RFL Ch 12

As Sooin opened the hospital room door, Choi Jooyoung, who’d arrived earlier, raised a hand in greeting. Leaning against the corner by the window, he was casually reading a manga as if it were his own home.

Sooin narrowed his eyes and checked his wristwatch. The hour hand still hovered around 8 a.m. For Choi Jooyoung, a notorious late riser, this was practically the crack of dawn. Yet, it wasn’t rare to find him already in Suye’s room at such an early hour, even on days when Sooin hadn’t specifically asked him to look after her.

Choi Jooyoung would forgo sleep or push work aside to visit Suye’s room. Especially during times like now, when Sooin took on more jobs or worked construction shifts, he’d show up like clockwork. Even with a caregiver present and Sooin checking in when he could, Jooyoung always brushed off concerns with his usual chatter.

It’d probably be the same this time. Knowing that, Sooin still couldn’t help but grumble.

“You don’t have to force yourself to come here.”

Quietly stepping forward, Sooin drew the curtain around the bed to avoid disturbing the other patients. Lowering his voice to a murmur, he spoke, and Choi Jooyoung shrugged. His gaze, about to return to the manga, paused for a moment. His long eyes slid over to Sooin.

“A turtleneck in this weather? Aren’t you hot?”

It was a question that wouldn’t normally faze him, but Sooin found himself momentarily speechless. Caught off guard, his lips went dry. The memory of Song Jaeyi clinging stubbornly to his nape last night flashed through his mind, making his excuse a beat late.

“I’m not hot. It’s thin.”

“What’s with that face? Suspicious.”

Erasing emotions and responding with cold efficiency was Sooin’s specialty. But lately, anything involving Song Jaeyi kept throwing him off track. He could feel how awkward his expression must look right now.

“What’s suspicious?”

Still, he forced a grin and got to work. He straightened the sheets and blanket—likely already changed by Jooyoung—and soaked a soft cloth in lukewarm water. All the while, a sharp gaze bore into the top of his head.

Ignoring the persistent scrutiny, Sooin lowered his hand. Carefully wiping Suye’s forehead downward, he suddenly sensed movement. Glancing curiously toward the window, he saw that Choi Jooyoung, who’d been snickering over his manga moments ago, was gone. An empty chair stared back at him blankly. Feeling odd, Sooin paused, slowly lifting the damp cloth from Suye’s face.

No sooner had he done so than he heard footsteps again. This time, much closer.

“Huh.”

Before he could turn, his t-shirt was yanked sharply. Choi Jooyoung, approaching like an assassin, tugged the shoulder of his top downward. The stretchy fabric quickly slid past his collarbone, exposing the red marks crisscrossing his front and back. Eek, Jooyoung gasped in shock, swallowing hard. Sooin hurriedly shook off his arm to push him away.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Hey, you—those—what are they?”

He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know. Sooin silently finished wiping Suye’s face. But, unexpectedly, Jooyoung genuinely misinterpreted it.

“You—you got hit somewhere? Who did it? Huh?”

“It’s not from getting hit.”

Sooin let out a hollow laugh. Had they been bitten that badly? Sure, he was suffering aftereffects like he’d been beaten all over, but it didn’t seem that extreme. Tilting his head and setting the cloth aside, Jooyoung smacked his back hard.

“They’re bright red—how’s that not from getting hit? I think I saw bruises too. Let me look again, huh?”

Sooin turned, dragging his hollow laugh along. Looking down at the huffing Jooyoung, his shirt hem was grabbed again. Come on, quick! As Jooyoung stomped impatiently, Sooin offered a Buddha-like smile—eyes narrowed into slits, lips stretched wide in the gentlest way possible.

“You really want to see it twice?”

You’ll regret it. He shot a look tinged with that warning through his curved eyes, and Jooyoung gradually steadied his breathing. He seemed to catch the odd smile’s implied threat.

“…Are you, maybe, seeing someone lately?”

Jooyoung’s face twitched—half like he’d heard good news, half like he was annoyed. Sooin smirked and left the room to rinse the cloth. Quick footsteps followed him into the hallway.

“Who are you seeing?”

“No one.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, though there’s a kid I’ve gotten weirdly tangled up with.”

“And?”

Jooyoung, trailing him to the small laundry room, opened the door first. His now-sparkling eyes looked up at Sooin, clearly expecting something.

“It’ll be over soon.”

“Why?”

But Sooin couldn’t meet Jooyoung’s expectations. Instead, he turned on the water, chuckling incredulously at the question.

“Why? Do you think I’m qualified to date?”

Jooyoung went quiet for a brief moment. But as Sooin began washing the cloth with familiar ease, he shouted loud enough to pierce through the sound of the water.

