Chapter 19: The Constant of Integration

“The school nurse isn’t here... I’ll go look for some bandages, so you just sit here, Han-gyeol.”

My ankle was actually fine; did I lie for no reason?

But if I had told Eun-ha that my ankle wasn’t hurt, she probably wouldn’t have supported me, so I just went along with it.

I felt a bit guilty for lying to Eun-ha, but it was a necessary evil.

She suddenly grabbed my hand and looked concerned when she heard about it.

At that moment, any pain in my wrist disappeared, and my previously calm heart started pounding like crazy.

Honestly, it was a fairly reasonable lie.

“Here’s a bandage! Han-gyeol, ankles are a bit tricky to bandage well, should we look for an air bandage?”

“Ah- Thanks. But I think my ankle feels better now. I don’t feel any issues walking.”

“Really? Can you walk?”

“Yeah. I’m genuinely fine now. Can you give me the bandage?”

“You hurt your wrist, right? You probably can’t apply it well, so let me do it for you. Give me your wrist.”

“Ah- Sure, please go ahead.”

Eun-ha carefully grabbed my left arm.

I was wondering what if I smelled like sweat, but Eun-ha conscientiously applied the bandage.

My heart fluttered again, watching Eun-ha meticulously put the bandage on my wrist.

I was nervous in case she might heard my heart pounding.

“Be a bit more careful next time you play basketball. Though it wasn’t really your fault, Han-gyeol.”

“I should be. Sorry for making you worry, Eun-ha~”

As I spoke with a mischievous tone, Eun-ha playfully slapped my back.

“Ouch! That hurts, Eun-ha! I am technically a patient, you know.”

“I shouldn’t have worried. I thought you had a serious collision, but you’re fine.”

“Now it’s not my wrist, but my back that hurts.”

“Shh...! Want another slap?”

What was this? I felt good even though I was being scolded.

This was a very dangerous emotion.

“Eun-ha, did you see me play basketball?”

“Yeah. I saw the tail end of it.”

“Did you see me make the three-pointer?”

“Yeah. I saw Han-gyeol make a three-pointer and pretend not to be happy about it.”

“Puahaha! Was it that obvious?!”

“You’re laughing even though you’re hurt?”

“I’m all better now.”

Eun-ha looked at me as if she was shocked by my words.

But I was happy that Eun-ha ran over to me without hesitation and even gave me support.

Even though I felt sorry for making her worry, a part of me was glad to be the recipient of Eun-ha’s concern.

“Is your ankle alright? You don’t have any other injuries?”

“Haha. No, I’m fine. When Jeong Harim arrives, let’s grab our bags and go eat.”

“Phew- What a relief.”

Thud-!

“Hey guys, we’re here~”

“Ah! Why is Lee Han-gyeol’s bag so heavy?”

Jeong Harim came in holding Eun-ha’s bag, and Yujin came in holding mine.

“Hey Han-gyeol, are you badly hurt?”

“No, I’m fine. Thanks for bringing my bag.”

“I’m hungry, let’s go eat.”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Oh, Eun-ha, do you want to come too? Jeong Harim should join as well.”

When I asked Eun-ha, she nodded her head in agreement.

“Jeong Harim? You should come too.”

“Wow- I’m invited as well? Thanks. But what are we eating?”

“Good question. Eun-ha, do you have anything in particular you want to eat?”

“Hmm— If I say I don’t have a preference, you’re going to suggest pork cutlet, aren’t you?”

I nodded in response.

“Then let’s go for tteokbokki! Is that okay with you all?”

“I’m fine with whatever Eun-ha says. Hey Yujin, you good with that?”

“I eat anything, so I’m good. What about you, Jeong Harim?”

“I like tteokbokki too. There’s a place near the school, should we go there?”

“Let’s do that! We can eat and part ways afterward.”

As soon as we left the infirmary, the four of us headed straight to a tteokbokki place near our school.

We spotted a few students in our school uniforms and settled ourselves at a corner table.

Eun-ha and Jeong Harim were perusing the menu, contemplating what to order.

“Do you guys handle spicy food well? Harim is fine with it.”

“I’ve never tried, but I can handle spicy food. How about you, Yujin?”

“I’ve never had this before either, but I can handle it. Both Han-gyeol and I aren’t familiar, so you guys can order as you like.”

“Hmm—then shall Harim and I order as we please? Can we choose the toppings too?”

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

After much deliberation, Eun-ha and Jeong Harim finally pressed the table bell to order.

“Yes, would you like to place your order?”

“Will one pot of tteokbokki be enough for four people?”

“Hmm, one pot usually serves 3-4 people. But if it’s not enough, you can add some rice balls.”

“Ah, in that case, one original-flavored tteokbokki, along with rice balls and drink, please.”

“We have peach, plum, and pineapple flavors for the drink. Which would you like?”

