By Zephyria The second semester of third year is unavoidable.
Even among classmates who, back in first year, swore they lived and died by loyalty, most had already found jobs or were preparing for them on their own. Yoon Ye-jun was no different. At best, he saw them during major classes. In truth, he was always with Ki Young-han during other times, so it was unavoidable.
“Hey!”
A pat on the back made him turn. It was Dong-hoon, a classmate. Though he’d only seen him three days ago, it felt like months. Dong-hoon set his bag down next to Yoon Ye-jun and sat. A faint scent of cigarettes clung to him, as if he’d just been smoking.
Yoon Ye-jun traced the edge of the textbook he’d taken out. The sharp corner pricked his skin. It tickled.
“Isn’t the second semester short, which is good?”
Dong-hoon opened the conversation with a pointless remark. “Yeah, I guess.” Yoon Ye-jun replied with a smile. The second semester was too short, even for being short. It was already October. The gap between the start of the semester and the midterm exams was unusually brief. Was that all? After midterms, finals were right around the corner.
Yoon Ye-jun was also preparing for various things. He was studying for and taking certification exams. Language proficiency tests were the same. His school life wasn’t bad, and his grades were decent, so there wasn’t much pressure. Everything was surprisingly smooth and uneventful.
“That’s a new shirt. You don’t usually wear clothes like that.”
Dong-hoon touched the sleeve of the hoodie Yoon Ye-jun was wearing. Ah. Yoon Ye-jun responded briefly. It was the shirt he’d hastily put on when leaving Ki Young-han’s place. Right. He didn’t usually wear things like this. He preferred a neat style, and he’d tried to maintain some semblance of it when coming to school, thinking it suited him. But now, constantly being with Ki Young-han and wearing his clothes, his style was changing.
Dong-hoon glanced at his mobile phone with a disinterested expression. Tap, tap… He typed on the keypad before speaking.
“You know Ye-jin is in her fourth year, right?”
She was a classmate they used to hang out with and be close to. Now, it was rare to see people from the same year, so they only exchanged messages in group chats or said hello when they bumped into each other. That’s how it had become.
Yoon Ye-jun nodded in response.
“Ah, yeah. What’s she up to these days? I saw her a bit in the first semester, but not lately.”
“Last semester, I didn’t see her at all after we went drinking, so I thought she’d taken a leave of absence, but she got a job.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, she’s calling for a get-together with classmates. They’re even inviting graduates.”
“Sooo jealous.” Dong-hoon stretched. If they were inviting graduates, she must have gotten a decent job. Yoon Ye-jun pouted. It felt like just yesterday they were hanging out together after entering school, and now it was unbelievable that they had to step into the real world.
“You should come too.”
Dong-hoon said, patting Yoon Ye-jun’s shoulder.
“I’ll see.”
“Why?”
“Just, you know….”
“What is it, what is it? Does your girlfriend not like it?”
He had mentioned getting a partner. He usually didn’t talk about such things, so Dong-hoon found it surprising. Is this one for real this time? he’d thought, treating Yoon Ye-jun like a casanova. Besides that, it was impossible not to show he was in a relationship. Ki Young-han would get annoyed if he didn’t answer his calls, and send multiple messages if he ignored them.
Of course, the good parts were good. Could someone really like another person this much? Yoon Ye-jun wanted to accept all of Ki Young-han’s complaints and annoyances. That’s why he worked harder on his job preparations. Ki Young-han was objectively living diligently, living well, and showing results, so he wanted to appear equally worthy to him.
Dong-hoon naturally called her his girlfriend, while Yoon Ye-jun called her his partner. Knowing Yoon Ye-jun’s disposition, Dong-hoon tried not to pry too much, but it came up occasionally. Like now.
“Aren’t you going to introduce your girlfriend?”
“I don’t really like meeting people.”
“You don’t want to show her off, do you? Afraid I’ll steal her?”
“She has eyes too.”
Trivial conversation ensued. Avoiding gatherings with classmates was partly because Ki Young-han disliked it, but also because he didn’t want to face reality. When they were younger, meetings always involved drinking and immature conversations, but that wasn’t the case anymore. Jobs, money, real estate, stocks… The topics, just hearing them, drained his energy, bouncing around like ping pong balls. Yoon Ye-jun exhaled the sigh he’d been holding in, as if spitting it out.
Just then, the professor entered the lecture hall. The conversations that had been swirling around Yoon Ye-jun and Dong-hoon dispersed into the air. Yoon Ye-jun checked the mobile phone on his desk. A message from Ki Young-han had arrived.
Ppidori – a nickname
(Photo)
10:12 AM
Class is canceled, so I’m having coffee.
10:12 AM
Yoon Ye-jun picked up his mobile phone. The coffee he’d just received from the table didn’t even have condensation on the cup. He zoomed in and out of the photo. Then, he went to the Messenger’s gift shop. He bought and sent a sandwich from the same franchise.
Me
Young-han, don’t drink coffee on an empty stomach, it’ll upset your stomach, so eat a sandwich too.
10:15 AM
I’ll be back after class. Let’s have lunch together later.
