As he cleared his throat with a cough, the knocking sound became faster. It was annoying how it nagged him to hurry and open while not losing its rhythm. Thanks to that, his eyes that had been damp just seconds ago dried up completely.
“Just! I’m opening it! I’ll open it, so just wait a minute!”
At the momentum that seemed like he’d break down the door, Cha Ihyun opened it with disgust. The faces of his parents floating in his head had already become blurry. As soon as he undid the latch, the door swung open.
“I thought you left me behind again. I waited so fucking long and you didn’t come.”
With two bags overlapped on one shoulder, Cha Dobum came inside.
“If you’re going to play hide and seek, tell me before hiding. It’s not like I’m fucking ostracizing you. And why are the lights off…”
He hesitated upon belatedly discovering Cha Ihyun’s face. Wow. Cha Dobum, who briefly exclaimed in admiration, muttered.
“Colorful.”
The face that had been spotless like wrapped white drawing paper was colored with red scratches and blue bruises. Cha Dobum, who slowly scanned the scratch-like mark on the bridge of his nose, the swollen cheekbone, and the scabbed lips below, suddenly asked.
“Did you win?”
Cha Ihyun nodded.
“They called the teacher first, so I won.”
“They?”
“Two people.”
“Oh.”
Cha Dobum took out the hand he’d been stuffing in his pocket and patted his shoulder.
“Our princess, you got some skills? You know how to fiercely stick out your claws too.”
The word ‘claws’ was irritating, but he lost his edge at the face that seemed genuinely impressed. If he showed this state to hyung, he’d obviously get scolded, but Cha Dobum was actually praising him. Somehow it even made him want to laugh.
When he sat down heavily on the floor again, Cha Dobum came over and sat down next to him.
“The two, were they the ones stuck to your side?”
He still couldn’t memorize names. When he nodded, Cha Dobum smiled broadly and ruffled his hair.
“They were fucking annoying, butting in like that anyway. Good job, our princess, you did fucking great!”
“Ah, don’t do that!”
“But how did you end up fighting?”
Cha Ihyun shut his mouth. He absolutely couldn’t say they cursed at him for not having parents.
“Just. They heard some weird rumor and came saying stuff to me.”
“Weird rumor? What?”
“That I’m a beggar living off your family.”
Cha Dobum burst into laughter.
“So you beat the fuck out of them?”
“It’s ridiculous. When they’re more like beggars. Taking my stuff and selling it.”
“We should cut off those bastards’ dicks. If they need money, they should work part-time.”
“And they said the way I talk is annoying. Going on about my personality… Then show you don’t like me from the start. Just deceiving people to get stuff, what are they even doing?”
“Exactly. Those are total fucking bastards.”
The profanity he’d hated hearing now sounded refreshing. The hearty response helped draw out the things that had been stuck in his chest. As he spat out what he’d only been suppressing, he could feel his face flush a little. Cha Dobum chuckled.
“Pretty things always attract rumors. Why, what’s that saying, there’s also that saying about paying for your face?”
“Doesn’t that mean you’re shameless?”
“Huh? That’s also right.”
“Want to die?”
Catching the fist Cha Ihyun swung with his palm, Cha Dobum put on an exaggerated act. At that stupid appearance, laughter leaked from the corners of Cha Ihyun’s mouth once again.
Before he knew it, it was dark outside the window. Cha Ihyun, who belatedly checked the time, hardened his expression.
‘If it’s six o’clock…’
He could run into Big Uncle and Big Aunt getting off work. He didn’t want to show them this state and cause unnecessary worry.
“It’s Wednesday today.”
Cha Dobum’s voice interjected again this time too.
“It’s the day the hospital closes early. They probably already went to the golf course.”
As if he knew what he was thinking, he shrugged his shoulders. But it was too early to feel relieved. If it got any later, he could run into hyung. He wanted to show hyung even less than Big Uncle and Big Aunt.
He jumped up with the intention of going home right away and locking himself in his room, but in an instant, the strength in his knees gave out.
“Ugh…”
His pelvis area throbbed. He hadn’t noticed until just now, but the pain was more considerable than expected. As he limped while leaning against the wall, laughter came from behind.
“Are you a calf?”
Cha Ihyun ignored him and walked. At the sight of his back groaning with trembling legs, Cha Dobum muttered as if it was cute.
“You’re asking for a piggyback ride right now, aren’t you?”
