# Chapter 73
That day was just an ordinary day with nothing special.
Taeyang, who had crashed early in the evening, woke up to an endlessly ringing bell sound.
‘That’s strange. Did I set an alarm?’
He tried to turn off the alarm several times without even properly opening his eyes, but the ringing continued.
“What the hell…”
Taeyang finally crawled out from under his blanket and checked his phone.
Huh? His sleepy face transformed with surprise.
It wasn’t an alarm.
<Seol Jiho>
The very name he thought would never appear in his call log was there. Taeyang had a feeling that if he didn’t answer this call, he’d be screwed.
“Hello? What’s the occasion?”
“Is Joo Yeomin there?”
In the land of courtesy, there’s usually something called phone etiquette, right? Especially when talking to someone older, and especially when you’re the one who called!
“Hello,” or “How have you been?” or “Have you had dinner?” or something…
But Jiho had no such introduction.
Taeyang frowned.
“Why are you looking for Joo Yeomin from me?”
Taeyang hadn’t even properly seen Yeomin’s face lately. And whose fault was that? It was all because of Jiho.
As soon as classes ended, he’d whisk Yeomin away, and they’d been eating meals alone together for days.
‘How are non-couples supposed to live with this treatment!’
Taeyang had been secretly nursing this grievance.
Before he could even accept that his friend was in a same-sex relationship, the inconsiderate cockroach duo didn’t even give him a chance to process it.
Thanks to that, Taeyang lately felt like Jiho had stolen his friend Yeomin.
Of course, if he said that, this guy would probably throw a fit asking if Joo Yeomin belonged to him, but still…
“Why, what’s going on?”
“Is he there or not? Just tell me that.”
What a truly ill-mannered guy.
Taeyang flared up.
“I’ll answer if you tell me why!”
“So he’s not there.”
The guy had sharp instincts.
If Jiho was calling him, someone he wasn’t even close with, this early in the evening with such an urgent voice…
Taeyang had an inkling.
“Did you have a fight with Joo Yeomin?”
“…”
Jiho was silent. A guy who was never at a loss for words and never flustered couldn’t answer.
Taeyang knew that meant yes.
‘These idiots fought again. Where did Joo Yeomin go after fighting with Seol Jiho that he’s calling even me?’
“Let me know if Yeomin hyung calls you.”
Why should I do that? Taeyang was about to retort, but Jiho hung up in a second as if he had no further business, and Taeyang lost even that opportunity.
“He’s fidgeting like a puppy that needs to pee.”
Seeing Jiho so anxious was both pathetic and satisfying.
Taeyang felt like he absolutely had to let Yeomin know about this situation. To tell him what kind of state Seol Jiho was in.
So he immediately called Yeomin. Would he even pick up? He was half-doubtful, but surprisingly, the call connected quickly.
“Hey.”
Indeed, the couple was a perfect match in their poor phone etiquette.
“I heard you fought with Seol Jiho? He called me.”
“…Really?”
Yeomin responded indifferently, as if it wasn’t his business. Taeyang, now excited, probed further.
“By the way, where are you? Seeing how anxiously Seol Jiho is looking for you, I’m guessing you’re not at home.”
“I’m just wandering around a bit.”
“Where are you wandering? If you’ve got nowhere to go, come to my place.”
“If I go there, Seol Jiho will rush over immediately. I don’t want to show you that spectacle.”
There was sincerity in Yeomin’s words.
Of course, Taeyang didn’t want to see that spectacle either.
“What happened that you two are playing this game of tag?”
Taeyang couldn’t contain his curiosity.
As a friend, Yeomin was the very definition of ‘indifference.’ Was that a block of wood, a fallen leaf, or a person? It was enough to make one wonder. He was emotionally barren, insensitive to others’ gazes, like an android with only an appetite.
‘Such a guy… could he possibly be having a lovers’ quarrel with Seol Jiho? Or, like before, did Seol Jiho backstab him again?’
Taeyang was beyond curious; he was starting to worry.
“What is it, Joo Yeomin? Is it so serious that you can’t even tell me?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it, what is it? I’m curious~”
Taeyang put on an annoying aegyo. Soon, he heard Yeomin sigh. Then, he spoke words that seemed suppressed.
“…Ah.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“I’m so angry I could kill him.”
Suddenly, why such a violent statement? As Taeyang was taken aback, the call abruptly ended with the words, “See you later.”
Somehow, both members of the couple are exactly alike in ending calls as they please. When they talk to each other, who hangs up first? Is that even something to wonder about?
Looking at the ended call screen, Taeyang was concerned.
