DEARG Ch 27

“It’s because of that b**t**d, isn’t it? That d**n Jo Jihyun or whatever his name is.”

“Don’t speak so carelessly.”

“Carelessly? Who do you think got you into this mess?”

The blood drained from beneath his feet.

“Are you not going to snap out of it? Don’t you know how things work around here? You’re already at a disadvantage coming from a non-elite background. If some dirty rumor spreads, d**n it, your athletic career is over.”

Jo Jihyun lowered his head. It was no different from before.

“You know how old-fashioned those sports geezers are. No matter how talented you are, if you don’t get selected for the national team, it’s over.”

“I’ll get selected.”

“D**n it, you idiot. You don’t even know if you’ll be able to walk properly! If things go wrong, your leg could be ruined!”

It felt like cold water had been dumped over him. From what Jo Jihyun knew, Kang Seokwon had no such future. Kang Seokwon had a strong, intact body, stronger than anyone else’s. Yet, an inexplicable anxiety stirred in his chest.

“Please, just get the surgery and think about the rest later. I’ll cover the surgery and rehab costs. You can’t be distracted by other things right now. Training like h**l is already not enough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Kang Seokwon, you crazy b**t**d, are you really trying to drive me insane?”

Jo Jihyun didn’t hear the rest. He slipped out of the hallway and headed to the emergency staircase. He sank onto the steps, burying his head in his hands.

The more he tried to escape, the tighter fate pursued him. It bound his limbs, gagged him, and leashed his neck. He couldn’t move. If he told Kang Seokwon about his mother’s words, he would leave the hospital without hesitation. That would mean no proper surgery or treatment. Hospital records would remain, and if his mother set her mind to it, she could track them down easily.

If Jo Jihyun ended up locked in a mental hospital, Kang Seokwon’s reaction would be obvious. He hugged his knees tightly. He wanted to run away. Should he flee alone? Tell Kang Seokwon to wait for a bit, hide somewhere for a year—could he manage that? Kang Seokwon could stay here, training… Crunch, crunch, crunch. The sound of a knife peeling the flesh of an apple echoed in his ears. If her son disappeared, the woman’s madness would turn entirely toward one person. She would surely ruin Kang Seokwon’s future, no matter the means.

He recalled Kang Seokwon’s expressionless face last night, extending his pinky, promising not to do what Jo Jihyun forbade.

Could the future have changed? He knew a way to glimpse it. It was a thought he had consciously suppressed, fearing he might not return. Just for a moment, a brief moment—wouldn’t that be enough? He had returned twice before, so this time should be the same. It had to be. He knew it was dangerous, but he could think of no other way. He exhaled. Pushing aside all other thoughts, he focused on one. He would tell Kang Seokwon everything, lay bare all the truths, even the incomprehensible ones. That was the starting point. He looked out the window. Light poured in. Countless beams cutting through the darkness, a large moon gazing at him.

Suddenly, a heavy thud pressed down on the air. His breath caught, and an irresistible gravity pulled at his body. His pulse raced. He collapsed to the floor. Gasping for air, he clutched the ground. After a while, he felt the cool air brushing his cheeks—something he wouldn’t feel in an enclosed stairwell.

Jo Jihyun slowly opened his eyes. He saw his hands gripping the ground. Both were intact, no broken bones. The murmur of people reached his ears.

“Are you okay?”

Someone asked. Jo Jihyun blinked. His eyes stung from the sweat trickling down.

“You just collapsed.”

“…I’m fine…”

Across the street, he saw him. Kang Seokwon, about to cross the road, froze mid-step. Jo Jihyun read his emotions: confusion, shame, defeat, and regret.

Had the future changed?

He opened his mouth to call out. Kang Seokwon turned away. The brutal indifference told Jo Jihyun everything. Nothing had changed. Why?

Jo Jihyun staggered to his feet. He must have hit his head when he fell; his vision was blurry, his head heavy.

“Sunbae!”

He called out. Kang Seokwon was visible between the passing cars.

“Sunbae! Wait, just wait a moment!”

