EAR Ch 36

Goal. It’s the force that helps one endure the tedious, repetitive daily grind.

With the goal of crushing Oh Seungpyo, who was trying to climb above him in the school rankings, and maintaining his position as top student, Jaemin studied harder than usual during exam periods. He endured the oppressive control of his parents, which fueled his anger, with the goal of becoming independent and leaving home once he entered university.

Now, with the goal of escape, even life at the boarding school, where his freedom was taken away, wasn’t so bad. Waking up early in the morning to exercise together, attending classes and special lectures, having lunch, then more special lectures. Exercising again in the evening, followed by self-study until bedtime.

While some students regretted volunteering to come, the high-achieving students from various schools adapted well to the environment, living up to the academy’s boast of being a selective institution.

Jaemin, too, was spending his days diligently among his peers without complaint, although his mind was preoccupied with other things.

The thought of leaving this place on the weekend brought a smile to his face. At first, he had been intimidated by the weight of the word “runaway,” but now he felt a sense of excitement, like he was about to pull off the prank of a lifetime, imagining his parents’ and the teachers’ reactions.

I’ll be there by 8 am tomorrow.

I’m taking a taxi, so let’s move right away.

I booked a really awesome pension. It has a pool lol

Finally, Friday arrived. Jaemin smiled as he checked Seungpyo’s messages, which arrived with a slight delay. The emoticons that filled the messages expressed Oh Seungpyo’s excitement.

When he first said he wanted to escape, he had only hoped to be able to follow Seungpyo home and stay by his side like a lifeless object for a while. But Oh Seungpyo had a different idea. He suggested they go on the trip they had dreamed of before the break, since he was escaping the academy and not going home anyway.

Gapyeong, Cheongpyeong, Chuncheon, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung… While discussing how to spend their first summer break as a couple, they had opened a map and listed places not too far from Seoul, one by one. Whether they could actually go was a matter for later; they could enjoy just dreaming of traveling together.

To go on a trip while running away. He didn’t think anyone but Oh Seungpyo, who had brought a camping chair to school, would come up with such an idea. Jaemin, too, had become excited, forgetting his gloom, and agreed.

To get here from Seoul by 8 am, Seungpyo would have to catch the first train without fail. Thinking of Oh Seungpyo, busy from dawn to pick him up, made him feel both apologetic and reassured, as if he had gained a powerful ally.

He hadn’t realized before dating Oh Seungpyo how comforting it was to have someone in this vast world clearly and brightly on his side. Because he hadn’t known, he had never felt sad or regretful about not having such a presence in his life.

Yeah, I’ll be out there on time. See you tomorrow.

He could only check the messenger app very briefly during online self-study, avoiding the teacher’s gaze. Naturally, there was no time to write long replies, so he quickly closed the window after leaving only essential messages.

The day’s schedule finally ended past 11 pm. As classes ended, the students, exhausted from staring at books all day, stood up and headed to their assigned dormitories. Although they had come from different places and met as strangers, some had already become close, walking together in groups of two or three.

“It’s nice that it’s more comfortable than home, but it’s more boring than I thought because I can’t use my phone.”

“Hey, but doesn’t it feel like our eyesight is recovering because we’re not looking at our phones? Is it just me?”

Jaemin was sharing his prison life with his father’s friend’s son and his roommate.

He half-heartedly listened to their conversation, trailing half a step behind them. He was so preoccupied with thoughts of seeing Oh Seungpyo tomorrow that the words of his friends in front of him went in one ear and out the other. Noticing Jaemin’s distraction, they looked back.

“Why are you in such a good mood today? Did something good happen?”

“Me?”

“Yeah, don’t you think so too?”

When his father’s friend’s son asked for confirmation, Jaemin’s roommate nodded.

“Right, you’ve seemed brighter than usual since this morning.”

“Did being stuck here studying make you go crazy?”

Despite their teasing, Jaemin just shrugged and smiled.

“Tomorrow is the weekend, so we can go out.”

“Are you going somewhere fun?”

He couldn’t tell them about his plans. Jaemin shook his head and made an excuse.

“Just home. My mother is picking me up.”

“Are you that happy to go home? I said I’m staying here to study even on the weekend because I don’t want to go home.”

Jaemin smiled silently. It was his father’s friend’s son who had said he would stay in the dormitory even on weekends because he didn’t want to go home.

He couldn’t help but think of the two old men who constantly compared and bragged about their sons whenever they met, without even knowing what their sons thought of them. He almost scoffed, but thinking of his father’s last expression dampened his mood, and he couldn’t bring himself to laugh.

