34
“Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
“Why, do you want to kill me with heat?”
“If you die, my life is over too.”
He spouted such words carelessly, but there wasn’t a single soul put into them. He was saying all sorts of things just to make him change clothes. Now Taein knew that if there was a problem with his outfit, it could escalate into a fight, let alone ruin the day’s schedule. A situation where no one was looking and no one noticed at all, but only Gu Wanjae was making a fuss. Taein couldn’t bend Gu Wanjae’s will as he stood in front saying no, pointing his index finger and making him go back. Really…
“Fucking bastard…”
He muttered as he went inside, and it seemed like he heard it. From behind came sounds like “What’s fucking about this? You want to show off that badly? Then why don’t you just walk around in underwear?” If he joined in there, it would become a big fight. Taein made “ugh, ah” sounds in the room and threw punches in the air before taking off his pants. He picked up longer, thin cotton pants and put them on.
Then he came outside and said something like a threat.
“You take responsibility if I die of heatstroke today.”
“I’ll take responsibility for that right away.”
At some point, Gu Wanjae had also changed into going-out clothes. Gu Wanjae put his hand around Taein’s shoulder and headed toward the entrance. He had been the type to put his arm around shoulders regardless of summer or winter from before. Taein felt awkward since this kind of skinship with a friend was his first time, but he got used to it as time passed. They left the house talking only about pants.
When they took the elevator down to the first floor, a familiar motorcycle was parked in the corner of the officetel parking lot.
“Hey, please tell me it’s not.”
“It is though.”
“We’re not taking a taxi?”
“Why would we when we have this?”
The red motorcycle that had taken him to school. It was absurd that it was parked in the corner of the officetel parking lot as if it belonged to Gu Wanjae entirely. Even as he headed toward it, negative words came from Taein’s mouth.
“Hey, it’s hot and we really don’t need to.”
“That’s exactly why we should ride this.”
“What’s the point of getting hit by hot wind?”
“Hey, enough. Get on.”
He was someone who didn’t like taking public transportation either. He had watched news about a recent taxi driver murder case and stared intently at his face saying, “Because there are bastards like that, I have to manage you.” Still, wasn’t riding a motorcycle to that place in this kind of weather a bit much? Above all, if he even sweated, Gu Wanjae would be more disgusted.
“Hey, if I sweat.”
“Sweat? I’ll understand that much with friendship.”
“……”
Gu Wanjae had already gotten on the motorcycle and was spreading his legs wide. As if telling him to hurry and come into the middle, he moved two fingers and lowered his head downward. Taein made an “ah…” sound and approached. When was the last time he rode this? While thinking, he perched his butt on the slightly remaining seat surface between Gu Wanjae’s legs.
“It’s fucking hot.”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“Isn’t it hot for you?”
While saying this, the motorcycle slowly backed out. It was a parking lot paved with bumpy stones. Gu Wanjae said “Not really?” and entered the smooth roadway. Black smoke came from somewhere on the motorcycle, as if it had been left unused for a long time. Originally, after going from the officetel to school, this kind of smoke would rise.
“Hey, smoke is already coming out.”
“That’s exactly why I’m saying let’s ride this. If I don’t start it up, it’ll completely break down.”
Saying this, he entered the direction toward school. If it was a karaoke place, there was only one. The karaoke place in front of school. Taein didn’t understand why Gu Wanjae would go to that karaoke place specifically even from the officetel, but it just seemed comfortable to him. It wasn’t just when he was attending school – karaoke itself seemed to give Gu Wanjae a sense of stability. Taein closed his eyes feeling the warm wind blowing.
It wasn’t suffocatingly hot, so it was bearable. When they rode fast, it even felt refreshing.
“Hey, look. Not bad, right?”
“It’s just okay.”
“You bastard. It’s rideable.”
“It’s hot.”
“Exercising on days like this builds muscle right away.”
“We’re not going to exercise, are we?”
They were waiting for the signal at an intersection. As soon as the green light came on, the motorcycle picked up speed. When his posture was uncomfortable or his body leaned, Gu Wanjae would unconsciously wrap his arm around Taein’s waist and then let go. This time too, at the hand that wrapped around his waist and then fell away, Taein alone showed awkwardness. Since he was someone without formality who did skinship freely, it was always Taein who was conscious of it.
