Lee Hyun's face which was usually so inscrutable, was now flushed with a noticeable shade of red. His eyes widened slightly as he grasped the book tightly, the cover of the book prominently displayed for anyone within hearing distance to see.
Thankfully, the library was already deserted, and there were Lee Hyun and Song Yujin only. For a brief moment, Lee Hyun seemed to forget the usual cold demeanor he always maintained when dealing with troublesome students.
Song Yujin, taken aback by the vice president's reaction, couldn't help but let out a surprised chuckle. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he stated, "Don't worry, vice pres., I won't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret."
Lee Hyun's eyebrows knitted together in a rare display of discomfort. He quickly flipped the book over and checked the last page where the pocket for the index card is usually attached.
He answered Song Yujin with a steady voice after composing himself, "Not mine." He showed him the small red paper in the book's pocket.
Song Yujin took it and read, "Lu…Yuze? Huh?" The Lu Yuze I know?!
Lee Hyun eyed him meaningfully. Song Yujin asked, "What? Hey, do you know something? Also, let's take it back to where I found it." He grabbed the book but the vice president's reflex was quick, moving away his hand from him.
Lee Hyun declared, "No. I'm confiscating it."
"Oh…," Song Yujin panicked. Lu Yuze will surely be called to the disciplinary office if he allows Lee Hyun to take it. His eyes squinted and with a voice full of suspicion and mischief, he said, "…you're going to read it aren't you?"
Lee Hyun ignored him and turned away. Frantic, Song Yujin grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, but the guy was firm, so Song Yujin tiptoed a bit to rest his chin on the vice president's shoulder.
If anyone would see them, one would think he was back-hugging the aloof student council member.
However, that proximity wasn't a bother to Song Yujin, so he continued asking, failing to notice Lee Hyun's reaction to what he did. "Hey! It doesn't belong to you, so isn't it wrong to take it?"
Lee Hyun, confused at the familiarity he felt from being held closer by Song Yujin, immediately stepped forward, leaving Song Yujin's tiptoed figure hanging. He then responded coldly, "It's wrong to bring this kind of book to school."
Song Yujin grimaced. "Um, what if it wasn't brought here? Look, it has an index pocket, and though there aren't names listed on the card, wouldn't this tell you it was from here?"
He took a book on the shelf, opened it to the last page, and pulled out the card from its pocket, then he waved it to Lee Hyun. "Look at the paper, it's the same!"
Lee Hyun's gaze fixated on the small red paper for a few seconds, before firmly announcing, "Still not right to read this here."
"Hey, what even are you? Why do you talk like you're not a teenager, huh? Are you someone practicing asceticism?" Song Yujin asked in disbelief.
He exclaimed next, "It's only normal for teenagers to get curious about that kind of thing! Why are you acting like you've seen live porn when it's just a mere book? Also, it's not like you haven't read something like that before!"
Lee Hyun, "…"
Song Yujin paused, "…you haven't?"
Lee Hyun, "…"
Slowly, Song Yujin's mouth opened wide like an ancient door creaking open after it activated, and words flew out like doves being freed from that ancient place, "…woah, damn. So, you're really going to confiscate it and read it in your office?"
Lee Hyun answered immediately, "No."
"Oh, come on, Lee Hyun. You don't have to be shy. I know you'll do," Song Yujin teased.
Lee Hyun's eyebrow slightly twitched in annoyance. "Shut up and focus on your task. The arrangement needs to be precise."
Song Yujin's grin widened, enjoying the brief lapse in Lee Hyun's usual stoicism. "Sure thing, Mr. Oh-so-innocent vice president. Have fun reading it," he said, adopting a mock-serious tone.
As he continued to shelve books with exaggerated flair, he couldn't resist throwing a few more comments to Lee Hyun's way. "You know, I wondered why such a high-profile book would be in a library like this. Maybe the students find these books too boring that they requested that to be brought in? In my former school, the fiction section in the library occupied three bookshelves back-to-back at least, but here, I can only find one row of them, and they are sci-fi, psychological thrillers, and adaptations! Ugh, couldn't even find one romance spicy book."
Lee Hyun tried to ignore Song Yujin's antics by focusing on his book again, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him, twitching ever so slightly. It was a subtle sign that he was, if not entirely amused, at least mildly entertained by Song Yujin's relentless and unsolicited commentary.
The library's quiet ambiance was dominated by Song Yujin's vibrant energy. As he moved to the last bookshelf, he noticed Lee Hyun's gaze following him occasionally. Song Yujin shook his head.
The guy clearly doesn't trust him.
I already promise that I won't run away again, geez. He sure is one doubtful person. Song Yujin thought.
He gave up trying to take the book back. However, when he suddenly recalled how Lu Yuze's reputation was in the school, he worried that another rumor would spread about the guy keeping a pornographic book in the library.
He swallowed hard. His conscience was gnawing him. If it wasn't for him reading the title aloud, Lee Hyun wouldn't have seen it.
Song Yujin decided to take the book back, no matter what.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of arranging and acting foolishly, Song Yujin reached the last book in the pile – a dense, thick volume on astrophysics. He held it up high as if presenting it to an invisible audience, grinning stupidly at his own self.
"And now, the last and most important piece is finally here," he intoned with great flair. "The ultimate guide to the cosmos buried deep in the piles of this mountain of words and names, the book that holds the secrets of the stars – Astrophysics: The Unveiling."
He placed it carefully on the shelf, lining it up with the others, and then turned to face Lee Hyun with a broad, triumphant smile. "Finished! The science section is now in perfect alphabetical order that even blind people won't have difficulty finding, and I must say, it looks quite impressive."
Lee Hyun narrowed his eyes at him for a bit, thinking whether to believe his words or not. A few seconds later, he stood and went over to the shelves, scanning the books like a strict supervisor checking his subordinates' finished work.
Slowly, Song Yujin stepped backward, approaching the table where Lu Yuze's book was. When it was just within reach and Song Yujin was already leaning forward to grab it, Lee Hyun's stern gaze looked back at him.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze.