By Zephyria “It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen Jae-eon oppa.”
Jo Eun-ha put down her spoon and said in a listless tone. The other children nodded as if agreeing with her statement.
“He doesn’t even look at the group chat.”
Lee Gyeong-hak polished his glasses until they squeaked.
The air in the room hung heavy.
“I feel like my seat is particularly conspicuous.”
Contrary to the children, whose specialty was cheerfulness, a gloomy atmosphere continued.
“Honestly, the situation around us hasn’t been very good lately. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m a little self-conscious.”
“Me too. I feel sorry for eating.”
“They take such good care of us with three meals a day that it’s even more burdensome. They must be having a hard time right now.”
“I was looking forward to the Shinollim Festival, but I couldn’t go.”
“Hey, it’s right not to go. The atmosphere is like this.”
“Yeah, it feels like we’re the only ones comfortable.”
“It can’t be helped. I heard the big brother over there got hurt? It’s a family matter…….”
“It’s only natural that Jae-eon hyung can’t pay attention to us.”
“But the main office will gradually be restored. Are we going back on our own like this?”
“Anyway, let’s not cause any trouble! Jae-eon oppa must be having a hard time right now.”
“Still, it’s a little disappointing that we can’t contact him at all. I want to comfort him.”
“We don’t know the situation at all, so staying still might be helping.”
The children’s murmuring gradually grew louder.
Bang-!
The children were startled and straightened their shoulders at the sound of the table being slammed hard.
It was Kim Ju-won, the squad leader.
Harsh nagging struck directly through the heavy air. The children pouted, but chose to just shut their mouths and eat at his stern gaze.
It was during that time.
One of the children sitting in front of Ahn Seo-myeong pretended to drink water and spoke to him.
“Hey, Seo-myeong.”
“?”
“Can’t you contact him? You’re the closest to Jae-eon hyung.”
They seemed to be whispering, but because the surroundings were so quiet, attention was drawn to them.
Surprisingly, Kim Ju-won was also included in the gazes. He muttered cynically, “I guess we’re all equally close,” but didn’t stop glancing at them.
“Um…….”
Ahn Seo-myeong covered his mouth with his hand and chewed for a long time before answering with his unique expressionless face, “No.” The expectation that he would say something was mercilessly cut down.
The children showed their disappointment at Ahn Seo-myeong’s bland reaction, saying, “Aww-.”
“He’s really not interested in others.”
“Well, Ahn Seo-myeong doesn’t obsess over anyone…….”
“Hey, Jae-eon hyung was so good to you. Show some interest.”
The children threw out a word each playfully.
Ahn Seo-myeong quietly rolled his eyes at the reactions of those who didn’t know anything.
Not interested?
‘Me in Ki Jae-eon?’
Ahn Seo-myeong scratched his neck, revealing his neckline, and tilted his head.
‘There’s no way. Fuck.’
He’s been sticking to him every thirty minutes like a ghost who died without being able to contact him, so there’s no way he’s not interested?
He was dumbfounded, but didn’t bother to add any further explanation.
As a rule, it’s good for your mental health not to receive unnecessary attention.
‘And above all…….’
He had also been spectacularly rejected.
His friends would probably be surprised if they knew.
[106 Missed Calls]
[48 Messages]
[Talk +999]
‘I should be grateful that hyung didn’t report me.’
Still, he had been hoping that he would get a call today, but.
No, not at all. No way.
The [1] that didn’t decrease and the silent phone without a callback.
He hadn’t received any contact from Ki Jae-eon.
‘It’s already been a week……. Um, I can’t. This is the limit now.’
Ahn Seo-myeong suppressed a sigh and waited for the sun to set.
‘I miss him.’
He was so curious and worried about Ki Jae-eon that he felt like he was going crazy.
Ahn Seo-myeong blew at his bangs with a puff of air and made a troubled expression.
‘Is this what love is originally, or am I just a disgusting bastard?’
In the end, he realized that his obsession was a bit much, but there was nothing he could do.
He felt like he wouldn’t be satisfied until he checked from afar to see if he was doing well.
‘Or I’m going to become a moron?’
Yeah. Let’s just go see him for a moment.
It’s nothing much, just to see if he’s eating well, sleeping well, and if he’s hurting anywhere.
‘If he thought of me even a little…….’
Just that much. Really, just that much.
That’s how it was that after eleven o’clock at night, when the house had become quiet.
He carefully went to Ki Jae-eon’s room.
Fortunately, the light was on.
‘Um…….’
But now that he had come, he was conflicted again.
‘Should I go in or not.’
Ahn Seo-myeong showed a very passive attitude for someone who had deliberately taken the time to come. His worn-out sneakers were aimlessly fiddling with the stone steps. He had a face that was deep in thought.
