Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 32: The One Who Blocks the Way

Nam Taekyung sighed as he looked at Ha Giyeon.

Even if he was pathetic and idiotic, he was still Ha Dohoon’s younger brother—so Nam Taekyung had to get close to him. He wasn’t exactly ugly, but he wasn’t better-looking than Taekyung either. And he looked like he didn’t have any friends—if he just treated him nicely and kept him around, he’d probably follow him around gratefully in no time.

Then, someday, he could find a chance to go over to Ha Giyeon’s house too. If he started visiting often, he’d be able to see Ha Dohoon more frequently. Since Dohoon didn’t go to any after-school academies, he’d probably be home most of the time.

Nam Taekyung smiled as he imagined everything that was about to happen. His plans had never gone wrong before.

But this time, they missed the mark again and again—and his whole plan fell apart.

It really was by chance that he ran into Ha Dohoon while walking home with Ha Giyeon. He’d tried coaxing Ha Giyeon into going for some bland, tasteless tteokbokki so he could subtly figure out where his house was. He never expected that Ha Dohoon would be waiting for Ha Giyeon. He hadn’t predicted their sibling relationship was that close—but either way, this was a chance.

He’d only ever watched Ha Dohoon from afar since middle school—this was the first time they’d come face to face. His heart fluttered.

His chest pounded as if it might explode, heat rising up inside him—this was definitely love.

“Dohoon-sunbae, hello, I’m Giyeon’s friend, Nam Taekyung.”

Nam Taekyung lifted the corners of his mouth in a soft smile. He probably wouldn’t be brushed off so easily. Other kids always blushed when he smiled like this.

“Ha Giyeon, I have somewhere to be. Get in.”

But Ha Dohoon didn’t so much as blink.

He only looked at Ha Giyeon. He didn’t even spare a glance at Nam Taekyung. Taekyung quickly composed his stiffened face and stared at the car as the two got in.

Boiling jealousy.

Those eyes that had once looked bored and indifferent—when looking at Ha Giyeon, they changed. They didn’t treat him like an insect. They saw him as an equal.

And that person was Ha Giyeon, his blood-related little brother.

That ordinary bastard, nothing special at all, had climbed into the passenger seat next to Ha Dohoon. That seat suited him far better. He’d never wanted to snatch something so badly in his life. Which was why he was ready to do anything to get it.

Nam Taekyung clenched his fist tight, over and over, vowing that he would steal that spot. His heart grew impatient. He had to get close to Ha Giyeon as soon as possible. He had to steal what Ha Giyeon had.

As always, all he had to do was coax him a little, figure out his weak points, and use them as leverage. Someone like Ha Giyeon, who lived in his brother’s shadow, would surely give in. freewёbnoνel.com

He was probably exhausted with inferiority and loneliness.

Even if he just said, “Let’s eat lunch together,”

“Sorry, my stomach’s upset.”

If he asked to do homework together,

“I prefer working alone.”

If he suggested going to the school store,

“I’m not hungry, so I’m good.”

If he asked to walk home together,

“I’ve got somewhere to stop by.”

All rejections.

Ha Giyeon wouldn’t let him in at all. It wasn’t like he blatantly avoided him, either—he always turned him down with a genuinely apologetic look. Since he didn’t react right away when Taekyung approached him, he couldn’t even complain that Ha Giyeon was dodging him.

And Ha Giyeon didn’t flinch at all around Nam Taekyung. Even when Taekyung smiled or gave him a gentle look, he didn’t look flustered in the slightest.

“So, it’s because you’re brothers...”

He didn’t want to admit it, but that indifferent look really did resemble Ha Dohoon. Which made it all the more infuriating. The fact that Ha Giyeon wouldn’t cave to him—he started to see it as arrogance. Once again today, Ha Giyeon had ditched him with the excuse of not feeling well—and when Nam Taekyung stepped into the cafeteria, he ran into Ha Dohoon.

Ha Dohoon never usually showed up in the cafeteria. Nam Taekyung was about to head over to his side—until Dohoon approached him first.

Seeing Ha Dohoon walking «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» toward him, Nam Taekyung stood there, heart pounding. He had to have recognized him.

Ha Dohoon stopped right in front of Nam Taekyung.

“Hey, what class are you in?”

“...Huh?”

Ha Dohoon speaking to him was a dream come true—but what he said was the problem. What class was he in...? Did he not know him? He’d been right there next to Ha Giyeon! He’d introduced himself!

While Nam Taekyung stood there dumbfounded, not answering, Ha Dohoon frowned. A kid standing behind him answered in his place.

“We’re Class 8.”

“Where’s Ha Giyeon?”

“I think he said he wasn’t feeling well and went to the nurse’s office.”

Ha Dohoon ran a hand through his hair in annoyance and turned to go. Seeing him ready to walk away without a second thought, Nam Taekyung quickly spoke up.

“If you’re looking for Giyeon, I can bring him to your class?”

It was a completely natural suggestion. He looked like he was searching for someone—he just needed to bring Ha Giyeon over casually, and that was it.

Smiling as he spoke, Taekyung expected him to nod. Instead, Ha Dohoon let out a dry laugh.

