Jang Juwon immediately threw the paper away. Act like it never happened? Don’t worry? If it could be resolved with just these words, he wouldn’t have gone through all that mental anguish. Fuck…… There’s a limit to playing with people. He didn’t know what scheme he had this time, leaving behind such a note, but if his goal was to ruin his mood, it was a huge success.
“Ha, fuck……”
Jang Juwon roughly closed the front door. Every step he took was laden with unresolved anger. He wanted to find Hyun Youngjae right now and ask what kind of bullshit he was pulling this time, but he didn’t want to face him again. Even in the midst of this, thoughts of another person were quietly blooming in his head.
‘Can I see him again now……’
He didn’t want to be swayed by a worthless scrap of paper, but it was difficult to calm his fluttering heart. If the note Hyun Youngjae left behind was sincere, then…… The steps that had been filled with anger were gradually becoming lighter.
* * *
All day long, he was so full of thoughts about him that he couldn’t focus on class. His hand kept reaching for his phone. But his fidgeting fingers only fiddled with the phone endlessly.
“You’re going to wear it out. Fuck, you’re going to wear it out!”
Shin Jisu scolded him from the side. Jang Juwon found himself frustrating too. But he couldn’t easily send a message. He recalled the words he had said the last time they met.
‘I just…… wish we didn’t have to see each other anymore.’
‘Originally…… that’s what our relationship was, right? Seeing each other out of mutual need.’
‘I’m having a hard time because of sunbae. Can’t you just leave me alone?’
That day was the first time he’d seen Baek Iseon so angry. And now what face did he have to contact him? I actually need you, sunbae? I’ve missed you all this time? It was ridiculous.
Besides, several weeks had already passed. Baek Iseon had probably made another partner and then some in the meantime. Maybe this time it wasn’t a partner but a lover. A bitter smile appeared on Jang Juwon’s face.
‘Still…… I want to see him.’
Still, he wanted to see him. Even if he got angry at him, even if he had gotten another partner, he wanted to see him. Jang Juwon decided not to send a message. Because this might be the last time. Before being rejected in text, he wanted to at least see his face and talk.
“I’m going first.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
When Jang Juwon got up from his seat first, Choi Yeonho called out to him. But as if Jang Juwon couldn’t hear him, he hurriedly left without answering, as if he were being chased by something.
“Hey, Jang Juwon, you have to eat!”
“Leave him alone. He’ll be busy today.”
Shin Jisu pulled down Choi Yeonho’s arm from the side and giggled. Choi Yeonho looked back and forth between Jang Juwon’s retreating figure and Shin Jisu’s face with a puzzled expression.
Jang Juwon walked toward his house without knowing whether he would be home at this hour or not. If he hadn’t come home yet, he planned to wait until he did.
The building that had once been as familiar as his own home but had somehow become unfamiliar came into view. He took a deep breath and went inside. As he approached the elevator, the doors were already closing. Through the gap, he could see some man pressing a button.
“Excuse me……!”
Jang Juwon called out urgently, but the door had already closed. A red arrow pointing upward appeared on the elevator’s display. Jang Juwon moved toward the stairs. It didn’t matter much anyway since Baek Iseon’s place was on the second floor. But when he was halfway up the stairs, he heard the elevator doors opening. Standing on the landing, he could see the back of that man getting off the elevator.
He couldn’t see his face, but he was a very tall person with dark black hair wearing a blue suit. He walked straight ahead and stood in front of the very place Jang Juwon had been heading to. He could see his finger pressing the doorbell without hesitation. Jang Juwon hid himself without realizing it. A visitor for Baek Iseon…… It was fortunate that he hadn’t taken the elevator with him.
A moment later, the door opened. He could see his face poking out through the doorway. He hadn’t changed much since the last time he’d seen him. Except this time, instead of an angry face, it was a face full of smiles. Baek Iseon was smiling brightly at the man.
The man in the suit naturally raised his hand and roughly tousled Baek Iseon’s hair. Soon Baek Iseon stepped aside and let the man in.
Bang. The door closed. Jang Juwon’s heart did the same. It must have been because too much time had passed after all.
