THE HIRED BOYFRIEND

13

"This is the first time I've seen you this excited. You must be eager to end our deal, huh?" Hyeyoon's response was unexpected. She somehow looked disappointed, her brows furrowing slightly.

I thought she'd be happy to hear the plan.

I couldn't help but feel inferior. Maybe my plan wasn't good enough? After all, she'd been spending a lot lately on me. "Of course, I don't want to let your money go to waste," I said quietly.

"Righttt," she mumbled, but I still caught her word. Therefore, "Or, do you have a better plan?" I asked hesitantly.

Earlier, I had been confident about the plan, but seeing her disappointed look, I started to second-guess myself.

She offered me a hollow smile. "Whatever, let's just proceed with the plan. I'm hungry," she said before making her way to the exit door. I followed her, feeling a knot of guilt tightening in my chest.

She didn't utter a single word as we made our way to the cafeteria. The bustling sounds of clattering trays and students' chatter filled the air, creating a lively backdrop. Hyeyoon grabbed a tray and handed it to me without looking. I accepted it, feeling guilty for no reason.

Maybe I should come up with better plan.

Even though she didn't say it, she obviously didn't like the idea. After all, we're seniors. Wasting our time by joining a club or going to an exhibition might not be a good plan after all.

Lost in my thoughts, Hyeyoon grabbed my arm and gestured towards the dining area. I looked at my plate, now full of food. I hadn't even noticed.

Hyeyoon chose a table near the window, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her features. We sat down, the silence between us heavy and awkward.

Hyeyoon poked at her food absentmindedly, her mind clearly elsewhere. I wanted to say something to break the tension, but no words came to mind. Instead, I focused on my meal, hoping that the right moment would present itself.

After a few minutes, I gathered the courage to speak. "I'm sorry if the plan wasn't what you expected," I said, my voice barely audible over the noise. "I just thought it would be a good opportunity for us."

She finally looked up at me, her eyes searching mine as if she found something in me that I couldn't figure out. "I'm being difficult, huh?" she offered me a small smile, her voice softening slightly.

"Oh, no, no...not at all," I quickly denied it, feeling a bit flustered. "I just want to make sure you're comfortable with everything. This is a team effort, after all."

She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she ran a hand through her hair. "Look, it's not that I didn't like the idea. It's just..." She paused, her eyes darting to the side as she seemed to be searching for the right words. I waited patiently, sensing that she needed a moment. She then sighed, placing her chopsticks on the tray as she focused on me. "You know what, it's nothing. Let's just focus on the plan."

I decided not to press her further. She seemed to have a lot on her mind.

As we almost finished our lunch, she opened her mouth, commenting, "You don't like the shirt I bought you yesterday?" Her eyes glanced up and down at my old uniform. "Or is it not your size?" She raised her brow. "If so, we could pick something else."

I rushed, waving my hands. "No, no, you don't have to do that." I felt a little panicked because I knew she wasn't kidding. One wrong word from me, and she could end up buying me a whole new wardrobe without batting an eye. That thought alone sent a shiver down my spine.

"I like all the gifts you bought me. It's just that it feels awkward to wear all new stuff at once. So, yeah," I explained shyly. "But I wore the shoes," I said, showing her shyly.

Her gaze automatically fell to my feet, and I could see her mood slowly lifting. "They look good on you," she said with a genuine smile.

"Thanks," I muttered, feeling the heat creeping into my face.

After school ended, I had to refuse Hyeyoon's offer to drive me to my workplace. She seemed disappointed but, for the first time, she didn't push the matter, which made me feel relieved. It's not that I don't appreciate her help, but lately, I feel like I'm getting too used to depending on her. It makes me a little anxious. I'm not supposed to taste this temporary luxury if I don't want to feel disappointed later on. That's why I came up with the plan last night—to put everything to rest and go our separate ways.

As most students went their own direction, my eyes followed Hyeyoon's figure until she disappeared behind the door. I then packed my things as I peeked at the clock; there was still some time before I needed to be at work.

I made my way to the teachers' office. Mr. Jonho seemed busy typing something and didn't even notice my presence.

I cleared my throat, causing him to jump a little.

"Oh, Jisung!" he greeted, looking flustered as he quickly shut his laptop. "What brings you here?"

"I want to enroll in your art club," I told him.

He seemed caught off guard before clearing his throat. "Oh, sorry, we don't accept seniors," he said.

"What if I told you that I need this to complete my portfolio?" I challenged.

He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "I am your homeroom teacher, remember? All your results and achievements are in the back of my head. So, I know there's no need for this."

"But, still, I think this could really help me stand out. Besides, I'm genuinely interested in art."

Mr. Jonho eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were considering my words. "Why the sudden interest in art, Jisung?"

"It's not sudden," I said earnestly. "I've always had an interest, but I never had the time or resources to pursue it. Now that I'm in my final year, I want to make the most of every opportunity."

He tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking. "The art club is demanding. It requires commitment and passion. It's not just about adding something to your portfolio."

"I understand," I replied. "I'm willing to put in the effort."

He sighed, leaning forward. "Alright, I'll give you a trial period. Prove to me that you're serious about this."

A smile broke across my face. "Thank you, Mr. Jonho. I won't let you down."

He nodded, his demeanor softening a bit. "We'll see. The club meets tomorrow after school. Don't be late."

I nodded eagerly. Before I left, he asked me to fill out a form. "Just a formality," he said, sliding a sheet of paper toward me.

I quickly filled in my details—name, class, and a few other basics. "Can I have another sheet, please?" I asked, realizing I needed to enroll Hyeyoon as well.

Mr. Jonho looked up. "You don't have to worry about making mistakes. Just make a line and rewrite over it."

"Oh, it's not that. I need to fill in for my friend as well," I explained.

He raised an eyebrow but handed me another form. "Is he a senior too?" he asked, curiosity in his voice. "If so, I need to check his grades in case it's going to affect his standing. We don't want any trouble with the school management."

"You don't have to worry, her grades will be just fine," I replied confidently, writing Hyeyoon's name on the form.

"Hyeyoon?" Mr. Jonho's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't know you two were that close."

I looked up, trying to appear casual. "Oh yeah, we became friends recently and spend a lot of time together helping each other. I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know each other even more," I said, fishing for his reaction.

I noticed as he tightened his fist upon hearing my response. He then offered me a soulless smile and said, "I hope it doesn't distract your studies. After all, you're both seniors." There was a faint note of restriction in his voice.

Since the day I decided to help Hyeyoon, I had noticed that Mr. Jonho indeed reciprocated her feelings. The only obstacle now perhaps was their student-teacher status.

Of course, I'm in no position to judge either of them. But for some reason, my heart clenched at the thought of it.