#028
“Haha. I’m telling you I’m being dragged along. Oh Taehyun wants to get a girlfriend. It seems comfortable for him when I’m there for introductions.”
“It would be fucking comfortable.”
“Haha.”
Who the hell is Oh Taehyun? Jiwoon instantly finished grasping the situation. It made sense. It was a similar reason to why Park Kyungjun kept asking him to hang out.
Jiwoon unconsciously had the vicious thought of wanting to cut off all of Yechan’s human relationships. Chewing his tongue while grinding it, Jiwoon pressed Yechan’s ear a bit harder.
It feels good. Yechan, who knew nothing, was just innocent. After being silent for a moment, Jiwoon chewed his tongue for a long time before finally finding a comment that didn’t cross the line.
“Have fun.”
“I just hope it won’t be uncomfortable. I really hate those kinds of situations.”
Yechan rubbed his forehead against Jiwoon’s shoulder. Jiwoon glared at the door while removing his hand from Yechan’s ear.
His chest ached. His head was endlessly complicated too. At the tangled thoughts, Jiwoon quietly spoke.
“…If you find someone you like, you have to tell me. We’ll have to stop playing.”
And as soon as he heard those words, Yechan unconsciously tightened his arms holding Jiwoon. Yechan, who had bound Jiwoon tightly with both arms, spoke decisively in a firm tone.
“That won’t happen. I told you. I have no intention of dating before going to university.”
…Rejected again. Thinking that, Jiwoon had to struggle not to sigh. Perhaps thinking something about the silent Jiwoon, Yechan rested his chin on his shoulder and asked.
“When are you going to get a girlfriend, hyung?”
“I have about a hundred days until Suneung.”
“Haha. Right. Then will you start dating right after Suneung?”
“I don’t know.”
“Can’t you date late?”
“Why?”
“Um… because playing with hyung is good? If possible, I’d like you to do it after I turn twenty.”
At Yechan’s words, Jiwoon squeezed his eyes shut. What does that mean? He thought about Yechan’s intentions for a moment, but Jiwoon eventually opened his eyes without finding emotions similar to his own in Yechan.
Yechan had been watching Jiwoon’s profile the whole time. Jiwoon’s expression was more hardened than ever.
Hyung must not like it. Though it was a bit disappointing, Yechan, who thought he should forget the previous promise, continued speaking.
“Even if you get a girlfriend, you’ll still meet me, right? Of course, I won’t ask to do this kind of thing then.”
Yechan whispered in Jiwoon’s ear.
“I like just being with hyung too. Eating delicious food, going to the arcade again. Watching movies or going to cafes to talk is good too. It’s hard to find someone as comfortable to talk to as hyung.”
Ah… The strength left Jiwoon’s body as he listened. Jiwoon, who slumped his body as if leaning on Yechan, answered slowly with his eyes closed.
“Depends on how you behave.”
At those words, Yechan smiled and firmly massaged Jiwoon’s shoulders.
“Hyung really isn’t easy.”
“You too.”
Haha. Yechan, who laughed out loud, hugged Jiwoon tightly and moved his body around. Burying his lips in Jiwoon’s white nape and breathing deeply, Yechan somehow thought that Jiwoon in his arms might fly away like a fluttering butterfly.
* * *
“Jiwoon’s dongsaeng, hello?”
Yechan, who had gone to the faculty office, ran into Yoon Jukyung in the hallway. The bright brown hair that had drawn attention when he saw him before had grown noticeably.
Jukyung was standing with Choi Min, holding college entrance materials as if coming back from counseling. Yechan glanced at Choi Min, who had eyes similar to Choi Yeon’s. Then he looked up at Jukyung, who had slightly droopy eyes, and greeted him quietly.
“Hello.”
“Yeah, hello. What kind of food do you like? For reference when we go to Yeosu.”
A mole moved at the end of Jukyung’s droopy eyes as he smiled. Yechan answered expressionlessly.
“I eat everything well. Thank you.”
It was an answer that was unclear whether he was thanking him for letting him sleep over or for preparing food. At Yechan’s words, Jukyung smiled once more and patted Yechan’s back.
“Right. You’re coming to play that day, right? Don’t be too late. You have to play with us too.”
“Yes.”
“See you that day then.”
Soon, the politely proper answers without much content were amusing. Jukyung nudged Choi Min and turned away from Yechan.
“We have time left, let’s stop by the rooftop.”
Jukyung, who headed to the rooftop with Choi Min, thought of Yechan he had just seen while feeling the wind. And thinking about that, his thoughts naturally turned to Jiwoon, who was infatuated with that Seo Yechan.
Yoon Jukyung found life interesting. Like all the members of the group they hung around with, Yoon Jukyung had also grown up without want in a wealthy family.
The youngest of three siblings, he was in a position where he could live freely doing what he wanted without worrying about inheriting companies or foundations. In such a situation, it was natural for similar kids to get together and play, and for Jukyung, Lee Jiwoon was a very appealing friend.
Of course, Jukyung knew that Jiwoon had no particular attachment to him, Choi Min, or Park Kyungjun. But such things weren’t important to Jukyung.
