EAR Ch 38

After a three-hour bus ride from the express bus terminal they reached by taxi, followed by another long taxi ride, they arrived after sunset. It was a summer evening with long daylight hours, so a faint, lingering glow of sunset still hung in the air, but their vision was dim.

They passed by a scene of tall pensions and hotels competing for attention, and finally arrived in a quiet neighborhood of low-rise, old single-family homes.

Jaemin got out of the car and looked around curiously. Because his grandparents and other relatives lived in the metropolitan area, and he himself had grown up in an apartment complex in the city, the old and quiet rural residential area felt unfamiliar and intriguing.

Seungpyo spoke encouragingly, as if the destination was just around the corner.

“It’s just a short walk. Taxis have trouble entering from here because it’s an alley.”

“Okay.”

Was it his imagination, or did even the weeds and wildflowers growing by the roadside look different from those he’d seen in Seoul? Jaemin diligently followed Seungpyo, who was walking a few steps ahead, while taking in the surrounding scenery.

Just as Seungpyo had said it was a short walk, they soon reached a low-walled house, and Seungpyo pushed open the gate. It wasn’t locked from the inside, so the iron gate creaked open with a strained sound.

“Grandma! I’m here!”

An elderly person was sitting on a wide wooden platform in the yard. Seeming to have been waiting since hearing the news of her grandson’s arrival, she quickly stood up.

“Oh my, you’re finally here! I was so worried when you said you were coming so suddenly!”

“Were you worried? I took a taxi all the way from the bus terminal, so it wasn’t tiring.”

Jaemin quickly bowed his head beside Seungpyo.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you’re his friend?”

“Yeah, my friend. His name is Jaemin. Ryu Jaemin.”

“Oh my, you’re tall too. And handsome.”

Seungpyo’s grandmother smiled up at Jaemin. He hadn’t expected to be complimented on his looks as soon as they met. Jaemin just smiled shyly and met her gaze. Seungpyo chuckled and teased.

“You’re telling him he’s handsome right off the bat? He is pretty handsome, isn’t he?”

“Yes, a thousand times better than you.”

“Even a hedgehog thinks its young are beautiful, but what are you, Grandma?”

While the grandmother and grandson chatted affectionately after their long-awaited reunion, Jaemin glanced around the house. As Seungpyo had said, it was an old, low, single-story house, but it was larger than he expected, with two separate annexes sharing the yard. Both annexes had a wooden porch and multiple doors leading directly into the yard, making it different from a typical house where you enter through a single main entrance to access the rooms.

As if sensing Jaemin’s curiosity, Seungpyo approached.

“We used to run a guesthouse here. That’s why there are so many rooms.”

“Ah.”

“Grandma is too old to run a guesthouse now, and you saw it on the way here, right? There are many pensions on the main road, so people don’t come here much anymore. When I was young, the rooms would be full of guests in the summer.”

Seungpyo gestured for Jaemin to follow him. He slid open a wooden door with translucent glass panels and tossed his bag inside.

“This is the best room. The one over there is inconvenient because you have to shower outside.”

“Where’s your grandmother’s room?”

“Over there. The houses are completely separate, so it’s okay to stay up late. Convenient, right?”

“What about your grandfather? Does she live alone?”

“Yeah, my grandfather passed away a long time ago.”

If his grandmother lived alone, she wouldn’t use all these rooms. The room Seungpyo had chosen was clean and didn’t smell musty. It seemed like she had cleaned it in anticipation of her grandson’s arrival.

As Jaemin looked around the empty room, which had nothing but a small wardrobe and shelves, Seungpyo asked worriedly, as if he had just realized something.

“Can you only sleep on a bed? My grandmother’s house doesn’t have any rooms with beds.”

“No, I slept on the floor at a camp in elementary school. I was fine.”

“Let’s lay down several thick blankets. It’ll be okay then.”

“It’s alright even if it’s a little uncomfortable.”