“Hey! Why wouldn’t you be qualified?”

“Shh. Why’re you suddenly so worked up?”

“If you want to do it, just do it—fuck, what more qualifications do you need?”

Clenching both fists, Jooyoung trembled. Sooin, baffled by his red-hot neck and unclear anger, deepened his smile. What’s the fuss about all of a sudden? he muttered, prompting another outburst.

“No, seriously! Life’s already shitty enough to kill you—do you have to live without dating too?”

He understood, yet he was mad because he understood, and still, Jooyoung kept pressing. So Sooin played dumb about his feelings, keeping a light smile as he replied.

“Nah, swimming in the mud together isn’t love.”

Shaking out the small cloth, he left the laundry room. Jooyoung followed, smacking Sooin’s back again while muttering.

“Bullshit, don’t overreact. Love, my ass… Just date as much as you like it! What’s the difference between dating and a one-night stand? Just don’t only sleep together—do other stuff too.”

It wasn’t exactly hospital-appropriate talk, so his voice kept shrinking. Still, unable to quell his anger, Jooyoung’s neck flushed patchy red. Seeing him even raise veins, Sooin shook his head.

“Well… Now that I’ve got a body that might get pregnant from a casual fling, it’s tricky, huh?”

Hanging the wet cloth by the window, he giggled. The playful jab earned him a kick to the calf. Too weak to land it hard, Jooyoung huffed for a while.

Sooin raised both hands at the fiery glare. Alright, sorry, calm down—he tried to brush it off simply. But today, Jooyoung was relentless. Hesitating with pent-up frustration, he finally spoke.

“If you’re doing this on purpose… Suye wouldn’t like it either.”

The sudden low blow from his friend caught Sooin off guard, silencing him. His bright smile slowly sank.

“How much would she hate thinking you’re giving something up because of her?”

Jooyoung added another jab, his features twitching as if he regretted overstepping. He seemed to blame himself mid-sentence. So Sooin couldn’t snap back coldly. Instead, he rubbed his stiff face once to compose himself.

“I haven’t given up anything. There’s nothing to give up.”

Sooin smiled tepidly. Speaking clearly as if for Suye to hear too, he patted Jooyoung’s shoulder. The soothing touch softened Jooyoung a bit. His gentled eyes looked up, asking if it was true. Sooin nodded firmly.

No one thinks of giving up something that was never theirs to begin with. Sooin pulled Jooyoung closer, slinging an arm over his shoulder.

“Let’s go eat.”

With a brisk tone, Jooyoung followed as if enchanted. Grumbling about eating at the hospital cafeteria again, his steps stayed docile. On hospital meetup days, it was always the same menu anyway—jeyuk-deopbap from the basement 3rd-floor cafeteria. The best choice after scouring every nearby spot.

Today, too, they silently shoveled down the same meal and stepped into the smoking area. Usually, Jooyoung smoked alone while Sooin circled the block a few times before they headed back together. But today was different. Maybe last night’s exhaustion or the dating talk made him crave a cigarette. Holding out a shameless hand, Jooyoung wordlessly shared one.

“Oh, hold on.”

Lighting Sooin’s first, Jooyoung held up his phone. A name plastered with hearts glowed on the screen. Before even answering, he giggled, “Yes, Noona,” and dashed out of the smoking area. The hearts tacked onto his words outdid those on the display.

What a great time for him, Sooin thought like an old man, exhaling smoke. A laugh mingled with the white cloud spreading into the air. Unconsciously pulling out his own phone, a text arrived right then.

Song Jaeyi

Ah, seriously

The curt three words conjured Song Jaeyi’s face in Sooin’s mind. Startled by the uncanny timing, his eyes widened as a call came through. With a puzzled look, he pressed accept.

—Why the hell are you like this, Hyung?

Irritation hit first. A low, rough voice, half-hoarse, unloaded its anger.

—How do you leave without waking me? Aren’t you worried? What if I did something to your place—you just left without even a note?

Unlike Jooyoung’s heart-laden call, this was a starkly different start. Sooin replied lightly, Take a breath. After a brief silence, Song Jaeyi doubled down with an even more annoyed tone.

—Did you do this with the people you met before too?

“Hm?”

Sooin inhaled deeply and exhaled, questioning with just his throat. Rustling sheets sounded from the other end.

—That Geon-something guy—did you leave him at your place too?

“Nope.”

—Really? He seemed shady. What if he hid a camera somewhere?

It sounded like he might start searching, as the line grew noisy. Imagining a tall, naked Song Jaeyi poking around an empty house, Sooin chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry. I never brought him home.”

—…Really?

“Yeah.”

—…Anyone else?

“No one.”