“I think more people are staying than leaving. I heard it’s usually like that during the first week.”

“I guess everyone doesn’t want to go home. You too?”

“I was going to go, but my mom told me to stay here and study. She’s bringing me snacks tomorrow.”

“She’s bringing you care packages.”

Their chattering continued only as they walked down the hallway. The tired students hurried to get ready for bed as soon as they dispersed to their rooms.

While his roommate was showering, Jaemin organized his belongings. He put everything he had taken out back into his suitcase since he would be leaving tomorrow, leaving only the clothes he would wear in the morning and his toiletries. He had initially planned to leave with the entire suitcase, but it seemed too conspicuous for a weekend outing. He transferred only the essentials into his backpack.

It was a simple plan: wake up early, meet Oh Seungpyo, and leave. But perhaps because it was his first time carrying out such a secret operation, his heart pounded like he was about to stage a prison break from a movie or novel. He would never have imagined such a thing happening in his otherwise quiet and uneventful high school life.

“Are you going to shower too?”

“Yeah.”

Jaemin entered the empty bathroom after his roommate. Standing in front of the sink, brushing his teeth, he brought his face close to the mirror and examined his left cheek. The swelling from his father’s slap had completely subsided, his skin now white and smooth as usual. Jaemin gave a wry smile.

He and his father were similar in that they both hid their wrongdoings from others. His father, who resorted to violence in a fit of anger, then pretended to be a good parent who respected his child’s autonomy in front of others. And Ryu Jaemin, who acted like a model student while running a secret online account he couldn’t let others discover. An unpleasant common ground.

When he came out of the shower, his roommate was lying on his bed, reading a book. While cell phones and laptops were forbidden, students were allowed to bring books, so his roommate always read for about an hour before bed. Mostly fantasy novels with flashy titles that Jaemin had never read.

“Is it good?”

“Super good. You should read it too. I’ll lend it to you.”

“Okay. Lend it to me next week.”

Jaemin lied nonchalantly, even though he wouldn’t be here next week. Lying in bed, Jaemin’s heart fluttered with excitement like a child on the eve of their first field trip. Trying to suppress his excitement so he wouldn’t lose sleep, Jaemin closed his eyes tightly.

The next morning, when Jaemin opened his eyes, his roommate was still sound asleep. Thanks to the lack of a set wake-up time on weekends. Jaemin carefully got ready, trying not to wake him, then slung his backpack over his shoulder and left the room.

Even without waking anyone, there were already quite a few students walking around outside and in the hallway, taking early morning walks or gathering in small groups to bask in the sun. Several students were already waiting in front of the office, presumably to apply for leave.

He had been worried that requesting leave so early in the morning would make him stand out, but it was a needless worry. As he was about to open the office door, he heard a voice calling his name from the side.

“Ryu Jaemin!”

One of the dormitory supervisors was hurrying towards him. Jaemin bowed his head slightly.

“Hello.”

“You’re awake? Your mother is waiting for you.”

“…What?”

“She said you were going home for the weekend. Your mother is in the waiting room. Let’s go.”

Confused, Jaemin blinked and trailed off.

“My mother was supposed to come by 9…”

“She had something come up this afternoon, so she came to pick you up early. I was just about to wake you, but you’re already up. Come on. She’s waiting.”

Unlike the energetic tone of the supervisor, Jaemin’s face turned pale, and he just looked down at his watch, unable to follow immediately. It was still 20 minutes until 8 am, his appointed time with Seungpyo.

‘What do I do?’

Despite his racing thoughts, Jaemin had no choice but to follow the supervisor. He couldn’t just run away now. The waiting room was close, and his mother was indeed there, waiting, sipping tea. The supervisor greeted her with a smile.

“Hello, ma’am. Ryu Jaemin was already awake and getting ready to go out.”

“I knew it. He never sleeps in, even at home… Did you have a good week?”

His mother greeted him warmly after a few days apart. But Jaemin could only manage a weak reply.

“If something came up, you could have told me to come home next week…”

“How could I do that when I promised to pick up my son?”

Jaemin’s mother was unusually cheerful. It seemed she wanted to reconcile with her son after their unpleasant parting.

On the other hand, Jaemin found it difficult to put on a bright face in front of his mother after so long. He forced a smile, but it must have looked awkward. Perhaps thinking that the shadow on his face was due to his lingering anger, his mother’s expression darkened slightly.