While they were checking the sleeping arrangements, Seungpyo’s grandmother called them from the other annex.

“What about dinner? Do you want to eat now?”

“We’re just going to the beach for a bit!”

“It’s too dark now. Go tomorrow.”

“We’re not going to swim. We just want to walk on the beach for a bit since we’re here.”

Ignoring her nagging to come back early, they left through the gate. While they had been greeting his grandmother and unpacking, the dusky sky had become completely dark, and stars were beginning to appear one by one.

The rural village was very quiet at night. Except for the chirping of insects, nothing could be heard. Even though they were outside, the stillness made Jaemin feel cautious, as if they were in a different world. With no sign of anyone else around, they also became less talkative.

Under the white streetlight, on the narrow, cement-paved alleyway, Jaemin walked with his lips tightly closed, only tracing the long shadows of himself and Seungpyo with his eyes. The rustling sound of brushing against weeds followed their steps.

Jaemin, who had been following Seungpyo without knowing the destination, suddenly flinched as he felt a lukewarm touch on his fingertips. Seungpyo was smiling beside him.

“Let’s hold hands since no one’s around.”

Before Jaemin could answer, the warmth that had grazed his fingertips enveloped his entire hand, intertwining between his fingers.

Jaemin’s face flushed slightly. Even though the sun had set and the air was cool, it was still summer. The humid air felt like a spiderweb, but what was it about the warmth of Seungpyo’s hand that felt so sweet?

Jaemin slowly interlocked their fingers in response. Seungpyo swung their joined hands back and forth and giggled, and Jaemin chuckled along, looking at him.

A faint, cool sound, the source of which he couldn’t identify, began to echo in his ears, which had only been filled with the rhythmic sound of their footsteps. After a few more steps, Jaemin realized it was the sound of waves. His eyes widened.

“I can hear the ocean.”

“I told you it was close. You can’t see it because it’s dark, but doesn’t just the sound feel refreshing?”

Not only the sound but also the air had changed. While the alley had been calm, the beach was windy. The sea breeze carried a chill instead of the usual summer humidity, sweeping away the heat and fatigue that had accumulated in their bodies from walking around all day.

The constant crashing of waves was so powerful that it was almost deafening. Jaemin stared at the dark curtain of the night. The densely packed stars shone much more brightly than in Seoul, but their small, silvery light couldn’t illuminate the overwhelming darkness. The feeble streetlights along the coast were also no match for the darkness of the sea.

Enveloped in the pitch-black darkness, surrounded by the rhythmic sound of the waves, Jaemin felt a sense of drowsiness, as if he might momentarily forget where he was, what had happened, why he was standing there, even who he was. If he hadn’t been holding Seungpyo’s hand, if Seungpyo hadn’t spoken first, Ryu Jaemin might have truly shrunk down to the size of a grain of sand and been swept away by the waves.

“We can see the sunrise if we come out early in the morning. Let’s wake up early tomorrow and watch the sunrise.”

“…Yeah, okay.”

Seungpyo’s voice illuminated the darkness that the stars couldn’t erase. Talking about the sun that would rise tomorrow, they moved closer to the water’s edge. At first, it had been so dark that they couldn’t distinguish between the sea and the land, but as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, the line where the white foam crashed became increasingly clear.

They sat down on the fine, dry sand, stretching their legs. As they enjoyed the peaceful moment, listening to the sound of the wind and waves, they heard the faint sound of fireworks. Pang! Pang! Jaemin looked around, but couldn’t see any fireworks. Seungpyo explained.

“You can’t see it well from here, but if you go down this way, there’s a big beach and pensions near there. That’s where the sound is coming from.”

“Isn’t this a beach?”

“It has a name, but people don’t really know it. We should have bought some fireworks too. I didn’t think of it because we came in a hurry.”

“No, I like it quiet and dark.”

Seungpyo chuckled softly and pressed his shoulder against Jaemin’s.

“Why do you like it quiet and dark?”

