“So I figured I’d find out if I asked the person involved directly, so I went to track down the source of the rumor.”
But before Han Jun could even get any information out of the student who had spread it, things escalated into a huge fight. Because of that incident, Chief Kim ended up visiting the school, and while they were sorting out who was at fault before the school violence committee convened, the person who had spread the rumor lied and claimed they’d heard it from Han Jun himself.
That story quickly made its way to Assemblyman Han’s ears through Chief Kim.
“He said this to me. Asked if that was how I wanted to get revenge for my mom. If I really wanted revenge, I should’ve found evidence solid enough to completely destroy them and hit them with it in one shot—why would I use such a childish method?”
Han Jun spoke with a hollow laugh, saying that since his father had money and power, he would’ve covered up a petty fight like that anyway, so who would go about revenge in such a sloppy way?
Still, there was no doubt that this incident became the decisive event that put Han Jun firmly on Assemblyman Han’s bad side.
Yi-hyeon was grateful to Han Jun.
Rather than growing anxious after learning Yi-hyeon’s deeply guarded secret, Han Jun had gone so far as to reveal even the truth about his own birth—something he didn’t have to share at all—choosing instead to become someone who shared secrets with him. That gesture made something warm and earnest begin to bloom deep inside Yi-hyeon’s heart, a feeling that if it were for Han Jun, he wanted to do anything for him.
“When I refused to go abroad no matter what, I guess he told Han Se-hyeon, that bastard, to keep an eye on me or something. He transferred me to the same school as that guy. Said if I caused trouble there too, he’d send me overseas without a second thought. I was the one who insisted on staying in Korea… it’s basically because of that that my mom died. How am I supposed to leave now, after all this?”
So he’d decided to live quietly—but then Se-hyeon started spreading rumors again, like he was trying to drive a wedge between Han Jun and Assemblyman Han all over again.
“That day, I heard Han Se-hyeon’s name come out of those kids’ mouths. I’d expected it, but even so, I saw red for a moment. I almost did exactly what that bastard wanted and caused another incident.”
If Yi-hyeon hadn’t stepped in that day, Han Jun would’ve been dragged into it again, and then he really would’ve been shipped off to the U.S. without mercy. He said he’d never imagined that someone he wasn’t even close to would stop him from spiraling like that, and thanked Yi-hyeon for taking his side.
It wasn’t that Yi-hyeon had taken Han Jun’s side—he’d simply pointed out the facts. But to someone who’d transferred schools after being mocked as a child born of an affair, Yi-hyeon’s actions must’ve felt like genuine kindness.
“That time, I wasn’t taking sides. I was just stating the facts.”
“And I’m grateful because you were the only one who even tried to figure out the truth. Everyone else just reacted to the sensational rumors and didn’t care about the facts at all.”
“I see……”
“And since you said you thought it was weird, I’ll tell you this—your ear isn’t that weird. It’s cute. It suits you.”
“Whether it suits me or not isn’t the issue. This is serious.”
“I know. That’s exactly why I kept your secret. Whether it suits you or not is a separate matter.”
The moment Yi-hyeon realized he now had someone he could confide in, a huge wave of relief washed over him—and his throat tightened all at once.
From then on, he started pouring out complaint after complaint to Han Jun.
“I’m… honestly really confused. With this sudden change, I have no idea how I’m supposed to deal with it.”
Yi-hyeon’s voice trembled. Even though he felt sorry toward Han Jun, just knowing that Han Jun was aware of his secret made him want to lean on him endlessly. He hadn’t realized until now just how selfish he could be.
“Sorry. This isn’t something I should be venting to you about.”
After feeling so lost and alone, meeting someone who understood him made Yi-hyeon simply happy—glad, even. And so, without realizing it, he’d kept venting, only to suddenly grow embarrassed, wondering what kind of disgraceful behavior he was showing by grabbing hold of Han Jun, who’d come because he was worried.
At the same time, he thought that even though Han Jun should’ve been the one flustered, he was such a gentle person to the point of comforting Yi-hyeon instead.
“I’m the only person who knows, right? Then doesn’t that mean I’m obviously the only person you can vent to? If there’s anything you want to say, let it all out.”