10:16 AM
Yoon Ye-jun put down his mobile phone. He placed the screen where he could see it, in case another message arrived. About five minutes later, the silent mobile phone vibrated briefly. Yoon Ye-jun looked at the screen and finally smiled. A photo of a well-packaged sandwich, taken carelessly, was displayed on the screen.
Around this time of year, students’ clothing varies greatly. Despite it being early October, some students still wore short sleeves, while others wore knits or light short-sleeved shirts with trench coats. Ki Young-han wore a beige anorak over a white t-shirt. He deliberately let the hem of the t-shirt show about a finger’s width. The sleeves of the anorak were quite long, slightly covering the area below his palms.
Ki Young-han checked the cigarettes in his pocket and headed to the smoking area. He lit a cigarette where he first met Yoon Ye-jun. He ran his hand through his hair and turned on his lighter. After taking a few puffs, he took out his mobile phone and checked it. Yoon Ye-jun had only sent back a single, unenthusiastic emoticon, ‘^^’, in response to the last photo he sent.
Ki Young-han held his mobile phone, hesitating. He glanced at the latte on the railing, then at the screen. He moved his finger and typed on the keypad.
I bought coffee… it’s a latte. It shouldn’t upset your stomach as much?
Come down for a moment. I have something to say…
Ki Young-han’s brow twitched, and he finally threw away the cigarette he was smoking. He rubbed his forehead and eyelids with the palm of his hand. He straightened his head. Just send it. What’s there to be scared of? They were dating now. They practically lived together. This morning, they almost missed school because they were kissing. Ki Young-han licked his lips.
Me
Come down for a moment. Outside the lecture hall.
10:52 AM
Yoon Ye-jun tilted his head. Wasn’t he waiting at the cafe right now? Why was he suddenly asking him to come outside? Was he playing a trick? He couldn’t reply and clutched his mobile phone tightly. Less than a minute later, a message came, urging him. ‘ㅡㅡ’ His eyes were narrowed, clearly showing his displeasure, exactly like Ki Young-han. Yoon Ye-jun pushed his chair back.
“Just a moment.”
He asked Dong-hoon for permission. Dong-hoon pulled his chair forward, creating a gap for him to slip through. Turning his back on the professor, who was passionately lecturing, he walked out of the lecture hall. As soon as he opened the back door, Yoon Ye-jun flinched. Ki Young-han was standing by the door. He shifted his body to let Yoon Ye-jun out. The corridor outside the lecture hall was quiet. There wasn’t even one or two people around.
“What is it?”
Yoon Ye-jun lowered his voice. After confirming no one was around, he grabbed Ki Young-han’s forearm. Ki Young-han handed him the cup of latte.
“Is this for me?”
“I don’t think you can eat the sandwich.”
“Yeah, right. You’re in class.”
Yoon Ye-jun felt inexplicably happy. He was glad Ki Young-han had come thinking of him, and that he’d brought him a latte to prevent an upset stomach. Was dating always this enjoyable and good?
Yoon Ye-jun, maintaining his irrepressible smile, clasped and then released Ki Young-han’s firm arm. Ki Young-han’s gaze dropped, then returned to Yoon Ye-jun.
“What are you going to eat for lunch?”
“Uh… Shall we have Kimchi Jjigae? After eating, let’s go to the library for a bit. We have two hours off.”
Because they had coordinated their schedules, they had deeply intertwined themselves into each other’s daily lives. They bickered and fought due to the long hours they spent together, but it was still better than being apart. It was good they matched their schedules. Flowers bloomed in Yoon Ye-jun’s heart.
“Are we going to the place right in front of the College of Agriculture for lunch?”
Ki Young-han asked. He had become quite friendly with the owner of the restaurant they frequented because of Yoon Ye-jun. The owner had known Yoon Ye-jun for a while.
Yoon Ye-jun replied with an “Mm.” “Understood,” Ki Young-han’s face looked relaxed. Yoon Ye-jun wanted to touch Ki Young-han’s cheek. He knew that if he did, Ki Young-han, who rarely smiled, would lift the corners of his mouth and then shyly lower his head.
Should I sneak down and give him a kiss? Ki Young-han, who told him not to do that outside, acted as if he was desperate to be with him. But unfortunately, he couldn’t. The elevator near where they were standing arrived.
Ding- With a mechanical sound, the doors opened. And upon seeing the person who stepped out, not only Ki Young-han and Yoon Ye-jun, but also the other person’s expression stiffened.
“……”
“……”
“……”
The person who got off the elevator was Kim Jae-ui.
Yoon Ye-jun knew Kim Jae-ui was still at school, but he hadn’t expected to run into him like this. Yoon Ye-jun met his gaze calmly. Kim Jae-ui seemed to be living a normal life. Rumor had it he was trying his best not to stand out on campus and minimizing his interactions with students. He was simply living each day as a silent pawn of the professors.
There were no greetings exchanged. Not until Ki Young-han spoke.
“What are you staring at?”
Ki Young-han acted overtly aggressive. Yoon Ye-jun looked up at him quickly, intending to stop him. Ah. A chilling expression. The innocent face that had shown shyness just moments before him was gone, replaced by one baring its teeth to protect him. He sometimes forgot. Ki Young-han was originally like this.
“Sorry.”