Because I usually spend time in crowded and noisy places. Just as Jaemin was about to answer, he felt a warmth on his lips.

Mixed with the sea breeze, the touch was so light and soft that at first, Jaemin wasn’t sure if it was a kiss. Only after Seungpyo’s soft tongue slipped into his mouth could he clearly distinguish between the lukewarm warmth and the cold wind against his skin.

Jaemin, who had been lost in the sound of the waves, feeling like a part of the sea, was suddenly pulled back into his physical self. The sensation of Seungpyo’s tongue exploring every corner of his mouth, as if trying to melt it away, tightened around Jaemin even more intensely in the wind and darkness. Jaemin clutched at his classmate, who had taken him by surprise, breathing hot, shallow breaths.

Although they had only been apart for a few days, it had felt like an agonizingly long time for the two who had just begun to cherish each other. A faint electric current passed between the tips of their tongues as they touched for the first time in days. Their excited moans and gasps escaped impatiently, but were swallowed by the loud waves, their voices barely reaching each other’s ears.

A large hand caressed Jaemin’s face. The soft touch brushed against his left cheek, which was still swollen from the sharp pain. Even though he knew it was just a coincidence that Seungpyo’s hand had touched the same spot, Jaemin felt a pang of emotion and sighed.

Seungpyo chuckled softly again, perhaps mistaking the long sigh for a sound of pleasure. Their lips finally parted. He continued to caress Jaemin’s face, saying,

“It’s good for kissing because it’s dark, but it’s a shame I can’t see your face properly.”

The cheek under Seungpyo’s palm lifted slightly as Jaemin smiled.

“I had my eyes closed anyway.”

Jaemin finally opened his eyes. Contrary to Seungpyo’s complaint, his eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, could clearly make out his face.

Smiling, Jaemin placed his hand over Seungpyo’s on his face.

“Let’s go back now. Your grandmother told us to come back quickly; she must be worried.”

As if their lingering at the windy beach had been a lie, they stood up, brushing off the sand, though with a hint of reluctance. They held hands all the way back to the house.

When they arrived, Seungpyo’s grandmother had already finished preparing dinner. Scolding them for not coming back earlier, she quickly set the dinner table on the porch.

It was a modest meal of freshly cooked rice, a few savory side dishes, braised fish, fresh lettuce wraps, and mild soybean paste soup. Perhaps because it was late evening, or perhaps because of his grandmother’s cooking skills, it looked even more delicious than the charcoal-grilled dakgalbi they had eaten for lunch.

“Thank you for the food.”

As if their reluctance to return from the beach had been a lie, they enthusiastically began their meal. When Jaemin asked if she wasn’t joining them, his grandmother insisted that she had already eaten and pushed the table closer to them, pulling the fan closer as well.

“Is high school fun?”

“He’s doing well. That’s why he came here to play with his friend.”

“He was making such a fuss about skipping school with his classmates… See? I told you he’d make new friends.”

“Grandma, why do you still remember that?”

Seungpyo waved his hand dismissively, embarrassed. Jaemin laughed, seizing the opportunity.

“You told your grandmother about that? That you split up with your friends in middle school?”

“I said it a long time ago, during a phone call when I first started high school.”

“I thought you never worried about making friends.”

“Of course, I don’t say such things to others. It makes me look pathetic.”

Their mouths and hands continued to be busy as they talked. Seungpyo finished his meal after two bowls of rice.

They both offered to do the dishes, but his grandmother insisted they leave it, saying it was more bothersome when others touched her kitchen work. They reluctantly retreated to their room. Seungpyo grumbled as he unpacked.

“Let’s shower first. I couldn’t wash properly after swimming earlier because we were going to shower at the pension.”

“Yeah, you go first.”

“Why? Let’s shower together to save time.”

“How can we shower together at your grandmother’s house? Let’s take turns.”

“Why not? In Gapyeong, they had us showering in groups of a dozen or more. What’s wrong with two friends showering together?”

