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Every corner of the campus began to be dyed in orange as the sun started to set. From the Humanities building where Han Jaekyung used to run around with armfuls of thick textbooks, to the Social Sciences courtyard where Jang Yeonhu had been enrolled—though he spent more time attending to Han Jaekyung than attending classes—time had flown by as they revisited these places. The two still had their fingers intertwined. Even when they occasionally passed people who turned to look at them curiously, even though their palms were sticky with sweat in the hot weather, neither seemed to have any intention of letting go.
“Well, look who it is, Han Jaekyung!”
An unwelcome voice poured from behind just as they were about to enter the parking lot. Jang Yeonhu reacted significantly faster than the person being called. He glanced back and quietly murmured, “…Moon Yeonu?”
“What’s this? Jaekyung, aren’t you and he barely acquaintances?”
The look and tone were disapproving. Jaekyung was once again reminded of the time gap by Yeonhu’s reaction. Having attended the same elementary and middle schools, Yeonhu would certainly know who Moon Yeonu was, but the current Jang Yeonhu didn’t know that Han Jaekyung and Moon Yeonu had dated in the past, nor that they had recently pretended to date.
Well, Jaekyung had only become close with Yeonu after breaking up with Yeonhu… So that reaction was natural, wasn’t it?
“Well, well, so you completely ignore all your hyung’s messages, but here you are walking around perfectly fine? Seems like you’ve digested everything quite well.”
Meanwhile, Moon Yeonu had already stridden over and was now standing right next to them. His sarcastic tone and carelessly worn canvas shoes were no different from usual. Though they hadn’t seen each other for a good month, his attitude was as natural and composed as if they had just said goodbye the previous evening.
“My, my. What’s this? Are you two now in that kind of relationship where you hold hands and everything?”
“Moon Yeonu.”
Jaekyung felt anxious because of Yeonu’s casual manner of speaking. After the accident was reported in the news, Jang Yeonhu’s condition had been kept private. So Moon Yeonu would only know about the traffic accident and nothing more. And if because of that, if Yeonhu were to notice something strange about the situation… It was terrifying just to imagine. He needed to send Moon Yeonu away first, before any dangerous words could be exchanged due to his careless speech.
Jaekyung forcefully pulled his hand away from Yeonhu, who was reluctant to let go, and addressed Moon Yeonu again.
“…Just go for today.”
“You were all pleas before, but I see you’re done with me now. Weren’t you going to cut off interest in Jang Yeonhu? But how are you two already—”
“Moon Yeonu!”
“What, Han Jaekyung? After ignoring me all this time, now you’re telling me to get lost?”
Moon Yeonu and Han Jaekyung exchanged sharp glances, almost glaring at each other. Though he hadn’t noticed at first, upon closer look, Moon Yeonu seemed quite upset. Now that he thought about it, there had been a lot of accumulated messages. Why did he have to come to this university among so many others… Jaekyung inwardly clicked his tongue and spoke pleadingly.
“It’s not like that. Next time. I’ll explain everything next time. So please, today, just go without saying another word.”
“Ha.”
The sharp mockery clung to his angry face like a piece that refused to fall off. Had he told Moon Yeonu the last time they met that he would no longer be interested in Jang Yeonhu, so there was no need to act as a fake boyfriend anymore? And then after that, he disappeared for weeks only to suddenly appear holding hands with Jang Yeonhu—from Yeonu’s perspective, he might feel cheated and wronged. Even without the mountain of messages, Jaekyung already knew that Moon Yeonu genuinely cared about him.
“Yeonu.”
Though he called to the person in front, it was Jang Yeonhu standing behind who flinched. Names with similar pronunciations were always convenient excuses, but in times like this, they were inevitably inconvenient. Yeonhu was also revving his engine, ready to dash forward if given permission. Considering that he had lost his memory, it was rather admirable that he was restraining himself this much. Jaekyung turned his head and quietly murmured, “Not you, Yeonhu,” before turning his attention back to Moon Yeonu.
“Please. Without saying anything more, just go. Please.”
“…”
It was a strangely unfamiliar plea from Han Jaekyung, who usually made one-sided demands rather than requests. But if he could remove this ticking time bomb from Jang Yeonhu’s sight right now, making a plea was nothing.
Moon Yeonu’s eyes were tinged with a strange light as he observed Han Jaekyung’s now pale complexion. Although he had approached with confrontation in mind because he was upset… it seemed quite unfamiliar to see Han Jaekyung responding so obediently, like a model student.
