By the time he barely escaped and returned to his group of friends, Gu Haebin was mingling with some peer group nearby, engaged in conversation. Kim Sunwoo was laughing while looking at Eunha, whose complexion had rapidly worsened, when he too moved away toward where a peer group was at the sound of a voice calling him. The only one left was Park Hyeonji, standing at the bar table picking at desserts.
She pointed to the group on the other side of the table and said that they’d move locations all together after staying a bit longer. They’d go to Gu Haebin’s pub to drink and hang out.
Of course, the “all together” included you too, Eunha.
Eunha immediately declined. He’d fulfilled his mother’s expectations, so now he was planning to head back soon. He was tired enough to be confident he’d fall asleep the moment he lay down in bed.
He lightly massaged his heavy shoulders while looking down at Park Hyeonji, who seemed perfectly fine as usual.
Next, he also looked at the people in the group who were talking while bursting into laughter here and there.
Even though he wasn’t particularly lacking in stamina, he couldn’t keep up with the energy of genuinely lively people.
“I knew you’d say that.”
At Eunha’s refusal, Hyeonji took a sip of her non-alcoholic cocktail as if unsurprised.
“And you know, right? That I won’t let you go nicely.”
“…I can’t today.”
“Don’t talk like today’s the only day you can’t when you can’t every single day.”
“What can I do when I really can’t.”
“Why can’t you?”
Eunha briefly cleared his throat. He quickly thought up an appropriate excuse.
“I have things to do separately…… I’m tired. Let’s set a date for next time. Today-.”
“Next time when. When is that. Next year? The year after next? In like 50 years? Will you not hang out with me then either, saying your whole body aches because you’re a grandfather? Should we all die and gather as ghosts at a funeral home?”
“……”
“If you were someone who came out when I called, I wouldn’t cling to you this pathetically either.”
“……”
“You know my birthday’s next month, right? You’ll come to the party?”
“…I should go to that.”
“It won’t kill you to come out when I call even without such occasions.”
“I want to do that too. What can I do when I’m busy.”
“What are you so busy with! Do you study, do you work? You’re just lazing around all day with one cafe set up like Gu Haebin.”
“…You’re just breaking my bones here.”
“Let’s meet occasionally and hang out. I’m hurt by this. Really.”
Park Hyeonji leaned forward and stuck her face out. It was a pitiful look. As if asking him to feel sorry for her. Saying shouldn’t his heart soften when a friend is begging like this.
Eunha deliberately looked away and turned his attention to the people leaving through the atrium entrance.
“…I understand what you’re saying, but I’m really busy. I have to go today.”
“What’s so busy. Are you dating someone? Did you hide someone at home?”
“Ah. I am raising something.”
“What, what kind. Who. A lover? Or a pet? If it’s that, I’ll acknowledge it.”
“A companion plant.”
“……It’s really not even funny.”
Park Hyeonji let out a chuckle as if it was absurd but honestly funny. It wasn’t said to make her laugh though…. Does that mean plants don’t count as acknowledgeable?
The bickering continued for several minutes. Eunha grew increasingly anxious. He had to escape before the atmosphere turned to heading out to the pub. However, no appropriate excuse came to mind. Vague deflections didn’t work well. Because they were old friends.
Those who’d known him for a long time knew Eunha well. That Eunha had no friends besides them, and that Eunha, having finished a tiring event schedule, wasn’t the type to leave them behind and slip away to other people.
Also that in recent years, Eunha had been blatantly avoiding private gatherings with them.
The reason they were holding on so firmly now was probably because of that. There was no way they couldn’t feel that distance. Even if they didn’t show it outwardly.
A justification, a justification…… Ah. Eunha, who had been looking around meaninglessly, fixed his gaze on one spot and opened his eyes clearly. Like someone who’d gotten a clear answer.
At the end of it stood Yeonjun.
He was someone Eunha didn’t particularly want to get involved with, but that concern was brief. Eunha was someone who knew how to distinguish between personal feelings and gains and losses. Right now that person seemed like the best option—so it couldn’t be helped.
“You’ll let me go if I convince you?”