Ignoring his shouts, Kang Seokwon walked on. The moment Jo Jihyun saw his gait, he sensed something was wrong. It was off. Not the precise, measured steps he knew. A horrific realization hit. You don’t even know if you’ll walk properly! If things go wrong, your leg could be ruined! The coach’s voice flashed through his mind. Something was definitely wrong. When Kang Seokwon had come to him with a pizza box, he was whole. Things had started twisting after Jo Jihyun began returning to the past.

“Sunbae!”

He called desperately, his voice tearing. No. It couldn’t be. This was the person he’d fought to protect. Jo Jihyun ran along the road, calling out. Kang Seokwon vanished into the crowd. If this continued, he’d lose him forever. He didn’t want to let him go. The Kang Seokwon who loved him tenderly in the past was important, but so was the man across the street. He didn’t need to return. Tears streamed down. His heart burned. He felt like he was going mad.

“Sunbae!!”

Jo Jihyun darted into the road. A sharp honk blared. Kang Seokwon turned to look at him. Behind him, stars filled the sky. A large moon gazed at Jo Jihyun. An absolute presence peered into the abyss. He now understood its warning clearly. He must not escape. He had to accept everything as it was, unchanged. Otherwise, he would ruin it all.

As he turned his head, a blinding white light rushed toward him.

He closed his eyes.

“――!”

Darkness surrounded him. After gasping for a long time, his vision slowly returned. He realized he was sprawled on the stairwell floor. It was the hospital. He was back. His hospital gown was soaked with cold sweat. A chill seeped in. Jo Jihyun clutched his clothes and crouched on the steps. He replayed what he’d seen. Kang Seokwon’s leg. His distorted gait. His body trembled. Fear surged to his throat. He had seen the consequences of his actions. The moment he suggested running away, this would happen. It was fate’s warning. The future was set, and he had to follow it. Otherwise, everything would twist. He buried his face in his hands. He wanted to run, even now. He felt like men would appear from nowhere and drag him to a mental hospital. It was horrific. For the first time, returning here felt unwelcome. Thinking of Kang Seokwon, limping but still coming toward him after his fall, tears burst forth. Unable to cry aloud, he swallowed his sobs. Jo Jihyun gripped his knees tightly. He knew it would come to this. The weight of his actions pressed down on him. It was a cruel game. He didn’t know how to endure anymore. His stomach churned, as if a sharp hook were tearing through it. Jo Jihyun curled forward. The world shook. The ground beneath him collapsed as if gravity had vanished. He lost consciousness and fell.

A nurse found Jo Jihyun collapsed on the stairs. After various tests, the diagnosis was vasovagal syncope. The doctor, explaining in complex terms, simplified it: stress. He had a fever and a headache. He lay unconscious for a full day. Thinking back, it had happened before. His body ached as if he’d been beaten. Both times, it happened when he was already in pain, so he brushed it off. This time, it hurt more intensely. It felt like his body was overloaded. It was all punishment. Punishment for defying the natural order.

When he opened his eyes, he met Kang Seokwon’s worried gaze. Every time he regained consciousness, Kang Seokwon was there. The nurse scolded him for not leaving another patient’s room, but he didn’t budge.

“Are you in a lot of pain?”

Kang Seokwon asked.

“I’m fine.”

His voice was low and subdued.

“Want some water?”

“No.”

His throat felt rough and sore. An uneasy silence followed. Kang Seokwon waited quietly for Jo Jihyun to speak first. He sensed something was wrong. Kang Seokwon always read Jo Jihyun’s state with uncanny accuracy. Jo Jihyun couldn’t face him. He pulled the sheet over himself and turned to the other side.

“Should I call the doctor?”

“No.”

He felt Kang Seokwon’s presence drawing closer, trying to read his expression. Jo Jihyun didn’t want to be seen. He curled up tightly, burying his face in the sheet. He was afraid. Realizing this was all ruining Kang Seokwon’s life, he couldn’t look at him.

“Jo Jihyun.”

Kang Seokwon called his name, gently stroking his back. Unlike before, the anxiety didn’t fade. Each touch of Kang Seokwon’s hand added to the weight of guilt.

“It’s okay.”

