#75
To Ha-min’s eyes, all the student council members seemed impressive. They had to take on all the troublesome tasks and know how to stand in front of people without hesitation. They needed leadership skills that Ha-min lacked even a tiny bit of, and high levels of social skills and sociability were also necessary.
“Ah, well. The professor told me to do it, so I had no choice.”
Hee-gyeom answered with a face that showed it was quite bothersome.
“Wow, everyone’s gathered here.”
At that moment, Tae-in, who was entering the cafeteria with his juniors, spotted Ha-min’s group and cheerfully joined in.
“Why is Park Hee-gyeom here?”
Tae-in chuckled lightly, finding it funny that someone from a different department was mixed in.
“Ah, that’s what I’m saying. He’s always sticking to Ha-min hyung like that.”
“Sticking? I’m not sticking to anyone. We’re just getting along well.”
“Lately, I feel like he’s stealing my position, it’s annoying.”
“Hyung, were you close with Shin Woo-kyung? Isn’t he the one who’s clingy?”
Ha-min gave an awkward smile instead of answering to their constant bickering.
“Wow, Song Ha-min, are you popular?”
Tae-in put his arm around Ha-min’s neck with a surprised face.
“What are you talking about…”
Ha-min replied quietly to the absurd statement and resumed nibbling at his food. Even though they were sitting together casually, chatting and giggling, the complicated feelings didn’t easily disappear. He was worried about Tae-rim, who had left without sleeping a wink, and the image of his injured face kept flashing before his eyes. Unaware of these complex emotions, Tae-in’s carefree voice was heard.
“Ah, right. You should drop by our place sometime.”
“Why?”
“Well, Mom and Dad came to my place and brought meat and various things.”
“Ah…”
At the mention of Mom and Dad, Ha-min blinked his distant eyes, suddenly reminded of his hyung.
“There’s a lot of healthy stuff. They give me things every time I visit, so come and let’s eat together. I’ve also stocked up on some really expensive wine, you know?”
Tae-in proudly nudged Ha-min’s arm with his elbow. At this, all the kids except Ha-min clamored that they wanted to come too, but Tae-in flatly refused.
Amidst the noisy voices, Ha-min quietly asked Tae-in.
“Hyung…”
“What?”
“Is hyung okay?”
“What about hyung… Ah, did you see?”
His face, which had been wondering what Ha-min meant, turned sheepish as he realized and asked back. Ha-min nodded slowly. He felt upset, his face not looking good, wondering why hyung was hit when they give him things every time he visits. Tae-in clicked his tongue once and spoke.
“He got beaten badly by Dad.”
“Why?”
“But hyung isn’t the type to just take a beating like that…”
Tae-in continued, frowning as if he didn’t understand. But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with an answer, so he ended with an awkward conclusion.
“Anyway, he’s been weird lately.”
Tae-in shook his head and mumbled to himself. What’s weird about him? Suppressing the urge to ask, Ha-min stopped nibbling and just fiddled with his chopsticks. What would you do if you asked? After deciding to end it all. Even though it wasn’t something he should be concerned about, his thoughts focused on one point. Ha-min let out a small sigh and rubbed his brow.
**
“Hyung, but Tae-in hyung still doesn’t know, right?”
After the meal, everyone dispersed to their own business, leaving only Ha-min and Hee-gyeom. They had some time left and were about to head to a nearby cafe for coffee. Hee-gyeom asked curiously as they were going down the stone steps of the student union building.
Ha-min looked at him as if to ask what he meant at the sudden question, but then let out a short “Ah.”
“Yeah, not yet.”
“But do you really have to hide it like that?”
Hee-gyeom had become much more comfortable talking about it since then. He now spoke freely about things he couldn’t bring himself to say before. This was what Ha-min had wanted too. He disliked being nervous and cautious as if it were some unspeakable secret.
Ha-min was momentarily taken aback by the pure question, not meant as sarcasm. It was the first time someone had asked so directly, so Ha-min hesitated before speaking.
“I don’t want to, but…”
“You’re deliberately wearing only long sleeves, right hyung?”
Although more people were wearing short sleeves as the weather got warmer, Ha-min stubbornly stuck to long sleeves that came exactly to his wrists. He could only give an awkward smile at the pointed remark.
“Is it that obvious…?”
“Yes. Aren’t you hot?”
“I don’t really feel the heat, so it’s okay.”
“It seems like it’ll be tough in midsummer. Will you be alright?”
“Yeah. I’ve done it every year… I wear thin clothes.”
“These days, there are things like laser treatments to remove scars, right?”
“Ah, I’ve looked into it, but they say it can’t be done in just one or two sessions…”
“It seems tiring to keep hiding like that. It’s hard for you, hyung.”
“Others might find it disgusting if they see it.”
