“Do-yeong hyung is bigger than me, and he has way more muscles. I am light as a feather.”
His lips brushed against Kang Hyeon’s earlobe, barely grazing it, but Kang Hyeon’s face showed no reaction. Playfully, Lee Ji-gyeong’s hand, which had been wrapped around Kang Hyeon’s waist, slowly slid up over his chest and toward his neck. As his fingertips brushed against Kang Hyeon’s Adam’s apple, he undid the top button of his shirt. This time, his voice came out without a trace of playfulness.
“Who even buttons their shirt all the way up to the neck like some clueless bumpkin?”
“Look at that, look at that. Just look at him messing with Hyeon.”
Baek Ga-yeong’s teasing voice came from the side. Lee Ji-gyeong’s eyes wavered for a brief moment, but his tone quickly shifted back to playful.
“Ah, Noona. Why are you saying it like that? I am just helping my hyung keep his style intact.”
“You could have just told him. Why are you unbuttoning it yourself?”
“Because hyung was busy prepping the drinks.”
Watching them banter, Kang Hyeon, his gaze indifferent, called out to a customer who had not come despite the bell ringing.
“Customer number 67. Your Americano and fresh kiwi juice are ready.”
After flashing a polite, crinkly-eyed smile at the customer who finally came to collect the drinks, Kang Hyeon took off Lee Ji-gyeong’s jumper and slipped an apron over him. Lee Ji-gyeong quietly followed along and took his place behind the counter. Then Kang Hyeon asked Baek Ga-yeong and the staff.
“Kimbap?”
“Okay.”
“Sounds good.”
Just as Lee Ji-gyeong was about to answer,
“I want warm milk.”
Without waiting for Lee Ji-gyeong’s reply, Kang Hyeon finished giving orders and headed straight for the café door.
“Hyuuuung~! I want a hamburger too!”
Without turning back, Kang Hyeon raised his hand, forming a circle with his thumb and index finger.
“See? Hyung’s got great sense.”
“You clueless idiot. You have to cross the street to get to the burger place.”
As Baek Ga-yeong scolded him again, Lee Ji-gyeong shifted his weight onto one leg and spoke.
“I am not asking you to go get it, Noona. Hyung offered to go, so why are you being so cranky? And I am not even a part-time worker here. If I am helping out, he can at least buy me that much, right?”
“Oh my, unpaid labor? Then I shall serve you with utmost care.”
Baek Ga-yeong added with a bright grin.
“Now go clean up the trash.”
Lee Ji-gyeong pouted, shooting her a brief glare, but quickly switched to his usual cheerful tone as a new customer walked in.
“Welcome~!”
While bickering like that with Baek Ga-yeong, Lee Ji-gyeong’s eyes remained fixed beyond the glass door, watching Kang Hyeon from behind as he pulled on his jumper, glanced up at the sky, and walked off.
Kang Hyeon moved quickly after leaving the café. He went to the snack shop, ordered kimbap, then crossed the large intersection and headed to the burger place. While waiting for his order, he pulled out his phone. Staring at the empty screen without any new messages, he let out a quiet sigh. With mixed emotions swirling inside, he rose slightly onto his heels.
With his tall height, small face, and lean build, he stood out easily among ordinary people. But there was also a sharp, cold aura about him that made him seem unapproachable. As soon as his order number was called, he quickly grabbed the packaged food, collected the kimbap, and returned to the café.
As Baek Ga-yeong refilled the coffee beans, she gestured with her eyes for him to go eat first. Entering the staff room, he found Lee Ji-gyeong tailing closely behind him, carrying a drink like a loyal puppy.
“Hyung, try the hamburger too.”
Before he could even sit down properly, Lee Ji-gyeong plopped down right next to him and offered him the burger. As always, Kang Hyeon took a big bite. When sauce smeared at the corner of his mouth, Lee Ji-gyeong quickly reached out. But Kang Hyeon was faster, licking it off with his tongue and gulping down the cola. Awkwardly smiling, Lee Ji-gyeong picked up a straw.
“Hyung, here’s a straw…”
“Stick it in.”
Kang Hyeon answered bluntly as he shoved a piece of kimbap into his mouth. Clicking his tongue, Lee Ji-gyeong spoke in a deliberately slow tone.
“Seriously, why are you working so hard at a part-time job? You should be taking it easy, eating what you want while you work. We are all just trying to get by.”
“Noona and the staff are waiting.”
“We have not even been eating for five minutes yet. You should have at least thirty minutes for a meal.”
“It is the busy hour.”
“It is always busy. Always.”
“There are slow times too.”
As Kang Hyeon replied indifferently, Lee Ji-gyeong leaned his head on his shoulder.
“You are heavy.”
“I am barely leaning!”
“Lean on the wall.”
“Ah, seriously. I changed my hair color, you know. I want you to notice.”
Drawing out his words, Lee Ji-gyeong leaned in, resting his head close to Kang Hyeon’s face. Kang Hyeon slowly sipped the warm milk before speaking.
“I saw it.”
“Well? What do you think?”
“Flashy. Looks good.”
“It’s trendy! This is how idols wear their hair these days.”
Lee Ji-gyeong bristled, but Kang Hyeon simply stared at him for a moment before popping another piece of kimbap into his mouth.
“Come on, say something more. If you looked, give me your honest opinion.”
“You look stylish.”
“Say what you really think.”
“Looks like you’re trying to look stylish.”
“Ah, seriously!”
His annoyed voice burst out. As he chewed, Kang Hyeon answered in a serious tone.
