The walk continued for quite a long time afterward. As always, there was no end to things to talk about, and Yeonjun, while looking complicated inside, eventually showed his usual gentle and somewhat cute appearance. He, who had been watching several couples passing by, suddenly said he wanted to hold hands, and Eunha answered that there were too many people for that. It was between one such evening and night that seemed like it would continue peacefully.
Like an unfocused point becoming clear, a person walking from the opposite direction was captured in his field of vision. At the very familiar appearance, an inner exclamation of “huh?” rose up. He, with one companion beside him, wasn’t looking at Eunha. Only Eunha, who discovered him alone, gradually slowed his steps.
At first, he thought it was someone who resembled him, but as the gap narrowed, the uncertain doubt turned into certainty. Should he just pass by like this? It was the moment he was blankly pondering the sudden encounter without warning. The other person casually turned his head and looked at Eunha.
Likewise slowing his steps little by little, they finally came to a firm stop at a fairly close distance and stared at each other blinking as if only the two of them remained in the world.
Hyung? A voice calling out questioningly brushed past his ear, and the face of the person who made eye contact flushed as if unable to believe it.
“Lee Eunha…?”
It was that kid. The boy who had engaged in a blood battle with his twin sibling over Eunha. The boy Eunha had made cry for the first time in his life.
There was no other coincidence with such absurd timing.
* * *
The car heading home was extremely quiet. Amid the conscious silence, Eunha calmly focused on driving in the discomfort of sitting on a bed of thorns. While doing so, the situation from a moment ago filled his head afresh.
‘Wow… how long has it been? I thought I was dreaming.’
‘I know. How do we meet like this?’
Eunha had a welcome reunion with an old connection he’d met after a long time. He couldn’t hide his pleased expression while being surprised and amazed. Before being someone uncomfortable due to romantic feelings, he was a friend. They’d spent over a year together, and there were many good memories. Memories sprouted afresh, and honestly, he was glad to see him. He asked about recent news and well-being, and while at it, even exchanged contact information. It was a formal exchange that arose from glad feelings, and it seemed there wouldn’t actually be any occasion to contact each other, but for now.
While exchanging greetings and light conversation in a somewhat excited state, his gaze was drawn to the other person’s aspects. A gentle impression and eyes that made the other person comfortable. Unhurried speech. A familiar voice. Everything was the same. He was like this. You haven’t changed. It was amazing, and memories sprouted, making him excited. His mood improved and the corners of his mouth lifted. When he said it was really so amazing to meet like this when he’d just been thinking about him a few days ago, that kid giggled playfully asking how he knew he’d been thinking about him.
After having such an affectionate time, they parted. It didn’t take long. Each had their own companion.
And when he turned around, Eunha belatedly had to feel a pang in a corner of his chest. It was because Yeonjun’s eyes, which he met, had sunk darkly like a riverbed. A face where expression management wasn’t working at all.
He didn’t readily open his mouth, then said briefly. Shall we go? At the low bass tone, Eunha silently took a step. He thought he’d say something, but Yeonjun was quiet the entire time. He didn’t bother to press him about who it was. It felt as if he’d roughly figured out who it was, making the uncomfortable feeling intensify even more.
Not a single word was exchanged the entire way to the car, and Yeonjun, confirmed with a sidelong glance, was, as expected, a face that looked quite low in spirits. So a face that looked troubled and upset.
In other words, it didn’t seem like he was showing signs of being upset to make Eunha uncomfortable, but rather looked like the opposite. Like being irritated because he couldn’t help it due to his upset mood showing on the outside.
It seemed similar but was completely different. If it were the former, it would be aimed at Eunha, but the latter was stabbing at himself.
“I’m sorry, hyung.”
He suddenly said. Eunha, who glanced at the side seat, watched the front again.
“For ruining the mood.”
“……”
“I know with my head that this isn’t my turn to act like this. But my mood is, so…”
The end of his words became faintly crushed. In short, he was sorry that his usual attitude wasn’t coming out at all.
“What is there to be sorry about?”
Eunha said plainly. As usual.
“If you have something you want to say, say it.”
“What am I to say anything?”
“Then don’t.”
“…Will you contact him?”
At the question delivered without missing the opportunity even while hesitating, Eunha held back laughter. He must have wanted to ask that. But he himself wasn’t qualified to interfere with such things.
“I won’t.”
“Is it the person who was the twin?”
“Yeah. …How did you know?”
“A few days ago, you said you thought of that person, and you told that person…”
“Ah.”
“The way hyung looked at him was so warm that I felt… bad.”
“Yeah… you seemed like it.”
He didn’t know that the reason wasn’t because of something else but because of the way that kid looked at him.
“Thinking that for the entire year he liked hyung, that person would have looked at hyung that way.”
“……”
“And thinking that hyung must have been continuously used to such things…”
“……”
“Do you like that person, or do you like me?”
“What?”
He asked back absurdly. Yeonjun, for some reason, continued speaking straightforwardly without blushing.
“Liking doesn’t only have a sexual meaning.”
He must be very anxious about something. He looked like he wanted to gain certainty from anything, however small.
Eunha chose his words. Because he didn’t feel inclined to express who he ‘liked’ more.
“That kid is a past connection.”
“So?”
“You’ve been sticking with me continuously these days.”
“So?”
“…You’re better. Is that enough?”
“Not better.”
“……”
Eunha let out a hollow laugh and finally surrendered.
“Fine. I like you more. In a human sense.”
“……”
“Is that enough?”
“Yes…”
At the voice that seemed to have improved in mood a bit, Eunha let out a faint sigh as if enlightened. Does doing this have any meaning? Wouldn’t it just end up planting useless expectations? Even while being skeptical, when he responds just a little as he wants, he shows such a quickly softening appearance, so what can he do?
And unfortunately for both of them, Eunha’s encounters didn’t end there.
They had parked in the ground parking lot of the officetel they’d arrived at since there was a spot, and were getting out. Some figure standing in the secluded smoking area leaned their body toward them as if to confirm, then began approaching with large strides. Hidden in the darkness, Eunha, who had only been expressionless at first, at some point slightly widened his eyes and showed signs of recognition.
“Lee Eunha!”
Eunha, who had briefly felt glad at the face he’d seen after a long time, soon had to stiffen while becoming conscious of Yeonjun.
…But what kind of curse is on today?
