“Who the hell are you, crazy bastard….”
Yunsu muttered and soon tidied up the living room. It was time to sleep, and starting tomorrow he needed to think about how to make money with a clear mind. If I’d known this would happen, I should have done less on Parents’ Day.
As he rubbed the arm Euishin had held and headed to his room, suddenly the door across from him caught his eye conspicuously. Why does he act like that? Don’t go because he dislikes it? Why does he say things, …so strangely?
Yunsu knocked on Euishin’s door and carefully turned the doorknob. And toward the round mountain rising above the blanket, he said quietly.
“…Euishin-ah, I want to go watch soccer.”
Whatever you babble, I’m going my way, you bastard.
He quietly closed the door and shot the middle finger at the door.
The moment the door closed, Euishin swiftly threw off the blanket covering him up to his head.
“That bastard….”
After glaring at the now-quiet door for a while, his lips unconsciously relaxed, and then he frowned again. For a country bumpkin, he sure knows how to touch weak spots and cause trouble.
The sound of calling ‘Euishin-ah.’ And,
‘I want to eat.’
‘I want to skip early and go to the amusement park.’
‘I want to go see Mom.’
When Yunsu’s wishes containing only unadorned truth drop down, he has absolutely no idea what to do.
Does he know I get turned on by that way of speaking and act like that? Does he know it makes me want to rip out not the rabbit’s liver but even the Dragon King’s liver? Cunning bastard. Want to go watch soccer? When I said I don’t like it, where do you think you’re going? And if someone’s being unreasonable, you should shout ‘why’ at least three times packed with curiosity. That way this side can come at you harder too. Why don’t you get angry and make me look like an idiot? Why do I dislike you going? Isn’t it obvious? Obviously…,
“…….”
That much-talked-about Europe stadium tour, isn’t it a place many people go for their honeymoon too?
Why are you trying to swarm there with those bastards?
“Not with those bastards, let’s go together just the two of us, idiot….”
He pulled the blanket over himself again.
Confession or whatever, I wish we could get it over with quickly and at least kiss, fuck.
***
“Hey, did you hear? If we get first place in the booth popularity vote at the festival, they give 500,000 won!”
At Song Taesu’s shout as he entered opening the door, Yunsu felt like a clear bell was ringing in his ears. It’s like this whenever he comes to the club room these days. Whatever anyone says, his heart pounds, it feels like sparrows are flying around, and there are delicious smells from all directions. Though it’s only been two days since the topic came up, Yunsu’s heart was already in Europe and his hands had motors attached scraping together money. Reality was a poor person with total assets of 487,000 won struggling with English composition, but he didn’t doubt he’d soon be rich.
“That money is ours!”
If they put 500,000 won into the joint budget, they’d be totally rich.
“How is it ours? Just prepare to get your face squashed by water balloons.”
“It could be.”
It was Song Taesu who excitedly retorted to Shinwook’s nitpicking. His tone suggested he had something in mind, so Yunsu looked at Taesu with expectation. Taesu pointed directly at Euishin who was sitting by the window looking at an engineering math book.
“…But why is he separated from his son for once?”
“He says it’s uncomfortable to hear his son jabbering in pronunciation that doesn’t even work.”
Shin Jaewoo, who was lying sideways on the opposite sofa looking at his phone, answered, and Euishin immediately turned his head to glare at Jaewoo. And Yunsu said shyly.
“I need to prepare to go to England.”
“Enough, what is it? What about Euishin?”
At Shinwook’s urging, Taesu straightened his finger pointing at Euishin again.
“If Lee Euishin says with that aloof face and powerfully, ‘If you’re going to throw that at my face, go vote over there,’ boom! The water balloons and money boom!”
“Boom…!”
Just imagining it made him want to take money out of his pocket right away. Jackpot, Euishin-ah! Yunsu swiftly turned his head and shot an earnest gaze at Euishin sitting by the window. Even his profile frowning while solving math problems was strikingly handsome, and today his high school classmate felt incredibly proud.