—Nobody?

“Yeah, nobody. No one’s been to my place.”

Song Jaeyi, who’d been frantically checking even the curtains, went still. Holding the suddenly silent phone to his ear, Sooin took a deep drag. The brief wait for a reply felt oddly tense.

—…When are you coming back today?

Song Jaeyi’s voice shifted noticeably, softening too much. Sooin tossed the stubbed-out butt, pressing down the corners of his mouth that threatened to rise.

“Probably around evening. You can shower and leave whenever. There’s no food, though.”

—Got it. Hanging up.

The call ended as abruptly as it began. No chance to add a word—he cut it off the second he was done.

Even this reckless bullshit feels cute.

Sooin was floored. More than the dropped call, he was the problem. His reflection on the smoking area pillar looked absurdly foolish— no different from Jooyoung’s giddy grin over his Noona’s call.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Spending the morning with Jooyoung at the hospital, Sooin handled two tutoring sessions in the afternoon. Both were far from home, eating up hours just in transit. His waist, folded and pressed mercilessly last night, screamed in protest.

Finally stepping off the bus as dusk fell, Sooin walked slowly. He hadn’t eaten dinner yet, and his body, still reeling from yesterday, felt heavy.

Dragging his feet, the tall figure stopped short. It was at the alley’s edge, his house in sight. Sooin’s widened eyes blinked repeatedly.

The lights were on. Beyond the red gate, up a shallow hill and stone steps, the two-story house—definitely his—glowed with light.

It used to be normal. A family of four, with parents working shifts, someone was always awake. The house was lit whenever he returned. That changed three years ago.

Since that day, the house he came back to was always dark and asleep. No warmth, no light, no sound. He’d stand in the silent entryway, enduring the stillness.

But today, the lights were on. As if someone was waiting for him.

The realization hit, and his heart raced out of nowhere. His ears rang, his breath quickened. His stomach churned, like seasickness on dry land.

That feeling again.

Sooin bolted, flinging the gate open. But his rushed steps didn’t head straight for the door. Hesitating, he veered to the garden bench. First, he needed to calm his panting breath. Sitting, he took slow, deep breaths.

Light and noise poured from the house behind him. Clattering sounds—like cooking, small utensils or dishes being set and moved—wrapped around him warmly.

Focusing on the sounds for a while, his breathing steadied. Still queasy, Sooin lay back on the bench, closing his heated eyes and muttering,

“I’m scared to go in.”

Because if I see his face now, I might really fall for him…

Sighing limply, Sooin let his body relax. His tense, stretched-out frame ached. Muscles overworked last night complained against the hard bench, but he had no fix for now. He kept breathing deeply for a long time.

As sleep crept in, Sooin sat up, slapping his cheeks. He couldn’t stay like this forever. Composing his face, he stood before the door. Punching in the code, a loud crash echoed from inside.

Sooin slipped off his shoes with a blank expression. What’s that? he muttered carelessly, stepping into the living room. Song Jaeyi, in the kitchen with rubber gloves on, turned around.

“You’re still here?”

Sooin deliberately avoided his face, scrunching his own in annoyance. Tossing the words out like they were a hassle, he headed to the bathroom. Washing his hands and stepping out, Song Jaeyi immediately protested.

“You left me here and just went, Hyung.”

Peeling off the gloves and tossing them by the sink, he stood by the table. Avoiding his face, Sooin’s eyes naturally fell on the table. He stared silently at the array of dishes. More variety than before—looked like Korean food this time.

“You did whatever you wanted, so I did too. Problem?”

The defiant tone clashed with the effort-laden spread, leaving Sooin speechless. His gaze drifted upward, and the moment their eyes met, his plan to brush him off coldly crumbled. A triumphant face with bubbles on one cheek stared back.

“Anyway… eat.”

It was just as he’d predicted lying on the bench. That handsome, clumsy face broke his heart after all.

Why’s the human heart so weak?

Laughing at himself for collapsing over a mere dinner setup, Sooin kept up the pretense, gesturing with a bright face. His chin pointed to the bubbles on Song Jaeyi’s cheek.

“Where’d you do the dishes?”

“What?”

Song Jaeyi didn’t catch on, fumbling at the wrong spot on his jaw. Sooin almost stepped closer but pulled back. Tapping his own cheek instead, Song Jaeyi frowned.

“For a kiss?”

His what’s that supposed to mean? look turned into a move like he’d actually do it. Flinch—his step forward made Sooin burst out laughing. Haha, sitting down, he said,

“You’ve got bubbles on your cheek.”

“…Oh.”

