GBAS 64

As he stepped inside the shop, a cool breeze from the air conditioner brushed against the nape of his neck. Jooin, who had just thrown on a shirt, properly fastened the collar in the chilly air and spoke to the director’s back.

“Why did you call me in?”

At that, the director, who had been leaning against the office door and looking outside, turned around. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then let out a small sigh and opened his mouth.

“I felt I should tell you.”

“What is it?”

At Jooin’s question, the director glanced outside and began to speak, rambling a bit.

“A few weeks ago, there was a man loitering in front of the building. He looked quite old, maybe in his late 40s.”

When Jooin nodded, the director continued.

“At first, I thought he was just passing by and looking, but then he suddenly came into the office and asked.”

“Asked what?”

“What the name of the man living on the roof here was.”

At the director’s words, Jooin’s brow furrowed slightly. The director scratched his chin with his finger as if trying to recall the memory and said.

“At the time, he was so suspicious that I didn’t answer. But, was it last night? This time, he was rummaging through the mailboxes.”

“…The mailboxes.”

“Yes. I should have caught him right then and there, but I was so surprised I let him get away. Seeing as he’s come twice, it feels like he’ll be back again, and I have a really bad feeling about this… Shouldn’t we report this?”

The director looked at Jooin with a worried face and asked. Wasn’t it suspicious for a man, not of the same age but much older, to suddenly show up and try to find out his whereabouts? He thought Jooin would surely be surprised, but unexpectedly, his expression remained calm.

Jooin quietly shook his head and replied.

“No. It’s okay.”

“Why? Do you have someone in mind?”

This time, Jooin nodded, and the director made a curious expression but didn’t ask further. Instead, he gave him a worried look and said.

“If that’s the case, I have nothing more to say, but still, you never know with people, so please be careful. And make sure to lock your doors properly.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Gosh, the world is so dangerous these days.”

As Jooin bowed his head, the director, who had opened the door for him, smiled shyly and added.

“But, you don’t come by for coffee much these days, do you?”

At the director’s words, Jooin stopped for a moment, turned to look at him, and replied.

“I’ve been a bit short on sleep.”

The director pressed his lips together as if disappointed and nodded. Jooin bowed his head once more and left the office.

Having stayed in a cool place for a while, the once refreshing air now felt stuffy and humid. Jooin, who was trudging along the alleyway, roughly ran his fingers through his hair with a deep sigh.

“…Ha.”

There was one person who came to mind when he thought of a man in his late 40s looking for him. No, it was certain without even thinking further.

He was surprised he’d been left alone for so long.

“Ugh-!”

Jooin threw himself onto the sofa in the practice room and lay down in an awkward position. His back was bent strangely due to the workbook-filled bag, making a cracking sound.

In just a few days, it would be the college entrance exam. It was the time for the most important test of his life, one he had been preparing for his whole life. Worried he might catch a cold, he had zipped his padded jacket up to his neck. When he finally unzipped it, he could breathe freely with a whoosh. Now he felt like he could live.

“Hoo, hah.”

Jooin took a deep breath and smiled contentedly.

The musty, moldy smell unique to basements tickled the tip of his nose. The picky Im Jihwan said he hated this smell, but Jooin liked it. Just smelling it made him feel at ease, as if he had come to another world. And he was, in fact, in another world.

Just then, a commotion could be heard from outside the door.

Multiple footsteps and overlapping voices. It was his friends.

Clank-!

“So what I’m saying is, from there, add another half beat-.”

“Why are you so late?”

At the sound of a voice that shouldn’t have been there at this time, the footsteps of those entering with their hands full of hamburger bags came to a halt.

“What the. Baek Jooin!”

He said he couldn’t come because of academy. Behind Suchan, whose eyes widened in surprise, Namyeong poked his head out and said.

“See. I told you he’d be here today.”

“Of course I thought you were lying. If I’d known, I would’ve ordered one more combo. Ah!”

Suchan, who had smacked the arm of the shrugging Namyeong, ran over to Jooin.

As Suchan placed the bags he was holding with both hands on the table, Taeil and Jihwan, who had followed him in, immediately flocked to it. Shaking his head at his friends who were grinning as they took out the hamburgers, Suchan asked Jooin.

“But why don’t you have your guitar? Didn’t you come to practice?”

“Yeah. I just came to say hi today. Please bear with me until after the exam.”

At Jooin’s words, Suchan propped his chin with his hand and frowned, saying, “Hmph.”

