Chapter 19: Expressing gratitude

For the whole afternoon classes, Lee Hyun wasn't in his seat, and when he asked an instructor, he was told that the student council always takes the Friday afternoon classes as their weekly meeting.

So, Song Yujin gathered his things and decided to visit the library. Walking up to the last row of the seats where Kim Hajun was arranging his books, Yujin tapped the desk to get his attention.

"Dude, are you going to hang out with Lu Yuze again?" Song Yujin asked.

Kim Hajun nodded, "You should come to. It's Friday, anyway."

"Just the two of you?" Song Yujin probed.

Kim Hajun, "If you come, then there's three of us."

Song Yujin scratched his head. Lu Yuze approached him and slapped his back, "Hey, I heard you impressed the coach of the track and field club! Are you a member now?"

Song Yujin wriggled his eyebrows playfully, and a proud smile hung on his lips, "Yup. I have to go back and ask them about some documents I need to pass, so I won't be able to come with you two again."

"Man, that sucks," Lu Yuze frowned. But afterward, he shrugged his shoulders and added, "Well, that can't be helped, then. If you're a club member now, then you'll be busy with training from now on. Geez, I guess hanging out together will be even harder now, huh? But if you have time, go out with us, okay?"

"Sure," Song Yujin agreed.

Lu Yuze draped his arm over Kim Hajun's shoulders and pulled him away, "Alright, let's go, Hajun-ah! See you on Monday, Yujin!"

Kim Hajun waved at him, before walking away with Lu Yuze. Song Yujin was left alone in the classroom, scratching his forehead anxiously. It seemed that with each day that passed, the time he got to talk with his brother was becoming lesser and lesser.

He shoved his worries at the back of his head and navigated the bustline hallways, making his way to the library again.

He lied about having to talk with the club again because what he really wanted to do was visit the library after school ended, thinking that he might find Lee Hyun there.

The library was a quiet refuge in the heart of the school, a place where the murmur of students discussing their latest assignments was the loudest sound.

As Song Yujin entered, he was greeted by the familiar scent of old books and the gentle rustle of pages being turned. Unlike the days he spent arranging the book in that place, there were still students occupying most of the round tables.

Song Yujin scanned the room for Lee Hyun.

He had been hoping to thank him in person, especially after the unexpected recommendation that had turned his day around. At first, he wondered why the vice president, who Song Yujin did nothing but annoy, suddenly mentioned his name to a club advisor.

For a moment, he thought it his revenge for pulling him around with his antics, but he wasn't sneering or seemed insulting when he saw him in the bleachers. Instead, Song Yujin felt like he was just there to confirm his suggestions, to confirm that he did the right thing by recommending him, meaning Lee Hyun, believed he could do it.

Finally, he found the famous vice president whose looks were stealing attention from some students seated nearby at his favorite corner table. His nose was buried in a thick book, just like his usual position.

The table with strewn with notes and textbooks, a clear indication of his dedication to his studies. Song Yujin couldn't even imagine how could he read all of them.

Taking a deep breath, Yujin approached the table. He noticed Lee Hyun's usual composed demeanor, his light-colored eyes focused and his expression as inscrutable as ever, slightly moved to his presence.

Yujin's footsteps seemed louder than he expected in the library's hushed environment. Lee Hyun looked up from his book, his gaze meeting Yujin, yet there was still no emotion on them, not even a flicker of curiosity.

"Lee Hyun," Yujin began, pulling the opposite chair to the vice president and comfortably settling himself. He smiled with evident gratitude. "Here I was thinking you probably hated me for infuriating you all this time, but I didn't expect you to be so observant of me, recommending me to Mr. Choi. Did I amaze you with my running abilities?"

Lee Hyun remained silent.

Song Yujin frowned, but his frown turned to a grin. "I came here to thank you, Vice President, from the bottom of my very big and kind heart. But you're not even correcting my assumptions. So, it's true? You hate me? That's sad when I came to like you already."

He purposely mentioned his last words at an increased volume, earning the shocked expression of some students within hearing distance.

Murmurs and whispers erupted in the library, making the tip of Ms. Jang's eyebrows twitch.

Lee Hyun closed his book with a delicate, measured motion. His face remained expressionless, but his eyes were now fixated on the student before him. He answered, unaffected by the murmurs circling around them, "I simply did it to give you something to focus on rather than…sleeping in the class and annoying the hell out of people."

Yujin raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging on his lips. "Really? You're not exactly known for your generosity. But why the track and field thought?"

"You're good at running away," Lee Hyun replied without hesitation.

Yujin covered his mouth to hide his laughter, but his eyes showed fascination toward the vice president. He propped his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his joined hands. Then, he responded with honest eyes, "Seriously. I thought you did this to get back at me, but even if you did, it became something that helped me big time. I get a scholarship and free tutoring services. If I do well, then I will have an opportunity to be scouted in a sports university without paying anything."

Lee Hyun gazed down at his book again, but he seemed listening to Yujin intently.

Yujin continued, "That's a big help to me financially. I'm staying at school to get that high school diploma, and once we graduate, I plan to find a job already. But now, that plan might change. It gives me hope. I wouldn't have known I had talent in running if it wasn't because of you. So, honestly, Lee Hyun, thank you so much."

Lee Hyun paused. He glanced up and was stunned at Song Yujin's genuine smile. His dark eyes usually filled with mischief were curved in crescents, and his lips always wore an annoying smirk bent upward in a gentle curve.

For a moment, the noises in the library seemed to grow distant, and Lee Hyun could only focus on that brightened face. He was suddenly reminded of the sensation he felt when he caught him, that feeling he never felt when they first touched, was like nagging him about something.

Something he couldn't put his fingers on.

Lee Hyun snapped in his thoughts when a female voice interrupted them. "Oh, Song Yujin?"