By Zephyria I somewhat agree that Kim Ju-won has a quick-tempered and hot-blooded side. However, he wasn’t an uncouth child every time.
Therefore, looking at his agitated appearance now… it was safe to say that this was proving that something was definitely wrong.
“Ju-won, it’s a misunderstanding. Teacher is asking because he’s worried about you.”
Kim Yeong calmly soothed him.
“That’s unusual. Teacher is worried about me.”
Kim Ju-won smirked with an attitude of being grateful.
It was a clear sarcasm. But Kim Yeong didn’t scold him. Raising his voice together would only be conveyed as wanting to fight. Kim Yeong didn’t call Kim Ju-won to scold him. It was for a conversation. So it was important to maintain the right attitude.
Above all, Kim Yeong knew his student.
This child will one day regret and reflect on his current attitude.
So, he had to show a generous side so that the child could bravely apologize at that time. So that he could come to him anytime without being afraid.
“…Ju-won, was there anything I said that made you misunderstand?”
Kim Yeong soothed Kim Ju-won with a generous gesture. He gently reached out and grasped his hand, conveying a gentle kindness, “I’m sorry. Tell me.”
“I really called you because I was worried. I heard you’ve been coming home late these days. Where have you been going after finishing your requests? You don’t even answer my calls…….”
The force that gently pulled the grasped hand.
Kim Ju-won’s rough hand seemed to be pulled as it was, but stopped abruptly at a certain point. As if there was a line that only he could see.
“……”
A slightly lowered head, a slanted gaze, tightly bitten lips. Then he let out a bitter laugh as if sighing. Teacher, a low voice called Kim Yeong.
“It’s okay.”
Kim Ju-won coldly withdrew his hand. Kim Yeong’s hand, left alone on the round table, twitched. What exactly was okay? He wanted to ask, but he couldn’t because Kim Ju-won was getting up from his seat.
“I’ll go. I’m busy these days. If you’re really worried, go see Ki Jae-eon.”
Kim Ju-won picked up the heavy bag that had been carelessly thrown on the floor. It was an act that meant a clear severance, with no intention of continuing the conversation any further.
Only Kim Yeong, left alone, felt heavy-hearted.
‘Our Ju-won is suffering.’
And with something related to Jae-eon.
He looked at the door Kim Ju-won had left through and seriously pondered what he was missing. But even after sitting and pondering until his butt hurt, the answer didn’t come out. It was strange. He had always lived thinking that he wasn’t insensitive to the children, so why didn’t he know while his student was collapsing so close to resignation?
“I’m a disqualified teacher.”
Kim Yeong wiped his stiff eyes and let out a stuffy breath.
Now, the remaining person is…….
*
“Hyung.”
“Uh, uh-huh.”
Is there something going on with Kim Ju-won Hyung? Asking that, his eyes are so sunken that I can tell without him saying anything.
Ahn Seo-myeong slipped the phone he was holding into his pants pocket.
Inside was a message from Teacher Kim Yeong a few days ago. The content was summarized as spying on Ki Jae-eon… no, not spying. Just comforting him.
Even if he didn’t ask, comforting Ki Jae-eon was already planned.
I was going to carefully approach him so he wouldn’t be scared, give him a warm drink, wrap my arms around his hunched shoulders, and whisper only good things.
However, that’s not now.
‘It’s too early yet.’
Ahn Seo-myeong rolled his eyes.
Why is he being so passive when the person he likes is depressed? The answer was simple. Because he wasn’t sure whether it was a wound to burst or a wound to soothe.
‘If it’s festering, you can burst it.’
If not, it would only make things worse.
A third party could interfere in a problem that the two of them could solve on their own and create unnecessary trouble. In fact, that’s the case 99 times out of 100. I’ve never seen anyone get a good outcome by interfering in someone else’s fight, no matter what the intention. I’ve often seen fights that could have been resolved naturally escalate into a catastrophe due to a third party. That’s how careful you had to be because mediation and meddling were only a hair’s breadth apart.