“Others don’t really care that much anyway. They might talk about it a few times behind your back, but that’s just strangers talking. Close friends like Tae-in hyung and the others won’t avoid you because of that, right?”
Hee-gyeom continued speaking step by step, as if admonishing Ha-min. It made sense. He had thought so too. But it was always the start that was difficult. Unfamiliar with showing his flaws and exposing his wounds, he had hesitated and hesitated until he reached this point.
“I was planning to tell Tae-in soon anyway…”
Ha-min muttered with a bitter smile. Seeing his accepting response, Hee-gyeom looked at Ha-min with a face that seemed to realize something.
“Am I being too nosy right now…?”
His eyes were surprised, as if worried that his words might have been rude without realizing it. Ha-min let out a laugh at his dumbfounded face, acting all surprised after talking so much.
“No, it’s okay.”
“I’m doing this because you said to be comfortable.”
“I know. I’m comfortable and I like it too.”
“Like you said, it’s just nothing.”
Hee-gyeom sent a gentle gaze with a refreshing smile. Ha-min thought that his hearty smile matched very well with the brightly shining sunlight.
The area in front of the student union building was quieter than usual as lunch time had ended, but the bustling sounds from all directions continued endlessly. It was as they were crossing the wide plaza in front of the student union building, engaging in ordinary conversation.
“Hyung, want to grab a drink after classes today?”
“Suddenly?”
“I know a hyung who works part-time in Daehakro, he says he’ll give us service. The side dishes there are insanely good.”
“Sure. Should we call the others too?”
“Call. Then I’ll tell that hyung… Oh? Hyung, there’s something on you here.”
“Huh?”
Hee-gyeom, who had been excitedly continuing the conversation, suddenly furrowed his brow and looked closely at Ha-min’s chin. As Ha-min opened his eyes wide and touched his chin, Hee-gyeom met his gaze and brought his hand closer.
“Not there, here. Ah, got it.”
As Ha-min fumbled, making futile gestures, Hee-gyeom smiled brightly and removed the foreign substance from Ha-min’s chin. Simultaneously, with a screeching sound of wheels that made their skin crawl, both Ha-min and Hee-gyeom stopped with surprised faces.
Ha-min stared blankly at the car that had stopped right in front of him with a dumbfounded expression. The car, which had approached at a speed suitable for an empty highway, stopped right next to Hee-gyeom’s leg. It was close enough that if he had taken even one step, he would have been hit. As Ha-min looked on with a face more shocked than surprised, having witnessed the speed at which it had rushed in, Hee-gyeom, who had come to his senses first, showed a rare display of temper.
“Who drives like this inside the school…”
It was the kind of anger a victim who had nearly been hit would express. However, before he could finish speaking, the tinted window smoothly rolled down. It was the moment the driver’s face was revealed.
“Ah, sorry.”
As the pitch-black window opened, a handsome face with a gentle smile appeared. The dry apology was an added bonus.
“No…”
Hee-gyeom stammered, his face flustered as he recognized the driver. He was already irritated, and now seeing the person he had been wary of appear, his annoyance peaked.
“How can you drive at such speed inside the school?”
Hee-gyeom, quickly grasping the situation, furrowed his brow and firmly questioned. Tae-rim smiled faintly at the angry words, quickly erasing his surprise.
“I said I’m sorry.”
The blunt voice showed no trace of apology, deepening the wrinkles between Hee-gyeom’s eyebrows. Ha-min hurriedly intervened, sensing a strangely lingering tension.
“Uh, what brings you here?”
As Ha-min asked him, pushing Hee-gyeom behind, a calm gaze fell on him.
“I have something to say.”
“Something to say…?”
“I want to continue our conversation from yesterday.”
Was there more to talk about? As Ha-min blinked with a puzzled face, he continued in a low voice.
“Should we do it here?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t mind talking right now.”
Ha-min flinched at the indiscriminate words and glanced at Hee-gyeom, who was looking at Tae-rim with displeasure. This wasn’t a conversation to have in front of an outsider. Ha-min quickly shook his head. Having taken Ha-min’s opinion into account, Tae-rim gave a short command.
“Get in.”
Ha-min looked back and forth between Hee-gyeom and Tae-rim, hesitating and flustered.
“Are you going, hyung?”
Hee-gyeom asked while Ha-min was debating whether to get in the passenger seat or not. He clearly didn’t like Tae-rim.
“But you said we were going to the cafe.”
An awkward “Ah” escaped from between Ha-min’s lips. Ha-min stuttered like a malfunctioning machine in the suddenly imposed situation.
“Ah, that’s right.”
Ha-min muttered lowly, looking at Tae-rim sitting quietly leaning against the driver’s seat. Thinking it wasn’t polite to suddenly break a prior engagement, he leaned in with his hand on the window.
