Cha Ihyun rummaged through the wallet placed on the table. The large wallet was as full of miscellaneous items as the handbags women carried around. As he opened each pocket one by one, he spotted a square-shaped wrapper. It was a bit small, but it was the only thing that looked like it could be a wet wipe.
Cha Ihyun, who had been tearing open the wrapper without much thought, froze. For a wet wipe, the packaging was stiff. The moment he belatedly read the English written on the wrapper, his eyes filled with shock.
Cha Ihyun jerked his hand back as if burned.
“Con…”
It was a condom.
Cha Ihyun’s fingertips trembled. To him, who had never even experienced the common masturbation or wet dreams, a condom was an incredibly unfamiliar and somehow taboo object. Of course, he had tried putting one on a model during health class, but that was purely educational, and this was a ‘real’ condom.
Why on earth would someone carry a condom in their wallet?
A wallet is something you carry every day. So does that mean he uses, uses this all the time? What, was the rumor about him meeting girls actually true? Was he really… a slut?
“Can’t find it?”
At the voice that suddenly cut in, Cha Ihyun was startled once again.
Cha Dobum, who had returned to his seat before he knew it, saw the condom that had fallen on the table, said “Ah,” and casually put it in his pocket. He searched for and handed over a wet wipe, but Cha Ihyun still couldn’t recover from the shock.
“…I’m, I’m going to tell Big Aunt and Big Uncle everything.”
“What? The condom?”
Cha Ihyun quickly looked around. There were no listening ears, but because Cha Dobum had said the word ‘condom’ out loud, it sounded even more vulgar. Cha Dobum snorted.
“The health teacher gave me this.”
“Don’t bullshit me.”
“It’s not bullshit? The health teacher shoves these in my hand every time we meet. It’s fucking hilarious.”
It wasn’t funny at all. The health teacher probably gave it to him meaning not to cause problems, and that meant his conduct was promiscuous enough to worry a teacher. The conviction about Cha Dobum being a slut was getting stronger and stronger.
Meanwhile, Cha Dobum inhaled the cold tteokbokki and sundae. Seeing him act like it was nothing made questions creep up his throat.
Have you done it? …How many times? Does it really feel that good?
But knowing it was too vulgar a curiosity, Cha Ihyun forcibly suppressed the lowly questions within himself. If he asked such things, he’d become just like those guys in the classroom.
Then Cha Dobum suddenly asked out of nowhere.
“But aren’t you going to give me a birthday present?”
“You didn’t give me one either.”
“What are you talking about. I gave you one every year?”
Cha Dobum, looking wronged, tore off another Post-it note. This time, he could predict what he was going to write. Cha Ihyun recalled Cha Dobum’s ‘birthday presents’ he had received every year. He had thrown them in the trash as soon as he got them.
“Here, this year’s. I’ll give it to you in advance.”
Cha Dobum Free Pass -How to use: Shout ‘Using free pass’ and order me to do anything. -Can be used via phone or text ^^
As expected, it was exactly the same without a single word different. As he just stared at the note, Cha Dobum forcibly pressed it into his hand.
“Anyway, so where are you going after this. I don’t have time so hurry…”
Cha Ihyun, who had stopped speaking, hurriedly checked his phone. Six-thirty. It was already long past his lesson time. Right below the time, missed calls were piled up. From the traces of over 11 calls, he could almost hear Professor Kang’s irritated voice.
His mind went blank. Cha Ihyun, who had never once missed a lesson in his life, didn’t even know how to handle a situation like this.
That’s when it happened. A familiar, but right now terrifying name appeared on the screen.
[Incoming Call: Minhyun hyung]
Cha Ihyun gulped.
***
The top floor of the hotel, a fine dining restaurant.
Violin music echoed through the lounge with a panoramic view overlooking the night scenery. Despite being fully booked, the restaurant didn’t feel crowded, and everyone was dressed neatly, conversing quietly.
Cha Ihyun stole a glance at Cha Minhyun sitting across from him. Cha Minhyun, wearing a light beige suit, ordered food in a gentle voice and smiled leisurely at the server. At the sight of him fitting in so well with this luxurious space, Cha Ihyun bowed his head deeply.
I should have at least changed clothes before coming.
It was a hotel lounge he frequented, but perhaps because he came in his school uniform, he felt uncomfortable. An older brother who was clearly an adult and a high schooler who was clearly a kid. He didn’t like this dynamic. Even though he knew no one would say anything, he just felt that way. When going out with his hyung, he wanted to look like someone mature, befitting his hyung. Cha Ihyun sullenly drank his water.