“Why would you?”

“...What?”

“Who the hell are you to bring Giyeon anywhere? You think he’s your dog or something?”

Ha Dohoon shot him a cold glare and barked the words harshly. The sudden insult froze Nam Taekyung in place, unable to respond.

Ha Dohoon muttered a curse and walked out of the cafeteria. Left standing there in the middle of the cafeteria after getting cursed at, Nam Taekyung pressed his lips together and bowed his head. Friends nearby tried to comfort him.

“You okay? That sunbae totally overreacted.”

“Don’t take it too hard. Everyone knows he’s got a sensitive personality.”

They all thought Nam Taekyung must be about to cry—but if they saw his face, they’d be horrified.

His face was flushed bright red—and he was smiling.

He looked straight at me.

A shock like electricity jolted through his body.

Ha Dohoon had furrowed his brow and really looked at him. Unlike before, when he’d been ignored next to Ha Giyeon. Even the way he cursed—how could it look that cool? Other guys just looked vulgar, but every word that came out of Ha Dohoon’s mouth had class.

“I’m fine... I’ve lost my appetite, so I’ll head out first.”

Nam Taekyung gave his concerned friends a faint smile and left the cafeteria. Now wasn’t the time to be hanging around with people like that. He had to find Ha Giyeon and bring him to Ha Dohoon. He had to show them he was close with Giyeon—so they wouldn’t dare treat him like that again. Surely he wouldn’t speak like that to his little brother’s friend.

After confirming that Ha Giyeon wasn’t at the nurse’s office, Nam Taekyung hurried off through the school to find him.

Then—he saw him coming out of the art supply room.

He didn’t know what he’d been doing there, but that didn’t matter now.

“I ran into Dohoon-sunbae in the cafeteria—he seemed like he was looking for you? Let’s grab something from the store and head to his class!”

Nam Taekyung tried to grab Ha Giyeon’s arm and drag him along. Until Kwon Jongseok stepped out of that art supply room.

Ha Dohoon’s childhood friend—Kwon Jongseok.

Nam Taekyung was interested in him too. Not as much as Ha Dohoon, but he was on a similar level and decently good-looking. Still, Taekyung’s feelings for Ha Dohoon were stronger. Jongseok was more of a stepping stone to get closer to Dohoon—or a substitute at best.

So there was no harm in getting on his good side.

I am curious why he was with Ha Giyeon in there, but...

For now, greeting him came first.

But as if to prove he really was Ha Dohoon’s friend, Kwon Jongseok ignored him like it was the most natural thing in the world. His gaze stayed fixed on Ha Giyeon alone.

What the hell is that bastard, anyway...

Nam Taekyung forced up the corners of his mouth, controlling his expression. Ha Giyeon disappeared like he was running away, and Taekyung was left alone with Kwon Jongseok.

When Jongseok finally looked at him, Taekyung smiled with his dimples showing.

“Are you Giyeon’s friend?”

Unlike earlier, Jongseok now spoke kindly and casually recommended a club to him. Taekyung was slightly annoyed that it wasn’t just for him—he was told to bring Ha Giyeon along too—but for the sake of Ha Dohoon, he swallowed it down. If he could join the club with Ha Giyeon, he’d have him isolated from all the others, free to corner him without interference.

And he’d use that opportunity to get closer to Ha Dohoon.

As long as I can get him into the club...

Then Ha Dohoon’s eyes would finally stay on him. For sure.

“Teacher, please put me in the Reading Club.”

But once again, Ha Giyeon ruined the plan. And Nam Taekyung had no intention of letting that slide.

I can’t let it end like this.

He grit his teeth. He wouldn’t let Ha Giyeon slip away.

***

The next morning, Nam Taekyung went to the teachers’ office early.

When he knocked and entered, he could feel the teachers’ eyes on him. The moment they realized it was Nam Taekyung, warm smiles lit up their faces.

“Good morning.”

“Taekyung, hi! Did you have breakfast?”

“Oh my, Taekyung’s here early today?”

“Taekyung always comes early. He’s such a good and diligent student~”

Just by standing still, compliments poured in from every direction. Nam Taekyung smiled politely and made his way to his homeroom teacher.

“What brings you in so early, Taekyung?”

“I wanted to ask about the club assignments. Giyeon said he wanted to switch to the Debate Club—could you switch him with Junseung?”

“Really? He said yesterday he was joining the Reading Club... Guess he changed his mind.”

As the teacher looked at the club list on her computer screen, Nam Taekyung smiled quietly. Today was the last day for club changes—once it was switched, it was final. Ha Giyeon would end up going to the Debate Club without even realizing it had changed.

Kim Junseung had never said he’d agree to switch, but that didn’t matter. If he told him that Giyeon had asked for it, then the guy would have no choice but to accept it. Plus, he’d end up resenting Giyeon. And even if Giyeon tried to explain, it wouldn’t help. Of course people would believe him over someone they weren’t even close with.

Everything was moving exactly the way Nam Taekyung wanted. He was just about to leave the office, satisfied—

“When you said that just now—I think you’ve got something wrong.”

If only that third-year student hadn’t stepped in.