Chapter 4: Following the Quiet One
The final bell rang.
Chairs scraped.
Voices rose.
Freedom.
Students poured out of the classroom in groups, laughing, stretching, complaining about assignments.
Normal.
Loud.
Carefree.
Tae Kook walked out quietly.
Alone.
As always.
But today—
His steps slowed.
Ahead of him—
She was there.
Walking down the hallway.
Same pace.
Same calm presence.
"…She doesn't talk much," he thought.
"…Doesn't look around either."
It was strange.
Most people at school tried to belong somewhere.
Groups.
Friends.
Noise.
But her—
She moved like she didn't need any of that.
"…Or maybe she just avoids it."
Tae Kook looked away.
"…Not my business."
And yet—
He didn't walk in another direction.
Behind him—
"…Target locked."
Ae Rin crouched behind a wall, peeking dramatically.
"Kooky is following her…"
A pause.
"…or pretending not to."
She grinned.
"…I'll follow both."
Outside the School
Students scattered in different directions.
Some rushed home.
Others lingered.
The girl walked past the gate.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Tae Kook followed—
At a distance.
Not close enough to be obvious.
Not far enough to lose sight.
"…This is normal," he told himself.
"…I'm just walking home."
She turned a corner.
He followed.
She crossed the street.
He crossed too.
"…This is NOT normal," Ae Rin whispered from behind a pole.
She scribbled something in a small notebook she had somehow brought.
"Observation 1: Kooky is bad at pretending."
The street grew quieter.
Less crowded.
More residential.
The girl finally stopped.
In front of a small convenience store.
She stepped inside.
Tae Kook slowed down.
Then stopped across the street.
"…What am I doing?"
For the first time—
He actually questioned it.
"…This is pointless."
He turned slightly.
Ready to leave.
But—
The door of the store opened.
She stepped out again.
Holding a small bag.
And—
She looked straight at him.
No confusion.
No surprise.
Like she expected him to be there.
Tae Kook didn't move.
"…Coincidence," he thought.
She walked toward him.
Step by step.
Closing the distance.
Behind a nearby wall—
Ae Rin covered her mouth.
"…OH THIS IS HAPPENING."
She stopped in front of him.
Silence.
"…You're following me," she said.
Not accusing.
Not angry.
Just stating it.
Tae Kook didn't react.
"…No," he replied calmly.
"I'm going home."
A pause.
She glanced behind him.
Then back at him.
"…This isn't the way to your house."
Silence.
Ae Rin almost screamed silently from her hiding spot.
"…SHE GOT HIM."
Tae Kook exhaled softly.
"…You notice too much."
"…You hide too little," she replied.
A beat.
Then—
She held out the small bag.
"…You skipped lunch."
Tae Kook blinked once.
"…What?"
"…You didn't eat," she said simply.
"I noticed."
Silence.
That wasn't what he expected.
Not at all.
"…Why do you care?" he asked.
She didn't hesitate.
"…I don't."
A pause.
"…I just don't like wasting food."
Ae Rin slapped her forehead quietly.
"…That's smooth."
Tae Kook looked at the bag.
Then at her.
"…You're strange."
"…You've said that already."
"…And I mean it."
A small pause.
Then—
He took the bag.
"…Thanks."
Simple.
Quiet.
She nodded once.
Then turned.
And walked away.
Just like that.
Tae Kook stood there.
Holding the bag.
"…She noticed that?"
He looked down at it.
Warm.
Fresh.
From behind—
Ae Rin suddenly appeared.
"OOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"
Tae Kook flinched slightly.
"…Where did you come from?!"
She pointed dramatically.
"She bought you food!!"
"…Lower your voice."
"She noticed you didn't eat!!"
"…I said lower your voice."
She leaned closer, grinning.
"…You like her."
Silence.
Tae Kook walked past her.
"…Go home."
Ae Rin followed instantly.
"Nope."
Tae Kook sighed.
But this time—
He didn't deny it.