EAR Ch 34

“Stop it. I don’t like the idea of sending him to a dormitory either. The academy called us specifically to say how enthusiastic Jaemin has been lately. Is there really a need to change academies and send him away when he’s doing so well?”

“A better environment will motivate him further. And his results will improve as well.”

“Kids are always eager to leave home eventually. Why send him to a dormitory when we have so little time left with him? Honestly.”

“And,”

His father frowned slightly.

“If you don’t want to go, you should explain yourself calmly and respectfully. It’s not appropriate to interrupt your father and blurt out ‘I don’t want to.’ Is that how you’ve been taught to speak?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“That’s enough. If you’ve done something wrong, reflect on it and start preparing. Your mother and I will take care of the necessities for the dormitory. You just pack your workbooks, reference books, and any other books you need. You have to leave in two days.”

“Two days?”

Jaemin’s voice, which had quieted down, rose again as unexpected words poured out one after another. His father sighed.

“I know it’s sudden. Actually, the registration was already closed, but they’ve agreed to make an exception for you. I even asked them specifically, so what am I supposed to do if you say you won’t go?”

He was implying that it would be a loss of face to back out now, after having arranged everything in front of other people.

Jaemin struggled to maintain his composure as his father spoke as if doing him a favor, after having made arbitrary decisions without even consulting him. The furrow in his brow, which he had been trying to smooth out, deepened. He repeated his previous statement.

“No, I don’t want to go.”

“Ryu Jaemin.”

“How can you tell me to go to a dormitory with only two days’ notice? Father, could you tell anyone else to go somewhere with only two days’ notice? Why do you think it’s okay to do this to me? Because I’m your son?”

“Am I doing this for my own benefit? I’m doing this for you, to help you.”

“This isn’t for me. You’re doing this because of what the former judge said!”

Jaemin clenched his teeth, realizing that he had inadvertently touched a nerve his father wanted to hide. He knew that his father could very well slap him across the face right then and there.

Despite his father always being busy and rarely having time for him when he was younger, Jaemin hadn’t disliked him. When he had free time, he would take Jaemin and his sister to the park or the countryside. Like other fathers, he would sit on the sofa and watch TV or talk with them.

Just as he had told Oh Seungpyo, he had even been carried in his father’s arms into a haunted house. He had even thought he preferred his father, who would play with them when he wasn’t busy, to his mother, who was often frail and sensitive to noise, constantly telling them to be quiet.

However, after his father took off his judicial robes due to “adult circumstances” that Jaemin and his sister never fully understood, he gradually changed, like being slowly drenched in a drizzle. His mother’s initial attempts to dissuade him, as always, didn’t last long. As his father’s changed educational approach yielded tangible “results” and earned praise from those around them, his mother gradually began to agree with his methods.

“What does the former judge have to do with this?”

Fortunately, his father didn’t slap him. However, his eyes and expression began to simmer with anger, and his tone turned cold. Still, Jaemin met his gaze.

“…You want me to go to that academy because the former judge’s son is going there.”

“If that’s what you believe, then I should be sending you to every academy and program that his son attends.”

“He also attends academies and tutoring after school, just like me during the semester. But you’re worried because you think he’s the only one going to a summer school during the break.”

It felt strange to be defying his father like this for the first time since he started wearing a school uniform.

He should be feeling scared, anxious, and nervous, but surprisingly, he wasn’t. This time, he was able to argue back quite calmly, without raising his voice.

“Have I asked too much of you?”

His father, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke.

“I’m not asking you to study abroad at an Ivy League school. I’m just asking you to study hard for the college entrance exams like everyone else and get into your target university in Korea. Preferably with good grades. Is it such a big deal to leave home for two or three weeks and study hard that you have to glare at your father and defy me like this?”

“I could go. But you shouldn’t tell me with only two days’ notice. I have plans and thoughts of my own.”

“What plans? Let’s hear about these grand, elaborate plans and wise thoughts that have you so worked up.”

Jaemin was speechless. He naturally didn’t have any grand plans that could surpass a prestigious boarding school that catered to a select few and took charge of their studies during the summer break.

The summer plans Jaemin had made with Seungpyo weren’t about studying. They were about where and how they would meet, what they would do if they had free time, what they could only do during summer break, and how they could be together again, physically and intimately.

