DEARG Ch 12

“Yes. I understand.”

The same request had been repeated for thirty minutes.

“You’ll be late. Hurry up and go.”

When his father, who could not watch any longer, chimed in, his mother’s expression crumpled. Once he left, the two of them would start fighting again.

“Then I’ll be going.”

As he was about to leave with a deep bow, his father followed him out.

“Jihyun-ah. Still, you should have some pocket money for a school trip.”

He handed over a single, crumpled ten-thousand-won bill. He tried to refuse, but his father insisted, stuffing the money into his pocket.

“Be careful. And if you happen to miss the bus, it’s okay to just come back.”

“Yes.”

His mother’s requests continued until the elevator doors closed. He had packed his luggage minimally so he could carry it around.

Upon arriving at the bus stop, he found himself looking around without realizing it. Of course, there was no way Kang Seokwon would be here.

Jo Jihyun smiled bitterly and got on the bus. He calculated the money he had left. It seemed like he could manage to get by during the school trip.

He leaned his head against the window. Kang Seokwon had not appeared since that day. He knew that Kang Seokwon had held some degree of affection for him. He had cut things off cleanly. While thinking it was for the best, a part of his heart wanted to go find him and make excuses. That it wasn’t true. That he didn’t have a boyfriend, and that he had liked him for a long time. ……And would continue to.

He looks at his reflection in the window. They are the same eyes as back then. Greedy eyes that sought to use him even while knowing his feelings.

Jo Jihyun slowly closed his eyes.

“Everyone, go straight home after school. Don’t wander off anywhere else.”

There were a total of nine students, including himself, who were not going on the school trip. The first-year art teacher came in and continued the half-hearted end-of-day meeting.

“Don’t be late tomorrow.”

The art teacher glanced over in this direction. Jo Jihyun didn’t even meet his gaze. As he left, the students all stood up from their seats with a rustle. Jo Jihyun packed his bag and stood up.

“Teacher.”

When Jo Jihyun called the art teacher, he turned his body with a surprised “Huh?”

“I didn’t receive the confirmation form.”

He had confirmed with a student from the next class that the forms had been handed out while he was away in the restroom for a moment.

“Oh, really? You didn’t get one. Sorry.”

The art teacher, flustered, pulled out a paper tucked between the pages of the attendance book and gave it to him.

“Thank you.”

Jo Jihyun took the paper and put it in his pocket. The teacher hesitated, trying to say more, but he didn’t look back. He had already packed his father’s seal in his bag. All he needed to do was write his parents’ names appropriately and submit it.

This is enough.

Even as he thought that, a corner of his heart felt heavy.

He remembered the omelet rice that Kang Seokwon had made for him while he stayed at his studio apartment. The smiley face drawn with ketchup.

Just thinking about it made his chest tickle and a smile appear.

With each thing that diverged from the past, he felt a sense of relief, but it was inevitable that his heart also felt desolate. He couldn’t help but feel sad that those sparkling moments spent with Kang Seokwon would remain only in his own memory.

He had to endure alone the process of precious time becoming something that never happened.

Jihyun-ah.

The gentle voice that used to call him fades into the air. This time, it is his turn to protect him.

Jo Jihyun took a deep breath.

“Can I come in and get some shut-eye for a bit?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

“Thank you. Let’s switch later.”

Choi Jeongshik, the night-shift part-timer, yawned and went into the convenience store’s stockroom. Can I cover the night shift for you? When he had asked that, Choi Jeongshik had made a face as if to say, What kind of nonsense is this again?Minors aren’t allowed. Choi Jeongshik had shaken his head. You don’t have to pay me. When he said that, Choi Jeongshik thought for a moment before taking a step back, saying, Then if the manager finds out, you’re on your own. Fortunately, the manager was away for a 2-night, 3-day regional training and would return on Wednesday. He just had to stay up all night here for two days and somehow endure the last day.

Jo Jihyun cleaned the floor and began to organize the goods that had just come in. The deliveries usually came at this time, so he had to organize them meticulously.

After wiping down the tables until they were spotless, Jo Jihyun returned to his seat. He checked the clock. One in the morning.

The street was dead silent.