“Shall we go to the car? Let’s talk on the way.”

“Okay.”

Jaemin’s mind raced as he followed his mother. He agonized over what to do, worried that his escape attempt might be discovered if he acted rashly, and whether he should just stay at the academy.

If he said he would stay, his mother would probably want to talk to him more here. And Seungpyo was probably on his way here right now.

It took less than a minute to walk from the visitor waiting room to the parking lot. His mother was already standing by the car, opening the driver’s side door. Staring blankly at her, Jaemin suddenly exclaimed, as if remembering something he had forgotten.

“I forgot something. I left something in my room. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. But Jaemin,”

His mother stopped him as he was about to turn around.

“Leave your bag in the car. It’s heavy.”

“Ah… I’m going to bring something back in this.”

His mother nodded understandingly. Jaemin quickly turned and hurried back into the building, anxiously chewing on his lower lip. His pace, which had been normal at first, gradually increased until he was practically running.

No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t think of any other way. There was only one main entrance connecting the academy to the outside, and the parking lot was located between the building and the entrance.

Escape scenes in movies and novels often featured secret tunnels or escape hatches known only to the protagonist, but this wasn’t a real prison. There couldn’t possibly be a secret passage in an ordinary boarding school.

But conversely, because it wasn’t a real prison but an ordinary boarding school, the security against students running away wasn’t that tight. Confiscating electronic devices and prohibiting personal allowances was meant to prevent distractions from studying, not to prevent students from escaping.

Jaemin slipped out through another exit at the end of the hallway and looked around. It was still early, so there was no one in the backyard, where recycled waste and miscellaneous items were stored.

He never dreamed he would go this far. Jaemin let out an exasperated sigh and threw his backpack over the wall. Thud. As soon as he heard the sound of his bag hitting the ground, he put one foot on the wall and vaulted over. The wall wasn’t that high, so Jaemin, with his tall stature, could clear it in one go.

It was his first time climbing over a wall. Without taking a moment to enjoy the view from atop the wall, Jaemin quickly jumped down. After landing safely, he picked up his backpack and ran towards the main gate. The area near the gate was quiet, as if his mother was still waiting for him in the parking lot.

‘There’s still some time left.’

Could he wait for Oh Seungpyo here without being caught? He was also worried that Oh Seungpyo and his mother might run into each other. They had met before, so they might recognize each other. He already felt bad for asking Seungpyo to come all the way here to help him run away, and he absolutely didn’t want his parents to find out that Seungpyo was involved.

But he didn’t have time to think. He heard his name being called from inside the gate.

“Jaemin! Where are you?”

His mother had noticed his absence sooner than expected, perhaps having checked his room when he didn’t return. The supervisor’s voice, calling his name along with his mother, was laced with panic.

If they couldn’t find him inside, they would naturally come out to the main gate. The academy, which only accepted a small number of students, wasn’t large enough to take a long time to search.

What should he do? Jaemin bit his lip and paced, then reluctantly started walking. Waiting for Oh Seungpyo in front of the gate, where there was nowhere to hide, wasn’t a wise choice.

📚

A taxi stopped near the main gate of the academy, located in a remote area. It was 8 am sharp. Seungpyo, looking out the window, exclaimed excitedly,

“Perfect timing. Please wait here for a moment. I’ll be right back with my friend.”

“You have to pay the fare for coming this far first. There are a lot of customers who say they’ll be right back and never return.”

“Okay, here you go.”

Seungpyo looked out the window while the driver processed the payment. The gate wasn’t that wide, so he should be able to see Jaemin from inside the car, but Jaemin wasn’t there.

Instead of Jaemin, two adults emerged from the academy gate, looking frantic. Seungpyo, about to get out of the car, pressed his face against the window and observed the situation outside. The people looked very anxious. When Seungpyo didn’t get out, the driver turned around and asked curiously,

“Aren’t you going to get your friend? I have to take you to the dakgalbi restaurant quickly. The place I recommended is much better than the one you found online.”

“Just a moment. My friend was supposed to be out here, but I don’t see him.”

Despite the driver’s urging, Seungpyo ducked down further instead of getting out. The two people, having spotted the taxi on the rarely used road, were approaching.

Seungpyo quickly pulled his hat down and hurriedly lay down in the back seat, not forgetting to ask the driver for a favor.

“Sir! If those people come and ask, pretend you don’t know me! Pretend I’m a college student who passed out drunk!”

“What?”

As the driver looked confused, the people outside knocked on the driver’s side window. The driver lowered the window slightly.

