TWELVE 24

[Seoin: Eat lunch together. I’ll come pick you up.]

[I have plans today.. T_T I kept telling you]

[Gi Seoin is a dummy]

[Haha just kidding Have a good weekend]

I realized only yesterday that I spent every weekend with Gi Seoin. Except for the days when urgent weekend overtime came up, I was always with him. It felt strange to be spending a weekend separately this time. I wasn’t particularly joyful or excited. I just felt like, I guess this is how things are now.

I didn’t need to worry about him. He would likely immerse himself in the work he couldn’t finish during the week or go on a date. Even without me, there would be countless people looking for him.

“Oh, over here!”

As I put my phone in my pocket and looked around the interior I had entered, a long arm called out to me. I waved back and went over to Yoon Kijun.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“I just got here too.”

It felt awkward meeting Yoon Kijun outside of the bar. This was true even though he was the only one among the staff I was close enough to speak informally with in private.

“Shall we order something first? What do you want to eat?”

“Ah, then I’ll also go with…”

“I’ll go order. Oh, do you need to see the menu?”

I smiled and shook my head.

“Then an iced americano, please.”

“The signature coffee here is good too.”

“It’s just that I’m a die-hard iced americano fan.”

“Ah, okay.”

Yoon Kijun, laughing ha-ha, headed to the counter. I watched his back idly before belatedly noticing the gazes of those around us flickering toward him. I was used to it because of Gi Seoin, so it wasn’t anything new. I just marveled at the bar owner’s great eye for talent.

“How much is it? I’ll send it to you.”

“Forget it. It’s on me.”

Yoon Kijun, returning with the drinks, grinned and pushed the americano toward me.

“Tell me if you want more.”

“Hey, why are you paying? I’m getting my paycheck soon too.”

“Because there’s a good reason.”

I wondered what he meant.

Yoon Kijun suddenly scanned the surroundings, leaned his upper body toward me, and lowered his voice.

“Listen, Seungkyung.”

“Yeah?”

“You know that business card you gave me? Actually, I contacted them the very next day.”

Even without hearing the rest of the story, I felt like I knew why Yoon Kijun said he was buying the drinks.

“At first, they thought it was you. If I said I got it from you, it might make things difficult for you, so I said I found it. Anyway, so…”

“Did they ask… to meet you?”

“No.”

Ah, was I getting ahead of myself?

Just as that thought crossed my mind, Yoon Kijun continued.

“I already met them, yesterday.”

“What? How did it go…!”

My voice unintentionally grew loud, so I covered my mouth with my palm. Yoon Kijun beamed.

“They want to sign a contract.”

“Really!”

This time, my body reflexively bounced up and down. My heart thumped. I grabbed Yoon Kijun’s hand and shook it.

“Hey, that’s great! What is happening? This is crazy. Wow…”

“Right? It’s crazy. Seriously, I…”

Yoon Kijun, unable to hide his overwhelming emotions, bowed his head deeply before looking straight at me again. The rims of his eyes were flushed red. A thick smile played around his mouth.

“I kept thinking, so a day like this actually comes for me, and… ha, I need to calm down. Thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you, Seungkyung.”

“It’s thanks to you. In the end, you’re the one who called and landed it. You’ve worked hard all this time, too.”

I reached out and patted Yoon Kijun on the shoulder. It seemed his emotions were contagious. My chest felt ticklish. The business card that had been nothing more than evidence of a funny happening to me had become an opportunity for him. I couldn’t help but be happy.

“Well then, I guess I really should let you treat me.”

“Yeah. So eat your fill. I’ll buy dinner and drinks too.”

I readily agreed to be treated.

Yoon Kijun was the same age as me and said he had grown up in an orphanage since he was twelve. He had tried to look for his parents after becoming an adult, but I heard it wasn’t easy because his immediate livelihood was difficult. There were many parts of his life that resembled mine. Perhaps that was why Yoon Kijun’s success felt as welcome as if it were my own.

Yoon Kijun and I didn’t stop talking, even after moving from the cafe to a restaurant. Since our common ground overlapped so much, there was no break in the conversation. Today’s meeting was both a contract celebration party for Yoon Kijun and a place for us to reflect on and comfort each other’s lives.

After eating our fill, we immediately went looking for a bar. It would be a shame to miss out on drinks on a day like this. Having abstained from alcohol during the shoulder rehabilitation period, I was desperate for even a sip of beer.

“Kwah. The alcohol tastes great too.”

“Wow, it’s really delicious. But is it okay for you to drink? Isn’t it bad for your shoulder?”

“One glass is fine!”

But I couldn’t stop at just one glass. The beer I drank for the first time in a long while was as sweet as honey water, and as I laughed and chatted with someone I could communicate with, time flew like an arrow.

I guess I was lonely. Having found someone who sincerely sympathized with me even when I poured out my pathetic life without omission, the reins simply came off.

