“What?”
“Cigarettes. I’m not chasing after you, so mind your own business.”
“You’re seriously obnoxious.”
“…You’re really dense.”
“What the hell have you been talking about since earlier?”
Since he was spouting nothing but incomprehensible nonsense, my steps came to an automatic halt. The bastard who had passed me pointed inside the glass door as if he’d finished what he needed to do, then headed over to the smoking area.
Following his gesture, I peered inside. Through a small gap beyond the frosted film stuck to the door, a single silhouette flickered into view.
The material was opaque, so I couldn’t make out details clearly, but I knew that spot was fairly deep inside.
Judging by the outline, it looked like the person had their arms crossed. As if they’d noticed me standing in front of the door, the figure that had been seated suddenly sprang to their feet.
I tensed, wondering if they were coming this way. But the silhouette turned in the opposite direction from me and disappeared.
“Did I just get played?”
The thought that I’d been messed with by Kang Taeyoon made my face twitch. Clutching the cigarette pack in my pocket, I quickly turned toward where he would be.
At the smoking area in front of the bar, Kang Taeyoon was crouched down, smoking. He must’ve been holding it in for a while—the speed at which the ash fell didn’t look normal.
I almost said something, then decided my mouth would just get tired and swallowed the words instead. I’d never once felt comfortable after having a long conversation with him. In a way, this was the wiser choice.
I put a cigarette between my lips and flicked the lighter, and the now fairly muggy night air brushed against me. The sticky sensation clinging to my skin felt unpleasant.
Just then, someone tapped against my leg. Kang Taeyoon was there, holding out his hand toward me.
“What’s your problem since earlier?”
This time, too, I frowned automatically, wondering what it was now. Without looking at me, he spoke in a low voice.
“Cigarette.”
“What happened to the one you were smoking. …You already finished it?”
“It was down to the butt. So give me one.”
“Do I look like I’m your personal stash?”
He must’ve been holding out for quite a while—he’d already finished one. The cigarette pack in his other hand was crumpled and empty.
As I grumbled and slipped my hand into my pocket, Kang Taeyoon continued in an even tone. From what he was saying, it seemed similar in context to earlier.
“I won’t ask about your situation. Think of this as repayment this time.”
“……”
Come to think of it, Kang Taeyoon helping me earlier flashed through my mind. The conversation had flowed so naturally that I hadn’t realized it, but it seemed like that bastard knew something.
My palm grew damp with sweat. Why was that? I had an inexplicable feeling that if this conversation went any deeper, I’d be the only one at a disadvantage.
Reluctantly, I fumbled out a single cigarette and held it out.
Impatient as ever, he snatched it from my hand before I could properly pass it over.
After lighting it with the lighter in his hand, Kang Taeyoon rose to his feet and walked away, leaving me behind. Judging by his direction, it looked like he was heading toward the dark alley past the bar.
“Kang Taeyoon, where are you going!”
“I feel like I’m gonna see something filthy if I stay with you. Well, might already be too late.”
Because of the cigarette in his mouth, his pronunciation was slurred. Without looking back, he waved his hand lazily.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’ll smoke this and go to the convenience store. So go in first.”
And just like that, he disappeared from my sight. I stared after him, then shifted my gaze to the short-burning ember.
***
“Where did he go now?”
I left the bastard who said he was going to the convenience store and went back in first.
As I rummaged through my bag to sort my things, Min Siheon—who’d been sitting there just earlier—was gone.
His belongings were still there, so it didn’t look like he’d gone home. After glancing over the messy table, I grabbed Yoo In-ho nearby.
“Yoo In-ho, have you seen Min Siheon?”
“Min Siheon? I think he went to the bathroom earlier.”
As expected, he hadn’t gone home. Figuring I’d see him again soon enough, I scanned the inside of the bar.
When I looked at a nearby table, I saw the juniors sitting there—everyone except Lee Chae-won. It seemed like they’d gone to the designated spot right on time. I supposed I had to keep my promise now too.
Running a hand through my hair, I headed toward the corner by the restroom entrance. Right then, I sensed someone beyond the wall.
…Is the line long? From the voices, I could tell it wasn’t just one person.
Just as I was about to turn toward the inner wall, someone suddenly burst out. With a dull thud, we collided, and I saw a woman staggering.
I raised my hand to steady her and checked her face—once again, someone I knew well.
