#4
“And isn’t it a bit much that we can’t go on the MT trip? We’re already in our fourth year, and I’ll be starting an internship soon, so last year was our last chance to all go together. And you absolutely couldn’t go then either.”
Eun-soo poured out the words she’d been holding back once the conversation started. Ha-min, who hadn’t thought at all about how others might feel this way, looked bewildered, his mouth hanging open as he stared blankly at Eun-soo.
“Is that what… makes you feel… restricted…?”
For Ha-min, who was dating for the first time, he honestly had no idea what was right or wrong. Unlike him, who knew absolutely nothing about relationships, his hyung had plenty of experience, so he followed his words completely while dating. In truth, even when things felt a bit unfair, it didn’t bother him because he was with his hyung.
“It’s not just about restrictions… it’s just…”
Eun-soo thought carefully while stroking her chin.
“Should I say he’s extremely jealous?”
“Jealous…?”
“Yes. From what I’ve seen, that senior seems quite jealous.”
“…Hyung? No way….”
“No way? I’ve been feeling his strange jealousy even before he started dating you.”
Eun-soo retorted with wide eyes. Having felt discomfort that wasn’t quite suffering even before the relationship began, she seemed somewhat offended by Ha-min shaking his head in denial.
“Hyung is… he does dislike many things, but he’s not the type to… to be jealous… He has a lot of dating experience so….”
“No. If not jealousy, then perhaps obsession?”
“Huh?”
Ha-min couldn’t understand what Eun-soo was talking about at all. Jealousy? Obsession? These words didn’t match the always relaxed and confident hyung he knew. He was the most mature person Ha-min had ever met. A caring and mature person who embraced all of his mistakes. Of course, he had persistent tendencies, and occasionally pushed him in the beginning, but that was simply because they were in the early stages. Now that they’d been dating for years and their relationship had stabilized, such behavior was nowhere to be seen.
“It’s not like that.”
“Want to bet?”
“Bet…?”
“Whether my words are wrong or not.”
Eun-soo tapped the book pages with her pen and smiled confidently. If you don’t believe me, I’ll just have to show you. Eun-soo proudly added to her stunned opponent:
“Whether that senior’s obsession is really serious or not.”
**
“E-Eun-soo. This is a bit….”
Ha-min anxiously looked at her with concern.
“You don’t like it? If you don’t want to, I won’t do it.”
Eun-soo held Ha-min’s phone and spoke calmly. Her words were sincere. Eun-soo truly never did anything someone disliked. But the problem was…
“Who said I don’t like it!”
It was Tae-in, who was clearly provoked. After hearing about the conversation with Eun-soo, Tae-in agreed enthusiastically to participate in this test, saying it would be fun. Ha-min called out in a troubled voice as Tae-in snatched his phone away.
“Tae-in….”
But Tae-in was firm.
“It’s strange that you don’t know. Didn’t you realize Lee Tae-rim is extremely jealous?”
“…I told you he’s not.”
“His jealousy and obsession are intense. That’s why he never lets you go on trips. He won’t even let you go alone with me.”
“…That’s….”
Ha-min couldn’t answer properly and mumbled vaguely. Since Tae-in loved going out so much, Ha-min had no choice but to reject his several personal invitations to travel. Of course, it was because of his hyung’s opposition, but his stubbornness made things a bit awkward for Ha-min too. Personally, Ha-min had also wanted to go out with Tae-in. They hadn’t spent any time alone since reconnecting. Despite always saying they were close, he hadn’t had a proper chance to hang out since he started dating his hyung.
“That’s a sickness.”
“What?”
“It’s excessive, even for excessive behavior.”
Tae-in shook his head with a dissatisfied expression.
“Anyway, today we’re going to have fun without any worries, okay?”
“Still… I could at least leave one message.”
“Are you not going to take the bet?”
“…”
“And you too. How can you live being controlled like this? Have you ever properly hung out with your friends since dating your hyung? Even if a lover comes before friends, how much have these guys cared for you all this time?”
Ha-min glanced at Eun-soo and Chae-rin, who was casually using her phone as if this wasn’t her business, with a quickly intimidated expression. It was true. These were the people who actively took care of him and became friends with him when he was a timid freshman who knew nothing. Tae-in wasn’t wrong either. It was true that he had neglected his friends since dating.
“…I’m sorry.”
Ha-min quietly said, feeling a wave of self-reproach.
“Ah, why are you saying unnecessary things?”
Chae-rin, who had seemed uninterested, hit Tae-in’s shin with an annoyed expression.
“What? I’m right.”
“No, oppa. Don’t apologize. Are we children? Do you think we’d get upset because you don’t play with us?”
