Three years later   It was a hot summer day. Sunlight scorched everything that it could reach out to, searing them along the way. The hot weather was especially bad news for students in their last year of high school, as it became very difficult to focus on preparing for the national college entrance exam that would determine the course of the rest of their lives. Most of the senior students in Seocho Co-Ed High School were sprawled across their desks in an effort to cool themselves off the wooden desks. The only ventilation system available was two fans in opposite corners of the room, and they weren't even close to enough.   "I swear to god," burst out a male student by the name of Baekhyun. He was a thin guy of average height, and also the closest friend of Chanyeol. "We need air conditioning in here! Teacher is always telling us to study but really, is that even possible in this weather?"   With a chuckle, Chanyeol retorted playfully, "Stop complaining and coming up with excuses not to study. Look at Kyungsoo." Glancing at the said classmate sitting towards the front of the class, he continued, "He's doing just fine."   "That's because all he does at home is read and study," Baekhyun snapped back. "Unlike him, I actually have a social life."   Chanyeol rolled his eyes, returning his focus back to organizing his backpack. He was trying to find the best way to order his belongings from smallest to largest in order without them being disorganized a minute later. "Yeah yeah, whatever you say."   Baekhyun sighed as his gaze hovered over Chanyeol's hands. "Dude, don't things get stuffy in there? Why would you put on gloves in this heat? I bet there's more bacteria from all that sweat than you'll have without the gloves."   "It's okay, really. I just bought these gloves. They're perspiration free." He flashed his friend a cheeky grin. "Besides, you know I don't feel comfortable without them."   Though he opened his mouth to argue, Baekhyun ended up deciding against it. He changed the subject and asked, "Hey, let's skip yaja today and go watch that basketball game I told you about a week ago, yeah?"   Nightly after school study, more commonly known as yaja, was required of all students at Seocho, especially for seniors. They had to sit on their desks from four in the afternoon to eleven at night, studying for whichever subject of choice, which in this case was usually for the college prep exam. "," Chanyeol muttered, sudden realization dawning over him. "Was that today? I thought it'd be on the weekend."   "Yep. Why? Don't tell me you can't make it." A look of disbelief was apparent on his face. "Man, Chanyeol, you like never hang out with us. Ever. You always ditch me and Jongin!" After a short pause, he added, "And it's all because of Lee Jieun."   Chanyeol momentarily froze. "Don't say that," he said, his voice dropping at least half an octave. His expression turned stone grim. "We've gone through this before, and I'd really appreciate it if you didn't speak about Jieun in that manner."   That was when Chanyeol and Baekhyun's other friend, Jongin, entered the conversation as well. He sat on top of Baekhyun's desk, slinging his arm around the other's neck as he said, "Fine then. But don't you think you should at least tell us why you're so caught up with the girl and always choosing her over us?"   "It's not a matter of choosing—"   "I know it's not that you're romantically infatuated with her. It just doesn't seem like it. Then what? Is she taking advantage of a weak spot of yours? Blackmailing you and stuff?" Baekhyun furrowed his eyebrows, trying to think of as many scenarios in his head as he possibly could. "Or are you in debt? Wait… But you're financially abundant… Oh, I know! Do her parents have power over your family?"   Chanyeol let out a deep sigh. "That's enough, guys, stop it. I just owe her. A lot. No matter what anyone says, I'm responsible for her, and I need to take care of her. End of story."   "You aren't her bodyguard, man. There's no need to—"   Unfortunately for Jongin but fortunately for Chanyeol, the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch hour. Chanyeol hurriedly threw his bag over his shoulders, ready to leave before telling his friends, "I'll be back next period. And, as I said, I'd like it if we didn't have this conversation again."   "Hey! Chanyeol, wait, hey!" Baekhyun groaned, rubbing his temples with his index fingers in frustration. "It's not like she appreciates what he does!"   Sighing, Jongin propped himself down on his own chair, raising his legs on the desk. "Tell me about it," he agreed, "I bet she doesn't even know what he goes through or misses out on for her. It's as if he likes being treated like ."   "He's a ing idiot," the two said in unison.   ---   The place that Chanyeol rushed off to so much after was the class 2-3, two rooms away from his. After putting on a smile he stepped inside, and as soon as