Those words brought tears welling up. It wasn’t okay at all. If Jo Jihyun stayed by his side, Kang Seokwon would lose not just his future but his healthy body too. He needed to let him go, but he didn’t know how. He couldn’t even imagine a tomorrow without Kang Seokwon.

“Sunbae.”

He called out in a cracked voice.

“Yeah.”

“How long could you live without seeing my face?”

“…”

Kang Seokwon didn’t answer. Lying facing the wall, Jo Jihyun couldn’t see his expression.

“A week, maybe just three days.”

“…”

“Is that the answer you wanted?”

His voice carried a trace of warmth. Kang Seokwon stood, leaning on his crutches.

“Rest. You must be tired.”

The sound of his crutches tapping the floor echoed a few times before the door closed.

A dark unease surged to his throat. The image of Kang Seokwon disappearing into the crowd flashed in his mind. Jo Jihyun sat up in bed. He didn’t want to lose him again. If he acted now, Kang Seokwon couldn’t have gone far.

He opened the hospital room door.

“…!”

Kang Seokwon, sitting in a chair outside, looked up.

“That’s a bad habit.”

“…”

“Why do you keep acting like it’s the end?”

If you keep doing this, I’ll really lose it. Kang Seokwon muttered, lowering his head. His face looked worn. He had spent the entire day in Jo Jihyun’s room. Jo Jihyun tightened his grip on the doorknob.

“I’m sorry.”

Jo Jihyun apologized. He walked to Kang Seokwon and knelt in the hallway. It was late, and no one was passing by.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Kang Seokwon asked.

“I’ve never done this before, so I really don’t know. What did I do wrong?”

His eyes flickered with anxiety. Kang Seokwon was always perceptive, especially when it came to Jo Jihyun. He paid attention to everything—Jo Jihyun’s expressions, tone, the air around him. He couldn’t miss Jo Jihyun’s feelings. Kang Seokwon read his anxiety, despair, and restlessness perfectly.

“I wish it was my fault.”

“…”

“Then I could fix it all.”

“No. I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

Jo Jihyun took Kang Seokwon’s hand. Something was changing. The future, the present—different from before. If things had gone as they should, Kang Seokwon would be walking without crutches by now. His aching head pieced it together. The change was him. His refusal to leave Kang Seokwon’s side was twisting the present and future.

He had to leave Kang Seokwon. Like before.

The current situation was like misaligned gears grinding along. No one knew when they’d break. The longer he stayed by Kang Seokwon, the more the edges would shatter.

“It’s my fault… all my fault.”

Jo Jihyun bowed his head. Kang Seokwon lifted his chin, making him look up.

“You haven’t done anything wrong. And you won’t.”

His words, granting absolution for everything Jo Jihyun did, made his chest feel tight. He knew the one thing Kang Seokwon couldn’t forgive.

“I’ll do better.”

As if he hadn’t already done everything he could, Kang Seokwon spoke like it wasn’t enough. His fingers brushed through Jo Jihyun’s hair.

“I’ll do even better.”

He leaned down and kissed Jo Jihyun’s forehead. A vow was etched there, like the six-letter name carved into his wrist.

Jo Jihyun stood and wrapped his arms around Kang Seokwon’s neck. Their lips met. Perhaps because of the fever, Kang Seokwon’s lips felt cool.

“Should we go in?”

He asked between parted lips. Jo Jihyun nodded.

Inside the room, Kang Seokwon backed Jo Jihyun against the wall. Both were injured, and even slight contact brought sharp pain. But in that moment, they couldn’t care about that. Through the thin hospital gowns, the man’s arousal was unmistakable.

“Your bones are still…”

Jo Jihyun’s panting breath carried his excitement. Kang Seokwon said it was fine and bit at Jo Jihyun’s lips. His tongue invaded the w** membranes. They s**ked each other’s lips so hard it made smacking sounds. Kang Seokwon’s solid body fiercely embraced Jo Jihyun. In the process, Jo Jihyun’s casted hand brushed against him. Kang Seokwon instantly noticed Jo Jihyun’s stifled groan.

“Put your hand like this.”

