RFL Ch 4

He was on his way to the cafe after visiting his sibling at the hospital. Sooin sat at the very back of the bus and pulled out his phone. The group project chat was buzzing.

The overflowing messages were all from Yiso. The URLs, highlighted in bright blue, all led to the KiwiKiwi website. A string of unreliable and clichéd material for scoring points.

Still, Sooin clicked on each link, finally giving up on reading them thoroughly around ‘A Ridiculous Party Using Fast Food!’. Where do I even begin? As he was contemplating, Pyo Hyungyeon appeared and added a comment.

Pyo Hyungyeon

Is that you in your profile picture? Pretty. You should dress like that normally

He seemed to be completely oblivious to the twenty or so links that had piled up. Sooin sighed deeply and typed a message.

Let’s discuss the details at the group meeting this weekend.

Yiso

Okay!

As soon as he sent it, Yiso replied with an energetic response, and Pyo Hyungyeon, his comment ignored, disappeared.

Song Jaeyi was still silent. It wasn’t just today. Since the group chat was created, Sooin had only received three messages from him. One was a curt “Okay” when they decided on the meeting date, and the other two were private messages to Sooin.

Jaeyi♥

Did you finally unblock me?

There was still a heart attached to his name. Sooin hurriedly removed the heart, changed the contact name to “Song Jaeyi,” and replied.

Song Jaeyi

Yeah.

The short reply was read immediately. But the follow-up question arrived much later.

Song Jaeyi

If it’s uncomfortable, will you leave the group?

It was a disjointed question, so his first reaction was confusion. After rereading the question five times, he finally burst out laughing. Such a subtly timid kid.

Song Jaeyi

Leave? I haven’t done anything right either. It’s just a group project, so it’s fine. Let’s do our best.

He had thought it was rather cute at the time. Even though Jaeyi had disappeared without replying to his “Let’s do our best,” it was okay. Imagining Jaeyi’s pretty face pouting made Sooin feel generous.

But after several days of silence, it wasn’t so endearing anymore. Of course, he wasn’t one to talk… But at least for the group project, he could have replied to poor Yiso, who was chattering away all by herself. Sooin thought about sending a message but decided against it.

He was the one who drew the line first. No matter the reason, if he approached Jaeyi now, he would be no different from him, swayed by fleeting feelings. Don’t be cheesy. Thinking this, Sooin looked out the window. The cafe was already approaching.

The group meeting was scheduled for four o’clock on Saturday afternoon. It was originally scheduled for Saturday morning, but it was changed because Pyo Hyungyeon absolutely refused to meet then. Because of that, Sooin had just finished his tutoring session, even giving the student an extra 30 minutes for free. It took over an hour to get from the student’s house to the study cafe.

Just as he was opening the cafe door, a message arrived. A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he checked his phone without moving.

Pyo Hyungyeon

Oh no~ Looks like there’s been an accident up ahead, traffic is jammed

I’ll be a little late. You guys go ahead and start~ I’ll be there soon

He typed a laughing emoticon and “Okay. Be careful.” as a reply, while cursing under his breath. Bullshit, what accident? The fact that he chose a traffic accident as his excuse only irritated him further.

I hope it happens to you. He thought, then frowned and changed his mind.

“That bastard deserves it. I hope he falls flat on his face on the way here.”

He muttered softly. A shadow fell over him.

“Aren’t you going in?”

Today, Song Jaeyi had styled his damp hair neatly and was wearing a white sweatshirt. It made his already bright face look even younger and more innocent. If he didn’t open his mouth, he would be the picture of a cute puppy, adored by everyone. Sooin, turning around and absentmindedly observing Jaeyi’s face, shook his head.

“Go in.”

Yiso was waving from inside the cafe. Her arm, waving so hard that her round glasses were askew, urged them to hurry. If we don’t hurry, Yiso’s arm will fall off. At Sooin’s joking murmur, Song Jaeyi asked an unexpected question.

“Then why are you like that in front of others?”

“Like what?”

He was walking quickly, so the words barely registered. At his indifferent reply, the hem of his coat was suddenly grabbed. Not his wrist or arm, but the thick fabric of his coat somewhere around his lower back, an ambiguous spot. It felt like a lost child reaching out and grabbing onto him.

Sooin turned to Song Jaeyi, completely bewildered. Song Jaeyi looked just as perplexed.

“You say ‘I hope he dies on the way here’ behind his back, but why are you so nice to his face?”