Since it was located in a residential area, customers rarely came and went at this hour. He opened a book. After reading only a few pages, his vision blurred. Pulling an all-nighter was indeed a bit much. Jo Jihyun lightly patted his cheeks a couple of times. Nod, his head drooped. He tried to straighten his body a few times, but sleep washed over him like water.

Jihyun-ah.

He lifted his head at the gentle call. It was Kang Seokwon. With his large hand, he swept up his disheveled hair.

Tired?

He asks. Jo Jihyun smiled faintly and rubbed his face against the back of his hand. Kang Seokwon’s fingers lightly cupped his cheek. He could smell his skin.

Sunbaenim.

He called him as if seeking comfort. Kang Seokwon’s fingers flinched, twitch, and pulled back.

He feels a gaze on him.

Feeling a strange sense of discord, Jo Jihyun hastily lifted his head. Kang Seokwon was standing there. After looking up at him for a long while, he distinguished dream from reality.

“Checkout.”

He, dressed in a tracksuit, said as he handed over a bottle of water. He looked at the clock. It was a little past two in the morning. With a trembling hand, Jo Jihyun took the water.

“That’s eight hundred won.”

Kang Seokwon handed him coins. There was no need to give back change. He had taken the water, but he did not move.

“……I decided to help out at this time for just a few days.”

He rambled, saying something he wasn’t asked. Kang Seokwon’s reply did not come. Jo Jihyun pulled a thousand-won bill from his pocket and held it out.

“This.”

It had been weighing on his mind. He knew what the money Kang Seokwon had given him meant, but he didn’t want to accept it.

“Keep it.”

Kang Seokwon replied curtly and opened the cap of the water bottle. His eyes were drawn to the sight of water flowing down his throat. Thirst arose. He knew how greedily the man had desired him.

Jo Jihyun turned his head away.

“Weren’t you on a school trip?”

“I didn’t go.”

Having emptied the water bottle, he shook the empty bottle and, hmm, fell into thought.

“Jeju Island, wasn’t it.”

“Pardon?”

“The school trip.”

Jo Jihyun nodded. The place Kang Seokwon had gone for his school trip was Gyeongju. There was no reason for him to know the second-year school trip destination.

“That’s a shame.”

“I can go later. If I get the chance.”

It was an island he ultimately couldn’t go to because it poured rain. He never got to go after that either. Lying down on hot summer nights, they used to talk about that island.

Kang Seokwon replied nonchalantly with a “Right,” and threw the empty bottle into the trash can. Without even a word of goodbye, he went outside.

Jo Jihyun sat down. If things had gone as they were supposed to, Kang Seokwon would have held him, who had a nightmare tonight, patting him to sleep.

It’s okay. It’s just a dream.

He remembered the gentle voice as if soothing a child and the touch of that hand patting his back. Which reality did he want to stay in?

Jo Jihyun quietly buried his head in his book.

“Alright everyone, go straight home today too. That’s all.”

With an attitude that was clearly annoyed, the art teacher finished the end-of-day meeting. Jo Jihyun picked up his bag and immediately stood up. He felt a gaze on his back.

If I can just get through today, the school trip will be over.

Today was the day the manager returned from the regional training, and on top of that, there was an inspection from the main office during the day, so he decided not to go to the convenience store at all. He planned to kill time at a 24-hour cafe and then go to a sauna at night.

It was a scope he could handle with the ten thousand won his father had given him. He had been eating convenience store lunch boxes for his meals. Because they would share items nearing their expiration date. It would have been a really good job if only his path hadn’t crossed with Kang Seokwon’s. He already felt a sense of regret about quitting.

It can’t be helped.

Jo Jihyun slung his bag over his shoulder and left the school.

Yesterday, he had spotted a place not far from the school where a 24-hour coffee shop and a public bathhouse were in the same building. He bought a cup of coffee and went up to the second floor. As he was sensitive, his concentration was also good, so the surrounding noise soon faded into appropriate white noise. After solving the designated amount of math problems, he checked the clock on the wall. 9 o’clock. His neck area felt stiff. Massaging his shoulder with his hand, Jo Jihyun stood up from his seat. It was earlier than planned, but he felt he had reached his physical limit. He was about to go upstairs with his bag but then turned toward the restroom.

He judged it would be better to change into casual clothes rather than entering a 24-hour sauna in a school uniform. He went to the restroom at the very end of the hallway, closed the door, and hung his bag on the hook. He was unbuttoning his uniform shirt when someone knocked on the door from outside.

