WYK 20

The sky was exceptionally clear as autumn approaches its end on Jeju Island.

Jeong-yoon stretched, looking forward to the winter break that would mark the end of his junior year. He’d be a senior soon. As a result, this school trip would be his last chance to have fun without feeling pressured. He was excited and in a good mood, but the true source of his excitement and delight was different.

He touched the handle of his suitcase and glanced backward. Chae-heon was gathering the students to take a group photo.

That’s right, the true reason for Jeong-yoon’s good mood was that he got to come with Kang Chae-heon.

Half of the second-year students went on a school field trip to Singapore, while the other half, including Jeong-yoon, went to Jeju Island. Jeong-yoon had chosen Jeju Island from the beginning. It was because his mother told him, “You don’t want to get lost internationally, and what if you miss the college entrance exam?”

He didn’t know if his mother was frightened about him becoming an international missing person or failing the college admission exam. Still, since she was the one providing the money, he decided to follow her wishes. He had wanted to go to Singapore, but it was an unavoidable choice.

However, Jeong-yoon, who had been dissatisfied, eventually found himself expressing gratitude for his mother’s foresight. Chae-heon had come to Jeju Island. He had expected him to go to Singapore, but, as expected, there was nothing wrong with listening to his mother.

Before unpacking at the accommodation, they stopped by the museum and then moved on to Seopjikoji. Although Jeong-yoon had been to Jeju Island a couple of times on family trips, it felt different this time. The wind gently pushing against them and the refreshing scent it carried felt like heaven.

Jeong-yoon stared at a purple flower whose name he did not know. It was a short break, and he was enjoying it because the teacher had mentioned giving time for a commemorative photo.

“Seo Jeong-yoon, let’s take a picture!”

One of his classmates grabbed his arm.

But Jeong-yoon waved his hand and stepped back.He always found it awkward to make expressions when standing in front of a camera, and he disliked that. He even avoided the common practice of using social media because he disliked taking pictures.

“I don’t want to take a picture.”

“Why?”

“I Just don’t like it. I’ll take a picture of you guys with my camera.”

Jeong-yoon swung the camera hanging from his neck, sending his friend away. Once the friend was out of sight, Jeong-yoon lifted his camera. It was to keep his promise to take pictures of his classmates. He snapped a picture of a group of shoulder-to-shoulder and three guys laughing and talking while taking selfies. It was like being a private photographer.

He also took pictures of a beach covered with small stones and a wind-whipped field. After taking a picture of the clear clouds in the sky, he absentmindedly lowered the camera. And then he quietly stopped his actions.

Chae-heon was leaning against the railing in the distance, staring at the schedule alone. The hair that fell loosely from his forehead swayed gently in the wind and then settled down again. Jeong-yoon’s heart beats for some reason when Chae-heon, who always smiles gently, makes a static expression like that.

Jeong-yoon clicked the shutter button without realizing it. Chae-heon’s appearance was captured on camera. While taking pictures of other kids felt like volunteering, taking pictures of Chae-heon felt more like sneaking a shot. It felt like he was committing a crime.

‘It’s not a crime. We agreed to print and share them later.’

Jeong-yoon’s heart continued to tremble even as he justified himself. He sighed softly and shook his head. He couldn’t understand why ordinary daily life became unfamiliar and awkward when Chae-heon was involved. Jeong-yoon guessed it was due to the emotions brewing within him.

A strong wind blew from the sea. Jeong-yoon put down the camera and brushed away his hair that was flying in all directions.

At that moment, Chae-heon also looked up. Due to the sudden gust of wind, the paper fluttered, making it impossible to read. He casually put the schedule into his bag and looked around with an expressionless face. Then, his gaze stopped at something.

Chae-heon, who had been lost in thought for a moment, lifted the camera. Soon, the screen was filled with someone’s figure.

Click. The shutter sound echoed faintly along with the sound of the wind.

***

“It says ‘No alcohol allowed….”

Jeong-yoon mumbled in a fading voice. In fact, what exactly he was muttering was unclear. He wanted to say something about the prohibition of bringing alcohol, but his head was dizzy from the alcohol, and he kept spouting nonsense.

Jeong-yoon was drunk for the first time in his life.

An hour ago. Jeong-yoon ate dinner and came up to the second floor with the other guys. When they entered the room they were assigned to, one of the guys had pulled out a bottle of soju. He had hidden it secretly.

The curious kids gathered in groups of twos and threes to share and drink. Jeong-yoon also took a couple of sips. The bitter smell of alcohol in the soju quickly rose in his throat.

“Ugh, what’s this taste? Why do people drink this?”

