Chapter 6 – The Light Behind His Back (Part 3)

People gathered around him. Even if he didn’t seek them out, people naturally flocked to him like sunlight pooling in a bright spot or water gathering by the shore.

So he wasn’t alone. Among them, Dowook was calm, experienced, and relaxed.

Just as he played pranks on her, he also teased them, laughed lowly, sometimes made annoying remarks, swore, and then casually laughed and joked again…

Though he seemed reckless and arrogant, his occasional words and actions were interesting and kind. The way he touched their heads, shoulders, and eventually their hearts with his gestures and glances was something the kids liked.

Such ambiguity drew people in even more. It captured their attention, closed the distance, and ultimately stole their hearts.

Maybe it was due to his outstanding looks or the unique atmosphere emanating from them. When they played together at Heejeongwon, she hadn’t noticed, but there was something about him that overwhelmed and attracted people.

Choi Dowook had grown significantly again. His height increased, his shoulders broadened, and his voice deepened. Even the bones in his fingers conveyed a sense of strength. He no longer got sick and showed no signs of weakness.

Suddenly, Junhee felt as if Dowook was very far away.

She remembered the Choi Dowook from a long time ago.

‘Hey, I’m going to beat you someday.’

‘’I’ll beat you someday’, so stop acting cocky and don’t show off.’

–

He eventually did beat her. There was nothing left that she could surpass him in. The realization stung.

But as much as Dowook had grown, Junhee had also matured. Even if she felt a slight sense of betrayal or found him unfamiliar, even if his grades were far superior to hers, she had learned to hide those feelings skillfully.

She laughed it off as if it were nothing, chatted casually, and made new friends.

Most of the friends around Dowook had similar backgrounds. They wore expensive and nice clothes, received rare watches as birthday presents, traveled far during vacations at their leisure, and had no sense of urgency.

Dowook was usually among them. He said they were friends he had met at family gatherings since they were very young.

Junhee found it strange. She thought she was his only friend, realizing how arrogant and naive that belief had been.

She stood awkwardly by Dowook’s side. She only listened to their conversations from a distance.

They talked about places, things, people, families, and topics that Junhee didn’t know. They laughed at things she couldn’t understand. She couldn’t keep up with their jokes, spending habits, or behaviors.

She sometimes felt a sense of inferior shame, knowing that her worn-out appearance and lack of knowledge made her feel inadequate compared to them.

But Dowook just sat among them with a calm face.

Even when he acted annoyed or cold, he played basketball or soccer with them, joked around, and occasionally laughed. The kids always sought out Choi Dowook for anything, despite his swearing and irritation.

That group was famous at school. Most kids wanted to join them, but not everyone could.

Choi Dowook seemed to fit better with them than with her. She thought he enjoyed playing with them more than with her.

She deliberately gave them space. When they called for Dowook or when he was with them, she didn’t try to talk to him and naturally distanced herself.

When she distanced herself, Dowook would stare at her from afar.

So persistently that she couldn’t ignore it, until she couldn’t bear it without meeting his gaze. He quietly showed his displeasure, making it clear he didn’t like her behavior.

Even kids who had nothing to do with them noticed his gaze and nudged her. They said Choi Dowook was looking for her. She found it amusing. She didn’t understand why even kids who had never properly spoken to her before were so aware of Choi Dowook’s gaze.

Eventually, she turned her head. When their eyes met again, Junhee smiled calmly. Dowook, who had been expressionless, also smiled faintly.

‘Woo Junhee, come here.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Come here, now.’

When Dowook called for her, she obediently went to him. She didn’t bother to put up a front or waste energy on pride.

When she went to him, Dowook would sometimes act mischievously, as if punishing her, making her run trivial errands.

He would tell her to throw away his tray, buy gum from the store, or wash his dirty tie.

He didn’t care if people were around or not. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it more when people were watching.

Junhee followed those orders without complaint. After a few instances of humoring his mischief, he would soon lighten up, laugh playfully, and tease her.

Junhee acted as if she had never avoided him, taking his words in stride.

