# Chapter 132
Familiar melodies filled the hall. Everyone performed smoothly, as if they had each practiced a specific pop song.
I wondered if it was a bit underwhelming for a final performance compared to the previous grand orchestra, but the visible enjoyment dispelled such thoughts.
Unlike the quiet audience from before, occasional screams and name-calling made it feel like an idol concert. As if it was natural not to scold such behavior for being impolite, I thought that if there was such a thing as charisma that overwhelms an audience just by handling instruments, it would look something like this.
As Moon Seoheon, Yoon Taean, Byeon Seungha, and Maeng Moa came down amid loud cheers, only Jung Hyoin remained seated at the piano. Seeing my puzzled expression, Kwak Junhee, who noticed my face, explained.
“At the end of the performance, Hyoin plays one piece as an event. It’s even reported in the news.”
“Ah, I see.”
I tried to brush it off casually, but the stare fixed on me was uncomfortable. Only then did I realize I again didn’t know something I should have known, and I glanced at Kwak Junhee with a sour expression. Despite my look, Kwak Junhee said nothing and turned his head away. Likewise, I closed my eyes and focused on the actual final performance.
The heavy music that had felt imposing gradually changed to something more cheerful. Like a ray of sunshine breaking through dark clouds, it created a refreshing and warm atmosphere.
With a strange feeling, I opened my eyes just as the performance ended.
“They’re all amazing.”
I nodded readily at my mother’s comment as she applauded.
The presentation that had been going on all morning concluded with a standing ovation, and students who had successfully completed their performances spent time with their families, wearing bright smiles. Most received bouquets and took photos, also spending time with close friends.
My parents handed a bouquet they had prepared separately to Yoon Taean and took a family photo as a memento. Kwak Junhee took the photo for us, and somehow he had his own camera ready, offering to send the photos to my parents, who happily accepted. I felt somewhat uneasy but let it pass since it was a good day.
Anyway, this feels just like a graduation ceremony. In a way, it could be considered a graduation since a semester had ended.
“Taeho, come stand with your friends too. I’ll take a picture.”
My father, who had been taking photos of Yoon Taean with his friends, turned to me and said.
“What? No, it’s fine.”
“Why not? Let’s take a picture together! Sir, please take a photo of me with my senior.”
As I was declining, finding it bothersome since I hadn’t done anything, Maeng Moa clung to me and responded cordially. Since when had he met my father to call him “sir”? I looked at him with raised eyebrows, and Maeng Moa gave me an affectionate eye-smile.
Well, this was his usual behavior that I was familiar with, so it made me feel reassured rather than annoyed.
I had wondered if he might act coldly like when he forced me to drink that beverage, but at least he wasn’t pretending to smile while being unpleasant. If this was an act, it wasn’t a bothersome one. Not only Maeng Moa but also the other guys had some awkwardness, but at least they were nice to my family.
Apart from Moon Seoheon, I was surprised at how natural it looked when The Four, who had finished their performance, exchanged greetings with my parents—I couldn’t tell when they had gotten acquainted. Honestly, I had been startled but had casually passed over not knowing things each time, but this made me feel a bit lonely.
“Then stand side by side. Be careful not to fall.”
“Yes, let’s go, sunbae.”
“Alright, just stop pulling me.”
Maeng Moa pulled my arm and dragged me to a corner. The banner hanging behind fluttered slightly, as if to confirm what day it was. After taking a photo of Maeng Moa and me standing side by side so the banner’s text was visible, my father turned to the other guys.
“Do you all want to take a photo together too? Junhee, if you’re okay with it, hand me the camera and come stand. I’ll take it for you.”
The guys moved toward me as if they had been waiting for this. Unexpectedly finding myself wedged between The Four and Moon Seoheon for a photo, I couldn’t help but smile. Even for growing teenagers, this was something else. While Yoon Taeho’s body remained the same, perhaps due to the injuries, these big guys somehow seemed even larger, and the sight of them huddled together was a bit comical.
Others seemed to feel the same, as Jung Jaein burst into laughter.
“It’s so gloomy with just men gathered. Should I join in?”
“Stay put, will you?”
Byeon Seungho scolded Jung Jaein as he held her back. As I was watching the two bicker with interest—they were said to be in the same year—I froze in surprise when someone grabbed my hand. Following the hand up to see who it belonged to, I found Moon Seoheon looking at the camera with a calm expression.
Feeling a bit bashful, I fidgeted with my hand while looking at the camera. With not just Moon Seoheon but all the other guys pressing close together, I found myself squeezed in the middle, feeling so pressured that I broke a sweat.
“…They look really close.”
I just inwardly chuckled at Jung Jaein and Byeon Seungho’s faces as they looked at us with curious expressions.
After taking several photos, most of the people who had filled the hall had left. Since it was lunchtime, most seemed to be going to eat.
