PUPPY 31

Seowoo pulled a hat from his bag and put it on. It was a hat with an orange clownfish doll on it, made famous by an animation.

“Fucking cute.”

As soon as he saw Seowoo wearing the hat, a gasp of admiration escaped Juwon’s lips.

When Seowoo was a dog, he often couldn’t understand what was being said, so Juwon had blurted out his inner thoughts freely. That seemed to have become a habit, as his honest words popped out before he knew it.

“Huh? Me?”

Seowoo asked, turning to Juwon. However, he was flustered even after saying it.

‘I should have asked if he meant the hat was cute, not me….’

He realized his mistake and tried to correct his question, but just as Seowoo’s lips parted, Juwon answered.

“Yeah…. You’re cute.”

It wasn’t a playful tone. Juwon replied in a serious voice and lowered his head. He couldn’t make an excuse with other words. It was because he was genuinely so cute.

Besides, Juwon didn’t feel any particular jealousy or competitiveness toward marine life. He naturally developed a sense of respect for animals that possessed the ability to breathe underwater.

“What’s this, a direct hit on Cha Juwon’s type?”

Kim Dongwon, who was listening to their conversation while adjusting his hanbok, made an ‘ooh ooh ooh’ sound.

“Could it be that Ryu Seowoo is your type….”

“Hey, hey. Don’t.”

The moment Kim Dongwon and Oh Dongjae exchanged glances and tried to tease them, Yang Juhyeon suddenly stepped in with a stern face.

“What’s with him.”

Watching Yang Juhyeon turn serious with a deep sigh, Oh Dongjae and Kim Dongwon shook their heads. Juwon and Seowoo were silently avoiding each other’s gaze.

🦴

May, with its beaming sunshine, was optimal for outdoor photoshoots. The location was a mountain a short distance from the school, a place mentioned in the school anthem.

Complaints of ‘It’s fucking hot,’ did burst from the mouths of the kids layered in thick costumes, but they all looked like they were having fun. However, unlike the bright weather, Seowoo’s condition had hit rock bottom.

“Haaah….”

As Seowoo let out a sigh, Juwon, who had been walking ahead, turned back and asked.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

“Want me to carry you if it’s tough?”

Seowoo shook his head at Juwon’s question. The sunlight was nice, but he occasionally felt the world spin before his eyes.

Just because the illness he suffered as a child was cured didn’t mean he had become a ‘healthy’ person. The illness Seowoo had suffered had a low risk of recurrence, but he had to be careful his whole life not to let his immunity drop. Because of that, Seowoo periodically went to the hospital to have his respiratory system, where complications had occurred, checked, along with getting blood tests.

In the winter when the biting wind blew, he made sure to eat warm food or drinks and was heavily armed in a padded jacket, so he rarely caught a severe cold. But during the change of seasons, he always caught a cold or his stamina would drop. Unlike Seowoo, who kept his mouth tightly shut from the strain, his other friends were thoroughly excited.

“No matter how you look at it, he looks like a crazy bastard. That’s why I thought the taxi driver wouldn’t give us a ride.”

“He probably thought he was fucking hallucinating, right? A dinosaur standing on the street with an alpaca.”

“It’s not an alpaca, it’s a Bichon,” Yang Juhyeon said, adjusting the white mask he was wearing on his head.

“You’ve lost your Bichon mind.”

“But Cha Juwon, did you really not bring anything?”

The friends, who were adjusting the costumes they had carefully prepared, looked at Juwon in his ordinary school uniform and asked.

“I have something prepared too.”

“What?”

“You brought something? Oh.”

At his friends’ reactions, Juwon shrugged his shoulders and said.

“A headband.”

“What kind of headband?”

“Wait a sec.”

After saying that, Juwon turned around, bowed his head, and then lifted it. On Juwon’s head were the white dog ears Seowoo had seen before.

When Juwon tilted his head slightly, the ears with white fur twitched. As their eyes met, Juwon smiled brightly. The sunlight sparkled behind Juwon’s back. Juwon, who had been looking exhausted from climbing the hill, smiled as he looked at Seowoo. Seeing the sunlight shining behind his back, Seowoo also lowered his head and smiled slightly.

🦴

The photographer in charge of the graduation photos, unlike the one who had taken the indoor profiles, was young and passionate. Not only did he request a variety of poses, but he also paid detailed attention to the angle of their faces.

The sunlight was especially strong that day, and there were no trees on the well-maintained hill, so no shade could be found. It wasn’t enough to be called a hike, but after climbing a fairly steep hill, Seowoo was completely drained of energy.

The longer he waited, the more drained he became, and the frown line between Seowoo’s eyebrows deepened. Just when he thought he really couldn’t bear it anymore, Seowoo’s turn came.

“One, two, three. Smile. You look radiant.”