Honestly, it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t angry at Kim Ju-won for making Ki Jae-eon feel self-conscious. If I had lost my reason and only acted on my emotions, I might have already taken off my rank insignia and started an uprising, saying let’s have a fight. Of course, there’s a high probability that I would get beaten up.
Well, anyway, putting aside the fact that I hate Kim Ju-won right now… in any case, my trust in him was also built up meticulously over several years of relationship, so Ahn Seo-myeong tried to focus on the ‘reason’ for the fight rather than the ‘opponent’ he fought with.
Who started the fight first.
Since when had their feelings been hurt.
Where did the fight start.
What stimulated the two of them.
How did the story unfold.
Why was it each other of all people.
There were many things to consider.
Of course, this was also a luxury that Ahn Seo-myeong could afford because Ki Jae-eon was maintaining good relationships with other friends.
If he was a loner like before, Ahn Seo-myeong would have sided with Ki Jae-eon without any hesitation. That’s how it should be fair.
Therefore, now that Ki Jae-eon was on an equal footing with Kim Ju-won, it was time for an objective and cool-headed judgment. To be honest, I really wanted to take his side without thinking, but I decided to hold back, recalling my grandmother’s words that sometimes one-sided favoritism can be a deadly poison to a loved one. Because biased affection that is simply expressed because you don’t want that person to be in pain makes you lose direction in life.
The love that Ahn Seo-myeong learned from his grandmother was almost like that. For example, the teaching that love must be based on an unshakable foundation. That way, when that person is shaken by the harsh storms of the world, my solid love can support him.
Also, that was one of the processes of growing into a ‘proper adult,’ his grandmother said.
Ahn Seo-myeong agreed and wanted to become such an adult.
‘…Well, it could all be an excuse.’
In fact, it’s just greed that comes from an immature heart that can’t give up either love or friendship. And it might be an act of plausibly spouting words I’ve heard to hide that childishness.
“Just because.”
Ahn Seo-myeong leaned his head on Ki Jae-eon’s shoulder and let out a bland sigh, “Hmm.”
Even if I came suddenly and said something out of the blue, Ki Jae-eon listened quietly.
“It’s quite difficult.”
Ahn Seo-myeong trailed off and leaned a little more on Ki Jae-eon. Then I smelled Ki Jae-eon’s unique scent. How should I express it? The smell of rain falling coolly on a summer night? …Um, yeah, that would be the most appropriate.
A gloomy and greenish scent.
‘I like it so much.’
I want to kiss your scent, Hyung.
That’s when I was nuzzling my cheek against him.
“It’s, it’s okay.”
I wasn’t really expecting an answer when I said that.
“I’ll be an adult soon… Ah, I’ll grow, I’ll grow up.”
An unexpected reply came back.
Slightly surprised, I looked up to see Ki Jae-eon with a faint smile.
“You’re… in your, your growth spurt, right?”
In that instant, the voice from that day overlapped.
-‘I’ll grow up soon. I’m in my growth spurt.’
Ahn Seo-myeong wore a dumbfounded expression, as if he’d been hit. His slightly parted lips moved silently. Ki Jae-eon, watching him, curved his eyes with goodwill. It was as if he was saying, ‘Don’t be afraid of the time it takes to step out into the world.’
Truly, a face one can’t take their eyes off of.
Ah… what a truly lovely encouragement!
His dark eyes sparkled with clear delight.
It seemed vaguely similar to the gazes of the fanatics towards Ki Jae-eon, but it was definitely different.
If theirs was awe, Ahn Seo-myeong’s was affection.
“Hyung too.”
“……?”
“I hope the growing pains Hyung has to go through don’t hurt too much.”
He’s already grown as much as he can, but Ahn Seo-myeong playfully added the afterthought.
I thought that peaceful time would continue. At least until Kim Ju-won returned to the dorm.