8:30 AM.
Is it a crime to turn off the alarm? No.
Will I be late if I sleep another five minutes? Absolutely yes.
Argh.
Jiho forced his eyes open and scrambled to get ready.
By the time he finished all his lectures, it was already noon.
His stomach grumbled again, louder as if trying to rally support.
Jiho walked along the sunlit pathway, weaving through the noisy campus crowd.
His HP was currently at ten percent. No, maybe five—
Jeez... Why is the cafeteria so far away?
Jiho's mind wandered to food, blissfully unaware of the object flying his way.
Maybe he could get curry rice or kimbap—
"Hey!"
"Be careful!"
Hmm?
Jiho instinctively turned his head toward the sound.
He didn't even have time to react when a round object struck his forehead perfectly.
Oof.
Which bastard is trying to unalive me?!
Pain bloomed like fireworks behind his eyes.
Jiho staggered and dropped down to his knees. With one hand clutching his head and the other trying to steady himself against the concrete.
His mind went completely blank. For a moment, he couldn't feel anything.
Only a dull pain.
Someone was making noise in his ears. Constantly shaking him up.
W-wait. I'm not dead yet.
"Jiho-ya!"
"Yun Jiho, can you hear me?"
Jiho blinked his eyes, wincing at the glare of the sun. He squinted his eyes uncomfortably.
A hand promptly hovered above him, shielding his eyes.
"Are you okay?"
Jiho's eyes subconsciously followed the voice. He was greeted by a familiar silhouette as soon as he came to his senses.
Grapefruit soda...
... Crap, why was that the first thing that came to mind?
Seo Minjae crouched at his side, arms folded protectively.
"Sunbae-nim," Jiho groaned internally. "Can you let me go for now?"
His eyes dropped to the arm clamped around him.
"Not until I confirm you're alive," Minjae said flatly. "You looked like a dropped mannequin."
"Thanks. But as you can see, I'm fine. Thanks to your flying death ball."
"That was not my ball."
"Yes. Of course." Jiho nodded indifferently. "Let's just leave it at that."
He stood up properly and dusted his clothes.
"Is he okay? Should we get him to the infirmary?"
"Seo Minjae, do you know this kid?"
Seriously? Should that be your only concern right now?
"He's my neighbour." Seo Minjae replied before ruffling his hair and turning to his group behind him.
That wasn't wrong. But he made it sound like Jiho was some stray he picked up off the street.
"Why don't we send you to the infirmary?" Minjae offered.
"Thanks. But no need."
Jiho tried to keep his cool. He was this close to being rude. Can't blame him that he's freaking irritated right now.
To his surprise, Seo Minjae wasn't angry.
"Are you sure you don't need to go to the infirmary?"
"Definitely not," Jiho replied confidently.
"But I think you need it."
Minjae pointed at Jiho, staring at him with concern.
"What?"
Jiho knitted his brows, wondering if he had dirt or something on him. He thoughtlessly rubbed his face.
"..."
"..."
***
The next thing he knew, he was staring at the plain white ceiling of the campus infirmary.
Jiho internally screamed.
To think that he fainted after seeing his own nosebleed.
This could be documented under his black history 101.
Thankfully, he was alone in the room and all his belongings were intact.
Even his glasses were thoughtfully placed on the bedside table.
Growl~
A loud stomach rumbled at this time.
The sound was quite obvious in the silent room.
"..."
Then, Jiho met a pair of eyes in the air.
When did this guy arrive again?
"What are you doing here?"
Jiho clutched his stomach awkwardly, trying to appear unaffected.
"Why? It was indeed our ball that hit you, and I couldn't just leave a patient unguarded." Seo Minjae said, strolling in like this was his living room. "You should have some porridge first. It's still warm."
"Porridge, all of a sudden? You know I'm not sick or anything."
"Are you going to eat it by yourself or do I have to feed you?"
"I didn't know you had that kind of hobby."
Looking at his distorted smile, Jiho gladly accepted the porridge offered to him.
He hasn't eaten all day. Even this plain porridge seems appetising enough.
"I'll send you back after you're done." Seo Minjae declared and sat down by the bed, pulling out his phone.
Clearly intending to wait for Jiho to finish his meal.
Jiho took his time with the porridge. He could feel the other party's eyes falling on him occasionally.
Then, he would look away.
Jiho glanced at him strangely, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Pfft."
What?
Jiho frowned as Seo Minjae's body shook as he struggled to keep his laughter in check.
"What's so funny?"
Seo Minjae finally looked at him straight in the eye. Jiho could literally see tears glistening briefly at the corner of his eyes.
"Nothing. You just look so cute."
Hah?
"What are you high about?" Jiho asked bluntly.
Is this guy losing it?
"It's true. Let me click a picture so you'll always remember this moment."
"No. You don't have to—"
His protest was invalid.
Before he could finish his sentence, Seo Minjae had already whipped out his camera and snapped repeatedly.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The continuous shutter echoed in the space.
Then his photo was shoved in his face like showing off a prize.
"Come on. Aren't you adorable?"
"... Delete it."
"Why. I was thinking of keeping it as an heirloom."
Who keeps a picture of a guy as an heirloom?
Jiho exhaled deeply.
He was going to kill this guy!
Jiho had a huge red bump decorated his forehead. He didn't understand why his hair was tied up like a rooster's crest.
Anyway, he wanted to claim his portrait rights.
"Are you sure you won't delete it?"
"Nuh-uh." Seo Minjae replied as he went on to admired the photo. "Our Jiho is too cute to delete."
This lunatic.
Jiho stared at him speechlessly.
Why was this guy so ridiculously immature?