SZ looks on as DJ takes out one beef slice after another from the dish while the other two people ramble on. He glances at her, puts the bowl down, and tells her she can now eat. She doesn’t say much during the meal as she’s still recovering from the earlier embarrassment.

But SZ can’t help wondering why DJ did all he did. Was it because he didn’t want her to be embarrassed?

After their meal, while SY heads out to get the car, QF sees a claw machine and calls the other two over. DJ wins a plushie for SZ that reminds her again of the day years back when he pretended to be her brother while talking to her teacher.

On their walk after that meeting, DJ started his lecture about what SZ coerced him into doing. He’d insisted on walking her home but SZ feared he’d say something to her brother or parents so she’d tried to dissuade him. Along the way, DJ pinky promised to keep the incident a secret as long as SZ promised to take her studies seriously from then on. She had spied on him as he walked off that day, impressed by his kindness and understanding.

She was no less impressed today as he handed her the trophy plushie. Of course, he had to ruin the moment by talking. He called her kiddo.

I see you looking at me even though you won’t admit it

SZ’s friend talks her into going to a nearby café after school as she promised to meet someone there and wants SZ’s company.

Walking into the shop, SZ immediately notices DJ working behind the counter. He smiles at her asking if she’s hanging out with a friend.

He hands the girls menus and tells them to grab a sit. As the two walk towards a table, SZ’s friend comments on how handsome DJ is and asks SZ if that’s her brother. SZ tells her it’s his friend but the friend tells her she’s envious because SZ’s friend and brother are handsome.

While her friend looks at the menu and SZ steals continuous glances at DJ behind the counter, she finally gets up to order. Counting cash carefully on the counter while DJ looks at her, she hands him what he claims is inaccurate.

Looking up at that, she finds his eyes on her and a hidden mischievous smile.

“You stole so many glances at me, I can’t let you do that for free,” he tells her. With DJ’s gaze never leaving her face, SZ looks around then retorts that no wonder the place is empty considering he runs a shady shop. DJ smiles and asks if she says that just because he charged her extra.

But SZ won’t admit she stole glances at him so DJ lets it go and tells her it’s on him, she doesn’t need to pay. Though SZ insists, he folds the fingers she has right in front of him holding the money and tells her to just go to her friend. SZ can’t help wondering if he’s working so much because he’s short of cash; his covering their order doesn’t sit well with her.

While waiting for their food, the person SZ’s friend is waiting for arrives with two other friends. Said three people are all boys from their school and the one her friend is waiting for sees DJ and greets him. He asks SZ if her brother is working at the shop.

It turns out this boy was actually in that room many years ago when SZ’s “brother” met the teacher awaiting his own detention.

SZ tells him to mind his own business as he keeps inquiring about her brother working there when her family is rich. The boy gets that she wants him to zip it so he turns and proposes to everyone they go out and have fun (it’s his birthday).

As SZ gulps down her food, DJ appears at the table and advises her to make sure to go home before dark. He then bids them goodbye. When SZ joins her friend and they make their way out of the shop, her friend remarks that SZ’s brother’s friend sounds like her dad who also advised her the same thing.

Unfortunately, the celebration doesn’t go smoothly. SZ’s friend has a crush on the birthday boy who has a crush on SZ. When SZ excuses herself from the party instead of declaring any like on her end for him, the birthday boy insists on walking her home, leaving the rest of his birthday party in the karaoke room. While walking right outside the shop they’d met earlier, the birthday boy confronts SZ.

“SZ I don’t believe you can’t tell,” he says in frustration as she insists they don’t know each other well enough to have him walk her to her house.

“I studied so hard to get into the same high school as you,” he says. SZ replies that she knows which is why he should focus on his studies.

Fed up with her always telling him to study, he steps in front of her.

“If I happen to tell you that I have a crush on you, what would you think” he demands.

SZ tells him he should think about studying hard instead of making jokes. Doesn’t he remember, when they were kids, he knocked out one of her teeth? Apparently, that disqualifies him from boyfriend material.

He’s about to try confessing when SZ shuts him up by saying they should stop talking about this and why in the world is he starting to cry.

DJ approaches the confrontational couple and stands next to SZ. The poor boy who’s tearing up greets him and then runs away. SZ turns to DJ, “Were you eavesdropping?”

“You’re in high school, you can’t date so early” DJ replies. SZ denies any sort of relationship by telling him if he didn’t hear clearly (as he was eavesdropping) that she told the boy to study.

But DJ is on the roll. “It’s normal to have ideas like this during adolescence, but your job now is to study hard and not get distracted,” he tells her.

Getting worked up with his disbelief, SZ holds her ground until DJ smiles and tells her he trusts her.

“SZ it’s nice to have people like you. You can thank him before you gently reject him but you shouldn’t hurt him” DJ advises while looking at her.

”I didn’t hurt him!” she protests.

“I saw him crying…” he counters.

SZ informs him that the crying is part of the boy’s nature. The two of them grew up fighting and he was always first to cry.

・❥・

Back at school, SZ isn’t having the best of times with her friend who isn’t too keen on having the boy she likes favoring SZ over her.

During their track and field events day, SZ comes across SY and DJ volunteering. While DJ is taking a nap seated at the table, SY gives her a hard time about signing up for the high jump due to her height. He sends her off with a “good luck little demon!”

So much for luck, SZ lands on the hard grass following one of the jumps. A couple of teachers and the boys rush to her with concern. As SY carries her on his back, one of the teachers who happens to be the one from back in middle school notices DJ.

“Aren’t you SZ’s brother? Then who’s he?” he asks DJ, pointing at SY with SZ on his back.