Actually, there was a more important problem than his outfit.
He was afraid of what Professor Kang had said to his hyung and how far. He had already been receiving a lot of criticism about his pedaling lately, and now he had even skipped a lesson, so she must have said all sorts of bad things.
Did she say that it’s an important time but I can’t get the hang of it and have become lax? Hyung must have been in the middle of class, but was he angry when he answered the phone? Or was he disappointed in me…
‘Ihyun-ah, want to go for a drive with hyung today?’
A gentle voice had come through the phone he answered while trembling. That’s why he couldn’t gauge his hyung’s mood even more. When he rushed home, his hyung’s car was already waiting for him in front of the gate.
When is he going to scold me?
While the staff was setting down the steak they brought, Cha Ihyun just fidgeted with his innocent fingernails. The explanation about the meat didn’t register in his ears at all.
“Ihyun-ah.”
The moment the staff finished greeting and left, a low voice came from across the table. Cha Ihyun squeezed his eyes shut. Because he had never once fallen short of his hyung’s expectations, he was only afraid of the words that would come out of his hyung’s mouth. His two fists hidden under the table clenched tightly.
“It must be hard with the entrance exam coming up, right?”
“Huh…?”
Cha Ihyun looked up in a daze. His hyung was cutting the steak with a comfortable smile. It was the quiet and elegant hand gesture as always.
“It’s a rare date with just the two of us, so why are you just sitting there like that?”
He didn’t even have time to be excited about the word ‘date.’ As he only read the room like a sinner, his hyung switched the plates. The steak was neatly cut into bite-sized pieces.
“I’m not trying to scold you, Ihyun. I came to apologize.”
“Apologize…?”
“The lesson schedule was too tight, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. I think I forced it because it’s an important time. What’s important isn’t the entrance exam, but Ihyun.”
“…Hyuuung…”
As Cha Ihyun choked up, Cha Minhyun gestured gently as if telling him to eat. Actually, he wasn’t hungry because he had snacked with Cha Dobum, but Cha Ihyun gladly picked up his fork.
The meat was tender. Unlike the sundae, it didn’t smell and wasn’t chewy either. But strangely, the sundae he had eaten earlier came to mind. As he chewed and swallowed the second piece of meat, this time he thought of the milk bread that had melted softly in his mouth.
“Is it Cha Dobum?”
Cha Ihyun’s eyes widened. As he just blinked his big eyes like someone who had been caught, Cha Minhyun kindly added.
“It seems like you’ve been hanging out with Cha Dobum lately.”
With a languid voice, he filled the glass and smiled quietly.
“Did he tell you to skip the lesson?”
“N-no, it’s not like that!”
Cha Ihyun waved his hands.
“Today’s lesson, I miscalculated the time. The… group project meeting went long.”
Perhaps because he had lied once before, the second lie came out smoothly. He made a tearful face because he hated himself for it.
I keep lying to hyung because of Cha Dobum. I hate it, really. But what should he say if he’s asked when the project will end? His mind was busily working to create the next lie.
“Keep your distance from Cha Dobum.”
“Huh, what?”
“I’m worried you’ll be badly influenced. He’s a kid with no roots.”
Cha Ihyun couldn’t answer hastily. Roots… Of course, the kid was a slut, but still, he wasn’t that much of a, bad slut…
When the answer didn’t come back as usual, Cha Minhyun put down his utensils. Under the searching gaze looking this way, Cha Ihyun belatedly nodded.
“Mm-hm. I know what you’re worried about, hyung. The project will be over soon, so don’t worry!”
“…”
“And I won’t skip lessons. I’m really sorry about todaaay…”
As Cha Ihyun drew out his words cutely, Cha Minhyun’s expression softened.
“It’s okay to skip, just tell me in advance. I’ll adjust the schedule for you. Got it?”
As he nodded quickly, the usual affectionate gaze returned. Cha Ihyun unknowingly let out a breath of relief.
Then, with the sound of applause, the violin performance ended. Perhaps it was break time, as recorded classical music began to flow through the lounge.
“I want to hear Ihyun’s performance after such a long time.”
Looking at the piano sitting alone in the center of the lounge, Cha Minhyun said casually.
“Can you play for me? Ravel.”
Ravel’s Jeux d’eau was the entrance exam piece Cha Minhyun had chosen for him. Cha Ihyun hesitated a little. The performance itself wouldn’t be a problem, but he was in his school uniform right now. Attention would definitely be drawn.
Still…
