Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Cha Yeowoon thought it was better for him to be hurt rather than Tae Myeongha.

Since when did he start thinking like this? He found it intriguing.

His world was very narrow. The only person he had liked from birth was his blood-related grandmother.

But even when she was alive, he never considered shouldering her pain.

“Okay, now, let go.”

Tae Myeongha whispered. Cha Yeowoon, instead of releasing Tae Myeongha’s blood-stained finger, put his mouth on it.

A bitter taste spread. He could feel the cut. The smooth nail caught his tongue.

“Hey, what…”

Cha Yeowoon, ignoring Tae Myeongha’s attempt to pull his hand away, focused on licking the wound.

It was sweet even though it shouldn’t be. A sense other than taste as if a completely new sensory organ had grown for Tae Myeongha. Small goosebumps rose, and the hairs on his earlobes stood on end.

“What if there’s glass that hasn’t fallen out yet? Don’t do it.”

Tae Myeongha, who had been stiff, pulled his hand back again. Instead of wiping his wet finger, he only frowned apprehensively. It wasn’t an expression showing dissatisfaction, which made Cha Yeowoon feel an itch in his stomach.

“I’m glad senior suggested doing something together.”

Whether it was asking for shaved ice on the way home, social media, or anything trivial.

Cha Yeowoon was happy just to be able to do it with Tae Myeongha.

“Am I the reason you’re putting in effort?”

Although their feelings for each other weren’t the same, it was okay.

Cha Yeowoon’s heart, which he had always felt was insignificant, was carefully accepted and cleaned. A first love that could have been nothing more than an old coin was treated like gold.

Even if it wasn’t the same kind of love.

“Thank you.”

Tae Myeongha was quiet as if he was lost in thought while wiping the milk that had soaked the floor and carefully cleaning up the broken glass.

After Cha Yeowoon brought the first aid kit and applied medicine to the wound, he placed his lips on the back of Tae Myeongha’s hand. He tilted his head as he imagined himself kissing everywhere.

That was enough for now.

The frightening moment for him was when his heart swelled.

Like the first time he realized he was in love. What should he do if his greed grew so much that he couldn’t be satisfied with this amount?

Pressing his lips against the palm of Tae Myeongha’s hand for a long time, he breathed in the sweet scent of his warm flesh.

He couldn’t stop himself once he started. The pace would only increase with time. He didn’t know how to stop half-heartedly.

Tae Myeongha, with his back against the morning sun, was shining brighter than last night. When Cha Yeowoon closed and opened his eyes, it became clearer. The illumination and saturation was different. It became increasingly distinct from everything else.

He moistened his lips. His tongue stung as if it was pricked by glass.

What should he do?

Tae Myeongha would continue to be lovely.

The summer days were growing longer, showing no limits, and the temperature was soaring, boiling the ground. The midsummer heat wave was just around the corner.

* * *

Effort.

It was true that I was putting in effort, but I never thought I would hear it directly from Cha Yeowoon.

I considered myself as someone who worked hard. It was a tough situation where if I didn’t exert myself, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

After my grandmother passed away, I started living diligently. Because I studied and worked so hard, my interpersonal relationships weren’t very extensive.

Naturally, I put effort into everything I did. But was this the first time I had ever had someone tell me they appreciated my efforts?

It was an unfamiliar feeling.

Haa…I scratched my cheek and rested my chin. Sitting by the classroom window, a gentle breeze happened to blow in.

“This, nice shot.”

Ahn Gyeonghun placed my phone on the desk.

On the screen was a picture of Cha Yeowoon sitting on the rooftop railing. This was the result after handing my phone to Ahn Gyeonghun, who had just arrived at school, and asking him to choose the prettiest one.

My phone gallery was filled with pictures of Cha Yeowoon from yesterday. Of course, they were intended for social media. Among the dozens of pictures, Ahn Gyeonghun carefully selected the ones to upload.

“This? Isn’t this better?”

“Ehm…The one I just showed you is better b-balanced and easier on the eyes. Th-The angle is good.”

Was that so? I could strongly sense the advice of an expert.

“But this one, isn’t the face pretty?”

“Well…”

“This one, the proportions of the arms and legs look nice because they’re slender.”

“…”

“Ah! This one, the way he smiles is really cute.”

As I flipped through the screen, each picture that appeared left me amazed. Despite taking them somewhat hastily, with the focus slightly off and they might be tilted, everything looked pretty due to the model.

“Myeongha…You really like Yeowoon.”

Ahn Gyeonghun, who had been nodding at some point, said gently.

What was this subtle reaction that made me question whether it was a compliment or not?

“Because you have affection for the subject, I think if you learn a bit more about taking pictures, m-much better ones will come out.”

“…Are these really not good?”

“The feeling is…good!”

So, it was just the feeling.

Ahn Gyeonghun really couldn’t lie either. I understood Cha Yeowoon’s sentiment when he told me not to be a scammer. It seemed I wasn’t good at taking pictures.

Every picture that was posted on my sold account was taken by Ahn Gyeonghun. In fact, was I worse at taking pictures than I thought? Some pictures didn’t even show Cha Yeowoon’s face properly…

“I’ll take pictures for you at the track and field competition. It’s difficult to take good photos with a p-phone camera because of the distance.”

“Are you an angel?”