“Just go shower quickly. So I can wash up too.”

“Ryu Jaemin is having dirty thoughts.”

Seungpyo smirked and disappeared into the bathroom. Jaemin scoffed. It was funnier to believe that he could just calmly shower with the guy who had suddenly stuck his tongue in his mouth while they were peacefully looking at the ocean.

As the sound of water came from behind the door, Jaemin started unpacking his bag. He had only brought one backpack, so there wasn’t much to unpack. A few changes of clothes and toiletries.

By now, his sister would have told his parents what he had said. Jaemin wondered what his parents were thinking, now that they knew he had run away on his own accord, not just disappeared. Whether they were furious, whether they regretted their actions a little, whether they were planning what to do when he returned.

Lost in thought, Jaemin suddenly came to his senses and stood up. He flicked the switch on the wall, and the ceiling light that had been illuminating the room went out.

The room darkened instantly. Thanks to the glass panels in the door, some light seeped in from outside, preventing complete darkness like at the beach. Still, it was dark enough that he couldn’t make out the details of objects or people. Feeling relieved, Jaemin turned the light back on.

“Ryu Jaemin, you go wash up.”

“Hey, you…”

Just then, Seungpyo returned to the room after his shower. He was completely naked. Seungpyo dried his hair with a towel and smiled.

“No one’s here. You can come out comfortably. The AC is a little weak, so it’ll be hot if you get dressed in the bathroom.”

Although it was clearly an old model, the room, which had once accommodated guesthouse guests, was properly equipped with an air conditioner. It wasn’t cooling the room down quickly, but it wasn’t hot either.

Perhaps because he had spent all day playing under the scorching sun, Seungpyo’s skin seemed a bit more tanned than in the morning. Wondering if he was tanned too, Jaemin turned his arm back and forth.

“What’s wrong?”

“Am I tanned too?”

“Hmm… maybe a little? You don’t seem to tan easily.”

Since he had spent all day outside, it would have been nice to get a deep tan. If he returned home with a tanned face, his parents would be even more surprised. He felt like bragging that he had run away and had a great time.

“I’m going to wash up.”

The bathroom light was as bright as a regular fluorescent light. Jaemin quietly locked the door.

After brushing his teeth, he quickly undressed and stepped into the shower, turning on the water. The strong water pressure melted away the day’s fatigue just by standing under it.

He had exhausted himself running away from his mother early in the morning, then played all day at the riverside after immediately jumping into the water activities, and then traveled for hours to Gangwon-do due to the sudden change of plans. Even for someone his age, he couldn’t help but feel tired.

He wanted to wash up and rest quickly. He hurriedly washed his hair and body with the soap on the sink. Engrossed in washing his face and rinsing his body, Jaemin didn’t notice that someone else had entered the bathroom.

“Ryu Jaemin.”

Startled by Seungpyo’s voice, Jaemin turned around in surprise. Seungpyo was standing there with a few neatly folded towels.

Jaemin straightened up, having been slightly bent over while washing.

“…I locked the door. How did you get in?”

“What? Oh, the lock on this door is broken.”

Only the sound of running water filled the silent bathroom. Seungpyo’s brow slowly furrowed.

“What’s wrong with your leg?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Let me see. Did you get hurt while swimming? You should have told me.”

Seungpyo tossed the towels he had brought onto the shelf and strode over to Jaemin, crouching down in front of him. Jaemin recoiled in disgust, trying to hide his leg, but it wasn’t easy with his naked body.

“Get away! I said it’s nothing!”

“It’s not nothing! If you got hurt while swimming, we might have to complain. It looks like a bad bruise…”

Seungpyo’s voice trailed off as he examined Jaemin’s calf.

Seungpyo furrowed his brow deeper. Sensing something was wrong, he blinked, staring at the straight leg in front of him, then looked up at Jaemin’s face with disbelief.

