By Zephyria 
It was while I was out on the balcony after tidying up that I discovered the text from Gu Hae-bin. Leaning his elbows on the railing, Eun-ha paused while checking his phone, a cigarette held between his lips. Amidst the messages from friends that had snowballed in the meantime, there was a single sentence that reminded him of a problem he had forgotten.
Did you fight with your mom?
Ah. Recalling the conflict that had flared up just before his trip, he lightly bit his lower lip and let go.
Anyway, how does he even know that…
It seemed he had contacted her again. It was always strange and amusing that Gu Hae-bin exchanged greetings with his mother more often than he, the actual child, did. Especially since the reason they didn’t forget to keep in touch was because of Eun-ha himself.
“What are you doing?”
A presence approached from behind. Soon, Yeon-jun appeared beside him, leaning in slightly and resting his arms on the railing as well, as if asking what he was looking at. Eun-ha stared blankly at Yeon-jun, who boldly peeked at his phone and asked, “Did you fight with your mother?” while reaching out. Following the hand that naturally snatched the cigarette from between his lips, Eun-ha gave a half-hearted nod.
“She told me to move out. Said she’s selling the house.”
“This place?”
“No. The house I used to live in.”
“Ah.”
Yeon-jun, who snapped the perfectly good cigarette and tossed it into the ashtray, whipped around to look at Eun-ha. His eyes widened slightly. Eun-ha let out a deep sigh, staring straight ahead. Just thinking about it already felt overwhelming and exhausting.
And, he was also a little scared.
“…So I think I need to go and clear out the house.”
“Okay.”
“I think it’ll take a few days.”
“Okay.”
It was just as his mood was plummeting rapidly. Eun-ha, who had instinctively looked beside him at the prompt, steady responses, wore a bewildered expression, forgetting that he had been gloomy just a moment ago. The eyes meeting his were sparkling as if an animation effect had been added.
What’s with this wide-eyed look…
Come to think of it, he had mentioned that house before. Even back then, Yeon-jun’s reaction had been one of great curiosity. Recalling that moment from the past, Eun-ha asked in passing.
“Are you still curious?”
“A little.”
“Then do you want to come along?”
“Really?”
The sudden voice brought a hollow laugh. It was the reaction of someone who was far more than just “a little” curious.
Letting out a short chuckle, Eun-ha nodded. To think he was so eager to visit the house where he had lived with his ex-boyfriend. He thought to himself that the boy had quite a peculiar taste.
Naturally, the pupils meeting his were dyed with excitement.
“I’d love to, Hyung.”
“…….”
“Let’s go together.”
* * *
Eun-ha’s house was located in a neighborhood that required a twenty-minute drive from the officetel. It was a luxury apartment complex that his mother had provided as a grand gesture. He had lived there for over four years, and for about two of those years, he had cohabited with Kim Ji-woon. Even before they moved in together, Kim Ji-woon had come and gone as if it were his own home, staying for a day or two; in particular, while Eun-ha was in the military, Kim Ji-woon had practically lived there instead, so roughly four years of his life were melted into that place.
Unable to bring himself to touch that space, which felt like a grave of memories, he had spent several years living a sort of escapist life in the officetel. Thus, as he headed there now with the resolve to clear it out, it was normal for his heart to be troubled. It was normal for his depression to reach its peak. However, unexpectedly, he felt fine. In fact, his heart felt light. It was probably because the boy sitting next to him, excited like a kindergartner, gave him absolutely no room to be depressed.
“Are you that happy?”
The light was red. Resting his wrist on the steering wheel, Eun-ha glanced at the passenger seat and laughed softly. Despite showing his happiness with his entire body, the boy’s eyes had returned to a prim look.
“Don’t talk to me in that tone.”
“What did I do?”
“Like you’re asking a child….”
“That’s exactly what you are.”
“Ah. Hyung—!”
When Eun-ha answered firmly as if there were no doubt, the boy immediately grumbled. Eun-ha smirked with the attitude of someone who enjoyed mischievously teasing others. He had lived his entire life without any connection to acts like mocking others, yet he didn’t know why playing pranks on this boy was so much fun. It felt like discovering a taste he had never known his whole life.
After chatting casually and glancing out the window from time to time, they arrived in no time. After parking in the underground garage, Eun-ha headed familiarly toward the elevators. Having reached the front door without much thought, he paused while pressing the door lock. He suddenly remembered what he had set the password to.
After a moment’s hesitation, he turned his back to Yeon-jun with a nonchalant expression. After blocking the view of the password, he typed in Kim Ji-woon’s birth date. If Gu Hae-bin had known, he would have probably gone crazy and let out all sorts of profanities.
However, it wasn’t that he had kept it because of some grand meaning. It was simply because it was too familiar.
Changing it was a hassle, and adapting to a new one seemed even more of a hassle. In the first place, he didn’t even consciously perceive this number as Kim Ji-woon’s birthday. It was merely four digits that were convenient and familiar to him.
But now, it bothered him a little. Given that the person who came with him held the title of ‘lover.’
Right. I actually brought him here. With a fresh realization, his mind became slightly cluttered. Clearing his thoughts, Eun-ha opened the door and stepped into the entryway. Following familiarly behind Eun-ha, Yeon-jun reached the center of the living room and looked around. “How long has it been since you’ve been here?”
“About… a little over half a year?”
The last time he had come was at the end of last year. He had stopped by briefly to tidy up a few things here and there, grabbed a few necessities, and bolted out the door again. It was always like that whenever he came. Just a quick peek, then leaving as if escaping.
“Even so, it’s very clean. It doesn’t even feel like it’s been empty.”
“I use a separate cleaning service. About once every two weeks.”
Yeon-jun nodded, saying so. Eun-ha gestured for him to sit on the sofa for a moment and then placed both hands on his hips. He blankly shifted his gaze from place to place, like someone facing an unfamiliar location.
It was a 40-pyeong house with four rooms. One was used as a bedroom, one as a study, one as a dressing room, and one as a storage room. Since he was in a position where he had to make a promise to his mother to show her he could do it, he had come, but he couldn’t quite get a sense of where to start.
After spacing out for a while like someone whose brain was lagging, Eun-ha suddenly focused his eyes, like someone who had made a decision.
Eventually, when Eun-ha turned his head to call Yeon-jun, he found the sofa empty and looked around. He immediately found the back of the person standing in the small gap between the facing doors. The spot where a small chest of drawers had been placed.
What was over there… As Eun-ha approached, trying to gauge it, he remembered. The moment he recalled it, his expression hardened and he stopped in his tracks. With perfect timing, Yeon-jun looked back, holding out something small in his hand.
“Hyung… this is yours, right?”
His eyes were shimmering, as if he were slightly moved.