Jang Juwon turned around and went back down the stairs. The image of the two people, who seemed too intimate and affectionate to be called partners, wouldn’t leave his mind. He was the one who had told him he didn’t need him anymore, yet he felt like a fool for secretly hoping for a reunion.
‘Yeah, at least I got to see his face.’
He thought that maybe it was fortunate that he didn’t have to hear it directly from his mouth. If he had, it would have been even harder to bear.
* * *
Baek Iseon handed a mug of coffee to the man who had come to his home. The man received it but didn’t drink it. He stood in the middle of the living room, looking around the house.
“Baek Iseon……”
The man’s voice was quite cold. Instead of answering, Baek Iseon sat on the sofa with his legs crossed and took a sip of coffee. Then the man turned toward Baek Iseon with a displeased look.
“Did I tell you to do the dishes and laundry on time, or didn’t I? Cut back on the coffee a bit. I told you it’s bad for your health. Why is there nothing in the refrigerator? What do you even eat at home? Don’t tell me you buy food every day. Outside food is bad for your body. Are you taking the supplements I sent you every day? Well, I’m not worried about your studies since you’ve always done well at that. Have you made some friends? You can’t draw lines saying it’s bothersome like before. Cut back on exercise time and go outside more. Meet people! I’ll talk to big sis about it. This is all socializing too. It’ll all benefit you later……”
“Hyung!”
Finally, Baek Iseon couldn’t stand it and snapped at the man. That old fogey. If he’d left him alone just a little longer, his ears would have bled. He was Baek Myeongseon, Baek Iseon’s older brother. And the most talkative among the siblings.
“Baby brother! Hyung is saying all this for your own good……”
“Did you come to nag? I’m all grown up now. Stop treating me like a kid.”
“You’re still a student, what do you mean all grown up.”
Baek Myeongseon ruffled Baek Iseon’s hair once more. In his eyes, this youngest sibling who had grown taller than him still seemed like a young child.
“Stop throwing a tantrum.”
“Ha.”
“Our youngest, how about hyung buys you something delicious since it’s been a while?”
“No.”
“Why? Did your oldest noona tell you not to?”
“No. I…… I’m having dinner with a friend.”
“What?”
Baek Myeongseon jumped in place as if something terrible had happened.
“O-our baby has a friend, a friend……?”
“Yeah, hyung. I have a friend. Is that so surprising?”
“Of course it is! You’re so unpleasant. You were cute when you were little…… No, that’s not the point. So who is it? Who is this angel-like kid? Call them right now. Hyung will buy something delicious for you and your friend together……!”
“Not yet…… that won’t work. I’m waiting.”
“What? Why. Did you fight? Hm? Contact them quickly and say you’re sorry.”
“……We didn’t fight. I’ll get a message soon.”
“Baek Iseon, hurry up and tell your friend you’re sorry!”
“Ah, hyung. I really didn’t do anything wrong this time!”
“Really……?”
“Yeah.”
Baek Myeongseon looked over his younger brother with suspicious eyes. Baek Iseon irritably took another sip of his coffee.
“How did you…… even make a friend?”
“Hyung!”
“Did you do it the way hyung taught you?”
“What?”
“I told you that since you’re normally so unpleasant, you should at least act cute when you text.”
“……I did.”
Baek Iseon paused for a moment before answering awkwardly. Baek Myeongseon smiled broadly with joy and rushed over to Baek Iseon to hug him. Baek Iseon frowned but didn’t seem to dislike it.
“That’s right! See, it works when you do what hyung says, right? Aigoo, good job.”
“……”
Baek Iseon pushed away Baek Myeongseon who was hanging on his shoulder and said.
“So, hyung, leave now.”
“What? Leave already?”
“Yeah. I’m waiting for my friend to contact me right now.”
“Youngest……”
“Would you rather I had no friends at all?”
“No, that’s not it…… I’m just curious.”
“Right now……”
Bzz, bzz.
At that moment, a phone vibration of unknown ownership rang out in the room. Both of them were startled and simultaneously took out their phones. Baek Iseon, who checked his phone, frowned. It wasn’t his.
“Hello.”