“Someone’s in here.”

Even though he answered right away, the person did not stop knocking on the door.

“Someone is in here.”

He said it a little louder, in case they hadn’t heard.

Thump, thump, thump.

It was an unpleasant feeling. Jo Jihyun re-buttoned his shirt and picked up his bag.

“I’m coming out.”

Jo Jihyun opened the door.

“Oh, hello.”

The person standing outside the door greeted him cheerfully. Goosebumps prickled his skin. Why is this person standing here?

“I saw you studying earlier while passing by on the bus.”

The art teacher continued, smiling.

“I was on my way back to school for an errand, and I saw you were still here. So I just came up to see.”

He smiled disgustingly, looking Jo Jihyun up and down.

“Why are you changing into casual clothes at this hour? Are you going somewhere?”

“I’m going home.”

Jo Jihyun tried to go outside. The art teacher blocked Jo Jihyun’s path.

“You lied to your parents and came out, didn’t you?”

“……”

“That’s why you’re changing into casual clothes. You look so innocent, but you’re quite a delinquent.”

Jo Jihyun once again stepped aside to pass. The man reached his hand back and locked the restroom door.

“What do you think you’re doing.”

“No, I just want to talk for a bit.”

Jo Jihyun tried to push him away. The art teacher grabbed Jo Jihyun’s wrist and pushed him into a bathroom stall.

“Where were you trying to go in casual clothes?”

“I was trying to go home. Move.”

“Home? Then should I call your house right now? I checked your home phone number in the attendance book and brought it with me.”

He says, showing the cell phone in his pocket. Jo Jihyun pushed him with all his strength. The art teacher slammed him hard against the wall while still gripping his wrist. In a numbing pain that made it impossible to breathe, Jo Jihyun couldn’t even scream.

“Stay still. Huh? Teacher will give you money. You’re doing this because you need money, aren’t you.”

“P-please don’t.”

His hands trembled. It was the same situation. He had tried so hard to escape this, but he couldn’t figure out where it had all gone wrong.

“Do you know what your expression was like every time I saw you? It was a face that was begging to be fucked. Other teachers also said that when they made eye contact with you in class, they felt their cocks get hard.”

He continued speaking as he rummaged under Jo Jihyun’s shirttails.

“A bitch like you has probably been fucked countless times already. Huh? So give it to teacher once too.”

He had to push him away, but he had no strength. It felt like someone was choking him. Limp like a doll with broken joints, Jo Jihyun desperately tried to escape from the man’s grasp.

“If you suck teacher’s cock well, I’ll give you money, okay?”

He forced Jo Jihyun down onto the toilet and pulled down his own pants zipper. As he brought his half-erect, dark red penis to his mouth, he called out, “Jihyun-ah.” He tried to turn his head, but the man gripped Jo Jihyun’s jaw forcefully.

“Open your mouth. Hurry.”

It was the pain of a cold piece of iron crushing and digging into his heart. The situation was not the only thing that hadn’t changed. His own abnormal mental state was also the same as back then. The man pushed his penis into Jo Jihyun’s mouth. He choked on the rising nausea. The man let out ragged breaths and repeated the thrusting motion in his mouth. Tears streamed down his face from the physiological revulsion.

“Hah, I’m seriously going crazy. You have eyes that drive a person crazy. Pucker your lips. Haaah, fuck.”

He gripped Jo Jihyun’s hair and thrust his hips. As his penis swelled stiffly, the man quickly pulled back and shot his semen onto Jo Jihyun’s face. When the warm, fishy liquid touched his face, Jo Jihyun started to vomit. The man looked down at the scene with an ecstatic expression, then pulled Jo Jihyun to his feet.

“Don’t, ……please, stop…….”

The man frantically undid the buckle on Jo Jihyun’s pants.

“You like getting fucked in your pussy, don’t you?”

His hand moved inside his thigh. His body convulsed and stiffened rigidly.

Just then,

The sound of footsteps was heard from outside. The man, with a panicked face, covered Jo Jihyun’s mouth.

“Be quiet. If you try anything funny……”

Someone knocked on the door from outside.

“Cleaning in progress.”