Looking back, it had been a long time since he had been so excited about planning for the break. He knew that most of their plans would be difficult to realize since summer break for a second-year high school student was usually packed with schedules focused on preparing for the college entrance exams.

Still, it had been nice to plan and talk together. Even if they couldn’t actually go on a trip to the countryside or to the beach, just imagining themselves strolling along the shore together was enjoyable.

Friend. Oh Seungpyo had said they were dating, but also friends, so it was probably okay to call him that. It had been years since he had made summer plans with a friend his age. It was awkward yet enjoyable, and just being with Oh Seungpyo made the world around him seem a little brighter.

If he were his usual self, Jaemin would have nodded in agreement with his father’s demand to leave for the boarding school in two days. He had always somewhat accepted his parents’ words that he should endure for three years and then enjoy his deferred pleasures to the fullest once he became an adult. He might have even welcomed the idea of leaving home and going to a dormitory since there wasn’t anything particularly exciting happening during the summer break anyway.

But this summer was different. This summer break would never come again. Although he had said they could do the things they missed this year next year, there was no guarantee that he and Oh Seungpyo would still be together next year.

“My plan is to maintain my grades by studying like I am now. I’ve never seen my grades drop since entering high school, I’ve never disappointed you two, and my grades aren’t borderline either. So why do I have to go to such lengths? As you said, I’m not trying to go to an Ivy League school, and my current pace is enough to get me into my target university.”

“Are you saying you’ll just do the bare minimum? Don’t you realize that others will continue to strive and improve, and that you also need to keep working hard to maintain those grades you’re so proud of?”

“What’s the point of working hard? You don’t really care about me anyway. Why don’t you believe that I’m doing well right now? This summer break is the only one I have this year. Why do you get to decide what I do during my break and inform me two days beforehand?”

His words weren’t just about this particular incident. As he vented his pent-up frustrations, his tone became increasingly rebellious, like a rock rolling down a slope, gaining momentum.

His father’s eyes narrowed, filled with disapproval and suspicion. He stared at Jaemin as if trying to dissect his inner thoughts, then clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Are you dating someone?”

Jaemin’s expression, which had been burning with anger, instantly cooled. Unable to speak, he stammered, managing only a confused,

“…What?”

“Somin also started talking back to her parents when she got caught up in that nonsense, and you’re acting exactly like her! You saw what happened to your sister when she messed around at a crucial time, and you’re still not listening? Tell me honestly! Am I right or wrong?!”

“Don’t bring up my sister! Don’t talk about my sister!”

Jaemin’s voice boomed, louder than his father’s reprimanding tone. As Jaemin lost his composure and yelled, his father’s eyes, which had been darkened with anger, finally wavered, losing their composure.

“You little brat! How dare you yell at me!”

Slap! The sound that had seemed imminent finally struck Jaemin’s cheek, stinging him.

“Honey!”

His mother’s rarely heard angry shout echoed through the house. Jaemin, his head snapping to the side, sighed as if he wasn’t surprised. It was better to get it over with. After being slapped, it was as if something that had been inflated had burst, and his mind became strangely calm.

His cheek, instantly heated, throbbed, and a burning sensation spread through his chest, stomach, and head. Pain, fueled by anger, spread like poison through his chest, fanning the flames of violent impulses he couldn’t control.

He wanted to retaliate. To this person who, simply because he was his father, thought he had the right to hurt others within the confines of this small castle.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how. He had held back because this man was still his father, because he still remembered the times they had spent happily together, because he lived a comfortable life as the son of a well-off family, envied by others and, as Oh Seungpyo had teased, free from petty concerns thanks to his parents’ social status and wealth, and because they ultimately wished for his success. He couldn’t deny all of these facts.

However, just because these facts were clear didn’t mean he had an unlimited capacity for patience. Jaemin slowly opened his mouth.

“Even if I get better grades than him, go to a better university, and become more successful, it won’t mean you’ve beaten the former judge.”

As his clearly enunciated words ended, the living room, which had been noisy with shouting and commotion, fell silent as if doused with cold water.

The most surprised person was Jaemin’s mother, who had been looking for an opportunity to stop their argument.

“How can you say such a thing…?”

She murmured weakly and approached his father with a pale face.

“Go to your room. Both of you calm down and talk again tomorrow morning. We still have a day.”

“Didn’t you hear what he just said?”

His father asked, grabbing his mother’s shoulder.

