LCL 30

2. (2)

As we were silently sipping our drinks, Ye-jun hyung, now changed into comfortable clothes, naturally sat next to my brother. He then drank from the beer my brother was drinking.

“This is the first time we’ve invited someone over since we officially started living together.”

Ye-jun hyung was someone who knew how to ease the atmosphere. He naturally broke the silence between my brother and me.

“We invited your parents too, but they said they wouldn’t come.”

“Our mom and dad?”

“Yes. I guess they’re still uncomfortable.”

That can’t be. It’s probably because of Young-han hyung rather than Ye-jun hyung. They must feel awkward seeing their son’s cringe-worthy behavior. Wasn’t there a big commotion a few months ago?

He suddenly brought home a male partner without any warning to the family and caused a fuss saying he wanted to get married. Damn, I was going to do that first.

“That can’t be. Maybe it’s because hyung’s personality is terr-“

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Young-han, stop it, really.”

Ye-jun hyung held my brother’s shoulder, stopping him. My brother, whose eyes looked like they might shoot fire, quietly withdrew his gaze. If it weren’t for Ye-jun hyung, I would have been cursed at already.

Hah… It’s really fortunate that they met. I’ll be really good to Ye-jun hyung too. So that he won’t leave my brother. Even if he falls out of love with my brother, I’ll treat him well so he can’t leave our family due to lingering attachment.

“Young-hyun, how’s school life?”

“It’s fun in its own way. All my classmates are nice too.”

“Have you made many friends?”

“Yes, just… Everyone’s nice.”

“The classes must be very different from high school, right? How did you arrange your schedule?”

“For major classes, the school divided us into groups. For electives, I just… just chose ones that fit my schedule.”

“Do you take electives with Dae-han too?”

“No. We take electives separately.”

Ye-jun hyung asked questions like a relative would at a holiday gathering. He led the conversation with kindness as his weapon. He’s definitely a mature person.

As we were chatting and sipping beer, a light flashed on my phone screen on the table. Seeing Lim Dae-han’s name on the screen, I unconsciously checked the time. It was just past nine o’clock. Is he done?

“Lim Dae-han?”

My brother asked, looking down at the phone. I picked up my phone and stood up.

“I’ll go take this call.”

It felt awkward to take the call in front of my brothers. Even if they know we’re dating.

Gripping the vibrating phone, I walked towards the study. I could hear the two of them talking through the door crack.

“You should save my name like that too. What if someone finds out it’s a man?”

“Are you telling me to hide that we’re dating? Why? Why don’t you just tell us not to go out together at all? Then why did you ask to go to the mart together in the evening? Who makes plans and cancels on the same day?”

“Are you still upset about yesterday? I said I was sorry.”

I firmly closed the door, leaving behind Ye-jun hyung’s placating voice. I didn’t want to hear them bickering. Their quarrel was no different from our parents’ marital fights.

The timing is bad too. Why fight in front of me?

That’s probably why Ye-jun hyung called me. He might have thought they’d fight less if I was around. But would Ki Young-han care about such things? Ki Young-han is Ki Young-han.

I looked around the study while answering the phone. The atmosphere here had changed too. There were piles of books I’d never seen before. Seeing something about journalism, they were probably Ye-jun hyung’s books. Lim Dae-han called my name over the phone.

“Yeah, did you have dinner?”

– Yeah. I escaped from their invitation to drink. Where are you?

“I’m at my brothers’ place now.”

– I’ll come there.

“No, you don’t need to. I’m leaving soon anyway. I just came to look around.”

– ……

Lim Dae-han was silent. I checked to see if the call had been disconnected, but we were still connected. Why isn’t he saying anything?

“Lim Dae-han?”

When I called again, he belatedly responded with a “Yeah.” Could he be upset because I told him not to come? I added a fact that sounded like an excuse.

“I’m worried it might be tiring for you. You played soccer, and coming all the way here would be exhausting. And I really don’t plan to stay long… Isn’t it bothersome to just come pick me up?”

– Ki Young-hyun.

“Yeah?”

– That’s why I got the car.

“……”

– Let me be your chauffeur.

Even in high school, Lim Dae-han always came to pick me up and drop me off. A chauffeur, huh. I’ve never gone to pick up Lim Dae-han.

Even when we were drinking separately, I might have called on the way or gone to the front of the building, but I’ve never done anything like this.

Come to think of it… Am I treating Lim Dae-han well? Am I having a relationship that Lim Dae-han would find satisfying? I suddenly wondered.

“Then… uh, you know the address, right?”

– It’s saved in the navigation.

“Yeah. Thanks. Call me before you arrive. I’ll come down.”

After finishing the short call, I went back outside. While I was on the phone, the two must have started fighting in earnest. The atmosphere was chilly.

Hyung turned his head with a visibly sulky face. Ye-jun hyung asked me as I approached hesitantly, with an awkward smile.

“Young-hyun, is Dae-han coming?”

“Yes. But…”

“Yeah. Tell him not to drive. Let’s have a beer.”

“Ah, no… He’s just coming to pick me up. I said I’d go down when he arrives.”

“Why? Stay and play more. You could even sleep over at this point.”

“No! No. It’s okay. I should sleep at home.”

There’s no need to get caught in the middle of their fight. I waved my hands hurriedly. Hyung didn’t even look at me with his arms crossed. At least pretend to be disappointed when your brother says he’s leaving.

Of course, I didn’t look at hyung either. It seems his temper has gotten even worse since he started dating. Was he always someone who got upset and sulky so easily?

