# Chapter 5
Mugyeong snickered as he watched Haeseung retreat empty-handed.
“Hey, keep a close eye on Lee Haeseung. When he thinks he can’t win, he deliberately hides cards to invalidate the game.”
“Fuck off.”
Haeseung flashed his middle finger at Mugyeong. Seon swept the board and instantly scored 3 points, then called “Go!” Haeseung firmly shook his head.
“What Go? You won with a board sweep. Don’t you know the suspended match rule? We need to go around once more. Decide on Go then.”
“Can I decide to punch you right now?”
Seon raised his fist toward Haeseung. Before Haeseung could retaliate, Mugyeong swatted Seon’s fist away and warned in a low voice.
“Remember, if you touch even a hair on Lee Haeseung, you might end up a bloody mess.”
“You guys are being ridiculous.”
Seon stuck out his tongue, looking back and forth between Mugyeong and Haeseung. It was Haeseung’s turn again. He struggled considerably. Far from winning, he was about to lose big. Having lost his judgment, Haeseung once again ignored the Bi-Meongteongguri on the ground and discarded an innocent card. Mugyeong, who was next, picked up the Bi-Ssangpi and scored. It was Haeseung’s mistake. Mugyeong scored because Haeseung failed to defend against the Bi-Meongteongguri. It was a situation where he would take the sole blame. If Mugyeong called “Go” here, Haeseung could be spared from taking all the blame. Haeseung anxiously watched Mugyeong. Mugyeong smiled at Haeseung with a meaningful look.
“Go!”
Thanks to Mugyeong calling “Go,” Haeseung fortunately avoided taking sole blame. He had the strange feeling that somehow Mugyeong knew he was holding the Bi-Tti. But that was impossible. Kang Mugyeong, the clueless one at the card table who couldn’t even remember if he was first or last, couldn’t possibly have figured out Haeseung’s hand.
Seon couldn’t score, and it became Haeseung’s turn again. Haeseung had only two cards left in his hand. He calmly read the remaining game and made his decisive move.
“I think this is a Shodang situation. I’m holding a Ssangpi and a Gwang.”
“Lee Haeseung, why do you always call Shodang? Who do you think you are? Solomon?”
Seon criticized Haeseung, who repeatedly called Shodang. He seemed displeased with Haeseung breaking the flow of the game that was turning in his favor.
“Give me the Ssangpi. I think I can win this time with that.”
Mugyeong, who had been pondering with a furrowed brow, accepted Haeseung’s Shodang.
“Do you really think you can win?”
Haeseung asked solemnly. Mugyeong nodded with an expression that said to just trust him.
“Stop talking and hand it over quickly.”
In the end, thanks to Haeseung’s Ssangpi, Mugyeong won and took the money. Haeseung, who had been the dealer throughout, had a pile of bills and coins in front of him, while Mugyeong had recovered somewhat toward the end, avoiding major losses. Jeers and curses erupted from those who had emptied their pockets to Mugyeong and Haeseung. Haeseung tossed them a few coins as a consolation prize before suddenly disappearing from the scene – the ultimate technique in Go-Stop.
Just then, the bell rang signaling break time, and Mugyeong and Haeseung naturally headed to the school store. Haeseung lavished praise on Mugyeong’s rapidly improved skills.
“Are you secretly playing at gambling houses while skipping training?”
“What gambling houses? I’ve been naturally good at Go-Stop since birth.”
“I never knew that.”
“I was hiding my skills. I’ve got my father’s blood…”
Mugyeong stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. He glanced at Haeseung, but contrary to his concern, Haeseung seemed genuinely unaffected, making Mugyeong wonder if he had overreacted. Of course, there was a much higher possibility that Haeseung was just pretending to be fine. Having unconsciously uttered a taboo word, Mugyeong bit his lip in regret.
“Hey, Kang Mugyeong.”
“Yeah?”
“About seeing the sunrise, are we going to Jeongdongjin?”
“You’re the one who suggested it.”
“I heard there are as many people as grains of sand in Jeongdongjin. Seems like everyone in Korea heads there around New Year’s.”
“Then should we go somewhere quieter? I’m fine with anywhere. We’re going to watch the sunrise, not to see people. Maybe a quiet place would be better for welcoming the new year with a solemn heart.”
Haeseung nodded enthusiastically while listening to Mugyeong’s elaborate explanation. It was evidence that both of them were slightly flustered, not in their usual state of mind. When Mugyeong got flustered, he would ramble, and Haeseung would become docile.
“I’ve saved up quite a bit of gambling money lately, so I think I won’t have to ask my mom for trip money.”
“That’s great. Save up as much as you can before winter break. Don’t give away too many consolation prizes. Those guys don’t appreciate it anyway.”
“Yesterday, my mom asked if I needed money for study guides. She’s been pretending not to know all this time.”
“What did you say?”
“I told her I don’t need to buy them anymore since the college entrance exam is over. What else could I say?”
“That’s a touching story.”
