Bowon woke up in bed to the sight of Seoheon crying, feeling completely jolted awake. When he shook his body to wake him as if he was suffering and wiped away his tears, right after that he pulled him tightly with a normal face again and pounced on him as if to devour him from head to toe.
In the end, it had been an hour since he escaped after struggling for a while from the excitement that sharply squeezed his brain. He worked hard to soothe Seoheon, got up together with him, ate a meal and prepared to go out.
Today was the high school graduation ceremony. If they dawdled they might be late, so he sent Seoheon, whose mind seemed somehow dazed, to the bathroom to quickly wash up and come out.
He was concerned about Seoheon’s state, acting as if a screw was loose, unable to properly gather his wits because it was morning, but Bowon was also in a fairly tense state, so he had no time to look after him.
This was because after today’s graduation ceremony ended, they had decided to have a meal gathering with their families. Just yesterday, at Seoheon’s sudden words saying let’s gather with families and have a meal, Bowon roughly nodding his head had been the problem.
“Your grandfather?”
“Yeah. I’ve received meals from your parents often, haven’t I? I told them I’d invite them to a meal as thanks. Bring your parents. You can call Taean too.”
“Ah… does that grandfather know we’re friends?”
When he subtly asked, worried that if he said his grandson was dating another guy, he might clutch the back of his neck, Seoheon nodded matter-of-factly.
Just when he was wondering if he should be relieved and move on, Seoheon, who had paused for a moment, dragged it out then dropped a bomb.
“…I told him you’re someone I really like a lot, so just come comfortably.”
It’s not comfortable at all though. Unlike Seoheon who was calm for being the person who made the situation big, Bowon, who let out deep sighs every hour, checked his outfit then chuckled at the feeling like he was going out to the firing line.
“I’m done. Let’s go.”
Since it was a high school graduation ceremony, thinking it was right to wear a school uniform for the last time rather than a suit, unlike Bowon who had just neatly styled his hair down, Seoheon had it cleanly swept up. Now that Seoheon had shed his youthful look to some degree, he looked more mature than usual, so Bowon just looked at him with satisfaction.
He’s my lover but he’s really handsome. While thinking such doting thoughts.
* * *
“Congratulations on graduating, sunbaes.”
“Thanks.”
Kim Yuna, who had prepared bouquets even though she didn’t need to come, handed them out one by one to Bowon, Oh Seulbi, and Kim Junwoo standing in a row. Since Seoheon had left to take pictures separately with his friends, Bowon could comfortably spend time with the club members.
“Now that it’s the last time here too, I somehow feel relieved yet regretful.”
At Oh Seulbi’s words, Bowon turned his body largely to look around the school, but like she said, he didn’t particularly feel regretful. Probably because he might come back here again.
“Come visit if you have time.”
“Hey, then you’ll totally stand out? You come to our school. I’ll show you around the university.”
“Can I come visit too?”
“Bring a gift when you come.”
Unlike the two who would go to university, Kim Junwoo, who inherited the family business, wrinkled his face as if feeling left out and clung to Bowon.
“Don’t need it! It’s enough if I visit Yoon Taeho’s school. That place is bigger and better. Hey, I’m going to visit your school so show me around. Call me during the festival.”
Bowon, who was about to say okay and let go of his arm, was forcibly separated from Kim Junwoo by someone pulling from behind. Surprised, he looked back to see a face he was seeing after a really long time.
“Eh? Byeon Seungha?”
His red hair that had been like gochujang was gone, turned black, with his bangs lightly styled down in a cool way—it was Byeon Seungha.
It was a face he was seeing after nearly a year since he went to study abroad as soon as he became a third-year. Though they were in a relationship where they only fought whenever they met, since they’d occasionally exchanged contact during that time, Bowon smiled slightly in somewhat pleased feelings.
“Wow, it’s been a while? You seem to have gotten a bit taller.”
“…You too.”
He expected sharply edged words to fly over, but the voice was just calm. At the expressionless face for a graduation ceremony, Bowon felt a strange mood and offered congratulations.
“Hey, we’re leaving first.”
“Contact me later.”
To the kids leaving the spot, whether to go to their families or because of Byeon Seungha’s presence, Bowon, who bid them farewell, asked Byeon Seungha again.
“What brings you here? Did you come to see Seoheon? Jung Hyoin can’t come because of his schedule, so I agreed to receive the diploma in his place.”
“I had some documents to submit so I stopped by briefly. I’ll leave right away.”
Couldn’t he send that by fax or have someone else do it without coming directly? Though doubtful, he laid out encouragement out of courtesy.
“Is it hard learning the family business and studying? Like Junhee sunbae and Moa too, everyone’s living diligently.”
“……”
At the gaze staring intently without answering, Bowon felt awkward and just raised the corners of his mouth. Perhaps because he’d become an adult now, the atmosphere was different, as if he’d become mature not just on the outside but inside too.