“You know how hard it is to practice without a lead guitar, right?”

“Sorry.”

Suchan, who was staring at the awkwardly smiling Jooin, eventually shook his head and said.

“Forget it. How is that your fault? The sorrow of having super strict parents, I, as a friend, have to understand.”

Just as Suchan was patting Jooin’s shoulder, pretending to wipe away tears, Taeil and Jihwan, who had taken a large bite of their hamburgers, sat on the edge of the table and asked.

“Jooin-ss, can you really be in a band with us even if you go to college?”

“My brother says if it’s medical school, you have to study without even sleeping.”

After saying that, Jihwan held out a french fry dipped in ketchup.

“I’m already doing it in secret, so what. I can just study on my own, and my parents will probably ease up once I get into college.”

When Jooin shook his head, saying it was okay, the french fry disappeared into Suchan’s mouth in a flash. Suchan, who was chuckling at Jihwan dusting off his hands with a groan, continued.

“Nope? I’d bet my wah pedal that your mother and father will even check your grade report.”

Namyeong, who had approached them at some point, said while sipping his cola.

“Oh, that’s useless-.”

“Tsk, what would a mega ukulele player who can’t even make a sound know.”

“Said Mr. Yoon Suchan, who barely manages to survive in the band as a rhythm guitarist after getting his ass kicked by Baek Jooin.”

“Hey! Are you crazy?”

Jooin burst into laughter at his friends who were fighting as if their band’s motto was to respond to provocation with provocation.

“But Jooin.”

Taeil, who had already finished one hamburger and was unwrapping a second one, continued to ask.

“We have a practice room, so isn’t it better to leave your guitar here? What if you get caught?”

At Taeil’s question, Jooin shrugged his shoulders and answered.

“They’re too busy. They don’t look inside the wardrobe, so it’s fine. I can’t even come to practice often, so I have to at least practice on my own.”

At Jooin’s words, Suchan, who had been bickering with Namyeong until a moment ago, shook his head.

“Seriously, the one who’s the best is always the most extra.”

“That’s why, Yoon Suchan, instead of trying to leech off Jooin, you should practice hard on your own.”

Suchan, his face crumpled, lunged at Namyeong who was mockingly imitating his way of speaking.

“Argh, you little-?”

I should get out before it gets any louder. Jooin, looking around at his four friends, got up from his seat and zipped up his padded jacket to just below his nose.

“I’m leaving.”

“Yeah yeah, take care and see you in class tomorrow.”

Jooin, who had nodded instead of saying goodbye, opened the practice room door and climbed the stairs, tap, tap. He readjusted the bag that was about to slip off his shoulder and was about to go out to the road to catch a taxi.

“Baek Jooin!”

When he turned around, Cheon Namyeong was there. As Jooin raised his eyebrows as if to ask why he was calling him, Namyeong quickly approached, shoved something into Jooin’s pocket, and said.

“Hang in there a little longer. It’s just a few more days.”

“Yeah, thanks. But what’s this?”

“Lip balm. Your lips looked chapped.”

What he took out of his pocket was a lip balm of the same brand as the one he had lost a few days ago.

“Thanks.”

Jooin, smiling brightly, looked at Namyeong and then asked.

“So, are you really not taking the exam?”

“Yeah. But it’s gotten a bit annoying lately. My mom was happy at first when I said I’d help with the business instead of going to college, but I think she’s changed her mind recently. You know she’s been putting pressure on me by talking about you a lot?”

“Oh dear.”

“Her friends have apparently started practicing making exam lunch boxes and are sending pictures in the group chat, and I think she’s envious. I’ve already registered, so since I have nothing to do, I’m thinking of just going to the exam site and eating my lunch box.”

“That’s not a bad idea either.”

They were having a trivial conversation, breathing out white puffs of air.

Bzzzz—Bzzzz-

Startled by the vibrating sound, Jooin took his phone out of his pocket. Father. His face turned pale at the three characters that appeared on the screen, and he hurriedly walked toward the roadside.

“What. He’s already here?”

Jooin nodded and waved his hand eagerly toward the road. Nine times out of ten, his father would come home after midnight. What could be the matter? Soon, a taxi with a red light on top pulled over.

“I’m going.”

“Yeah, be careful. And call me if anything happens.”

Jooin quickly got into the car and waved at Namyeong through the window.

Bzzzz—Bzzzz-

His heart pounded wildly at the incessant vibrating sound.