30
-What are you trying to do, Secretary Yoon?
Ojun was looking at Wooseok’s text message. Yes, what was he trying to do?
-Is something really wrong?
His phone rang again.
Wooseok was alternating between concern and threats in his messages to Ojun. The notifications rang at random times, as if he was sending messages whenever he had a break from work. Ojun hadn’t replied to Wooseok’s messages even once.
It would have been better if he had no memory of it. His conscience was too guilty to pretend nothing happened—clearly, Ojun had been the one to pounce first—but he absolutely couldn’t acknowledge what had happened either.
He didn’t even have time to think about why he had done such a thing in the first place. Spending the night with Choi Wooseok, a workplace colleague and the Guide Department Director. What on earth was I thinking? Ojun berated himself.
-Did I do something wrong?
But why is this guy so persistent? Is it a sense of responsibility? Or stubbornness? Ojun wondered. Considering how he normally took care of guides, and how he had washed Ojun when he was drunk and taken him home, there was a possibility it was responsibility.
Ojun recalled Wooseok’s face watching him in the darkness at dawn. Ugh! Why am I thinking about that? Ojun started typing a message, holding his phone.
-A little.
He was in the middle of typing “Please give me a little time,” when there was a click sound, and the Center Director’s voice flowed from the speaker.
[Secretary Yoon, do you have any recent public opinion survey data?]
“I have the statistical report. If you need more detailed information, should I organize it and report back to you?”
[Hmm, then have Secretary Yoon organize and give it to me. You’re capable, so you can do it well, right?]
The Center Director spoke in a drawling voice. He seemed to think he was making a joke. Fuck. Hope you trip and break your nose on the street. Ojun cursed inwardly while answering neatly.
“Yes, I understand.”
With a click, the speaker turned off. Ojun turned his phone screen back on to finish typing the message he was about to send.
But somehow, a reply had already been sent without his knowledge.
Huh? Ojun checked the message window again. And he faced Wooseok’s replies, who had become “someone who did a little wrong” thanks to the message being sent incorrectly.
-A little?
-Then explain it to me. So I can apologize.
-I’ll come to the Center Director’s office now.
This crazy—! Why is his personality so impatient?! Ojun typed quickly.
-Don’t come.
-I’m on my way.
-I was asking for a little time. To organize my thoughts.
For a while, there was no reply after Ojun’s last message.
Surely he’s not really coming? Ojun felt his mouth becoming increasingly dry.
After a period of silence, his phone alarm rang again.
-How much is a little? I can’t give you much.
-This is Happy Hospital. We need to provide precautions for the patient’s surgery, so please contact us when possible.
Another message arrived simultaneously with Wooseok’s.
Ojun stared blankly at the message from his mother’s hospital. In an instant, he didn’t want to think about anything.
-Would three days be okay?
Wooseok suggested a timeframe. Actually, whether it was three days or two days didn’t matter. Ojun just needed a reason not to meet Wooseok right now.
-Yes. I’ll also return your clothes then.
-If you stand me up then, I’ll really go to the Center Director’s office.
Ojun deleted all the messages from Wooseok. Then he called the hospital.
***
Minjae stood in the lobby, drinking vodka from a water bottle. Outside, it was getting dark. A strange sensation enveloped Minjae, as if the darkness would soon reach out and grab him by the neck.
Minjae closed his eyes and pressed his temples firmly with his thumb. Today was his first flying practice with Jihwan.
He hoped his headache would subside before Jihwan arrived. The nausea from motion sickness would be bad enough, and if he had a headache on top of that, he’d feel like dying.
“Sunbae?”
It was quite a gentle voice. Minjae opened his eyes and looked at Jihwan, who was carefully examining him. Perhaps feeling tense, Jihwan was standing at attention, slightly bending his waist to peer at Minjae.
“I see you used the card once to buy a drink.”
When Minjae spoke, Jihwan’s eyes widened slightly before crinkling.
“Yes, I did well, didn’t I?”