“You go first. I need to talk to our smart son a little more.”

“I said calm down!”

“You agree too. This isn’t about the academy anymore. We need to discipline him when necessary. Wasn’t that our philosophy on parenting?”

“You’re too agitated. Why did you slap him?”

“Yes, I made a mistake just now. I won’t do it again. I promise.”

“Jaemin, you go to your room too. Now.”

But Jaemin didn’t move. This wasn’t his space anyway. In this house ruled by a master who searched his belongings with the help of the housekeeper when he was away, there was no room that truly belonged to him.

To cower under the covers in front of someone trying to control him, like a foolish animal deluded into thinking it was safely hidden – that was too humiliating. He knew that avoiding eye contact only emboldened those who mistook it for fear. He had long known that even averting his gaze would be interpreted as a gesture of surrender.

Since things had come to this, Jaemin didn’t care anymore. He had initiated the provocation, and now there was nowhere to retreat.

📚

Having only a week of actual summer break was tragic. After the short vacation, the students sitting in the classroom early in the morning were exhausted, each with their own weariness. Of course, they were glad to see their friends again, but they all took turns voicing their complaints.

“One week is too short, isn’t it? It’s truly awful.”

“I used to love summer break until middle school….”

“My cousin got a job, and she said I should appreciate my time as a student. There’s no summer break when you’re working.”

Life just gets harder and harder. The students sighed and grumbled.

“Did you have a good break?”

Several students turned their heads at the voice from above. Seungpyo entered the classroom, placing his bag on his desk. The students waved to him, still tall and handsome as ever.

“Oh Seung, you’re here?”

“What did you do during the week?”

One student answered for Seungpyo. He attended the same academy as Seungpyo.

“Oh Seung’s famous for studying hard at the academy. He stays in the study room until 10 pm these days.”

“Really? Wow.”

“Both Oh Seung and Ryu Jaemin.”

Ignoring their admiration, Seungpyo looked around. Not seeing who he was looking for, he asked,

“Haven’t seen Ryu Jaemin?”

“He’s not here yet.”

Unlike most students who trudged to school like they were being dragged to the slaughterhouse, Seungpyo’s steps were light with anticipation. He could see Jaemin first thing in the morning if he came to school. Wherever Ryu Jaemin was, that place became the most enjoyable place for Seungpyo.

“What did you guys do?”

While waiting for Jaemin, Seungpyo asked his friends how they had been.

“What can you do in a week? Just slept at home. Played some games.”

“I at least went to a water park once.”

“Ah, lucky you.”

Everyone had bored expressions, as if the answer was obvious, but for Seungpyo, this summer had been a turning point in his life. He had his first relationship and his first sexual experience.

But he couldn’t tell his friends about it. All he could say was the half-truth that he had diligently attended the academy and studied hard all week.

Come to think of it, Oh Seungpyo wasn’t the type to keep secrets. He believed that if you didn’t do anything you couldn’t talk about openly, you wouldn’t have to keep secrets in the first place. But after meeting Ryu Jaemin, he kept having secrets.

He used to think that secrets were something people with guilty consciences kept, but now he felt differently. Having discovered the sweetness of secrets, he felt a little more grown-up.

“Did you have a good break?”

“Too short.”

However, as the teacher entered and greeted them, Jaemin still hadn’t appeared, and Seungpyo grew puzzled. If Jaemin was going to be late or skip class, he would have told Seungpyo first. Something must have happened.

When are you coming?

There was still no reply to the message he had sent right after arriving at school. After the short homeroom meeting, Seungpyo quickly followed the homeroom teacher out of the classroom.

“Teacher!”

“Oh, Seungpyo. Did you have a good week?”

“Yes. Ryu Jaemin isn’t here yet. Did you hear anything?”

“Jaemin said he’s skipping supplementary classes? You didn’t know?”

Knowing that the two had become quite close since the start of their second year, the teacher asked Seungpyo in a puzzled tone.

Seungpyo frowned, bewildered.

“He told me he was taking supplementary classes.”

“Ah, he must have canceled suddenly and hasn’t told you yet. Jaemin is going to summer school this break. You know, those dormitory academies that are popular during breaks.”

“Summer school?”

When Seungpyo asked in surprise, the homeroom teacher nodded. Seungpyo’s words became rapid.

“Which summer school?”