With the thought of finishing the shoot as quickly as possible, Seowoo smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

“One more shot, then the next person.”

One, two, three. Click—. With that sound, Seowoo’s photo shoot was over. It was an incredibly fast pace compared to the other students.

“Oh, you’re already done.”

“I know, right. I think I had my picture taken like 10 times.”

“He asked me to try a handstand. I think that’s the photo that’s going to be used. I have a bad feeling about it.”

The complaints of his friends, who had to perform all sorts of antics in front of the camera, continued. Despite their dissatisfied tone, they all seemed to be enjoying themselves. Seowoo, who had been forcing a smile while talking with his friends, said to them.

“I’m going to go rest, so tell the teacher for me.”

“Ryu Seowoo, are you sick?”

“I’m a little dizzy….”

As soon as he said that, touching his head with his hand, Juwon, who had been standing at a distance, abruptly came up in front of Seowoo.

“Let’s go down first.”

“You haven’t had your picture taken yet.”

“Can you wait for a moment?”

“No, I’ll just go down.”

As Seowoo slightly shook his head and spoke, Yang Juhyeon, who was standing next to them, cut in and stopped him. His complexion was so poor that it was impossible not to worry.

“Hey, hey, I’ll tell the teacher, so just go down with Cha Juwon. Your face is fucking pale right now.”

“I’ll be quick. Just wait a little.”

Juwon, having gained an ally in Yang Juhyeon, brought his face close to Seowoo and said. Yang Juhyeon watched the two of them with a strange expression, then began to stare into the air.

“You can’t be quick. I’m telling you, he takes like 10 shots.”

“I look good in just one shot, why would he take 10.”

After saying that, Juwon said, ‘I’m going first,’ and approached the kids who were waiting to have their pictures taken. By switching places, Juwon became the very next in line.

“One, two, three. You’re simply a sculpture! A sculpture.”

You could be an actor. Along with those words, a satisfied smile spread across the photographer’s face.

“Thank you.”

“Want to take one more?”

“No, sir.”

With just one shot, Juwon’s picture was complete.

“That’s absurd….”

“Wow, it ends just like that.”

Small sighs flowed from the mouths of the friends who were watching.

🦴

“Sorry….”

Seowoo, who had been walking side by side with Juwon, stopped and squeezed his eyes shut. The sunlight flashed brightly before his darkened vision, and he felt dizzy. Feeling like he was about to fall, he reached out his hand haphazardly, and Juwon’s arm was caught firmly.

Juwon, who was standing with a slight frown, held Seowoo steady with his other hand. Feeling that touch, Seowoo apologized without even fully opening his eyes.

“Sorry.”

“You’re going to fall like that. Get on my back.”

When Seowoo slowly opened his eyes, Juwon was crouched in front of him, presenting his back and bending his knees. The back he could see before him was very broad and dependable, but he still felt a prick of conscience about just getting on.

“…I’ll be heavy. And this is a downhill path.”

“I won’t know if you’re heavy or not until you get on.”

Juwon said, lifting his shoulders.

“No, I’ll just walk.”

“Hurry up and get on. My back is getting sad.”

“…Then, sorry.”

Okay to get on? Seowoo whispered softly and wrapped his hands around Juwon’s neck. As he leaned his body against Juwon, he was lifted in an instant. But as Juwon stood up, his body swayed greatly. Startled, Seowoo hugged Juwon’s neck tightly and said he would get down, but Juwon grinned.

“Kidding.”

“What the….”

“You’re not heavy at all.”

“I’m probably not light.”

Although he was much smaller than Juwon, Seowoo’s height was still a little taller than the average South Korean male.

“Look at my thighs.”

“Ah….”

When Juwon squeezed his thigh hard with his hand, a low groan of someone trying to endure pain escaped Seowoo’s lips. Even though it was a joke, his grip was no joke.

“Sorry, did that hurt?”

“No, it was bearable, but it was sudden so I was surprised.”

Juwon, who had stiffened for a moment at Seowoo’s voice, adjusted Seowoo on his back and began to walk down the path. Seowoo was about the same height as Juwon’s older brother, Dowon, but perhaps because of the difference in muscle mass, he felt very light.

“If you’re this light, I could carry you all day.”

Saying so, Juwon imagined carrying or holding Seowoo all day long. It wasn’t so bad.

“My legs aren’t broken, so there’s no reason to carry me all day….”

…is there? He should have retorted like that, but Seowoo didn’t have the energy, so he couldn’t finish his sentence. Normally, he would have walked down on his own, but his condition was really bad today.

Seowoo’s forehead touched Juwon’s shoulder with a thump. Since he had relaxed his body, he would have felt heavier, but there was no change in the speed of Juwon’s steps as he strode down the mountain.