Some misfortunes come step by step, from the teaser to the full trailer in order.
“Yuho. Shrimp.”
“Ah.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
“Okay. Take care.”
The day he went on a drive to the sea with Yuho, Seonchan watched Yuho’s retreating figure rapidly growing distant and thought that.
Ah. This one-sided love is doomed.
Perhaps Seonchan had realized that fact from the very beginning.
Yuho always acted like someone whose heart was floating in midair, and Seonchan had instinctively sensed that there was someone else who could anchor that heart.
And now that Yuho was running to that very person at this dawn hour, it felt like he’d already been spoiled on the ending.
Yuho – [Did I wake you up?]
Seonchan – [No, I couldn’t sleep so I was looking at my script]
Yuho – [It’s two in the morning?]
Seonchan – [I was just about to go to sleep anyway]
Yuho – [Then sleep quickly, I’ll contact you again in the morning]
Seonchan – [OK, you sleep soon too]
Yuho – [Okay, bye]
Seonchan – [Bye]
Even while exchanging messages with Yuho at two in the morning, Seonchan wondered whether Yuho was alone with Inhan, where he would end up sleeping, but he couldn’t ask.
That was exactly where he stood. He was in such a position that he couldn’t hear any answers without asking first.
Up until they watched the fireworks together, Seonchan had thought Yuho was coming along well toward him.
He had held expectations that if he just invested a little more time, he could pull him in completely.
Of course, that was only if Inhan hadn’t done anything.
Seonchan – [Did you sleep well?]
Yuho – [Yeah, do well with filming today] [It’s cold so be careful not to catch a cold]
Seonchan – [Okay, you make sure to eat breakfast properly too, and contact me if you’re bored] 10:14 AM
Seonchan felt relieved when Yuho replied nonchalantly even after dawn broke. But the problem came after lunch.
Seonchan – [Photo] [Galbi-tang again todayㅋㅋㅋㅋ Save me] 1:40 PM 1
As if something had happened, Yuho’s contact completely cut off from the afternoon.
Seonchan anxiously kept checking his phone. Even though it was common for them to be out of contact for hours because of work, he strangely felt uneasy.
Yuho – [Sorry Seonchan, I’ll contact you later] 9:46 PM
Yuho’s reply arrived only late at night. Though it wasn’t a specific statement, Seonchan immediately grasped its meaning.
Seonchan – [Okay, I’ll wait for your contact] 9:51 PM
As always, ominous premonitions were never wrong.
Yuho – [Should we meet? I have something to tell you]
It was three days later at night when Yuho contacted Seonchan again. Seonchan replied right away.
Seonchan – [How about the 24th?]
Yuho – [The 24th?]
Seonchan – [Yeah, or the 25th]
Yuho – [Would it be difficult to meet another day?]
Seonchan – [Yeah, those are the only days I have free]
Seonchan’s choice of a special date for their meeting was an intentional act.
It was to confirm whether he still had a chance, and even if not, it was from the hope that Yuho would remember him every year on that day, even if only with feelings of guilt.
Yuho – [Then let’s meet on the 24th]
Whether fortunately or not, Yuho gave an affirmative answer. Seonchan felt complicated after receiving that reply. It was even more so thinking it might be their last date.
* * *
It was the promised 24th.
“Let’s finish what I want to do first, then talk. I’ll listen to everything then.”
As soon as he saw Yuho getting into the passenger seat, Seonchan declared it like that.
Yuho bowed his head deeply with a stiff face, already looking like someone who had committed a crime. Seonchan’s mouth tasted bitter at the sight that looked just like lovers right before a breakup.
“Yuho. Smile a little. I want to see you smile.”
“……Okay.”
Only after hearing Seonchan’s words did Yuho force a smile. It felt like they had returned to their first awkward meeting.
Seonchan took Yuho to the hotel restaurant he had reserved. In a place full of couples and families, they were the only male guests together. He knew Yuho found that fact burdensome, but Seonchan decided to pretend not to notice and be greedy one last time.
“Let’s take a photo.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s just take one as a memento.”
“Okay.”
After finishing their meal, Seonchan deliberately sought out only famous dating spots.
They went up Namsan Tower, watched a romance movie, and went to Cheonggyecheon to see the Christmas festival. Wherever they went, the crowds were overwhelming, but he thought that was actually better.
Before he knew it, Yuho was treating Seonchan like usual too.
“Yuho.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember when you asked me before why I liked you?”
While taking Yuho back home again, Seonchan suddenly brought up the past. At the unexpected words, Yuho was flustered but tried to react calmly.
“Ah, yeah.”
“To be honest now, I really was your fan.”
“……Really?”
Yuho asked back uncertainly. He had heard those words from Seonchan before, but he thought it was just something said to make him feel good.
“At first I looked you up because we were going to work on a project together and I was curious, but before I knew it I was watching your fancams, edited videos, and even personal interviews. I even have a separate folder of your GIFs on my phone.”
“Ah…… I had no idea.”
“Yuho. First of all, your very existence is precious.”
“Huh?”
At Seonchan’s suddenly penetrating comment, Yuho was flustered. But Seonchan continued his gushing without caring.