“I didn’t hear the name.”

“When does it start?”

“I’m not sure about the date either. He said it’s starting soon, so it must be very soon.”

“Ah, teacher. Why don’t you know anything?”

“Hey, there are a lot of students who don’t want to tell us these things. They’ll tell us if we ask when we need to know.”

This was exactly when he needed to know. Without wasting any more time, Seungpyo finished his conversation with the homeroom teacher and hurriedly called Jaemin. He had only ever used the messenger app; Jaemin had said it was difficult to use his phone at home, so this was his first time calling him.

―The number you have dialed is currently powered off….

It was his monumental first attempt at calling Jaemin since they started dating, but all he heard was the automated message informing him that the phone was off. Seungpyo dropped his hand holding the phone.

It had only been last night that Ryu Jaemin had smiled and replied, “Yeah,” to his comment about being glad to see him at school. It was obvious that his parents had decided to send him to summer school, but regardless of whose decision it was, Jaemin should have at least told him.

‘He went to a boarding school without telling me?’

Jaemin had entered the dormitory and cut off contact without a word. From Seungpyo’s perspective, it was no different from being ghosted. They had just made plans to visit the nearby suburbs together yesterday, and now he was suddenly at a boarding school? He was dumbfounded. Even if it was a last-minute decision, couldn’t Jaemin have at least sent a single message?

Was Ryu Jaemin playing a prank on him again? Jaemin had a mischievous side, sometimes annoyingly so.

Frowning and sulking, Seungpyo checked the messages they had exchanged last night after parting ways. At the very bottom of the messenger window were only Seungpyo’s messages.

Wait a bit and do it with me when I get home.

Are you still studying?

Supplementary classes start tomorrow, don’t stay up too late.

Whether it was because Jaemin had genuinely been focused on studying or not, he hadn’t replied since saying he would study at home since he couldn’t go to the study cafe.

He had confirmed Jaemin’s whereabouts through the homeroom teacher, but the lack of contact made him uneasy. His only interaction with Jaemin’s parents had been a brief encounter and greeting with his mother. Visiting Jaemin’s house to ask about him could put Jaemin in a difficult position.

For now, he had no choice but to wait for Jaemin to contact him. There was only one place he could ask. Seungpyo quickly made a call.

―Hello, this is the academy.

“Hello. This is student Oh Seungpyo.”

―Ah, Seungpyo? Aren’t you at school right now? What’s up?

The staff member, who had answered the phone formally, quickly became friendly upon recognizing Seungpyo’s voice.

“There’s a student in our school, Ryu Jaemin. I heard he’s transferring academies. Is that right?”

―Yes, we received a call from his home saying he’ll be taking a different special lecture during the break.

“Do you know which academy he transferred to?”

―I didn’t hear the name.

“Do you know when it starts?”

―Why do you keep asking? Are you thinking of transferring too?

“No, we’re close, so I’m just curious. He transferred so suddenly that I can’t even reach him.”

―It starts tomorrow. Jaemin said he wouldn’t be attending during the break, so the academy tried to persuade him to stay, but it seems like his family had already made all the arrangements. There’s nothing we can do.

“Okay. Thank you.”

After hanging up, Seungpyo returned to his seat and searched for two words.

‘Summer School’

Seungpyo had heard about the dormitory academies called summer school or winter school that were held during breaks. But he had never attended one himself, and none of his friends had either, so he didn’t know exactly what they were like.

The academy said it started tomorrow, but judging by the fact that Jaemin’s phone was already off without a word, he must have already entered the dormitory. It wasn’t unusual for boarding schools to have an orientation a day before classes officially started.

‘There are more than I thought.’

There were too many search results related to summer school to count.

Glancing through them, it seemed there were more academies that were known through word-of-mouth than those advertised or listed on portal sites. Clicking on promising links mostly led to parent communities discussing college entrance exams. Most posts were inquiries from parents wanting to send their children to summer school and reviews from parents who had already done so.

The atmosphere and rules seemed to vary slightly between academies, but the tight schedule of starting the day before 8 am and studying until almost midnight seemed to be a common factor. The same applied to rules such as prohibiting cell phones and personal electronic devices, forbidding outings and visits without parental request and teacher permission, and allowing free outings or returns home only on weekends. He had never been to the military, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was similar.

‘He’s already at the top of his class, does he really need to go to a place like that?’