“Are you looking for a ride?”

“We’re looking for a student. Have you seen a high school-aged boy around here?”

“I haven’t seen anyone.”

They peered inside the car through the gap in the window and cautiously asked the driver,

“The person in the back seat…”

“I picked him up this morning, but he’s completely wasted and I’ve been driving around in circles.”

“Ah, I see…”

They bowed their heads and retreated without further suspicion. As they moved away, the driver rolled up the window and looked back at the back seat with a suspicious gaze. He had complied with Seungpyo’s request since they had been chatting pleasantly during the ride, but he seemed uneasy.

“Student, you’re not planning anything bad, are you?”

“No, it’s the weekend, so I was going to meet a friend who attends the academy here and hang out. We were supposed to meet at the front gate, but I don’t see him.”

“Then call him.”

“Just a moment. Please wait.”

It seemed things had gone awry. Originally, they weren’t supposed to be discovered until they were far from the academy, but it seemed Jaemin’s escape had been discovered before they even met.

Since the area in front of the academy was wide open, Jaemin would have hidden somewhere. He didn’t have a phone or any means of contacting Seungpyo, so he couldn’t have gone far…

Seungpyo quietly pondered, looking at the map app. There were a few convenience stores and restaurants within walking distance of the academy.

“Sir, could you take me here?”

Seungpyo showed the map on his phone to the driver. The driver checked the distance and location and nodded.

Tents of various shapes and colors were pitched, and the smell of all sorts of cooking filled the air.

The most tantalizing smell was that of ramen boiling. He hadn’t felt hungry because he was so nervous when escaping the academy, but now his stomach was rumbling. Jaemin swallowed involuntarily.

Campers, presumably families, glanced at the boy wandering around the campsite with only a backpack. One of them gestured.

“Student, are you alone? Want to join us for some food?”

“No! It’s okay. I’m with someone.”

Jaemin shook his head in surprise.

He had taken refuge at the campsite he had noticed on his way to the academy. He remembered it because he had found it amusing that some people were enjoying camping nearby while he was being semi-forced into confinement.

He had run here, breathlessly, thinking it would be a good place to hide among the crowds, but now that he was here, wandering around without any companions or equipment among the groups of people enjoying themselves, he felt conspicuous and even pathetic, making him shrink back.

Perhaps because he looked pitiful, wandering around hungry and self-conscious, he had even been offered food. Embarrassed, Jaemin decided to ask for what he needed most right now.

“Excuse me…”

“Hmm?”

Jaemin hesitantly approached the man who had offered him food. The man, who was making kimchi jjigae for breakfast, turned around.

“Excuse me, could I borrow your phone to make a call?”

“A phone? You came camping without a phone?”

“I… lost it on the way here.”

Unlike when the man had offered him food, his expression turned unpleasant when Jaemin asked to borrow his phone.

Jaemin knew that his request wouldn’t be taken at face value in this age of frequent personal information leaks. But the man’s reaction was more blatant than expected. He seemed to be suspicious of the boy wandering around aimlessly with only a backpack at the peaceful and enjoyable campsite. Jaemin quickly took a step back.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry.”

He wasn’t far from the academy, and if he lingered, he might get caught. As Jaemin quickly left, the man tilted his head, watching him, then turned back to his cooking.

‘I need to contact Oh Seungpyo, what should I do?’

As Jaemin wandered among the cheerful campers, it occurred to him that there might be an office or something similar at the campsite. There would probably be a public phone there for guests who, like him, had lost their phones.

He happened to pass by a campsite map. The “Information Center” marked on the map was quite close. Relieved, he was about to run there when someone suddenly tackled him from behind.

“Gotcha!”

“Whoa!”

Startled by the sudden grab, Jaemin flailed his arms. He turned towards the person he had thrown off, breathing heavily.

“What the—”

Jaemin’s defensive shout turned into a gasp of surprise. He quickly ran towards the person he had pushed away.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Ugh… Do you have eyes in the back of your head? How could you hit my solar plexus so precisely with your elbow…”

“Well, why did you grab me from behind so suddenly! It’s dangerous!”

Seungpyo, bent over and groaning, and Jaemin, who had also been bent over, grumbled at each other before their eyes met.

Their meticulously planned rendezvous, delayed for several days, had finally happened, but before they could exchange greetings, they ended up bickering. As their eyes locked, they both chuckled softly, unable to decide who should complain first.

Like a pair who had successfully pulled off a grand escape, they embraced each other tightly, then quickly separated as they remembered they were at a campsite. Seungpyo spoke first.

