‘They contacted us saying they’re canceling this project because of you, Kim Doha.’
‘They said they can’t put a controversial student on stage… They’re saying you almost killed another student. What is all this about?’
‘You… could this possibly have something to do with what happened on Saturday? Teacher believes in you. I believe in you, so tell me honestly. Really, is there no problem…?’
Kim Doha’s teeth ground together. With his fist clenched, he slammed it hard on the desk in front of him.
Bang-!!
“Jung Jinhoo…!!”
His voice, filled with rage, came out as if he was chewing the name.
“This stage performance was something I’ve been waiting for so long, and you’re ruining it?! Do you know what kind of opportunity this was!”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it would have been an important line in his future career. That’s why Kim Doha, who had been practicing again and again in anticipation of taking the stage, couldn’t accept the opportunity that had disappeared in an instant. Moreover, because of this incident, unpleasant rumors about him were circulating around the school. The other students didn’t seem to know exactly what had happened yet, but the situation wasn’t looking good. Not only had he lost authority among the club members, but there were also resentful words being exchanged about the important performance being canceled because of him.
“Fuck!”
Ring-.
Ring-.
At the loud vibration sound, Kim Doha nervously pulled out his phone. The caller was his parents. Kim Doha’s brow furrowed. Since his parents usually didn’t contact him unless it was important, saying it interfered with his studies, an inexplicable anxiety suddenly crept up from his toes. Kim Doha pressed the call button with a slow gesture.
“Hello?”
[Doha, something terrible has happened! A major client of your father’s company suddenly said they’re cutting off business relations!]
“What? What does that mean all of a sudden?”
[But the strange thing is, they’re saying it’s because of his son…]
“-!!”
[…Do you know anything about this?]
Kim Doha’s eyes widened. He moved his lips, then barely managed to speak.
“No, I don’t know anything.”
[…I see. Sorry. You must be busy with your important performance.]
“It’s nothing…”
Kim Doha stared blankly at the screen after the call ended. His hand gripping the phone tightened. He had a bad feeling.
***
“Yes, thank you for your cooperation. See you next time.”
After ending the call, Jung Jinhoo was about to contact Lee Heejun to check on Jaeyoon’s condition. But at that moment, a voice called out to him from behind.
“You’re quite rampaging around, aren’t you?”
His brow automatically furrowed at the unpleasant voice. Jung Jinhoo turned his head and stared at Han Doyoon. In response, the red eyes curved into circles.
“You pretend to dislike using power to get what you want, pretend to be righteous, but in the end, you’re no different. Right?”
The tone was sarcastic, grating on his nerves. Jinhoo had always disliked how Han Doyoon seemed to look down on people. Jung Jinhoo and Han Doyoon were fundamentally incompatible in their dispositions.
“Is it considered pretending to be righteous when I don’t abuse power at every opportunity like you do?”
“Abuse, huh? That seems to describe what you’re doing right now, doesn’t it? You’re systematically crushing Kim Doha.”
Jung Jinhoo’s eyes lowered.
“You’re right, I am being abusive. I’m going to thoroughly destroy that guy.”
At his cold gaze, the corners of Han Doyoon’s mouth turned upward.
“It’s interesting to see someone who always took a bystander’s position, standing one step back from everything, now going on such a rampage. Is this all Jaeyoon’s influence?”
When Jaeyoon’s name came from Han Doyoon’s lips, Jung Jinhoo’s eyebrow twitched. The deliberately familiar tone was utterly unpleasant. Brushing his bangs aside and rubbing the back of his neck, Jung Jinhoo then turned his gaze to Han Doyoon.
“How does it feel to keep pursuing someone when you know they dislike you?”
“…”
Han Doyoon’s face instantly froze.
“Why don’t you understand that the more nonsense you do, the more it works against you?”
“You seem arrogant because Jaeyoon is by your side, but do you really think he likes you? Did you know he’s been in love with me since middle school?”
“…”
Han Doyoon stroked the blue pendant on Jung Jinhoo’s bow tie with his finger and met his golden eyes. His light pink lips curved into a pleased smile at the unpleasant light in Jinhoo’s eyes.
“You didn’t know, I see. Jaeyoon’s feelings for you are just a temporary phenomenon. Since I didn’t accept his feelings, he chose you as a substitute.”
“How pathetic.”
“…What?”
Jung Jinhoo, who had been quietly looking at Han Doyoon as he frowned, tilted his head to the side with a languid face.
“When did you become so dull that you can’t distinguish whether what someone is saying is true or false?”
“…Jung Jinhoo.”
“Let me give you some advice.”
Jung Jinhoo placed his hand on Han Doyoon’s neck, specifically on the part where Han Doyoon had forcibly left a mark on Jaeyoon. After tapping it a couple of times with his finger, Jung Jinhoo whispered in a low voice.
“If you do something like this to Jaeyoon again, you’ll be next after Kim Doha.”
