Vol 6 Bonus track 5

“Haa…”  

 

Peter sighed and lay on his bed.  

 

‘What happened to your face? What on earth happened?’  

 

When his mother saw Aaron following him inside yesterday, she was shocked. They couldn’t brush off his injuries as a mere fall. Aaron admitted that he’d been in a fight, but didn’t say with whom or why. Peter said it was his fault for not stopping it, but he couldn’t explain the details either.  

 

In the end, their parents punished them with a week of grounding and a deduction in allowance. Both of them accepted the punishment without complaint. The problem was their phones.  

 

‘No phones for a week.’ 

‘What? A week? But…’  

 

Both of them protested, but their mother didn’t budge. The world’s most gentle and kind mother was strict about lies.  

 

‘Not telling me what happened is the same as lying,’ she’d said. They couldn’t make any excuses in front of her.  

 

…What should I do?  

 

No matter how he turned over in bed, no solution came to mind. Right after all that, his phone had been taken away before he could have a proper conversation with Philip.  

 

He must be very angry. Of course. Regardless of the situation, it was Aaron who barged in and caused a scene. Should he have stayed after sending Aaron away? But knowing Aaron, there was no way he would have left alone in that situation. Peter thought he had made the right decision by returning home, yet he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.  

 

He’d heard that Philip nearly got suspended after striking Fred again. When he asked Philip about it, Philip just shrugged.  

 

…That day, Philip never let go of that piece of ceramic.  

 

‘He’s here at this school because he caused trouble in England and got expelled. Haha. He might get kicked out again soon.’

 

In that moment, Peter was more worried about Philip potentially getting expelled than Aaron behind him. If that happened, he might never see him again…  

 

‘Goodbye.’  

 

The low voice behind him as he stepped out the door.

 

Philip’s face, looking at him while bleeding from his nose, wouldn’t leave Peter’s mind. Peter sat up in bed.  

 

I have to apologize.  

 

He hastily threw on whatever clothes were within reach. He was under house arrest, but that was a problem for later. Holding his shoes in his hands, he quietly slipped out of his room. As he carefully descended each step, someone grabbed his shoulder from behind.  

 

“Ah!”  

 

When he turned around, Aaron was standing there.  

 

“You scared me,” Peter whispered.  

 

“Where are you going?”  

 

Peter didn’t answer, so Aaron frowned and asked again.  

 

“You’re not going to that guy’s house, are you?”  

 

“…”  

 

“Hyung.”  

 

Aaron grabbed his brother’s sleeve.  

 

“I need to go and apologize.”  

 

“Why should you?”  

 

“You were the one who acted rude.”  

 

“Then I’ll go instead. It was my rudeness, just like you said.”  

 

As Aaron tried to head down the stairs, Peter quickly grabbed him.  

 

“No, I’ll go.”  

 

“If it’s just to apologize, I can do it.”  

 

Peter bit down on his lower lip. He needed to apologize, but it wasn’t just that… Philip’s strangely self-deprecating tone… it still weighed on his mind.  

 

“I have to go.”  

 

“Why?”  

 

Aaron asked, clearly not understanding.  

 

“What for?”  

 

“Why are you being friendly with… a guy like him?” Aaron hesitated before finishing his question.  

 

“It’s just…”  

 

Peter blinked his large eyes, then asked, “Is that not okay?”  

 

“It’s not that, but…”  

 

Aaron knew all too well Philip’s type. Born with wealth and ability, surrounded by people, naturally receiving attention. A life where he’d never lacked anyone’s goodwill.  

 

“You know he got into a violent incident not long ago, right? The other guy is still in the hospital. He’s definitely not a good person.”  

 

“…I know.”  

 

When Philip came up to his room, he had said he was a broken person. Added that he wasn’t the prince of Woodson, but Woodson’s madman. And he laughed. Every time he spoke about himself like that, Peter’s heart strangely ached. Even when Philip said he was fine, wiping his bloody nose with a handkerchief.  

 

“Whatever his intentions are, just because he’s treating you nicely now doesn’t mean he’ll continue to. He changes girlfriends every week… He’s surrounded by people, and he’s bound to get tired of this.”  

 

“…I know.”  

 

Peter answered weakly. He already knew. Philip changed girlfriends weekly, and there was always a crowd around him. He didn’t expect the strange fondness Philip showed him to last forever, not even for a moment.  

 

Even so, I want to go and apologize.  

 

“…Hyung.”  

 

“Aaron, thank you for worrying. I understand what you’re worried about, but I’ll really be okay.”  

 

Peter replied with a calm smile. Aaron sighed. He recalled how even their parents couldn’t sway his gentle, kind brother when he was truly determined.  

 

“…He’s not home right now, anyway.”  

 

“What?”  

 

“There’s a party at Liam’s house tonight. He’ll be there. I saw a photo just now on the group chat.”  

 

“A photo? But we don’t have our phones. How did you see it?”  

 

“…Phones aren’t the only way. Here.” Aaron dug into his pocket and handed Peter the car keys.  

 

“You can’t walk all the way there at this hour. You’ll get in trouble, too.”  