“But really, Joo Yeomin sounded genuinely pissed…”
* * *
Yeomin was at a convenience store near the school. He had his hood pulled down low, hiding his body to avoid catching Jiho’s eye.
But he couldn’t stay there forever. If Jiho had already called Taeyang, he must be asking around to all acquaintances.
If he stayed here longer, he might really run into someone from his department…
‘The school area is dangerous.’
While he was contemplating where to go, Yeomin’s phone rang. Among the countless missed calls from Jiho, the name ‘Seol Jiwoong’ appeared.
[Seol Jiwoong: When are you going to make up the tutoring session?]
‘Now that I think about it, there’s a saying that it’s darkest under the lamp.’
Jiho never contacted people without a reason. And probably, as far as Yeomin knew, the person most hostile to Jiho… and the one who would never compromise with him.
Yeomin didn’t miss the opportunity and replied immediately.
[I’ll do the make-up session today]
Jiwoong, seemingly surprised that Yeomin would take the bait so readily, responded with confusion.
[Seol Jiwoong: What? Today?]
[Can I come right now?]
[Seol Jiwoong: I guess so]
[Just keep it a secret from Seol Jiho]
The sharp-witted Jiwoong would have already figured it out. That his purpose wasn’t ‘tutoring’ but ‘escape.’
What if Jiwoong refused? He had nowhere to go. Would he have to stay at a motel again?
While anxiously biting his lips, a cool answer arrived from Jiwoong.
[Seol Jiwoong: OK bring some late-night snacks]
He was Yeomin’s savior.
* * *
Yeomin packed some snack food near the school and took a taxi straight to Jiwoong’s house.
Except for the live-in staff, Jiwoong was mostly alone at home.
President Ahn moved between the mansion where the Chairman resided, and Jiho had recently moved to an officetel near the school.
Director Ahn had been living independently to begin with, and recently was busy with wedding preparations…
Yeomin suddenly felt sorry that there was no one to look after Jiwoong, who was still a minor.
Of course, he knew that Jiwoong received about a hundred times more care and attention than he did.
“Oh, sundae.”
“You didn’t tell Seol Jiho, right?”
“When do you think I blocked his contact?”
Jiwoong replied firmly as he laid out the snacks on the table. Only then did Yeomin lower his guard and sit down.
His phone had been ringing so much that the battery was down to just 2%.
“Do you have a charger… no, never mind.”
It’s better to keep the phone off. Yeomin tucked his phone deep into his pocket.
Despite having food in front of him, Yeomin showed no intention of picking up his chopsticks, lost in thought. Jiwoong waved his fingers in front of Yeomin’s dazed eyes. But Yeomin had no particular reaction.
Eventually, Jiwoong picked up a piece of sundae and placed it in Yeomin’s open mouth.
Only then did Yeomin’s eyes turn toward Jiwoong.
“Did Seol Jiho kick you out?”
Yeomin chewed with one cheek bulging, like a squirrel. His fist clenched tight.
“Jiwoong-ah… I think I’ve gone crazy.”
Yeomin made a sudden declaration.
In fact, when Jiho had announced to him that he was officially dating Yeomin, Jiwoong had already reasonably suspected that Yeomin might be crazy.
‘You’d have to be crazy to date Seol Jiho.’
While Jiwoong was thinking to himself, Yeomin buried his head in his hands and mumbled.
With a face like the sky had fallen.
“I’m jealous…”
“What did you say?”
Jiwoong doubted his ears. Yeomin, whose neck had already turned bright red, confessed as if in a confession booth.
“I said I’m jealous. That bastard Seol Jiho, being nice to other kids…”
“…Oh.”
This wasn’t the answer he expected. It was truly a shocking statement beyond his expectations.
‘But is this something to say in front of an eighteen-year-old student?’
But Yeomin seemed to have no time to care what Jiwoong thought. He looked completely bewildered, as if he’d left his senses somewhere.
“I think I’ve been completely led by the nose by Seol Jiho.”
“You’re just realizing that now? That’s more surprising.”
“I just thought… I liked him moderately. His face, his body, things like that-“
“…”
Wow. Lots of memorable quotes today. Jiwoong sighed.
“I didn’t know I’d like him this childishly much. I didn’t even know I could feel these emotions.”
This desperate and dazed version of Yeomin was new to Jiwoong too.
He became curious. What about Jiho could shake Yeomin like that?
“So tell me the whole story from the beginning.”
Jiwoong’s expression was quite mature as he asked. Yeomin’s hesitant lips slowly opened.
