Chapter 6: The Observance sucks
The classroom hummed with chatter.
Tae Kook sat near the window, quietly observing.
Han Soo Min, two rows ahead, was already lost in her book. Calm. Unmoving. Unbothered by the chaos around her.
Then—
A sudden voice pierced through the quiet.
"KOOKY! Hey, Kooky!"
Tae Kook froze mid-breath.
"…Why now?" he muttered.
A boy dropped into the seat beside him with a grin so wide it could annoy anyone.
"…Yoo Min Ho," Tae Kook said flatly, eyes narrowing slightly.
Min Ho leaned back, one arm over the desk, legs stretched out.
"You look like you just saw a ghost," he teased.
"…I didn't."
"Sure, sure. Anyway, guess what happened during lunch!"
Tae Kook's eyes flickered toward him but he said nothing.
"You wouldn't believe it," Min Ho continued, clearly ignoring the silence. "Jung Woo spilled noodles on the principal's shoes! Can you imagine? HAHA!"
Ae Rin, hiding behind a bookshelf near the classroom door, made a small squeak.
"…He's loud… as usual," she whispered.
Tae Kook pinched the bridge of his nose.
"…Annoying."
Min Ho laughed.
"…Hey, I heard that!"
He leaned closer, smirking.
"C'mon, you're smiling. Admit it, Kooky—you love this part of school."
Tae Kook didn't answer. He never did.
But his eyes flickered slightly toward Han Soo Min.
Min Ho followed his gaze.
"…Ahhh… the girl again, huh?"
Tae Kook looked at him sharply.
"…Shut up."
Min Ho just grinned wider.
"…Relax, Kooky. She seems… quiet. Doesn't talk much. That's why you stare so much. Admit it."
"…I do not stare," Tae Kook muttered.
"…Sure, sure."
Meanwhile, Ae Rin scribbled rapidly in her notebook from her hiding spot.
"…Observation 52: Yoo Min Ho is a professional annoyance," she whispered.
"…Observation 53: Kooky still can't handle him," she added with a giggle.
Back at the desk, Min Ho leaned forward.
"So… are you gonna talk to her today, or are we just pretending we don't notice each other?"
Tae Kook's jaw tightened.
"…Ignore me," he said quietly.
Min Ho waved his hand like it didn't matter.
"Alright, alright… fine. But you're going to regret it later. Girls notice everything, you know. Everything."
Tae Kook looked toward Han Soo Min again.
She hadn't moved. Still reading, still quiet, still completely unaffected.
"…Everything," he muttered under his breath.
The bell rang, signaling the next class.
Min Ho slapped the desk.
"Finally! Free time! Let's see what trouble we can get into, Kooky!"
Tae Kook groaned.
"…Why do I even associate with you?"
Min Ho grinned.
"…Because you secretly like having a loud, annoying sidekick around. Admit it!"
Tae Kook didn't respond. Not even a twitch.
But Ae Rin, hiding nearby, scribbled furiously.
"…Observation 54: Kooky's expression doesn't lie… this will be fun," she whispered.
And somewhere in the back of his mind…
Tae Kook knew today would not be quiet.