His questioning voice was too loud. Sooin glanced around and pulled Song Jaeyi along, leading him to a table further away from Yiso. He smiled reassuringly.

“I didn’t say I hope he dies.”

“Why are you being two-faced with that kind of person? What do you have to gain?”

Song Jaeyi had a knack for derailing any conversation. No matter how much Sooin tried to steer the conversation, it was useless. Jaeyi only said what he wanted and only heard what he wanted to hear. He could easily fluster even Sooin, who rarely lost his composure.

“What does that have to do with our Jaeyi?”

“You’re needlessly nice to everyone else, but you’re only rude to me.”

This was the second time he’d been called rude by his hoobae, who was five years younger than him. It was so absurd that he let out a hearty laugh. Song Jaeyi frowned at the low chuckle. His blunt, low voice grumbled angrily.

“Strictly speaking, you’re the one at fault in our relationship, Hyung. I’m in a very difficult situation now because you didn’t keep your promise. But why… This is like, the pot calling the kettle black.”

Words bordering on formal speech poured out of him, as if he’d memorized them overnight. Sooin, momentarily stunned, shifted his position, making sure his mouth wasn’t visible to Yiso. As he did so, he bumped shoulders with someone passing by. They were standing near the path to the restrooms.

A few passing customers glanced at them. Their expressions clearly said, “Why are you big guys blocking the way?” So Sooin bowed his head slightly, adding a friendly smile and murmuring an apology. Of course, Song Jaeyi added another comment.

“Two-faced.”

Where did he even learn that expression? His eyes, which had seemed like those of a gentle puppy just moments ago, were now sharp.

“Why are you only nice to others and not to me?”

Every flutter of his thick eyelashes seemed to shout, “I’m frustrated!” Sooin held his breath, feeling cornered.

It was a world where everyone wanted sincerity. Genuine, authentic, real words sold like hotcakes. Because there were so many fakes.

But Sooin believed that no one truly wanted complete honesty. People always had a desired answer in mind for him. They would paint a preconceived image of him before he even opened his mouth. Answers that deviated from their expectations were unwelcome.

So he often wore a mask. The economics department celebrity, the model student, the delicate flower, the angel, the playboy, the young master, the whore… Hidden behind countless masks, he didn’t have to reveal his messy truths.

He just had to give them the answers they wanted and move on. An easy outcome for a cheap investment. There was no reason not to be two-faced.

But Song Jaeyi had found a crack and widened it. It wasn’t as if he’d seen everything, but it was a first for Sooin. He’d had sex that bothered him more than it should have, asked a question he hadn’t intended to, and reacted to every little provocation. He hadn’t been two-faced enough.

Song Jaeyi already knew the real Kim Sooin: “Desperate for money despite appearances, easily angered, and recently presented as an omega.” Sooin was the one who was most bewildered and displeased by this fact. He had shown too much, unnecessarily. The strange sense of crisis was uncomfortable.

But why Song Jaeyi? Of all people, shouldn’t he be the least bothered by this situation? Feeling twice as frustrated, Sooin retorted.

“You said you hate two-faced people.”

“…Yes.”

Song Jaeyi answered meekly, despite his deeply furrowed brow. It was just like that time in the alley near the pojangmacha. Sooin remembered his face when he’d asked if Jaeyi had been played for a fool all his life, and Jaeyi had simply replied, “Yes.”

“Why are you making such a fuss when I’m not even being two-faced with you?”

He was complaining about Sooin not being fake only with him. Sooin raised an eyebrow in disbelief, and Song Jaeyi closed his mouth. His pink lips, as if he’d just applied lip balm, were hidden. He seemed to be chewing on something inside.

Sooin sighed wearily. The group project hadn’t even started yet, but the day already felt long.

“Jaeyi, what should Hyung do then?”

He asked, forcing his heavy eyelids open. Song Jaeyi’s frown slowly eased. His annoyed expression turned impassive, like when he was facing Pyo Hyungyeon. Then, the emotionless, cold robot mumbled.

“Forget it. Do whatever you want.”

Song Jaeyi turned and left. Sooin thought about giving his retreating back the middle finger.

Throughout the group meeting that followed, Song Jaeyi was excessively honest and blunt. Contrary to his gentle face, his cold, expressionless demeanor was the problem. He casually threw out comments that made Sooin nervous.

“All the links you sent were bad.”

“Huh, why? What parts?”