Is that something to be praised for? Minjae pondered briefly. Then, having never received a card from a senior who had been around longer than himself, Minjae thought perhaps it required some courage on Jihwan’s part, so he nodded without adding anything further.
He placed a hand on Jihwan’s shoulder as Jihwan continued to stand awkwardly in front of him. Jihwan’s eyes widened again.
“Let’s go.”
“…H-how?”
How? Minjae looked at Jihwan, who was staring at him with a stupid expression.
Is he seriously asking? Minjae counted silently. One, two, three.
Since his meeting with Hoyoung, Minjae had decided to be less angry with his juniors. More precisely, he’d decided to be more attentive.
Actually, Minjae rarely got angry with juniors other than Jihwan because he didn’t particularly care about them.
“There’s an airfield in a place you can’t reach unless you carry me.”
Gulp. Minjae could hear Jihwan swallowing.
Jihwan slowly placed one arm against Minjae’s back and the other behind Minjae’s legs. Then he carefully picked Minjae up. Jihwan’s hands were trembling so much that Minjae could feel the vibration against his back.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
Jihwan responded with a start at Minjae’s call. Am I that heavy? Minjae felt a bit embarrassed.
“…Is it very heavy? Should we change positions if it’s difficult?”
Would it be better if I rode on his back? Minjae wondered.
“No! You’re as light as a feather!”
Jihwan shook his head vigorously. Minjae found this even more absurd than before.
“Save that kind of line for your lover.”
“Ye-es.”
Jihwan showed an awkward smile. Minjae unzipped the front of Jihwan’s jumpsuit slightly and grabbed one of its flaps.
“S-Sunbae?”
“Sorry. I have a history of this, so I need something to hold onto, and if I grab your collar, you won’t be able to breathe.”
At Minjae’s words, Jihwan lowered his head. Minjae could see his reddened earlobes. Was he that embarrassed? He felt a bit sorry, but Minjae pretended not to notice and indicated direction with his chin.
“Raise your head and go that way. At a height where you won’t hit the roof of the building. Don’t go too high either. We need to check our location.”
Yes. Jihwan answered in a small voice.
Flying with Jihwan was surprisingly comfortable. Jihwan didn’t arbitrarily change directions as before, nor did he make Minjae feel suffocated by failing to read the wind direction.
The moderate breeze seemed to help alleviate Minjae’s headache a bit. Minjae’s grip on Jihwan’s clothes loosened slightly.
“You’ve improved a lot.”
Minjae muttered in a small voice.
“Right? It’s all thanks to you, Sunbae.”
Jihwan didn’t miss the opportunity to flatter him. Minjae let out a laugh.
“Are all kids your age like this?”
“What? Besides, Sunbae, you’re only six years older than me. Someone listening would think there was a twenty-year gap.”
Even after becoming an adult, a 6-year gap was quite significant. It represented a generational difference. The ink on your ID card is barely dry, yet you’re being cocky. Minjae snorted and pointed to a control tower ahead.
“It’s that way. Land on the upper part over there.”
Yes. Jihwan’s sulky voice was heard.
After landing on the railing at the upper part of the control tower, Minjae pulled Jihwan’s wrist to check his guiding. It was still green. Jihwan watched intently as Minjae did this.
Minjae searched the darkness to find a light switch. When he turned it on, the remaining lights at the airfield lit up. These were lights marking positions and obstacles for safety.
Wow. Jihwan looked around and gasped quietly.
“This used to be an airport. Now our side has purchased it cheaply and uses it as a flight practice field.”
“Why did the airport here disappear?”
“After getting hit by bombs for the third time, the airlines wanted to leave. They said it seemed cursed—do you know how expensive planes are?”
Ah…. Jihwan let out a low sigh. Small red lights blinked here and there. Minjae pointed to the positions of two lights and explained.
“First, we’ll descend rapidly about five meters from here, then fly in a figure-eight pattern between those two lights for two rounds.”
