As soon as he said that, the subtle air cleared completely. Do Yeonjae looked at his hyungs’ dumbfounded expressions and burst into loud laughter.
[Ahaha.]
He curved his eyes wide open and laughed very brightly. His body trembled finely as his black hair swayed slightly. His habit of clutching his stomach when roaring with laughter remained the same.
‘Ahaha, haha!’
‘Why, why are you peeking and throwing a fit?’
His laughing face was no different from back then. What had changed was…… Eyes that had sunk darkly tenaciously chased Do Yeonjae on the screen.
The members on screen and the comments in the chat window were all enjoying themselves, but only he alone with an expressionless face looked exactly like he was isolated from the world.
– Yeonjae knew ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– I knew he’d notice ㅋㅋㅋ Both are gentle hyungs so there’s no way they’d fight on a live broadcast
– Silly hyungs ㅠ_ㅠ RuEls became silly too sob sob
– Ah ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
As the chat window became noisy, Baek Sian made a fuss asking exactly when he’d known. But what caused more commotion was Do Yeonjae’s following words.
[Actually, when I went to throw out the water, I turned on the live broadcast on my phone. I heard hyung excitedly talking then.]
[Ah……]
– ?????
– Even I got completely fooled..
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Fuck so funny, he was just above the hyungs’ heads, as expected maknae on top ㄷㄷ
– Ah today’s live broadcast fun content is crazy
[So you knew everything from the beginning but watched us fight with interest?]
[Yes.]
[Then, when you lowered your head……]
At Hayun’s question, his mouth opening in disbelief, Do Yeonjae kindly answered.
[I was holding back laughter.]
[Ah. Not knowing that, I was really worried…..]
[I’m sorry. But Yuni hyung getting angry was so… like someone who doesn’t know how to get angry, so it was cute.]
– Cute? A hyung four years older? Cute? A hyung four years older? Cute? A hyung four years older? Cute? A hyung four years older? Cute? A hyung four years older? Cute? A hyung four years older?
– ㅋㅋ.. ㅎ ㅎ ㅎ..
– Really like a stable older-man younger-boyfriend
– No but even knowing, Yeonjae’s talking sense is amazing.. respecting Yuni who teaches consideration without embarrassing Sian who ate two drumsticks
– When these three gather I just feel good haha
– Why is asking to be scolded together so heart-fluttering..ㅠ
– In the end the two maknae line members ate the drumstick and wing nicely together, it’s a happy ending ㄷㄷ
– You guys are really cute
– Usually when someone four years older looks cute there’s one reason and that is..
– Ah the DdoHaet-ers are fucking showing off
– Homochung shut your mouths, the atmosphere is so good right now don’t be clueless ㅋㅋ
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Friends, seeing you smile at each other looks so good to see. A smile is automatically drawn on my face too!
What smile being drawn.
“Do Yeonjae is doing fucking great.”
……Ha. The moment he realized it, his faint breathing cleared completely. Some color returned to his face that had turned pale. Kwon Isoo felt relieved without even knowing he was relieved, then was startled as if having a seizure.
Fuck, what?
Kwon Isoo didn’t watch anymore and turned off the live broadcast. A reflexive reaction burst out at the very strange feeling he’d just experienced.
“Fuck…… So comfortable, aren’t you?”
Of course he already knew.
That Do Yeonjae would be fine. That there was no way he’d be shaken even a little because of him—he naturally knew that……
That brief shocked face kept catching his eye, so he ruined several days with futile dreams, replaying that scene countless times and clinging like an idiot to the slight possibility that Do Yeonjae had been hurt.
In the end, he wrote a song to sing with Do Yeonjae.
Forget official meetings or whatever, if he made a fucking amazing song, Do Yeonjae wouldn’t annoyingly go on about doing that old song anymore. Then it seemed like he could shake off Do Yeonjae who kept tormenting his mind.