The man answered nonchalantly. The knocking sound was no longer heard. The moment he was about to let out a sigh of relief,

CRASH. With a single kick, the hinges of the restroom door were torn to shreds.

“Wh-who are you……”

A hand shot into the bathroom stall, grabbed the man by the scruff of his neck, and pulled him out. With a thud sound, blood splattered on the pristine white sink.

The man gasped as if he were about to stop breathing.

“He-help me, p-please……gasp.”

The man’s head was shoved into the urinal. Along with the shattered urinal, he collapsed onto the floor. The art teacher’s crotch was soaked with a yellow liquid.

“Dare to lay a single finger on him.”

The low voice was the same as that day. The art teacher, while dripping blood, nodded his head like a madman.

Kang Seokwon came into the bathroom stall and helped Jo Jihyun up straight. He steadied Jo Jihyun, who was staggering and leaning against the wall, straightened his clothes, and grabbed the bag in one hand.

“Let’s go.”

He took Jo Jihyun’s wrist and led him out just like that. While they rode the elevator down, Kang Seokwon remained silent. He was panting slightly and was completely drenched in sweat.

Jo Jihyun closed his eyes and swallowed his breath.

Why do things keep becoming the same? Even if the minor details change, the major flow of events continues as it was. He felt like a mouse diligently spinning a wheel.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“……No, I’m not.”

Kang Seokwon wiped Jo Jihyun’s face with the hem of his own clothes. Every time his hand brushed against him, Jo Jihyun’s body flinched. Kang Seokwon grit his teeth lowly.

“……How did you know.”

Jo Jihyun asked, avoiding his eyes.

“We were on the same bus. That person suddenly started yelling to be let off the bus, and I saw you in the coffee shop.”

“……”

“The rumors about that person aren’t good. So I got off midway and came to check.”

In a situation anyone could have ignored, the man had run back, his hair soaked with sweat. Before, he had truly liked his kindness, but now it was agonizing.

The elevator arrived on the first floor. Kang Seokwon led Jo Jihyun out into the hallway and examined his face.

“I’ll, I’ll handle it myself.”

Jo Jihyun tried to grab the bag in Kang Seokwon’s hand. He had no strength in his hand, and grabbing the strap was the most he could do.

“What do you mean, you’ll handle it.”

Kang Seokwon said in a slightly angry tone.

“Please don’t worry about it.”

He had to break away from the main path. If things continued like this, eventually.

Jo Jihyun swallowed something hot.

“I will handle it myself. I would appreciate it if you didn’t get involved.”

He pushed him away coldly.

Just standing there was all he could manage. Thousands, tens of thousands of insects were eating away at his insides. He had to endure it. He felt the gaze looking down at him. Kang Seokwon’s jaw hardened.

“……!”

Kang Seokwon grabbed Jo Jihyun’s wrist and left the building. In a place with many people, he let go of his hand and handed him the bag. He then left Jo Jihyun and disappeared into the crowd. Even in that situation, just in case something happened, he had brought him all the way here. He was always, cruelly kind.

Jo Jihyun collapsed on the spot. Passersby glanced at him, but no one spoke to him or offered help.

He should have thanked him first. He should have said thank you for helping, that he was so grateful and sorry that he had risked getting disciplined by the school to do such a thing, ……, please help me.

Jo Jihyun buried his head in his knees and took a breath. He could still hear the auditory hallucination of insects rustling. The touch of the man who had groped his body clung to him stickily and wouldn’t come off. The fishy smell of semen made him feel like he would suffocate and die. What on earth did he have to do to escape from this? No matter how hard he racked his brain and tried, he was thrown back into the mire.

He hears the sense of someone stopping right in front of him.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I’m worried.”

His vision grows hot.

He had been crouched down for a long time. Kang Seokwon had also been standing there for a long time.

“Just a moment.”

As Jo Jihyun stepped into the entryway, Kang Seokwon went in first and began to tidy up the room. He was a neat person to begin with, so the tidying was finished just by putting a few large items back in their places.

“Come in.”

Should I just leave now? He had followed Kang Seokwon’s lead and come to his studio apartment, but he felt that this was probably not right.

“Um, I’ll just……”

As Jo Jihyun hesitated at the entryway, Kang Seokwon took off his shoes for him. And then he grabbed his wrist and pulled him in.

“Are you going to walk around outside like that?”