“I was just on my way.”
“Th-that…”
The woman who’d rushed out from beyond the wall was Lee Chae-won—the one I’d arranged to meet. Her carefully styled hair had become disheveled from bumping into me.
But the moment she recognized me, her face looked strange. Pale, she swayed as she straightened herself. Had she suddenly drunk too much? I was just about to ask if she was okay.
Lee Chae-won lowered her head deeply and clutched the hem of her skirt. It was the same gesture as before, yet the atmosphere felt different.
Her hair hid her face, making it hard to read her expression. She didn’t look well at all, and I wondered if I should call her friends.
“Are you not feeling well? Should I call them?”
“…Ah, no. …Would it be alright if I told you next time instead?”
“Huh? Uh… I don’t mind.”
Speaking quickly, Lee Chae-won gave a deep bow. The sharp click of her heels echoed as she walked away from where I stood.
Faced with her incomprehensible behavior, all I felt was awkwardness. Scratching the back of my head, I concluded she was a pretty peculiar junior.
“…Well, she’s got her friends, so she’ll be fine.”
I thought I might as well go back to my seat and wait for Min Siheon. But then a large hand grabbed my shoulder from behind.
“Jungwoo.”
“What, I thought the bathroom line was long. Guess you came out quick.”
The one who stepped out from beyond the corner was Min Siheon. For someone who’d been wobbling earlier, he looked perfectly neat.
He seemed refreshed, as if he’d regained his condition. The faint smile on his lips reflected his mood.
“Yeah. You went outside, right?”
“You saw that?”
“Yeah, …you were with Taeyoon.”
“Good eyesight. Then should we head back?”
Just as I turned to go, saying we should return, Min Siheon reached out and straightened my clothes. He must’ve noticed the front of my shirt had gotten messy.
“Your shirt’s pretty wrinkled.”
“I guess I bumped into a freshman earlier. It’s fine. Is there any reason to worry about that in a bar?”
“True.”
His hands moved as if brushing off the front of my shirt. It felt less like he was smoothing wrinkles and more like he was brushing something away. Soon enough, he extended his fingers and slowly traced downward along my shirt front.
At the gentle, straight-line motion, heat surged up from deep inside me.
“Hey, h-hey…”
My ears burned, and I grabbed his hand, pulling it away.
“Heh.”
At the sound of Min Siheon’s laugh, it felt as though his earlier touch was being redrawn over my skin.
As if fleeing, I hurried back to our original seat. Seeing the group gathered there made me feel exhausted just looking at them.
At this rate, there’d be no end to it. I dropped onto the sofa and looked up at Min Siheon.
“Aren’t you sitting?”
Min Siheon stood beside the table, looking down at me. At my words, he blinked, then tilted his head as he asked,
“Can’t we just go home first?”
“Tired?”
“Yeah, I’m a bit worn out. It keeps coming back to me, so I don’t feel great.”
“Coming back? What is?”
“Mm, nothing.”
For a moment, Min Siheon’s expression stiffened. It was a rare look on him, unfamiliar. It seemed like he was recalling when he’d been unwell not long ago.
I thought he’d recovered, but maybe he’d actually been having a harder time than I realized.
“I’ll let Heemin know.”
Honestly, I wanted to go home too. I’d done Kang Taeyoon’s favor and shown my face to Go Heemin.
I’d fulfilled my part, I told myself, lifting my bag.
In that brief moment, Min Siheon seemed to have finished explaining everything to Go Heemin. As he returned, he waved with a composed expression.
“I told him.”
“Already?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“Shouldn’t we at least say goodbye to the others?”
“No, I told them everything, so it’s fine to just leave.”
Min Siheon slung the bag I handed him over his shoulder and took the lead with quick steps. When I hesitated, he grabbed my shoulder and urged me along, saying it was fine.
As we pushed open the glass door to leave, Go Heemin, who’d been sitting farther away, turned to look this way.
With an uneasy expression, he shook his head and seemed to click his tongue.
What’s with that bastard now? I gave a vague wave in response to his incomprehensible gesture. It didn’t last long before Min Siheon closed the door, cutting off my view.
“Let’s hurry.”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Was it that hard for him in there? Min Siheon, perhaps just glad to be out, didn’t lose his smile even in the hot early-summer air.
He was the type who got shy around crowds. I figured he just wanted to leave quickly, and followed after him.
