A week has passed since then.
Finally, the midterm exam was right around the corner.
From the day we started preparing for the midterms with Namgoong Ruby until today, the day right before the exam, I have not once returned to the dormitory directly after school.
In order to prevent Namgoong Ruby, the class representative of our class, from being demoted to the second class, I have essentially poured all of my free time into this endeavor.
To be honest, I hadn’t intended to take it this seriously at first, but seeing Namgoong Ruby keep up without falling behind changed my mind.
“If I learn this hard, I might actually find it rewarding.”
And it wasn’t entirely without its benefits.
As I taught Namgoong Ruby, I ended up revisiting the basics, and I was able to remember many things I had learned long ago but had forgotten.
“Let’s stop here for today and head back.”
As I said this and closed my book, Namgoong Ruby, who had been diligently solving problems next to me, looked up in surprise.
“Already? It’s only been a short while since we started!”
“Well, studying now wouldn’t be very useful anyway. It’s more efficient to get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam to calm your mind and body.”
As I pushed my reasoning, Namgoong Ruby reluctantly closed the book she was reading.
Seeing her like this, I asked, “Are you worried?”
Namgoong Ruby hesitated to answer right away, biting her lip before nodding.
“Yeah. To be honest.”
“Exams are always like that. So there’s no need to worry too much.”
When I encouraged her like that, Namgoong Ruby looked at me as if surprised.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, I just think I understand now why Rin has a crush on you.”
“I mean, I am a bit nice. But don’t fall for me or anything, okay?”
I shrugged as I said this, and Namgoong Ruby chuckled and nodded.
“I’m not planning to steal someone else’s boyfriend.”
After exchanging such jokes, we closed the classroom door and stepped outside before it got any later.
*
Outside, it was drizzling.
Although it was still a while until the rainy season, the weather can be quite unpredictable.
We stepped out of the classroom side by side, but there was only one umbrella.
I alternated my gaze between the umbrella and Namgoong Ruby, then squeezed my eyes shut and offered her the umbrella.
“You take it.”
Namgoong Ruby jumped in surprise and shook her head.
“Why should I use your umbrella? I’ll just go ahead and get wet.”
“We have an exam tomorrow. You shouldn’t catch a cold. Just use it, and I’ll wait until the rain stops to head back.”
As I insisted and pressed the umbrella into her hands, Namgoong Ruby hesitated but eventually opened it.
Seeing this, I thought about going to the library inside the academic building to kill time, when suddenly Namgoong Ruby grabbed my sleeve.
“Huh?”
I turned my head, curious about what was wrong, and Namgoong Ruby said with a teasing smile.
“Let’s share the umbrella instead.”
“What?”
“Who knows when the rain will stop? It’s better if we share it.”
That wasn’t an unreasonable statement.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and asked her, “Are you sure that’s okay?”
Namgoong Ruby countered with a question of her own.
“What do you mean?”
“If we walk together under the same umbrella, people might misunderstand.”
“Who’s going to say anything just because friends are sharing an umbrella?”
‘…Friends, huh.’
Unlike me, who had drawn a line in my heart, it seemed Namgoong Ruby already considered me a friend.
In this situation, I felt like a really bad guy, and a pang of guilt hit me.
Thus, I ultimately decided, after some hesitation, to share the umbrella with her.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Surely no one would kill me just for sharing an umbrella with her?
*
Recently, Dokgorin has been feeling uneasy.
In Sangam, Chilbok was solely hers.
While some maids did eye him, her authority was enough to keep them at bay, and more importantly, she was confident that no one could steal him from her.
However, after entering Cheonmu Academy, that confidence wavered slightly.
It made sense, as Cheonmu Academy attracted exceptional talents from all over the Central Plains, and there were many beauties that could rival her there.
Naturally, it was bound to make her anxious.
She couldn’t just sit idly by since Chilbok was too good looking.
And her anxiety proved somewhat justified when Samajak, whom she thought was a boy and thus let her guard down around, turned out to be a girl.
It was no surprise that a young man and woman could easily have been close after living in the same room for nearly a month.
Thus, she quickly separated Samajak from Chilbok, but it seemed Samajak had not given up.
Even now, she was still plotting to take Chilbok’s spot beside him.
