“What’s all that?”
“Things I kept at school.”
“Why are you bringing all of that back?”
“Because I won’t be going to school anymore.”
It was June, and exam period was coming soon. With the first semester almost over, Yang Garam’s statement was very problematic. After having him put his belongings in his room, I sat him down in the living room and asked him seriously.
“Did something happen at school?”
Do Wonjin and Jeong Se-eun watched our confrontation with interested faces.
“No.”
Yang Garam’s wavelength that I could feel was very gentle, and more peaceful than ever before. He actually seemed to be in a good mood, which made me press my temple in frustration.
“You didn’t drop out, did you?”
Although we had imprinted, we hadn’t formed a dedicated Guide contract, and there was no reason for him to quit school. But Yang Garam was the type who would consider dropping out just because he had imprinted with me.
“No, I didn’t.”
His cheerful answer resolved my biggest concern, but there were still parts I couldn’t understand.
“Then why aren’t you going to school?”
“I submitted a leave of absence for employment.”
“As a first-year?”
Even I, who didn’t go to college, knew that only seniors could submit employment leave forms. I retorted in disbelief, but Yang Garam answered without blinking an eye.
“That’s why I was late. I had to meet with each professor individually. My original goal was to finish everything by noon.”
Looking at Yang Garam’s genuinely disappointed face, I recalled the messages we had exchanged earlier. No wonder most of his messages mentioned being in meetings with professors. I didn’t trust his claim about submitting an employment leave form, but I could guess why he had done this.
“Did you do this because of me?”
“No, I did it because I wanted to.”
Yang Garam didn’t stop there and firmly added:
“I’m serious about this plan.”
Clap, clap, clap.
As soon as Yang Garam finished speaking, applause came from beside us. Do Wonjin was giving a standing ovation to Yang Garam, who treated my affairs as his own, and Jeong Se-eun was clapping along without even knowing what was going on.
“Our youngest has loyalty. I see you in a new light.”
Do Wonjin spoke as if he was moved, pretending to wipe away tears that weren’t there. He looked like he could win first place in the world for acting slick.
Yang Garam glared at Do Wonjin who was teasing him and clenched his fist.
Seeing the veins bulging on his forearm that suggested he might actually throw a punch, I grabbed his arm, and Yang Garam reluctantly relaxed.
“Se-eun, when are we leaving again?”
Do Wonjin, seeing me holding Yang Garam back, executed a hit-and-run tactic.
“Oh, are we leaving now?”
Jeong Se-eun asked with obvious disappointment, as if she had been hoping to see the two fight. Yang Garam, not understanding the situation, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Where are we going?”
“Seyeon hyung’s house.”
“Joo Seolhyeon woke up.”
Do Wonjin and I answered Yang Garam’s question almost simultaneously. Yang Garam immediately understood the situation and nodded.
“Then we should go quickly.”
I thought the same, but I had an uneasy feeling. Like I’d forgotten something important…
Meow!
That’s right, Serubi!
Serubi, who had been lounging on the sofa and had come down at some point, jumped over to me.
His expression was grim, as if he had noticed that I had forgotten about him.
I gave Serubi an apologetic look as I picked him up. As a sign of reconciliation, I also whispered “2 tubes of cat treats” in his ear. Serubi’s eyes returned to normal, seeming to like what I said.
“Should we bring Serubi too?”
When I picked up Serubi, Do Wonjin made the suggestion first, thinking perhaps that Serubi wanted to come along. I nodded, and this time Jeong Se-eun stood in the center of the living room.
“Then everyone gather here so we can leave.”
The satisfaction of having Serubi with me was short-lived as I felt once again that I was forgetting something.
“Jeongjae oppa, stop dawdling and stand properly.”
As I was hesitantly standing apart from the group, I eventually got scolded by Jeong Se-eun, and only when I entered the range of her ability did I realize what I had forgotten.
‘I didn’t bring in the laundry!’
But the surroundings had already changed from our living room to a traditional Korean house with mountain scenery.
“Do Wonjin.”
I immediately turned my head looking for Do Wonjin, who was in charge of laundry, and found him touching his forehead with an expression as serious as mine.
“I know. I just remembered too.”
Even though I hadn’t said anything, Do Wonjin seemed to understand the meaning of my gaze and spoke meaningfully. Yang Garam and Jeong Se-eun, who were listening to our serious conversation, also stiffened their expressions. Do Wonjin tilted his head back to look at the sky. The clear afternoon sky was still piercingly bright.
“We must return before sunset, no matter what.”
Do Wonjin said gravely, and I patted his shoulder, leaving some words of encouragement.
Yang Garam, looking uneasy, came to my side and quietly asked.
“Why is Wonjin hyung acting like that?”
