By Zephyria 
Тhе dark clouds thаt hаd gatherеd for daуs finаllу fоund а tаrget for thеir rаgе and pоured down a rаin showеr. At first, Wоo-уeоn fеlt аnger, then hе weрt in sorrow, and finаlly, he felt а sense of injustiсe аt thе thought that he had beеn deceivеd. Оnlу аftеr the rain, whiсh had роured all night, sоаked his pillow cоmplеtеly did he rеgаin thе аbilitу to think rаtiоnallу.
Woo-yeon was uрset by thе fact thаt Do-hyun had nоt beеn honest. Whilе hе fully understоod Do-hуun’s pоsitiоn, a lingеring rеsentmеnt rеmainеd, mаking it imрossible fоr him tо forgivе. Еvеn if а wound is treated, the aftereffects remain; he intended to wait until time resolved everything.
However, thinking coldly, he wasn’t the only one who should feel wronged. The person who had been pushed to the edge of a cliff without any opportunity, and who was ultimately robbed of the chance to confess with his own mouth. Wasn’t Do-hyun, who had been used by Soo-hyang, the person who should resent her more than anyone?
Despite that, rather than expressing anger, Do-hyun had come to Woo-yeon to seek forgiveness. He apologized for his mistakes, tried to make him understand, and clung desperately, saying he wanted to start over. Unlike Woo-yeon, who had done nothing but feel sorrow, Do-hyun had actually made an effort to escape this situation.
‘The important thing is not to collapse under the situation you’re in.’
These were words Do-hyun had told Woo-yeon back in middle school. To a young Woo-yeon who tried to find reasons for his bullying and justify it, Do-hyun had whispered this time and again. That it wasn’t his fault, so he shouldn’t give up. That the moment one settles for the status quo, escaping becomes several times harder.
‘If it gets too hard, then Teacher will help you.’
“Hic…”
If asked why he was so sorrowful, he had no answer. If questioned whether he was entirely without fault, he couldn’t affirm that either. He simply felt an endless sense of injustice and regret that both the beginning and the end had been dictated by someone else’s intentions.
* * *
As soon as day broke, Woo-yeon headed to school, passing through the crowds of reporters again today to reach his classroom. Seon-kyu was surprised to see Woo-yeon’s swollen face, but he waited until after class to cautiously speak to him.
“You’re going to the club room, right?”
In truth, Woo-yeon had originally planned to quit the club. He didn’t feel confident facing Do-hyun, and he assumed Soo-hyang would interfere with his school life. But by this point, he felt that neither of those things mattered anymore.
“I guess there’s no need to quit…”
“Quit what? Don’t tell me the club?”
Seon-kyu’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t stop casting suspicious glances at Woo-yeon. On the way to the club room, he even launched into a long speech about why one shouldn’t quit a club mid-semester. Even while Woo-yeon’s mood was hitting rock bottom, every word Seon-kyu spoke was remarkably kind.
“Hey, guys. The tteokbokki place has a new menu item. We’re having this today.”
Do-hyun wasn’t in the club room. Only Ga-ram, whose attendance in lectures was highly questionable, was excitedly picking the lunch menu. After giving two options—Jajang and Carbonara—Ga-ram took an interest in the item Woo-yeon was holding.
“Huh? What’s that?”
“Oh, this.”
Her gaze landed on the shopping bag Woo-yeon had been carrying all day. He had packed it in a hurry this morning, and the logo of a department store brand was printed on the outside. It was a brand anyone would recognize by name, but the contents had nothing to do with the packaging.
“I borrowed it, so I brought it to return it. I didn’t have anything suitable, so I put it in here.”
“Oh, I see. I thought you bought something.”
Ga-ram stopped asking and lost interest. After successfully ordering the tteokbokki, she showed him a captured photo on her phone, saying, ‘Wallets from that brand are so pretty.’ It was a brand that even Soo-hyang, who was very meticulous about choosing wallets, often carried.
“But it’s too expensive to buy. If I buy this, I’ll have to starve for a month.”
“Is it that expensive? Hyung Do-hyun uses a wallet from there too.”
“Right, come to think of it, his family is secretly well-off.”
These were careless words spoken in front of someone who was actually wealthy. Or rather, perhaps it was more comfortable because they weren’t conscious of Woo-yeon. The funny thing was that they actually walked on eggshells after mentioning Do-hyun’s name.
Woo-yeon watched the clock while listening to them chatter. The short hand was already nearing 1. Normally, Do-hyun would have arrived long ago, but he was late today.
How long had he waited? Just as Ga-ram and Seon-kyu’s conversation shifted to ‘Why do department stores close on Mondays,’ the club room door clicked open. The person who entered was the very man Woo-yeon had been thinking about: Do-hyun.
“You’re here? You’re late for once today.”
“Since it’s the end of the semester…”
Suddenly, Woo-yeon stood up from his seat. Simultaneously, Do-hyun’s gaze met Woo-yeon’s. He widened his eyes in surprise upon seeing Woo-yeon’s face.
“Your face is…”
Before he could ask anything, Woo-yeon grabbed the shopping bag and walked quickly toward Do-hyun. Then, without warning, he grabbed Do-hyun’s forearm.
“Teacher, please come talk with me.”
Unable to shake him off, Do-hyun was dragged out of the club room. Just before the door closed, Ga-ram’s puzzled voice could be heard from inside.
“…Teacher?”
* * *
They headed toward the vending machines outside the building. They hadn’t set a specific destination; they had simply chosen a place with a bench. Do-hyun had been silently dragged along until Woo-yeon stopped walking, at which point he cautiously spoke.
“Woo-yeon, if you come outside like this…”
Woo-yeon could feel him scanning the surroundings. From the wrist Woo-yeon was holding, he could feel a thumping, thumping heartbeat. Woo-yeon took a small breath and held out the shopping bag to Do-hyun.
