EAR Ch 37

As if trying to change the awkward atmosphere, Jaemin smiled.

“Oh Seungpyo, let’s just get a refund and go home. I don’t have to stay overnight. I had a really fun time today.”

But Seungpyo wasn’t ready to give up. He leaned on the counter and pleaded with the pension owner.

“Sir, is there really no way? We’ll be really quiet. We won’t drink alcohol or anything.”

“I’m saying this because if anything happens, I’ll be in trouble.”

“Ha, sir. Really? Really?”

After several attempts, Seungpyo accepted that the situation wouldn’t change and sighed deeply. His expression, devoid of any smile, became sullen.

“Please give us a full refund without deducting any cancellation fees.”

“You didn’t read the precautions…”

“You should have written such important information in red, so it’s clearly visible. We’re not leaving unless we get a full refund. We’ll just spread out our sleeping bags and sleep here.”

Oh Seungpyo, nearly 190 centimeters tall, furrowed his brow. Although his words were no different from a child’s tantrum, he seemed quite intimidating. The pension owner, looking as if he had encountered a difficult customer, took Seungpyo’s card and quietly processed the cancellation.

Trudging out of the pension they had been looking forward to, Seungpyo grumbled weakly.

“Ugh, I shouldn’t have mentioned school. If I had kept quiet, they might have thought I was a college student.”

“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter if we don’t sleep here.”

“Still… I planned this overnight trip… I’m sorry I didn’t check properly.”

“Why are you sorry? You were busy preparing everything on your own.”

Seungpyo, who had been gloomy, suddenly widened his eyes as if a new idea had struck him. He turned to Jaemin and presented a new plan.

“Do you want to go to the beach now?”

“Huh?”

“My grandmother’s house is on the east coast. Let me call her and see if we can go. If we leave right now, we’ll probably arrive around evening. It’ll be too late to swim, but it would be nice to at least see the ocean. We can even swim in the morning if we wake up early.”

“Wait, your grandmother? Your grandmother?”

“If you’re okay with it. It’s not a fancy building like this; it’s an old house, so it might be a bit uncomfortable. But it’s right next to the ocean.”

It was too sudden. The thought of having to greet Oh Seungpyo’s grandmother out of the blue.

Jaemin also had grandparents, but he had no fond memories of visiting their homes or spending time with them. He usually met them with other relatives, and the atmosphere was generally stiff and formal, regardless of whether it was his paternal or maternal grandparents’ side. Therefore, from a young age, he and his older sister would secretly complain to each other the day before whenever they had to visit their grandparents.

Judging by how easily Seungpyo suggested going to his grandmother’s house, it seemed like his family wasn’t like that, but Jaemin was still nervous. However, he also felt it would be a shame to return to Seoul just like this. He had said they should go back to Seoul only to comfort Seungpyo, who was upset that their plans had fallen through; he hadn’t meant it at all. Jaemin made up his mind.

“I’m okay with it.”

“Really? My grandmother usually hangs out with her friends at the senior center even when I visit, so she just feeds me and doesn’t pay much attention. You can just relax, so don’t worry.”

Seungpyo immediately made a call.

“Hey, Grandma. It’s me. Don’t you even recognize your grandson’s voice?”

Seungpyo’s tone became more playful than usual. Jaemin stared at him with a strange feeling. He wasn’t speaking a foreign language, but using the unfamiliar term “Grandma” made Seungpyo seem like he was from a different country.

The call wasn’t long, and Seungpyo hung up with a triumphant smile, as if he had expected it.

“She said we can come. She said she’ll make us something delicious since I’m coming with a friend.”

“I feel like we should buy a gift or something.”

“My surprise visit is a gift enough for that lonely old lady.”

“Who do you think you are?”

They joked around while hailing a taxi. While waiting for the taxi that would take them to the intercity bus terminal, Jaemin pointed at Seungpyo’s phone.

“Can I borrow your phone for a second?”

“Oh, to make a call? Of course.”

Seungpyo handed him the phone. Before making the call, Jaemin sent a text message.

Noona, it’s Jaemin. I borrowed this phone. Can we talk briefly?

A call came shortly after. Jaemin hesitated for a moment before pressing the call button.

“Noona.”

“Where are you? What’s going on? Mom called me too.”

“Ah, she already called you. I figured…”

Her voice was filled with anxiety. He should have told her sooner, but he had been so caught up in having fun that he contacted her late. Feeling apologetic, Jaemin bit his lip before continuing.

“Did Mom tell you everything?”

“She just said you suddenly disappeared from the academy. She asked if I hadn’t heard from you, if I knew where you went.”

“Dad forced me to go to the academy. So I just left on my own. I’m not going back today. You can tell Mom this.”

Silence hung on the other end of the line.

“Did you… run away?”

Disbelief was evident in his sister’s voice. Embarrassed, Jaemin’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Yeah.”

“…Where will you sleep if you don’t go back? Come to my place if you have nowhere to go. I’ll keep it a secret from Mom and Dad.”

“No, I have a plan. I left the academy today, ate delicious food, and had a lot of fun.”

“You really made up your mind, huh?”

Instead of answering, Jaemin kicked a pebble at his feet. The small stone rolled for a bit before coming to a stop.

“I’ll go back eventually, but I’m going to sleep over at a friend’s house tonight. If Mom and Dad find out, it might cause trouble for my friend, so please keep this a secret, just between us.”

“Of course, I’ll keep it a secret. Do you think I would tell them?”

His sister was laughing, as if relieved of a long-held burden. Jaemin smiled wryly. Come to think of it, Oh Seungpyo wasn’t the only person in this vast world on his side.

“Where’s your friend’s house? Tell me. Just in case, you know.”

“Okay. I’ll ask for the address and text you later.”

“Okay. Are you really okay?”

“Of course. I had a blast today.”

“I’m glad you did.”

The taxi they had called was approaching. Jaemin hurriedly ended the call.

“I have to go now. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. Call me here again if anything happens, okay?”

“I doubt anything will happen, but yeah.”

After hanging up, they quickly got into the taxi. As he handed Seungpyo his phone, Seungpyo looked at him with an impressed expression.

Was there anything in what he said that would impress Oh Seungpyo? Jaemin asked suspiciously.

“…Why?”

“You just talked to your sister, right? She offered to send you money since you’re staying over at a friend’s house?”

“Ah, yeah. My sister works. But I told her it’s okay since I can’t use it now anyway.”

“She’s so different… I want to show this to Oh Seungyeon.”

Seungpyo grumbled and sighed. Jaemin smiled wryly again, guessing what had happened, even without knowing the exact details. The blazing sun was beginning to soften.