Even though there wasn’t much time to play around during the summer break of sophomore year anyway, the fact that he would have to study even harder than during the school term felt daunting to Oh Seungpyo, who was used to a relatively relaxed life. There were times when he secretly envied the pampered life of a rich kid, but now he thought that too much parental care could be a burden.

‘…Isn’t Ryu Jaemin’s family a bit strange?’

Thinking about Jaemin’s parents brought back a forgotten sense of unease. Ryu Jaemin suddenly canceling his supplementary classes and not showing up at school until the start of the new term, and his phone being returned to him packaged in a ziplock bag as if it were criminal evidence.

He had briefly thought that Jaemin’s parents were strange back then, but at the time, it was just an impression colored by his frustration with Jaemin. Jaemin’s mother, whom he had met briefly, had been very elegant and kind, so he had even forgotten his initial suspicion.

Seungpyo sighed. It was probably somewhere near Seoul, so he could probably make a list of all the summer school boarding academies that appeared in his search results, call the ones that started tomorrow, and find out where Jaemin was… But would that seem too stalker-ish to Ryu Jaemin? Or could he pass it off as a surprise?

Even if Jaemin’s phone had been confiscated, he would be able to contact him somehow by the weekend. Knowing he probably wouldn’t get a reply, Seungpyo typed out a message filled with his anxious feelings.

How could you go to a boarding school without saying a word to me?

I can’t contact you, I can’t see you, don’t you feel sorry for me? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

You’re in for it when I see you. It’s really 12 hours now, no mercy.

Contact me when you see this. Late at night is okay, anytime is okay. I’ll be waiting.

Two lines of whining, one line of threat, and one line of worry. The message window, filled with unanswered messages, felt desolate.

“Alright, everyone, heads up and put your phones away.”

Class started just then. Seungpyo sighed and put his phone away. He was upset, but as long as nothing worse had happened and it was just a sudden academy transfer, it was fortunate.

📚

The door opened, revealing a small, quiet room. It was a simple room with two beds, two desks, and a small wardrobe. The person who opened the door explained,

“As you can see, the dormitory rooms are for two people. Many boarding schools have poor facilities, but we believe rest is important, so we use top-quality mattresses. You can bring your own bedding, but we also provide rentals if you’d like.”

The administrator was giving a tour of the academy. Usually, people registered after seeing the facilities, but with the principal’s reputation, there were now many cases like this, where people registered first, the administrator said with a rather proud expression. He and Jaemin’s mother had toured the classrooms, study rooms, gym, and cafeteria, and finally arrived at the dormitory.

“You said you wanted to move into the dormitory today?”

“Yes, I’d like to move in today to get settled.”

“It’s good to adapt quickly. A few more students will be moving in today as well.”

Jaemin’s mother answered on behalf of Jaemin, who remained silent. The administrator smiled and held out a basket. Seeing Jaemin staring blankly, not understanding the meaning, he added an explanation.

“Classes start tomorrow, but personal electronic devices like cell phones, laptops, and tablets have to be handed in upon arrival.”

“I don’t have any.”

Jaemin answered this time. The administrator asked, puzzled,

“You don’t have any?”

“No, I don’t have a cell phone or a laptop.”

“You didn’t bring any at all? Dedicated, I see. We have students like that. You can’t use them during the week anyway, and if you absolutely need to make a call, you can come to the office and request to use the phone.”

“Okay.”

Jaemin’s expression was indifferent, as if he didn’t care, but the administrator didn’t seem to mind. Not everyone who came to a remote boarding school during summer break was a diligent student eager to learn. He continued speaking casually, as if he had seen kids like Jaemin many times before.

“Do you need any further consultation, ma’am?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then please say your goodbyes. Ryu Jaemin, you can rest today, or you can use the study room or gym right away if you’d like.”

The administrator gave a brief farewell and left. The remaining mother and son fell silent. Jaemin put down his luggage. Approaching the desk, he looked out the small window. Being far from the city, the surrounding scenery was lush and pleasing to the eye.

Since it was a scenic and secluded suburban area, on their way to the academy, they had seen people enjoying their vacation, pitching tents and barbecuing. It felt absurd that some people came to this place for enjoyment, while others paid a hefty sum to live a prison-like life nearby.

