Side Story 1 – Us as High School Students

It was only in their third year of high school that In-ah, who attended the same middle and high school as Suhyeok, was in the same class as him for the first time.

The joy of finally being in the same class as her childhood crush was short-lived; In-ah swallowed her bitterness as she saw other girls who liked Suhyeok just as much as she did.

‘Suhyeok is popular again today.’

One lazy lunch break, In-ah leaned on the window sill, watching the girls who were staring at Suhyeok. Summer had already arrived, and with college entrance exams approaching, everyone seemed to forget studying just to watch Suhyeok.

“Wow, Kang Suhyeok is so handsome, isn’t he?”

“He’s got the looks, height, and body. It’s almost unfair.”

“For once, all the boys are out playing soccer with the next class? Thanks to that, we get to watch.”

With each admiring sigh, In-ah’s face darkened.

She’d known for a long time that Suhyeok was popular with the girls. His striking appearance and quiet personality drew attention everywhere.

“But why doesn’t Kang Suhyeok have a girlfriend with that face? Didn’t have one in middle school either, right?”

“Should I try confessing?”

“Do you think you’ll succeed?”

Laughter echoed in the classroom as they shared wild confession ideas.

But only In-ah sat in a corner, unable to laugh.

‘……A confession.’

‘I envy them. At least those girls have the courage to confess.’

‘I can’t even confess because I’m afraid I won’t even become friends with Suhyeok.’

In-ah pulled her high ponytail forward to cover her face. Her hand, holding a pen, had nowhere to go and scribbled meaningless doodles in her notebook.

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck her lower belly, causing her to drop her pen.

“Ah……!”

Maybe it was from stress. Her lower belly, which had been aching since morning, now felt like it was stabbed with a knife.

‘There’s never a time it just passes by.’

With trembling hands, In-ah searched her bag. Her mind was troubled, and now her body wouldn’t cooperate.

Terrible menstrual cramps always came right on schedule. Because of that, In-ah always carried painkillers in her backpack.

‘They should be here somewhere…….’

After a desperate search, she found the small painkiller box.

But it was empty.

“Ah…….”

She’d forgotten to buy more. It was just one painkiller missing, but maybe because of hormones, she felt like crying.

The girls who had been at the window had already gone to the playground, so there was no one to ask for help.

“……I should go to the nurse’s office.”

With a pale face, In-ah slowly stood up, using the back door for support.

‘Can I make it to the nurse’s office?’

It was just one floor down to the nurse’s office on the second floor, but with the pain so severe, she wasn’t sure she could make it. The classroom was at the very end of the hall, making it seem even farther.

“Seo In-ah, what’s wrong?”

Then, a familiar voice called out.

“Kang Suhyeok……? Why are you here…….”

Surprised by his sudden appearance, In-ah stepped back. Wasn’t he supposed to be outside playing soccer?

“You don’t look well.”

Suhyeok naturally raised his hand to cover In-ah’s forehead. She blushed so much she couldn’t ask him anything.

“You have no fever. So what’s wrong?”

He leaned in, curious and innocent, bringing his flawless face close to hers. Seeing his perfect features so close made In-ah’s heart pound, and the pain in her belly intensified.

“……!”

She couldn’t even scream before collapsing to the floor.

“Seo In-ah!”

Suhyeok quickly caught her arm before she hit the cold floor.

“This won’t do, let’s go to the hospital right now.”

“I’m fine. I just need to go to the nurse’s office……”

“What are you saying? You’re about to collapse.”

Suhyeok’s usually calm voice now sounded urgent. Had he ever spoken so strongly before?

With a pale face, In-ah looked up and met the worried eyes of the boy.

‘We’re not even dating, so why is he so nice to me?’

She felt frustrated with him. Biting her red lips, she hung her head. Pain made her emotions flare up uncontrollably.

She hated herself for blaming his kindness even in this situation. Suhyeok was just a ‘kind’ friend, being gentle because that’s who he was.

“I’ll tell the teacher. Let’s leave early.”

Suhyeok sat her down and packed her things.

“No……! It’s not that serious……!”

“…….”

Despite her desperate protest, Suhyeok didn’t answer. He silently slung her backpack over his shoulder and reached out his hand.

“Let’s go.”

“……Suhyeok.”

Seeing his large hand before her, In-ah hesitated.

Menstrual cramps weren’t new, and even if she went home, no one would be there. She was an only child, and her parents both worked, so the house was always lonely.

She didn’t want to be alone when she was sick.