It seemed like he had become sensitive too because Gu Wanjae made such a fuss about management and whatnot. But since his friend definitely wouldn’t have strange intentions, he felt like he was the only fool.
“Let’s go.”
They quickly arrived at the karaoke building. Gu Wanjae tapped Taein’s butt with the back of his hand to signal him to get off. Taein again showed awkwardness alone and quickly got off the motorcycle. Anyway, there was only one staircase he would go up with Gu Wanjae – that karaoke staircase. Leaving Gu Wanjae to finish up behind him, Taein went up first. Had he stepped on two stairs? From behind came the sound “Are you going alone?”
“Follow me then.”
When he said that and stopped walking, he felt Gu Wanjae pushing his butt upward with both hands.
“Hey, shit.”
“Why are you standing there like that? Go up.”
He couldn’t say anything more to Gu Wanjae, who had a nonchalant face. Only Taein moved his eyebrows and went up. The familiar karaoke scene and familiar counter hyung. Sometimes other people would be standing at the counter, but mostly that hyung handled the counter until evening. When Taein said hello, hyung said, “It’s been a while, you guys.” Now he wasn’t called Wanjae’s friend, but just bundled together with words like “you guys” or “you two.”
Taein went into room 2 as always.
Twice?
Except for those times, there were never people in room 2. No matter how much of a regular Gu Wanjae was, they couldn’t reserve a room separately. The Gu Wanjae who followed behind also entered room 2.
“Ah.”
“Why.”
“Is it because it’s suddenly fucking hot?”
“I knew this would happen.”
“Ugh.”
He had been fine when getting off the motorcycle, but he looked somewhat uncomfortable. His face was red and the area around his neck was also bright red, making it seem like he had severe heat exhaustion. Taein said, “I told you not to ride that thing,” then smoothly got up from his seat. It was because Gu Wanjae’s condition looked seriously bad as he flopped down on the sofa right next to him. Somehow his condition seemed to worsen by the second. Taein approached saying “What’s wrong?” and touched Gu Wanjae’s forehead.
“Hey, should I bring you something cold? A drink?”
“Ah, yeah.”
At those words, Taein immediately went outside and stood in front of the refrigerator. Rather than choosing types, it seemed better to open the door and bring in the coldest thing. Taein opened the door, took a drink from inside, looked at the counter behind and said, “I’m taking one of these.” Then he went to room 2 and opened the door, and saw Gu Wanjae lying on his side.
“Hey, Gu Wanjae.”
“……”
“Hey.”
Taein brought the drink to his forehead and spoke, then dropped the drink from his hand with a thud.
“Hey!”
The guy who had never been sick in his life, who didn’t even know the meaning of medicine well.
Today he had completely fainted. Surprised by his flushed face for only a moment, he first grabbed his phone. He wondered if this was right, but didn’t know what to do. Taein got up and called 119, opened the half-open door and went out, telling the part-time hyung the address and Gu Wanjae’s condition. The part-time hyung also seemed surprised and went to look at room 2. Taein also followed back in and checked Gu Wanjae’s condition, but his eyes were properly closed just like before. No matter how much he applied the cold drink, Gu Wanjae didn’t wake up.
* * *
At the hospital, Taein ran around frantically. After finishing registration, he stayed by Gu Wanjae’s side while his examination proceeded, or else listened to the doctor’s words. The doctor who said it seemed like he had gone into shock said they needed to do one more detailed examination. Gu Wanjae regained consciousness even slightly only after drug treatment. Drug treatment could be done immediately with family consent. Taein had turned on Gu Wanjae’s phone with his fingerprint and given his father’s number.
He was on his way back after wetting a small towel sold at the hospital with water to cool down his fever.
Taein put on the emergency room necklace and entered through the door that made a whirring sound.
But separately from the door closing behind him, someone whooshed past him from the side, creating wind.
It was a man with a large build approaching 190cm. A distinctive perfume scent stung his nose, but it remained like an afterscent, making him think “What is this?” Taein looked at the man out of simple curiosity and saw him going toward a bed.
“……”
That was Gu Wanjae’s bed.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