It felt like the day after a typhoon, the weather clear and calm. Now that the situation had settled and the day had changed, the intense emotions of yesterday felt like a dream. Jaemin quietly said to his mother,

“Now that we’ve seen everything, you should go.”

“Jaemin, your father will regret what happened yesterday.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’ll talk to your father when I get back. You were both too emotional yesterday; it scared me. We’ll see each other again on the weekend, so cheer up.”

“Yes, I’ll reflect on it.”

Jaemin’s voice lacked any warmth. His mother sighed softly and hesitated before saying goodbye.

“Then I’ll be going. Work hard.”

“Yes, be careful.”

His mother looked at Jaemin, who simply nodded his head in farewell as if he were a stranger, as if she had more to say. Then, seemingly finding a suitable excuse, she brightened up and asked,

“Do you need anything? This was so sudden. I can have things sent from home, or if there’s anyone you want to contact, I can do it for you.”

At that, Jaemin hesitated. His mother had used the euphemism “emotional,” but “disaster” would be a more accurate description of what had happened at Jaemin’s house last night.

He had left home in such a hurry that he hadn’t had time to tell Oh Seungpyo, and he had no way to contact him. His father, who had yelled at him for being distracted at such a crucial time, had confiscated both his laptop and phone. Jaemin had arrived here, carried in his mother’s car, without being able to inform anyone of the sudden situation.

His mother had met Oh Seungpyo, so if he asked her to relay the message to Seungpyo…

“No, it’s okay.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you can go.”

Jaemin quickly gave up. There was no need to give his mother Oh Seungpyo’s number. They had said he could use the dormitory phone if he asked, so he could contact Seungpyo sometime today.

Once his mother left, Jaemin was alone in the room, as his roommate hadn’t arrived yet. He sat weakly on the bare mattress and then lay down.

The small room felt unfamiliar. It had the bleak atmosphere typical of a clean but cheap temporary lodging, enlivened only by the lush green light filtering in from the window. It would have felt even more desolate if he had come during winter break.

Although the unfamiliar room should have been uncomfortable, Jaemin found the dormitory more comfortable than his home. His father and mother weren’t here. Here, he just had to follow the rules, but at home, there were no rules. At home, there were only the capricious emotions and moods of his parents, and if he went against them, he would be unfairly criticized as if he had broken a rule.

Jaemin had been subjected to what his father called “discipline” until dawn. He had tried not to regret what he had done, but he couldn’t help it. If he couldn’t change the outcome, he shouldn’t have defied his father in the first place. At least he wouldn’t have been so exhausted. He wouldn’t have had to leave home in such a hurry without even contacting Oh Seungpyo.

By dawn, both he and his father were too exhausted to reconsider. Jaemin no longer wanted to stay in the same house as his father, not even for a second. His father, who had been just as furious last night, probably felt the same way.

Even if his father had allowed him to stay home after their prolonged standoff, Jaemin would have volunteered to go to the dormitory by then. It would have been a greater punishment to cancel his stay at the dormitory and make him stay at home. He felt sorry for Oh Seungpyo, but there was nothing he could do last night.

‘I have nowhere else to go.’

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Jaemin finally felt his eyes welling up. He hadn’t shed a single tear when he was suddenly told to go to the dormitory, when he was slapped, when he was hounded all night and dragged to his father’s study for a familiar punishment he hadn’t received in a long time.

He wanted to quickly become an adult who could work and earn money. He didn’t need a grand, spacious apartment like his parents’ house. He just wanted to live in a place where no one could barge into his room.

He remembered his first visit to Oh Seungpyo’s house, when he was startled by Seungpyo’s older brother suddenly entering the room while they were clumsily but enthusiastically making love. He had been terrified that his unlocked door would suddenly burst open, but Seungpyo had comforted him, whispering,

‘Our rule is that we don’t open each other’s doors without permission when they’re closed.’

He wished he had been born into a family like Oh Seungpyo’s.

If Oh Seungpyo heard him, he might tease him for complaining despite being a rich kid with a mother, but maybe it was a spoiled complaint. At this moment, he was sincere.

As he started thinking about the past, instead of the unpleasant memories of last night, Oh Seungpyo’s image filled his mind. His skin vividly remembered the arms that had embraced him when he was half in panic, the weight of the body that had pinned him down, and the suffocatingly hot body temperature. Lying alone in the chilly summer room, he missed that moment even more.

“Oh Seungpyo.”