Somehow unable to meet his eyes, he slightly turned his gaze to look at the surrounding scenery. He had to wait a bit more for his family to arrive. Soon, because Byeon Seungha raised his gaze to look somewhere, when he turned his head, he saw Moon Seoheon walking over.
When the guy who stood out with his body thickened with muscles built from exercise and even taller height walked over like a model, even if he tried not to look, his gaze naturally went that way.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah.”
At the curt greetings for having seen each other after a while, Bowon was raising his eyebrows when Yoon Taean’s calling voice was heard from far away.
“Ah, I guess the family arrived.”
“…Then see you later.”
“Huh? Yeah. Did you come to Korea completely?”
“Yeah. I’ll attend university here.”
I see. Bowon, who briefly watched the back of Byeon Seungha leaving as he casually waved his hand as if saying go well, had his shoulder grabbed and turned by Seoheon.
“Your lover is right in front of you, are you trying to cheat now?”
“What nonsense are you talking?”
When Bowon poked his chest with his elbow with an absurd expression, Seoheon gently rubbed that spot while drooping the corners of his eyes. He acted well even though it didn’t actually hurt.
“I’m glad we’re at the same university. When I think about you being with another guy while I’m not around, I start to feel hurt.”
“…You have so much to be jealous about. You take care of yourself. I’m worried you’ll keep getting dragged to blind dates or something.”
When he grumbled complaints, Seoheon’s face brightened and he smiled while embracing Bowon’s shoulder.
“That won’t happen. Will my lover be okay dealing with a jealous guy when it must be hard?”
“Ha. You talk as if that hasn’t been the case until now. Just move quickly. We have to take pictures and leave right away.”
At Bowon’s urging, Seoheon swallowed his bitter feelings and moved his legs. Well, the one who likes more has to give in.
Bowon talked with his parents for a moment then took his place to take an individual photo. Even to Seoheon who knew he was a different person and not Yoon Taeho, they now looked completely like family.
While watching Bowon who said he would live diligently for Yoon Taeho’s sake too, Seoheon gathered his complicated feelings again. Perhaps because he dreamed of the past, as soon as he saw him together with Byeon Seungha, his insides almost burned up.
Anyway, he was before his eyes, and now there would be no separation, so from now on he just needed to trust him and spend a long and happy life.
* * *
“You’re going to the same school as Seoheon?”
“…Yes. I entered the education department.”
Bowon, who had been tense from before sitting down, looked at the old man sitting in front of him with a slightly stiffened face. The person who had swept all his silver-like hair to the side to coolly reveal his forehead had a handsome and dignified stature.
Though he’d expected it, wearing a cappuccino-colored vest and jacket over a white shirt, he must have had quite a popular appearance even when young. Wondering where Moon Seoheon’s outstanding appearance was inherited from, there was a reason for everything.
The place where Bowon was located was a high-class Korean restaurant with an antique yet warm atmosphere. Perhaps it was a place his mother, who attended various gatherings and was familiar with such places, or his father who ran a restaurant also knew well, as they acted familiar from the moment they entered, but Bowon was acting stiffly worried he might make a mistake at this first meeting with Seoheon’s grandfather.
Lee Gwangho, who noticed Bowon’s attitude, spoke first in an indifferent tone at the sight of him unable to eat properly.
The form of answering while neatly putting down chopsticks that had picked up food was stable, appearing to come out naturally without much effort. The bright face that had bowed from when he first saw him still lingered before his eyes.
Like his grandson’s words that he would like him very much when he saw him, Lee Gwangho, who inwardly felt favorable, decided to tactfully get up first.
“I have work so I need to get up now. Jaewon, you stay and take care of things until the end before you go.”
“I will.”
At the sudden announcement that he was leaving, not only the surprised Bowon but also his parents and Yoon Taean got up to see off the grandfather leaving the restaurant.
Bowon, who had wondered if he’d made a mistake at the sight of him leaving having barely eaten, felt a bit relieved at Lee Gwangho’s expression when he turned around to make eye contact before leaving outside. Somehow his gaze felt very warm.
“Come visit the house next time.”
“Yes. I’ll come right away if you invite me.”
Lee Gwangho, who smiled slightly as if he’d been waiting for those words, sent glances to the others and left. Only then did the rather solemn atmosphere loosen.
“I never knew Seoheon’s grandfather was the CEO of The One Group. I was so surprised when I heard Teacher Jaewon was his uncle……”
“Haha, it wasn’t deliberately hidden.”
While they sat back down and resumed eating, Seoheon subtly approached Bowon who was still standing at the door.
“Were you nervous?”
“Of course. Haa. He doesn’t seem to have viewed me badly, but what do you think?”
“He seems to like you.”
“What’s that, you need to answer clearly.”
At that, Seoheon smiled as if to reassure him. Like Lee Jaewon, his smiling appearance resembled his grandfather.
“Don’t worry. Grandfather doesn’t even speak to people he doesn’t like.”
At those words, Bowon’s expression, which had been somewhat stiff, relaxed nicely.