“Because it’ll be hard to get a good grade with funny or weird topics.”

The short message had been sent the previous night. Very late, only after seven unanswered calls.

What happened to the appointment? Did he get humiliated in front of his father, whom he hated so much? Or did he just make an excuse and postpone it? Does he completely hate me now for being two-faced and not keeping my promise?

Sooin stopped his train of thought there.

He’d presented as an omega overnight. The hardships he thought were over had returned and turned his world upside down. He wondered, just as Choi Jooyoung had, what kind of life he was living.

But even if the world turned upside down, nothing would change for him. Even after being rushed to the emergency room, he was told to “not live like that.” He worried about being fired from the cafe and was most concerned about the hospital bills.

Living this kind of life, he didn’t have the energy to worry about others. He couldn’t afford to be concerned about Song Jaeyi’s situation or how he felt. It was all a luxury.

“But is there something between you and him? He sounded really worried.”

“There’s nothing between us.”

“Why? It’d be great if there was. Just snag one of them and turn your life around, huh?”

“Jooyoung.”

“Huh? What? Why are you calling me so creepily?”

“You said it yourself back then.”

Sooin leaned his head back against the headboard and closed his eyes. Jooyoung, standing beside him, quietly asked, “What?”

“You said everyone’s born with a similar amount of misfortune, but it’s like I received all of mine at once.”

“…Yeah.”

Choi Jooyoung was embarrassed that those were the only words he’d been able to offer then, but they’d been a source of strength for Sooin. Whenever he wanted to give up and blame his struggles on everything else, those words were a lifeline. They made him think that if he just held on a little longer, if he just made it through this, things would get easier. It felt like there wasn’t anything he couldn’t endure.

But still.

Even after enduring all of that, there was still no end in sight.

“I guess I have more misfortune coming my way.”

His hollow laugh made Choi Jooyoung’s pretty face crumple again. Still, seeing that someone was willing to frown on his behalf, Sooin managed to finish his laugh. What had happened had happened, and nothing would change by crying and blaming the world. It would only sap his strength.

“I’ll handle Song Jaeyi.”

He’d rather spend his time doing what he could instead of crying. That was Sooin’s way of surviving his misfortune.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Despite his bold declaration, Sooin had ended things with a single text.

Something urgent came up and I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry. Since I didn’t finish the job, you don’t have to pay me. He hadn’t even waited for a reply, immediately blocking the number and cutting ties. It was a deliberate act.

He knew Jaeyi would understand everything with a simple explanation about being hospitalized. Despite his gruff exterior, he’d shown signs of attachment after just one night. If Sooin explained, Jaeyi might even blame himself for Sooin’s sudden presentation instead of getting angry.

But that’s exactly why he had to cut ties. His streak of bad luck hadn’t ended, and some lives brought only pain, even with the slightest connection. It was better for both of them if this remained a brief encounter.

It had been a peculiar part-time job. A strange one-night stand. A short incident that would never happen again.

“If it was because of your presentation, you should have just said so.”

But this variable had occurred. Same university, same department. And to top it all off, it was the beginning of the semester, the perfect setup for unavoidable encounters, especially at drinking parties. It was too late to cleanly cut ties.

“Why are you like this?”

Yeah, Jaeyi, why is my life like this? Sooin sighed inwardly and straightened up. His toes still tingled from the residual effects of his pheromones fluctuating.

As he stepped away from the wall he’d been leaning on, Song Jaeyi took a step back. Despite his confrontational tone, his movements were cautious. This gave Sooin a clue.

“It made me uncomfortable.”

It would certainly be uncomfortable to get aroused every time they saw each other. Sooin hid a smile and schooled his expression into an impassive mask.

“I didn’t want to see you. It’s not your fault, but I presented after we slept together.”

“…”

“I know a dominant alpha can’t turn a perfectly healthy beta into an omega. So I’m not saying you’re responsible for me presenting. It’s not your fault.”

Song Jaeyi wavered at Sooin’s calm explanation. The coldness and betrayal in his eyes flickered.

“Still, I didn’t want to be involved with you anymore. It would just be uncomfortable every time we met.”

Song Jaeyi’s intense gaze dropped to the floor. He seemed lost in thought, a troubled expression on his face. Sooin pressed his advantage.

“I’m sorry for ending things the way I did, even if it wasn’t your fault. But… I think it’s best if we keep our distance.”