Jaemin’s face was flushed crimson, as if he had been caught in a compromising situation. Seungpyo slowly straightened up.

“Hey, who did this to you?”

His voice was thick with a mixture of bewilderment and anger. Instead of answering, Jaemin lowered his head, avoiding Seungpyo’s accusing gaze. When he didn’t get an immediate answer, Seungpyo became even angrier, assuming there was some foul play involved.

“Looking closer, this isn’t a bruise from swimming, is it? Did the academy teachers hit you?”

“…No, I fell on my own.”

“If you fell, your knees should be scraped, not your calf bruised. Even falling backward wouldn’t do this.”

“It’s nothing, so stop it.”

“I heard there are academies that use corporal punishment to manage students. Did you end up in a bad one? This isn’t corporal punishment; it’s abuse. This needs to be reported. Those bastards… Do your parents know you were hit like this?”

At those words, Jaemin covered his face as if he had a headache, his breathing becoming ragged. Seungpyo hesitated at his unusual behavior, and Jaemin let out a shaky breath, saying weakly,

“Just mind your own business.”

“How can I not mind my own business! Wouldn’t you be angry if I came home bruised like this? Just tell me who did this. I’ll kill them!”

Seungpyo yelled, but when Jaemin didn’t answer, he fell silent as well. After a few ragged breaths, instead of pressing further, Seungpyo took a dry towel from the shelf and stood in front of Jaemin again.

“Are you done washing?”

“Yeah…”

Seungpyo roughly dried Jaemin with the towel and led him out of the bathroom, holding his hand. While Jaemin hurriedly dressed, wanting to cover himself, Seungpyo took a neatly folded thick blanket from the wardrobe. He then patted the blanket without properly spreading it out.

“Put your pants on later and sit here. Let me take a closer look.”

“Look at what? The swelling has gone down, and it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s just a bruise.”

“Ryu Jaemin.”

Seungpyo called Jaemin’s name in a frustrated tone, but couldn’t immediately continue. He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath before speaking again.

“I’m sorry I keep getting angry, but I’m not mad at you. I’m angry at whoever did this to your leg. I was so excited that I dragged you around all day without knowing you were hurt.”

“Do you think I would have followed you around if it hurt? It’s not an injury, it doesn’t hurt, and it’s not uncomfortable. It just looks bad.”

“If it’s nothing, then show me without hiding it.”

Seungpyo’s attitude was firm. A brief staring contest ensued, but the feeling that it would be difficult to avoid the issue now that it had been discovered, combined with the accumulated fatigue of the day, broke Jaemin’s resolve. He sullenly walked over and plopped down on the blanket Seungpyo had laid out.

Seungpyo carefully lifted one of Jaemin’s legs. Dark red marks, a few days old, were scattered across his moderately toned, long, and straight white calf. Just by looking at the way the marks stretched across both sides of his calf like stripes, it was clear they weren’t from a fall.

Reddish bruises spread around the marks, which looked like they had been made by something sharp or by being hit with a whip, suggesting that considerable force had been used.

“This wasn’t just one or two hits.”

Seungpyo’s voice simmered with anger. The rising fury made his throat dry.

Who would do such a crazy thing? How much must it have hurt to be hit like this? Why? Why would they go this far? The thought of Ryu Jaemin enduring this pain alone, groaning in a place he couldn’t be, made Seungpyo dizzy.

Seungpyo was aware that some academies tacitly condoned corporal punishment, promoting their strict policies with phrases like “Spartan-style management,” but he couldn’t understand it. The Ryu Jaemin he knew was resourceful enough to avoid any penalties, even in such a place.

He was the type to avoid getting beaten in the first place, so Seungpyo couldn’t fathom what Jaemin could have done to deserve this. He was also bewildered by the fact that Jaemin hadn’t mentioned the beating when talking about escaping the academy.

Far from confiding in him, Jaemin’s behavior in the bathroom suggested he intended to keep his battered legs a secret. Why would he be so ashamed and try to hide it, after being beaten black and blue? What on earth could he have done?