It was just as Kim Jae-ui was about to pass by after a brief apology. Yoon Ye-jun unconsciously checked his mobile phone in his pocket.
“Let’s go in.”
Ki Young-han nudged Yoon Ye-jun’s lower back. Yoon Ye-jun glanced back at Kim Jae-ui’s retreating figure. “I’m going to class. Wait for me. Enjoy the drink.” Waving the latte he’d bought, Yoon Ye-jun entered the lecture hall.
“Excuse me.”
After confirming the door had closed, Ki Young-han called out to Kim Jae-ui. The man who was about to walk away stopped. He turned his head to look at Ki Young-han. Ki Young-han put his hands in his pockets and sauntered over.
“Why are you walking this way?”
“What….”
“Are you deliberately trying to be seen by Yoon Ye-jun? Or are you looking for someone new?”
Ki Young-han was picking a fight for no reason. He knew it himself. In any case, Yoon Ye-jun would not have encountered Kim Jae-ui since he was in class, unless Ki Young-han had asked him to come out. Still, he was annoyed. He was annoyed that Yoon Ye-jun had just noticed that bastard, and his insides were boiling.
Kim Jae-ui looked up at Ki Young-han, who was a head and a half taller than him. He felt intimidated. He wasn’t a gangster, yet he acted high-handedly with his large build. Kim Jae-ui scratched his palm with his thumb. Ki Young-han tilted his head.
“There’s more than one elevator, so why are you using this one? Dressed up in that tacky suit.”
“…Do you have something to say to me?”
Kim Jae-ui asked calmly. It was a fight he couldn’t win from the start. He knew from their few encounters. He was a genuine psycho. Knowing Ki Young-han’s reckless nature, Kim Jae-ui’s mouth went dry, fearing what might happen.
If he were a stereotypical tough guy with a fake smile, he might have tried to undermine his status on campus, but Ki Young-han maintained his expressionless face. His vacant expression gave no hint of his thoughts.
“I have nothing to say. I just saw you and picked a fight. Is that not allowed?”
“……”
“By the way, did you apologize to Yoon Ye-jun?”
“Why would a student….”
Kim Jae-ui pretended not to know. He intended to retort, asking why a student would care. Are they some kind of couple? he thought of asking indifferently. However, this was the College of Social Sciences building. Students were coming and going. A student coming out of a lecture hall called, “Jae-ui hyung!” Kim Jae-ui’s mouth went dry. Ki Young-han also turned his head to look at the student’s face.
Ki Young-han lowered his voice. It was a quiet voice that only Kim Jae-ui could hear.
“Don’t act like a slut, live properly. Got it? It’s embarrassing if rumors get out. If you had any shame, you wouldn’t be here. You care a lot about what others think, don’t you?”
“……”
“I don’t care about that stuff.”
Ki Young-han said the obvious. He had no reason to care about other people’s opinions. The only person he cared about was Yoon Ye-jun. He was so preoccupied with keeping Yoon Ye-jun happy and in sync with him that he was exhausted.
“And if you try to talk to me under the pretense of apologizing to Yoon Ye-jun, I won’t let it slide, so behave yourself.”
Ki Young-han glared. Kim Jae-ui, who was significantly shorter and less imposing, hunched his already narrow shoulders. The gaze that swept him up and down was unpleasant, but he couldn’t say anything. Playing the victim only worked on people who fell for it. So did acting friendly. Kim Jae-ui watched Ki Young-han, who had delivered his point and was now leisurely walking away, and bit his lip.
Even now, he was restraining himself, wanting to avoid becoming the subject of student gossip. He could overlook meeting and eating with students who caught his eye. But if it became known that he did so despite having a girlfriend, he would fall into ruin. His image, built up until now, would be ruined.
That’s why he hadn’t met students lately and didn’t wander around unless professors asked him to. As soon as he finished his book project, he could leave school, so he intended to focus on that. Why did he have to go buy coffee? Kim Jae-ui squeezed his eyes shut.
When Yoon Ye-jun came out after class, Ki Young-han was waiting. Dong-hoon, who had been standing next to him, also came out. They were supposed to meet people for a group project on the first floor. The three walked side by side. On the stairs, Ki Young-han and Yoon Ye-jun stood together, with Dong-hoon behind them. Dong-hoon patted Yoon Ye-jun’s shoulder. Ki Young-han turned around before Yoon Ye-jun did.
He immediately lashed out aggressively.
“Why are you hitting people on the stairs?”
“No, that’s just…”
Dong-hoon looked flustered. Yoon Ye-jun glanced at Ki Young-han, then turned his head towards Dong-hoon.
“Why?”
“Ye-jin wants you to come with her, she wants to see you on the weekend. About ten to fifteen people are coming.”
“No, I’m a bit…”
“Hey, we won’t keep you late. These kids have social lives, man. They’re not students like us.”
Yoon Ye-jun licked his lips in embarrassment. Ki Young-han stood there blankly, watching. His eyes, which had been on Dong-hoon, slowly shifted to Yoon Ye-jun. Yoon Ye-jun, feeling that gaze, felt a cold sweat break out on his back.
“If you live your life controlled by your girlfriend like that, you won’t become a great person. Just how amazing is she that she won’t let you meet classmates for drinks?”