Kang Seokwon draped Jo Jihyun’s right arm around his neck.

“It’s hard for you too, sunbae.”

Kang Seokwon had casts on one arm and one leg. Jo Jihyun lightly kissed his lips and whispered to go to the bed. Kang Seokwon swallowed a small sigh. Jo Jihyun looked at him curiously.

“I lied earlier.”

“…”

“I couldn’t last a day.”

Kang Seokwon whispered in a low, pained voice, his brow furrowed. Jo Jihyun nodded.

“Me too.”

“…”

“Without you, sunbae, I… ――.”

The rest of his words faded between their locked lips. It was a sentiment that didn’t need to be heard to be understood. Kang Seokwon sat Jo Jihyun on the bed. Hospital gowns were designed for easy removal in emergencies. With a few movements, the cumbersome clothes could be stripped away. Bare, pale skin was revealed. Kang Seokwon let out an enraptured breath, touching to confirm its presence. Jo Jihyun’s feverish body flinched with every brush of Kang Seokwon’s hand.

“You have a fever.”

He murmured, kissing various parts of Jo Jihyun’s body.

“So you’re not going to do it?”

Jo Jihyun asked with a smile. Kang Seokwon looked up. His straight nose was visible, rare for a boxer, a testament to his strength.

“I want to.”

He rarely confessed his raw desire.

“I want to too.”

Jo Jihyun smiled.

“I want you inside me, sunbae.”

“…”

“Was that inappropriate again?”

“No.”

Kang Seokwon collapsed into Jo Jihyun’s arms, whispering. Every time you say things like that, my heart feels like it’s going to explode. His calm voice confessed his passion. Jo Jihyun hugged his head. Kang Seokwon’s lips grazed his neck. Each touch sent tingles to Jo Jihyun’s toes. He curled them, gripping Kang Seokwon’s hair. Kang Seokwon’s lips lingered near his chest. With just a few touches, he lightly bit and pulled at the blood-rushed n**ple. Ah, Jo Jihyun let out an excited m**n. Kang Seokwon took the n**ple into his mouth, rolling his tongue. Ha, ah, Jo Jihyun’s breaths scattered over the pillow. He only realized he was lying on the bed much later. A shadow loomed. The large man climbed over Jo Jihyun.

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“If you lie down, I’ll get on top.”

Supporting himself with one arm and leg wasn’t impossible, but it was limiting. Jo Jihyun’s polite tone stirred Kang Seokwon’s desire. He let out a low breath.

“Don’t want to?”

“No.”

Kang Seokwon smiled and lay on the bed. Jo Jihyun leaned over him, almost collapsing. Kang Seokwon reached out, pulling Jo Jihyun’s waist to press against him.

“It’s hard for you.”

“Holding back is harder.”

Kang Seokwon’s firm e**ction touched Jo Jihyun’s bare skin. He kissed Jo Jihyun’s cheek and whispered softly. I want to touch you. Jo Jihyun gladly embraced him. Their lips met, tongues entwined. The heat intensified. Since being hospitalized, they hadn’t gone all the way. They had only touched, kissed, and relieved their desires with their hands, and even that was rare.

Jo Jihyun lowered his hips, rubbing himself between Kang Seokwon’s legs. Kang Seokwon let out a low ha, gripping Jo Jihyun’s hair. The kiss grew rougher. The flesh at Jo Jihyun’s entrance brushed against Kang Seokwon’s with each movement of his hips, nodding and sliding with w** sounds.

“Sunbae…”

Jo Jihyun called out in a fevered voice. Kang Seokwon responded with his eyes. You can put it in. Jo Jihyun’s voice was cool and clear. The moment it faltered was intensely sensual. Kang Seokwon gripped Jo Jihyun’s hips with one hand, parting them. He pressed his e**ction against the opened entrance and thrust in. Jo Jihyun gasped, collapsing onto Kang Seokwon.

“…Should I pull out?”

Kang Seokwon asked. Jo Jihyun’s body was noticeably feverish. Jo Jihyun shook his head.

“Come in deeper.”

“It’s hard for you.”