“Our booth concept is this: let’s throw water balloons at the flower we can’t have! Lee Euishin, they say when girls talk to you, you look at them like ‘who are you?’ The rumors are all out. We’re going to put your face on our flyer.”
Ehee! Feeling like laughing, Yunsu covered his mouth with both hands. Oh my, the day has come when Euishin’s attitude makes money. So great! If that bastard joins the expedition, anything…!
“Euishin, plea…!”
Just as Yunsu was about to start begging, the door opened. It was Kim Younghwan and Lee Eunsub who had gone to rent a wooden panel from the central club headquarters.
“It’s doable.”
“Waaaaah!”
Everyone was happy like country boys. Of course, only Lee Euishin, who glanced back while clapping, had a sullen face.
“There seem to be kids doing this in the Middle East too. Two have already gone out.”
“How many heads are drilled in one wooden board?”
“Four.”
“Then….”
“Hey, the number of heads isn’t important. The concept is important. Hyung, listen to me, we’ll use our Euishin….”
Lee Euishin stood up. His face said he couldn’t listen anymore, so Kwon Yunsu immediately tensed up. The guy who strode over to the sofa said to Ahn Shinwook, who was sitting next to Kwon Yunsu.
“Move over a bit.”
When Ahn Shinwook moved back, the guy squeezed in between. And he plopped down occupying the middle and put his arm around Kwon Yunsu’s shoulder. Earlier he said he’d gag him if he didn’t shut up, so why is he acting friendly now? Looking around at Shin Jaewoo across from him, Kim Younghwan standing by the door, etc., the guy tossed out his words.
“If you’re going, go among yourselves. Except me and Kwon Yunsu.”
“……”
Kwon Yunsu, who was about to shout shut up!, was at a loss for words for a moment. The touch of the hand wrapped around his shoulder felt needlessly rough. No, was it sticky? Even their legs touching felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“Why?”
Kim Younghwan asked. Not knowing Kwon Yunsu’s dumbfounded heart, his face just looked amused.
“You’re not going? I thought you’d go if Yunsu went.”
“It’s fine, so go among yourselves. I’ll cooperate though.”
“Cooperate?”
To Song Taesu’s blank question, Lee Euishin answered confidently.
“I’ll take a water balloon to the face, so exclude me and Kwon Yunsu.”
“Whoa, isn’t that weird? The whole reason for taking water balloons to the face is to raise travel funds.”
“Kwon Yunsu and I aren’t going on the trip, but we’ll do the booth.”
“What if we go on the trip?”
“Not going.”
“The trip….”
“I said I’m not going.”
“Hey, you rotten bastard!”
Unable to listen anymore, Kwon Yunsu shouted. Listening and listening, who does he think I am, his option?
“I’m going! Don’t listen to what he’s saying and just decide on a different concept and do it among ourselves. Hyung, earlier Song Taesu said to push Euishin as the face and draw some people, and there’s that popularity vote too. He said let’s get first place. He’s not going, so exclude him. I’ll be the face. From now on I’ll go around poking into everything and making enemies.”
Speaking incoherently with excitement rising to his throat, Kwon Yunsu’s face turned red and blue. Then at Lee Euishin’s cold words,
“If Kwon Yunsu’s in, I’ll volunteer as a guest for that place that took two panels.”
…he gradually ripened red.
He always took a step back to observe, and when something displeasing happened he would pour out harsh words, but this was the first time he threw such an open tantrum. No, should this even be called a tantrum? This is like…,
“Hey, why are you so obsessed with Kwon Yunsu… Kyaa, am I allowed to say things like this?”
Song Taesu covered both cheeks and gushed. Kwon Yunsu wanted to run away from embarrassment. Ahn Shinwook’s face turned blue as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have, and even the always peaceful faces of Shin Jaewoo and Lee Eunsub were hardening. In that strange atmosphere, only Kim Younghwan laughed holding his stomach.
“Ah, why are you being like this?”
When Kim Younghwan asked as if soothing a whiny child, Lee Euishin answered firmly.
“I don’t want to be home alone.”
“Do you have no friends besides Kwon Yunsu?”
When Ahn Shinwook responded in disbelief.