Even though the other kids looked at her strangely, she ignored it. She heard them whispering about how she didn’t fit in with Dowook’s background but tried not to let it bother her.

Sometimes, girls disliked her just because she was close to Dowook. She endured petty and childish bullying that she doesn’t even remember now. She ignored it all.

Because Song Yeong-joo’s requests to look after Dowook were still there. And because Junhee was still her father’s precious princess.

‘My dear, isn’t it hard studying so much? I brought you strawberries. Oh dear. Why do you have to study so much even after coming to Seoul? What’s the point of studying so hard? Are you going to become the president or something? I just want you to stay by my side forever. Studying is exhausting. It’s okay if you’re not good at studying. Nothing else matters as long as you’re healthy. Sleep well and eat well.’

Her father said, wearing his worn, faded clothes. Junhee loved her father’s broad smile.

She wanted to make her father and grandmother proud. Seeing the kids adorned with all sorts of shiny things and their parents in Seoul made her desire even stronger.

Even if it’s a bit lacking now, I must study hard and rise high. I must place my grandmother and father in that position. I must ensure they never sigh over money again.

She dreamed such dreams. Thinking of those dreams, Junhee endured the curious stares and occasional mocking words from the kids. She was kind to Dowook.

But there were still times when she felt hurt. She thought she had grown a lot, but she was still young and couldn’t always hide her feelings.

‘Why are you two always together? What’s your relationship? Is she your girlfriend or something?’

‘Woo Junhee?’

Dowook repeated, looking back at Junhee. She was sitting and memorizing English words but looked up. Dowook was perched on the windowsill far away, bouncing a basketball on the floor. When their eyes met, Dowook’s lips curled into a smirk.

‘She’s my minion.’

His answer felt like grains of sand settling in her heart.

Since entering the same high school as Dowook, Song Yeong-joo had been asking Junhee for more favors. She wanted to know what friends Dowook hung out with at school, what he did, if he was doing his assignments well, if he was dozing off in class. She started reporting these trivial things and receiving pocket money.

She thought Dowook’s words weren’t entirely wrong. Spending more time together, growing older, and becoming more aware, she gradually understood the differences between her and him. She slowly realized the insurmountable gap that she could never bridge, no matter how hard she tried.

The grains of sand rolling around in her chest scratched at her heart. For a while, she unconsciously avoided Dowook. No matter how much he looked at her, she ignored him. Even when he called her, or when the other kids gave her knowing looks, she didn’t go back to his side.

Finally, Dowook stood firmly in front of her. It was on the way back to the main building after lunch in the cafeteria.

“Why are you sulking again, Woo Junhee?”

“…Who said I’m sulking? Move. I’m going to the bathroom.”

“So, you’re not sulking, you’re really angry?”

Dowook tilted his head and locked eyes with her. His lingering gaze felt burdensome.

She thought it was very difficult to deceive him. They had spent too much time together. His mind was annoyingly sharp. The more she tried to hide, the more ridiculous it seemed.

Looking up at Dowook’s dark eyes, Junhee spoke honestly.

“Why am I your minion?”

“…….’”

“I’m not your minion.”

“Right. You’re not my minion.’”

His nonchalant answer made her even angrier. Dowook quickly sensed that emotion too.

“Still not satisfied? Then I’ll be your minion. You can go around and introduce me as your minion.”

Dowook grabbed a passing boy.

“Hey, I’m her minion. If you need anything from her, tell me.”

“Huh? Uh, okay….”

The boy, intimidated by Choi Dowook, mumbled a response. Dowook looked back at Junhee with a ‘satisfied?’ look. His face was shameless and arrogant. Junhee glared at him.

“What, should I escort you to the bathroom too? Should I bring you toilet paper?”

“Why don’t you just say you’ll follow me inside?”

At that moment, Dowook’s neck flushed red. He muttered a curse to himself, covering his mouth with one hand, looking troubled.

She didn’t know what he was dissatisfied with this time. Taking care of and understanding his emotions was something Song Yeong-joo had asked her to do, but that day, even that felt burdensome. She wanted to ignore everything related to him.