She steadied her weakening heart and took a deep breath.

“……It’s just bad cramps. I’ll be fine after taking some medicine.”

“Menstrual cramps……?”

With only a younger brother, Suhyeok knew nothing about girls’ cramps. But seeing how much pain In-ah was in, he could guess how bad it was.

If even patient In-ah was hurting this much.

“So basically, you’re in enough pain to die.”

Suhyeok withdrew his hand and knelt down. He offered his broad back to her.

“Get on.”

“What……?!”

In-ah’s face flushed red with embarrassment. She clutched her aching belly, shaking her head desperately.

If she got on his back, her chest would touch him.

Her already large chest had grown even more in senior year. And with summer uniforms being thin, that contact would be embarrassing for both.

“No way……!”

Unable to explain, she covered her chest with her arms.

“Then I’ll carry you.”

Without changing expression, Suhyeok stood up and lifted her easily.

“……!”

‘What was happening?’

In-ah’s vision rose dizzyingly high, and she held her breath.

Before she could stop him, Suhyeok strode out of the classroom and down the stairs. Some kids stared at them, and only then did In-ah realize her situation.

Being held in Suhyeok’s arms for the first time was so warm and firm. And after exercising, he smelled fresh, like soap.

“Suhyeok, put me down……!”

Trying not to breathe in his scent, In-ah held her breath. But the more she struggled not to notice him, the worse the pain in her belly grew, blinding her vision with white.

“I saw you were sick; how could I put you down?”

For some reason, he seemed angry. There was no reason for him to be this upset just because she was in pain.

“What about you…….”

‘What about your class, Suhyeok? Lunch break will end soon.’

She couldn’t finish her sentence because of the pain. Cold sweat broke out on her face.

“Just worry about yourself.”

‘I’ll take care of everything else.’

A single gentle phrase pierced In-ah’s heart painfully.

‘Suhyeok, why are you so nice to me?’

‘Why do you draw a line at the end, even though you’re so kind?’

There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but they just swirled in her mouth, never spoken.

“Then……, just take me home. Thank you.”

Instead of asking what she was curious about, she ended it with a faint smile.

Suhyeok glanced down at In-ah once, then quickly left the school.

On the way from school to In-ah’s house, Suhyeok didn’t put her down even once.

‘I must be heavy…….’

With blurred vision, In-ah glanced at him. Carrying a whole person must have been hard, but his breathing never faltered.

‘I made him miss class because of me, what should I do?’

It was a crucial time with college entrance exams approaching, yet she’d taken his precious time.

As she saw her house’s front door, which they’d arrived at before she realized, In-ah frowned.

“Suhyeok, put me down. You should hurry back to school.”

She struggled with all her remaining strength to get out of his arms. But she was too weak, and he was firmly supporting her waist, so she couldn’t escape.

“I called our homeroom teacher and got permission to leave early too. Don’t worry.”

“When did you even call…….”

‘Did Suhyeok really need to leave early too?’

Before her doubt could fade, Suhyeok confidently pressed the code on her front door.

“……?”

‘How does Suhyeok know my house code?’

He hadn’t been to her house since she moved in middle school. Because he entered the code so naturally, a question appeared on In-ah’s face.

“Your parents asked me to look after you if anything happened.”

Suhyeok immediately answered her question.

“My Mom and Dad, why did they…….”

In-ah bit her lip and lowered her head.

‘Why did they ask Suhyeok for that? He’s already busy with entrance exams.’

“Suhyeok, I’m fine now. Go back to school.”

“How could I leave you alone when you’re sick.”

He pressed firmly against her rapidly beating heart. 

‘Why does he always wedge into my heart when I’m weak?’

‘No, Suhyeok is just being kind. Falling for that is foolish.’

She blamed her racing heart and squeezed her eyes shut.

Meanwhile, Suhyeok went inside and quickly found her room, laying her down. Compared to his brisk steps, his hands were very gentle as he set her down.

He took the painkillers from her desk and handed them to her with water.

“This is the right medicine, right?”

“Yes……. Thank you.”

Caught off guard, she took the medicine with a fluttering heart.

“Sleep now.”

Suhyeok tucked the blanket around In-ah and patted her shoulder. Thanks to his warm touch, her eyelids grew heavier.

‘No, if I fall asleep now…….’

When she woke, no one would be there. She didn’t want to be alone. She was scared.

But no, she couldn’t keep Suhyeok here.

Conflicting feelings tangled in In-ah’s head. Because she was sick, her true feelings slipped out.