“Are you really not going to tell me who did this, why this happened?”

“….”

“Did you do something so wrong that you have to hide it from me?”

“…It has nothing to do with you.”

“How do you think I would feel if I came home beaten like this by someone you don’t even know, and I just kept my mouth shut, saying it has nothing to do with you?”

Faced with this logic, Jaemin faltered, unable to argue further, and lowered his gaze. He wasn’t so dense as to not understand Seungpyo’s point. This silence only reinforced Seungpyo’s belief that something unspeakable had happened.

Did you do something behind my back again? Something you can’t tell me about? Did you get caught doing something stupid at the academy, and that’s why you called me to help you escape?

Anxiety fueled his suspicion. The questions swirling in his mind threatened to spill out. His throat tickled as if a feather were caught in it, but Seungpyo swallowed the unsettling questions along with his thirst.

If he were the same person who had just discovered Ryu Jaemin’s secret, he would have deliberately taunted him with sharp words, and Ryu Jaemin wouldn’t have been sitting there, looking like he was about to melt into a puddle.

Seungpyo still vividly remembered the aloof, glassy expression Ryu Jaemin always wore, as if declaring that everything Seungpyo said went in one ear and out the other.

“I’m just upset.”

“….”

“I hate it when even a single raindrop falls on your shoulder, damn it, so who the hell did this to your leg…”

As Seungpyo muttered in despair, Jaemin’s jaw clenched. Seungpyo, unable to bear it any longer, bit the inside of his lip.

It would be easy to scream and vent his frustration, but his sharp words wouldn’t reach the person who had battered Jaemin’s leg. They would only hurt Ryu Jaemin’s already wounded heart.

Suppressing his surging anger, only sadness remained, like clear water above the subsided rage. Regardless of the reason, the fact that he hadn’t known while Jaemin was being beaten bruised made him realize the limitations of their young and inexperienced love.

“Are you guys asleep?”

The cheerful voice of an elderly woman broke the heavy silence that filled the room. Seungpyo quickly sat up. Jaemin, who had been sitting with his lower body exposed, also hurriedly scrambled for his pants.

Seungpyo’s grandmother was sitting on the porch when he opened the sliding door. He replied cheerfully, pretending nothing was wrong.

“We’re not asleep yet. Why?”

“You can’t get full on just rice at your age. Do you want some gamja jeon (potato pancakes)?”

Seungpyo, his expression still slightly awkward, looked at Jaemin and asked,

“Grandma is making potato pancakes. Do you want some?”

“Uh… Ah, yes! Thank you.”

Despite the dryness in his mouth, Jaemin quickly replied. It seemed rude to refuse a snack offered by her, especially since they were unexpected guests.

His grandmother told them to wait a bit and headed to the kitchen, and soon the savory smell of frying pancakes filled the house. The sharp words from their earlier conversation clashed with the savory smell of frying oil, and the complex thoughts swirling in Seungpyo’s mind scattered like flour.

“Come here.”

Seungpyo, who was sitting near the sliding door, beckoned. Jaemin, still sitting on the blanket, unsure of what to do, quickly scurried over to Seungpyo’s side.

Despite trying to hold back, Seungpyo chuckled. Jaemin, with his mouth firmly shut, had come running at his beckoning without hesitation, looking anxious like a puppy who had misbehaved.

Seungpyo looked at Jaemin’s leg. The bruises on his calf were hidden beneath the hastily donned pants, but he gently stroked Jaemin’s leg through the fabric and asked,

“Does it hurt when I touch it like this?”

“No, not really…”

Jaemin trailed off. Seungpyo continued stroking his leg silently before speaking.

“Even if it doesn’t hurt now, it must have hurt a lot when you were hit. That’s what frustrates me the most right now. That you endured the pain alone while being beaten by someone I don’t even know, somewhere I wasn’t.”