Despite his own intense arousal, Kang Seokwon held still. A wild beast suppressed its ferocity. It was endearing.

“It’s okay. No, it’s good.”

His trembling hands gripped the bed, but Jo Jihyun smiled faintly and pressed his weight down. Kang Seokwon’s e**ction slid deeper into the barely parted gap. Kang Seokwon bit his lip. Jo Jihyun kissed his forehead, cheeks, and jaw, whispering wherever he touched. I like it. I like you. Sunbae, I really, really like you. Sunbae, sunbae… I love you.

Kang Seokwon gripped Jo Jihyun tightly. His suppressed desire surged. His blood roared. It was a sensation he recalled thousands of times a day, no, every moment. He devoured Jo Jihyun greedily. His lower body was ablaze with excitement. He couldn’t think straight in the throes of ecstasy. No thoughts, just instinct—touching, embracing, kissing, and thrusting his hips. Jo Jihyun m**ned like a small animal, exhaling. Kang Seokwon buried his face in Jo Jihyun’s sweat-scented neck, baring his teeth. He bit at Jo Jihyun’s hair, wanting to swallow him whole. From head to toe, he wanted everything, without exception. He felt like he was adrift in a flood of unnatural l**t, without a buoy.

“Sunbae…”

Jo Jihyun’s hazy, heated voice anchored Kang Seokwon.

He knew. No matter where he wandered in the world, he would always come running at Jo Jihyun’s call. He would never escape him.

I will act and believe as you say.

All my emotions are yours.

Kang Seokwon tightly embraced Jo Jihyun and thrust his e**ction inside. A low scream escaped Jo Jihyun’s lips. Jo Jihyun’s body swayed with every grip and shake from Kang Seokwon. Their joined parts rubbed together with a w** sound. The e**ction pressed and grazed against his inner walls. Jo Jihyun’s damp breaths touched Kang Seokwon’s cheek. That alone drove the man into a fierce frenzy. Gripping the plump flesh of Jo Jihyun’s hips, Kang Seokwon pulled him down while thrusting upward.

“Ah!”

The sensation of the e**ction piercing his body made Jo Jihyun’s pupils dilate. Each time Kang Seokwon’s pelvis struck the soft flesh of Jo Jihyun’s hips with a thud, a whimpering m**n mixed with cries burst from Jo Jihyun’s dry lips.

“Jihyun-ah… Jo Jihyun.”

At Kang Seokwon’s call, Jo Jihyun could only nod, unable to respond aloud. Tears welled in his eyes, but a smile lingered within them. Meeting that gaze, the large man felt his mind go blank with overwhelming arousal. He gripped Jo Jihyun’s shoulders. In an instant, their positions reversed. Lifting Jo Jihyun’s legs, Kang Seokwon thrust deeply.

“Ah, hng… ugh.”

Jo Jihyun’s m**ns scattered. Sharp pain shot through his knees as they pressed against the bed, but there was no time to care. Every sense in his body was focused on Jo Jihyun. Kang Seokwon moved his hips frantically. Even in the midst of the wild shaking, Jo Jihyun clung to the man’s back. He was unbearably lovable. His broken breaths grazed Kang Seokwon’s neck. Sunbae, I love you. That voice, woven into his breaths, made Kang Seokwon’s vision flash. The pleasure surging from his toes to the crown of his head left him unable to think clearly. Again and again, he spread Jo Jihyun’s passage and thrust his e**ction inside. The hot inner walls parted and closed, clinging to Kang Seokwon’s flesh. His jaw tensed. Biting his lip, he plunged into Jo Jihyun with all his strength.

“Ah, haa… ah, ――.”

As their lips met, Jo Jihyun hungrily kissed Kang Seokwon. Like a child starved for three days, Jo Jihyun s**ked on Kang Seokwon’s lips, as if proving how much he loved him, gasping for breath but never stopping the kiss.