As his gentle words ended, Song Jaeyi looked up. In the dimly lit alleyway, his long lashes fluttered, revealing bright, beady eyes. A submissive light.

“I understand.”

With a curt reply, Song Jaeyi turned and left. Watching his retreating figure, Sooin suddenly wanted to flip him off.

During the group meetings that followed, Song Jaeyi was excessively blunt and straightforward. Despite his gentle features, his cold, expressionless demeanor was problematic. He casually made comments that made Sooin incredibly nervous.

“All the links you sent were useless.”

“Huh? Why? What was wrong with them?”

“Because we’re not going to get a good grade with funny or weird themes.”

“That’s true, I guess. Then should we focus on a social issue? The environment? Let’s combine the environment and banquets! How about that?”

Yiso remained undeterred, like an impenetrable shield. Far from being intimidated by the blunt criticism, she offered new suggestions every thirty seconds. She displayed the same drive and lack of awareness she had when she quickly silenced and dragged away that clueless student, Choi, during the freshman orientation.

“How can we combine the environment and banquets?”

“Um… A tree-planting event banquet for Arbor Day…?”

Her enthusiasm and drive were admirable, but her direction was completely off. Song Jaeyi immediately frowned and replied curtly, “That’s not good.” Even Sooin almost agreed with him this time.

“Then how about a banquet using bamboo chopsticks or reusable tableware?”

“…Don’t they already wash and reuse tableware?”

“Oh, right.”

What would it have been like if Pyo Hyungyeon had been there? They might have spent over three hours just deciding on a topic. Sooin, maintaining a polite smile, habitually checked his wristwatch. He didn’t have any more time to waste.

“I think it would be good to start by addressing the issue of the decline in hotel banquets.”

He had a tutoring job that evening. He had to finish the meeting before seven.

“As Yiso said, social issues can be a factor. Most hotel banquets were for weddings, but that’s decreased recently. Fewer people are choosing to get married, and there are many good venues besides hotels.”

“That’s true, isn’t it…?”

“So, if we approach it from the opposite perspective, things you can only experience at hotels, banquets you can have even if you’re not getting married. I think it would be good to approach it from that angle.”

“Wow… That’s great. I think that’s a good idea.”

Yiso’s jaw dropped, and she started writing furiously in her notebook. Exclamation points filled the space next to the words “hotel,” “marriage,” and “banquet.”

“Things you can only experience at hotels…”

Song Jaeyi murmured softly. His eyes, which had seemed distant, quickly focused.

“It’s definitely about capital. They’re expensive and require early reservations, but the reason people still prefer them is because it shows they spent a lot of money.”

“That’s right. I think that’s especially true for a once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding! You take photos that will last a lifetime, and everyone comes to see it.”

“On the other hand, if it’s not as important as a wedding, would ordinary people really have a banquet at a hotel? Paying that much money.”

It was an insightful observation, unlike what he’d expect from a rich kid. Sooin inwardly admired him and agreed.

“That’s a good point. Then let’s approach it with a plan that would make ordinary people want to have a banquet at a hotel.”

“Sunbae, how about a group wedding? People who find the cost burdensome can gather and split the rental fee!”

“I think a non-marriage declaration ceremony would be better.”

“That’s not bad. A wedding might be a bit awkward to do as a group, but a non-marriage declaration ceremony can be done even with close friends.”

“Yeah, it’s like a small party. Even if it costs a little, it would be much cheaper than a wedding, and you’d still have photos to last a lifetime.”

The group project, which had initially only caused him a headache, was now taking shape less than an hour after the meeting started. And in a rather satisfying direction.

Perhaps things would go smoothly after all. He had a good feeling about this.

❤︎₊ ⊹

In the end, Pyo Hyungyeon didn’t attend the first group meeting. He kept repeating that he was stuck in traffic for over two hours, then disappeared without a trace. He only replied after the meeting was over, apologizing profusely and offering to buy them drinks.

Sooin had suspected this was his intention from the moment he insisted on changing the meeting time from morning to afternoon. How could someone be so transparent? Sooin stifled a laugh and replied that he had a prior engagement. He wasn’t angry. Pyo Hyungyeon’s absence was actually beneficial to the group project.

After the first meeting, they had two more.

They didn’t have to carve out weekend time like the first one. Once, they met for lunch at the student cafeteria, and another time, they met 30 minutes before the “Hotel Banquet Planning” class.

