Chapter 18: The Rooftop

Walking along the tree-shaded path, Min-hyeon watched Jun-ho, who was walking a step ahead.

‘Isn’t he hot?’

The summer heat had arrived earlier than last year, and people on campus were dressed accordingly lighter—but Jun-ho was still in a dress shirt. Even though he’d rolled up his sleeves, it must have been quite warm, yet Jun-ho showed no sign of feeling the heat.

As if the temperature around Jun-ho was several degrees lower than everywhere else, he wasn’t sweating a single drop. Min-hyeon himself was drenched in sweat even though he was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and shorts—it was fascinating that Jun-ho’s profile remained impeccably neat.

Sensing Min-hyeon’s gaze, Jun-ho turned around. The moment their eyes met, heat rushed through Min-hyeon’s already warm body. He averted his eyes and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

“That hot?”

“A little. Aren’t you hot, hyung?”

“Not really.”

Despite averting his eyes, Jun-ho’s gaze fixed on his face was intensely vivid. Min-hyeon’s body tensed unnaturally. Even the movement of his arms swinging and his legs walking felt foreign. Instead of his stiff limbs, his heart raced wildly on its own.

“Hyung, you must not be affected by heat much. You’re not even sweating. I’m already completely drenched. Even though this path is mostly shaded, it’s still pretty hot.”

Because of his nervousness, his words kept dragging on. Everything felt so awkward—he might have been less nervous on the day he went to the photo exhibition with Jun-ho than he was now.

The more he tried to calm himself and act naturally with Jun-ho as usual, the more awkward he felt. He didn’t even know what he was saying anymore. As if to blow away this heavy atmosphere that had become difficult only for him, Min-hyeon fanned himself vigorously.

“You’re right. You’re sweating a lot. Hang in there a little longer—I’ll turn on the AC as soon as we get inside.”

Jun-ho’s fingers wiped away the sweat beaded on Min-hyeon’s nose. The sensation of cool fingers brushing across his sticky skin only made the heat rush to his face. Min-hyeon squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.

“Yes! Let’s hurry! Wow, it’s so hot. Hahaha.”

Min-hyeon practically ran ahead of Jun-ho toward his personal space.

He hadn’t expected to be able to come back to Jun-ho’s space so soon. Jun-ho guided Min-hyeon to the sofa and went over to the air conditioner himself. Min-hyeon perched awkwardly on the edge of the sofa, back straight.

He was alone with Jun-ho in Jun-ho’s personal space. His heart pounded. He was so excited and happy, but equally nervous. Min-hyeon thumped his wildly beating chest with his fist. After realizing his feelings for Jun-ho, even making eye contact was difficult. Every expression, every gesture, every word from Jun-ho drove him crazy with awareness. Min-hyeon composed his breathing as discreetly as possible.

‘Naturally. Like usual.’

He repeated this to himself, trying to calm down—when something chillingly cold touched the back of his neck.

“Aaah!”

Min-hyeon jumped while still seated. Turning his head, he saw Jun-ho standing behind the sofa with a beer can in hand, laughing.

“Haha. Sorry, sorry. Did I startle you?”

“I thought my heart stopped.”

Min-hyeon rubbed the spot where the beer can had touched, pouting. Jun-ho sat down beside him and held out the can. Min-hyeon took it and gripped it with both hands. Holding the ice-cold can seemed to settle his nerves a little.

“Your heart can’t stop. Hmm, luckily it’s beating well.”

Jun-ho suddenly reached out his hand. Before Min-hyeon could react, Jun-ho’s hand covered his chest. The cool sensation through his thin summer T-shirt made Min-hyeon startle, his mouth falling open. Fortunately, Jun-ho’s hand soon withdrew.

“H-hyung! Th-that, uh, huh? Hyung?”

A few garbled words tumbled out of Min-hyeon’s mouth. Seeing his belated panic, Jun-ho burst out laughing. Min-hyeon dropped his head. His soft brown hair fell messily, revealing his slender neck, which had flushed bright red.

When he lifted his head a moment later, his face was just as red as his neck. Min-hyeon rolled the beer can against his cheek and grumbled.

“Are all handsome people like this?”

“Like what?”

“Your physical touch is too natural. You just swoop in without warning—my heart can’t take it. Ugh. Hyung, do you know you’re a complete sinner? If my heart stops, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

“How should I take responsibility?”

Jun-ho’s eyes sparkled as he grinned. Min-hyeon leaned back, avoiding Jun-ho’s face as it drew closer to his.

“Ah, hyung, really, don’t…”

It’s too bad for my heart.

He only muttered that last part under his breath. He hadn’t realized that even looking at that face without any ulterior motives could be so bad for his heart.