“Did you do okay?”

“Of course.”

“The taxi’s waiting. Aren’t you hungry? Let’s go eat.”

“I’m starving.”

“Are you okay with dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken)? The taxi driver told me about this amazing dakgalbi place.”

“I’m good with anything right now.”

Jaemin’s steps became lighter. The anxiety that had made him feel like a criminal, constantly checking his surroundings whenever Seungpyo was beside him, vanished.

Walking side-by-side towards the taxi, Jaemin passed the tent of the man who had looked at him suspiciously earlier. Jaemin deliberately raised his voice in laughter, as if to announce that he, too, had come to the campsite with a friend.

“I couldn’t do anything because I missed you so much.”

Once they were a good distance from the tents, Seungpyo finally whispered his true feelings.

I cried because I missed you. If Jaemin replied with that, he would surely win the “who missed whom more” competition of affection. But he just smiled and feigned surrender.

“I was studying super hard at the academy.”

“I knew you would say that. I knew I’d be the only one being serious.”

“But how did you know I was at the campsite?”

“If I were you, I would’ve come here too, right? I figured the convenience store would be the first place you’d go from the academy, and it’s easy to borrow a phone here since there are so many people.”

Seungpyo answered matter-of-factly, then furrowed his brow.

“So we need to leave quickly. They’ll probably come looking for you here from the academy soon.”

“Yeah.”

A taxi waited patiently for the runaway boys in the distance. They held hands and ran, quickly settling into the back seat. Seungpyo told the driver their destination.

“Sir, please take us to the dakgalbi restaurant!”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

The driver cheerfully started the car. They silently faced each other, smiling, fiddling with each other’s hands, and poking each other’s sides.

The fresh scent of lush summer foliage flowed through the slightly open car window. It was a perfect day for running away, with bright sunshine and a clear blue sky.

📚

The streets were lined with dakgalbi restaurants boasting history and tradition, but the taxi stopped in front of a smaller restaurant than expected. These are the real hidden gems, Seungpyo whispered.

“Thank you, sir.”

“You’re welcome, boys. Have fun. The charcoal-grilled dakgalbi here is delicious, so make sure to try it.”

“Yes! Drive safely, sir.”

Leaving the taxi behind as it sped away, they entered the restaurant. Even though it wasn’t quite lunchtime yet, the place was already bustling. The delicious smell of slightly charred meat filled the air, making their already empty stomachs rumble even louder.

Luckily, a window seat was available. They quickly claimed the table, ordered two servings of charcoal-grilled dakgalbi recommended by the taxi driver, and a bottle of cola. Finally relaxed, they looked out the window. The view of several well-grown trees wasn’t bad. But Seungpyo muttered with slight dissatisfaction.

“He said it was near the river, but I don’t see a river.”

“The view is nice here too. The trees are big and beautiful.”

“True. We’re going to do water activities after this anyway, so it doesn’t matter if we can’t see the river. You’re not afraid of water, are you?”

Jaemin nodded. Far from being afraid of water, he had loved swimming lessons as a child. Seungpyo wore a satisfied expression.

“I thought we wouldn’t be able to do any water activities this summer, but we’re finally doing it.”

“Are you a good swimmer?”

“Yeah, I never learned properly, but I swam a lot in the ocean as a kid. My grandmother lives by the sea.”

Their ordered food arrived as they chatted. As the hungry boys were about to dig in, the server handed them tongs and explained.

“It’s pre-cooked, so you can eat it right away. But it tastes even better if you grill it a little more on the charcoal until it’s crispy.”

“Okay!”

Despite their enthusiastic response, as soon as the server turned around, they immediately stuffed the meat into their mouths. Seungpyo, chewing and swallowing, furrowed his brow.

“Wow.”

The outside was crispy and savory, while the inside was moist and chewy. Too busy chewing, Jaemin could only nod in agreement. The admiration ended with a single word. The dakgalbi disappeared more than halfway in an instant, and the full grill was empty in less than ten minutes.

After ordering more, Seungpyo spoke as if he had just discovered something new.

“Actually, it would be even more delicious if we grilled it a bit more.”

“I’ve never had dakgalbi like this before. You know, I’ve only ever had the kind stir-fried with vegetables on a big iron plate.”

Instead of answering, Seungpyo simply stared at Jaemin with a smile. Embarrassed, Jaemin picked up the last piece of meat and asked.

“Why are you looking at me so intensely?”

“Just watching you eat makes me full.”