Cha Dobum, who turned the bag he’d been carrying on his back to the front, bent his knees in front of Cha Ihyun. Then he stretched both arms back and pulled Cha Ihyun’s knees. His body, losing its balance, toppled onto the wide back.
“What—!”
He didn’t even have time to shout. Cha Dobum stood up abruptly while carrying Cha Ihyun on his back.
“Hey, what… what are you doing? Put me down, quickly!”
Cha Ihyun, who had been struggling, swallowed a groan. It was because the pain in his pelvis worsened when he put strength in his legs.
In the meantime, Cha Dobum opened the door and walked down the corridor with large strides. It seemed he really intended to go all the way home like this. Cha Ihyun, who had turned pale, hit Cha Dobum’s shoulders repeatedly.
“Hey! I said put me down! What if someone sees…!”
“They’d think, ‘those brothers get along so well.'”
“Who would think that! How old are we!”
“What does age have to do with it? We’re family. Ah, that feels cool. Try hitting harder.”
He wouldn’t listen. Cha Ihyun frantically looked around, but fortunately, not a single strand of hair was visible until they arrived at the front of the building.
The corridor, long past dismissal time, was as quiet as a school on vacation. Until they went down the stairs and reached the playground, they only encountered two or three teachers. They hesitated upon seeing the combination of the two but soon nodded and passed by. Somehow looking at Cha Dobum as if impressed.
Only after entering the quiet residential area did Cha Ihyun relax. His gaze belatedly reached his own feet swinging in the air. He suddenly thought that this sensation of floating above the ground had been a long time.
As if thinking the same thing, Cha Dobum chuckled.
“It’s really been a while since I gave Cha Ihyun a piggyback ride. It feels like just yesterday when I carried you all the time.”
“Who carried me all the time?”
“Wow, don’t tell me you don’t remember? I even wiped your snot.”
Because his body swayed as if wronged, Cha Ihyun tightly pulled Cha Dobum’s neck. Then Cha Dobum also adjusted Cha Ihyun on his back and brought up a story from ten years ago.
“You always scraped your knee at the playground and went waa waa. ‘Cha Dobum, Cha Dobuuum’ crying like crazy, so I’d wipe all your tears and snot and carry you like this. Fuck, you don’t even remember that.”
Hearing that story, memories gradually emerged. It was probably not long after entering elementary school.
At that age, one tended to fear being left alone while playing with friends. When friends suddenly ran off somewhere while playing together, it was children’s nature to become anxious and shout ‘Go together!’ But he was particularly more severe in that regard. It was because of his fear of being left alone.
“With tears dripping down saying ‘Let’s go togetheeeer~’, it was so fucking cute—”
When he hit the back of his head, Cha Dobum became quiet.
Cha Ihyun tried to recall the faded memory. Wherever the place was, whenever he fell and cried, it seemed Cha Dobum always came and carried him. Even then, because of the size difference, his feet swung in the air. Resting his cheek against Cha Dobum’s shoulder and listening to the cicada sounds, sleepiness would pour over him.
Come to think of it, even then Cha Dobum’s wrist had two indoor shoe bags hanging from it. Cha Ihyun stared at the two bags hanging on Cha Dobum’s chest before turning his gaze away.
The cicada sounds completely covered the surroundings this time too.
Contrary to his worries, no one was home.
Cha Dobum, who went up to the second-floor room, set Cha Ihyun down on the bed.
“Give me your shirt and socks.”
Cha Ihyun looked down at his school uniform. The shirt had blood on it from who knows where. It seemed Cha Dobum intended to wash this right away to hide the traces. When he obediently took off his clothes and handed them over, Cha Dobum received them familiarly.
“Turn off the lights and pretend to sleep. I’ll make up something vague.”
“……”
“I’ll bring you an ice pack later, so sleep with it on your face.”
Cha Ihyun’s lips twitched. Even though it was Cha Dobum, being grateful was being grateful.
“…Hey.”
Though embarrassed, he raised his head intending to say thanks. But Cha Dobum was burying his nose in his socks. He who had been sniffing said as if impressed.
“What the fuck, why do your socks smell like this? Are these really worn ones?”
“Are you really crazy?”
“But why did you call me?”
Cha Ihyun shut his mouth with a serious expression. His grateful feelings had completely disappeared. But Cha Dobum grinned as if he knew everything.