Jo Jihyun’s face flushes. Because the art teacher had ejaculated on Jo Jihyun’s face, his clothes were stained.

“Take a shower and change your clothes.”

He personally opened the bathroom door for him.

“I’m going to step out for a bit. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”

Kang Seokwon put on his shoes and went outside.

Jo Jihyun hesitated for a moment, then opened his bag and took out a change of clothes. He still felt as if that slick liquid was stuck to his face. For now, he wanted to wash up.

Jo Jihyun entered the bathroom. He looked around blankly for a moment at the sight that was exactly as he remembered it.

Nothing has really changed.

Jo Jihyun unbuttoned his uniform shirt. He pulled down his pants and underwear at once. Goosebumps rose all over his body in the cold air. Just then, he heard the sound of the front door opening. Kang Seokwon came in, panting for breath, which was rare for him. Kang Seokwon knocks on the door once. The thought that Kang Seokwon was on the other side of the door made his lower body tingle. Kang Seokwon knocked on the door one more time.

“Yes.”

When Jo Jihyun’s answer came, Kang Seokwon let out a small breath.

“……I’ll turn on the hot water for you.”

A whirring sound started as the machine turned on, as if he had pressed the boiler switch.

“Wash up.”

Kang Seokwon’s footsteps faded away.

With this, he confirms it once again. The major flow of events does not change. But there are things that do change. He cupped his heated face and sank to the floor.

He had come to like the current Kang Seokwon several times more.

While he finished his shower and was drying his wet hair, Kang Seokwon returned. He organized the things from a bag into the refrigerator.

“Did you eat.”

Jo Jihyun shook his head.

“You should eat something.”

“My stomach feels upset.”

It wasn’t just an excuse. Even now, he felt nauseous and dizzy.

“Okay.”

After replying, Kang Seokwon took out a kettle and began to boil water. Soon, the water in the kettle pushed up the lid, making a beep, beep, sound, and the room filled with a savory smell.

“Drink this at least.”

It was barley tea.

Jo Jihyun, holding the cup, looked up at the man dazedly.

“Let it cool. Little by little.”

At the kindness in Kang Seokwon’s heart, who spoke to him as if to a small child, his eyes stung. Jo Jihyun quickly lowered his head and said, “Thank you,” in a small voice.

A sip of the barley tea warmed his body. It took a long time to drink all the barley tea in the cup. Kang Seokwon watched him silently from the side. He placed the empty cup on the small table.

“Thank you.”

He said it while looking into Kang Seokwon’s eyes. The corners of Kang Seokwon’s mouth loosened slightly.

“Get some rest.”

“No. I should be on my way now.”

As Jo Jihyun picked up his bag and tried to stand, Kang Seokwon’s expression immediately hardened.

“Where are you going.”

“……”

“Sleep here tonight. You can go home tomorrow, can’t you?”

Kang Seokwon had also vaguely noticed that Jo Jihyun had not gone home during the school trip period.

“It’s okay.”

“Jo Jihyun.”

Jo Jihyun flinched. It was the first time Kang Seokwon had ever called him by his name. They had talked face to face, but they had never said each other’s names.

As if sensing Jo Jihyun’s surprise, Kang Seokwon says, “I saw your name tag.”

“……Yes.”

“Don’t leave. I’m asking you.”

He bows his head.

The man who seemed unshakable and strong in the face of anything, bows his head and asks for a favor so casually. What on earth am I to him?

Jo Jihyun bit his lower lip hard.

“You’ll hurt your lip.”

Every word he says stabs into his heart like a weapon. Jo Jihyun has no choice but to nod his head.

“I’ll make your bed.”

Kang Seokwon stands up. The man, whose large frame almost grazed the ceiling, lays out a blanket neatly on the floor.

It is a familiar blanket. He and Kang Seokwon had shared that blanket, leaning against each other and sharing warmth while listening to the radio on a rainy day. If you think about it, it was an event of yesterday or the day before, but it feels as if it were decades ago.

“I’m sorry.”

He offered an apology out of the blue.

“……I should have washed it.”

“It’s alright. Thank you.”

Jo Jihyun wrapped the blanket around his body as he was given it. The faint scent of fabric softener brings back old memories. Memories that do not exist here.

Jo Jihyun pulled the blanket up to the top of his head.