“First, this…”
“…Huh?”
Do-hyun looked inside the shopping bag with a bewildered expression. When Woo-yeon let go of his wrist, Do-hyun fell silent with a hint of regret. The contents of the bag were the shirt of his that Woo-yeon had worn a few days ago.
“Didn’t I say I’d give it back through Reporter Yoon?”
As he asked, Do-hyun looked strangely nervous. He narrowed his double-lidded eyes slightly and glanced at Woo-yeon’s reaction. Sensing an unusual atmosphere, his gaze lost its direction and dropped downward.
“…Did you bring me out here just to give this back?”
Woo-yeon’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Despite having organized his thoughts all night, his lips froze now that Do-hyun was before him. Just like that time long ago when he had confessed to his teacher.
“No… I have something to say.”
The words Woo-yeon needed to say were decided. I’m sorry, or I misunderstood. If not that, then at least an excuse for having rejected him.
“What is it?”
But sometimes, admitting a mistake is harder than forgiving someone. Feeling ashamed and embarrassed, Woo-yeon lowered his head, unable to say a word.
“It’s just…”
“…”
I heard from my mom. I was short-sighted. Among the countless words floating in his mind, none came out easily. Even after clenching his fists and taking a few deep breaths, it was the same.
“…I,”
Woo-yeon steeled his heart and snapped his head up. Feeling that this wouldn’t work, he intended to set the dinner appointment he had postponed last time.
But before Woo-yeon could say anything, Do-hyun suddenly stepped closer.
“…”
A click sound was heard. Simultaneously, a large hand wrapped around the back of his head, and the t-shirt Do-hyun was wearing came close to his face. The moment he collapsed awkwardly into his embrace, Do-hyun’s characteristic pheromones wafted over him.
“…Certainly.”
Do-hyun began to speak slowly as he embraced Woo-yeon. It didn’t feel erotic; it was closer to an act of protection. His gentle voice was beyond soft.
“Your parents’ house must have been safer than being with me.”
His tone was slightly resigned. Woo-yeon felt his heart drop and gasped. His chest felt tight, as if he had swallowed a whole piece of ice.
“Someone took a photo.”
“…”
“I saw their face, so if it bothers you, I’ll tell them to delete it.”
Even in a situation like this, Do-hyun was kind. Mature, gentle, and the first to care for Woo-yeon’s well-being. Four years ago, and even now. He was the kind of person Woo-yeon couldn’t help but love.
“Sorry, you must have been surprised since I pulled you suddenly.”
Feeling as though he might cry, Woo-yeon wrapped his arms around Do-hyun’s waist. As he buried his face in the crook of Do-hyun’s neck, Do-hyun flinched and stopped moving. The fluttering pheromones grew even denser.
“I’m sorry.”
The surrounding air felt strange, as if time had stopped. It didn’t matter that they were outside, nor did it matter that Do-hyun was flustered. Exhaling a trembling breath, Woo-yeon whispered like a breeze.
“I’m sorry, Teacher.”
“…”
Do-hyun’s fingertips trembled. The hand wrapping around the back of his head softly ruffled his hair. A small answer came from above his head.
“Why are you apologizing?”
Woo-yeon bit his lip while hugging Do-hyun tightly. It had only been a few days. He had missed this warmth, which he was feeling for the first time in a long while, so much. So much that it was unbelievable he had ever tried to give up on this relationship.
“…I thought my mom ordered everything.”
He spoke haltingly. His mind was a blank, but he just babbled whatever came to mind.
“That we were dating, that I was staying at your house… I thought she was monitoring and reporting everything.”
“…”
Do-hyun silently stroked the back of Woo-yeon’s head. Then, he suddenly leaned down and rubbed his cheek against Woo-yeon’s hair.
“…The fact that I deceived you doesn’t change.”
His self-deprecating voice was pitiful. Even though Woo-yeon had embraced him first, there was a hesitation in the way Do-hyun held him.
“Even if you had known, you probably wouldn’t have been able to forgive me.”
Woo-yeon couldn’t deny it. Even if Do-hyun had explained beforehand, he couldn’t guarantee he would feel the same way as he did now.
“Sometimes there are problems that can’t be solved without spending time.”
“…”
“Or, as is the case now, they get solved when someone more hateful than me appears.”
As Do-hyun continued to speak, Woo-yeon’s anxious heart gradually calmed. Because everything he said was the right answer, it became a comfort. Do-hyun waited for Woo-yeon’s pheromones to settle before speaking quietly.
“Can you completely forgive me now?”
Woo-yeon nodded cautiously. It was a slight movement, but Do-hyun let out a laugh as if he understood everything. However, the following question was timid and lacked confidence.
“Then, can you love me like you did before?”
“…”
He didn’t know why he was speechless. Because Do-hyun’s words focused on ‘like before’ rather than ‘love,’ an answer didn’t come immediately.
As if expecting this reaction, Do-hyun whispered to himself.
“I made you wait too long.”
The years he had loved him alone were four. From the time he knew nothing, Woo-yeon had clung only to Do-hyun. While Do-hyun had avoided him out of fear, Woo-yeon had poured out a desperately one-sided heart.
“I’m sorry for making you apologize.”
Saying this, Do-hyun pulled Woo-yeon away from his embrace. Meeting his eyes steadily, he gently stroked Woo-yeon’s reddened eyelids.
“I’m good at waiting.”
“…”
“So, I’ll wait as long as you waited.”
I love you, Woo-yeon.
The confession was so sweet it made his throat ache. Woo-yeon couldn’t answer, but Do-hyun curved his eyes as if that were enough. He felt his empty heart filling up with a soft splash.