No, that’s a bit… Yoon Ye-jun scratched the bridge of his nose. The person who was supposedly so amazing was standing right next to him, glaring at him and Dong-hoon. It looked like daggers were about to fly from his eyes. Yoon Ye-jun cautiously observed Ki Young-han. No words came out of his mouth.
“Or maybe you should bring your girlfriend too? Ah, that might be a bit much. You said she’s shy, right?”
“Uh, uh…”
She’s right next to me, though… Yoon Ye-jun replied with an awkward smile. It was fortunate that Dong-hoon was oblivious. Ki Young-han’s gaze immediately dropped. The look in his half-closed eyes was chilling.
“Anyway, I’ll tell Ye-jin you’re coming.”
“Hey, Kim Dong-hoon.”
Just as Yoon Ye-jun was about to speak, Dong-hoon took out his mobile phone from his pocket. He showed Yoon Ye-jun his palm with a gesture meaning ‘just a moment.’
“Uh, wait, uh, hello. Yes, I’m heading down now….”
I’m leaving.* Dong-hoon mouthed goodbye and hurried down the stairs before they could say anything. After he left, an awkward silence settled between the two. Ki Young-han glanced at Yoon Ye-jun. The twitching of his nose openly displayed his emotions.
“A classmate got a job.”
“So?”
“Let’s meet up sometime.”
“Really?”
Ki Young-han, pretending to be unfazed but responding coldly, bothered Yoon Ye-jun. Yoon Ye-jun turned his head back and forth, checking him from head to toe. He grabbed Ki Young-han’s shoulder and pulled him closer. Ki Young-han leaned forward slightly. Yoon Ye-jun silently pressed his lips to his cheek and then pulled away. Ki Young-han scratched his cheek furiously. He was doing it out of shyness.
“W-what… did you think I’d say something like, ‘Oh, have a good day’?”
“Didn’t you?”
“I did. ……Fuck.”
Ki Young-han spat out a curse, looking pathetic. “Still, come back before midnight.” He set a curfew that even his grandfather hadn’t imposed on him. Yoon Ye-jun finally burst out laughing. It was partly because it was so obvious, and partly because, as always, it was cute. He casually patted Ki Young-han’s butt.
“Let’s go grab something to eat. I’m starving.”
Kim Dong-hoon, Media and Information
Are you coming today?
5:42 PM
Me
We’re meeting at seven, right?
5:44 PM
Kim Dong-hoon, Media and Information
Right lol
5:44 PM
If you don’t come, it’s really… betrayal, you know?
5:45 PM
Me
lol
5:47 PM
I’ll be there.
5:48 PM
“Do you like it that much?”
Yoon Ye-jun turned his head at the heavy breath he felt, having been exchanging messages with Dong-hoon on Messenger. Ki Young-han, with his arm around his waist and his chin resting on his shoulder, was looking at the Mobile phone together, his face sullen. He had been fine just moments ago, but now he was grumbling. Yoon Ye-jun gently stroked his puffed-out cheeks and protruding lips. The lips that had been sticking out stubbornly twitched and then drew back in.
He really shows it, though.
Finally, when Yoon Ye-jun pressed his lips to his cheek and pulled away, Ki Young-han calmed down a bit. Yoon Ye-jun placed his hand over Ki Young-han’s on his lap. He stroked the veins on the back of his hand and his thick knuckles. Ki Young-han tightly gripped Yoon Ye-jun’s index finger.
Yoon Ye-jun let out a laugh at the desperate gesture. He looked at the tips of their clasped fingers. He had never thought his hands were small, but holding Ki Young-han’s, they felt remarkably tiny.
Yoon Ye-jun interlaced his fingers with Ki Young-han’s. Ki Young-han flinched, then tilted his head. He bit his lip slightly, looked at Yoon Ye-jun, and then lunged forward. Their lips met, brushing against each other several times as if imprinting themselves, then pulling away. He sucked only with his lips on Yoon Ye-jun’s waiting tongue.
Ki Young-han pulled Yoon Ye-jun into a tight embrace. After endlessly kissing his lips, he moved down his jaw, tracing his neck. As he gently nibbled his skin and pulled it with his lips, Yoon Ye-jun tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
When they were alone, the physical contact never stopped. They constantly held each other, kissed, and at the very least, held hands. It was still unfamiliar to have Ki Young-han, who seemed like he would dislike physical contact, acting this way, but Yoon Ye-jun simply liked it. He climbed onto Ki Young-han’s lap. He cupped Ki Young-han’s cheeks and kissed him loudly on the lips.
“Pull up your sweater.”
Yoon Ye-jun pulled up the knit sweater he was wearing. He didn’t take it off completely, just pulled it up to his chest. Ki Young-han immediately buried his lips in the small, pinkish areola. He rubbed his nose against his chest and greedily sucked.
His chewing and sucking were urgent. Yoon Ye-jun was busy holding his sweater and feeling the lips on his areola. He bit his lip hard and gasped, “Hhht.” Ki Young-han wrapped his arms around Yoon Ye-jun’s slender waist. He continuously stroked his lower back.
What’s so good about sucking breasts? Yoon Ye-jun pulled himself closer.