“Ji-gyeong.”
“Yeah?”
“Instead of spending all that time frying, curling, dyeing, and bleaching your hair, work on your pronunciation. Enunciate clearly.”
“Oh, come on, that’s—”
Lee Ji-gyeong started to protest but bit his lip, swallowing his words. Kang Hyeon lifted the cup again, taking a sip before adding,
“You already look cute. But when you act like that, it just makes you seem immature.”
A glint appeared in Lee Ji-gyeong’s eyes.
“I didn’t know you thought I was cute.”
He casually stretched out his arm, resting it on the back of Kang Hyeon’s chair. At that exact moment, Kang Hyeon stuffed the rest of the kimbap into his mouth and stood up.
“I’m heading out.”
“Hyung, wanna have dinner with me tonight?”
“I’m going to visit Do-yeong. If you’ve got something to say, say it now.”
“No, I just… don’t feel like eating barbecue alone.”
“Go with Ga-yeong noona.”
“No… it’s gopchang.”
“She loves gopchang, chicken feet, pig skin. She’ll eat anything as long as it’s good bar food.”
“…Fine.”
Lee Ji-gyeong answered weakly and lowered his hand from the chair. With one hand on the staff room door handle, Kang Hyeon paused briefly as if considering something. Then he spoke.
“Soju?”
“Beer’s fine too.”
Lee Ji-gyeong’s eyes sparkled brightly. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he grinned.
“Come to my place around ten?”
“What should I bring?”
“I’ve got beer. Just come.”
Making an unplanned promise with his junior, who clearly needed company, Kang Hyeon let out a soft breath and returned to the counter. Lee Ji-gyeong followed him out, quietly helping until Baek Ga-yeong and the staff finished their meal. Once they were done, he tidied up the tables and made himself a cup of coffee.
“You should make two cups if you want it to count for minimum wage.”
Baek Ga-yeong teased, poking him in the side. Lee Ji-gyeong chuckled.
“Added an extra shot.”
“Of course you did.”
Just like that, he helped out only enough to cover the price of the burger and drink he got, and then left.
Before the afternoon shift arrived, Kang Hyeon took care of the trash, clocked out early, and stopped by the snack shop. He picked out a few things and waited for them to be packed, quietly sighing to himself.
Whenever Yoon Do-yeong, who knew his financial situation, asked what he wanted to eat, he always chose cheap food like this. After receiving the bags, he stood at the bus stop when his phone vibrated. Seeing the caller ID, a smile immediately formed on his lips.
“Grandpa.”
-Did you eat?
“Yes, I’m about to eat now. Did you have your meal, Grandpa?”
-I did. Everything okay?
“Yes. I finished work and I’m waiting for the bus.”
-It’s cold. Don’t wander around. Go home.
“Is it not too cold for you? Are you doing alright?”
-It’s warm enough. And you?
“I’m staying warm too.”
-Good.
His grandfather’s voice lingered for a moment before abruptly hanging up. His gruff grandfather always said just what needed saying, then ended the call like this. But even these short conversations filled Kang Hyeon with warmth. The simple words carried so much love, gently softening the tight knot in his chest. He prayed his only family, his grandfather, would stay healthy and live a long, long time. But for that to happen… he needed to succeed first.
The bitter taste in his mouth deepened as he thought about how he had yet to achieve anything or deliver any good news. Tapping his shoe lightly against the ground, he climbed onto the bus as it arrived. Perhaps because of his grandfather’s call, his chest felt even heavier, and a sigh escaped his lips. Having worked on a farm his entire life, his grandfather’s body was full of aches and pains. Whenever Kang Hyeon worried about his health, he would always raise his voice and say:
“Until our Hyeon gets married, I’ll keep my eyes wide open and live on.”
That familiar voice echoed faintly in his ears. Since that wish would never come true, all he could do was hope his grandfather would live a long life.
Unlike the countryside, where darkness made it difficult to go out at night, the city always had places to go. But walking along streets lit by artificial lights always left a strange chill in his chest. Wearing the coat he had borrowed from Yoon Do-yeong that morning, his steps toward the hospital felt unusually heavy.
When he arrived, he passed by the mirror he had stood before earlier that morning and glanced at himself. A white shirt paired with clean black jeans looked far better than the sweatsuit from before. He stepped into the nearby restroom, washed his face, and dampened his slightly messy hair, pressing it down. Once he looked somewhat presentable, his hand dropped weakly.
Staring blankly at his reflection, which somehow looked unfamiliar today, he clenched his fist and, out of habit, lightly rocked on his heels.
Finishing his half-hearted grooming, he stepped out and headed for the elevator. Pressing the VIP floor button, he looked at the mirror and tried on a faint smile to greet Yoon Do-yeong. The elevator arrived quickly, and as the doors opened, Kang Hyeon froze, his mouth slightly open.
“Hyeon.”
The soft voice melted into his ears like a gentle stream. Standing in the brightly lit hospital corridor, Yoon Do-yeong smiled so radiantly. His brown hair gleamed softly under the lights, and his eyes, tinged with a subtle hint of hurt, seemed to say: I waited so long. Why did you take so long to come?
As Kang Hyeon failed to answer, Do-yeong’s smile faded ever so slightly, as if scolding him. It was then that Kang Hyeon finally noticed the IV stand and hospital gown in Do-yeong’s hand.
“Ahh…”
Hearing Yoon Do-yeong’s faint groan, Kang Hyeon instinctively rushed forward.
