Just A Friend

“What exactly do you want to do with me?” Nam Seonwoo had prepared counter-responses, expecting questions like ‘Are you saying we should date because you like me?’ or ‘How can you think about that when we’re high school seniors?’ He waited for his voice. “I want to hold your hand.” But the answer that came back was very different from what he’d expected. “I want to see you without making studying an excuse. Even on weekends.” “We’re… already doing that now.” “But you won’t let me hold your hand.” When he curled his fingers into his palm as if hiding them, it felt like his gaze was physically poking at his palm. “And…” Unlike his intensifying gaze that was almost suffocating, his following words disappeared lightly into the air. “When I say there’s no one at home, you won’t come over.” “…” Seonwoo’s face burned hot at his words, which seemed to already know how extremely cautious he was about being alone with Kang Jihan in his room. “Besides helping with cleaning or lending coins, I can do better this time.” At these sudden words, he recalled how Kang Jihan once put a 100-won coin in the public phone and left. The clinking sound of coins in the machine, the cleanly wiped classroom blackboard. And the praise note that only said ‘good job.’ The once-clumsy secret helper revealed himself and said: “So make me your ‘Manito’ again.”