“Your habit of biting your lip when concentrating is cute, your hands moving flashily when playing guitar are so pretty, and your prominent cheeks when seen from the side are bursting with charm. Especially your ‘Peer’ promotion concept was really insane.”
“I-I see.”
“But then you also work hard at everything and you’re a tone fairy and now you even dance well? Plus you’re considerate, full of charm, and your smile is so pretty too.”
Yuho didn’t know what to do with himself under Seonchan’s continuous barrage of compliments. It was something he’d experienced a lot from fans, but this was the first time he’d been trapped in a praise prison created by an acquaintance like this.
“That’s why I like you. Whether as a fan or as a man.”
“……”
“And eventually, many people will come to like you.”
Seonchan’s words, delivered like fan sentiment yet like a confession, ultimately ended as words of encouragement.
Hearing those words, Yuho thought he had received so much from Seonchan that he could never repay it.
“Thank you, Seonchan.”
But all Yuho could give back was words of thanks.
“Really, thank you.”
The burden of a heart he couldn’t repay felt excessively heavy.
Seonchan’s car stopped in front of Yuho’s dorm only as midnight approached. It was truly time to part now.
“I’m ready now. Tell me.”
At Seonchan’s words delivered with a smiling face, Yuho hesitated and moved his lips. Then he finally let out one sentence.
“Inhan confessed to me.”
“I see.”
Hearing Yuho’s words, Seonchan wasn’t very surprised. He had long ago noticed that Yuho’s one-sided love wasn’t entirely one-sided.
But Seonchan had hoped that Yuho would never realize that fact. He had hoped he would come to him without knowing.
“So what about you? Did you accept?”
“……No.”
“Why? You liked Inhan.”
Seonchan decided to acknowledge it now. Pretending not to know couldn’t make the truth a lie.
He thought about acting more pathetic, but all that would leave behind would be an embarrassing history, so he decided to stop here.
“You still like him.”
“……Yeah. So I don’t think I can accept your feelings.”
Seonchan thought he would feel relieved once he heard confirmation from Yuho’s mouth, but instead his stomach felt even more upset and he let out a hollow laugh.
“He’s less impressive than I thought.”
“Huh?”
“He’s shorter than me too. And he hasn’t been to the military.”
“That’s true for me too though……”
“He acts like a kid too.”
“……”
“But you like that kind of person?”
Seonchan thought the one acting like a kid was actually himself. He had rushed to confess fearing Yuho would notice Inhan’s feelings, and even though a conclusion had been reached, he was constantly looking for an opportunity to somehow steal him away.
“How about it? Now that you think about it, doesn’t it seem like I’m better?”
“You’re really a good person. So……”
“Then, will you come to me even now?”
Even though it was said jokingly, Yuho couldn’t answer Seonchan’s question in the end. Now Seonchan thought he had heard enough of an answer from Yuho.
“Should we not see each other for a while?”
“……I’m sorry.”
“And not contact each other either.”
At Seonchan’s words, Yuho’s face quickly darkened. It was from feelings of guilt rather than regret.
“I just can’t say let’s remain friends.”
Seonchan thought he had done something wrong to Yuho. He had barely opened his heart and made a friend, but it was unfortunate that their relationship had to end like this.
“Sorry. For not being able to be a good friend.”
“No. What do you have to be sorry about? I’m the one who’s sorry.”
“Should we shake hands?”
Seonchan extended his hand to offer a final greeting, and Yuho carefully grasped that hand.
Looking back, Seonchan hadn’t held Yuho’s hand even once all this time. In the end, that was the kind of relationship they were. Even knowing this, Seonchan didn’t want to let go of Yuho’s hand and held on for a long while.
“Take care.”
Seonchan finally said goodbye, and Yuho decided to accept that conclusion as well.
“Yeah. Stay well.”
At Yuho’s words to stay well, Seonchan didn’t answer. He probably wouldn’t be staying well for a while.
Yuho watched Seonchan’s car leave until the end, then immediately checked his phone.
– Six Dot Boys Room 6 –
Yeomin – [Anyone in contact with Jung Inhan?!]
Raulie – [He probably went to see his hyungs]
Taylor – [ㄴ]
Raulie – [What, Tae-hyung got summoned to that gathering again?]
Taylor – [ㅇ]
Yeomin – [Huh, I Nani seems to just be at home]
Raulie – [That’s unusual] [Who’s at the dorm?]
Yeomin – [Jueon-hyung and me]
Raulie – [Hyo-hyung hasn’t come back yet?]
Yeomin – [Noㅜㅜ Jueon-hyung already went to sleepㅠㅠ]
Raulie – [What is this, why did I Yeom suddenly become so pitiful?]
Yeomin – [Raulie, at least you come]
Raulie – [ㅂㅇ]
Yeomin – [ㅜㅜ]
Inhan’s whereabouts were uncertain. Yuho considered calling Inhan, but instead started hailing a taxi right away. However, perhaps because of what day it was, he couldn’t summon a taxi no matter how long he tried.
In the end, Yuho started running with all his might toward Inhan’s house.