That’s right, in fact.
Even if he made excuses that he was worried, that he was this and that, wanting to see him was only his personal desire.
“Um.”
Ahn Seo-myeong’s mind was divided into two.
Half of him wanted to check on his condition.
Half of him didn’t want to burden someone who was busy.
Ahn Seo-myeong tilted his head and plucked at the hangnail on his lip.
‘Isn’t it meaningless to hesitate now?’
But the reality was that it was difficult to move easily.
Ahn Seo-myeong ruffled his hair roughly and made a queasy expression, like someone who had swallowed a pill without water.
‘Ah~.’
He had lived his life priding himself on being quick to make decisions, but his stomach was churning.
Ahn Seo-myeong deleted the item [Quick Decision] from his list of strengths without any regrets.
He had to choose quickly before more of his few remaining strengths were taken away.
‘It’s still a nuisance…….’
But he was seriously worried about Ki Jae-eon’s condition to just turn around.
Because he was someone who didn’t know how to say he was in pain, even when he was hurting.
‘Oh, I should see him before I go.’
Ahn Seo-myeong’s expression was unusually firm.
He had made up his mind.
Once he decided, the rest was easy.
“Hey- It’s Seo-myeong. I’m coming in.”
There was no reply, but he opened the door and went in without hesitation.
“……”
Swish-.
The first thing that greeted him was the sound of rushing water.
‘Is he taking a bath?’ Ahn Seo-myeong creaked as he sat down in the seat closest to the door.
“Hey! I’ll wait here, cough! I’ll wait……!”
Why did ‘I’ll wait’ sound so pathetic when he stretched his neck out like that?
‘Why is he stuttering?’
‘Ah, he’s being unusually pathetic today.’ Ahn Seo-myeong scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward.
Anyway, as he looked around the uninteresting room and waited quietly, a few things appeared that disturbed his waiting.
What were they… First, Ki Jae-eon’s scent filled the room.
And then, the ‘kiss’ from that day came to mind again.
“Oh-.”
‘Is he really an animal?’ Ahn Seo-myeong raised his fist and unhesitatingly struck between his lower abdomen and groin. Thud- His upper body slumped over, but he didn’t regret it.
It was just a moment of silence.
“Hoo- ha-.”
After hitting the never-ending little lamb a few more times, his face, after emerging from a deep nirvana, even had a faint sense of accomplishment.
It was like proving a moral value, like ‘Hey, I’m not a bastard, right?’
‘But he’s not going to come out naked after all this, is he? I really won’t know what to do then.’
They’ve even taken a bath together…….
‘But watching one-sidedly is a bit too stimulating.’
He cleared his throat and fidgeted for ten minutes, lost in thought.
Soon, he heard the sound of the door opening with a click.
Despite all his worries, Ahn Seo-myeong jumped up like a puppy greeting its owner when it was time to meet Ki Jae-eon. Pure excitement took precedence over the fear of absurd fantasies. However, as soon as he saw Ki Jae-eon coming out of the bathroom, his face, which had been excited with joy, stiffened.
“……!”
His whole body was soaked.
His eyes were black and dead.
He looked like someone who had been swallowed by the waves.
“Ah, ……Seo-myeong, it’s you.”
His heart grew cold as he saw his blue lips moving.
Ki Jae-eon looked desperate, as if he would flow away and disappear somewhere right now.
“……Stay, stay right there.”
Ahn Seo-myeong passed Ki Jae-eon and told him not to move from that spot. He looked as if he was afraid that Ki Jae-eon would really disappear. He knew it was an absurd thought, but the situation was not conducive to regaining his composure right away.
“Don’t move. Stay there. …I’ll be right back.”
Then he went into the bathroom and grabbed a towel.
His expression was calm, but his hands were trembling.
“My hands are hot. Don’t be surprised.”
Ahn Seo-myeong came out of the bathroom and began to carefully wipe Ki Jae-eon’s hair. He gently shook out the curly black hair and carefully wiped the water from his face, neck, and shoulders. How long had he been in the cold water? His brain grew colder and colder at the sight of his cold body, which had no warmth. The many greetings he had wanted to say to him disappeared into his throat.
‘I feel like I’m going to get angry for no reason.’
He didn’t know what kind of expression he was making now.
Well, it must be terrible.
Ahn Seo-myeong bit his lip at the rising resentment. To be honest, he thought Ki Jae-eon’s behavior was a pathetic act close to self-abuse. But that was only from his perspective. There might have been a reason why he had to do that. So, it was difficult to express his feelings rashly. Because he had often seen people who regretted lashing out without knowing the other person’s situation.