling as if I had just been slapped.

Didn’t he say he wouldn’t do anything childish like running away? Why was he running away?

* * *

Being in the 3rd year of high school, my days were packed. However, that didn’t mean it was better than when I used to be an office worker.

Sitting in front of my desk during class, it was actually easier to daydream as class continued.

What the hell was that this morning with Cha Yeowoon?

I thought about it all day long. Why did it seem like his favorability would rise and then fade away, as if it was stolen?

There was no contact from Cha Yeowoon even by the time class ended. He had read my messages I sent but chose to ignore them.

“Brother, let’s go to an internet cafe.”

As soon as class ended, there was someone who came and acted as if we were close. A persistent guy.

Of course, it was Cheon Sangwon. Even I questioned whether we were close after he had come to my class as soon as the bell rang.

Although he had come to the 3rd-year classroom as a 2nd-year student, no one said anything. Instead, there were only curious glances directed at him.

I guess celebrities were celebrities. It was needlessly annoying.

“Brother, what games do you play?”

“I don’t. I don’t even go to internet cafes. Go play with your friends.”

“I want to go with brother, not my friends. Gyeonghun, come with us.”

“M-Me?”

Ahm Gyeonghun, who was suddenly pointed at, hesitated. At first glance, he seemed extremely uncomfortable with Cheon Sangwon.

“Why are you dragging Ahn Gyeonghun into this? I won’t go with you. I have to go home with Cha Yeowoon. I’m leaving. Gyeonghun, see you tomorrow.”

I said goodbye to Ahn Gyeonghun and left the classroom. I was in a hurry. Going down to the schoolyard to see Cha Yeowoon wouldn’t immediately answer my questions, but I felt compelled to do so.

Without interfering with the track and field team’s practice, I positioned myself in a place where I could get a good view. I was in the top row of the stands.

As I watched the children from track and field warming up on the track, I sensed someone next to me.

It was Cheon Sangwon. It was just like when he had sat down next to me on the bus this morning.

“Did you follow me?”

“I’m going to watch the track and field practice. I have friends here too. Is brother surprised?”

I ignored him because I couldn’t believe it.

Anyway, the good thing about 0 favorability was that I could now watch Cha Yeowoon up close without worrying about disturbing him.

The track and field members were taking turns running on the track in the schoolyard. They ran one by one while someone measured their times. Soon, it was Cha Yeowoon’s turn.

Cha Yeowoon…

As I watched his practice, I felt a lump in my throat.

It was clear to anyone that Cha Yeowoon couldn’t concentrate right now. When he had sprinted down the 3rd-year hallway, his speed was so impressive it was scary. However, now, as he ran on the track, his speed had noticeably slowed.

Maybe his condition hadn’t recovered. Seemingly annoyed with himself, he constantly furrowed his brow.

Looking at the drop in speed in the back half, it seemed like his stamina wasn’t keeping up. I needed to earn some money, so he could have a proper meal. Or maybe some supplements.

“He’s really, really good. I was wondering what the fuss was about.”

A cold sarcasm penetrated from beside me as I watched Cha Yeowoon anxiously.