As Lee Hyun mentioned, the strict and diligent guard dog of the student council, Nam Dohyun, allowed Song Yujin to enter the school the following day.
Song Yujin didn't even know whether to laugh or cry after watching his name get jotted down on the student's logbook again. He just had to let it go as he recalled his promise to the vice president that he wouldn't run away from his punishment again.
I wonder what happened to him. He suddenly went pale and looked frightened. Did he see a bug, or maybe a cockroach, inside? Song Yujin thought as he walked down the corridor.
They met Lu Yuze on the way, and they began chatting about what they did yesterday. Song Yujin pouted and sulked, "I don't think I can come with you guys today too."
Kim Hajun asked, "What? Why?"
Lu Yuze glanced at him with a knowing look and uttered, "Did you get in trouble again? You haven't gotten back your ID?"
"Yeah, bro. Lee Hyun took me to the library and asked me to arrange the books alphabetically," Song Yujin answered, grumbling and scratching his head.
Kim Hajun's eyes widened, and then he broke into laughter next. He knew how Song Yujin hated the library the most, as it was the most boring place in school, according to his own words.
Lu Yuze expressed his dissatisfaction, but there was nothing that they could do.
The class started as usual, and it ended normally. The students that Song Yujin and Kim Hajun were acquainted with on the first day of school, were now avoiding them as well.
"It's because of me that they were avoiding you…" Lu Yuze said with a disheartened look, his eyes were lowered.
Song Yujin slapped his back and Kim Hajun just shrugged his shoulders, "We don't mind having just you."
After saying that, Song Yujin noticed Lee Hyun was standing by the door, obviously waiting for him. He smiled before turning to his friends again and spoke, "Alright, I'm off to the library now. See you tomorrow guys!"
With that, he walked to Lee Hyun, whose eyes lingered on the Lu Yuze a bit before walking away. Song Yujin noticed that small detail and he couldn't help but ask as they went down the hallway.
"Do you have beef with Lu Yuze?"
Lee Hyun briefly glanced at him, wondering if the question was for him. Song Yujin nodded, understanding his silent eyes. Lee Hyun then looked ahead and answered nonchalantly, "I don't."
"Then, why did you look at him like that?"
Lee Hyun's eyebrows slightly furrowed, "Like what?"
"Like you don't like him? How should I put it? I've only met you for three days and somehow, I can tell you don't like him already. Like, you're always looking at people with this bored expression on your face like you're just looking at chattering pebbles, or with those cold and aloof eyes like you don't even consider us humans at all…uhm, well, what I'm trying to say is I find it suspicious that you stared at Lu Yuze as if you doubt him. Why? Did he also sneak away after jumping the gates?"
Lee Hyun, "…"
Song Yujin, "Oh, come on! I said all that and you just ignored me?"
Lee Hyun, "…it's nothing serious."
Song Yujin puckered his lips and walked ahead. He mimicked Lu Yuze's walking style, his hands clasped together and cupping the back of his head, while walking backward.
He gave Lee Hyun a suspicious look and asked, "So, you don't like him for no particular reason?"
Lee Hyun's gaze lowered to the floor for a moment, his eyes watched Song Yujin's steps unconsciously before he lifted his eyes and responded, "No."
Song Yujin tilted his head, confused, "No what? No, you don't like him, or no, I was wrong?"
Looking at the confused face of Song Yujin, Lee Hyun's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly upon seeing the infinitesimal smirk on the student's face. It was clear Song Yujin was toying with him.
Lee Hyun's gaze slightly moved away from the jolly Song Yujin before his hands shot up hastily grabbing Song Yujin's arms and pulling him closer. The latter flinched a bit from the unexpected movement but soon realized why Lee Hyun acted that way.
"Oops, sorry, miss," Song Yujin bowed a bit, apologizing to the girl he almost bumped.
The girl blushed as her eyes darted to the vice president, and then she shyly walked away after giving Song Yujin a small accepting smile.
"She likes you," Song Yujin commented after the girl was out of hearing range.
Lee Hyun, ever so unbothered and uninterested, continued walking, leaving Song Yujin behind.
Song Yujin watched the vice president's back with curiosity and amusement. He had never met someone so mysterious and detached, and so his interest in knowing Lee Hyun well skyrocketed.
Questions like, did he even know how to smile, laugh, or crack a joke? Why does he always wear that same expression? are things Song Yujin wanted to know.
To him, Lee Hyun was like a puzzle he wanted to solve, and the level of his difficulty, rather than annoying, amused him.
"How's it going over there, Mr. Vice President?" Song Yujin called, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet library again. There were a few students on the counter, checking out books they borrowed at the last minute.
Their attention was stolen by Song Yujin's increased voice, and Ms. Jang hissed at him. Song Yujin thought, what is she hissing about? It's not like there are still students studying inside! Man, she obviously doesn't like me.
He turned to Lee Hyun who was seated in his usual corner, flipping books again. Lee Hyun glanced up, his expression composed as ever. "Make sure the books are arranged correctly. No need for theatrics."
"Geez, are you going to check them one by one?" Song Yujin replied. He grinned afterward, realizing that Lee Hyun knew his yesterday's performance. His eyes twinkled with mischief. "And, oh, theatrics are my specialty. Besides, what's life without a little drama? This place is boring so can't I at least do something that entertains me?"
He gave a dramatic flourish as he placed a book titled 'Principles of Thermodynamics', next to its neighbor, 'Thermodynamics for Beginners."
Lee Hyun's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.
Song Yujin took that as a challenge and decided to increase the level of his teasing skills. He started reciting exaggeratedly the verbose descriptions of each book as he shelved them, making sure to use an exquisite, high-pitched tone that would shake Lee Hyun's eardrums.
"Principles of Quantum Mechanics, by Dr. James Hart – a book of great intellectual depth and complexity. Wow, I didn't expect this to be fun, I thought I'd puke just touching this book as thick as a brick!" Song Yujin announced, amazed at his self-discovery.
He carefully shelved the book, then picked up the next one with eagerness, "And here we have 'Quantum Mechanics: An Introduction,' by Dr. Julia Rosen. A beginner's guide for those who find Dr. Hart's work a bit too…daunting."
As Song Yujin continued with his over-the-top commentary, Lee Hyun's composure started to crack. A slight awe danced in his eyes, convinced that Song Yujin, who answered an advanced mathematical equation on his first day of school and understood those scientific books easily, was an intelligent student.
As he watched Song Yujin recited the titles of the books and gave unsolicited comments about them, the corners of his mouth twitched infinitesimally, but he maintained his stoic façade and hid the growing amusement behind his eyes.
He was about to comment on something when Song Yujin's dramatic voice read the next book's title aloud, "Next, we have, 'The Joy of Sex', by Alex Comfort. Woah, these contain explicit imagery and vulgar words. Is this one supposed to be…educational?"
Before Song Yujin could flip another page, the book was quickly snatched from him already. He looked up at the person who stole the book from him, only to be surprised at the reddened, flustered face of the vice president.
Song Yujin inadvertently mumbled, "Is that yours?"