Red eyes stared at Jung Jinhoo. Slowly blinking, Han Doyoon soon let out a small laugh.
“Can you handle it?”
“What more can happen than the two of us dying?”
***
Sim Hajun, who turned around at the sound of the hospital room door opening, widened his eyes at the sight of Jung Jinhoo dressed all in black. Today especially, his snow-white silver hair stood out in stark contrast to his clothes.
“Where’s Heejun?”
“He went out with Minho to buy boxed dinners. They should be back soon.”
Jung Jinhoo nodded slightly at Sim Hajun’s answer and approached Jaeyoon’s side. Hajun watched as Jung Jinhoo gently brushed Jaeyoon’s chocolate-colored bangs to the side and sat down beside him, then picked up the vase on the drawer with both hands. You look really tired. After glancing at Jung Jinhoo, Hajun went out to change the water in the vase. Hearing the sound of the hospital room door closing, Jung Jinhoo placed his hand over the back of Jaeyoon’s hand.
“Jaeyoon, won’t you open your eyes now?”
His already thin body had become even thinner while lying in the hospital. It was so thin that there was concern that even a slight pressure might break it. Jung Jinhoo, who had rested his forehead on the hand he was holding, closed his eyes tightly. Anxious thoughts dominated his mind at the slightest lapse in attention. It’s okay, everything will be okay… Even though he tried to reassure himself like a mantra, the fear didn’t subside.
“I want to hear your voice.”
Jaeyoon… A trembling voice flowed from between his light pink lips. But no matter how desperately he called, all he could hear were the regular sounds of the machines operating in the hospital room. The taste of blood was felt on his lips, which he had bitten hard enough to be pitiful. It seemed that the barely healed wound had burst open again.
“Don’t bite…”
“!!”
Jung Jinhoo’s head shot up. Jaeyoon smiled softly at the sight of his eyes widening in surprise.
“Jaeyoon…?”
“Yes, Sunbae.”
Seeing Jung Jinhoo looking at him as if he couldn’t believe it, Jaeyoon gently squeezed their clasped hands. Jung Jinhoo’s face contorted, and he made an expression as if he was about to cry. Jaeyoon raised his weak hand to caress Jung Jinhoo’s head. The snow-white silver hair wrapped around Jaeyoon’s hand.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
Jaeyoon tightly embraced Jung Jinhoo’s back as he hugged him suddenly. The familiar floral scent emanated from their overlapping bodies. Ah, I’ve come back. It was only now that it felt real. In the end, Jaeyoon had chosen Jung Jinhoo. Even if he could never return to his original world, Jaeyoon couldn’t let go of Jung Jinhoo. How could he abandon someone who had waited for him like this? For Jaeyoon, if no one else, it was impossible.
“I love you.”
Truly. Jung Jinhoo cupped Jaeyoon’s smiling cheeks with his hands and pressed their lips together. Naturally putting his arms around Jung Jinhoo’s neck, Jaeyoon let out a small laugh at the kiss that felt somewhat rough and urgent, unlike usual. Jung Jinhoo then lightly bit Jaeyoon’s lip as if sulking. As Jaeyoon pressed his body closer and stroked his hair with his hand to soothe his sulking, Jung Jinhoo deeply entwined his tongue with his. They acted as if something terrible would happen if they separated, not even caring about the saliva that flowed down their chins because they couldn’t swallow it.
The breath rose to the tip of his chin. When Jaeyoon unconsciously gripped Jung Jinhoo’s collar tightly, Jung Jinhoo looked at Jaeyoon’s flushed face and briefly separated their lips to let him breathe. Hot breath leaked out. Jung Jinhoo chuckled as he looked at the panting Jaeyoon, and then sealed Jaeyoon’s mouth again as he was about to protest with furrowed eyebrows, asking why he was laughing.
The kiss, which seemed like it would never end, stopped because of voices coming from outside the hospital room door.
“What’s that? I felt a presence inside?”
“Of course you felt something, there’s a person in there.”
“No, not that kind of feeling. Something like, very very tingly…”
“What nonsense…”
“Like something we shouldn’t interrupt.”
“!!”
Sim Hajun and Lee Heejun’s gazes crossed in mid-air.
“Should we go eat our boxed dinners at the lounge?”
“That’s a very good idea.”
“But what about Jinhoo’s dinner…?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Jinhoo said he’ll eat later. Let’s go then~”
As the footsteps faded away, Jaeyoon pressed his lips together. We’ve been caught. And they were being considerate… Jaeyoon squeezed his eyes shut, struggling with embarrassment, while Jung Jinhoo, who had been quietly looking at him, lowered his head for a brief peck.
“Sunbae…”
“They thoughtfully avoided us, so we should live up to their expectations.”
“No, what do you mean live up to…”
Jaeyoon’s protest was once again swallowed up.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