“….”

“Okay. You can tell me the reason later, but please don’t pretend it doesn’t hurt. If you whine about how much it hurts, I’ll only say what you want to hear.”

As Jaemin, with his mouth tightly shut, became increasingly quiet as if trying to stifle even his breathing, his grandmother walked across the yard carrying a small tray. Jaemin quickly pulled his leg away from Seungpyo’s hand and adjusted his posture.

Seeing the two boys huddled together by the porch, his grandmother chuckled and set down the tray.

“You guys are close. Eat together and go to bed early.”

“Wow, that looks delicious.”

The freshly made potato pancakes glistened with a golden sheen. Although he wasn’t hungry, Jaemin’s gaze was fixed on the tray. His grandmother handed them chopsticks and asked,

“Does your friend like these too?”

“Yes, I had potato pancakes at home before.”

Jaemin replied, remembering the potato pancakes the housekeeper had made for him on a rainy day. That day, too, he had wanted to scream and cry. Why was that?

Tracing his memory, it was the day he was worried sick that he might lose to Seungpyo in the midterm rankings. The housekeeper, unaware of his inner turmoil, had comforted him by making crispy pancakes, saying it was customary to eat them on rainy days.

Thinking back, even the anxiety and nervousness he had felt that day felt like a cherished memory with Seungpyo. Jaemin smiled shyly to himself.

“Do you eat them like this at home too?” his grandmother asked.

“It was a little different. They were thinly sliced and pan-fried.”

“Here, we grate them. You have to grate them on a grater, not a food processor, for the real taste.”

His grandmother tilted a glass bottle and poured water into a stainless steel cup, then gulped it down. Seungpyo, watching her, narrowed his eyes.

“Isn’t that alcohol, not water?”

“Well, I took it out for a drink because I’m in a good mood. It’s medicinal liquor made with ginseng by your uncle.”

“Ginseng? Real ginseng?”

Seungpyo grimaced as if he were about to take bitter medicine. His grandmother poured a little bit of the liquor into two empty glasses.

“It’s good for you. Even dogs eat it, so why not drink ginseng? It’s precious, so you should have a drink too. Keep your grandma company.”

“Grandma, we’re still in high school. We can’t drink alcohol.”

“Not too much, of course. Just one glass each, as medicine. It’s okay if an adult gives it to you.”

Although he accepted the glass reluctantly, Seungpyo seemed quite used to this kind of offer. However, Jaemin, who had never had a sip of alcohol in his life, just blinked, unsure of what to do. Seungpyo, who had emptied his glass in one gulp, whispered, wincing.

“Ryu Jaemin, if you don’t want to drink it, don’t. It’s okay not to.”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to… I’ve just never had alcohol before.”

“It doesn’t taste good. It’s very bitter.”

If Seungpyo had pushed him to drink it, Jaemin would have put down the glass without hesitation. But now, his curiosity piqued, he brought the glass to his lips. Tilting his head back, he swallowed the contents in one gulp, like Seungpyo had done. The bitter smell of ginseng filled his nostrils, and the tingling sensation of alcohol stung his tongue.

Honestly, it didn’t taste good at all. He couldn’t tell if alcohol was inherently tasteless, or if it was just this bitter because it was ginseng liquor. He forced a smile and quickly grabbed a pancake to wipe the taste of alcohol from his tongue. The bitterness of the liquor made the potato pancake taste even sweeter.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Jaemin learned that he wasn’t so weak to alcohol that he would get drunk after just one glass. The large plate quickly emptied as they chatted.

Putting down his chopsticks, Jaemin bowed his head.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Me too.”

His grandmother looked at the empty plate and the two boys with a satisfied expression and picked up the tray. Seungpyo stood up.

“I’ll take care of this.”

“There’s nothing to take care of.”