Even these easy-to-attend meetings were too much for Pyo Hyungyeon. Not only did he not show up 30 minutes before class, he was even late for the class itself. And not just by 10 or 20 minutes. He arrived well over an hour late, sneaking into the classroom during break time.

“Man, the traffic was insane…”

Pyo Hyungyeon plopped his bag down on his desk and panted, dramatically wiping his forehead.

“It took over two hours, I swear. I’m so sorry. I really wanted to join you guys today… Uh, where’s Yiso?”

“She went to the restroom.”

“Oh, uh, is that so? Seriously, the roads were a parking lot. It would have been faster to walk.”

When Sooin didn’t respond to his fake apology, he added more excuses. So Sooin gave him a polite smile and an empty, “You must be tired.” It was unlikely, but if Pyo Hyungyeon felt pressured and promised to attend the next meeting, it would be even more tiring.

But Song Jaeyi couldn’t hold back his true feelings.

“Then you should have walked.”

Song Jaeyi muttered, still slouched in his seat, looking at his phone. His gaze was fixed on the screen as he casually scrolled with one hand, his tone devoid of emotion. It was a very calm statement.

Normally, people inject intonation, emotion, and expression into their words. But Song Jaeyi lacked that. Colorless and odorless. His expressionless face and flat tone made it difficult to interpret his intentions.

“Uh…?”

It was just like the freshman orientation. The scene replayed itself: Jaeyi innocently asking, “A bad son?” and Pyo Hyungyeon, frozen in stunned silence.

“Jaeyi always jokes like that. I guess it’s because he’s not used to Korean culture. I was really confused at first too.”

Since he happened to remember the freshman orientation, it wasn’t difficult to smooth things over. He had thought it strange that everyone had agreed that Jaeyi’s Korean was poor, even though he was eloquent that day.

But now he understood. The image of “Song Jaeyi, who lived in Canada for a long time and sometimes speaks awkwardly,” was a small shield that those around him, shocked by his bluntness, had tried to give him.

“…Hey, if you’re going to keep living in Korea, you should study a bit more.”

“You should study more, Sunbae…”

The problem was that Jaeyi seemed determined to throw away even that small shield.

“Jaeyi.”

Sooin cut him off sharply and turned to look at him. His delicate features formed a sullen expression as he asked,

“What.”

The brazen reply made Sooin’s blood boil. He stretched his lips into a smile, his eyes crinkling. He gave Jaeyi a sweet smile, hiding the sharp edge in his eyes.

“Nothing. You look really handsome today.”

Even at a compliment that would normally make anyone melt, Song Jaeyi remained unmoved. He even frowned deeply, as if he’d been insulted. But at least he’d shut up, so Sooin turned back, satisfied.

But this wasn’t a one-time occurrence; it happened repeatedly. When dealing with Pyo Hyungyeon, Song Jaeyi seemed determined to not just be on a different wavelength, but to be actively contrarian.

“Oh, but wasn’t the guy who confessed to Kim Sooin at the orientation Yiso’s friend?”

“Choi Junyong? Ah… It wasn’t really a confession…”

“It wasn’t a confession. He was just drunk.”

“Hey, I heard he even mentioned alphas and omegas. He looked like he was about to devour you whole.”

“Sunbae.”

“He’s an omega, right? Ah, I guess I shouldn’t say that these days.”

Usually, it was Pyo Hyungyeon’s outrageous behavior that started it.

He often said things that would leave everyone speechless. It wasn’t surprising, and there was no need to respond. But Song Jaeyi seemed to think differently.

“My Korean isn’t very good, so…”

Song Jaeyi sat up, having been slumped over his desk as if about to fall asleep. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered as he straightened up.

“What do you call it… Sunbae is being a bit… rude…? Rude.”

He seemed to like the excuse Sooin had used to smooth things over. Now he was using it openly.

“No, ignorant? …Ah. I think he’s being inconsiderate.”

He tilted his head, his face innocent. If it weren’t for his shoulders and arm muscles, now visible with the warmer weather and lighter clothing, his clear face would have looked like that of a child.

Still, the “rude, ignorant, inconsiderate” combo was too much. Even his pretty face and supposedly poor Korean skills couldn’t cover for it. It was too harsh to be dismissed as a mistake. It was enough to make even the clueless Pyo Hyungyeon feel the malice.

As expected, Pyo Hyungyeon frowned. He still seemed unsure, but his lips began to curl downwards.

