By Zephyria 
The walk continued for quite some time afterward. As always, the conversation was endless, and Yeon-jun, though he seemed troubled, eventually showed his usual gentle and slightly cute side. Noticing a few couples passing by, he suddenly said he wanted to hold hands, but Eun-ha replied that there were too many people. It was an evening and night that seemed like it would continue peacefully.
As if poorly adjusted focus was sharpening, a person walking in the opposite direction came into view. The extremely familiar appearance made Eun-ha think, “Huh?” to himself. The person, with a companion beside him, was not looking at Eun-ha. Only Eun-ha, who had spotted him alone, gradually slowed his pace.
At first, Eun-ha thought it was someone who looked alike, but as the distance narrowed, the uncertain doubt turned into conviction. Should he just pass by? It was a fleeting moment of bewildered contemplation in the face of an unexpected encounter. The other person casually turned his head and looked at Eun-ha.
Likewise, he gradually slowed his steps, and finally, they stopped abruptly at a fairly close distance, staring at each other as if they were the only two left in the world.
“Hyung?” A questioning voice brushed past Eun-ha’s ear, and the face of the person he met eyes with flushed as if in disbelief.
“Lee Eun-ha…?”
It was that kid. The boy who had fought a bloody battle with his twin brother over Eun-ha. The boy Eun-ha had made cry for the first time in his life.
There couldn’t have been a more incredible coincidence.
The car ride home was extremely quiet. Amid the conscious silence, Eun-ha focused calmly on driving, feeling as uncomfortable as if he were sitting on thorns. As he did so, the earlier situation replayed vividly in his mind.
‘Wow… how long has it been? I thought I was dreaming.’
‘I know. How did we meet like this?’
Eun-ha shared a pleasant reunion with an old acquaintance he hadn’t seen in a long time. He was surprised and amazed, and at the same time, he couldn’t hide his joy. Before being someone who made him uncomfortable with romantic feelings, he was a friend. They had spent over a year together, and there were many good memories. Memories resurfaced, and honestly, he was glad to see him. He asked about his recent activities and well-being, and on the spur of the moment, they exchanged contact information. It was a formal exchange prompted by the pleasant surprise, and he didn’t think they would actually contact each other, but still.
While exchanging greetings and light conversation in a somewhat excited state, Eun-ha’s eyes were drawn to the other person’s features. A gentle impression and eyes that made the other person feel comfortable. Unhurried speech. A familiar voice. Everything was the same. He was this kind of guy. He hasn’t changed. It was amazing, and memories resurfaced, making him excited. His lips turned up into a smile. He said that he had been thinking about him a few days ago and that it was really amazing to meet like this, and the other person playfully chuckled, asking how Eun-ha could have been thinking about him.
They parted after having such a friendly time. It didn’t take long, since they each had companions.
And when he turned around, Eun-ha belatedly felt a pang and a stab in his heart. It was because Yeon-jun’s eyes were sunken darkly like the bottom of a river. A face that couldn’t manage his expression at all.
He didn’t open his mouth easily, but said briefly, “Shall we go?” At the low voice, Eun-ha silently started walking. He thought Yeon-jun would say something, but he remained quiet throughout. He didn’t bother to ask who it was. It felt like he had roughly guessed who it was, which made Eun-ha feel even more uncomfortable.
No words were exchanged as they headed to the car, and Yeon-jun, as Eun-ha confirmed with a sidelong glance, still looked very unhappy. So, a face that looked troubled and pained.
In other words, it seemed not that he was trying to make Eun-ha feel awkward by showing that he was upset, but the opposite. He was annoyed that his upset feelings were showing and he couldn’t do anything about it.
It was similar, yet completely different. If it were the former, it would have been directed at Eun-ha, but the latter was directed at himself.
“I’m sorry, Hyung.”
Yeon-jun suddenly said. Eun-ha glanced at the passenger seat and then looked ahead again.
“For ruining the mood.”
“……”
“I know in my head that it’s not my turn to be like this. But I feel, too…”
The end of his sentence was blurred. In short, he meant that he was sorry because he couldn’t act as he usually did.
“What do you have to be sorry for?”
Eun-ha said casually. As usual.
“Say what you want to say.”
“What am I to you?”
“Then don’t say it.”
“…Are you going to contact him?”
Eun-ha held back a laugh at the question, which he asked without missing the opportunity despite his hesitation. So that’s what he wanted to ask. But he doesn’t have the right to interfere with that.
“I won’t.”
“Is that the person who was a twin?”
“Yeah… how did you know?”
“Hyung told him that you had been thinking about him a few days ago…”
“Ah.”
“The way Hyung looked at him was so warm that I felt a little… bad.”
“Yeah… it looked like it.”
He didn’t know that the reason was not because of something else, but because of the way that kid was looking at him.
“Thinking that the person had been looking at Hyung like that for the entire year that he liked you.”
“……”
“And thinking that Hyung would have been used to that…”
“……”
“Who do you like more, him or me?”
“What?”
Eun-ha asked back in bewilderment. For some reason, Yeon-jun didn’t blush and continued to speak directly.
“Liking someone doesn’t necessarily have to have a sexual meaning.”
He must be very anxious. He seemed to want to gain certainty, even if it was something small.
Eun-ha chose his words. He didn’t want to express who he ‘liked’ more.
“He’s a past relationship.”
“So?”
“You’ve been sticking with me lately.”
“That’s right.”
“…I like you more. Okay?”
“More than that.”
“……”
Eun-ha, letting out a hollow laugh, finally surrendered.
“Okay. I like you more. In a human way.”
“……”
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yes…”
At the sound of his voice, which seemed to have cheered up a little, Eun-ha let out a faint sigh as if he had resigned himself to the situation. Is doing this meaningful? Isn’t it just giving him useless expectations? He was skeptical, but when he saw how quickly Yeon-jun melted away when he responded a little as he wanted, he couldn’t help but wonder what to do.
And unfortunately for both of them, Eun-ha’s encounter didn’t end there.
They had arrived at the ground parking lot of the Officetel, and were getting out of the car after parking in an available space. A figure standing in the secluded smoking area leaned towards them as if to confirm, and then began to stride towards them. Eun-ha, who had initially been expressionless due to being obscured by the darkness, suddenly widened his eyes slightly and showed a sign of recognition.
“Lee Eun-ha!”
Eun-ha, who had been briefly pleased to see a face he hadn’t seen in a long time, had to stiffen as he became aware of Yeon-jun.
…Seriously, what kind of bad luck is this today?