“Mm, ah… haa, sunbae… more…”

Despite the physical strain soaking his body in sweat due to their size difference, Jo Jihyun spread his legs wider. Desire filled his body to the point of dizziness. Kang Seokwon’s rigid e**ction struck places that seemed impossible to reach, hitting his peak. Jo Jihyun stifled a m**n, gripping the sheets. The rock-hard e**ction stabbed into his passage repeatedly. Jo Jihyun sobbed as he c**maxed. His soft passage spasmed, tightening around Kang Seokwon’s e**ction. The swollen organ, pressed against the inner walls, released. Jo Jihyun trembled faintly at the hot, gushing sensation.

With each breath Jo Jihyun exhaled, his passage twitched, and s**en trickled out. Kang Seokwon watched the scene with narrowed eyes.

When their eyes met, Jo Jihyun gave a faint smile. Exhausted from the long-awaited penetration, his bony back was drenched in cold sweat.

“You can do more.”

Despite this, Jo Jihyun kissed Kang Seokwon, urging him for more, as if this night were their last. Every time Jo Jihyun acted like this, Kang Seokwon’s heart burned with anxiety.

“You’re too tired for that.”

Kang Seokwon brushed Jo Jihyun’s hair back and kissed his forehead. Jo Jihyun smiled faintly. Overcome by sudden anxiety, Kang Seokwon gripped Jo Jihyun’s hand and said.

“Stay by my side, always.”

Jo Jihyun’s expression subtly twisted, then he swallowed a smile. Spreading his arms, he tightly embraced the man. I love you. A low whisper followed. Kang Seokwon collapsed into Jo Jihyun’s arms.

“Sunbae.”

A voice stirred Kang Seokwon from shallow sleep. Jo Jihyun gently shook him awake.

“What time is it?”

“Two o’clock.”

Kang Seokwon sat up.

“It’s snowing.”

At Jo Jihyun’s words, Kang Seokwon turned toward the window. Snow was falling—not just flurries like before, but heavy, thick snowflakes.

“It’s coming down a lot.”

Jo Jihyun knelt on the bed, looking out the window as he spoke. His slender back was fully exposed. Kang Seokwon held his breath for a moment, gazing at him.

“It’ll probably pile up quite a bit, right?”

Jo Jihyun turned to ask. Kang Seokwon, instead of answering, draped a sheet over Jo Jihyun’s shoulders. The falling snow made the room’s air chilly. Kang Seokwon touched Jo Jihyun’s forehead.

“Your fever’s gone down.”

“Yeah.”

A satisfied smile flickered in Kang Seokwon’s eyes.

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“Happy birthday.”

Kang Seokwon thought for a moment before saying, “Thanks.” He hadn’t kept track of days while in the hospital.

“I’m really sorry I couldn’t get you a gift.”

He had asked for a handwritten letter. Jo Jihyun’s right hand was in a cast.

“Give it to me next year.”

At Kang Seokwon’s reply, Jo Jihyun smiled silently.

“Double.”

“I’ll give you triple.”

“Alright.”

Kang Seokwon pulled Jo Jihyun’s shoulder close, embracing him tightly.

“…I’m sorry.”

“No need to worry.”

He continued calmly.

“I don’t even know exactly when my birthday is. My mother told my grandmother it was the day of the first snow. The next year’s first snow was December 10th.”

That’s why they registered it as December 10th. Jo Jihyun nodded at Kang Seokwon’s explanation.

“So it might have passed already.”

“Or maybe it hasn’t.”

Kang Seokwon kissed Jo Jihyun’s cheek.

“Yours is in March. March 23rd.”

“How did you know?”

Jo Jihyun didn’t recall telling him.

“Your student record.”

“How did you see that?”

“It was on your homeroom teacher’s desk.”

Jo Jihyun let out a small laugh.

“Why would you look at that? You’d get in trouble if you got caught.”

“I was curious. Height, weight, all that stuff.”

Kang Seokwon’s gaze landed on the snow falling outside. His chest felt heavy.

I was just curious. About those little things.

Before and now, Kang Seokwon paid attention to the small, trivial details no one else cared about.

“Don’t worry about it. The date’s not what matters.”

At that moment, Jo Jihyun’s expression froze, as if struck by lightning. He sat motionless, eyes unblinking, for a long time. Kang Seokwon’s words cut through his tangled thoughts. Kang Seokwon asked with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Dates.”