Minjae took out two ropes from his pocket. Then he connected hooks to join his suit’s waistband with Jihwan’s. One rope was short and one was long, allowing Minjae and Jihwan to fly side by side. Minjae pulled it tight and fastened it. Their waists were firmly fixed together.
“Um… wh-why like this.”
Jihwan stammered.
“During the demonstration, I can’t be cradled in your arms like a princess. You’d have to support me with one arm, and if you accidentally let go, we’re both done for, so this is a safety measure.”
I see…. Jihwan nodded in understanding. After confirming that the rope was securely fastened, Minjae stood straight beside Jihwan. Then he pulled Jihwan’s arm to make him hold his waist. Minjae also stretched out his arm to support Jihwan’s waist.
“W-wait a moment, Sunbae.”
When Jihwan turned around in surprise, Minjae patted his waist. Jihwan shuddered slightly.
“Tense your waist. Even if it’s uncomfortable, your posture should be straight and upright during the demonstration.”
“…Yes.”
“Ready?”
I think so. Jihwan muttered quietly. Minjae gently pushed Jihwan’s waist. They jumped down simultaneously. Minjae could feel Jihwan’s arm around his waist tensing up.
“Now.”
Jihwan changed direction at Minjae’s command.
Surprisingly, Jihwan’s flight was quite smooth. Minjae slightly spread his legs and then extended them to maintain balance so his body wouldn’t twist awkwardly when changing direction.
After drawing the figure eight twice, Jihwan surged upward again.
“Wave your hand.”
“What?”
“Wave your hand at this timing.”
Jihwan waved the hand that wasn’t holding Minjae. Since he wasn’t yet used to waving his hand while concentrating on flying, his movement was a bit jerky.
Pfft. Minjae held back laughter inside. Jihwan quickly lowered his hand. Jihwan and Minjae safely climbed back onto the railing.
“Whoa.”
After landing, Jihwan clutched his heart and bent over. Alarmed, Minjae supported Jihwan’s shoulder.
“Hey, are you paralyzed? Do you need guiding?”
“I got a cramp in my upper body.”
Jihwan said in a small voice. What the hell is a cramp in the upper body? Is that even possible?
“Is something wrong with your body?”
Minjae helped Jihwan step down to a terrace-like space inside the railing. After taking several deep breaths, Jihwan shook his head.
“It’s not like that.”
Minjae waited a moment until Jihwan spoke again. Shortly after, Jihwan slowly raised his upper body.
“Wow, Sunbae. This is really fun. It felt like being on a cable car!”
“…Cable car?”
Jihwan suddenly said something strange. When Minjae questioned him, Jihwan looked at Minjae with a confused expression.
“Um… Sunbae, have you never ridden a cable car?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“What? Really? That’s a must-do in elementary school!”
“I was at the Center then.”
I see. Nodding, Jihwan seemed to remember something and continued.
“Cable cars only move in a straight line and are slow, of course. But when I was young, it felt like flying, so I liked riding them.”
“……”
“When we went on field trips, we would ride cable cars, and we’d compete fiercely while waiting in line with other kids. We had to ride quickly to get a spot by the window. That’s the only way to feel like you’re flying…”
Speaking while looking down at the airfield, Jihwan suddenly stopped and looked at Minjae.
“Come to think of it, Sunbae, you’ve been flying around since you were young, so these stories must be boring to you. I’m sorry.”
Jihwan scratched the back of his head.
“It’s interesting.”
“What?”
It wasn’t a boring story. These were things Minjae had never experienced. Minjae asked while unfastening the rope that still connected them.
“So how does it feel to be a cable car?”
“…Good.”
Jihwan spoke almost in a whisper. Geez. Minjae felt somewhat embarrassed and quickly removed the rope.
“Training ends today. You did better than expected.”
At Minjae’s words, Jihwan stretched both arms towards Minjae. Minjae stared blankly at those arms.
“I’ll escort you back safely.”
Jihwan smiled, his eyes crinkling.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