“Actually, I have a prior engagement today. It’s almost time so I really have to go now.”
“A prior engagement? Suddenly what…… Don’t bullshit me. You’re going home. Do you think I’ve only watched you slip out like a loach once or twice-.”
“It’s true. I’m supposed to eat with someone who I think is Teacher Baek Euntaek’s grandson. Ah. He’s over there. I’m going to go. Today was fun. See you next time.”
“What? Hey! Wait……!”
Eunha, who barely avoided Park Hyeonji’s hand trying to grab him, blindly chased after Yeonjun, who was just heading toward the lobby entrance. His steps gradually quickened as he tried to catch up with the large strides. When he finally reached him and stood casually beside him while making his presence known, Yeonjun, who had unconsciously turned to the side, froze a beat late. His steps smoothly came to a halt.
“Keep walking.”
“What?”
“Aren’t you on your way out?”
“I am, but……”
“Then let’s go out together. Just go out with me.”
Yeonjun, who had clearly looked down with his eyes, glanced behind once, then looked at Eunha again and nodded shallowly.
Eunha drew a social smile toward him. He rattled off any words that came to mind. Thank you. Really. Then shall we hurry and go…….
It was a performance for Park Hyeonji, who must have reached the friends huffing and puffing. To Eunha’s endless words, Yeonjun occasionally returned responses. Please look into my eyes. What? …Like this? Yes. Like that. But what is this for? Let’s just go out first.
Like that, they were able to safely exit the lobby. However, thinking it wasn’t safe yet, Eunha kept walking. He had to go even farther so they couldn’t even catch him. Just as they knew Eunha well, Eunha knew them well too. They were all personalities who would be offended to be second to anyone in stubbornness. He had to work hard to run away when he saw the chance.
It was when he’d come down about halfway along the long, wide, gentle slope that he remembered Yeonjun, whom he’d briefly forgotten. Something felt strange.
When he stopped abruptly and turned around, Yeonjun, who had been following right behind him, also stopped walking.
No, why until now…… Eunha, who felt like holding his forehead, soon shook off the thought. This person wasn’t at fault. At least not right now. Rather, he was in a position of owing him.
“I’m sorry. I was in such a rush…… Thank you. I’m indebted to you. You can go back now.”
“Was it a difficult situation?”
“Mm. A bit. My friends were being annoying.”
Yeonjun sent him a steady gaze. Uncomfortable with that, Eunha once again offered a greeting that drew a line. “Thank you.” He deliberately turned his head. Where did he park. It was when he was casually looking out.
“Then… I did help you, hyung, right?”
“What?”
Eunha whipped his head to the side again. It seemed like he’d just said something… but none of it registered in his ears. The important thing wasn’t that.
“Hyung?”
Suddenly?
“Ah. That seemed like the most appropriate form of address……”
“……”
“Do you not like it?”
Eunha’s lips twitched. He looked incomprehensibly at the man who kept blocking his words at every turn. They had no relationship whatsoever. So there was no need for an appropriate form of address. The very concept of an honorific was useless. However….
At the lengthening silence, Yeonjun’s pupils gently clouded over. ……He couldn’t bring himself to spit out an answer of dislike right to his face. Even knowing that it was uncharacteristically getting entangled.
“……I don’t mind.”
An unwelcoming tone of answer. At that, Yeonjun’s face, which had been losing energy, cleared up in an instant. His eyes held a gleam as if he might or might not smile. He revealed his inner joy quietly. Like someone who didn’t even think it was showing. Like someone who was completely ignorant of the ways of the world…….
Eunha was once again dumbfounded. That exasperating feeling wasn’t even novel anymore.
As he swallowed a hollow laugh, the man said quite meekly.
“Yes, Eunha hyung.”
“……”
“……”
“…Well. Yes. Then I’ll be going now.”
“Oh. I just asked a question though.”
“What did you say?”
“You can speak comfortably to me.”
“Formal speech is more comfortable for me.”
“Ah. Yes……”
“……”
“Anyway, hyung.”
“Yes.”
“…So, you are in my debt, right?”