Jo Jihyun muttered to himself.

“I said it doesn’t matter.”

Despite Kang Seokwon’s words, Jo Jihyun’s expression didn’t soften. With furrowed brows, deep in thought, Jo Jihyun looked up.

“I’m going home tomorrow for a bit.”

“What?”

Kang Seokwon’s face darkened immediately.

“No way.”

He shook his head firmly.

“It’ll just be quick.”

“No. Are you out of your mind?”

Jo Jihyun replied calmly.

“Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal…”

“If something happens.”

Kang Seokwon’s eyes turned fierce as he gripped Jo Jihyun’s shoulders.

“What if something happens?”

“Sunbae…”

“You always say it’ll be fine, that you’ll be back soon.”

Kang Seokwon closed his eyes slowly and opened them. It felt like a red-hot iron was searing his throat. Each breath tore his emotions apart.

“I can’t keep watching you get hurt and in pain.”

Kang Seokwon spat out the words through gritted teeth.

“I’ll handle everything else.”

The arrogant, strong man lowered his head, begging.

“I’ll do anything, but this… I really can’t do this, Jihyun-ah.”

His trembling hand gripped Jo Jihyun’s shoulder. Jo Jihyun realized how much his anxiety stirred the man.

“I’m not going to get hurt. Or to fight.”

Jo Jihyun gripped Kang Seokwon’s hand.

“There’s something I need to check.”

“Jo Jihyun.”

“I won’t go alone. I’ll contact the social worker and go with them. I need something important.”

“Come with me. In a week, I’ll be able to move that much.”

“No. There’s no time.”

Kang Seokwon brushed Jo Jihyun’s dry cheek. His eyes were anxious.

“It’s really important.”

“Nothing’s more important than you.”

Kang Seokwon intertwined his fingers with Jo Jihyun’s palm as he spoke.

“It’s the same for me…”

For Jo Jihyun, nothing was more important than Kang Seokwon right now.

If he could set Kang Seokwon’s life right, nothing else mattered. The moment that thought struck, everything else became irrelevant. He focused solely on it.

“Don’t go. You can’t.”

Even Kang Seokwon, who would do anything Jo Jihyun asked, wouldn’t budge this time. When Jo Jihyun went home to talk, his mother threw a television at him. If Kang Seokwon hadn’t been there, Jo Jihyun might have died on the spot.

It was the same when Jo Jihyun said he’d go to submit his withdrawal from school. Seeing Jo Jihyun carried in with a broken arm, Kang Seokwon heard something snap inside him. The dam holding his emotions collapsed, flooding out. You need a guardian’s consent for surgery. Without it, we can’t proceed. The hospital staff explained calmly, devoid of emotion. In the end, all he could do was contact Jo Jihyun’s parents. It was miserable. So miserable he couldn’t breathe. Every moment confirmed he could do nothing for Jo Jihyun.

“I’m not letting you go.”

Kang Seokwon buried his face in Jo Jihyun’s neck. Jo Jihyun tried to push him away, calling sunbae, but he didn’t budge. Gripping him tightly, he whispered lowly. Don’t let go. Holding the fragile, lovable man, Jo Jihyun nodded.

“I won’t let go. Never. No, I can’t let go.”

The sound of snow piling up softly broke the midnight silence.

He hesitated between pressing the doorbell or entering the passcode, then chose the former. After the bell rang, a woman’s voice asked, “Who is it?” Jo Jihyun hesitated before replying, “It’s me.”

Footsteps approached, and the door swung open.

“You…!”

The woman glaring at him noticed the person behind Jo Jihyun and softened her expression.

“Jihyun-ah. What brings you here? Are you discharged?”

Feigning kindness came easily to a woman with such a beautiful appearance.

“I came for a quick errand. May I come in?”

“Of course. This is our home, why would you ask that?”

Jo Jihyun signaled to the social worker behind him and stepped inside. It hadn’t been long since he left, but the air in the house already felt foreign.

“Would you like some tea?”

The woman spoke brightly to the social worker. Jo Jihyun ignored her and went to his room. It looked like a storm had torn through it. His mother followed, letting out an embarrassed laugh.