Calling the name of someone who wasn’t there, tears suddenly welled up and streamed down his face. Jaemin sat up abruptly and wiped away the unfamiliar moisture irritably.

“This is so frustrating, damn it….”

He sniffled and grumbled to no one in the empty room.

“Oh Seungpyo, I miss you.”

Since he had cut off contact without a single message, Seungpyo must be furious. They had just made up after Seungpyo had almost turned his back on him, and now this had happened.

No, he couldn’t ruin his relationship with Seungpyo like this after they had finally reconciled. Wiping away the endless stream of tears, Jaemin went into the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, his cheek, which had been slapped hard by his father yesterday, was still slightly swollen. It hadn’t completely subsided despite his mother applying ice for a long time, saying it looked unsightly.

The person who had shown him around the academy must have seen his unnaturally swollen cheek, but since he hadn’t mentioned it, it seemed that there were quite a few students who arrived here bruised and battered. It wasn’t surprising.

After washing his face with cold water for a while, Jaemin left the dormitory room, having finally erased the traces of tears from his face. He knocked on the office door, following the directions he had been given. The door opened from the inside.

“What is it?”

“Hello. I’d like to use the phone.”

“Who are you calling?”

“A friend.”

“Ah, you can’t call friends. You can only call your guardians.”

Jaemin was speechless at the unexpected answer. He would have made a different excuse if he had known.

“Even though classes haven’t officially started yet, I still can’t?”

“Once you’ve entered the academy, you have to follow the rules.”

“Okay.”

Knowing it would be pointless to argue, Jaemin quickly conceded and retreated. Walking down the hallway, he looked around, wondering if there was anything he could use to contact the outside world.

Suddenly, he stopped. He peered through the half-glass, half-blocked door, observing the layout of the empty room. It was a classroom with several computers. A person who appeared to be a teacher passed by and called out to Jaemin.

“What are you doing? Are you trying to watch online lectures?”

“Yes? Yes. Can I watch online lectures today?”

“Of course. If you want to watch online lectures during self-study time, you can sign up and watch. But if you’re caught doing anything else or installing games, you’ll get penalty points. You know your parents will be contacted if you get penalty points, right?”

“Yes.”

Jaemin returned to the office and wrote his name on the online study room application form. A teacher in charge of student life followed him and opened the door. Since it was before the official start of classes and Jaemin was the only student, the teacher seemed annoyed, though he tried not to show it.

“You have to sign up again after an hour.”

“Okay.”

It was the academy’s policy that teachers had to supervise students during self-study time, whether in the regular study room or the online study room. So, the teacher sat on a chair at the back of the room.

Jaemin silently turned on the computer, logged into the online lecture site he frequently used, and asked,

“Since I’m the only one here, can I use the speakers?”

“Sure.”

He pressed the play button, and the cheerful voice of the online lecturer filled the silent study room. While pretending to listen to the lecture and looking at the monitor, Jaemin kept a close eye on the teacher’s movements.

It was difficult to observe him from the back, but he didn’t think the teacher would meticulously monitor him the day before the official start of classes, especially with only one student. It was highly likely that he would overlook some minor distractions. Still, there was no need to take unnecessary risks, so Jaemin pretended to concentrate on the lecture.

Naturally, none of the lecture content registered in his mind. A tedious time passed as he watched the monitor and listened for any signs from the teacher.

“Hello.”

After several tens of minutes, a phone finally rang. The teacher lowered his voice and started talking to someone.

He seemed to get up and said to Jaemin,

“I’ll be right back after a quick phone call. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.”

As soon as the door closed, Jaemin quickly minimized the lecture window, opened a new window, and typed in an address. Logging into the social media site, he opened the messenger window with a notification.

As expected, a string of messages from Seungpyo had arrived.

How could you go to a boarding school without saying a word to me?

I can’t contact you, I can’t see you, don’t you feel sorry for me? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

You’re in for it when I see you. It’s really 12 hours now, no mercy.

As expected, his tone was full of anger. It would be stranger if he wasn’t angry in this situation. Anxious, Jaemin bit his lip and scrolled down.

Contact me when you see this. Late at night is okay, anytime is okay. I’ll be waiting.

However, after checking the last message that seemed to soothe him, his anxiety subsided, and his eyes grew warm.