“Should I turn off the light?”

“Yes.”

Kang Seokwon turns off the light and lies down a good distance away.

The fatigue added weight as heavy as a mountain, but sleep does not come. Soon, his eyes, accustomed to the darkness, begin to distinguish the faint outlines of his surroundings.

The old desk, a few books, the fan that spun with a clack clack sound, the clothes hanger, the plaques and trophies set up carelessly.

It is all the same.

Jo Jihyun, who was looking around, made eye contact with Kang Seokwon. In the darkness, he had been looking only at Jo Jihyun the entire time.

The more he blinked, the more the heat intensified. Jo Jihyun swallowed a dry gulp.

“Isn’t the, isn’t the work hard?”

A low voice breaks through the sunken silence.

“It’s manageable.”

Jo Jihyun hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Isn’t your house far from the convenience store?”

He had wondered if perhaps his house had moved closer to the convenience store. But coming here today, he saw it was the same. In that case, the gym would be the same as well.

“Jogging course.”

He now understood why he sometimes stopped by to buy water. Even though he had deliberately chosen a place far from Kang Seokwon’s house and gym, he couldn’t escape his radius. It was a strange feeling.

“What school is she from.”

“Pardon?”

“Your girlfriend.”

At the sudden question, Jo Jihyun was so surprised he just blinked his eyes for a long time. Kang Seokwon says, “You don’t have to answer,” and turns his body to the opposite side.

“Ah, ……, …….”

It would be better for him to let Kang Seokwon misunderstand. Even while knowing that was the right thing to do, a selfish affection abruptly rears its head.

“I don’t have one.”

Without realizing it, he ends up muttering that to Kang Seokwon’s back.

He wished he hadn’t heard. No, he wishes the misunderstanding would be cleared. His heart wavered with a rustle as conflicting feelings crossed.

Before he knew it, Kang Seokwon had turned his body and was looking this way. The emotions dwelling in his eyes are read plainly. Bafflement, surprise, and a faint joy.

Even he had a face that didn’t know what to do with the soaring emotions. The subtly excited air tickled his throat.

Jo Jihyun lowered his gaze.

“Good night.”

After saying that, he turned his body to the opposite side.

Sleep well.

Kang Seokwon’s low voice reached his back. In that moment, the tension in his body slackened.

He closed his eyes.

For the first time since returning to this place, he was able to fall into a deep sleep.

Since that day, the art teacher was nowhere to be seen. No problems arose. Kang Seokwon would occasionally stop by the convenience store to buy bottled water or sometimes eat cup ramen. He would toss a couple of trivial remarks and then leave, no different from any other customer.

At a glance, peaceful days continued. It would be nice if nothing happened like this.

Jo Jihyun opened the notebook where he had organized the events of the past in chronological order. He marked the events that had progressed similarly to the present with a red pen. There was a slight difference in the timeline, but upon confirming that things were flowing in a roughly similar way, his chest felt tight.

“Joji.”

Hearing Choi Giyeol’s voice calling his name, Jo Jihyun closed his notebook.

“What’re you doing?”

“Studying, what else.”

“Hmm, studying. Aren’t you sick of it?”

He wanted to ask back, Aren’t you the one who isn’t sick of it? The person who had changed the least from the past was Choi Giyeol.

“Hey. Wanna see something cool?”

Choi Giyeol took out his cell phone and held out a picture. It was a picture of a female student with her uniform shirt precariously spread open.

“These are some girls I met on the school trip. Fucking hilarious, right? They send pictures like this on their own. Killer body, right?”

Jo Jihyun replied, “I guess so,” without even a glance. In his head, he was retracing the events he had just organized in his notebook.

The main context does not change. The biggest trigger that made things go wrong with Kang Seokwon was Choi Giyeol.

“You don’t like this kind of stuff?”

Choi Giyeol asks.

“Yeah, not really.”

“You don’t watch porn either? You must masturbate while watching dirty videos, right.”

Choi Giyeol narrows his eyes as if thinking of something. When Jo Jihyun’s reply doesn’t come, he bursts into laughter.

“Well, what would you know, Joji. We’re supposed to meet them this week. Wanna come along?”

Jo Jihyun stared at Choi Giyeol fixedly.

The main context. Choi Giyeol.