“Peach flavor, please.”

“Alright, it will be ready shortly.”

Eun-ha and Jeong Harim were smiling from ear to ear, delighted to eat tteokbokki.

However, Yujin and I had no idea just how spicy the tteokbokki that the two girls had ordered would be.

***

“Ugh...! Ha...! Hey Yujin, is there any drink left? Just a sip!”

“Ha...! Sorry, there’s some left but I can’t spare it. Why is this so spicy?”

“I know, right...! I’ll get some ice water.”

“Hey, don’t you know that drinking water when it’s spicy only makes it worse?”

“Then let’s just order another drink and share it.”

“Alright. Shin Eun-ha, Jeong Harim, we’re ordering another drink. We’ll pay for this one separately.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Yujin hastily left the table.

Contrary to Yujin and me, Eun-ha and Jeong Harim were effortlessly enjoying the fiery tteokbokki.

The initial drinks that were poured at first hadn’t diminished much at all.

What the hell? Did they have a high tolerance or something?

“Should we have ordered it less spicy...are you okay?”

“No, it’s delicious. Extremely delicious, but also incredibly spicy.”

“Ah, here, eat a rice ball. It should help a bit.”

“Ah, thanks. I’ll enjoy it...!”

Eun-ha pushed the bowl filled with rice balls towards me.

I quickly picked one up with my chopsticks and popped it into my mouth.

Ah, it definitely helped to have some rice.

“Hey, hey—Han-gyeol! I brought the drink. Time for an emergency transfusion.”

“Hurry, can’t you see someone is about to die here?”

“Ugh...! It’s tasty, but so spicy.”

“You’ve been saying the same thing for a while now.”

Yujin and I refilled our cups and took large gulps. Our struggles seemed amusing to the girls.

“Haha! Didn’t you both claim to handle spicy food well?”

Eun-ha asked with a beaming smile.

“We didn’t know it would be this intense..!”

Yujin and I responded in unison.

“Next time, let’s order the beginner’s level of spiciness.”

“You don’t have to, really. This is delicious too.”

I didn’t want to spoil Eun-ha’s favorite dish just because I couldn’t handle it.

However, that was just my opinion, and Yujin looked at me with wide eyes.

“Hey, are you nuts, Han-gyeol? They’re offering to get the beginner’s level!”

“If we keep eating it, we’ll get used to it. Endure.”

“You make a fair point. Alright, let’s dig in again.”

“Great. Go for it, Yujin. Hey—try the rice balls too. They’re good.”

“Okay, accepted.”

We tried again, but there was no escaping the spiciness.

After finishing our meal, we all went outside to make our separate payments.

It looked like we wouldn’t have time for anything else, so we decided to part ways there and then.

“Han-gyeol and I are walking. Harim is taking the bus, how about you, Jang Yujin?”

“Me? I’m close to school, so I can just walk. But it seems like my path is in opposite directions?”

“Ah, Is that so? Well, see you all tomorrow! Today was fun. Han-gyeol, let’s go.”

Something I needed to do came to mind.

“Ah, Eun-ha, sorry. I’ve got plans to go somewhere with Yujin, so I think we’ll have to part ways for today.”

“What? We do..?”

“Then see you tomorrow, Eun-ha! See you too, Jeong Harim!”

“Huh? Ah—okay. See you tomorrow!”

“Take care.”

I quickly grabbed Yujin’s bag and pulled his back.

Yujin looked puzzled for a moment but played along with my story.

“Ah, right! I almost forgot! See you all tomorrow, then?!”

Once we were far enough away from the girls, Yujin turned to me.

“Hey, what plans do we have? This is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

“We need to create a ’constant of integration.’”

“What the heck are you talking about? You’re not serious, are you?”

“Let’s go make chocolate.”

“Why am I involved in this?”

“I’ll buy you chicken.”

“Just leave it to me. As far as I remember, there’s a store near my house that sells what we need.”

“Lead the way.”

“Hehe! This is hilarious. Anyway, it sounds fun so I’ll help.”

“So, no chicken then?”

“You bastard...!”

“Sorry.”

Together, Yujin and I went to the supermarket to buy everything we’d need for making chocolate.

I was a bit worried since it was my first time making chocolate and we were short on time. I bought extra chocolate just in case we messed up.

“Do you think you can make all of that?”

“Better to have too much than too little.”

“So, where are we making it?”

“We don’t really have an option, do we? At my place.”

“No. We’re going to my place. My parents run a business, so they’ll be coming home late.”

“Isn’t that too much of a bother?”

“Why would you care about that? Let’s go.”

I felt like I’d made a reliable friend after all.

“By the way, my younger sister will be back from school soon.”

“Should we need to tell her?”

“I’m the older brother.”

“Isn't this too much?”

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

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