ETP Ch 42

“Why.”

Yoohyun met Bokseung’s gaze without flinching. The kid seemed to want to show that they were angry, but even with that stare, their steamed-bun-like face wasn’t threatening at all.

Whether Bokseung knew Yoohyun’s thoughts or not, now their lips were sticking out too. Even so, the only noticeable thing was the dry, flaky skin on their lips.

Bokseung sidled up to Yoohyun’s side and began to pour out their complaints.

“Sunbae-nim, why did you pay for me again?”

“I was paying mine anyway. And you have to pay to get the documents.”

Sungyeon flinched momentarily at his expression that seemed to ask, ‘Don’t you even know that?’

“Ah, well, that’s true. Okay, then tell me how much it was.”

“Why should I?”

“Huh?”

“Do you want me to specifically find out how much your medical expenses were from the total I paid and tell you?”

Well, that’s… that’s how it usually is, right? And it’s something you can just check quickly, is it something to frown about like that?

Sungyeon, too tired to argue any further, walked back to the reception desk. It seemed faster to just ask and check themselves.

“Just go, don’t bother me.”

However, before they could take more than a few steps, Yoohyun grabbed Bokseung’s shoulder. Bokseung shook their shoulder to remove his hand, but as expected, it didn’t budge.

Sungyeon, barely suppressing their simmering frustration, continued.

“Sunbae-nim, I’m very upset right now, okay? Why do you keep putting me in debt? The samgyeopsal we ate with my friends last time! Oh right, you paid for the samgyeopsal too!!”

The more they spoke, the more heated they became.

Bokseung isn’t a beggar, so why does he keep acting like he’s giving to charity?! Why does he keep making someone with perfectly good two hands and two feet look like they can’t stand on their own two feet, that’s what I’m saying!

Huff, puff. Bokseung’s small nostrils flared.

Yoohyun looked at Bokseung as if looking at a steaming hot steamed bun fresh out of the steamer.

No, why is he so cute even when he’s flying off the handle? They say there’s no cure for cuteness, and it seemed true.

However Yoohyun felt inside, his outward expression remained indifferent. He seemed completely unaffected, no matter how much Bokseung fussed and fumed.

It was only natural that Sungyeon would get tired of that uninteresting reaction.

It felt like hitting a final boss with a wooden stick. In other words, it was the despair of feeling like they wouldn’t be able to deplete even half of its health bar even if they hit it for a whole week.

“Sigh…”

“Are you done? Let’s go.”

Sungyeon sighed, holding their dizzy head.

As if waiting for that moment, Yoohyun let go of Bokseung’s shoulder and left the clinic. He didn’t forget to take a deep breath of the kid’s sweet pheromones secretly.

“Then I’ll go to the pharmacy. Goodbye.”

Sungyeon bowed their head, pointing to the pharmacy on the first floor of the clinic. It was a sign that they should each go home on their own.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

It didn’t work on Yoohyun at all.

Sungyeon headed to the pharmacy, leaving behind Hwang Yoohyun standing there like a statue. The exasperated sigh from earlier was a bonus.

“You need to take this medication on time, so please be careful.”

“Yes, I understand. So, I don’t have to take the suppressant I’m currently taking?”

“Yes, you don’t have to take your current suppressant while you’re taking this five-day supply.”

“Okay.”

Sungyeon nodded, looking at the medicine, which had increased to three pills.

The pharmacist gave them a few vitamin C tablets, telling them to take care. Sungyeon bowed their head several times in thanks before leaving the pharmacy.

Looking at the bank notification, they saw that tens of thousands of won had vanished for the medicine.

Being a sensitive is really tough. Sungyeon looked up at the sky with a bitter heart.

“Why are you looking like the world is ending again?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“Are you sick?”

“No.”

“Then.”

I said it’s nothing!

Sungyeon frowned at Yoohyun, who kept pestering them. He was the typical hypocrite, not answering when they asked but demanding answers from them.

“Answer.”

He was also incredibly persistent, like a sundew.

“The medicine was expensive.”

Crunch. It felt like the sound of their pride crumbling could be heard. It was very upsetting that, after complaining about him paying for their bill just a moment ago, they were now making a long face because of the cost of medicine.

But wasn’t it really expensive?! Does it make sense for a few pills to cost over 50,000 won?!

Suppressed their rising frustration, Sungyeon started walking. They just wanted to go home quickly. Since they didn’t have a part-time job that day, they planned to rest properly.

“Kim Bokseung.”

“Yes.”

Yoohyun stroked Bokseung’s hair. It seemed like an attempt to comfort their upset feelings, in his own way.

If he was going to do this, he should have just accepted the money earlier.

Already biased, Sungyeon found everything Hwang Yoohyun did annoying. Even the gentle stroking of their head was unpleasant.

Bokseung’s head slipped out from under Yoohyun’s large hand.

Yoohyun clenched his fist at the suddenly vanished warmth. It was the same pattern as Yuja sulking when they didn’t get a treat. Petty and cute.

Come to think of it, both Bokseung and he had skipped lunch. In that case, he could understand why the kid was so irritable. It was natural to get annoyed by everything when hungry.

Yoohyun, uncharacteristically, mustered his patience and tried to soothe the kid.

“I think you’re just hungry.”

“Yes?!”

It backfired.

Bokseung stared at Yoohyun in disbelief. Their expression was one that had abandoned any pretense of respect for Sunbae-nim.

“I’m not hungry!”

They weren’t hungry right now. This gloomy feeling stemmed from their frustration with unreasonably expensive non-covered medications and their anger towards the wicked Sunbae-nim who wouldn’t let them repay their debt.

However, Yoohyun, as expected, didn’t react. He didn’t say anything more, just led Bokseung to a nearby restaurant.

Yoohyun wanted to take Bokseung for a drive out to the suburbs since he was treating them to a meal anyway, but he felt like he would get bitten by Bokseung on the way there. It wasn’t wise to provoke a hungry animal.

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

I was hungry.

Sungyeon sniffled, embarrassed by the sight of their empty rice bowl.

“Are you done?”

Yoohyun, who had asked, still had more than half of his rice left. Sungyeon felt a bit awkward, as if they were the only one who had eaten too enthusiastically.

“Aren’t you going to eat anymore, Sunbae-nim?”

“I’m good.”

Ah, ah, such a waste. That was an expensive dish.

“This isn’t okay.”

“Huh?”

“You’re thinking about whether or not to get this packed up, aren’t you?”

Sungyeon shook their head. Of course, they felt bad about the leftover food and were curious about what it tasted like, but they didn’t want to take it home. Well, maybe just a little.

Yoohyun chuckled, looking at Bokseung desperately shaking their head. Seeing their pale lips regain their color after eating, he was certain that their poor condition was due to hunger.

He was about to say they should leave now when Bokseung, clutching the receipt in their white hand, looked at him. Or rather, glared at him.

“I’ll pay for this.”

“…….”

Yoohyun didn’t answer. Then Bokseung abruptly stood up and pressed down on Yoohyun’s shoulder. It seemed like a gesture telling him not to even think about paying first.

However, the force Yoohyun felt was so weak, it felt like Yuja was kneading him.

Despite this, Yoohyun stayed seated. He had a feeling that if he paid this time, he wouldn’t be able to eat with Bokseung again.

That absolutely couldn’t happen.

“Alright.”

Yoohyun raised both hands in surrender.

Sungyeon, thrilled at the thought of finally being able to buy him a meal, dashed to the counter.

“Hello, did you enjoy your meal? The total is 34,000 won.”

“Yes!”

Along with the card approval, a notification popped up on their phone screen, informing them that 34,000 won had been deducted from their account. They’d never felt this satisfied after buying someone else a meal before.

Sungyeon turned around with a sigh of relief. Yoohyun was looking down at them with an indifferent expression, as if asking, ‘Are you satisfied now?’

“Sunbae-nim, Sunbae-nim!”

“Yeah.”

Sungyeon, emerging through the door Yoohyun held open, bounced on their feet.

“Doesn’t it feel great to have your hoobae buy you a meal?”

“What?”

“I heard that meals bought by hoobaes are especially delicious, so make sure to use your coupons generously next time!”

Wait a minute.

Hwang Yoohyun carefully observed Bokseung. Their posture, with their palms together and hands outstretched, was a gesture asking for something.

“You…”

“Yes! Kim Bokseung has used one coupon from their wallet!”

Bokseung grinned brightly. In inverse proportion, Yoohyun’s expression crumpled unpleasantly.

“Why aren’t you giving me the coupon?”

Sungyeon giggled inwardly, maintaining a clueless expression on their face. They didn’t forget to wiggle their outstretched hand, urging him to hand over the coupon quickly.

Of course, they had no intention of actually receiving a coupon, but they’d impulsively said it, wanting to see Yoohyun flustered. And that impulse had been quite successful.

Hwang Yoohyun with an expression they’d never seen before. Their mouth felt as satisfied as if they’d eaten ground sesame seeds.