Song Jaeyi rubbed his face, sheepish yet gruff. Switching between cheeks, he lifted his chin. Good now? His unnecessarily pretty face asked, and Sooin nearly blurted something dumb. Nodding once, he hurriedly poured water. His crumbling insides were too loud for composure.

“Eat quick and go. It’s late.”

Drawing a sharp line, Sooin winced inwardly. It wasn’t like him to build such a wall. Teasing lazily would’ve been more natural, but the deliberate distance probably showed.

Sure enough, Song Jaeyi narrowed his eyes. Instead of snapping back as usual, he studied Sooin suspiciously. Dark pupils glinted through the veil of long lashes.

Sooin avoided his gaze, picking up a spoon. Expecting a barrage of questions any second.

But Song Jaeyi stayed quiet. Just watched silently, then picked up his own spoon. The calm demeanor unnerved Sooin more. Tense breaths swallowed down with rice.

Until the meal ended, Song Jaeyi barely spoke. No thanks or you’re so rude, Hyung—none of the expected jabs came. He ate quietly, their eyes meeting occasionally. Each time, those piercing eyes jolted Sooin.

“Tomorrow, right? Pyo Hyungyeon’s coming?”

Sooin broke the stifling silence first. Not one to mind quiet, his lips moved on their own.

“What time was it again?”

He laughed through the lame question. The obsession with acting natural backfired. Noticing the shift, Song Jaeyi’s eyes narrowed again.

“Nine. We’ll go together after the café.”

Not pressing further, Song Jaeyi closed his sharp eyes. His dull reply made Sooin feel oddly restrained, but he answered casually.

“There’s a big gap between the café and then.”

“We can go early, eat, maybe watch a movie.”

“You and me?”

“Yeah.”

Song Jaeyi threw a nonchalant glance. Problem? his bold look asked. Sooin narrowed his eyes, slowly setting down his spoon.

“That sounds too much like a date.”

Joking exaggeratedly to hit a nerve usually made Song Jaeyi back off. Sooin went for the familiar tactic. But this time, the reaction was different.

“So what if it’s like a date? Sex is fine, but dating’s not?”

Sooin blinked slowly. In those few blinks—a mere instant—hundreds of thoughts raced through his mind.

To Kim Sooin, dating wasn’t a big deal. Just food and a movie? He’d agreed to fake relationships for a few days before—it wasn’t hard. When he’d promised to play Song Jaeyi’s boyfriend, hadn’t he even planned to meet his parents? There was no excuse to refuse.

But now, Sooin wanted to say no. A new fear, different from back then, gripped him. The inevitable end and its heavy emotions pressed down on his chest.

So, he resorted to a cheap move again.

“Did you reschedule that blind date?”

Smiling faintly, he asked, and Song Jaeyi slowly raised his head.

His jaw, chewing food and words alike, gradually stilled. Setting down his spoon and sipping water leisurely, he pulled his chair closer. As if waiting, he said,

“I was gonna bring that up anyway.”

“…To me?”

“Thought I should ask you, Hyung.”

It felt like the curveball he’d thrown veered off in a wild direction. The unease he’d ignored peeked out. Suppressing a bad feeling, Sooin looked at Song Jaeyi. Oddly, his eyes gleamed like an athlete on the verge of victory.

“I keep thinking I shouldn’t go out there. Because of Hyung.”

“….Why would you think that?”

Oh, I shouldn’t have asked. Sooin belatedly shut his mouth. Song Jaeyi’s gaze fell on his tightly pressed lips.

“You’re right. I don’t know why I’m like this either. I’m just so conscious of Hyung.”

“….”

“I’m curious and I want to touch him, and he bothers me, so I wonder if I like him. But then sometimes I don’t even want to see him. It’s confusing.”

It was the first time in his life that he had heard such a blatant and honest confession. Yet, the person involved didn’t seem to think what he had said was a confession. His expression unchanged, he slid the bowl closer and leaned in.

“What about Hyung?”

He must have been so quiet today to launch a surprise attack. Sooin thought in amazement, wiping the corners of his eyes. He intended to hide his frozen face, unable to even feign nonchalance.

“Do you really want me to go on blind dates and get married?”

No matter what, if he stays silent for this long, even silence becomes an answer. Sooin cursed his stupidly frozen self and quickly sought a mask. He pretended not to know the storm raging within his crumbling heart and replied,

“What does my opinion matter? It’s your life.”

At his hollow laugh, Song Jaeyi stared at Sooin with a blank expression. That penetrating gaze returned. Sooin hastily gathered words that could serve as a shield.

“Still, if you decide to go on a blind date, let me know. The other person will be coming with marriage in mind…. You should end things with your sex partner before you go.”

“So you’re saying it’s okay for me to go.”