Although classes weren’t held in the morning because of the performance, regular classes would resume in the afternoon, so there wasn’t really enough time to have a pleasant meal outside with family.
Instead, perhaps wanting to treat Yoon Taean to better food after all his hard work preparing for the performance, my father had packed a lunchbox, so we decided to stay at school for our meal. The issue was Moon Seoheon and The Four.
I naturally thought Jung Jaein and Byeon Seungho would take their respective siblings away, but the two were chatting amiably with my parents. Generally, it was a conversation between Byeon Seungho about the trial, with Jung Jaein adding occasional comments.
My mother, relieved by news of a partial victory in court, seemed concerned about Moon Seoheon who had just dealt with Jo Youngmin, and suggested eating together. The guy glanced at me after a moment of silence and politely declined once for courtesy.
“Would that be alright? I’m worried I might be interrupting family time.”
“Not at all. Don’t worry about it. Is that okay with you?”
“Yes. I wanted to treat you to a meal, so this works out well.”
“We packed plenty, so don’t feel burdened.”
Only then did Moon Seoheon nod with a gentle smile.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
With all matters settled, my family suggested moving to another location and said goodbye to The Four who were still standing there.
Kwak Junhee held back Maeng Moa, who seemed to want to join us, and looked at his wristwatch with a regretful expression before saying.
“We’d like to join you, but it’s a shame. We can’t spare the time since we need to clean up here… Would it be possible to invite us another time?”
“Oh, of course we should invite you. Why don’t you come to the restaurant sometime? It would be nice if you all could make time and come together.”
“Thank you. We’ll definitely come.”
My parents looked pleased at Kwak Junhee’s personable attitude as he smiled warmly. I clicked my tongue at Kwak Junhee’s slickness and turned away first.
As a bonus, I gave a complicated look at Jung Hyoin and Byeon Seungha being dragged away by their sister and brother. I found their behavior a bit concerning—they strangely didn’t ignore me but also didn’t speak to me at all.
Oddly, it felt as if they were carefully acting to avoid provoking me as much as possible. If they had been resentful instead, it wouldn’t have felt so uneasy. I didn’t want to leave any lingering discomfort.
When all the people who had been gathered noisily until just now dispersed, the atmosphere became so quiet that it felt empty. As if to fill that void, my parents, Yoon Taean, and Moon Seoheon chatted amicably with each other as we moved to another location.
* * *
“…I didn’t expect you’d come here.”
Moon Seoheon looked around the garden where trumpet creepers, still tinged with an amber hue, were blooming. It was the garden near the dormitory that we had come to for our lunchbox meal.
“Ah, Taeho suggested we eat here if we were having lunchboxes. It’s very pretty, just as I heard.”
At my mother’s words, I felt Moon Seoheon looking at me. I was just examining the garden, which seemed to have changed drastically with different flowers blooming, when I sat down on a bench and checked underneath. The ice box I expected to be there had been removed.
“Hyung, sit down too.”
Yoon Taean, who seemed quite happy to be eating with Moon Seoheon, tapped the space beside him with a pleased smile. Moon Seoheon quietly sat between Yoon Taean and me and helped unpack the lunchboxes.
“I thought all the seniors would be eating together since hyung suggested this place.”
I just nodded at Yoon Taean’s casual remark, saying, “Is that so?” Actually, I had suggested it because I was worried my parents would be horrified if we went to the back mountain and saw the accident site, and Kwak Junhee, who was listening, noticed and actively recommended this place. Then he even made way for us, so I should thank him later. Thanks to him, I also had another opportunity to see this garden before leaving.
With a three-tiered lunchbox and a large container of side dishes laid out in the middle, I picked up my chopsticks, and memories of eating here before came flooding back.
“Seoheon, eat plenty.”
“Yes.”
I was about to pick up a large cabbage-wrapped rice ball after watching Moon Seoheon take one and swallow it in one bite, when he snatched another one faster than I could and brought it to my mouth.
I stared at him with round eyes, and while he continued chewing silently, he gently pressed the rice ball against my lips. As I hesitated, the wrapped rice was pushed into my open mouth.
Having inadvertently accepted the rice ball, I found myself coughing awkwardly under the gaze of my family. I shot Moon Seoheon a look that said “Are you crazy?”, but he just turned his head away nonchalantly.
My parents looked at each other briefly before offering other side dishes. I didn’t know whether they didn’t suspect anything strange about their son and his friend’s behavior or if they simply didn’t mind, but it seemed I was the only one feeling awkward.
“Hmm……”
Feeling parched, I rummaged through my separate bag to get some water. I was sure I had packed a small water bottle in here, but somehow the grip felt different.
Curious, I took it out to check and flinched. What I held wasn’t a water bottle but a bottle filled with orange liquid. My pupils trembled at the appearance of the orange juice that Yoo Wono had given me. I hadn’t packed this, and I was puzzled why this bottle, which should have been stuffed away in a corner of the refrigerator, was here.
