That night, after letting Chu Tich Than rest for a while, I finally went downstairs to prepare dinner.
At first, I thought he'd be too shy to come down.
Unexpectedly, just as I finished setting the dishes on the table, Chu Tich Than slowly walked downstairs.
"Teacher… let me help."
I turned to look at him and laughed softly.
"You're a guest."
"But—"
"No buts."
I casually pulled out a chair.
"Sit down."
Only then did Chu Tich Than obediently sit down.
Dinner was quieter than I expected.
Chu Tich Than ate very politely, his movements so gentle that he barely made any sound.
He only took a little from each dish.
I watched him for a moment before slightly frowning.
"You eat that little?"
Chu Tich Than flinched slightly.
"…Huh?"
"Boys your age should eat more."
As I spoke, I casually added more food into his bowl.
"Eat a bit more."
Chu Tich Than looked at the food in his bowl, clearly a little flustered.
"…It's too much already…"
"How is this too much?"
I laughed softly.
"You're too skinny."
At that point, my gaze unconsciously landed on his pale face, and I sighed.
"Eat more so you can get healthier and chubbier. You'd look adorable."
The moment those words left my mouth, Chu Tich Than immediately choked.
"Cough—"
Startled, I quickly handed him a glass of water.
"Hey, slow down."
Chu Tich Than accepted the glass, both of his ears visibly turning red.
Even while lowering his head to continue eating, he didn't dare look at me anymore.
Watching his reaction, I nearly laughed out loud.
This kid…
He really gets embarrassed easily.
That night passed rather peacefully.
It wasn't until the next morning that I got ready to go to school.
The moment I walked through the school gate, my eyes unconsciously searched around for a familiar figure.
Until I spotted Han Duc Ky standing near the second-floor hallway.
My heart suddenly felt lighter.
Thank goodness.
At least he came back to school.
That entire morning, I could barely focus on anything.
Every time I passed by Han Duc Ky's classroom, my eyes would instinctively drift inside.
Only after seeing him still sitting there did I feel slightly relieved.
During break time, I was carrying a stack of documents while walking along the hallway when I noticed Han Duc Ky leaving the classroom alone.
He was probably heading to the back courtyard.
I paused for a few seconds.
Then, as if thinking of something, I immediately turned around and returned to the teachers' office.
From inside my drawer, I took out the lunchbox I had prepared that morning along with a few fever medicine tablets.
Looking at the things in my hands, I hesitated slightly.
"Would this be too weird…?"
But when I remembered his pale face from yesterday, I still gritted my teeth and went looking for him.
In the end, I found Han Duc Ky behind the gym building.
He was sitting alone on a bench.
I took a deep breath before quietly walking over.
I just need to leave it here and go…
I told myself internally.
So I carefully placed the lunchbox and medicine beside him.
Just as I was about to sneak away—
"Teacher, what are you doing?"
That indifferent voice suddenly sounded behind me, startling me badly.
"Ah!"
I whipped my head around.
At some point, Han Duc Ky had already appeared behind me.
He stood there with his arms crossed, looking at me with slight confusion in his eyes.
Meanwhile, I froze completely on the spot.
There was only one thought left in my head.
"It's over… A Ky caught me red-handed…"
Han Duc Ky stared at me for a few seconds.
His gaze remained as calm and unreadable as always, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.
I thought he'd coldly tell me to take everything away.
But he didn't.
He simply pulled out the chair in silence and sat down.
Then slowly opened the lunchbox in front of him.
I blinked in surprise.
The heaviness in my chest suddenly disappeared.
He's eating it…
The corners of my lips unconsciously curved upward.
Thank goodness.
At least he wasn't skipping meals anymore.
Han Duc Ky picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly.
Maybe because he was still tired, his movements weren't as quick as usual.
The midday sunlight filtered through the trees and fell onto his face, making his dark eyelashes stand out even more.
I sat beside him watching for a while.
And before I realized it, I had completely spaced out staring at him.
Right at that moment—
"Why are you staring at me like that, Teacher?"
Han Duc Ky's voice suddenly rang out.
I nearly jumped.
"Huh?"
He raised his eyes to look at me.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Ah… no!"
I immediately shook my head frantically.
"Teacher was just…"
My brain went blank for several seconds.
"…looking at a mosquito."
…
The atmosphere instantly fell silent.
The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself.
"Oh my god…"
"Ta Yen Thuong, what kind of nonsense are you saying?!
A mosquito?
You've been staring at him in broad daylight and now you say you were looking at a mosquito?
A Ky is definitely going to think I'm insane!"
I stiffened completely, so embarrassed that I wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.
While I was still internally despairing over my own stupidity—
Han Duc Ky suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
I froze.
My eyes widened in shock.
A Ky… laughed?
Even though it was only a very quiet laugh.
It was still undeniably a laugh.
The corners of his lips curved slightly upward, and the usual coldness around him softened just a little.
Even his eyes no longer looked as sharp as before.
My heart suddenly skipped a beat.
At that moment, I could only stare blankly at him.
He's so beautiful…
No.
He's unbelievably beautiful.
"Teacher really is an idiot."
Han Duc Ky spoke while lowering his head to continue eating.
His voice remained calm, yet it no longer felt as distant as before.
Hearing that, I didn't get angry at all.
Instead, I was so happy that I couldn't stop the corners of my lips from rising.
"Mhm, mhm. Teacher's an idiot."
I rested my chin on one hand while looking at him.
"So A Ky better finish all of it, okay?"
Han Duc Ky paused slightly upon hearing that nickname.
But this time…
He didn't correct me anymore.
He simply continued eating in silence.
Though the tips of his ears beneath his black hair seemed to have turned faintly red.