His legs curled up following the sensations Ki Young-han gave him. Their thighs touched. Ki Young-han gripped Yoon Ye-jun’s waist tighter. Yoon Ye-jun pushed against Ki Young-han’s shoulder. Ki Young-han, who had been resisting pulling away, finally leaned back against the sofa. Yoon Ye-jun looked down at his chest. His nipples and areolae were glistening and wet. The difference in size compared to the other side, from how much he had sucked, was stark, and he stared blankly at Ki Young-han.
“What?”
Ki Young-han, feeling guilty, grumbled back. Yoon Ye-jun looked at Ki Young-han for a moment, then spat saliva onto his index and middle fingers. Ki Young-han just watched him intently. Yoon Ye-jun touched his nipple, which Ki Young-han had been sucking. He rubbed it gently with his fingers.
“…What?”
“You like this, don’t you.”
Yoon Ye-jun said to him, rubbing his nipple with his finger. Ki Young-han, who had been hesitating, closed his mouth. Yoon Ye-jun rubbed his nipple and bent over. They resumed kissing. Ki Young-han’s hands fumbled, moving to touch Yoon Ye-jun’s buttocks.
Following his touch, Yoon Ye-jun swayed his body and moved down, kissing Ki Young-han’s clothed body. He sat down on the floor and took off his sweater completely. Looking up at Ki Young-han sitting on the sofa, his face, though he tried to hide it, was filled with anticipation.
He’ll get angry if I smile. Yoon Ye-jun slid his hand inside Ki Young-han’s pants.
“Ah…”
Ki Young-han let out a soft sigh. Yoon Ye-jun took out his heavy genitals, which were too large to hold in one hand. With a thud, his member was revealed as he pulled it out with his hand. Ki Young-han slowly spread his legs. Yoon Ye-jun placed his upper body on the sofa and gripped his thighs.
“…You have plans.”
Ki Young-han asked, regaining his last shred of reason. Yoon Ye-jun bit Ki Young-han’s glans. With a slurp, he sucked. Ki Young-han grabbed Yoon Ye-jun’s shoulder. Yoon Ye-jun licked the tip of Ki Young-han’s glans with his tongue, like licking a soft-serve ice cream. He ran his hand along the clean base of his genitals, free of any pubic hair, and his lower abdomen. He buried his face in his shaft, which he couldn’t hold in one hand, and sucked his shaft with loud smacks.
“There’s still time before you have to go. What do you want to do?”
He asked, deliberately teasing. And naturally, no answer came from Ki Young-han. Instead, he placed his hand on the back of Yoon Ye-jun’s head and pulled him closer to his crotch.
That’s how it is. It’s always like this.
Yoon Ye-jun swallowed his soju and recalled what had happened with Ki Young-han, wrestling back and forth, just an hour ago. He felt a pang of regret that he had only managed to finish himself off with masturbation because he had been busy sucking Ki Young-han’s lower body. Even when he said he needed to go wash up, Ki Young-han had pulled him onto his lap and deliberately rubbed his lower body against his butt.
I like you. He mumbled words that seemed unlikely to yield any benefit even if said during sex, endlessly touching his own nipples, pulling his lower abdomen, and sliding his hand under his crotch several times, until he ran out of energy.
After washing up and barely making it on time, his classmates who had arrived earlier were already at the bar. It was a bar he had frequented often when he was just over twenty. Although he had little interaction with seniors, he had seen his classmates quite often, so the atmosphere felt natural even after a long time.
“I studied so hard for the interviews, and even got private tutoring, but my hands were still trembling.”
The classmate who had gotten a job demonstrated the situation by trembling his hands. Yoon Ye-jun smiled faintly and picked at the side dishes. While reminiscing about the past, talking about work and school, he was reminded of an hour ago. He had kissed Ki Young-han, exchanged near-sex physical intimacy, and now he was acting as if nothing had happened.
“But are you still dating that guy?”
Dong-hoon asked. The classmate immediately scowled.
“Are you crazy? That bastard is a complete piece of trash.”
Nothing much had changed from when he was twenty to when he was twenty-six. In the end, it all comes back to relationships. Is it only around this time? It would be the same when he turned thirty, or forty. Yoon Ye-jun, watching his classmate clench his fists in anger, took out his Mobile phone. A message from Ki Young-han had arrived.
Grumpy
Don’t drink too much.
7:28 PM
Don’t forget I’m waiting for you at home. You have your duties as a student, don’t you? Why did you even go to college if you were just going to drink and party?
7:30 PM
Why is he suddenly angry…
Grumpy
You’re coming here after you finish, right? I miss you.
7:31 PM
Oh, really…
Grumpy
How much are you drinking that you’re not even replying to messages? —
7:42 PM
Although it was only ten minutes, Yoon Ye-jun, who always held his mobile phone and chattered endlessly with Ki Young-han when they were apart, seemed displeased by the lack of a quick reply. Yoon Ye-jun smiled silently at the thought of the childishly pouting and pleading Ki Young-han, then started typing.
Me
I’m not drinking much. I’ll leave early.
7:44 PM
“This guy has a girlfriend and is completely wrapped around her finger.”
Dong-hoon, sitting opposite him, pointed and said. Yoon Ye-jun, engrossed in his Mobile phone, belatedly noticed the gazes directed at him and moved his head.