“What are you talking about, after stuffing your face like that?”

They chuckled as the additional food arrived. They ended up devouring eight servings of dakgalbi and even extra makguksu (buckwheat noodles) before leaving the restaurant.

With their stomachs full, the sliver of anxiety that remained was also filled. Jaemin’s mood brightened completely. As he walked down the street looking up at the sky, Seungpyo was busy checking their next activity.

“Let’s go to a cafe and then do the water activities. I’ve already booked them.”

“When are we going to the pension?”

“Check-in is at 3. We can go to the pension after we’re done playing. We’ll be wet after the water activities, so it’s good to go straight there, shower, and relax.”

“You planned this perfectly. You even made all the reservations.”

“I prepared everything while you were studying hard at the academy. Aren’t I amazing?”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t thanked him yet. Not only for planning the entire day, but also for taking the first bus to Gapyeong since dawn to help Ryu Jaemin escape the academy. Jaemin swallowed. It felt inadequate to just offer words, but for now, that’s all he could do.

“Oh Seungpyo, thank you.”

He wanted to say it more affectionately, but his voice became quiet with embarrassment. However, Seungpyo seemed satisfied, suppressing a smile and then looking embarrassed himself.

“Hey, it’s nothing. It’s because we’re still in high school, but when I start earning money, I’ll do even more.”

“I’ll do the same for you when I earn money. I’ll definitely pay you back.”

Jaemin’s tone was solemnly resolute. He had realized something anew through this experience: money is indeed the most important thing in life.

If he had money now, he wouldn’t have needed to ask Seungpyo to come get him, nor would he have had to stay home, playing along with his parents’ whims. The most fundamental reason he decided to endure everything, however dirty and frustrating, until college wasn’t because Ryu Jaemin was a model student or a good kid who couldn’t openly defy his parents. It was because he didn’t have the power to earn money himself yet.

“I’m going to get a tutoring job as soon as I go to college.”

“Won’t your parents support you even after you go to college? Your parents are rich.”

“I’ll still earn money.”

“You’re talking about money after running away without a penny.”

Seungpyo giggled. To him, Jaemin’s words sounded like the complaints of a young master who had run out of allowance. But instead of arguing back, Jaemin thought that he might actually be right.

After all, thanks to being born as the son of wealthy parents, he had rarely experienced difficulties due to lack of money. Jaemin felt he would never forget the series of experiences of asking Seungpyo for help because he didn’t have the fare for a taxi, and staring at others eating before being offered food. His parents’ intention in sending him to a boarding academy might have been for entrance exam preparation, but oddly, Jaemin felt like he had learned about a different aspect of life.

They hailed another taxi. Seungpyo gave the cafe’s name, and the driver soon started the car. The cafe, known for its great views, was right next to the activity center Seungpyo had reserved. He said they could have coffee there for a bit and then move on right away.

The cafe they arrived at was grand and designed with an outdoor seating area overlooking the river. It was bustling with people enjoying the weekend breeze, but a table happened to open up just then. They took their seats on the terrace with the top-selling shaved ice and peanut latte.

However, even after securing a table, they barely sat down. Unlike at the restaurant where they had focused solely on eating without proper conversation, this time, the shaved ice and latte took a backseat.

“Make a heart shape with your hands next to your face like this. It’s trendy these days.”

“Isn’t that something only celebrities do? You ask for strange things.”

“This is a photo spot. People come here to take pictures.”

They were more engrossed in taking each other’s photos against the beautiful scenery. They also took several selfies with their phones attached to a selfie stick. However, their gazes gradually shifted from the camera lens to the river reflected on the phone screen.

The gently flowing river would have been a peaceful scene on its own, but it was summer. Wakeboards and jet boats continuously created strong waves, leaving cool trails on the calm surface. The boys, who had initially intended to enjoy a quiet date at the cafe, were captivated by the churning water before they had even finished their drinks.

“What time did we book that for?”

Jaemin asked, feigning curiosity about the reservation time. Since Seungpyo had meticulously planned the date course, he must have chosen this cafe carefully. He felt awkward suggesting they move on right after arriving, especially since he hadn’t contributed to the planning at all.

“I booked an all-day unlimited pass, so we can go anytime… Want to go now?”

Seungpyo replied as if waiting for the question. In the end, instead of relaxing, they hurriedly finished their food and headed to the barge on the riverside where they could enjoy water sports.

The barge floating on the water was almost the size of a small amusement park, decorated with large water slides and bouncy castles made of waterproof vinyl, making it resemble a water park.

