RFL Ch 13

His low voice cut through the silent, square space, a palpable wave in the stillness where even breaths could be heard. People crammed together nearby glanced at the two of them. Sooin flushed at someone’s whispered “Oh my.” He quickly hissed, “Be quiet.”

A faint smile touched Song Jaeyi’s lips. He tilted his head slightly and asked, “You like me?”

Now Sooin could feel the stifled laughter rippling around them. He sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead, feigning a troubled expression and scratching the bridge of his nose with a conspicuously straightened middle finger. Song Jaeyi chuckled softly and fell silent.

Suye’s hospital room was on a middle floor. Thankfully, the agonizingly slow elevator ride ended quickly. Although, with only the two of them exiting on that floor, they drew more attention than they would have liked.

Song Jaeyi, unfazed by the elevator incident, remained calm as they walked down the hall. Unlike Sooin, who was unusually tense, he strolled at a relaxed, leisurely pace. Sooin found his casual demeanor rather brazen.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t heard it myself.”

“Heard what?”

“You saying you like me.”

At his lightly tossed words, Song Jaeyi stopped in his tracks. A subtle frown creased his otherwise relaxed face as he asked, “Do you want to hear it?”

Sooin had only meant to tease him, but the serious reply caught him off guard. He lightly touched Song Jaeyi’s arm and laughed. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

“I was actually going to say it first. But then Hyung suddenly…”

He seemed surprisingly bothered by it. Muttering with a slightly dejected look, Song Jaeyi suddenly closed his mouth. He looked at Sooin accusingly, as if blaming him for bringing it up.

“Yeah, it’s my fault, Hyung.”

“…It’s not Hyung’s fault.”

Then what did he want to say? Sooin looked at him, bewildered, and pulled him along. His large frame commanded too much attention standing in the middle of the hospital hallway. As he pulled him closer to the windows, Song Jaeyi said quietly, “Just wait a little while.”

…Wait for what? A confession?

Sooin abruptly lifted his head from checking his watch. His wide eyes met Song Jaeyi’s resolute gaze.

“I’m not ready yet. I’ll do it properly when everything is over.”

“No, Jaeyi. I really didn’t mean it like that. Don’t do it.”

“It won’t take long.”

“…Hey, are you listening to me? I said don’t.”

Despite Sooin’s hurried dissuasion, Song Jaeyi remained silent. True to his character, which abhorred lies, he didn’t brush it off with a disingenuous agreement. His stubbornness only added to Sooin’s bewilderment. His face, illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, was turned away, avoiding Sooin’s gaze.

“Shouldn’t we go?”

It was a truly awkward attempt to change the subject. Speechless, Sooin rubbed his face and took a deep breath. They couldn’t stand in the hallway forever. He started walking towards the room, continuing to try and persuade Song Jaeyi.

“I don’t know what kind of preparations you’re talking about, but you don’t have to do that. No, it’s more accurate to say there’s no reason to.”

Sooin knew very well that his next words might cut him like a knife. So he wrapped them in the gentlest tone he could muster.

“Jaeyi, we’ve already talked about where we stand. Why prepare a confession when the outcome is obvious? My answer will be the same anyway.”

His heart chilled as he spoke the words. He expected Song Jaeyi to look hurt. With that in mind, Sooin stopped in front of the hospital room. He intended to give him a chance to back out if he wanted to.

“It will be different.”

To his surprise, Song Jaeyi’s face remained impassive when he turned around. His handsome features bore no trace of dejection. Instead, the confidence in his eyes was unsettling.

“If you knew what I’ve done to confess to you, Hyung…”

A chill ran down Sooin’s spine as Song Jaeyi added those words in a low murmur. His implication that he was already in the midst of preparations set Sooin’s imagination running wild. Images of heart-shaped balloons stuffed in a car trunk, an “I love you” candlelit path, and videos of roses and serenades flashed through his mind.

But Song Jaeyi was only twenty-one, five years younger than Sooin. He couldn’t possibly know about those old-fashioned, clichéd events that even Sooin had only seen in the media. His relief was short-lived, however, as Sooin remembered the extravagant proposal events circulating on social media.

Come to think of it, these days, such events were broadcast to the whole world.

And a wealthy young man would certainly have the resources to pull off something like that. The thought of himself suddenly caught in the middle of a huge musical flash mob made Sooin dizzy.

“Jaeyi.”

Closing his eyes tightly and opening them again, Sooin called Song Jaeyi’s name softly. His voice was anxious and pleading, but Song Jaeyi didn’t budge. His face, smooth and polished like an unscratchable gemstone, only twitched his eyebrows.

“Huh? What?”

The voice, however, came from somewhere unexpected. Sooin quickly turned at the familiar sound behind him. Oh, he had completely forgotten. The caregiver always contacted Choi Jooyoung whenever something like this happened.

“Isn’t that Kim Sooin?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s Sooin.”

Choi Jooyoung and the caregiver were standing side by side, each holding two convenience store bags filled with items. It seemed that Choi Jooyoung, who had persuaded the caregiver despite her constant refusals, had brought snacks.

Momentarily startled, Sooin approached them. He took the heavy bag from the caregiver’s hand and greeted them.

“You’re here. When did you get here?”

Sooin tried to take the bag from Choi Jooyoung’s hand as well. But Choi Jooyoung, his lips tightly pressed together, only glared at him. His eyes, wide enough to pop out of his head, darted between Sooin and Song Jaeyi. At his look that seemed to ask, “What’s going on between you two?”, Sooin silently snatched the bag.

“Oh, young Jooyoung arrived a little while ago. And is that your friend behind you?”

“Ah, yes. He’s my hoobae from school.”

Sooin answered quietly, afraid that if she heard more, she might say something like, ‘He’s the one you like, isn’t he?’ But as he turned to the hospital room, his path was blocked. Song Jaeyi, who he thought was still standing far away, was now right behind him.

“Hello.”

“Oh my, he’s so handsome and tall.”

It was endearing to see him greet a stranger first, even though he wasn’t seven years old. While Sooin suppressed a smile, Choi Jooyoung stepped forward. His strangely awkward movements looked unnatural.

“Um, so…, how do we meet again here?”

“I know, right?”

Moreover, his forced greeting was quite odd. Choi Jooyoung would never be so stiff with a wealthy young man with so much to offer…. As Sooin narrowed his eyes, Choi Jooyoung drove the point home.

“Oh, right! I think we haven’t finished talking about that… matter from before? Could you talk with me for a moment?”

Clap! He loudly clapped his hands together and pointed towards the lounge. His forced laughter, “Ahaha,” at a joke that wasn’t funny at all, felt incredibly unnatural.

“…Sure.”

Even Song Jaeyi’s subsequent response was surprisingly compliant.

Without a single question—no “Now?”, “Why me?”, or “What is it?”—Song Jaeyi followed Choi Jooyoung without a word to Sooin about where he was going. Watching his retreating back as if he had been waiting for this, Sooin felt a strange suspicion.

Song Jaeyi hadn’t been surprised at all by the unexpected encounter with Choi Jooyoung. He had reacted as if he already knew that Choi Jooyoung and he were close. Furthermore, Choi Jooyoung’s excuse was strange.

‘Talk about that matter’?

Their fake boyfriend gig had ended before the semester even started properly. It had fallen apart almost six months ago, so it was far too late to be discussing the wrap-up now.

Then what was the story that Choi Jooyoung and Song Jaeyi had to discuss in private? Could it be related to the process of becoming his boyfriend ‘officially’?

An ominous feeling washed over Sooin, and he quickly entered the hospital room and put down the snack bags. The caregiver, who had followed him in, closed the curtains and asked softly, “Are those two pretty close?”

Sooin smiled at the whispering caregiver.

“It seems so. I didn’t know either.”

“Huh? You didn’t know?”

Sooin nodded and organized the snack bags in the drawer. Then, he quickly excused himself to the caregiver, saying he’d be back shortly.

Leaving the room without revealing his destination, Sooin headed to the end of the opposite hallway. He went down two floors using the stairwell there, then turned back in the opposite direction and stood in front of the emergency exit. He carefully grasped the doorknob and slowly turned it.

“Anyway, like, I can help… you know… prepare quickly…”

As he carefully entered, closing the door behind him as quietly as possible, a familiar voice reached his ears. Thanks to the difference in floors, the muffled sounds echoing around him were unclear, but enough to grasp the context.

Choi Jooyoung had agreed to help Song Jaeyi prepare something.

And quickly, at that. Without Kim Sooin’s knowledge.

Candles and rose petals flashed through Sooin’s mind. At the dizzying image, Sooin quickly opened the stairwell door. Unlike when he entered, his movements as he exited the emergency exit were hurried and rough. It was a true emergency escape.

As soon as Sooin returned to the room, he devised a plan. He would send Song Jaeyi away first, even if he had to chase him out, and then pump Choi Jooyoung for information alone. He might not know how to soften the stubborn young master’s heart, but he knew Choi Jooyoung’s mind like the back of his hand.

However, Choi Jooyoung, returning with Song Jaeyi, made the first move. Sooin had no excuse to stop him when he said he’d leave since the room was cramped, so he could only blink. Song Jaeyi, who had come up beside him, bowed his head.

“Hello.”

His polite greeting to Suye softened Sooin’s heart. He couldn’t chase him out like this. As Sooin secretly sighed, even the caregiver excused herself to see Choi Jooyoung off. For the first time, he felt resentful towards her as she winked at him while leaving the room.

In the end, Sooin tucked his plan away. He decided to forget about the event for now and pulled Song Jaeyi to the chair by the window. As he offered the most comfortable chair to his guest, Song Jaeyi sat down quietly and looked up at Sooin.

If you don’t want to talk, I won’t ask, but if you stare at me like that….

Suppressing another sigh, Sooin slowly circled the bed and stood in front of Suye. He fiddled with the bedding, already neatly arranged by the caregiver, and started the conversation.

“He’s my dongsaeng. Five years younger.”

Song Jaeyi’s reaction was subdued. He simply maintained eye contact and nodded slightly. His expression seemed to invite Sooin to continue. Because of that, Sooin had to think of something more to say.

Lost in thought for a moment, Sooin mumbled in a daze, “Ah…, come to think of it, Suye is the same age as you.”

Suye was eighteen when the accident happened. Even though three years had passed, he still often seemed like a child to Sooin.

To think that his younger brother and Song Jaeyi were the same age. The realization that he had done this and that with someone the same age as his younger brother slowly dawned on Sooin, and he frowned. He felt a wave of disgust wash over him.

“You’re having weird thoughts right now.”

“No.”

Sooin, who had briefly loathed himself, lied without blinking. But Song Jaeyi didn’t fall for it, despite the slight smile. He narrowed his eyes and said through gritted teeth, “I’m not a child.”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“…You did with your expression. It’s really annoying.”

He wondered how Song Jaeyi would react if he retorted, “That’s why you like me,” like he had earlier. But Sooin kept his lips tightly sealed. The glare from across the room was too intense. If he joked around in this atmosphere, he might witness fire spewing from someone’s eyes.

So Sooin just shrugged and busied himself organizing the drawer. He meticulously arranged the snacks he had thrown in earlier, deliberately choosing a light tone.

“The accident was three years ago. It was a car accident.”

When was the last time he talked about the accident? The memory was so distant that Sooin had no repertoire. He lacked the learned knowledge of how much and what to say to avoid burdening the other person. Because of this, there were long silences after each sentence.

“We used to go on family trips every year. My parents always tried to keep that tradition, no matter how busy they were.”

“Yes.”

“But honestly… it was a hassle to keep going every year even after becoming an adult.”

A deep regret washed over him as he recalled the memories of that day. He wanted to take back countless words and actions and turn back time. Useless emotions overwhelmed him and shattered his daily life.

Because of this, Sooin had sealed this story deep within himself. He tried not to bring it up or dwell on it. He had no choice if he wanted to avoid selling their house and earn money for the hospital bills.

“So I didn’t go. I used the excuse of a licensing exam.”

He thought he could talk about it calmly by now, but his throat kept drying up. Buying time with a cough, Sooin slowly closed the drawer and stood up. He calmly collected his breath and sat on the auxiliary chair.

He couldn’t let the story drag on any longer. He might end up revealing all the dirt in his heart. Sensing the danger, Sooin decided to end it at an appropriate point.

“Anyway… that means it’s just me and my brother now. Anything else you’re curious about?”

Sooin put on a bright smile to prevent the atmosphere from becoming too heavy. Despite his deliberately light tone and expression, Song Jaeyi remained silent. He stared at Sooin for a long time, his expression serious as if absorbed in the story.

Song Jaeyi’s eyes were long and beautiful. His wide-set eyes and well-defined eyelashes always caught Sooin’s attention. No matter how many times he looked, he never got tired of them.

Even so, silence and staring were hard to bear at this moment. Sooin smiled awkwardly, as if urging him to say something. Then, Song Jaeyi slowly parted his lips.

“It’s not Hyung’s fault.”

He chose comfort instead of a question. Sooin was speechless for a moment, then he refuted without thinking.

“It is my fault.”

Sooin quickly bit his lip, worried that Suye might have heard his outburst. But the overwhelming regret that resurfaced wouldn’t stop. Sooin still believed that the accident was entirely his fault.

Family trips were always two nights and three days. On the last day of the trip, it was customary to wake up at dawn, watch the sunrise together, and return home. But that year’s trip was different. His parents, having hurriedly finished the second day’s schedule, decided to head back. The reason was that they only had one day left of their vacation, so they should spend at least one day together as a family.

When he received the call asking if there was anything he wanted to eat since they would be arriving at night, raindrops were falling outside. The thin, delicate streaks of rain made him feel strangely uneasy that day, so Sooin paced by the window with his phone in his hand. When he expressed his concern, “It’s raining, do you have to drive at night? Why don’t you come when it’s light out?”, his father laughed heartily. He said it was heartwarming that his son was now old enough to worry about his parents. Behind him, Suye shouted, “Oppa, order chicken for when they get here!” Back then, Sooin could still end the call with a smile.

But he shouldn’t have. He should have persuaded them to come the next morning, no matter what. Or, better yet, he should have gone on the trip with them. He should have woken up at dawn as usual, watched the sunrise, and returned home together.

Then his father wouldn’t have had to drive at night in the rain, the unlit truck wouldn’t have skidded and flipped over, and the car, crumpled like paper, wouldn’t have plunged into the river.

“Hyung, can you hear me?”

A low voice sounded distant, as if underwater. As if waking from a dream, Sooin shook his head and looked at Song Jaeyi. He seemed to be swaying excessively, and Sooin realized belatedly. It seemed it had happened again.

Song Jaeyi, now close, didn’t hesitate to pull Sooin up and embrace him. Large, warm hands stroked and soothed his trembling back.

Sooin raised his cold hands and hugged Song Jaeyi’s firm back. He struggled to control his ragged breaths, his chest heaving against Song Jaeyi’s. Even so, Song Jaeyi didn’t seem anxious or uncomfortable.

“Actually, Hyung, you know. That it’s not your fault.”

He continued to comfort Sooin in a low voice.

“You know it, but you don’t want to forgive yourself.”

Song Jaeyi’s comfort was strange. It wasn’t encouraging, nor was it taking his side. His demeanor, as if he had experienced it all himself and knew everything, could have been seen as annoying.

But Sooin felt comforted. It was as if Song Jaeyi understood the pain he had been enduring and the pain he had been desperately trying to ignore out of fear of suffering further.

His breathing gradually calmed. Even though he hadn’t gagged, his breathing became easier, and the tightness in his chest subsided. Finally, as the lingering pain eased, Sooin smiled faintly. A hollow laugh escaped amidst his shallow gasps.

“Why are you suddenly laughing?”

“Just… it’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

“How a young master who seems to have lived without hardship can say something like that. It’s admirable.”

Sooin smiled and patted Song Jaeyi’s buttocks. It was a simple touch, devoid of any sexual connotation, like rewarding a child. Nevertheless, Song Jaeyi stiffened, his body pressed against Sooin’s growing hot.

“…Who does this in front of their dongsaeng?”

Song Jaeyi pulled away abruptly, looking at Sooin reproachfully. His face, calm when he was embracing someone having a seizure, was now flushed red from a single touch on his buttocks. Sooin couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

❤︎₊ ⊹

From that day on, Song Jaeyi waited for Sooin at the front gate every morning. They went to school together as if it were natural, and after classes, he volunteered as a chauffeur, driving Sooin to cafes, the hospital, or tutoring locations. If Sooin showed any reluctance, Song Jaeyi would say brazenly, “I have to do this to make Hyung accept my confession. Don’t I have to rack up points to increase my chances of success?”

His open admission of preparing for a confession silenced Sooin. Having lost all his fighting spirit, Sooin pestered Choi Jooyoung relentlessly.

Choi Jooyoung:

Are you really not going to tell me what you’re planning with Song Jaeyi?

Sorry; it’s a matter of trust between a client and me.

Since the day they met at the hospital, Choi Jooyoung hadn’t answered Sooin’s calls. He only replied to messages after Sooin sent several, and he only visited the hospital during Sooin’s lectures.

What kind of event could it be…? Sooin was dumbfounded and genuinely worried about how guilty and ashamed he must feel to avoid even phone calls. As a result, he had recently been very defensive towards Song Jaeyi.

If Song Jaeyi suggested going to a restaurant, he would steer them towards snack bars or soup restaurants. He flatly refused drives or night strolls. If he was in a car, he would pretend to be asleep, and during lectures, he would make sure to sit Yiso between them. The aim was to preemptively block any opportunity for a confession.

And yet, he ended up at Vecum Seoul. Even though he knew there was no better place for Song Jaeyi, the Baekro Group heir, to prepare an event than Vecum.

Sooin crossed the gleaming lobby and entered the cafe. Song Jaeyi’s small, beautiful face immediately caught his eye. Sighing, Sooin strode towards the seat opposite him and plopped down. He raised both hands in surrender, and Song Jaeyi smiled faintly.

“You came?”

How could he not come? This was a chance to tour Vecum Seoul and even interview the general manager. Even if it weren’t for Professor Kwak’s hotel tour report, which he used as an excuse, Sooin couldn’t refuse. It was Vecum Seoul, after all.

“You knew I’d come, so why the act?”

Sooin smiled superficially and picked up Song Jaeyi’s iced coffee. Without waiting for permission, he gulped it down.

His stomach had been churning the entire way there. The thought of seeing the staff hallways, banquet halls, and back kitchen alleys, all steeped in memories of his parents, made him nauseous. Yet, a strange sense of anticipation bloomed alongside the guilt, making him feel like he was taking advantage of Song Jaeyi’s sincere efforts to please him.

So, Sooin decided to repeat the warning he’d given countless times. He deliberately set the glass down roughly and looked intently at Song Jaeyi.

“Jaeyi, I told you. Even if you do this, my feelings won’t change.”

Despite the serious warning, Song Jaeyi simply nodded. “I know,” he replied plainly, then stood up. He looked down at Sooin with a haughty gaze and asked teasingly, “We’ve already seen the suite… where do you want to go?”

A staff member, arranged beforehand, accompanied them on the tour. The woman, who introduced herself as an assistant manager from the PR team, explained the detailed duties and common complaints at each location. Thanks to her, the atmosphere naturally shifted to business. There was no room for confessions or events.

Relieved, Sooin toured the hotel without reservation. From the convention hall to various facilities, by the time they had seen everything, time had flown by.

“Is there anywhere else you’d like to see?”

The staff member looked a little tired, perhaps because of the three-hour-plus tour. Indeed… it wasn’t even part of her regular duties, yet she had given the tour to appease the general manager’s son. Feeling sorry for her forced smile, Sooin shook his head. “I’m sorry, you’ve worked hard,” he said politely, and she smiled brightly.

“Oh, it’s nothing! I enjoyed it too.”

The PR team member bowed and politely gestured to her right with both hands. It was an unusual closing gesture, so Sooin tilted his head, but Song Jaeyi seemed unfazed. As if he already knew, he headed in the direction she indicated.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes, enjoy your meal!”

Sooin caught up with Song Jaeyi as the cheerful sound of her heels faded away. When he whispered, “Where are we going?”, Song Jaeyi held up his phone. The clock on the lit screen showed two o’clock.

“Time to eat.”

“Don’t tell me you made a reservation?”

“We have to do the interview too.”

That’s true, but… Sooin looked anxiously at the dark green archway of the restaurant entrance. The restaurant, with its rich wood and greenery, exuded a cozy atmosphere.

“Aren’t you coming?”

As Sooin hesitated at the perfect setting for an event, Song Jaeyi, standing at the entrance, frowned. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration and called out, “I’ve gone this far, and you won’t even have a meal with me?”

His loud voice, as big as his frame, drew attention. Even the staff member who had come out to guide them was looking around nervously, so Sooin finally walked towards the restaurant.

The place Song Jaeyi had reserved was a private room. The secluded location, requiring several turns from the entrance, made Sooin even more uneasy. He felt like people holding roses would pop out from everywhere.

Contrary to his ominous premonitions, the meal proceeded without incident. There were no rings found in the dessert, nor did the waiter suddenly burst into song. The only unexpected interruption was when General Manager Baek entered.

“I’m sorry. Am I very late?”

She was a beautiful woman who strongly resembled Song Jaeyi. It was a face he couldn’t help but recognize, so Sooin quickly stood up and bowed his head.

“Your friend is very handsome.”

She smiled brightly and offered Sooin her hand. Her hand was small and slender, but its shape was similar to Song Jaeyi’s delicate fingers. Scolding himself for his rude observation, Sooin slowly withdrew his hand. Then, Song Jaeyi said quietly, “He’s not my friend.”

“Oh really? Then what’s your relationship?”

General Manager Baek sat down, her eyes sparkling. Her interested gaze was directed at Song Jaeyi, but Sooin quickly intervened, preventing a response.

“We’re sunbae-hoobae from the same school.”

At his textbook answer delivered with a smile, Song Jaeyi glared at him. At his look that seemed to ask, “Are we?”, Sooin nudged his thigh under the table. But that seemed to only fuel his defiance.

“We knew each other before we met as sunbae-hoobae.”

“Really? How?”

“At the hotel.”

If he had just said they were dating, Sooin would have let it go, but to bring up the hotel story… Horrified, Sooin quickly knocked over his water glass. The glass shattered on the hard wooden floor with a sharp cracking sound.

“Oh my! Are you alright?”

“Ah, I’m so sorry. I’m a little nervous.”

The conversation naturally stopped. Sooin hastily pushed his chair back, unfolded a napkin, and crouched down to wipe up the spilled water. Suddenly, a hand grasped his.

“Don’t move. You’ll get hurt.”

Even though he must have seen through the ruse, Song Jaeyi’s face was filled with concern. Frowning and sighing, he muttered, “Did you have to go this far?”

The door opened at the end of his whispered words, barely audible to those across the table. A staff member, alerted by the noise, quickly approached and began clearing away the broken glass. Feeling guilty towards both the staff member and Song Jaeyi, Sooin bowed his head.

“It’s alright, please sit down.”

Perhaps sensing Sooin’s embarrassment, General Manager Baek soothed him kindly. Then, she resumed the conversation.

“It’s just a chat with me, why are you so nervous? How cute.”

“I couldn’t help but be nervous. I’ve been scrapbooking your interviews.”

“Oh, really? Old ones?”

“Yes. The ones from when you first became general manager, and also what you said in the documentary.”

“Oh my!” General Manager Baek clapped her hands, her voice rising an octave. Excited, she immediately ordered three more desserts and participated more actively in the interview. It was a strange interview where she asked more questions than Sooin.

Still, Sooin enjoyed it. Every time Song Jaeyi’s look-alike face, full of various expressions, smiled and lit up as if dancing, Sooin couldn’t help but smile along. He especially wanted to hear more about Song Jaeyi’s childhood stories.

“Jaeyi was especially fond of my youngest brother. He used to follow him around, calling him ‘Airplane Uncle.’ He often took him on airplane rides. He would giggle just looking at him.”

“Really? It’s hard to imagine now…”

“It’s true. Back then, he couldn’t even speak Korean, but he’d follow my brother around, saying ‘Shoong-shoongi!'”

Song Jaeyi cheerfully shouting “Shoong-shoongi!”?

Sooin turned to look at him without realizing. He gave him a pleading look as if asking him to do it now, and Song Jaeyi smiled. It was the forced smile Sooin always hated, saying it was insincere.

“Do you have to go back to work?”

Song Jaeyi, expertly managing his expression, asked his mother. General Manager Baek checked her phone and abruptly stood up.

“Oh my, look at the time. I have to go.”

Song Jaeyi, maintaining his fake smile perfectly, drew more attention than his hurriedly rising mother. Sooin blinked, bewildered, as if admiring an object he had never seen before.

General Manager Baek, already up, quickly grabbed the bill and opened the door. “Mr. Sooin, let’s meet again,” she said cheerfully, then stopped suddenly as she was about to leave. “Oh, Jaeyi! Your Airplane Uncle wants to see you, what do you think?”

A crack finally appeared in Song Jaeyi’s smile. Glancing at Sooin and sighing deeply, Song Jaeyi reluctantly replied, “…I’ll contact him.”

Seeing the familiar Song Jaeyi back, Sooin stifled a laugh.

❤︎₊ ⊹

Perhaps it was because they had gotten to know each other better, but Sooin now felt quite comfortable with Song Jaeyi. He no longer felt burdened by the white car that picked him up every morning, and it became natural for them to sit across from each other for lunch every day.

Today’s set menu at Cafeteria 3 was sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew). Looking at the bright red broth, Sooin recommended donkatsu (pork cutlet) to Song Jaeyi, but it only seemed to provoke him. Insisting on having the same menu as Sooin out of some strange pride, Song Jaeyi ended up with a bowl of lava-like stew.

“There are rumors that we’re dating.”

It was quite a provocative statement to make while setting down his tray. But Sooin simply stared at the bubbling sundubu jjigae with an impassive face. He was more concerned about the boiling hot stew than the dating rumors.

“Want to get donkatsu instead?”

“I said I’m fine. Did you hear what I said?”

“You said there are rumors that we’re dating.”

“Yes.”

“They probably started a while ago.”

Sooin stirred the broth and answered, suppressing a laugh. Song Jaeyi’s sidelong glance and annoyed expression were amusing. He hadn’t even mentioned the posters plastered all over campus this morning, yet he started with such a trivial rumor. The expected reaction was so obvious that Sooin wanted to tease him even more.

As he deliberately focused on his meal, Song Jaeyi started to eat the stew. He coughed slightly, apparently finding it too spicy, and emptied his glass of water in one gulp. He’s really cute today. Sooin stifled a laugh and pushed his own water glass towards him.

Just then, a dark figure caught his eye. A man standing by the entrance was looking around.

Looking closely, he realized it was Pyo Hyungyeon. His attire—a black cap pulled low over his head and a black hoodie layered on top—didn’t match the season. His clenched fists looked as if he were holding a weapon, and his haggard face was rough and dark.

“Jaeyi.”

“What?”

“I think I have indigestion. Can you get me some digestive medicine?”

Song Jaeyi jumped up as soon as Sooin finished speaking and grabbed his wallet. Not forgetting to scold Sooin for choosing such a spicy stew if he had indigestion, he hurried out of the cafeteria. Fortunately, the exit was on the opposite side from the entrance.

Perhaps because such a tall person had stood up, Pyo Hyungyeon quickly spotted Sooin. His pace quickened as their eyes met. As Pyo Hyungyeon approached like a hunter who had found his target, Sooin calmly greeted him.

“Sunbae, it’s been a while.”

“Hey, I apologized.”

Pyo Hyungyeon spat out the words without even acknowledging the greeting. His appearance, completely unhinged, was even more pathetic up close. His rough skin was flaky and white, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot.

“I fucking apologized, so why are you ignoring me? Do you think I’m a joke?”

“…Sunbae.”

“This is all your fault, you bastard. You made a big deal out of something that could have ended amicably… the posters? Ha, now I really can’t graduate. And you’re dating that Song Jaeyi, aren’t you?”

Bang! Pyo Hyungyeon kicked the table leg violently and panted. People sitting at the same table screamed, and eyes turned towards them from all directions. In the sudden silence, Pyo Hyungyeon started to unbuckle his belt.

“Good for you, spreading your legs to get a job, huh? How about it? Will you forgive me if I spread mine too?”

Chuckling, Pyo Hyungyeon threw off his belt and grabbed the buckle. As he looked ready to take his pants off as well, gasps of shock arose from around them. Sooin pressed his tired eyes and stood up.

“Sunbae, let’s not do this and just talk…”

“Talk? What talk! You didn’t even listen when I apologized, and now you want to talk?”

Pyo Hyungyeon shoved away Sooin’s outstretched hand and pushed him further. His eyes were devoid of reason. It was clear he had come to vent his anger rather than resolve anything.

Then it would be cleaner to just take a few hits. He had sent Song Jaeyi away, and there were many witnesses around, so it was the perfect situation. Having made up his mind, Sooin braced himself and grabbed Pyo Hyungyeon’s hands that were repeatedly shoving his shoulders.

“Why are you acting so pathetic?”

Pyo Hyungyeon screamed as Sooin tightened his grip. At his cry of pain, Sooin quickly let go and pushed him away. Pyo Hyungyeon stumbled backward, his foot catching on a chair, and he fell with a loud crash.

“You little shit!”

Pyo Hyungyeon cursed and got back up. He staggered to his feet, using the table for support, and suddenly grabbed a tray. The bright red stew that Song Jaeyi had barely touched was there.

Even though he planned to take the hits, burns weren’t a good deal. Quickly calculating in his mind, Sooin grabbed his bag from the next seat, intending to at least protect his face.

But by then, Pyo Hyungyeon was about to throw the entire tray. There wasn’t even time to raise his bag. As a last resort, Sooin squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head. Unreal screams erupted from all directions.

At that moment, a solid body came flying from somewhere and pulled Sooin into a hug. Sooin stumbled from the force and opened his eyes wide. The familiar scent that reached his nose made his heart sink.

“Why, you…”

Beads of sweat dotted Song Jaeyi’s nose, as if he had run. Sooin stared up at him, his face pale, and stammered.

Song Jaeyi didn’t answer, only breathing heavily. A groan of pain escaped his lips as he doubled over. Sooin’s eyes widened, and he supported Song Jaeyi’s large frame as he looked around. “Someone call, call someone, please,” he pleaded, his trembling voice sounding pathetic even to his own ears.

Fortunately, his feeble voice seemed to rouse the crowd. Like actors receiving their cue, people began to move in unison. Calls to the police and emergency services could be heard from everywhere, and people seemingly appearing out of nowhere began administering first aid. Song Jaeyi’s shirt was cut away as he sat propped up on a chair.

His exposed skin was mottled, as if with a heat rash. The red marks on his broad, white back were stark. Watching the cold water being poured over the burns, Sooin suddenly turned his head. He realized he still had something to do.

Sooin approached Pyo Hyungyeon, who was being restrained by several people. He was pinned to the floor, covered in the food he had thrown.

As Sooin approached, Pyo Hyungyeon smirked. His red face, strained with tension, looked up at Sooin and sneered. He asked, spitting out the words, “How does it taste?”, in a way that was truly unbearable to witness.

Which made it easy to kick him without hesitation.

“Ugh!”

Sooin kicked the face he had always wanted to smash. A thud echoed, and commotion erupted again. The person restraining Pyo Hyungyeon recoiled in surprise, and Pyo Hyungyeon clutched his face and rolled on the floor. He sobbed and thrashed, food sticking to his clothes.

❤︎₊ ⊹

“Scalding burns often result in second-degree burns, so it’s incredibly fortunate that it’s only this much.”

The emergency room staff praised Sooin for his quick action. Since all he had done was smash someone’s face, he had nothing to say. So he just clutched Song Jaeyi’s tattered shirt and stayed silent.

Song Jaeyi sat sideways on the emergency room bed, receiving treatment. The doctor standing behind him occasionally peeked over his broad shoulder.

“Fortunately, it didn’t reach the deep layers. It will be uncomfortable for a few days, but make sure to apply the ointment regularly and use a gentle stream of water… Oh, and be careful not to apply ice, even if it hurts.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Sooin, now involuntarily a guardian, listened attentively to the doctor. But his phone, resting on his lap, vibrated incessantly, distracting him. Short preview messages kept updating on the dark screen.

“Jaeyi, here for a second.”

The vibrations were so close to ringing that Sooin worried they would disturb the treatment. He shook the hand that Song Jaeyi had been holding since they arrived at the emergency room. He gave him a look that asked him to let go for a moment, but Song Jaeyi didn’t release his tight grip.

“Don’t read it.”

His hand, interlocked with Sooin’s as if using pain as an excuse, was firm. Unable to break free, Sooin sighed softly.

“I don’t have a hand to use anyway, thanks to someone.”

“Don’t meet him even if he asks. Ignore him.”

“I don’t think I’d go even if he asked me to.”

Sooin chuckled lightly and gestured downwards with his chin. The phone, held in place by Song Jaeyi’s one hand on his clothing, continued to flash relentlessly.

Pyo Hyungyeon:

Just you wait you bastard

I’m not settling this so just you wait

I’ll ruin your life just like you ruined mine

Pyo Hyungyeon’s messages were full of typos, as if his nosebleed hadn’t stopped. Even so, the short previews were enough to understand the meaning. The words Pyo Hyungyeon had screamed while being loaded into the ambulance were simply transferred into messages.

Sooin let out a hollow laugh. It was a natural progression, when he thought about it. There was no way Pyo Hyungyeon would just take a hit and end things cleanly. He was the type to desperately shift blame for his own mistakes, so he was probably rejoicing right now.

So why did he do something so reckless? Now Suye’s hospital bills, which already included treatment for complications, would increase.

He had hit him in the face, of all places, hard enough to cause a nosebleed. He had never paid for someone else’s injuries before, so he didn’t know for sure, but it would likely be a significant amount. And the settlement money on top of that…

“You don’t have to worry about him. I’ll take care of it.”

Song Jaeyi rubbed Sooin’s limp hand. At his attention-seeking gesture, Sooin lifted his downcast gaze.

Song Jaeyi had been quiet throughout the treatment. Even though even a minor burn must have been quite painful, he hadn’t uttered a single groan. But now, he was frowning. His intense gaze pleaded with Sooin.

Meeting his hot, silent gaze, the knot in Sooin’s chest slowly loosened. Right, money could be earned again, and what mattered was that everyone was okay. He wouldn’t mind doing manual labor if it meant protecting that face.

“Stay put and don’t cause trouble.”

He knew that the Baekro Group heir would be able to resolve the situation easily. But Sooin shook his head and pulled his hand away as if Song Jaeyi had said something absurd.

“I’ll go buy you some clothes.”

Still, he needed a moment to himself, feeling pathetic for immediately worrying about the settlement money.

Leaving the emergency room, Sooin stopped by the smoking area and then walked briskly to find a clothing store. The walk was good for airing out the smell of cigarettes since there were no clothing stores near the hospital.

He bought a plain white short-sleeved t-shirt. Since Song Jaeyi’s back would still be sore, he carefully chose the softest material. He had briefly considered buying something ridiculous out of spite for Song Jaeyi’s self-righteous act, but the size was an issue. Even a 2XL t-shirt with a pink cat print looked like a medium on Song Jaeyi.

By the time he crossed back through the hospital’s main entrance with the shopping bag, about an hour had passed. Figuring that the treatment must have ended long ago, Sooin quickened his pace.

As expected, a different patient was now lying in the bed Song Jaeyi had occupied. Thinking he might have gone to settle the bill, Sooin was heading to the lobby when he spotted some belongings strewn across a chair in front of the emergency room. Pieces of a red t-shirt, a phone, and a bag were scattered carelessly.

“He said anyone can take them.”

Sooin laughed in disbelief, placed the shopping bag next to the belongings, and sat down. He felt relieved that Song Jaeyi was at least well enough to go pay the bill alone. Heaving a deep sigh, Sooin rested his head against the wall.

He would have to quit his cafe job. The manager would be disappointed, but a higher salary was more important right now. If he increased his tutoring hours and picked up delivery or day labor jobs instead of the cafe, it wouldn’t be unmanageable. He could also ask Choi Jooyoung for some special assignments…

Just then, his phone, lying beside his thigh, vibrated intensely. It was Choi Jooyoung calling, proving he was no better.

But it wasn’t his own phone that was ringing. Sooin narrowed his eyes and read the unfamiliar saved name.

Yeoksam Errand Center CEO