“Well, boys, you know. No matter how neat they are, their rooms are always a mess. I clean and clean, but it never ends.”

The bookshelf was toppled, and the floor was littered with torn books and clothes. Jo Jihyun genuinely pitied the woman’s mental state, believing she could brush off this situation with such words.

Jo Jihyun righted the bookshelf and gathered the scattered books to organize them.

“Need help?”

The social worker asked.

“No. I just need to find something.”

The social worker stood by the door, waiting as Jo Jihyun searched. The woman paced near the doorway, her face full of things she wanted to say.

After a long search, Jo Jihyun found his notebook. To be safe, he tucked a few more books into his bag.

“I’m ready to go.”

As Jo Jihyun stood, the woman blocked his path.

“Jihyun-ah. Let’s talk for a bit. Your dad will be home soon. He said he’s on his way. I texted him.”

“I have nothing to say.”

“I already called your aunt in America. She happily agreed. She really misses you. She got teary talking about you.”

The woman who had whispered threats of locking him in a mental hospital if he didn’t go to America wove her story skillfully. Just then, the front door opened, and his father walked in.

“Jihyun-ah. Are you discharged? The hospital didn’t call.”

“I’m not discharged.”

“Then when are you getting out?”

A simple call to the desk would answer that. Jo Jihyun gave a bitter smile. Discharge was in five days. It could’ve been sooner, but Lee Sookhyun insisted on delaying it after he fainted on the stairs. She was frantic, worried something might happen to Jo Jihyun. Her love for her son was profound.

“In five days.”

“Alright. I’ll come to the hospital then.”

“No. That’s not necessary. I’ll contact you later.”

Jo Jihyun turned to the woman.

“I’ll see you at the trial.”

The trial was the day after tomorrow. Jo Jihyun had agreed to testify.

“…Fine. See you then.”

The woman’s face crumpled. Jo Jihyun bowed and left the house. While waiting for the elevator, the social worker asked with concern.

“Are you okay? You look pale…”

His reflection in the mirror was ashen. Jo Jihyun said he was fine and steadied his breathing as they rode the elevator down.

Kang Seokwon’s opposition was unwavering. Even when Jo Jihyun said he’d go with the social worker, the answer was a firm no. In the end, he left the hospital without telling Kang Seokwon. Kang Seokwon had a consultation and tests for rehab scheduled today, expected to take about two hours.

When Kang Seokwon mentioned dates, Jo Jihyun felt struck by lightning. He’d only thought about why he returned here, never why he woke up on that specific day. Since losing his memory and waking up in front of the elevator, he’d recorded comparisons between this life and the past in his notebook. He needed to review it to organize his thoughts.

“What time is it?”

“Almost five.”

There was still time before Kang Seokwon’s tests ended.

“Should I drive you to the hospital? I’m going that way anyway.”

The social worker asked kindly. Jo Jihyun agreed.

The moment he opened the hospital room door, Jo Jihyun caught his breath. Kang Seokwon, sitting on the bed, looked up.

“Sunbae.”

Jo Jihyun checked the wall clock. There were still forty minutes until the tests were supposed to end.

“Couldn’t do the tests today. The machine broke.”

Kang Seokwon got off the bed and approached. Jo Jihyun closed the door.

“I’m sorry. It was really important…”

“What’s so important?”

Jo Jihyun bit his lip. He couldn’t tell Kang Seokwon about the notebook. Kang Seokwon’s gaze landed on the cake box in Jo Jihyun’s hand.

“You bought a cake?”

His firm, angular voice was unusually cold.

“Yes. I couldn’t properly celebrate…”

Jo Jihyun held out the box. It was the most decent gift he could afford. Kang Seokwon took the cake box.

“Is this so important?”

“What?”

Kang Seokwon tossed the cake, box and all, into the trash. Shocked by his unexpected action, the color drained from Jo Jihyun’s face.

“Sorry. I’m not in the mood for cake.”

Kang Seokwon apologized immediately, then continued.

“You know I like you, right?”

“…I know.”

“No,” Kang Seokwon said softly.