“…Hey, are you…”

“That’s right! You shouldn’t talk about other people’s secondary genders!”

Yiso suddenly interjected. Her cheerful, loud voice drew the attention of those around them. Pyo Hyungyeon, now suddenly the one who had “talked about other people’s secondary genders,” stammered.

“Uh, ah, right…”

With his awkward agreement, the tense situation quickly diffused.

After that, Song Jaeyi and Yiso formed a strange alliance. Their cooperation was like a bare-handed sniper and a medic. One would relentlessly fire shots, while the other sprayed medicine everywhere. A truly formidable duo.

Pyo Hyungyeon was repeatedly and helplessly defeated by the two. He was left speechless and deflated so many times that after about two weeks, he barely spoke.

Thanks to this, the group project sailed smoothly. The presentation for the midterm was already well-prepared, and there was no one left to distract them with pointless invitations to drink. Sooin could finally focus on the truly important things again.

❤︎₊ ⊹

On the days he visited the hospital, Sooin deliberately got off the bus one stop early. It was his way of letting his sibling, Suye, experience the changing seasons without picking flowers or leaves.

He deliberately flapped his blouson, filled with the spring breeze, as he folded it and placed it down. Even though Suye, lying quietly in bed, said nothing, Sooin chuckled.

“Sorry if the dust bothers you.”

“…”

“Summer will be here soon. I liked how the coat would smell of cold after being outside even for a little while in winter.”

Suye had always loved winter since she was young. She used to pester him to build a snowman whenever it snowed. Because of that, Sooin had disliked winter.

But now he hated summer the most. Walking from the bus stop to the hospital in the summer heat made him sweat. He didn’t think he smelled very pleasant then. Moreover, the hotter it got, the more crowded the cafe became. There were more dishes to wash, and the part-time jobs were all physically demanding. And most of all…

Summer was the season he’d had his first penalty shot. The humid, hot air brought back memories of three years ago. It wasn’t pleasant.

Sooin stared out the hospital window, then stood up. He needlessly checked the bedding and refrigerator, which the caregiver had already tidied, before sitting back down. He cleared his throat.

“I’ve been really busy lately. Sorry I haven’t been able to visit often.”

“…”

“I increased my hours at the cafe. So I think I’ll only be able to come on weekends for a while. Don’t be too sad…”

“…”

“Oh, and school is fun. I’m glad I listened to you. There are a lot of interesting people, so it’s enjoyable.”

“…”

“But is that all you have to say to your brother? You finally appear in my dream after three years, only to ask why I’m not going to school…”

Sooin’s rambling trailed off. White fluffy things drifted past the hospital window. They floated in front of the window, like dandelion seeds or cotton balls.

“Wow, look at that, Suye. It looks like snow.”

Sooin murmured absentmindedly and looked down at his silent sister. The ticking of the heavy watch on his wrist seemed especially loud. He’d spent half of his visit in silence again.

Still, Sooin didn’t feel sad as he left the hospital room. He felt more motivated. He reaffirmed his determination to work hard and bring Suye back to the house they used to live in with their parents. He didn’t have time to be sad.

It wasn’t just a figure of speech; Sooin literally had no free time. On weekdays, he juggled school and his cafe job, studying for exams and working on assignments whenever he had a break between classes. On weekends, he visited Suye, tutored, and sometimes, if he was lucky, squeezed in night shifts or short-term jobs. And the locations were all over the place. Since he couldn’t give up the house he’d lived in with his parents, just traveling took up a significant amount of time. He barely had time to sleep.

For Sooin, the spring campus at midday was kryptonite.

He often found himself dozing off while studying and would go outside to sit on a bench. The path between the administration building and the college of education. It was a secluded spot, hidden behind the lush bushes behind the buildings.

If I get the scholarship, next semester will be much easier. Sooin forced his sleepy eyes open and read the printout. The English text occasionally blurred. He felt like he would fall asleep if he relaxed even a little. His hand holding the paper grew heavy.

“That Song Jaeyi is such a pain in the ass.”

A familiar, annoyed voice jolted him awake. Sooin lowered his drowsy gaze to the gentle slope below. He could see a cluster of heads gathered among the thick bushes.

“Those kinds of guys are the ones who give their superiors a hard time in the military and get disciplined.”

“He’s not going to the military.”

“That’s why he’s even more annoying, for fuck’s sake!”