At Han Jun’s warm reassurance, Yi-hyeon’s small shoulders began to shake. Han Jun waited silently until the trembling stopped, then asked carefully,
“What scares you the most? People finding out? Or getting dragged off to some kind of lab?”
After imagining this and that, Yi-hyeon quietly shook his head.
“I’m most scared of being left alone.”
He said that the time right after he’d lost his mother—when he’d been completely isolated—had been the greatest trial of his life.
“Then you don’t need to be scared.”
Yi-hyeon slowly blinked and turned his gaze to the right. It was too dark to see anything, but a faint scent drifting through the air told him that Han Jun was there. After a brief silence, accompanied by a small chuckle, Han Jun’s voice reached Yi-hyeon’s ear.
“I’m here.”
“Huh?”
“If I’m here, how could you ever be left alone?”
It was a soft, gentle voice.
No other noise intruded on the space where Han Jun’s voice lingered like a ringing echo. In the stillness, only the rapid pounding of his heart explained the overwhelming emotions swelling inside Yi-hyeon. In that moment, Yi-hyeon finally understood why his cheeks were burning.
The reason his heart had raced inexplicably every time he saw Han Jun—the true nature of those emotions that rose and fell with every one of Han Jun’s actions—he’d realized it at last.
From then on, every stimulus he felt from Han Jun began to tickle at Yi-hyeon’s chest.
***
[Homeroom Teacher Byeon Seung-hwan]
[Teacher, this is Han Jun. Yi-hyeon suddenly felt dizzy, so I’m messaging you now to let you know I put him in a taxi and took him home. I made sure he got home safely, so there’s no need to worry. It’s too far for me to head back now, so I’ll be going straight home as well.]
That day, as if to prove his words, Han Jun stayed by Yi-hyeon’s side until the ringing in his ear subsided. Even after all his scheduled plans were finished, he rode the bus with Yi-hyeon and walked him all the way to the front of the orphanage.
When the familiar gate came into view, Han Jun stopped, handed back Yi-hyeon’s bag—which he’d been carrying for him—and asked,
“That thing. When you get a nosebleed, does your ear show up right away? Or are there warning signs?”
“It feels like there’s a few minutes… maybe up to a few dozen minutes.”
“What do you mean, ‘it feels like’? It’s your body—you need to know exactly.”
“The speed changes subtly each time. If my condition worsens quickly, it shows up quickly. If it worsens slowly, it comes out slowly.”
“Really? Hmm……”
Han Jun lowered his eyelids. Unsure what he was about to say, Yi-hyeon swallowed his dry saliva. Soon, life returned to the shadowed black eyes.
“Then let’s do this.”
As he slung his bag over his shoulder, Yi-hyeon tilted his head.
“If something like that happens again, hide somewhere safe first. Then contact me.”
“And if I contact you?”
“Obviously, I’ll come get you.”
He’ll come get me?
Third year of high school—at such a crucial time—Han Jun saying he’d spend time just for Yi-hyeon was hard to believe. Part of him felt hopeful that he could see Han Jun just by calling him, but another part worried he might be assigning meaning to words that had only been offered out of politeness.
“You might be busy.”
He wanted him to say it clearly just one more time. Unable to bring himself to say that outright, Yi-hyeon tried to circle around it.
“Why are you adding so many unnecessary comments? I’ll run out even if I’m in the middle of taking a shit, so just contact me.”
“I’m just saying that because I’d feel bad.”
Yi-hyeon nodded, but he couldn’t bring himself to look Han Jun straight in the eye. Seeing how genuinely Han Jun seemed ready to come if he was called, Yi-hyeon felt like if their eyes met, Han Jun—sharp as he was—might notice the fluttering excitement filling his gaze.
“If you feel bad, then buy me bunny bunny choco milk every time I go out.”
“That’s enough?”
“What more do you need between friends?”
“Yeah.”
Yi-hyeon nodded.
It was his first experience with the feeling of first love. But at the same time, he felt he had to suppress it—because if he didn’t maintain their current relationship, he might never get to taste Han Jun’s kindness again. So he swallowed his happiness as if soothing his emotions, and Yi-hyeon’s small chest rose and fell.