Definitely not. I couldn’t even ask why he was acting like that out of courtesy. No, I didn’t want to ask.

It felt like sitting on a bed of thorns. My bottom felt prickly, and I fidgeted unnecessarily. I looked around, swallowing dry saliva.

If Lim Dae-han hadn’t called, the beef I had eaten would have sat heavily. I had never waited for a vibration to ring like this before.

Hyung, who had been silently sipping beer and ended up completely drunk, leaned against the wall and picked on Ye-jun hyung.

Not with words, but with actions. He would poke Ye-jun hyung’s arm, and when Ye-jun hyung looked, he would turn his head away. He really couldn’t be anything but crazy.

I spent a truly miserable time stuck between the two of them. Although I haven’t been to many drinking gatherings, this was the first time I felt so mentally exhausted.

Ah… It was tough during the MT too, but this felt different.

Now, it felt like the bed of thorns would pierce my bottom and dig into my skin at any moment. Even the alcohol wouldn’t go down anymore, so I just drank water. Ye-jun hyung looked at me with an apologetic face.

I read that look and nodded slightly. Hang in there, hyung. I hope Ye-jun hyung understands my feelings.

Lim Dae-han.

The name I had been waiting for appeared on the screen. Enduring the soft vibration, I picked up my phone. This time, I didn’t even run away to the study room.

I answered the phone confidently from my seat. I want to go home quickly. I want to be alone with Lim Dae-han. Sincerely.

“Yeah. Are you nearby?”

– Yeah, I’m on the first floor now. What should I do? Should I come up?

“No! No! It’s okay! I’ll come down!”

I answered, putting strength in my stomach. So-called abdominal breathing. My voice naturally became stronger and louder. Lim Dae-han, not understanding, asked “What?” I didn’t mean to shout, but somehow it turned out that way.

Hyung, who hadn’t shown any interest in me at all, looked me over with irritated eyes. Ye-jun hyung also looked at me with surprised eyes.

After emphasizing to Lim Dae-han once more that I would come down right now, I hung up. As I got up from my seat hurriedly, Ye-jun hyung also rose.

“Um… I’ll go first.”

“Tell Dae-han to come up.”

“No. He drove here. I, I’ll be going.”

“I’m sorry the atmosphere was like this today. It seems Young-hyun had a hard time because I suggested we have dinner together.”

The person who should be apologizing isn’t Ye-jun hyung, but the person in question was already drunk and just pulled on Ye-jun hyung’s arm.

Crazy bastard. I can’t help but curse. I quickly moved my steps for Lim Dae-han who would be waiting on the first floor.

I want to get out of this house quickly. I miss Lim Dae-han a lot today. The hyungs followed me out.

I caught the elevator outside but didn’t go in. At this point, I’d feel more comfortable going down alone.

“He can just go down alone. Let’s go inside.”

“I want to at least see Dae-han’s face.”

“I said go inside, so just go in, okay?”

“Hey, Ki Young-han.”

“…”

Finally, Ye-jun hyung lowered his voice. Even his eyes, which were usually filled with kindness, turned cold. Only after getting scolded did hyung finally comply.

A stream of cold sweat ran down my back. When is this damn elevator coming? I was just stomping my feet when the elevator finally arrived.

Please. I hoped the two wouldn’t follow, but the hyungs got on together. Holding onto my uncomfortable feelings, I came down to the first floor, and Lim Dae-han’s car was parked in front of the apartment entrance.

Lim Dae-han, who was in the car, came out. He was especially welcome today. I wanted to run and hug him right away. But since we’re in front of the hyungs, I should maintain decorum…

Of course, our thoughtless hyung is… already in that state. Even while bickering with Ye-jun hyung, he was still sticking to one part of his body. Lim Dae-han looked different from earlier in the day, as if he had showered at home.

Well, he must have felt grimy after running around the field like that. He approached me with his cap pulled low, but then saw the hyungs and bowed his head. He came towards us, leaving the passenger door open.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Dae-han. Have you been well?”

“Yes. Have you been well too?”

“Yes, we have. By the way, it’s too bad we couldn’t have dinner together today. Let’s meet again soon.”

“Yes. But… what about hyung?”

Lim Dae-han trailed off, observing my brother’s expression. I barely resisted the urge to lean into Lim Dae-han, while my brother was linking arms with Ye-jun hyung. Despite being much larger, he awkwardly tilted his head to rest it on Ye-jun hyung’s shoulder, almost nestling into him.

Even as Ye-jun hyung twisted his shoulder, my brother silently maintained his position. They were, of course, not interested in us. They waved us off as if telling us to handle ourselves. Ye-jun hyung, who must have sold his country in a past life, smiled awkwardly as he saw off Lim Dae-han and me.

“Go on in. Let’s meet again next time.”

Why did such a kind and affectionate person end up with my brother? I looked at Ye-jun hyung with sympathetic eyes before giving a polite smile. We got into the car with my brother seeing us off. Lim Dae-han bowed once more before getting into the driver’s seat.

The car only started after we lowered the window and exchanged light greetings again. I watched my brother and Ye-jun hyung through the side mirror. They were clearly in battle mode. An angry-looking Ye-jun hyung seemed to be confronting my brother about something. And Ki Young-han was probably muttering responses. My guess is that they’ll fight today.

Why on earth are they fighting?

Lim Dae-han and I have hardly ever fought. Neither of us has a particularly rough personality like someone else, and there haven’t been many situations worth fighting over.

There was a brief trial when we were eighteen, but the memories are as scattered as dispersing wind. That’s how two years of time usually is.