Main Male Lead Disqualified

“Lee Jeong-hwan’s weakness?”

Hanbin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity at Hyunwoo’s words as he asked again. Hyunwoo smirked as he replied.

“But you have to promise not to ever tell Jeong-hwan I told you.”

“Of course. I won’t say a word.”

Eager to hear Jeong-hwan’s weakness, Hanbin nodded repeatedly. Hyunwoo leaned in and whispered something in Hanbin’s ear.

‘That’s Jeong-hwan’s weakness? Really?’

Hanbin looked surprised after hearing it.

‘Maybe I can mess with him a little.’

As luck would have it, they had planned to read books together at Hanbin’s house today. It felt like the perfect opportunity. Hanbin imagined Jeong-hwan being hilariously flustered and couldn’t help but laugh.

***

Now, going over to Hanbin’s house after school to read books together had become part of their daily routine. Jeong-hwan had tried multiple times, but still couldn’t get into romance comics.

‘What’s that?’

Jeong-hwan raised his head, sensing the gaze. He spotted Hanbin peeking at him over the top of a book.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Got something to say?”

“Me? No, our eyes just met by chance.”

Hanbin shamelessly lied, despite having been staring at Jeong-hwan just a second ago. The funny thing was, Jeong-hwan actually believed him.

‘Was I just imagining things?’

Scratching the back of his head, Jeong-hwan scooted over to lean against the wall, trying to create a bit of distance. But seemingly unaware of Jeong-hwan’s intent, Hanbin followed and sat right next to him. Jeong-hwan closed the book he was reading and looked at him.

“What now?”

“N-no reason. I just wanted to lean against the wall too. It’s more comfortable.”

Hanbin looked like he was up to something. That was when Jeong-hwan started getting suspicious again, waving his hand at him.

“You can lean against the other wall too, you know.”

He motioned for Hanbin to move to the other side. But Hanbin didn’t give up despite Jeong-hwan’s refusal and said.

“It’s uncomfortable because you’re stretching your legs out.”

“Fine, I’ll fold them.”

As Jeong-hwan kept putting up walls, Hanbin decided to go for a more direct approach.

“Actually, I heard something from Hyunwoo.”

At the mention of Hyunwoo’s name, Jeong-hwan’s expression turned displeased.

“What did he say to you?”

Instead of answering, Hanbin moved even closer to Jeong-hwan.

“Can I test something on you, just once?”

“What?”

“I’m just really curious if it’s true.”

Jeong-hwan tried to pull back, but he was already backed up against the wall. He had no idea what Hyunwoo told Hanbin, or what Hanbin was thinking. But one thing was clear.

“Hey, wait.”

With the sudden decrease in distance, Jeong-hwan felt like his body was about to react. Jeong-hwan resented his body for acting strangely, even though their lips had not touched.

“What do you think you’re …”

Objectively speaking, the way Hanbin had wedged his knee between Jeong-hwan’s legs was definitely a weird posture. And yet, Hanbin’s bright, innocent expression suggested he was totally unaware.

‘What is he trying to do to me exactly?’

Jeong-hwan doubted Hanbin had any feelings for him, and even if he did, it wasn’t like him to act this way. This whole setup didn’t make sense.

“Whatever this is, this distance and position feel a bit strange.”

Jeong-hwan instinctively shut his eyes tight. Blocking out the visual stimuli was his way of regaining composure.

“Huh? Seeing you get so tense, I guess it’s true?”

Hanbin giggled and suddenly jabbed his fingers into Jeong-hwan’s side, wriggling them around.

“Oh? Or maybe not?”

Only then did Jeong-hwan realize Hanbin was playing a prank by tickling him. He slowly opened his eyes and locked eyes with Hanbin, who looked a little taken aback at Jeong-hwan’s lack of reaction.

“…Don’t.”

With Hanbin now practically sitting on top of him, Jeong-hwan was feeling increasingly unsettled. When he muttered with his face covered, Hanbin laughed.

“So it’s true? You’re super ticklish, huh?”

“I said stop.”

Jeong-hwan pushed Hanbin off firmly, even looking a bit serious. Hanbin, sensing he may have gone too far, backed off with an embarrassed look.

‘Crap. I think he’s actually mad.’

As Hanbin returned to his seat, he glanced at Jeong-hwan’s face. His ears were bright red.

“Are you mad?”