Despite Sooin carefully choosing his words, Song Jaeyi maintained his indifferent gaze. Then, in a still somewhat subdued voice, he added,

“Are you serious?”

He had a bad habit. The habit of asking twice, giving a chance for honesty. So Sooin always had to be the sinner who squandered both opportunities.

“Of course.”

Sooin forced a gentle smile and stood up first. He carried the emptied dishes to the sink. The sound of a chair scraping followed immediately. Song Jaeyi got up, picked up his own dishes, and approached. A hot, solid body pressed against his back.

“That person at the cafe said…”

The whisper sounded excessively loud because of the position, as if being embraced from behind. The resonance of the voice felt physical.

“That Hyung is only thinking of using me and throwing me away.”

For a moment, Sooin wanted to ask. After hearing all that, after judging that even if they did start dating, he wouldn’t give his true heart, how could he be so honest and lay all his cards on the table? Wasn’t he afraid of the aftermath?

But Kim Sooin wasn’t Song Jaeyi. He didn’t expose his vulnerability and ask. Instead, he pulled his stiff lips into a smile.

“Let’s get this straight. You’re the one going on the blind date… I’m the one who gets used and thrown away.”

At the deliberately light, joking remark, Song Jaeyi let out a short laugh. He chuckled, a puff of air, and turned on the water. Pushing Sooin’s shoulder, Song Jaeyi stood in front of the sink and picked up the rubber gloves again.

“Well? I guess we’ll see.”

He murmured the words like a warning.

❤︎₊ ⊹

As soon as his cafe shift ended the next day, Song Jaeyi dragged Sooin out. He fussed about being late for the movie he had booked, but once at the cinema, he headed for the arcade first.

“I misread the showtime.”

He offered a perfunctory excuse and took Sooin straight to a stuffed animal claw machine. Seeing him confidently lead the way, Sooin thought he might be good at it, but that wasn’t the case. After feeding three 10,000 won bills into the machine, Song Jaeyi positioned Sooin in front of it.

“Hyung, get me one.”

Despite being taken aback by the brazen request, Sooin quickly got engrossed. Having spent a considerable amount of money, he had to win at least three to break even. He was fairly confident. He used to be quite good at these games back in school.

However, perhaps due to advancements in the machines, it wasn’t easy. After spending 30,000 won and managing to win only two, Sooin felt a little embarrassed.

Song Jaeyi looked extremely satisfied. He offered Sooin one of the prizes with a rare smile. Then, saying he’d buy him dinner as thanks for getting him the stuffed animal, he led Sooin away.

By this point, his intentions were crystal clear. Song Jaeyi seemed determined to have a date today. Sooin should have refused, but he couldn’t. He had fallen into a trap of his own making.

It was Sooin who had suggested setting up drinks with Pyo Hyungyeon, who had suggested working at the cafe, and who had claimed that casual sex could easily happen and that even that lightness was love. So he couldn’t refuse with any excuse.

It was suspicious that they could easily have sex several times but a date was difficult, and strange that someone with a casual approach to relationships was suddenly so strict about dating. Any reason he could think of was a contradiction.

As if aware of Sooin’s predicament, Song Jaeyi was brazen. At the cinema concession stand, he bought a couple’s set without asking and took Sooin’s hand.

“What’s this?”

As Sooin dangled their joined hands, Song Jaeyi frowned.

“Stop it. You’ll drop the popcorn.”

“Jaeyi, are you practicing dating with Hyung?”

“Don’t be so annoying… Ah, it’s this way.”

Cutting off his irritated retort, Song Jaeyi pointed at the ceiling. An LED display board flashed instructions.

Viewers of “Naughty Partner” (Theater 2), please proceed in this direction.

“Hey, you really….”

Isn’t the title a little too blatant? As Sooin chuckled, Song Jaeyi belatedly changed his words.

“Just play along. It’s date practice.”

“Ah, so you can use it when you go on your blind date?”

“Yes. I’ll learn from Hyung and use it on other people. Happy now?”

Song Jaeyi pulled his arm, annoyance lacing his voice. The force of his hand, urging him to hurry up, was so strong that Sooin couldn’t help but follow.

The movie was as transparent as its title. From the start, the alpha and omega, meeting for the first time, were exchanging passionate kisses and groping each other. The actors’ sticky breathing sounds filled the theater before any proper dialogue.

Only then did Sooin notice the interior of the theater, filled with couples. The pairs sitting with spaces between them all seemed disinterested in the movie. With armrests raised, they were busy with their own displays of affection. They seemed to have come with a purpose other than watching the movie.

In contrast, the armrest between Sooin and Song Jaeyi was down. The popcorn container on top further separated them. Consequently, their hands, which had been holding each other until they entered, were now far apart. Unaware of this, Song Jaeyi was completely absorbed in the movie. His eyes seemed empty due to his intense focus, but his expression was serious.