This wasn’t the time to cry. Jaemin quickly placed his hands on the keyboard before the teacher returned. Once he sent the message, Seungpyo would check it after his supplementary classes, and at least he could prevent any misunderstanding.

Sorry, my dad suddenly told me to go to a boarding school. I didn’t know I was coming here either.

I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but my dad is like that sometimes. I can go out on weekends, so I’ll contact you then. I’m really sorry.

He hurriedly typed two lines and was about to close the window when he saw a speech bubble appear in the messenger window. It was an indicator that the other person was typing.

Jaemin checked the time. It was still during class time, but Seungpyo didn’t seem to care. And indeed, a new message popped up.

I was so surprised you suddenly went silent. I found out you went to a boarding school from our homeroom teacher.

He didn’t know which academy either, so I was going to call all the academies that start tomorrow after class today. I’m so relieved.

Crazy lol Aren’t you in class right now?

I don’t care, I pretended to go to the bathroom.

Jaemin couldn’t help but laugh, not expecting such a quick reply. He wasn’t in a laughing mood, but a smile spread across his face. Wanting to talk more, Jaemin moved his fingers busily.

I don’t have my phone right now, I’m on a computer, pretending to watch a lecture

Good job. They even have computers in jail. But which academy are you at?

I’m in Gapyeong

Gapyeong?? That’s so far. That’s where we were planning to go.

I saw people coming here to have fun on my way here

How am I supposed to wait until the weekend? I was so happy we were going to see each other early today at school.

Playful emoticons flooded the screen, seemingly drowning in their own tears. To Jaemin, who had actually shed tears, the emoticons weren’t funny.

He stared blankly at the screen before placing his hands back on the keyboard. The faster typing speed than before revealed his urgency.

Oh Seungpyo

Yeah

I don’t want to be here. I want to leave.

Is that okay?

I can’t go home. Can I be with you if I leave?

Unlike his seemingly calm words, Jaemin’s heart was pounding even more violently than yesterday. His heartbeat accelerated, and his fingertips trembled. He swallowed, unnerved by his own words.

What do you mean?

Seungpyo’s immediate reply clearly showed his bewilderment, as if he didn’t quite understand what Jaemin meant. He seemed unable to grasp the connection between wanting to leave the boarding school and not being able to go home.

But Seungpyo quickly grasped Jaemin’s intention and summarized his rambling words into a single word.

Are you saying you’re going to run away?

Run away.

The word sent a chill down Jaemin’s spine. He felt a pang of guilt that instinctively tightened his chest, bringing him close to a cold sweat. Run away? It was a word that seemed completely unconnected to Ryu Jaemin, the honor student who had never lost his top-of-the-class position, the model student everyone praised.

From entering elementary school at eight to now, a sophomore in high school – in the nearly ten years he had diligently attended school, rain or shine, he had only heard rumors of other kids running away. He had always thought it was something that happened to other people.

In middle school, a classmate had run away, and his seat had been empty for over a week. At the time, the teacher, with a somber expression, had warned them about the dangers of running away.

He still remembered the teacher’s grim face as he stood at the podium, half-warning, half-pleading, “Even if you run away, come to school,” and the rumors that followed the runaway student like a shadow until graduation – that he had gotten involved with gangsters, that he had worked at a bar.

To Jaemin, running away was that kind of thing. Something that made the adults around him frown, something that caused a stir at school, something that tarnished reputations with groundless rumors, something that only troubled students who were beyond the school’s reach would do. In other words, something that had nothing to do with him.

It was a drastic action, completely different from rebelling against his parents at home or running a secret social media account. Confused about how to deal with the word “run away,” Jaemin ended up repeating the same question.

Can’t you go home?

I’d love to lol But are you really okay with this?

I might get in trouble if I get caught.

You’ll still come?

Yeah, as long as you’re okay with it.

Seungpyo answered immediately again, as if he hadn’t hesitated for even a second.

Then should I come pick you up?

Jaemin’s eyes were already welling up again. Without time to wipe away his tears, Jaemin busily typed on the keyboard.

Yeah, I can’t leave by myself. This is in the middle of nowhere in Gapyeong. I don’t even have money to get to the station.

I’ll come tomorrow then.

No, even if you come, I can’t just meet you.

We’re not allowed to go out, and they don’t allow visitors unless they’re guardians.

What the hell, even prisons allow visits. Why is this academy so strict?