 

If their parents found out Aaron had lent him the car, Aaron would surely be scolded as well.  

 

“Well, we’ll just get in trouble together.”  

 

Aaron added with an awkward chuckle. Peter smiled warmly. His brother, who always worried about him and tried to protect him, was precious beyond words.  

 

“Thanks.”  

 

“Just hurry back. Mom and Dad went to Uncle’s earlier, so you should be fine if you get back soon.”  

 

“Yeah.”  

 

“Actually, I’ll go with you. Let me change quickly. Just wait a moment.”  

 

“It’s fine. Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”  

 

Peter headed out immediately. As he drove, his heart pounded. This was his first time sneaking out after being grounded.  

 

It’ll be okay. It’s not like I’m going out to do anything bad—I’m just going to apologize. When you’re in the wrong, you should apologize. That’s what Dad always says. Besides…

 

‘It’s okay.’  

…It couldn’t be okay. He had lost a lot of blood, and definitely… Peter tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He parked after arriving at the place where the party was supposed to be. He could hear the thumping music from a distance.  

 

Now what?  

 

Only then did Peter remember his own situation. The clothes he had on were sloppy, and his hair was a mess. He hadn’t been invited to the party, nor did he know anyone there. Now he understood why Aaron had offered to go with him.  

 

“Idiot. Fool…”  

 

Still, he had no intention of going back. He didn’t want to. He needed to apologize, he was worried about him, and he wanted to see him.  

 

It was strange. It had only been a few days, but the events of that day felt like a distant memory. The gentle voice explaining things to him, the elegant handwriting writing down numbers, the white curtains swaying by the window, the fleeting tension when their eyes met, and…  

 

‘I want to.’  

 

No one would believe it, but the anxiety he sensed in Philip at that moment had squeezed his throat.  

 

‘With you, I want to.’  

 

Faced with his unreserved sincerity, Peter had no choice but to nod.  

 

“…”  

 

Just recalling that day made Peter’s face flush. He rubbed his cheeks a few times. After roughly fixing his hair, he got out of the car. His heart thumped along with the beat of the music. He rehearsed what he would say if anyone asked him why he was there. But as he passed through the entrance and entered the living room, no one seemed to notice him.  

 

The blaring music. Voices talking over each other. Laughter.  

 

Peter looked around carefully, searching for Philip, but he couldn’t find him anywhere.  

 

…Could Aaron have been mistaken? Should he ask him now…? Peter instinctively reached into his pocket and sighed. Just then, a blonde girl carrying two cups walked past him, asking for a moment’s excuse.  

 

“Excuse me!”  

 

Peter gathered his courage and called out to her.  

 

“Hm?”  

 

“Um, I’m looking for Philip… I mean, Philip Levin.”  

 

“Philip? Oh, he’s near the pool.”  

 

“The pool?”  

 

She nodded in the direction of the pool with a short gesture. Peter thanked her repeatedly and quickly headed that way. The pool area was crowded as well.  

 

Where is he? He should stand out… Where… As Peter looked around, he noticed someone’s back. A broad shoulder he could never mistake for anyone else’s. It was Philip. Leaning against the fence in the corner of the pool, holding a phone in one hand, smoking a cigarette.  

 

Peter’s eyes widened with relief. Thankfully, he didn’t look hurt.  

 

As he was about to step closer to greet him—  

 

“Philip.”  

 

Someone called his name, approaching him. Philip turned around. She handed him a drink and cheerfully struck up a conversation. Philip moved his cigarette from his hand to his mouth and took the cup. The music pounded. Thump, thump, thump. After she said a few words, Philip, with the cigarette between his lips, gave a short laugh. Peter felt his heart sink as if he could hear it in his ears. She leaned against the fence, reached out, wrapped her hand around Philip’s neck, and brought her face close to his. Peter didn’t watch any further. No, he couldn’t watch. He hurriedly left the place as if running away. He got into the car, but he couldn’t even remember how he managed to drive home. When Aaron asked if everything went well, he mumbled something vague and went straight to his room, lying down.  

 

‘I don’t know what that guy’s thinking, but just because he’s being nice now doesn’t mean it’ll last.’  

 

He couldn’t understand why Philip liked him. Philip himself had said he didn’t know. Honestly, it didn’t even make sense. Compared to him, he was utterly unimpressive—looks, grades, circumstances—nothing that would catch his interest.  

 

…Even a guy.  

 

Of course, he knew. He knew full well that Philip’s curiosity in him wouldn’t last forever, but still…  

 

I like you.  

 

The way he’d said it, his voice trembling with anxiety…  

 

I’ll figure out why later. So, damn it, just let me kiss you.  

 

Those hands cupping his face were so gentle that he wanted to believe. That, at least for the moments Philip showed him his true feelings.  

 

He’s bound to get tired of this soon.  

 

…I know.  

 

Peter pulled the sheet over his head.  

 

No, I didn’t know. I thought I did, but I guess I believed I was special. Foolishly…  

 

His vision blurred. That night, he burned with fever until dawn.