The golden hue of the setting sun exuded warmth to that silent track and cast shadows on the two people standing before each other. The light gave a soft glow to Lee Hyun's striking features —tall, straight nose, perfectly lined and symmetrical eyebrows, long eyelashes, and thin, sensuous lips.
The light was shadowing half of his face, but the contrast only made his visage more realistic yet ethereal.
Lee Hyun is indeed a very handsome guy, but the way he looks and presents himself clearly shows that he was unaware of it. Yujin's pulse quickened. He immediately let go of Lee Hyun's hand and stepped away pretending to look around as if searching for something.
After composing himself, Yujin scratched his head and asked, "What made you come here?"
Lee Hyun remained silent for a minute. He weighed his words on his head, and after composing them in his mind, he began to state the purpose of his visit. "I apologize for what I said before."
Yujin, baffled, gaped at the guy in disbelief. Did he just hear the vice president apologize? But what was he apologizing for? What he said before? What did he say? Yujin wondered.
He fixed his confused gaze on the determined Lee Hyun and replied, "What did you say before? Sorry, but I don't remember."
Yujin scratched his chin and smiled awkwardly at Lee Hyun. His apologizing seems rare, yet Song Yujin didn't know what he was sorry for.
Lee Hyun's expression softened, his eyes locking onto Yujin's with an almost contemplative look. He wondered if he should explain the reason behind his out-of-the-blue apology or just forget it since Song Yujin didn't remember it anyway.
However, seeing Yujin waiting for his answer, he decided to speak of it. "I…unintentionally told you about how your parents feed you. I'm apologizing because of that."
Yujin's furrowed brows slowly went back to normal after recalling what Lee Hyun was talking about. It was that time he swallowed a piece of paper to save Lu Yuze's ass. Yujin pursed his lips, thinking of pranking the vice president again.
But Lee Hyun's voice and gaze made him pause. There was a sincerity in them that Yujin hadn't heard before. The way Lee Hyun spoke, with such earnestness and warmth, made Yujin's heart race even faster.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to find something that might hint to him that it was just a dream and that he just fell asleep on the bus home. He blinked, in hopes that when he opened his eyes, he was drooling over the bus seat's armrest.
But Lee Hyun's posture didn't change; he stood like a statue of a teenage Greek god, sculptured from the very little details of his gorgeous visage, only with straight hair. His figure remained standing there, waiting for his response, waiting for him to accept his apology.
Yujin's words caught in his throat. Why did he feel moved? Why did he feel crying yet smiling? It was extremely bewildering for him. Yet even with those weird thoughts and feelings that sprouted inside him, his feet moved on their own and approached Lee Hyun.
His hands obtained minds and did what they wanted—cupped Lee Hyun's face.
Lee Hyun's eyes widened. His surprised gaze darted on Song Yujin; his expression unreadable but with undeniable astonishment and confusion. Behind those light-colored eyes that mimicked the palette of the setting sun, was a whirlpool of indescribable emotions.
Lee Hyun's winced. His eyes turned hot and moist. It was the feeling he felt that moment in the library—when Yujin grabbed his arm for support when he almost fell.
Why? Why is this person making me feel this way when he touches me willingly? Lee Hyun wondered, enduring the pain in his head.
He didn't want to break that contact, and yet he couldn't understand why he wanted it to last.
For a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. The sound of the track and the distant murmur of students walking on the pathway to the exit gates faded into the background.
Yujin snapped from that embarrassing act after Lee Hyun winced and showed pain. He immediately stepped backward and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?!"
His hands hovered on Lee Hyun's hunched shoulders, unsure where to put them, but they were instantly grabbed instead.
Lee Hyun stared at Yujin with those deep, cold eyes, and spoke afterward, "It doesn't hurt anymore…and I don't see…anything."
Yujin was stunned for a moment. When Lee Hyun's words registered in his head, his face paled and he shouted, "What?! Let's go to the hospital then! Why did you lose your sight? Are you blind now? Wait here, I'll call an ambulance…!"
Yujin was pulled before he could run away. He looked back and gave Lee Hyun a questioning look.
Lee Hyun explained, "It's nothing."
Yujin, "But you said you can't see anything!"
Lee Hyun, "I can now." He let Yujin's arm go and walked away, but stopped midway when he remembered something. He spun to Yujin again and asked, "I'm not comfortable with apologizing with just words. I was going to give you a present but I don't want to prolong this. I'll give you one tomorrow."
Yujin raised his brows. The intention was pure, yet it didn't sit right with him. So, before Lee Hyun could leave, he stated, "Rather than a gift, can you do something for me?"
The vice president paused for a moment. He eyed Yujin suspiciously, but soon answered, "If it's something foolish and nonsensical, then don't waste your saliva. I won't hear it."
Yujin chuckled. "Maybe it's something foolish, but I heard from your brother you had friends—a chubby orange cat and some good books. I just wanted to ask if I can see your friend, the living one."
Lee Hyun's interest was piqued. He completely turned around and faced Yujin once more. "You know that cat?"
Yujin, "What? You didn't know the name of your friend? How can you call yourself a friend?" Lee Hyun's serious face didn't move a muscle. Yujin laughed at his own joke and added, "I met the cat before, behind the old building. Is it your pet?"
Lee Hyun, "No."
"Then, do you know who owns it?"
"No."
"That's a shame. If it's your friend then I could blackmail it to tell me about your embarrassing memories," Yujin cackled after spouting those words.
Lee Hyun ignored him and just walked away, leaving the words, "It's a stray cat, but it almost didn't step away from that tree. So, if you want to meet it, just go there."
"Go with me!" Yujin shouted from the retreating figure of the archery club member. However, Lee Hyun did not answer.