He frowned and shook his head. It had a strange taste reminiscent of the acetone smell he had smelled in his sister’s room. He gathered the courage to take a couple more sips but decided to give up because it still tasted bad.

Even though Jeong-yoon had only drunk roughly a glass, he was already half drunk. He fell on the blanket as his vision began to sway. The ceiling was spinning round and round. His chest was ticklish, and meaningless laughter bubbled up. There was nothing funny, yet he couldn’t understand why he was laughing so much.

“Hey. Guys. Friends. Does soju taste good?”

He asked with a slurred voice. The kids in the same room, who were already setting up for a drinking party, didn’t even respond. Jeong-yoon sprawled on the bed, absentmindedly running his fingers on the blanket. That’s when the door slammed open.

“They brought whiskey next door!”

Someone brought good news. The kids who were sipping soju widened their eyes and began to jump out of the room.

Jeong-yoon rolled around on the blanket and just looked at them. He had no strength or will to get out. “Drink well and come back…” He simply said his goodbyes quietly. Of course, no one heard it.

He crawled under the blanket to get some sleep. The last guy leaving hesitated by the door. It seemed that he was now concerned about leaving Jeong-yoon alone.

“Seo Jeong-yoon. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Is it okay if I leave you alone?”

“Why not…”

He replied with a smile and waved his hand. What he meant was, don’t worry and go have a drink. He said the last thing as he pulled the blanket all the way down to his neck.

“Please turn off the light before you leave. It’s dazzling.”

His friend nodded, turned off the light and left.

Jeong-yoon and the darkness were the only things left in the room. He closed his eyes quietly. His chest felt like it was on fire, and he felt dizzy as if his whole body was spinning. It felt like his mind was floating, but he was also being dragged into the depths. It was a strange feeling that he felt for the first time.

How long had he been lying there like that? Jeong-yoon kicked off the blanket.

“It’s hot.”

His body was getting hot. He thought it was because he was drunk. He jumped up from his seat and opened the window wide. The damp night breeze gently flowed in. The wind on the edge of autumn on Jeju Island was quite chilly. However, instead of feeling cold, it felt refreshingly cool. Thanks to that, the heat on his flushed cheeks eased a bit.

‘No matter how cold the weather is, I will buy alcohol instead of clothes.’

Jeong-yoon felt like he finally understood a sentence he had seen somewhere before.

Even so, wearing a padded jacket would be warmer than drinking alcohol. He leaned on the wall by the window, lost in needless thoughts. His heavy head bounced back and forth as his body relaxed.

How long was it like that? Something covered his cold body.

Jeong-yoon lifted his heavy eyelids. It was the blanket that had been rolling on the floor that covered him. And in front of him was…

‘… Why is he here? Is this a dream?’

Chae-heon was in front of him.

Only the light from the streetlight entered the dark room. Jeong-yoon strained his tired eyes to look at Kang Chae-heon. Chae-heon grabbed scattered food wrappers and swept the floor with a little broom in the darkness. After that, he meticulously folded the bedding on the spot where Jeong-yoon lay.

Chae-heon turned around after completing the sequence of actions. He intended to get the pillow that was stuck in the corner.

But Chae-heon was unable to move much further. This was because Jeong-yoon was staring at him with a bright smile on his flushed cheeks.

Jeong-yoon grabbed away from the moving blanket and slightly tilted his head.

“Why are you here? Did you clean everything like a housekeeper? Weren’t you in the next room?”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, laughter without reason and slurred questions poured out.

Chae-heon opened his mouth to respond, but quickly closed it again as Jeong-yoon proceeded to bombard him with questions. Chae-heon calmly responded only after Jeong-yoon had finished bombarding him with questions.

“Because you were drunk. Yeah, I cleaned up everything. I was in the next room.”

His calm response with a warm tone was quite endearing. Jeong-yoon laughed for no reason. As expected, the class president is the class president. Taking care even of a drunken friend. If it were him, he probably wouldn’t bother doing that.

“Drunkard should go to sleep now.”

Chae-heon pointed to the neatly arranged bedding and then turned away. Having diligently played the role of a fierce housekeeper, it seemed like he was now ready to go. Jeong-yoon spoke to his back.

“Kang Chae-heon.”

Instead of answering, Chae-heon turned around.

“Kang Chae-heon. Can you help me find my phone?”

“…What?”

“I put it near the blanket before going to bed, but I don’t know where it is. And also my earphones. They’re in front of my bag.”

It was an unexpected request that Jeong-yoon couldn’t have made when he wasn’t drunk.

Chae-heon had been kind to everyone, but he had never granted such a request. No, there didn’t seem to be anyone who had made such a request to Chae-heon in the first place. Even though he always wore a friendly expression as the class president, there was an atmosphere that made it difficult to approach him easily.