“Don’t leave me alone. I’m scared…….”

She mumbled weakly and quickly drifted into sleep.

Only after her steady breathing filled the room did Suhyeok lean over her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do whatever you tell me.”

He almost stroked her pale cheek, but quickly withdrew his hand.

He had to stop satisfying his desires by touching her like this.

Hadn’t he already held her enough while coming from school to her house?

After kindergarten, it was the first time he’d held In-ah again; she was so soft and gentle. It felt like the sensation still lingered on his fingertips.

“Ha…….”

Suhyeok sighed deeply and covered his flushed face with his palm. From his trembling throat to the tips of his ears, everything was red.

Leaning next to In-ah’s bed, he sighed again. He tried to steady himself with a breath, but her sweet scent wafted over.

The scent, like freshly bloomed peach blossoms, was always her natural fragrance.

“…….”

‘D*mn.’

He frowned deeply, feeling strange. At that moment, there was a rustling sound beside him.

“Hnn…….”

Even in her sleep, In-ah tossed and turned in pain. Was he crazy? What was he thinking next to a sick girl?

Suhyeok furrowed his brow and stood up. He soaked a towel in warm water and gently wiped her forehead.

He hadn’t known menstrual cramps could be this painful. Why hadn’t he noticed before?

He’d hovered around her for so long, yet hadn’t realized she was suffering this much.

‘I’ll have to memorize her cycle from now on.’

Thanks to what he’d learned in health class, he roughly knew how a woman’s cycle worked. Suhyeok turned on his phone and searched for ways to relieve menstrual pain.

‘Painkillers and hot packs help.’

He resolved to always prepare these things for In-ah from now on.

“I don’t want to be alone…….”

Beside him, In-ah’s hand flailed as if she was dreaming. Moved by her pitiful gesture, Suhyeok held her hand tightly.

Interlocking their fingers, too.

His hot, firm hand gripped hers securely.

“Hehe…….”

Even in her sleep, she smiled faintly, comforted. Suhyeok forgot to breathe, greedily taking in her clear face.

Her pale, pain-stricken face was pitiful, but her small smile was so beautiful. Unable to resist, Suhyeok gently stroked her cheek.

Her warm, soft cheek was so gentle it made him sigh. She was so pretty, no wonder other guys kept staring.

Suhyeok frowned, recalling what happened that morning.

“Today, I’m going to confess to Seo In-ah!”

“Ohhh.”

Before morning class, he’d heard a boy from the next class boasting to his friends in the hallway.

Suhyeok immediately stopped and listened.

‘Who was that jerk?’

He clenched his fist so hard his veins popped.

In-ah had always been pretty, but after puberty, she became even more beautiful. As she grew taller and her body gained lovely curves, annoying guys started clinging to her, eventually even confessing.

Some of them were quite good-looking, but In-ah’s answer was always the same.

“S-sorry. I’m not thinking about dating yet.”

“Is there someone you like?”

“No, um…… no!”

Even her flustered rejections were lovable.

Suhyeok always watched her from afar, swallowing his burning feelings.

She kept turning down boys, saying she wasn’t thinking about romance—how could he confess to her?

All he could do was stay near her and beat up the guys who confessed to her through sports.

That lunchtime, he’d led all the boys in his class to play soccer against the next class because of that guy who wanted to confess to In-ah.

The guy, who kept losing the ball to Suhyeok, eventually collapsed from exhaustion.

Drunk on petty victory, when he came out of the shower, he heard girls from his class looking for In-ah.

“Huh? In-ah didn’t come out?”

“She looked sick.”

Upon hearing that, Suhyeok ran straight to the classroom.

Seeing her trembling, clutching the back door, made his heart drop.

‘When will I be able to tell you how I feel?’

Suhyeok gently stroked sleeping In-ah’s cheek.

She was as kind as she was beautiful. She helped everyone, smiled easily, and talked well.

For him, she was the only person he could be like that with.

She was kind to him because they were childhood friends. He knew that, but as time passed, his feelings for her grew uncontrollably.

Desire turned into longing, swelling so much he couldn’t handle it.

Whenever that happened, Suhyeok would distance himself from her. He was afraid he’d pour his desires onto her innocent self.

“Even if it’s late—”

Suhyeok let go of her hand and leaned over.

“Someday, please notice me too.”

He smiled bitterly, never taking his eyes off her.

That day, Suhyeok desperately wished that his feelings would reach In-ah someday.