It seemed they’d been talking about him behind his back… Sooin closed his tired eyes and lay down on the bench. He couldn’t study with all that noise anyway, so he might as well catch up on some sleep.

“Last time, that bastard said to me, ‘Don’t they call that being a boomer these days?’ or some shit like that.”

A burst of laughter erupted from the group. The faint smell of cigarettes grew stronger with their laughter.

“That little punk… If it weren’t for the people watching, I would have…”

“Hey, Sunbae, just bear with him. He’s still adjusting to Korean culture.”

“Tsk, should I? Ha… That brat, his family education… Where did he even learn that?”

At that, Sooin opened his eyes. Fluffy white clouds drifted across the clear spring sky. Gazing at the peaceful scenery, he tried to calm himself.

“He acts like he doesn’t have a mother or father.”

But he ended up sitting up. It was because of the comment that even the group he’d just been listening to couldn’t respond to without awkward smiles.

Sooin let out a loud, exaggerated sigh. He heard a questioning “Huh?” from below. He made eye contact with someone who was looking around, trying to find the source of the noise.

“Oh? What? There was a bench up there?”

“Eek! Is that Kim Sooin?”

The guys smoking below pointed at him. Some of them even clutched their chests in surprise, perhaps realizing what they’d been talking about.

Sooin walked down the sloping wooden steps with an impassive expression. His long legs quickly brought him to the group.

“I was taking a nap.”

He yawned and held out his hand as if asking for a cigarette. A startled classmate quickly placed a cigarette between Sooin’s long fingers.

“Hey, when did you get here?”

Pyo Hyungyeon quickly approached and lit the cigarette for him. His fumbling with the lighter betrayed his nervousness. He seemed worried about the gossip they’d been indulging in.

“Isn’t class starting soon?”

Sooin asked with a smile, the first drag of nicotine sweet in his lungs. He acted as if he hadn’t heard their gossip, and his gentle reminder made his classmates and hoobaes start to hurry.

“Oh, right? What time is it?”

“Sunbae, we should get going.”

He’d checked his watch when he lay down on the bench; it was 11:40. The fact that they were here, so far from the tourism department building at this awkward hour, meant they had a 12 o’clock class near the college of education.

He knew they would quiet down again in just 20 minutes. But he couldn’t let it go, his body moving before his mind could catch up.

Sooin reached out and grabbed the back of Pyo Hyungyeon’s brown backpack as the group rushed to put out their cigarettes and leave. He smiled even wider, inhaling the smoke and speaking only with his eyes.

Sunbae, wait a minute.

He put on an expression that suggested he couldn’t speak because of the cigarette. Pyo Hyungyeon stopped hesitantly. Sooin exhaled a puff of white smoke and whispered.

“Lend me your ear for a second.”

At the words accompanied by a friendly smile, Pyo Hyungyeon immediately brought his head closer. He didn’t seem bothered by the fact that it was the same mouth that had just exhaled smoke. Looking at his ear, so close now, Sooin chuckled.

Pyo Hyungyeon kicked at the hoobaes next to him who were urging him to hurry. Wait a minute, you brat! He chuckled, seemingly excited. He looked as if he was wondering what secret Kim Sooin wanted to share with him.

Sooin whispered to the expectant Pyo Hyungyeon.

“How long are you going to be so careless with your mouth?”

At the low question, Pyo Hyungyeon gave a vague “Uh…?” It seemed the message hadn’t gotten through. Sooin repeated himself, putting force into his words.

“Talking shit about people. How long are you going to act your age?”

His eyes were smiling.

Pyo Hyungyeon stared at Sooin for a moment, as if he’d misheard. The group that had been with him had already left, waving at them to hurry up. Snapping out of his daze at their urging, Pyo Hyungyeon asked, his voice trembling with rage.

“What… What did you just say?”

Sooin slowly scanned him, from his face, which was turning red and blue, to his clenched fists. The leaves beneath their feet rustled along with Pyo Hyungyeon’s trembling.

“Those are some infuriating words, aren’t they? Someone said something similar to me recently.”

“…What?”

“Why don’t you act your age and watch your mouth?”

“…”

“Ah, I was too embarrassed to tell anyone. I feel better now that I’ve told you, Sunbae.”

Sooin chuckled softly and grasped Pyo Hyungyeon’s trembling hand. The small fist easily fit in his hand. He slowly unfurled the tightly clenched fingers.

“Kids these days are scary, aren’t they? They look like they’re ready to hit you if you don’t listen.”