Only after his cheek, cooled by the cold beer can, had sufficiently chilled did Min-hyeon set the can down on the table.

“Not drinking? Want me to swap it for a cold one?”

“No. I’ll pass today. If I have one can, I’ll want a second, then a third. If I come home drunk again today, I’m really in trouble.”

The bitter, carbonated sensation stimulating his throat seemed to linger in his mouth.

On a hot day like this, a cold beer would be so refreshing. The tension that had eased a little thanks to Jun-ho’s prank would probably melt away completely with one can. But he couldn’t.

Swallowing dryly, Min-hyeon looked regretful.

When Min-hyeon declined, Jun-ho didn’t push further. He’d secretly hoped Jun-ho might offer one more time so he could pretend to give in and drink. He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved. Min-hyeon let go of his lingering regret and reminded Jun-ho of today’s purpose.

“But what about our project?”

Today, Min-hyeon had followed Jun-ho to his personal space to work on the new assignment given by the Photography Aesthetics professor.

The professor had announced a new group project to replace the final exam—form groups of two. And this time too, Jun-ho had extended his hand to Min-hyeon. Not “Want to do it with me?” or “You’ll do it with me, right?”—just a hand offered as if it were natural. That hand made Min-hyeon happy.

“I’ll shoot it.”

“Since it’s a photography ‘aesthetics’ project, wouldn’t it be better if I shot and hyung was the subject? From an aesthetic perspective. In my opinion, hyung could just smile without saying a word and it’d be an automatic A.”

“Haha. Surely not. And besides, I don’t fit the theme.”

“Why wouldn’t you fit? The theme is reflecting on one’s life and filming a video about ‘me’—how could you not fit?”

“My life’s been too long to reflect on all of it.”

“No way. What. Wow.”

Min-hyeon was so dumbfounded by Jun-ho’s casual smile and words that he couldn’t form a proper response. They were only about a year or two apart in age—what kind of nonsense was it to say his life was too long to look back on?

“Then how about this reason?”

“What reason?”

Min-hyeon was confident he wouldn’t be surprised no matter how absurd Jun-ho’s reason was this time.

“You’ve never filmed anything before. From a ‘technical perspective,’ it’s better if I shoot.”

Imitating Min-hyeon’s phrasing, he emphasized “technical perspective” in a slightly irritating way. But Min-hyeon couldn’t argue with him at all. As Jun-ho said, he wasn’t confident in even operating a camera properly, let alone creating stylish shots.

“…Please shoot somewhere with as few people as possible.”

“Then shall we just shoot here?”

“No, I want to shoot somewhere else.”

They’d said they’d watch the footage together in class and give feedback—but Min-hyeon didn’t want to leave Jun-ho’s personal space recorded on video for others to see.

He briefly wondered what to say if Jun-ho asked why here wasn’t okay—but as always, Jun-ho didn’t press. While relieved, a small pang of disappointment also raised its head. Min-hyeon inwardly clicked his tongue at his own contradictory feelings.

“Any place in mind?”

“How about the bench behind the main building? It seems like not many people go there.”

“The rooftop of the main building would be better than the bench. The bench area is blocked by the building—unless you use separate lighting, it’ll come out a bit dark.”

“Uh… I’m fine with that. But can we get up to the rooftop? Don’t they usually keep it locked?”

“If it’s locked, we’ll take the lighting and go to the bench.”

“I hope it’s not locked.”

“Shall we go check it out right now?”

“Yes! Can I leave my bag here?”

“Of course.”

Grabbing only a camera, Jun-ho headed outside with Min-hyeon following close behind. As they stepped out, the muggy air greeted them. Min-hyeon grimaced.

“Ugh. The moment we’re out, it’s sweltering. What if I look all sweaty and gross on camera?”

“I’ll make sure you look pretty, so don’t worry.”

“If possible, please make me look cool.”

“Cool. I’ll try my best.”

“Give it your all.”

No matter what he said, a warm, smiling gaze full of laughter came back. It was probably just his naturally kind disposition—but Min-hyeon kept having to restrain himself from reading meaning into every single reaction and hoping for more.

They exited the side path and entered the walking path toward the main building. Zzzz—his phone vibrated with a long buzz in his pocket.

Min-woo hyung
Where are you right now
15:49

Before a call could come through, Min-hyeon quickly sent a reply.

15:49
School

As if Min-woo had actually checked his location, a new message arrived a few minutes later.

Min-woo hyung
Don’t turn off GPS
15:52

15:52
I won’t

Min-woo hyung
Your location wasn’t showing just now. Didn’t you turn off GPS?
15:52

He hadn’t touched it at all, so it felt unfair for Min-woo to tell him not to turn off GPS. Min-hyeon was about to reply that he hadn’t turned it off—when he suddenly realized something.