When their eyes met, Choi Giyeol’s face immediately turned bright red.

“Wh-what. Why? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“Okay.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll go. It’s this weekend, right?”

“What? You’re coming? You’re coming to meet girls, Joji?”

Choi Giyeol jumps to his feet and shouts without realizing it. Jo Jihyun asked, “Why?”

“You asked me to come with you.”

“Uh, th-that’s true, but.”

He sat back down and continued, stammering.

“You were interested in girls, in stuff like this?”

“No.”

Jo Jihyun replied curtly. Choi Giyeol is relieved, saying, “Right.”

“That’s why I’m thinking of going out once. To see what it’s like.”

“It’s nothing special. There aren’t any particularly pretty girls, it’s all photo magic. Photo magic. They probably took those boob pictures wearing push-up bras.”

Choi Giyeol, who just moments ago was swaggering as if he were showing something amazing, now starts to badmouth the girls.

“Should I not go?”

Jo Jihyun asked. Choi Giyeol avoids his eyes, muttering, “That’s not it.” He wants to hang out with Jo Jihyun, but he doesn’t want to introduce him to the girls.

“Then what time and where should I go.”

The thought occurred to him that if he couldn’t change the main context, he should try changing something else.

“Oh, I know this person.”

Kim Soojung, who was getting ready to leave, pointed at the newspaper Jo Jihyun was looking at and continued speaking.

“I saw him here a few times before. Is he famous?”

The appearance of a formidable rookie.

She recognized the photo in the article in the corner of the newspaper at once.

“Have you never seen him? He was really eye-catching.”

The doorbell rang. As Kang Seokwon stepped inside, Kim Soojung tapped Jo Jihyun’s shoulder and whispered, “That’s him.”

“He’s huge.”

She murmurs as if to herself and leans toward Jo Jihyun to continue speaking.

“Don’t make eye contact for no reason. What if you get punched.”

“Aren’t you going to be late.”

She had said she attended the English academy right across the street. At Jo Jihyun’s words, she shot up, saying, “Oh, right.”

“See you next time, then.”

Kim Soojung smiles, waves her hand, and disappears with a slight wink. After the door closed, Kang Seokwon comes over with a drink.

“It’s thirteen hundred won. Bring one more.”

Kang Seokwon often chose these buy-one-get-one-free products. After getting another one of the same product from the display shelf, he handed it to Jo Jihyun.

“Drink it.”

“It’s okay.”

“Then throw it away.”

“……Thank you.”

Jo Jihyun placed the drink under the counter. Even after paying, Kang Seokwon did not leave the front of the counter for a while. At his uncharacteristic hesitation, Jo Jihyun slightly narrowed his eyes.

“The match is over.”

He knew.

When Kang Seokwon was in a match, he couldn’t stop by the convenience store for a while. His jawline, seen after a long time, was trimmed even sharper. He remembered hearing that when he was in the middle of losing weight, he couldn’t even drink water properly.

“Midterms are over, right?”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

Jo Jihyun blinked. Since Kang Seokwon was from the same school, it was an answer he would have known without having to ask. Then, suddenly, Kang Seokwon’s fingers came into view. He taps the can. He is completely tense. The silence lengthens.

“I got some movie tickets.”

He barely manages to continue speaking.

“The gym director gave them to me.”

He recalled his first date with Kang Seokwon. It was raining, the movie’s plot didn’t enter his head at all, and it was a mess. After returning to his studio apartment and showering, they listened to music from the radio together and shared a kiss. He learned through him that unremarkable things could become moments that sparkled like jewels.

“What are you doing this Saturday.”

At his question, Jo Jihyun was startled back to his senses.

“I have a supplementary class at my academy.”

It was a lie. He had a prior engagement with Choi Giyeol. He didn’t have a shred of desire to hang out with him, but he needed to experiment with the context. However, he would rather die than say that he was refusing his offer because of an appointment with someone else he didn’t even want to see, and with Choi Giyeol of all people.

“I see.”

Kang Seokwon’s hand, holding the drink can, tightens.

“I’m sorry.”

Jo Jihyun bowed his head.

“What are you sorry for.”

“……It’s just.”

Just now, he had made a precious time with Kang Seokwon disappear. That time had been created together with Kang Seokwon. And yet, his wishes were not respected.