BOT Chapter 02

Chapter 02

 

After a long pause, Evan finally spoke. Hearing his dazed voice made me feel embarrassed and ashamed. I quickly sat down, hiding my flushed face under my shaking silver hair. I could feel Evan’s gaze glance at me from the side.

Oh god. He acknowledged my greeting. I’m going crazy. My heart, please calm down.

Not wanting to show such a pathetic sight, I buried my face into the desk. Thud—the sound was louder than expected. Startled, I lifted my head, only to meet Evan’s gaze again. He looked slightly dumbfounded. Is this how my first impression will be? A guy who stutters and then slams his head into a desk?

“Did you eat something weird today? You’ve been acting strange since this morning.”

Carmen’s incredulous voice rang out as he lingered nearby, having been loitering around to admire the famous Evan Pristine’s face. Go back to your seat. I muttered weakly, but he whined in a playful tone.

“Aww, Honey. Why are you being so cold today? Let me stay just a bit longer.”

“Just leave quietly.”

As I muttered dejectedly, Carmen pouted. Alright, alright, I’ll be going now. As he left, dragging out his words and winking at Evan, I felt a headache coming on. What was the wink for?

Of all people, why is he my only friend? Evan wouldn’t think I’m just like him, right? I pretended to glance around the room while subtly checking Evan’s reaction. He was staring at Carmen’s retreating figure with a stony expression—eyes cold, unfitting for his flower-like face.

“Uh, you don’t have to mind him! He’s not a bad guy, he’s just… always like that…”

I stammered out all sorts of excuses. By now, I was completely crestfallen. No matter how many times I told myself to smile, my miserable state was clearly visible on my face.

“…I see.”

Evan still looked displeased. Unable to endure the awkward atmosphere, I curled up over my desk again.

Everything’s ruined. What is this? I didn’t plan to get as deeply entangled as in the original, but I didn’t want to have this strange relationship either.

The classroom door opened, and the students instantly fell silent. The sound of chalk meeting the blackboard rang out. I could hear the voice calling attendance, but I couldn’t lift my head. I felt an intense gaze from Evan sitting next to me.

It wasn’t until I got called out during class that I finally straightened my posture. Forced to focus, I mindlessly flipped through my textbook, turning page after page. How many hours passed like that? I lost track of time. At some point, my mind was blank, but my body continued flipping pages like in some kind of trance.

My neck ached from keeping my head fixed in one position. But I had no choice. The piercing sensation of being watched poked at me relentlessly.

Do I look that weird? Why is he staring so much? If this was Evan’s version of showing interest, I just hoped it wasn’t in a bad way.

A sharp sting made my blood pool to the surface. My fingertip throbbed. A thin line of red spread across the white paper. I had been too lost in thought to notice.

The bleeding wouldn’t stop, so I instinctively put my finger in my mouth and sucked on it. Class wasn’t over yet, so I couldn’t leave, and while the school had an infirmary because dormitory life was mandatory… honestly, I really didn’t want to go there.

It’ll stop soon. Hyle Verde’s body was sturdy and healed quickly. Watching the droplets of blood absentmindedly, a pale hand suddenly appeared in front of me.

I flinched. Heart pounding, I cautiously looked up.

It was Evan.

Evan Pristine was offering me a bandage.

The realization that he had witnessed all my embarrassing moments made shame crash over me like a tidal wave. My hands trembled.

“Th-thank you.”

I stammered again. Can’t I say even one word properly? As I berated myself, Evan’s face shifted into an odd expression—part surprise, part hesitation. I was carefully taking the bandage, making sure not to touch his hand, when suddenly—

A warm touch gently guided my hand.

“You can’t put it on properly with just one hand.”

Oh my god.

The delicate touch as he applied the bandage made my breath hitch. His refined scent, the quiet sound of his breathing—it all made my head spin. Evan was staring at me, intently, as if studying me. I lowered my gaze, and his slender fingers came into view, softly pressing against my skin. My heart was about to explode.

“Pretty—I mean, the bandage is pretty. Thank you.”

As if bandages could be pretty. What a dumb thing to say. Idiot, Hyle Verde. I cursed myself while mumbling a weak thanks. Evan’s dark eyes widened slightly.