While I was lost in thought looking at the photo album, Ahn Gyeonghun quickly made a suggestion. I felt his sincere intention to have at least one good picture. My heart warmed. Was this what they called friendship?

“But you’re going to the track and field competition too? Why?”

“It’s because of Sia.”

“Ahn Sia? Did she join the track and field team?”

“Normally, she would go watch Yeowoon compete. Even if not for him, sometimes she would go watch track and field competitions whenever she had time.”

Ahn Sia was also a fan of Cha Yeowoon. I had forgotten because she had been very friendly lately.

“I’ll be grateful if you can. You’re a lifesaver. Hey, is photography also a talent?”

If it wasn’t for Ahn Gyeonghun, I wondered what I would have done. As I lamented, he shook his head vigorously.

“I’ve been thinking for a while now, but M-Myeongha has never mentioned that I stutter.”

The change of topic was abrupt. For someone who just blurted out, Ahn Gyeonghun’s cheeks had turned red as if he was nervous.

“Well…Because there was no need to say anything?”

“Thank you.”

I was dumbfounded by the unexpected gratitude. What was there to be thanking me for?

“Thanks to Myeongha, I can talk c-comfortably in front of you. Th… thanks for seeing the good in me.”

Ahn Gyeonghun said hurriedly, bowing his head and returning to his seat without giving me the opportunity to answer.

I awkwardly scratched my neck after receiving the sudden thank-you. Before I knew it, the back of my neck covered in sweat heated.

Cha Yeowoon and now Ahn Gyeonghun. Did they feel that I was somehow considerate to them?

Of course, I did care.

It was a strange feeling to have people understand you. I felt like my effort had made me a much better person.

* * *

“Follow me back.”

“I don’t want to.”

It would have been best if Cheon Sangwon didn’t know, but he happened to find out.

He chuckled and swung his legs. Even when sitting on the desk, his legs reached the floor. Were these the legs chosen by 370,000 people?

“I had wondered why brother came to my class. Is it about Cha Yeowoon again? From the beginning, you’re too cruel to me. Why should I follow Cha Yeowoon’s account?”

“Do it because you saw me.”

“Just because I saw brother doesn’t mean I have to do what you say.”

In any case, just looking at Cheon Sangwon gave me a headache.

But Ahn Sia had said she followed him and her followers jumped by 10,000. It was too tempting to ignore.

“I heard you’re actually famous.”

“Of course. How can this face not be famous?”

Cheon Sangwon cupped his chin with his hands. It was true that he was handsome, but he was simply annoying.

“Famous Sangwon, I really want to reach 100,000 followers on this account before summer ends.”

I said this while gripping Cheon Sangwon’s shoulder, but he only smiled provokingly.

“That’s too ambitious.”

That was because it wasn’t the goal I had set.

Yesterday, to confirm my hypothesis, Cha Yeowoon and I created an account and followed each other.

[ Sub-Mission: Find 100,000 (1) fans for Cha Yeowoon. ]

My hypothesis was correct. The Sub-Mission seemed to count social media followers. Despite not being a military general, it seemed like I would have to create an army of 100,000 troops.

“I’ve already heard it from Ahn Sia, but why the hell? Why does brother need 100,000 followers? Isn’t it because you don’t normally do things like this that you have no concept of numbers?”

“I understand that it’s difficult for an ordinary person to reach it in a short period…”

“You know, so why exactly 100,000?”

Because that was the mission. I would change it if I could.

“It’s probably because of Cha Yeowoon again. I don’t know the specific reason.”

Cheon Sangwon came down from the desk and stood in front of me. I took a step back because he was getting too close, but then he took another step forward. It was as if a game of cat and mouse had started behind the classroom.

“I’ll never help him.”

“Okay. Just go back to your seat.”

“Because it sickens me that Cha Yeowoon is being loved by brother.”

Cheon Sangwon added what we both knew. He still held a grudge.

“You’re receiving the love of 370,000.”

“But brother isn’t one of them.”

“Didn’t you give up cleanly after getting rejected?”

“How can love change so easily? I’m originally dirty and sticky.”

“Gosh. Pain in the ass. I’m leaving.”

It was a tactical retreat. Trying to convince Cheon Sangwon any further would only cause me to suffer.

“But, brother, if it was me, I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Cheon Sangwon said a meaningful remark as I turned around.

“What is it?”

“Promoting the person you like everywhere. Especially on social media.”

What did Cheon Sangwon want to say? When I finally looked back, I saw him with an arrogant smile that matched his first impression.

“There are more crazy people than you think.”

* * *

“Senior, there you are.”

“Ehm.”

“…Do you have to keep taking pictures?”

Cha Yeowoon pointed at my phone rather seriously.

Was it too much to keep taking pictures even on the bus? It seemed like I was continuously taking pictures while going home. I couldn’t help it because moments that had to be captured kept appearing.

“I’ll just take this one last picture.”

“…”

“One more.”

“…”

“Your expression is good now.”

“…Senior.”

“Just a moment.”

I stopped Cha Yeowoon, who seemed to have a lot to say. This time, it didn’t concern taking a picture. A message had appeared over the camera application.

[Ahn Sia] : Have you booked your lodging??

At An Sia’s unexpected message, my head involuntarily tilted.

[Tae Myeongha] : Lodging?