A staff member in swimwear handed them a price list and guided them to choose what they wanted to ride. Seungpyo carefully examined the list and asked the staff member.

“What’s fun for two people?”

“Just the two of you? Then I recommend the Flyfish. See that? The big kite-shaped thing.”

He pointed to where two people, seemingly strapped to a large, flat vinyl boat, were screaming as they soared through the air. The vinyl boat was connected to a speeding motorboat. Seungpyo’s expression became serious.

“Will we really fly off? I’m afraid of heights.”

“You won’t fly off. It just lifts slightly, so it has nothing to do with acrophobia. Ride it now. There’s a wait for everything else, but this one has no wait time. This is a popular ride, so it usually takes a long time to get on.”

The words “no waiting required” erased any hesitation. Their eyes sparkled like first-graders on their first day of school as they chose their first ride and followed the staff member.

They were full of bravado until they put on their helmets and fastened their life jackets. But when they faced the yellow vinyl boat bobbing on the water, Jaemin started to feel a bit nervous. Accustomed to amusement park rides built with sturdy steel frames, everything prepared for water activities seemed too flimsy. He wasn’t afraid of water, but he didn’t want to fall in against his will. Jaemin pointed at the boat and asked for confirmation.

“This has been safety inspected, right?”

“This kid is sharp. Of course. It’s all inspected, and we check it every morning.”

Unlike Seungpyo, who was wearing knee-length shorts, Jaemin was wearing ankle-length pants because he came straight from the academy. The staff member pointed at Jaemin’s attire and asked,

“Are you sure you don’t want to change your clothes? You’ll get very wet while playing.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll just change later after we’re done.”

“Alright. Both of you lie down there. Just hold onto the handles tightly. Even if you fall into the water, you’ll be wearing life jackets, so it’s okay.”

The wide, flat boat had two indented spaces for two people to lie down. Seungpyo stepped in first, and Jaemin, feeling nervous, quickly followed. The boat was sturdier than it looked; it didn’t tilt or sink even with two grown high school students on board.

As they lay down on the boat, the cold water clinging to the bottom seeped into their bare skin and clothes. But the thought of getting completely soaked anyway made even the chill feel refreshing. They kept laughing for no reason, looking up at the sky and then at each other repeatedly.

“We really picked the perfect day. We keep getting good spots, and even though there are so many people here, this is the only one with no waiting time.”

“The weather seems the best today too.”

They felt excited enough to want to share the meaning with everything in the world. The sun, now high in the sky, shone directly onto the river.

The dazzling, shimmering surface of the water was blinding. The two boys slightly narrowed their eyes. The scattered light seemed to penetrate their excited hearts. Then, the signal came.

“Here we go! Hold on tight!”

Vrooooom!

The deafening roar of the engine filled the air. The motorboat in front sped off as soon as it started, and the vinyl boat with the two boys lying on it started gliding quickly across the water, pulled along. The strange sensation of being pulled back while facing the sparkling river and the clear blue sky, a feeling impossible to experience on land, made Seungpyo and Jaemin laugh loudly and occasionally scream.

“Aaaah!”

Their screams grew louder when the boat they were on finally leaped into the air. Looking down at the river in an upright position, even though they hadn’t risen very high, the thrilling sensation, similar to riding a rollercoaster, made their voices rise involuntarily.

The airborne boat plunged back down to the water’s surface. Splash! A large wave sprayed in all directions, inevitably showering the two boys on the boat. As the fountain of river water engulfed them, laughter, clearer than the blue sky, burst forth.

“Faster, sir!”

Seungpyo shouted at the top of his lungs. It was uncertain whether the boat driver heard him over the loud engine noise, but the boat began to accelerate as if on cue. As they soared even higher than before, their joyful screams grew louder.

Jaemin opened his eyes wide. All he could see was the vast river and the sky. The sense of liberation as he soared effortlessly, unobstructed, was indescribable. He felt like he could fly like a bird.

It had been so long since he had shouted like this. It wasn’t as scary as the first time, but Jaemin deliberately raised his voice every time the boat rose and fell. With each scream, it felt like the rusty grime that had clung to his heart for the past few days was dislodged and swept away by the waves, dissolving into foam.

He wanted to fly for a long time, but their time on the water was as fleeting as the wind. However, the expressions of the two boys as they got off the boat had changed completely. Their faces, drenched in water, were much brighter than before, as if all their worries and anxieties had been washed away like laundry in a washing machine. Exhilarated, Seungpyo’s speech quickened.