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that almost all the money Haeseung accumulated came from Mugyeong’s pocket. Haeseung didn’t refuse this windfall, apparently considering it money he had won fair and square through betting. It was all thanks to Mugyeong’s covert efforts. Mugyeong was glad that Haeseung enjoyed playing Go-Stop. Since moving to the rooftop room, Haeseung had been cut off from his parents’ allowance and was constantly in financial straits. He planned to get a part-time job for spending money once he became a university student, but Mugyeong hoped to win all that pocket money too. It might be possible if they played Matchgo every night under the pretext of Haeseung asking for lessons. Mugyeong decided to bring up the suggestion at an appropriate time.
As soon as Mugyeong entered the school store, exclamations, cheers, and the incessant sound of camera shutters could be heard from everywhere. The two quickly picked out snacks and hurriedly left the store.
“Why do they even take your pictures?”
“Probably to keep and look at later.”
“No, why would anyone do that?”
Haeseung seemed genuinely perplexed. Having seen Mugyeong’s face to the point of saturation since childhood, it probably wasn’t special to Haeseung at all. Yet for some reason, Mugyeong still found Haeseung’s face special, even though he saw it every day.
“It’s probably similar to how you used to constantly look at your girlfriend’s photos.”
Haeseung broke up with his girlfriend last year. Although it was just a thing of the past, flames of jealousy that had not yet been fully extinguished suddenly flared up inside Mugyeong. He gulped down his cold drink, suppressing the flames.
“So you’re saying you’re their boyfriend?”
“Something like that.”
Haeseung laughed loudly as if he’d heard something funny, and Mugyeong also let out an embarrassed chuckle as he perched on the bench. Haeseung, saying he hated the cold on his bottom, refused to sit on the bench. Mugyeong unnecessarily added that Haeseung could sit on his lap instead, earning himself an unwarranted hit.
“Kang Mugyeong, happy birthday.”
“What, was that a birthday punch just now?”
“Two birds with one stone.”
“Thanks.”
“Is there anything you need?”
“No.”
“You have to tell me today. It’s only valid today.”
Mugyeong burst out laughing. What could there be? It was too precious an opportunity to miss. As Haeseung said, it was only valid today.
“Will you grant me anything?”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t answer so carelessly.”
“Alright, I’ll hear it first and then decide.”
Haeseung smiled brightly as he tossed an empty drink can into the trash bin. Mugyeong wondered if his sincere feelings could safely reach Haeseung, and his heart pounded.
“Then, will you give me a kiss?”
“A kiss? Is that all you’re asking for?”
Since his sincerity hadn’t reached Haeseung, it was time to make a joke. Mugyeong grinned.
“That’s enough. Give me a deep one on the lips.”
“Hey, that’s not funny. Stop joking around.”
Haeseung firmly twisted Mugyeong’s lips with his fingers. Mugyeong rubbed his numbed lips with his hand and said:
“Give me special training in Go-Stop every night. I improve faster with real practice.”
“Okay.”
Seeing the tip of Haeseung’s nose beginning to redden, Mugyeong stood up from the bench without lingering regrets. The two headed to the classroom. Mugyeong asked if they would play more Go-Stop during the remaining time, and Haeseung replied that he had won enough money and would read a book instead.
Upon entering the classroom, Mugyeong discovered a light pink paper bag on his desk. He immediately recognized what it was. His friends teased him, saying it must be nice to be popular, making strange sounds like “wooo.” Completely ignoring his friends’ excitement urging him to open it right away, Mugyeong silently put it into his bag. He was anxious that Haeseung might side with the other friends and join in the teasing.
If Haeseung were to receive a gift from someone, Mugyeong could never remain indifferent. On the other hand, unlike Mugyeong, Haeseung might respond like their friends who were teasing him with envious glances. Not knowing how much that would hurt Mugyeong.
Fortunately, Haeseung didn’t show much interest in Mugyeong’s gift and quietly began reading a novel he had taken out of his bag. Looking at Haeseung like this made Mugyeong’s heart ache and his feelings complicated. At first, he thought it was fortunate, but the more he dwelled on it, Haeseung’s indifference didn’t seem fortunate at all. The back of Haeseung’s head seemed resentfully indifferent.
Mugyeong took the gift out of his bag again and unwrapped it. It was a black scarf. The person who had left the gift was a female junior, one year below them, who had approached him a few times saying she was his fan. Mugyeong ostentatiously wrapped the scarf around his neck and lightly tapped Haeseung’s shoulder.
“How does it look? Does it suit me?”
“It suits you well. Looks warm.”
Haeseung responded adequately with a mysterious smile and immediately turned his attention back to his book. Feeling embarrassed and full of self-loathing for his unnecessary action, Mugyeong quietly stared at the back of Haeseung’s head before listlessly removing the scarf and carelessly stuffing it back into his bag.
As he sat there blankly, burning with emotion, a friend caught Mugyeong’s attention by skillfully shuffling a deck of cards.
“Hey, let’s play a round of blackjack.”
“Sure. How much is the bet?”
Mugyeong quickly became absorbed in blackjack as if he had never been burning with emotion. There was no way he could know that Haeseung’s gaze had been lingering on the same sentence for quite some time.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
