By Zephyria ‘…Who’s the older brother?’
“Le, let’s go.”
Ki Jae-eon turned his back first as they exchanged glances. At that moment, Kim Ju-won’s lips moved slightly. Mi-. His lips opened and closed. Kim Ju-won took a deep breath and clenched his fists tightly. For some reason, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to ask for forgiveness for the rest of his life if he didn’t do it now. He didn’t want that. He wanted to be upright for Ki Jae-eon’s sake, no, for his own sake. So he had to sincerely apologize and ask for forgiveness. Kim Ju-won decided to take courage as he looked at Ki Jae-eon’s broad back, which was slowly moving away. Ignoring his pounding heart and burning cheeks, he struggled to bring out the sincerity that was stuck in his throat.
“…I’m sorry.”
Pause.
It was then that Ki Jae-eon’s slow steps stopped.
“E, everything. I’m sorry… sir. No, I am.”
Although it was a mess of incoherent words.
“The wish I made to the Wish Eater was just to summon the strongest opponent to tame the Mystical Instrument…… Why. I really don’t know why I attacked you, no. Exorcist-nim…….”
Kim Ju-won also began to explain one by one why he had hated him. It was truly a time of shameful self-reflection. I was jealous of Exorcist-nim’s talent. At the confession that followed, Ki Jae-eon had already turned his body completely and was looking at Kim Ju-won. It was difficult to know what he was thinking with his gloomy eyes under his wavy hair.
“Exorcist-nim was so dazzling that I momentarily frowned… My heart was ugly, so I didn’t know how to unfold it.”
With those last words, Kim Ju-won lowered his head.
“……”
Ki Jae-eon continued to remain silent.
There was no answer saying he understood, no forgiveness saying it was okay.
How many minutes had passed?
“The Wish Eater is…”
A calm voice was heard.
“It doesn’t just listen to the words of the wish, but sees through the person’s true heart… and tries to grant the wish.”
So, whatever Kim Ju-won babbled, it meant that his true feelings had already been shown by the Wish Eater. Even if he added a hundred excuses, that was the truth.
“Jealousy doesn’t matter. Anyway…”
Ki Jae-eon lowered his gaze as if avoiding something for a moment, then quietly moved his lips.
“We’re not even friends.”
“…?”
Ki Jae-eon, who was restless, closed his eyes tightly once and then turned his body, saying that everyone was waiting and they should go quickly. But something was strange. His body seemed to have lost its composure and was creaking.
Friends? Kim Ju-won’s expression also gradually turned foolish.
Then, his eyes caught Ki Jae-eon’s slightly reddened neck.
“Can I?”
A clear voice cut through the dark night sky.
Kim Ju-won caught up with Ki Jae-eon in just three steps and asked. His eyes held the innocence of when he made friends without any conditions in his very young days.
“Friends.”
“……”
“Okay, then… friends. Let’s start over from there.”
“N-no. Use formal speech again.”
“Friends don’t use formal speech.”
“……”
“Are you still very angry? I’m sorry. But please be my friend.”
“……”
“Huh? Let’s be friends.”
“……”
“Will you?”
Hey, I will. With a thud, Ki Jae-eon was startled and staggered when he was pushed. Then he stopped walking and pushed Kim Ju-won’s shoulder in the same way. His hand trembled slightly, but there was no hesitation in his action.
“Wow, you hit me?”
Kim Ju-won asked with a dumbfounded expression, and Ki Jae-eon turned his head away and replied.
“Y-you did it first.”
“You’ve got a temper.”
“U-use formal… speech.”
“You call me Hyung first. You little… cute friend.”
“……”
The two’s reconciliation ended more blandly than expected.
Just like friends.
Like a relationship that dissolves into a small prank after fighting to the death.
Like that, the star that had deviated from its orbit found its normal orbit.
Now, all that’s left is to shine.
“Kim Ju-won!”
Ugh. Ignoring Kim Ju-won, who was getting beaten up as soon as he returned, Ki Jae-eon received a grand welcome.
“Wow, he really picked up Kim Ju-won.”
“It’s a relief that Ju-won Hyung and Jae-eon Hyung are here.”
“What’s all this commotion in the middle of the night… Aish.”
“You’ve worked hard, Oppa.”
And Kim Ju-won, come here. The children rushed in with shining eyes like hungry beasts. Among them was Ahn Seo-myeong. He was happily beating up Kim Ju-won as if they hadn’t fought at all. What’s the point of having a phone? Then why carry it around instead of just throwing it away? Cool words flowed out from his cynical smile.