A short laugh, like a puff of air, escaped Sooin. He belatedly covered his mouth, but his eyes met Song Jaeyi’s. Frowning, he mouthed, “What?”

Sooin swallowed his reply and smiled. He couldn’t say it was because he found it cute how Song Jaeyi, despite picking a racy romance movie, couldn’t even imagine doing anything else.

Instead, he placed the untouched popcorn on the floor. Then, raising the armrest, he took Song Jaeyi’s hand. To the startled Song Jaeyi, Sooin whispered,

“Make sure you use this on your blind date.”

Song Jaeyi sighed, a half-formed curse mixed in, and laced his fingers through Sooin’s. The grip, as if suppressing all of his fingers, was unusually tight.

Although the pressing knuckles were uncomfortable and slightly painful, Sooin kept smiling and watched the screen. It felt like a normal date after a long time. If they could maintain just this level of relationship, maybe they could see each other a little longer…. He felt good enough to have such complacent thoughts. The movie, fittingly, had a happy ending.

❤︎₊ ⊹

When the movie ended, the appointed time was fast approaching. Fortunately, the cinema and Yeoljeong Pocha were only ten minutes apart, but even in that short interval, Pyo Hyungyeon called Song Jaeyi. His loud, insistent voice carried over the phone.

Song Jaeyi was in the middle of attaching a tacky stuffed animal keychain to an expensive-looking bag. With the phone wedged between his shoulder and ear, Song Jaeyi frowned. The gentle expression he had worn until moments ago turned cold.

“I’m almost there.”

Despite the frown, Song Jaeyi’s reply was subdued. Even while standing on the street in an uncomfortable position, he didn’t express any annoyance. It was a truly rewarding moment, showcasing the fruits of Sooin’s coaching.

However, Sooin didn’t feel proud. He had the strange thought that he would rather Song Jaeyi had snapped back as usual, so he reached out for no reason. He decided to attach the keychain for him.

“…Why would he run away?”

Song Jaeyi laughed in disbelief at another one of Pyo Hyungyeon’s ridiculous remarks. His gaze towards Sooin was full of expectation. His eyes seemed to be asking if Sooin would attach it for him. It was absurd. As if it was something difficult. Sooin easily took the keychain and attached it to the bag.

The palm-sized stuffed animal wasn’t actually that cute. It wasn’t popular like the other characters filling the machines. It was just a round, white bear head. Its ears were so small that it looked like a glutinous rice cake at a glance, a carelessly made bear.

The texture in his hand was soft and chewy, just like a rice cake. Sooin fiddled with the white stuffed animal, which clashed with the black leather bag. He thought the cat keychain next to it was much cuter. It resembled Song Jaeyi.

But the one who paid insisted on this small, ugly stuffed animal. Feeling regretful that 30,000 won was spent on this level of quality, Sooin muttered,

“You have peculiar taste.”

His taste in men isn’t bad, considering he’s interested in me…. Sooin smiled quietly and patted the bag. At the silent “It’s done,” Song Jaeyi nodded.

“I’m really right in front of the place. I’m hanging up.”

Even though Song Jaeyi had said he was almost there several times, Pyo Hyungyeon was making a fuss. His yelling, loud enough to be heard even through the receiver, continued, and Sooin felt irritated. Why was he shouting and making a scene before they even met, and into someone else’s ear? His displeasure was evident in his furrowed brows.

Song Jaeyi, who was walking ahead, flung open the door to Yeoljeong Pocha. Then, glancing back, he paused. Blocking the doorway slightly with his broad shoulders, he spoke as if soothing Sooin.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do as Hyung said.”

He seemed to think Sooin was worried about him arguing or rebelling. Perhaps his subdued expression had caused the misunderstanding. He considered explaining, but decided to keep his mouth shut. He couldn’t explain his sudden irritability either. It was better to refrain from speaking when he couldn’t articulate his feelings.

As soon as they entered, the focused attention left no room for conversation anyway. As soon as the door opened, Pyo Hyungyeon, who had jumped up from the center of the restaurant, raised his hand.

“Ah, you finally made it! Man, I was freaking out, thinking you’d actually ditched me.”

The others around Pyo Hyungyeon at the center table also greeted them boisterously. Some waved enthusiastically, some bowed awkwardly, others simply observed. The crowd, easily over twenty people, filled the large table and spilled over to the next.

He’d miscalculated. Sooin had assumed that simply setting up a meeting would appease Pyo Hyungyeon to some extent, but he was completely wrong. Pyo Hyungyeon had come out today seeking revenge.