“…Who… Who said that…?”

Pyo Hyungyeon seemed to doubt Sooin’s alibi. He asked, his chin trembling. Just like before, Sooin didn’t bother with excuses.

“Um… Sunbae, why are your hands so cold?”

He gently caressed the open palm and squeezed the cold fingertips.

“Even a cold can be scary if you’re not careful. You should take care of your health, especially at your age.”

“…”

“Okay? Be careful.”

He gave him a smile even more affectionate than his touch, then lightly pushed him on the shoulder, a casual gesture dismissing him.

Even at that slight touch, Pyo Hyungyeon flinched and quickly pulled away, as if startled. He immediately took a defensive stance, like a boxer with his guard up. Sooin blinked innocently, remaining still.

“Sunbae, what’s wrong?”

“…You, no… uh…”

Pyo Hyungyeon coughed awkwardly and checked his phone. The time, the class, he mumbled and turned away. Sooin chuckled softly and followed, putting an arm around his hunched shoulders.

Pyo Hyungyeon, who would normally be delighted by such a friendly gesture, remained silent. He simply walked on, stifling the urge to jump away.

“Oh, you’re coming to the last meeting, right? You don’t have anything planned that day, do you?”

“…Yeah, I’ll… I’ll be there…”

His meek reply was completely deflated. Sooin stifled a sigh and patted the shoulder he was holding. He needed to placate him; if he crushed his spirit too much, it might affect the final project.

“Yes, we should have a wrap-up party. You were looking forward to it, Sunbae.”

“Oh, right, we should.”

“Let’s go wherever you want, Sunbae. I’ll make a reservation.”

“…Okay.”

“Okay, then have a good class. I’ll get going first.”

Yeah, okay. Pyo Hyungyeon waved, a troubled expression on his face. He seemed dazed, still trying to process what had just happened. He seemed to be partly blaming his own memory. Sooin kept smiling at his dumbfounded expression.

A bright smile had the power to diffuse a situation. Especially with someone like Pyo Hyungyeon, who would welcome a knife with open arms if it was offered with a smile.

“See you soon!”

“Yeah, you too. Have a good class.”

Finally, Pyo Hyungyeon smiled back at Sooin. Let me know where you want to have the party! he added cheerfully, and Sooin genuinely burst out laughing. Ahaha, he chuckled and nodded.

Sooin turned and entered the college of education building. He was almost late for his “Child Development and Parenting” class because of the unexpected delay.

As he quickly climbed the stairs two or three steps at a time, someone fell into step beside him. A long shadow easily matched Sooin’s pace. There weren’t many people around who could keep up with him without getting winded. Sooin knew who it was without looking.

“How can you do that?”

As expected, it was Song Jaeyi. Sooin chuckled softly and quickened his pace. He reached the fourth floor in no time, heading for the first classroom.

“Do what?”

He gave a short reply only after confirming that the classroom door was still open. Song Jaeyi, as if waiting for this, quickly continued.

“How can you be so different depending on who you’re with?”

He could feel the heat radiating from Jaeyi’s body, so close to his own. Jaeyi often wore short sleeves, perhaps because he ran hot. The innocent face, which looked like it belonged on a body with angel wings and a white t-shirt, pressed him further.

“You were so nice to him just now. Were you always like that behind people’s backs?”

“Ah… You saw that?”

He could see Jaeyi’s eyes narrowed in an expression he couldn’t decipher – was it admiration or disgust? Sooin sat down nonchalantly in the back of the classroom. If anyone else had seen him like that, he would have been worried, but since it was Song Jaeyi, who already knew his true colors to some extent, he didn’t feel a sense of crisis. He was just slightly annoyed.

“Why were you watching secretly? Are you a pervert?”

Song Jaeyi followed him into the classroom and sat down next to him. He leaned closer, lowering his voice as if conscious of the crowded room.

“I was watching in case you decided to strangle him.”

Sooin had wondered why Jaeyi was suddenly showing concern for someone else, but it turned out he was just looking for another reason to pick a fight. Sooin laughed in disbelief.

“No way. I wouldn’t do that.”

“You never know.”

“You really have been played for a fool…”

“…”

“…all your life, haven’t you? Right, Hyung keeps forgetting.”

Sooin sighed wearily and changed the subject.

“The professor will be here soon. Aren’t you going?”

“Why are you doing that?”

“You can’t leave in the middle of this class.”