Of course, she still didn’t think she could lose out in beauty, but Samajak had a more sinister weapon.
If she used that weapon to overwhelm Chilbok, it was possible that Chilbok might not be able to resist, and they could end up in a relationship.
Since it was a situation she disliked even to imagine, Dokgorin had been stealing moments to train in swordsmanship.
She wanted to complete the inner circle of the Yeongok Heart Sutra as quickly as possible to free herself from this anxiety.
‘…It’s raining.’
With the midterm exam tomorrow, Dokgorin, who had finished training a bit earlier than usual, stared blankly at the overcast sky.
Being in the indoor martial arts training area, she hadn’t been aware of the weather, and regretted not bringing an umbrella when she realized it.
Anyway, staying still wouldn’t solve anything, so she decided to go elsewhere to pass the time.
‘By the way, I heard Chilbok was teaching Namgoong Ruby in the classroom.’
Since it had come to this, it wouldn’t be bad to watch them study together until the rain stopped.
So on her way to the classroom building, while moving along the eaves toward the main building, she spotted Chilbok standing at the entrance up ahead.
“Chilbok…!”
Filled with joy, she tried to call out his name, but upon noticing Namgoong Ruby standing next to him, she unconsciously swallowed her words.
The two were standing under one umbrella, engaged in a conversation.
At first, it seemed that Chilbok had offered the umbrella to Namgoong Ruby, but seeing her shake her head, it looked like she had refused.
However, after Chilbok pressed once more, Namgoong Ruby opened the umbrella, and upon seeing that, Chilbok seemed about to head back inside the building.
But just then, Namgoong Ruby grabbed Chilbok’s sleeve from behind.
With a reluctant expression, Chilbok shared the umbrella with Namgoong Ruby.
The moment Dokgorin witnessed this, she involuntarily clenched her fists tight.
‘What is this feeling?’
Logically, she knew the two didn’t share any special relationship.
But seeing them under the same umbrella, doubts began to creep up in her mind.
‘Were they really that close from the start?’
Of course, spending two weeks in the same space would naturally lead to some degree of closeness.
But despite her being the one in a relationship with him, why did he have to share an umbrella with another girl?
Such questions began to swirl in her head.
Resentment toward Chilbok and the betrayal she felt from Namgoong Ruby, whom she knew was under the same umbrella despite being her boyfriend.
An overwhelming wave of dark emotions surged inside her, disrupting her ability to think clearly.
In the past, she likely wouldn’t have reacted this strongly.
But the insecurity planted by Samajak caused her to form doubts about possibly losing Chilbok.
“……”
To regulate her emotions, Dokgorin began to recite the verses of the Taehuh Heart Method.
If she were swallowed by her heart demon, she might go on a rampage at her own whim.
After finally regaining her composure, Dokgorin quietly stared at the back of the two people walking away, sheltered under the same umbrella.
As much as she disliked to admit it, they actually looked good together, walking side by side.
*
“Why do you keep moving sideways?”
This was what Namgoong Ruby said while walking under the same umbrella.
“We keep bumping shoulders.”
As I meekly protested, Namgoong Ruby tilted her head, looking confused.
“What’s wrong with bumping shoulders?”
It’s hard to explain that reason.
I didn’t think this fool would understand the sentimental heart of a teenage boy.
As I tried to create more space, it seemed Namgoong Ruby didn’t like it, and she suddenly grabbed my shoulder and pulled me close.
Squish!
“Uck—”
Naturally, I felt the soft pressure against my side.
“See? Now neither of us is getting wet in the rain.”
However, it seemed like she was hardly concerned about it, so I decided to stay silent.
In the end, this uncomfortable journey continued until we reached the front of the dormitory.
Since there were two of us but only one umbrella, we first headed to the girls’ dormitory, Nokjonggwan.
“Thanks for sharing your umbrella. See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
As I waved goodbye to Namgoong Ruby, who quickly dashed under the eaves, I couldn’t help but smile wryly at her lively demeanor, feeling a sense of regret that this strange tutor-student relationship was coming to an end.
‘Am I actually starting to develop feelings for her without realizing it?’
It felt like an odd thought, so I chuckled and headed toward the boys’ dormitory.