“That was insane! It was so much fun!”

“What should we ride next? Let’s choose quickly.”

Everything looked equally fun. They chose the rides with the shortest wait times. They rode the Disco Pang Pang, a round boat that violently rocked on the water with multiple riders, the Waffle Boat, which required them to cling on facedown while speeding across the river, and the Peanut Boat, a seated ride. Finally, they challenged themselves with wakeboarding, standing on small boards and riding the waves.

Compared to Seungpyo, who relatively quickly got the hang of it, Jaemin kept losing his balance and slipping off the board into the water. Seungpyo, who was taking pictures and videos of Jaemin from the motorboat, laughed every time.

“Why do you keep falling? You have to keep standing! Don’t crouch down because you’re scared!”

Undeterred by Seungpyo’s teasing, Jaemin persistently climbed back onto the board until he finally succeeded in riding it like a surfer, creating waves behind him. Seungpyo captured every moment of Jaemin smiling brightly as he rode the waves, even letting go of one hand.

They rode and rode, and rode the fun ones twice. When they returned to the ticket booth after a full day of water activities, the sun had already begun to set in the west. They were soaked from head to toe, as if they had just been pulled out of the river.

“Ah, that was seriously fun. Let’s come back again.”

“I think today was the most fun day of my life.”

Jaemin’s voice was still bright with excitement. Seeing Jaemin having more fun than expected, Seungpyo felt a sense of accomplishment and couldn’t help but smile.

“The most fun day of your life? That calls for a celebration. Let’s make today an anniversary from next year on.”

Seungpyo grinned, took off his life jacket and helmet, and shook his short hair.

It was just him drying his hair with his hand, but whether it was because of the wet t-shirt clinging to his toned body or his handsome side profile, the simple action seemed particularly striking. Jaemin’s sparkling, joyful eyes became hazy. Why does this guy have to be so unnecessarily handsome?

He stared at his boyfriend silently, then looked around, as if startled. He felt like more than one person was looking at Oh Seungpyo.

“Why did you already take off your life jacket? Keep it on.”

“You took yours off too, so why?”

Seungpyo asked back, puzzled, then after a few steps, took Jaemin’s life jacket and draped it over his shoulders.

“You wear it. Everyone’s staring because you’re soaking wet.”

“Not me, but you.”

“Look closely. They’re looking at you.”

The pointless argument didn’t last long. Jaemin put his hand on his flat stomach. The dakgalbi that had filled his stomach earlier was long gone, digested during the rough water activities.

“I’m hungry again after all that playing. Are you okay?”

“Want some cup ramen? Cup ramen after water activities is the best. Let’s eat and then check in to the pension. We’ll grill meat for dinner.”

They poured hot water, closed the lids, and waited three minutes. While waiting for the spicy and salty cup ramen to cook, they stared at the table, gulping.

Steam billowed out as they opened the lids. They sat on the damp picnic table seats and devoured the ramen before quickly getting up to leave for their final destination.

The water park had showers, but it seemed too crowded. They decided to rinse off at the communal tap and shower properly at the pension. After quickly changing clothes in the changing room and packing their belongings, they left the barge, a pleasant drowsiness washing over them. It would be perfect to check in to their accommodation and roll around on a cool bed for a while.

‘We’ll be alone at the pension, so we can kiss.’

Seungpyo chuckled inwardly and quickened his pace. The carefully chosen pension awaited them.

📚

Seungpyo’s expression turned blank as he stepped into the newly built pension and stood at the check-in counter. He asked the owner, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“Permission?”

“You said you’re both high school students. Then you need parental consent.”

“But you should have checked when I made the reservation. The payment went through without any verification process.”

“It’s written in the precautions here. Look.”

The pension owner handed him a tablet displaying the online booking screen. At the very bottom of the booking window, a small notice read, “Parental consent is required for minors staying alone.” Seungpyo sighed.

“How can you write it so small! It’s barely visible!”

“It’s not a complicated process; you can get permission over the phone now. Just let me speak to your guardian briefly. If something happens while you’re staying here, I’m responsible.”

“Can’t my older brother do it? He’s a college student.”

“Parents, or a teacher from your school if absolutely necessary.”

The owner at the counter shook his head. They looked at each other in dismay. Jaemin, having run away, naturally had no one to contact, and it was impossible for Seungpyo to immediately contact his father, who was on a boat somewhere at sea. They couldn’t ask their homeroom teacher either, given their unauthorized absence.