Eun-soo frantically waved her hands and scolded Tae-in. Tae-in responded with a brazen face.
“…Well, I’m upset.”
“Really. This oppa is also somewhat obsessed with Ha-min oppa.”
“Obsessed? I’m just upset, that’s all. Actually, I became friends with him first. If it weren’t for me, you two wouldn’t even know each other!”
Tae-in retorted energetically, even placing his hands on his hips, apparently feeling wronged. He never backed down even when his juniors teased him, and turned his resolute gaze back to Ha-min.
“Anyway, I’m confiscating your phone today.”
“…What if hyung gets angry?”
“If he gets angry because you don’t contact him for one day, that’s the problem, isn’t it?”
His opponent pinpointed the issue precisely. Ha-min couldn’t understand it, but on the other hand, he was strangely being persuaded.
“Besides, you’ve been dating for over two years now, so there should be enough trust between you.”
…That was also true. He didn’t think he would be anxious if he couldn’t contact his hyung for one day. In fact, having been so attached for over two years, he’d even thought his hyung might need some personal time. But regardless, having a bet against his hyung didn’t sit well with him.
“Still….”
“You haven’t even come to see my performances, right?”
Tae-in poked at Ha-min’s weakness as he still hesitated.
“…Sorry.”
“Today I’m going to record a broadcast performance with Chae-rin. You’re coming with us.”
“…Okay.”
In the end, it was Ha-min’s defeat. Even if Tae-in was being pushy, Ha-min had done more wrong things over time, so he had nothing to say. Ha-min finally nodded obediently.
“I’ll buy you something delicious afterward. And there are many people I want to introduce you to.”
Tae-in was visibly excited as he put his arm around Ha-min’s shoulders. Since starting his broadcasting work, Tae-in had gained an even wider network than before. He was becoming well-known enough that people who should know him did. Seeing Tae-in so excited just to hang out with him, despite having so many friends and acquaintances, Ha-min admitted that he had been unkind all this time.
Moreover, he owed Tae-in a lot. Despite claiming to be friends, he had unilaterally cut contact for years, making excuses. That must have been quite hurtful, but Tae-in had been very understanding. Ha-min had always been on the receiving end of Tae-in’s understanding.
Ha-min finally decided to follow his wishes and quietly followed behind Tae-in.
**
The recording venue was more impressive than expected. Although they weren’t filming in a separate studio but in Tae-in’s workspace, there were so many people and the equipment was amazing. It was on a completely different scale from his previous casual broadcasts.
“Sit here.”
Tae-in had Ha-min sit next to him while getting his makeup done by the staff. Chae-rin was also getting her makeup done beside them, and Eun-soo was excitedly watching, finding it fascinating and fun.
“Oh, Ha-min hyung, it’s been a while!”
Woo-kyung, who had come to record as well, greeted Ha-min happily. For reference, Woo-kyung was on academic leave before returning to school, having just completed his military service. Judging by his tanned face, he still showed signs of having recently been discharged.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
Ha-min asked with a bright, happy smile.
“I’ve been great. Having a blast. This guy drinks all the time.”
Tae-in chimed in from the side, teasing him.
“I have to enjoy being a free man. Hyung wouldn’t know since you didn’t go to the military! Only Ha-min hyung understands.”
Shin Woo-kyung retorted, breathing heavily. Tae-in, who was exempted from military service due to childhood heart problems, just shrugged his shoulders as if to say “what can you do?”
Come to think of it, though he’d heard Woo-kyung had been discharged, he hadn’t seen his face once. It really made him realize how neglectful he’d been of the people around him.
“I mean, hyung, you’ve been impossible to see these days?”
When Woo-kyung continued, sounding a bit hurt, Ha-min awkwardly smiled and quietly answered.
“Sorry. You seem to have grown even more since I last saw you.”
“I grew a few centimeters taller. Cool, right?”
“Yeah. And your body seems to have improved too?”
“You can tell. I’ve been bulking up lately. When I was about to be discharged, there was nothing to do at the base so I just worked out, and since it seemed worth doing, I’m trying to do it properly now.”
Woo-kyung showed off his arm and clenched his fist tightly, proudly displaying his muscles.
“He’s excited like that because he’s been getting some attention since appearing on Tae-in oppa’s broadcast.”
Eun-soo, who had been examining the equipment, added.
“Really? Are you popular these days?”
When Ha-min asked with sparkling eyes, Woo-kyung cleared his throat and shrugged once.
“I get some DMs and stuff.”
“Wow.”
“Some contacts asking me to advertise on Instagram, and… that kind of thing?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