But that’s how much everyone was waiting for Kim Ju-won.
“Yeah, you rascal. You should come quickly and say hello. Why are you making your elders wait?”
“Huh? Elder?”
“Oya- that’s me.”
Kim Ja-myeong hit Kim Ju-won’s head with a fan with a thud.
“It’s been a while. You little brat.”
After that, a storm of nagging continued. You, you rascal-. He didn’t seem like he would nag at all, but surprisingly, his scolding was severe. Maybe it was because he had designated him as his successor. Or maybe he noticed something? Anyway, just as Kim Ju-won was being thoroughly shaken up, Ki Jae-eon, who couldn’t bear to watch, slowly approached and intervened, “Um, Elder.”
“Ju-won… Hyung helped me.”
When he said that he was able to resolve it well, Kim Ja-myeong’s face became strange. He looked at Ki Jae-eon as if he was very surprised that he was taking Kim Ju-won’s side, with an expression that seemed to say, ‘Look at this guy?’ Then, he looked back and forth between Kim Ju-won and Ki Jae-eon and seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but soon he raised the corners of his lips with a smirk and shouted loudly, “Of course!”
“Ju-won isn’t the type to cause trouble anywhere!”
“……!”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say this in front of Exorcist Ki Jae-eon.”
Kim Ja-myeong laughed heartily and hit Kim Ju-won’s back with a bang.
“This guy is my pride!”
Kim Ja-myeong said that and stared intently at Kim Ju-won’s face. His gaze was unexpectedly very stern. But it clearly contained affection. You are our pride, Kim Ju-won. Kim Ju-won’s heart swelled greatly with the sincerity that was conveyed without words.
[In the main office, Kim Ju-won]
Undoubtedly excellent!
It would be nice if everything ended with a happy ending like that…
“But where are we going to live now?”
A realistic problem remained.
The dormitory that didn’t even have the ‘M’ of the main office left.
Everyone stared blankly at the main office, which had become a wasteland. It looked like a garbage dump. We’re really screwed. Someone muttered blankly.
“Elder…”
“I have XX million won in debt.”
“Elders…”
“Don’t look at us! Ahem, where would old people get money?”
“Treasurer…”
“Aish, you kids! It’ll take my entire fortune just to restore this!”
The loyalty of the main office was bull.
Everyone quickly backed out as if there was no business in front of money. Without even enjoying the afterglow of the great battle, people were talking about which station was good and had to worry about group camping.
But the worry didn’t last long.
Everyone was busy shivering in the cold wind that blew past.
“Achoo!”
“It’s too cold. Teacher…”
“Let’s go inside somewhere first.”
“Life is so unfair, really.”
“My joints ache.”
“I want to drink water too…”
Cries of woe echoed from everywhere.
“Then, shall we all go to a sauna…?”
Lee Gyeong-hak cautiously raised his hand.
He sniffled and added strength to his statement, saying that they should go somewhere first. People stared blankly at each other’s miserable appearances and quietly nodded. Yeah, it’ll be warm there. We can take a bath too! It was the perfect choice for now.
Kim Yeong was the first to move after deciding on a place. He strode up to Kim Ja-myeong and confidently began to extort money. Elder, give me money. Huh. A listless conversation continued.
“You’re not going to let the kids freeze to death, are you? It’s not like I’m asking you to send them to a fancy hotel.”
When Kim Yeong raised his eyebrows, Kim Ja-myeong took out his wallet from his back pocket with a gloomy face. Yeong-ah, prices have gone up these days, it’s expensive- Even with the crying, Kim Yeong snatched the wallet. Yes, I know. The cold answer was a bonus.
“Teacher, we have money too!”
“Yeong-ah, the kids have money…”
What did you say? Kim Yeong’s glare became fierce.
“What are you going to use children’s money for? It’s an adult’s duty to protect them at times like this. You always-!”
Chatter chatter. Kim Ja-myeong didn’t dare to say to Kim Yeong, who was giving a passionate speech, that Ki Jae-eon probably had much more money than him. No, he couldn’t. He thought he would really get hit if he did.
“At least swipe it with six months installment…”
“Where are you going to find installments at a sauna? Um, there are probably a little over thirty-six people.”
“Teachers get paid!”
“Welfare.”
From behind, “Thank you, Elder.” The teachers’ quick group greeting was heard. It was a skill worthy of those with maxed-out social skills.
With Kim Ja-myeong’s credit card sacrificed, everyone safely entered the sauna. Ah, of course, the five elders and the treasurer ended up staying separately at a nearby luxury hotel.