“…Thank you?”

“Y-yes. Thank you.”

He must have thought I wouldn’t even say thanks. Do I look that rude? I unconsciously touched my face. The stiff texture of the bandage met my soft skin.

“Hey.”

Evan finally spoke again, his expression still unreadable.

“You’re Hyle Verde, right?”

“Yes. I’m Hyle Verde.”

His expression changed. His black eyes flickered—sharpened, then darkened. My voice might have risen from the excitement of having a proper conversation with Evan, as I made eye contact with the professor who was keeping a close watch on us. I hurriedly turned my body toward the blackboard and whispered just loud enough for Evan to hear.

“You can just call me Hyle.”

In the original story, Hyle had insisted Evan call him “Verde.” It was a way to remind Evan of his overwhelming financial and social superiority—to keep him trapped.

But I had no reason to do that.

I just wanted him to call me Hyle.

Hearing my favorite character say my name might just make my heart stop.

But Evan only glanced at me, his gaze tinged with unease. 

Was it too much to ask someone I had just met by his first name? Was I being too forward?

As my thoughts spiraled in worry, Evan’s lips parted hesitantly.

And then, in a small, trembling voice—

“Hyle.”

Evan’s red lips formed my name. His voice carried a strange weight as he pronounced each syllable. I clutched my chest. The pounding of my heart drowned out everything else. More than the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom, hearing Evan call my name made my heart race.

I wasn’t interested in getting entangled with the original story, but… maybe this much was okay. It wouldn’t hurt to get a little closer to him, right? It wasn’t like I was going to walk the path of an obsessive maniac. Just being by his side as a friend should be fine. We’d be sitting next to each other anyway, and if things followed the original plot, we’d soon become roommates. It would be awkward to remain on bad terms.

With a bright smile, I answered brightly.

“Yes!”

The professor finally lost patience and scolded us, but my focus was entirely on Evan. He blinked in disbelief, his long eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings. Even his surprised expression was beautiful. Stealing a glance at his profile, I quietly scribbled a note on a Post-it.

[Can I call you Evan too?]

I carefully wrote each letter in my neatest handwriting. Evan hesitated before taking the note. A moment later, it was passed back to me.

[Sure.]

A simple response, but enough to make my heart race.

Even his handwriting is pretty.

Evan, I murmured quietly. His name rolling off my tongue felt unfamiliar and ticklish. As if in response, Evan turned to look at me.

I gave him my brightest smile. My sharp features softened with the expression. Evan, seemingly dazed, stared at me intently, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he looked away first.

The boring lecture droned on, but my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. The words on the page flowed effortlessly as I read, my thoughts drifting pleasantly. Maybe, just maybe, we’d reach a point where we’d greet each other naturally whenever we met.

After that, Evan and I grew closer. We spent more and more time together, to the point where we could be called friends. We were almost always together—during lectures, meals, even when sleeping. As roommates, it was inevitable.

Evan Pristine had become a precious friend to me.

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A friend… or so I thought.

“This is how you solve this part. Hyle, are you listening?”

“I-I’m l-listening, hngh…”

Beneath the desk, his neatly placed leg brushed against mine. Evan inched closer, pressing against me as if we were sharing one chair. He held a pen, his graceful handwriting flowing across the white paper. I stared, dazed.

Our ankles touched. Startled, I clenched the worksheet in my hands, the edge of the paper tearing with a sharp sound.

“Now you try solving it.”

His fingers intertwined with mine. Every place our skin met felt like it was blooming with feverish heat. His radiant face hovered dangerously close. I clenched my lips shut, holding back the damp, stifling breath threatening to escape. If I so much as parted my lips, I was done for.

“Hold the pen properly.”

Focus.

As he murmured those words, something soft brushed against my lips before retreating.

The cool and refreshing scent described in the novel’s main character enveloped me, thick and intoxicating.

The pen clattered noisily onto the desk as I leaned as far back as possible, mumbling incoherently. It was such a precarious position that I felt like I would fall backward if someone pushed me.

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Next chapter…

“I like it. Lovers.”

“The word ‘lovers’ is so much more beautiful and enchanting than ‘friends.'”

“With just one word, that person becomes mine.”

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Thank YOU for reading! ♡