But for some reason, even that song work didn’t go well. Even when he laid down beats, they all sounded obvious, and even when he placed his hands on the keyboard, only strange melodies came out. Bang! He irritably struck the keys and picked up a pen, but even writing lyrics was blocked.
His head was full to bursting with acrid emotions, but nothing came out through his fingertips.
While he was living engulfed in such shitty feelings, someone was happily turning on a live broadcast eating chicken.
Isn’t it normal to be pissed off?
Right, it wasn’t relief or whatever—he was definitely pissed. There wasn’t just one or two reasons. The expressions Do Yeonjae had shown throughout the live broadcast. Comfortably relaxed eyes, widely spread lips, affectionately gazing eyes…… Showing faces he hadn’t shown in front of him so well.
When he hadn’t even checked if he quit smoking.
He was truly vexingly shameless. When we made a promise. When he’d earnestly implored me to check every day. So he’d even thrown away all the cigarettes piled up at home…..
Kwon Isoo looked down irritably at the cleanly organized living room table. He roughly messed up his hair and plopped down on the sofa.
Something was wrong from the start. Why am I caring about the hurt Do Yeonjae received?
Why am I agonizing over creating something like a song to sing with Do Yeonjae? Unless my head has gone crazy. The foolish actions of the past several days felt pathetically wasted anew. In the end, he’d become like an idiot just like himself in the dream.
Kwon Isoo decided to shove the unfinished song straight into the trash. And he resolved.
I really won’t care anymore either.
Whether that bastard cries or not. Whether he falls down somewhere or not. Whether he ignores me or not…… No, ignoring won’t do.
Ignoring should be done by me.
In the first place, accepting the program proposal was also to properly ignore Do Yeonjae. Yeah, that’s right.
Recalling his original intention, his head felt somewhat clearer.
He suddenly regretted throwing away all the cigarettes. Kwon Isoo, who had been quietly glaring at the ceiling, grabbed his wallet and headed to the entrance. He planned to buy more and smoke them tenaciously. It didn’t matter if they tasted like shit.
When Do Yeonjae didn’t keep the promise either, there was no reason for him to keep it.
He bought soda bubble gum flavored cigarettes at the convenience store in front of his house. Seeing the white stick after a long time, his mouth seemed to crave it a bit. Standing at the entrance of the officetel, he hastily put the cigarette in his mouth.
The noisy engine sounds of cars passing on the road hit his ears. He scowled and flicked the lighter wheel, and the flame flared up. It was the moment he was about to bring it to the end of the cigarette.
A calm voice was heard from the side.
“You said you quit smoking.”
“……!”
Kwon Isoo turned his head with widened eyes. The unlit long cigarette fell with a thud to the ground. A bewildered voice flowed from his mouth.
“…Do Yeonjae.”
For a moment, it seemed like the world had become quiet. Slowly blinking eyes scanned the figure before his eyes. It was Do Yeonjae wearing the same outfit as on the live broadcast with a mask on. Why is the guy who was doing a live broadcast until just now suddenly here? Is this a dream?
“Kwon Isoo.”
As if enchanted by the soft voice, his gaze rose. Black pupils collided head-on as if they’d been waiting. Do Yeonjae, with his characteristically calm expression, took off only one side of his mask, then casually shook the black bag hanging on his finger.
“Instead of cigarettes, let’s drink.”
The sound of green bottles clinking against each other rang out. Even that sound didn’t feel very real. But whether it was a dream or not… that peculiar expression was strangely welcome. Do Yeonjae’s usual face that wasn’t crying or frozen.
And his lips……
Looking at Kwon Isoo who was still dazed, Do Yeonjae smiled faintly. As if he’d completely forgotten that cold atmosphere from several days ago.
“Don’t reject even this. I came knowing you don’t have a schedule tomorrow.”
At that light and gentle smile, Kwon Isoo took a deep breath. Instead of harsh cigarette smoke, refreshing night air filled his lungs completely. Only then did the distant sensation touch reality.
It really wasn’t a dream.