Still, I didn’t bring up anything regarding Gi Seoin. Because he…

“Seungkyung, Woo Seungkyung! Wake up.”

“Uh-huh, I’m awake… See? I’m awake, right?”

“No, you’re slumped over on the table.”

“No I’m nooot, no I’m not, I’m awake… It’s the world… that’s lying down? Hehe, funny.”

“Seungkyung, what’s your home address?”

“Whyyy?”

“You have to go home. Goodness…”

“No, I’m not going home…”

Even if I go, no one is there. Then my time will again trample over me and move agonizingly slowly. I don’t look forward to the future, but enduring a stagnant reality was no different from living in hell.

After the house passcode was changed and Gi Seoin stopped coming to my place, a panic attack visited me once. It was a visit that felt like it would last forever. So, I wasn’t going to go home.

“Sorry, Kijun. I’m really, really drunk, right?”

“You are, but… who on earth gets wasted on three glasses of beer?”

“Right here!”

“Do you have your phone?”

“I do, whyyy?”

“Give it to me for a sec.”

“Uh-huh…”

I don’t know why, but since he asked for it, I gave it to him. And that was where my memory ended.

When the film of my broken memory was spliced back together, Yoon Kijun was in front of my eyes again.

“Woo Seungkyung.”

Huh. Is that Yoon Kijun? No, wait…

“Fortunately, you didn’t die.”

As far as I knew, the only person who looked so elegant and pretty even while frowning was Gi Seoin. Right, Gi Seoin.

The person occupying my vision wasn’t Yoon Kijun, but Gi Seoin.

“How is your stomach?”

“It’s Seoin.”

“…Wait here quietly.”

“Yes, yessir.”

If he says wait, I must wait. Since Gi Seoin was doing a good job of keeping his word about not coming to my house, it was only right and proper that I also listen to the requests he could make.

“Yes, indeed… Seoin! But where did you go? Gi Seoin!”

Still, he should at least tell me where he’s going so a person can wait with a peaceful mind.

I called for Gi Seoin over and over. Reappearing soon after, he looked at me with eyes as if he had discovered a seriously ill patient. Did he… notice? That I had a panic attack…

“Woo Seungkyung. Drink.”

“Wha? What is this.”

“Pear juice.”

“Pear juice? Ahh, the pear juice that’s excellent for health! It even appeared on The Secrets of Life, Aging, Sickness, and Death! Such a precious thing! Thank youuu.”

I bowed deeply to Gi Seoin and drained the bestowed pear juice in one go. Earlier the beer felt like honey water, but this pear juice was so sweet my tongue tingled, as if real honey had been added.

“Deliciousss. Our Seoin, you little puppy, as expected, you’re the prince of internal support! Prince!”

I raised both thumbs and waved them at Gi Seoin. But then, he didn’t even look happy; he pushed my chest and made me lie down.

“Sleep.”

He even pulled the blanket up to my chest to cover me. How kind.

But his kindness can no longer give me warmth. On the contrary, it only made the wintry land where I had to survive even colder and froze me. I was doing just fine, so why.

“…I hate you, Gi Seoin.”

Why did he appear before me again?

“Why are you heere? I told you not to come to my house, I did. I told you not to do this, I did…”

I pointed my finger at him.

“You! Gi Seoin! You shouldn’t do that. You’re not mine anyway, and you can’t do it, so you shouldn’t act like that. You bad, brat.”

“Yours?”

Gi Seoin arched his eyebrows unevenly. Even so, he’s so handsome it makes me angry. Why was he born looking like that, making a person’s heart a mess? They say if Cleopatra’s nose had been a little lower, world history would have changed. Just like that, if Gi Seoin’s eyelashes had been even 0.1mm shorter, I, I…

“Then whose am I?”

“You punk! Asking useless things. Be quiieet, geez… Just sleep. But Seoin, you know.”

“What do you want me to do.”

“Actually? It’s not you, but I who shouldn’t be like this. Right. I’m sorry… really.”

“What exactly did you do?”

“There’s just something. You don’t need to know. If you knew? Huh? You, you’d hate me.”

I really don’t want that.

“I really, huh? Toward Gi Seoin…”

I pulled at his sleeve.

“I don’t want to be hated. Let’s keep being friends. Okay? I’ll do better, Seoinnn.”

I don’t know what Gi Seoin’s expression is like. However, I do know that he pulled my hand away from his sleeve. Coldly? Or because he had no choice? Either way, it’s bad.

“Woo Seungkyung.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Remember. I am yours.”

I don’t know what he’s talking about. I don’t understand any of it. Why all of a sudden? And how can you be mine? You belong to someone else. Your parents, or your future… anyway.

It’s certain that it isn’t me. That’s why I’m sad.

Should I take comfort in the fact that we can at least be friends? Will that really be a comfort?

“I…”

“Now, quickly.”

“Gi Seoin, Iii…”

“Don’t wake up tomorrow and regret this.”

It seems that if it isn’t you, Gi Seoin, I can’t be comforted.