Hanbin poked Jeong-hwan with his finger as he asked. It was something he’d gotten used to and forgotten Jeong-hwan had a naturally intense look. When he went expressionless or serious, it could be kind of scary. Hanbin tensed up without realizing.

“This kind of thing is in the book too?”

Jeong-hwan sighed deeply and asked Hanbin. Hanbin looked at him blankly, not understanding. Jeong-hwan saw Hanbin clueless expression and clarified with a tired voice.

“The trick you just pulled was that in the comic too?”

“Of course not! A ticklish male lead is not attractive, okay? I just wanted to mess with you.”

Hanbin waved his hands in denial. Seeing Hanbin’s response, Jeong-hwan let out another sigh. It really did seem like Hanbin had jumped on him with absolutely zero ulterior motive. That made Jeong-hwan feel like an idiot for getting so nervous.

“Then there’s no need for that kind of joke, right?”

“Sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“I wasn’t asking for an apology.”

“Are you sulking?”

Instead of answering, Jeong-hwan pulled the blanket over his face.

“Wh-why are you hiding under the blanket?”

Hanbin stammered in embarrassment. He figured Jeong-hwan, even if ticklish, would just cuss him out and move on. This reaction was unexpected.

“Because I don’t want to see your face.”

Jeong-hwan’s voice came out shamelessly from beneath the blanket. Hanbin’s face turned pale.

“Seriously?”

He looked shocked by the bluntness of Jeong-hwan’s words.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to see it. it’s that I can’t see it right now.’

Jeong-hwan shut his eyes and tried to calm down. He couldn’t deny that he had feelings for Hanbin. The problem was, those feelings didn’t seem 100% purely innocent and that made him feel absolute trash.

“Hey, I said I’m sorry.”

Even though Hanbin apologized again and again, Jeong-hwan didn’t respond. Hanbin finally made up his mind.

“Alright then, let’s make it even.”

When Hanbin pulled back the blanket, Jeong-hwan slowly opened his eyes. Hanbin pointed to himself and said.

“You can tickle me back. That’s fair, right?”

Jeong-hwan couldn’t help but chuckle at Hanbin’s simple-minded logic. He even considered pretending to still be mad just because Hanbin looked so cute trying to make it up to him.

“You can tickle my side, feet, nose, or whatever. Just ten seconds. I’ll endure it.”

Hanbin lifted his bare foot toward Jeong-hwan.

“No thanks.”

Jeong-hwan said with a frown. Contrary to his word his eyes lingered on Hanbin’s extended leg. His feet were unusually soft and spotless that it made one wonder. Jeong-hwan thought he was crazy when he saw that even Hanbin so ties looked cute.

‘I must’ve lost my damn mind.’

Jeong-hwan reached out and grabbed Hanbin’s ankle. Compared to the average high school boy, Hanbin’s feet weren’t small but with Jeong-hwan being so big, they looked tiny in his hands.

“Why are you staring at my foot like that?”

“Do you take care of them or something?”

“Are you complimenting me?”

Jeong-hwan gulped without realizing it. He didn’t even know why he was so tense. It felt like he was turning into some kind of pervert.

‘This isn’t just tickling anymore… It’s weird.’

Hanbin started to feel strange as Jeong-hwan gently rubbed his foot with one hand while holding his ankle with the other.

‘Does he not know how to tickle properly?’

But the weirdest thing of all was Jeong-hwan’s completely serious expression. Hanbin looked down at the hand gripping his ankle, and a strange feeling bubbled up in him.

“Hey, ten seconds are up!”

Even after Hanbin said it, Jeong-hwan sat still, as if in a daze. Only when Hanbin started squirming did Jeong-hwan release his grip.

‘That was dangerous.’

Jeong-hwan was deeply unsettled. He didn’t even know what else he had wanted to do to Hanbin. He felt like scum and wanted to slam his head against the floor and apologize.

“Let’s never do that kind of joke again.”

“Huh? O-okay…”

But if he actually apologized, he’d have to explain why. And if the reason was that he got turned on from touching someone’s foot, he’d just seem like some freak with a fetish, not someone in love.

“I need to go to my cram school now.”

Jeong-hwan stood up stiffly. Before Hanbin could stop him, he grabbed his bag and left the room. Hanbin stared blankly after him.

“Still mad?”

Hanbin tilted his head. He couldn’t believe how petty Jeong-hwan was for someone his size.