“He was making a fuss about not coming today, and I barely convinced him to come.”
“Really? Ye-jun, do you have a girlfriend?”
Yoon Ye-jun gave an awkward smile. Actually, it was a boyfriend, not a girlfriend. It wasn’t the situation or the reason to say it. Yoon Ye-jun mumbled, “Just, well….” The gazes intensified.
“Do you have a picture?”
“He doesn’t like taking pictures.”
In fact, he had plenty of pictures. Just as Ki Young-han had pictures of him on his Mobile phone, he had an enormous number on his own. Pictures of Ki Young-han sleeping at a cafe after studying all night, his back as they walked on a night stroll, his awkward face looking at the camera, pictures of them together covered in hickeys he had left, and occasional selfies he had managed to get after begging and pleading.
“I’m curious. His standards must be really high. You’ve received many confessions, but haven’t dated anyone, right?”
“Let’s talk about something else. This is awkward.”
Yoon Ye-jun deliberately changed the subject. After a short laugh, the topic shifted. No matter how close they were, it was awkward. Moreover, except for him and a few other classmates still attending school, most of them were now working adults.
What should I do?
He was looking into it, but he still couldn’t decide on a profession. Other than obtaining important certifications and language scores. Instead of internships, he was doing part-time jobs, and besides the beer house he was currently working at, most of his work was tutoring. He hadn’t even worked at the convenience store he usually did this summer break.
This is the real problem. He had no particular job he wanted to do. He planned to submit applications and choose from them if he got accepted. Still, it was better to follow his major. Among his employed classmates, only about two or three were following their major.
“Still, it seems there’s a way to make a living, no matter what. All roads lead to Rome.”
“That’s true. How many people went into newspaper companies? In our first year, we always said that. What was it called. The pen…”
The pen is mightier than the sword. Yoon Ye-jun thought of the phrase but didn’t say it out loud. The embarrassment was greater. And even if he didn’t say it, many others would know it.
“The pen is mightier than the sword?”
Like this.
Dong-hoon chuckled and continued.
“Thinking about it now, it’s really childish. But you know the seniors made us say that. Whenever we had drinks, they’d say, ‘Shout out Media and Info!’ It was so embarrassing I could die.”
“Ah, right. But the current freshmen are doing that.”
Dong-hoon chimed in. It was the same during the retreat. Yoon Ye-jun nodded lightly in agreement. He felt so embarrassed he could die. A classmate listening to the story was aghast.
“Wow, that’s extreme.”
“Exactly.”
“No, not them, but you chasing after the freshmen.”
The banter continued. Yoon Ye-jun just laughed. It was quite fun meeting his classmates after a long time. Of course, he preferred being with Ki Young-han. Yoon Ye-jun took out his Mobile phone again. In the meantime, messages from Ki Young-han had piled up. He checked them one by one.
Grumpy
Can’t you come out for a quick call?
7:56 PM
Did you drown in a barrel of alcohol…
8:08 PM
Even if he’s your lover, calling him a drowned barrel of alcohol. Yoon Ye-jun looked at the messages with cold eyes. What he says…
Grumpy
Reply faster, okay?
8:12 PM
Who’s there?
8:15 PM
Me
Do you know them if I tell you their names?
8:20 PM
Grumpy
Why are you talking like that? You’re so rude.
8:22 PM
Who’s calling whom rude? Yoon Ye-jun drank some water. The unpleasant taste of soju lingered in his mouth. It was better than beer, but still not great. Was it because he was worried about Ki Young-han? The alcohol that used to go down easily when he drank with Ki Young-han, until he collapsed, tasted bitter today.
Yoon Ye-jun rinsed his mouth.
Me
Hey, Ki Young-han.
8:23 PM
The guy who had been replying promptly suddenly read the message and ignored it. Oh, really.
Me
Young-han. ^^
8:27 PM
He read this too and ignored it. What’s the problem?! Yoon Ye-jun grumbled to himself. Hey, cheers- He clinked glasses again. Cheers- The surface of the soju, filled to the brim in the glasses, rippled. Yoon Ye-jun drank the soju, which wouldn’t get him drunk even if he drank it. He bit into a damp cucumber, its freshness long gone.
“Dating is good, but shouldn’t you focus on your classmates you haven’t seen in a while?”
Dong-hoon, sitting opposite him, tapped the table. He had been complaining that his relationship with his girlfriend wasn’t going well lately, and now he had become the target of Yoon Ye-jun’s frustration. Yoon Ye-jun put his Mobile phone, which was no longer receiving replies, into his pocket.
I’ll just drink a little and go home. We’ve been together too much lately. Even though he hadn’t been out long, he already missed Young-han.
* * *
He must be angry.
Ki Young-han held his Mobile phone and hesitated. Hey, Ki Young-han. Even though a smiley emoticon followed the blunt message, he knew it was a sarcastic smile.
Should he pretend not to know? Or should he just ignore the message like he was doing now?
Ki Young-han bit his lip and let go. He licked his dry lips with his tongue. He scratched his chin and twitched his nose. Still, it was a drinking gathering, so maybe it would pass over smoothly.