Even during this strange standoff, Jaekyung remained acutely aware of Yeonhu’s presence behind him. Jang Yeonhu, who had no idea what had transpired between Moon Yeonu and Han Jaekyung during the time he couldn’t remember, seemed content to watch for now. However, the longer the confrontation lasted, the more he showed signs of impatience, grabbing Jaekyung’s clothes or placing a hand on his shoulder. Like a predator ready to bite the intruder’s neck if given permission.
“I’ll… contact you. Okay?”
Even in this situation, the words “sorry for not responding” still wouldn’t come out of his mouth. Jaekyung tried to naturally finish his fading sentence while looking up at Moon Yeonu. Moon Yeonu silently watched the delicate eyelashes with their pointed tips trembling slightly, then let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face vigorously. His unstyled bangs became even more disheveled.
“Ah, ah, really Han Jaekyung… Fine. I get it, but either answer the phone or reply to messages—humanely do at least one of those.”
“…Yeah.”
After Jaekyung slowly nodded, Moon Yeonu gestured with his chin toward Jaekyung’s back and continued. His demeanor had clearly softened.
“I heard he had an accident. And meanwhile, you were unreachable. Don’t you know how to consider others’ worries? You said you’d make me your friend.”
Only after Jaekyung meekly agreed to respond to at least one out of every ten messages with at least a dot, did Moon Yeonu finally leave with quick steps, saying he would be late for his lab meeting. It seemed like one overdue homework was somewhat wrapped up—
“…”
“Uh… Jang Yeonhu?”
“Jaekyung, when did you get so close with Moon Yeonu?”
Oh no. He solved one problem only to face another.
“Close? It’s not like that…”
“…”
Jang Yeonhu’s eyes wavered mercilessly as he bit his lip tightly, looking as if he was dying from upset feelings.
“Han Jaekyung. You… seem really unfamiliar right now. You know that?”
Sigh… how should I fix this now? There’s no way ‘boyfriend’ Jang Yeonhu would accept the situation he just witnessed. Han Jaekyung had to let out what felt like his hundredth deep sigh of the day.
“Get in the car first.”
“…”
“We can’t keep standing here, whether we talk or do something else.”
“…”
His face clearly showed signs of being upset, remaining expressionless without any response. While Jaekyung understood how he felt, he had little talent for comforting people even if he tried, so he just called out Jang Yeonhu’s name once more in a somewhat reproachful tone. Yeonhu, who had been staring down at Jaekyung, suddenly turned around and walked toward the car with long strides. Han Jaekyung hurriedly followed behind him.
“Yeonhu, Jang Yeonhu.”
“…”
But even in the car, the situation showed no signs of improvement. After settling into the passenger seat and slowly fastening his seatbelt, Jang Yeonhu still stubbornly refused to speak. He wouldn’t even look at Jaekyung. He just glared sullenly at the side mirror beyond the window, as if it had wronged him somehow.
“How long are you going to be irr—, no…”
This darned mouth, mouth, mouth. Is this what they mean by habits formed at three last until eighty? Han Jaekyung, who was about to snap “How long are you going to be irritating?” without thinking, had to abruptly cut himself off.
“Are you going to keep not talking to me?”
When asked like that, he immediately shook his head again. With a face that showed he was jealous, anxious, and could hardly bear it. Jang Yeonhu openly displaying his possessiveness of Jaekyung, honestly showing how upset he felt… Han Jaekyung found it somehow sad yet equally lovable. Enough to make him burst into laughter, forgetting the seriousness of the situation.
Hearing that laughter, Jang Yeonhu immediately turned his head to the side and fixed his gaze on Han Jaekyung.
“You’re laughing? You find this funny right now?”
“No, it’s not funny… pfft.”
“Han Jaekyung!”
He must have been quite surprised and upset, as his eyes were wide open. Unable to hold back anymore, Jaekyung burst into loud laughter, grabbing both of Yeonhu’s cheeks with his hands and pulling him close.
“Even your jealousy is exactly like a real kid’s…”
“…”
There was no way Jang Yeonhu could resist Han Jaekyung, who was giving a crinkly eye-smile from just a few centimeters away.
“You’re incredibly cute.”
Before Han Jaekyung could even finish his sentence, urgent kisses began pouring like a tidal wave. Unlike his grumbling attitude, there was nothing childish about his kisses.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