SY looks on in confusion but before he gets a chance to say anything, SZ covers his mouth with her hand. “This is my dad!” she blurts out to the teacher.

“Did you hurt your head or your leg? Am I old enough to be your dad?” an offended SY asks as he carries SZ to the medics tent. The two continue bickering to the point DJ insists he carry her to avoid any more damage to the leg.

As SZ is carried out of the medics tent later on SY’s back, she sees DJ helping out another student who got injured. While DJ takes her hand as the girl hops on one foot heading towards the medics tent, she can’t help but think that he seems to be nice to everyone. She must not be special.

I don’t want to admit it, but I think I’ve fallen for him

SZ looks up at her friend who had thoroughly ignored her ever since the incident during the birthday boy’s party.

“Can you come with me to buy something?” the girl asks. Thinking this unexpected offer to be a white flag of reconciliation, SZ agrees.

Outside the school gate, DJ is seen calling SZ who’s not responding. The school security guard approaches reporting that SZ’s classroom is empty. DJ instructs the man if he sees SZ to tell her to wait outside the school gate. He’s mildly concerned at her unresponsiveness.

Meanwhile, SZ is hopping along (her ankle is injured) as she’s led by the other girl. She gets confused when they pass the stationary store which she thought to be their destination. Her friend though says she wants to visit the other store that’s down an alley.

But the deeper they walk in the alley, the more concerned SZ gets about keeping DJ waiting. She looks at the other girl and notices she’s not being herself. SZ asks her if anything is bothering her but her friend denies that anything’s going on. Instead, she asks if SZ has money.

After some walking, the friend tells SZ that she wants to visit the cybercafé again. SZ isn’t happy to hear this turn of events, she tells the girl it’s not a good idea. Hearing this the fiend storms down the alleyway that leads to the café and SZ hobbles along despite her best judgment in concern.

She comes upon a group of three girls surrounding her friend demanding money. The girls are clearly bullying her friend; soon they take a turn on SZ.

Going through SZ’s wallet, the lead of the bullies mockingly asks “Is this all you’ve got? You’re so broke and crippled at that”.

Forcefully turning her against the wall, two girls hold her hands while the other pulls out all the contents of her backpack. The girls let out some threats and leave promising to see the two of them tomorrow.

“Do you know them?” a distraught SZ asks her “friend”. The girl admits to meeting them at the cybercafé the day before and tells her she’s sorry.

SZ informs her she has no more money, and her parents won’t give her extra either, as she picks up things strewn on the alley pavement and starts to hobble off.

Her friend tries to stop her apologizing, telling her she didn’t have a choice for dragging SZ along. SZ isn’t in the mood to fall for her excuses.

“You ignored me after the birthday party. You didn’t care when I fell on sports day. I was wondering why you suddenly talked to me today…” SZ says with sadness.

As she hobbles away once again holding onto the alley wall for support, DJ finally finds her. Seeing him walk towards her in concern demanding answers to several questions for her going MIA on him, her eyes fill with the unshed tears of the encounter.

“What’s wrong?” DJ asks as he notices the tears in her eyes. Taking her violent shake of the head an indication she can’t even speak or she’ll start crying, he pulls her in for a comforting hug, patting her head in confused shock at finding her in such a state.

Walking to a nearby shop, DJ buys some food and a drink for SZ who’s calmed down. He notices scuff marks on her hands whose origin he comes to understand once SZ shares what happened. DJ doesn’t take the entire thing well, he’s angry with SZ’s alleged friend as well as with the girl bullies who extorted money.

He takes her home that evening and hands over the amount of money the bullies took from her earlier. Touched by this gesture, SZ holds onto the money smiling.

Recounting the past encounters she’s had with DJ ever since meeting him outside the dorm room, she starts writing into small paper strips her feelings. That very night she admits on that piece of paper the undeniable fact that she must’ve fallen for him.

・❥・

The next morning, SZ heads towards the school gate looking back at the two unofficial bodyguards she’s gained. DJ stands on one side, QF along with the other roommate on the other, while SY (who, “friend” was right in that he’s damn hot) asks her if the extorters asked her to meet them today.

“They messed with the wrong people. Go. Lead the way!” SY demands.

The boys are there to help SZ deal with this new bully threat though SZ isn’t quite sure where this is heading. Saying she’s not wary would be a lie.

Noticing her hesitation, DJ moves closer, removes her backpack, and, with a swift move, throws it over his back sauntering away. SY pulls SZ along trying to convince her it’s not embarrassing at all to have them handle the situation.

The boys give the bullies a thorough if not harsh lecture on their behavior returning with SZ’s missing wallet.

・❥・

Since the senior year is quickly approaching, SZ’s parents encourage her to start thinking about what she wants to study since she’s not exactly a stellar student. They’re not too happy with her grades in Physics despite SZ’s own happiness at passing the darn subject.

However, one grade can make a difference to SZ’s choice of future colleges so they propose she get some Physics tutoring.

None too happy with the turn of events, there’s not much SZ can do. But things go even further south when the newly hired tutor is none other than SY. This isn’t gonna be easy.

Considering the tutoring session highlights involve screams of “You didn’t explain anything!” alongside “You’re so dumb!” and conclude with a pillow fight, there’s no way it’ll work.

That evening all four of them try to figure out the best course of action. SY wants the tutoring not to happen in his room because he doesn’t want a stranger going in there. SZ’s comeback runs along the same lines. It’s a hopeless case for SY since obviously, they won’t let a stranger into his sister’s room.

Regardless, what no one has figured out is who the new tutor is going to be.