“He hung up laundry in the yard but forgot to bring it in.”
“Ahhh.”
Perhaps still feeling resentful from being teased earlier, Yang Garam kept twitching the corner of his mouth while pretending not to. I quietly pretended not to notice.
“Oppa! I’m here!”
After gathering bustling in the yard, we headed toward the room where Jeong Seyeon was, following Jeong Se-eun. In front of the same room I had stayed in previously, Jeong Se-eun called out loudly for Jeong Seyeon. But the door didn’t open. Jeong Se-eun took off her shoes, stepped onto the wooden porch, and opened the door before coming back down to the yard, saying, “He’s not here. I wonder where he went?”
“Which room is Joo Seolhyeon in?”
I grabbed Jeong Se-eun, who said that her brother had probably stepped out and offered to take us to the guest room. For some reason, I felt Jeong Seyeon would be there.
“The room across from here. Ah! Oppa!!”
Jeong Se-eun, who was pointing to the traditional house across from Jeong Seyeon’s room, let out an excited scream as she saw a figure appear when the door opened.
Jeong Seyeon was wiping the back of his hand with a handkerchief as he came out and noticed our group standing with Jeong Se-eun, then nodded slightly.
“Welcome.”
He was usually expressionless, but now he seemed particularly cold. I swallowed dryly as I approached him. The handkerchief he was using to wipe his hands was stained red, and the watch he always wore was nowhere to be seen. The dangerous atmosphere emanating from him grew stronger as I got closer.
“Is Joo Seolhyeon inside?”
At my question, Jeong Seyeon pushed his hair back. Now I could clearly see why the hair he had neatly styled this morning had become disheveled. Because he smiled coldly at my question.
“I apologize. I took the liberty of handling him first.”
There was no sincerity visible on Jeong Seyeon’s face, but I didn’t bother to press him. He had nothing to apologize to me for, and to me, Joo Seolhyeon was someone who only needed to be breathing. I walked past Jeong Seyeon and entered the room.
Joo Seolhyeon was lying there, beaten so badly that I couldn’t even take in the mess of the room’s interior.
Serubi escaped from my arms and approached Joo Seolhyeon. I stood stiffly in the room, looking down at Joo Seolhyeon who was just barely breathing. Then suddenly, I burst out laughing briefly.
“Hahaha. Serves you right.”
The laughter wouldn’t stop. I sat on the floor holding my stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
“…Woo Jeongjae?”
Though I thought he was unconscious, a pathetically cracked voice came from him. I stopped laughing abruptly. I raised my head to look at him. In my tearless eyes was reflected a face he had never shown me in the five years we’d been together.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a face of desperate regret and remorse.
“I’m sorry, really.”
“…”
“I was wrong. I’m sorry, Jeongjae.”
Listening to his voice repeating like a broken doll, I felt suffocated in this space where I was breathing the same air as him. I felt nauseous, as if thousands of insects were crawling in my stomach, and my blood was boiling. My vision turned completely red.
“I’m sorry…”
“SHUT UP!!”
I shouted at him with all my might.
“I don’t want to hear it, so shut up!”
I could feel Joo Seolhyeon shrinking back in surprise at my intensity, but once my emotions erupted, I couldn’t contain them.
“You kill someone and think saying sorry is enough? You think that one word will forgive all the trashy things you’ve done to me for five years? Don’t delude yourself!”
My chest heaved as I couldn’t control my excitement, but I continued my tirade.
“Regret it for the rest of your life. Writhe in guilt. And atone to me with your life. Even then, I will never forgive you.”
Joo Seolhyeon just lay there crying. But I didn’t feel a shred of pity or sympathy. Compared to the tears I shed because of him, he hadn’t even begun.
I stood up. I didn’t want to stay in this place for even a moment longer.
“…Can’t we start over?”
As I grabbed the door handle, the words from behind me made my entire body shiver with disgust.
“Our relationship was already ended by you. Don’t try to piece it back together now. You don’t even have the right to hope for that.”
As soon as I opened the door, Serubi darted out, and I closed the door behind me.
Jeong Seyeon was sitting on the wooden porch outside the door. I crouched down and leaned my forehead against his broad back.
“Hyung.”
The unique scent from Jeong Seyeon tickled my nose and brought calm to my heart.
“I’m here.”
Soon he turned around and embraced me, and I clung to Jeong Seyeon’s large form like a koala.
“You did well.”
With only the thin paper door between us, he must have heard all the conversation between Joo Seolhyeon and me. Jeong Seyeon stroked my back with his rough hand and whispered in my ear over and over that I had done well.
I closed my eyes and felt the warmth while still in his arms. Warm voice, warm heartbeat, warm gaze. Every part of him was nothing but warmth.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