Lee Jiwoon was indifferent to everything. Jukyung found it funny how he always acted bored while creating interesting situations on his own.
For example, getting ridiculous mock exam scores, or beating people up for equally ridiculous reasons. Due to such behaviors, Jukyung had always thought of Jiwoon as a ball that you never knew where it would bounce, yet could only bounce so high.
However, no matter what, the essence of that ball was ultimately an endlessly round sphere. Part of what made Jukyung enjoy hanging out with Jiwoon was his attitude of not being kind or affectionate, but also not genuinely looking down on or ignoring others.
It’s probably inherited from his upright family background. Jukyung had casually thought such things while observing Jiwoon until now.
Lee Jiwoon wasn’t hot-tempered like Park Kyungjun, nor was he a model student like Choi Min. That meant he was moderate.
Lee Jiwoon was always moderate and smart. Even when he was tired of boredom and beat people up.
Was it because the sport Jiwoon practiced had the character for “way” in it? Lee Jiwoon knew the way that moved the world. It was annoyingly impressive.
Jukyung had been amazed by that ability. And admired it. Even his own older brother and sister couldn’t manipulate their world as freely. In Jukyung’s eyes, Lee Jiwoon was a born ruler and player.
So Jukyung observed, watched, and stayed by Jiwoon’s side. Jukyung, who liked people, enjoyed and found it fun to make friends and meet girls. But the most fun thing for him was still playing with Lee Jiwoon.
Jiwoon, being a ruler, attracted people even without doing anything. Especially people like himself couldn’t just pass by Lee Jiwoon.
It was natural. If you compared him to a gemstone, Lee Jiwoon was a diamond. It would be stranger if attention wasn’t drawn to him.
And because of that, Yoon Jukyung was curious about Lee Jiwoon’s future.
“I met Seo Yechan, Jiwoon-Jiwoon.”
Entering the classroom, Jukyung tapped the back of Jiwoon, who was sitting with his hands in his pants pockets looking out the window, and spoke. Jiwoon only turned his head to look at him, and faint curiosity flickered in his eyes.
“He said he’d come back not too late in the evening on the day we go to Yeosu.”
Jiwoon’s gaze stayed on Jukyung for a moment. Soon turning his head to look out the window again, Jiwoon’s back rose and fell regularly.
“Min.”
“Yeah.”
“Friends help each other, right?”
“That’s right…?”
Choi Min, who was taking out his English vocabulary book, answered blankly as if wondering what he was suddenly talking about.
Jukyung rested his chin and looked at Jiwoon’s back with a wicked smile. He knew it. Lee Jiwoon’s feelings for Seo Yechan.
Park Kyungjun had no particular interest in Jiwoon’s romantic affairs, and Choi Min, with his straightforward personality and because of Choi Yeon’s situation, probably couldn’t think of Seo Yechan and Lee Jiwoon in that way.
But he couldn’t fool his own eyes. Jukyung had observed Jiwoon for a long time. He had watched many of Jiwoon’s relationships from the sidelines, but this was the first time he had seen him put in this much effort.
What’s Seo Yechan? He’s a hubae, right? Jiwoon’s eyes were straightforward when answering Jukyung’s questions.
But this time, Jukyung didn’t believe the emotions Jiwoon’s eyes showed. Instead, he believed the actions of Jiwoon that he had witnessed.
Even himself, who was quite close to Han Seungwoo as his sunbae, would never treat Seungwoo that way. There was something special in how Jiwoon treated Yechan.
So Jukyung carefully observed Jiwoon and Yechan. And he discovered it.
There was no excitement in Seo Yechan’s eyes. To put it nicely, he was plain; to put it badly, he was dry.
They’re going to play with girls. Han Seungwoo’s words made Jukyung’s speculation a fact. Jukyung grinned widely with his mouth open at the thrilling sensation running down his spine. His diamond-carved king was in unrequited love!
Jukyung had heard detailed accounts of the incident between Yechan and Choi Yeon, and had also had several conversations with Yechan. He actually thought Jiwoon and Yechan suited each other quite well.
Because Jiwoon and Yechan were similar. Both were good drivers who could steer their lives in the direction they wanted, wherever the end might be, to their desired destination.
If Lee Jiwoon was a born ruler, then Seo Yechan was a strategist. Lee Jiwoon, who naturally attracted people and got things done without having to say anything, and Seo Yechan, who cleverly used situations to get things done without directly intervening, were bound to get along well.
And thinking this far, Jukyung frowned. Even so, in his view, Lee Jiwoon was still more precious.
However, wasn’t there a saying that love was the most uncontrollable thing among human affairs? Jiwoon’s heart was something he couldn’t control himself.
This was equally true for Jiwoon from the beginning, so there was nothing more to say. Lee Jiwoon, who had always done whatever he wanted and had everything go as he wished until now. The fact that he was in a situation where things weren’t going his way was a bit amusing to Jukyung.
What Jukyung should do at times like this was clear. Continue to quietly observe them.
Thinking this, laughter leaked out again. Indeed, the most interesting thing these days is Seo Yechan and Lee Jiwoon. Thinking this once more, Jukyung’s bright hair fluttered gently in the air conditioning breeze.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