There was no other explanation for why he would invite a similar number of people as the freshman welcome party to an event where his junior would be footing the bill. What should he do with this petty, cheap bastard? Sooin masked his involuntary chuckle by smoothing his hand over his mouth. Meanwhile, Pyo Hyungyeon, who had noisily pushed back his chair and stood up, approached Song Jaeyi and clung to him.

“But you know what? I didn’t invite many people, but somehow word got around… and this happened.”

Song Jaeyi bent down to accommodate Pyo Hyungyeon’s forced attempt at an arm-around-the-shoulder. Even as they walked uncomfortably to the table, Song Jaeyi didn’t react much. He, who would usually retort with “You should have said traffic was bad” or similar remarks, was unusually quiet.

“Yeah, well… it’s okay.”

He simply gave a curt reply and sat down at an empty seat. Pyo Hyungyeon, now at eye level, slung his arm over Song Jaeyi’s shoulder and shouted,

“Hey everyone! This is the guy paying for us today, so thank him!”

Among the cheering crowd, Sooin noticed quite a few unfamiliar faces. Yiso, who had worked on the group project with them, was nowhere to be seen, and there were more than three or four people who seemed to be from different departments. Moreover, judging by the state of the food and drinks, it didn’t seem like they had just gathered.

This truly despicable bastard. Sooin swallowed a curse along with a deep sigh and picked up a bottle of soju. At this point, the only option was to get Pyo Hyungyeon drunk quickly. He put on a friendly smile and acted affectionately.

“Sunbae, give me your glass. I’ll pour you a drink.”

“Huh?”

Pyo Hyungyeon was already pouring drinks into an empty glass. Even though he mixed soju, more than half the glass, with beer, the color remained clear. Since someone else was paying, he seemed intent on getting properly drunk. He was so focused that he picked up a spoon first, despite usually making a fuss about being served a drink by Kim Sooin.

Pyo Hyungyeon plunged the spoon into the center of the full glass. With a clink, bubbles surged up from the bottom. He pushed the precariously full glass, about to overflow, towards Song Jaeyi.

“I’m not drinking today. I’m taking herbal medicine these days.”

Pyo Hyungyeon smiled at Sooin’s questioning look. It was a crooked smile, one corner of his mouth raised higher than the other.

“Hey, hey, you have to drink this now. Quickly!”

He urged the glass towards Song Jaeyi’s mouth, making a fuss. Sooin involuntarily reached out, but Song Jaeyi was faster. He snatched the glass and, without hesitation, started to drink.

Song Jaeyi frowned, his prominent Adam’s apple moving busily. More than half of his small face was hidden behind the glass, but his expression was readable from his eyes alone.

Song Jaeyi’s eyes held the same look as when he had grumbled, “How can you make a sick person drink? Be reasonable.” His narrowed eyes glared at Sooin as he drained the glass. The look clearly conveyed “Don’t interfere.”

Finally, the up-and-down movement of his Adam’s apple ceased. The delighted Pyo Hyungyeon immediately refilled the empty glass, laughing. Even at the subtly barbed comment about why Song Jaeyi didn’t drink often if he could drink so well, Song Jaeyi remained silent. He simply rinsed his mouth with water and asked artlessly,

“Should I drink this too?”

It was a comment that made even Sooin crave a drink.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Even Pyo Hyungyeon would draw disapproval for forcing a junior to drink repeatedly without reason. This was a fact that Pyo Hyungyeon, sensitive to others’ gazes, couldn’t be unaware of.

So, his tactics changed several times. At first, he trotted out the old “three glasses for the latecomer” rule, and then he chose drinking games that Song Jaeyi wasn’t familiar with. For a while, the attacks seemed targeted solely at Song Jaeyi.

Classmates who were vaguely aware of the hallway incident were cautious, but those seeing them for the first time today were simply enjoying themselves. Pyo Hyungyeon’s insincere praises like “Our department’s representative handsome guy, Song Jaeyi” and “Isn’t he cute?” served as a smokescreen. People joined in the teasing, treating it as playful banter.

Moreover, Song Jaeyi himself played a part. He didn’t cooperate with Sooin’s attempts to change the flow. He accepted everything Pyo Hyungyeon suggested. He even refused when not only Sooin, but also a softhearted senior, offered to take a penalty drink in his place.

Throughout the drinking session, Song Jaeyi accepted penalty drinks without a hint of displeasure, almost as if waiting for them. He didn’t argue with Pyo Hyungyeon’s inappropriate jokes and let him pronounce his name awkwardly and old-fashionedly, however he pleased. Even when Pyo Hyungyeon, getting increasingly excited, patted his shoulder or fiddled with his hand, Song Jaeyi submitted without resistance. His face, not even furrowing his brow, was so docile that even his classmates began to relax. Seeing the usually assertive Song Jaeyi so subdued, they seemed to believe that the bad blood between them had been resolved.