“Hoo…”
Ki Young-han took a breath and carefully pressed the call button. ‘I didn’t see the message? Are you drinking a lot?’ His acting would be obvious a hundred times over, but he intended to get through it this way.
Dating Yoon Ye-jun was difficult. Difficult, but good. Like a student who deliberately chose to solve only advanced problems, or like reading original texts even when translated papers were available. Yoon Ye-jun was that kind of existence to him. Difficult, but he wanted to solve him, to read him, and even more, to get closer and closer.
Ring, ring, ring. Ki Young-han’s heart swelled with the monotonous mechanical sound. It was awkward that they were apart, as if they hadn’t seen each other for days, even though he had even gone to the bar to see him off. It was still unfamiliar. To feel more than just liking for someone, to engage in affectionate acts. I miss you, I like you, perhaps more. Abstract emotions still tormented him. But he didn’t feel bad about them.
Yes, Young-han.
Beyond the composed voice, he could hear the noisy music. And the boisterous voices. He must have forgotten, right? Because he didn’t say ‘Hey, Ki Young-han.’ Ki Young-han cleared his throat.
“…How did you answer the phone?”
I came out for a cigarette.
“Oh, really?”
I didn’t drown in a barrel of alcohol, so don’t worry.
“……”
Ki Young-han chose silence. He couldn’t have forgotten. He was the kind of person who remembered everything I said, even if it was late. As Ki Young-han remained silent, a monotonous laugh came from the other end of the phone. Ki Young-han lowered his head and pressed his forehead with his hand.
Were you upset because I didn’t reply quickly?
“No, well…”
It’s my classmates I haven’t seen in a while, I couldn’t just be on my Mobile phone in front of them.
Right? To the question seeking agreement, Ki Young-han replied, “Yes.” Yoon Ye-jun smoked a cigarette. The breath felt on the Mobile phone became faintly blurred. Ki Young-han rubbed his thigh vigorously.
“How long are you going to be there?”
It doesn’t seem like it’ll be very late. Just…
“Why are you beating around the bush? You’re thinking, aren’t you?”
Ah, no. I’m at the second round now. I said I’d leave early. I was planning to go in about thirty minutes…
“Is that so?”
Ki Young-han replied as if nothing was wrong. He brought the back of his hand to his mouth, lest he grin for no reason.
Clearing his throat, Ki Young-han lowered the hand that had covered his mouth.
“Then, should I come pick you up later?”
Huh?
Yoon Ye-jun’s voice jumped out, as if it was an unexpected question.
“You said you’d come out in thirty minutes. I was just planning to take a walk.”
Ah…
The shyness he had secretly harbored awakened, and his expression immediately soured.
“Why the hell is that reaction?”
As he fired off his words, Yoon Ye-jun hesitated for a moment before saying, “Alright.” It was a 20-minute walk to the street lined with bars. Ki Young-han looked at the hat sitting alone on the edge of the sofa. It was the hat he had worn earlier when he drove Yoon Ye-jun home.
“Then I’ll go and contact you. Tell your friends not to waste their time and to go home.”
He said that because he was 100 percent sure Yoon Ye-jun’s friends, whose names and faces he didn’t know, would try to keep him there. Yoon Ye-jun laughed out loud by himself, finding something amusing. He wanted to say “Hang up,” but the words wouldn’t come out easily. Perhaps it was because he found the laughter pleasant. Ki Young-han came to a short conclusion.
* * *
The lingering summer passed, and autumn arrived. The ambiguous period, where one could no longer accurately distinguish between summer and autumn, had also passed. People walking by wore thin jackets, coats, and cardigans. Yoon Ye-jun stroked his forearm. He was the only one wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt.
“It’s cold…”
Is it really this late at night? The temperature difference was far too great. The sun had been quite hot during the day. I should have asked Young-han to bring a cardigan when I came out. Yoon Ye-jun clicked his tongue, hiding his regret.
“He said we were almost there.”
Muttering to himself, he took out his Mobile phone. Perhaps because it was a weekend evening, he saw people of various ages rather than just students. Yoon Ye-jun scanned the quickly passing people with his eyes.
Just then, he saw a head pop out. Ki Young-han, who seemed to have one more head than an average person, spotted Yoon Ye-jun. Yoon Ye-jun raised the hand that had been stroking his forearm and waved it near his head. Ki Young-han quickly pushed past the people in front of him and appeared. He held takeout drinks in both hands.
“Here.”
“Wow, thanks.”
Yoon Ye-jun took the drink Ki Young-han handed him. He took a long sip of the drink topped with plenty of whipped cream. A peculiar taste, both refreshing and sweet, spread in his mouth.
“Why did you buy me mint chocolate?”
“I bought it because it reminded me of the old days.”
Ki Young-han said that and took a sip of the coffee in his hand. That’s right. There was a time like that. He had thrown up what was inside him onto Ki Young-han’s clothes, Ki Young-han had thrown a fit, and he had bought a drink, specifically mint chocolate, to beg Ki Young-han. The memory of Ki Young-han taking a sip, scowling with displeasure, remained as vivid as if it happened yesterday.
“Do you want some too?”
“……”
As Yoon Ye-jun raised his drink, Ki Young-han rolled his eyes. He didn’t say it, but he knew Yoon Ye-jun knew. Right, Young-han doesn’t like it. Yoon Ye-jun curved his eyes. He left the crowded street. They hadn’t gone even 100 meters from the bustling area, but there weren’t many people walking around. Yoon Ye-jun then carefully examined Ki Young-han.
Wearing a matching set of a training suit hoodie and pants, and a hat pulled down, Ki Young-han was dressed as usual. Because he was tall, had long legs, and a small face, anything he wore looked good on him.
Yoon Ye-jun felt a sense of pride and happiness anew. If there were no people, he would have linked arms or held his hand, but it was a shame. It wasn’t that there were no passersby, so he was cautious. So, he casually bumped Ki Young-han’s arm with his own. Ki Young-han looked down slightly. Their eyes met. Yoon Ye-jun smiled, not as if it were new. Ki Young-han’s eyebrows twitched. He gestured with his chin towards an alley between buildings.
“Let’s go in there, the alley.”
Before Yoon Ye-jun could speak, Ki Young-han moved on his own. Yoon Ye-jun followed him. As they entered the alley, Ki Young-han placed his drink down on the waist-high railing of the wall. Then, as soon as Yoon Ye-jun entered, he pulled his neck and kissed him.
“Mmph…!”
Yoon Ye-jun almost dropped his drink. He managed to grip it tightly and accepted Ki Young-han’s kiss. Holding both his cheeks with large hands, Ki Young-han kissed him, and kissed him again. As his head tilted, Yoon Ye-jun closed his eyes slightly. Is it okay to do this outside? He was reckless and immature, but he liked the lips touching his own too much.
Their lips were constantly pressed together. Their tongues brushed lightly. Ki Young-han’s mouth smelled of coffee. Yoon Ye-jun liked that and sucked at the saliva that came over. It was quite intense for a light kiss. Whenever they tried to pull away, they drew closer again. After sucking on each other’s lips several times, their lips finally parted. Ki Young-han let out a low breath.
“…It tastes like toothpaste.”
“Because you ate mint chocolate.”
“……”
Why was he kissing so intensely when he didn’t even like mint chocolate?
“Did you suddenly want to kiss me?”
Yoon Ye-jun asked Ki Young-han, as if coaxing him. Ki Young-han silently rubbed his lips against Yoon Ye-jun’s cheek. Yoon Ye-jun burrowed into Ki Young-han’s embrace. When he said he was cold, Ki Young-han held him even tighter.
“Can’t you not smile outside?”
“What is it now?”
“It’s so annoying…”
He was complaining about something trivial again. Yoon Ye-jun patted Ki Young-han’s butt. Ki Young-han took a step back. Yoon Ye-jun just watched him. Ki Young-han grabbed the hem of his hoodie and crossed his arms, taking off his clothes.
“Hey, Young-han…!”
Hadn’t he been the one drinking, not Ki Young-han? Yoon Ye-jun, startled, grabbed him. But Ki Young-han, unconcerned, continued to undress. Fortunately, he was wearing a t-shirt under his hoodie. Ki Young-han took the drink Yoon Ye-jun was holding and handed him the hoodie he had taken off.
“Wear this.”
“Huh?”
“…You said you were cold. You can’t even read the season, it’s not summer right now.”
Ki Young-han added gruffly, wearing only a short-sleeved shirt. Yoon Ye-jun took the hoodie. It felt wrong to wear someone else’s clothes after they’d taken them off. Yoon Ye-jun ended up giving the clothes back.
“You wear it.”
“I’m not hot.”
Ki Young-han replied without a moment’s hesitation, as if he had been waiting.
“You look cold.”
“I told you I’m fine. Let’s go home quickly.”
Ki Young-han insisted. Yoon Ye-jun, meeting his gaze, reluctantly put on the clothes. The clothes that fit Ki Young-han perfectly were much too big for him. Ki Young-han watched with a sullen expression.
Yoon Ye-jun took the drink back from Ki Young-han. He put the straw in his mouth and took a long sip. Ki Young-han bent his back slightly again, and kissed Yoon Ye-jun’s lips, which were bowed down, with a loud peck.
“Let’s go home. Quickly.”
Then, with a satisfied look on his face, he lifted his chin and lightly pulled up the corners of his mouth before turning away abruptly. Idiot. Yoon Ye-jun picked up the coffee Ki Young-han had left behind.
I’m really dating. Ki Young-han likes me, and I like Ki Young-han. We’re in a normal, clumsy relationship where we want the other to have the better things if there are any. Yoon Ye-jun’s face crumpled slightly. He wasn’t someone who frowned as often as Ki Young-han, so this expression felt unfamiliar. Yoon Ye-jun brushed his cheek with the back of his hand holding the drink.
It feels good. It feels so good that it’s unfamiliar. Does Ki Young-han feel the same?
“Young-han.”
Yoon Ye-jun quickened his pace. Hearing his voice, Ki Young-han turned around. Yoon Ye-jun approached Ki Young-han, who had a gruff expression but his gaze fixed solely on him, widening his strides. Sticking close to Ki Young-han, he whispered “I love you” into his ear. Ki Young-han frowned deeply, then finally burst into laughter.