Thanks to this, things went exactly as Pyo Hyungyeon wanted. In less than two hours, Song Jaeyi was completely drunk.

The blinking of his eyes gradually slowed, and his small head began to bob. His still face, pale white, resembled a plaster statue. The light pink flush that had risen prettily on his cheeks earlier had long since disappeared. He looked like all life had been drained from him, a sight that made Sooin frown.

Despite this, Sooin felt inwardly relieved. It was better this way. Even when awake, Song Jaeyi refused help and didn’t know how to play along, so it was easier to escape with him asleep. Fortunately, his classmate, who had been anxious all day, opened the way.

“Uh, Jaeyi’s asleep. Is he really drunk…? Didn’t you make him drink too much?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sooin seized the opportunity. He put on a troubled smile and supported Song Jaeyi’s nodding head.

“Yeah, he can’t even get up.”

Sooin carefully leaned Song Jaeyi’s head against his shoulder. Finding a place to rest, Song Jaeyi moaned comfortably. At the low “Mmm” sound, his classmate waved his hands frantically.

“Hey, hey, that’s dangerous! Take him home quickly.”

The timing was perfect. Pyo Hyungyeon had taken a group of people out for a smoke. The table was sparsely populated due to the smokers and those who had left early. The suddenly quiet atmosphere made it easy to naturally steer the mood towards ending the gathering. Sooin quickly pulled the sturdy body closer, preparing to support him.

“Alright, then I’ll head out first.”

Sooin smiled with his eyes and pulled Song Jaeyi up. Fortunately, Song Jaeyi seemed to still be somewhat conscious as he managed to stand on his own, albeit swaying slightly. Though his clinging body was heavy and cumbersome, it wasn’t impossible to manage.

“Money… I have to pay.”

Even as he was being dragged along, Song Jaeyi fumbled for his card. His long legs staggered diagonally towards the counter. He handed his card to the cashier and looked back at Sooin, who was frozen in surprise.

“You said I should at least use the money….”

I didn’t say that. Sooin glared in annoyance and moved closer to Song Jaeyi. He took the card and put it away for him, then dragged the heavy man out of the restaurant. He couldn’t argue.

It was none other than himself who had advised Song Jaeyi to comply with most requests.

He had even said to just endure it for a day, to play the role of a good junior and be patient, because Pyo Hyungyeon would get over it quickly. The naive twenty-one-year-old, who said he was so conscious of his Hyung, had followed that advice to the letter.

“I can endure more.”

“…….”

“…Didn’t I do well?”

The head that had been nuzzling his shoulder lifted. Song Jaeyi, standing with effort on his unsteady feet, frowned. At his expression, as if asking what was wrong, Sooin sighed involuntarily.

❤︎₊ ⊹

When he gave the advice, no, even now, Sooin thought of Pyo Hyungyeon that way. He was the type of person you had to tolerate and avoid. Because he was a master of underhanded tactics.

Pyo Hyungyeon never harassed people openly. He was an expert at manipulating public opinion behind the scenes and playing the victim if caught. That’s why everyone played along with him. As Song Jaeyi said, they knew he was the problem, but most people avoided him instead of trying to address the issue.

Sooin didn’t need to add unnecessary trouble to his already tiring life. Especially since this group project was for Professor Kwak’s class. It wasn’t just about scholarships or grades; something more important was at stake. It was beneficial in many ways to maintain a smooth, amicable relationship, at least outwardly.

So even when he couldn’t control his frustration, he always made amends. He maintained a good relationship with Pyo Hyungyeon, at least superficially. That was the kind of relationship he had recommended to Song Jaeyi.

“….You did well.”

That’s why there wasn’t much he could say. He repeated the blunt praise and pulled Song Jaeyi closer again. He muttered for Song Jaeyi to close his eyes so they could avoid running into Pyo Hyungyeon, and Song Jaeyi burrowed deeper into his embrace.

“I finally got Hyung’s approval.”

His ticklish laughter warmed the area around Sooin’s collarbone and chest. It was like a warm spring breeze. Sooin, who had stopped abruptly, started walking again.

“What kind of approval is this?”

He tugged at Song Jaeyi’s clothes, urging him to hurry. But Song Jaeyi’s pace was slow. Whether it was the lingering effects of the alcohol or the discomfort of his hunched posture, he was leisurely despite Sooin’s desire to walk quickly.

“It’ll be troublesome if we run into Pyo Hyungyeon, so walk faster. I purposely came this way to avoid the smoking area.”