Still. Seungpyo insisted and took the tray. As Jaemin got up, Seungpyo gestured for him to sit down.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Normally, Jaemin would have insisted on going with him, but he didn’t want to argue with Oh Seungpyo right now. He obediently stopped and bowed to Seungpyo’s grandmother.

“Good night.”

“Yes. I’m going to bed now, so you guys go to bed soon too.”

“Okay.”

Left alone, Jaemin sat on the porch and looked up. From the porch, he could see the moon and stars, adding to the charm of the rural scenery. The weather had been clear during the day, and the night sky was also clear. Looking up at the endlessly beautiful night sky, his complicated feelings seemed to clear a little.

While he was gazing at the sky, Seungpyo came back across the yard.

“What are you doing there?”

“Just… looking at the stars.”

Seungpyo glanced up at the sky for a moment, then strode past the porch and into the room. He spread out the bundled-up blanket, took out a thin blanket and pillow, prepared the bedding, and then disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of brushing teeth leaked out.

Jaemin quickly followed him into the bathroom. He stood next to Seungpyo, putting toothpaste on his toothbrush, and their eyes met in the mirror. Seungpyo grinned and ruffled Jaemin’s hair. Jaemin twisted his head away, grumbling.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

After finishing their preparations for bed, exchanging meaningless words, they left the bathroom. Seungpyo, who had settled onto the bedding first, called Jaemin over.

“Lie down here on your stomach.”

“Why?”

“So I can apply some ointment.”

“Ointment? I don’t need ointment. It’s not a wound.”

“It’s for bruises. I asked Grandma, and she had some.”

Seungpyo was holding a tube of ointment. With no energy left to refuse, Jaemin obediently rolled up his pants and lay down on his stomach.

Seungpyo sighed, as if the mottled bruises on his exposed calf were a fresh sight. Then, a careful touch followed, and the smooth ointment glided over his skin. Jaemin buried his face in the pillow and exhaled softly.

“Does it hurt?”

Seungpyo’s touch was incredibly gentle, as if afraid to apply any pressure, and Jaemin felt no pain. It had been about a week since his father had hit him, so only the marks remained; the pain was almost gone. He had almost forgotten about his bruised legs.

Seungpyo had told him not to pretend he was fine, but he couldn’t feign pain when he wasn’t feeling any. Jaemin nodded.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

Seungpyo continued applying the ointment silently. This wasn’t the time for it, but the feeling of the soft blanket against his skin and Seungpyo’s gentle touch on his leg made Jaemin’s eyelids heavy. Sensing his drowsiness, Seungpyo asked,

“Are you falling asleep?”

“No…”

Jaemin blinked slowly, trying to fight off the sleepiness. The temptation of rest was sweet, but he didn’t want to end such a fun day on such an awkward note. He wanted to somehow soothe Seungpyo, who was clearly upset but trying his best to care for him, before they went to sleep together.

‘My father did it.’

Confessing would bring him relief, but he wasn’t sure if he could handle the shame that would follow. He would be embarrassed even without any other circumstances, but Oh Seungpyo believed he lived a pampered life, treated like a porcelain prince by his parents and housekeeper. Jaemin didn’t want to shatter that beautiful illusion.

Most people assumed Ryu Jaemin was a cherished child. Wealthy grandparents and successful relatives, university professor parents renowned for their expertise in child education, an expensive house, an expensive car, top of his class. All these factors naturally led people to the same conclusion.

Therefore, people looked at him with fondness, expected him to live up to a certain image, admired him without him having to boast, and were disappointed in him even when he hadn’t done anything wrong. Confessing his pain in front of others felt less like being honest and more like exposing a shameful secret. Even though no one had ever humiliated him, a sense of shame felt instinctive.

“Go to sleep if you’re tired,” Seungpyo said, closing the lid of the ointment and placing it carelessly on the shelf.

“Take your pants off and sleep. You’ll get ointment on your clothes.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll turn off the lights.”

The room suddenly darkened. However, the bluish light filtering in from the glass door created a faint glow, preventing complete darkness.

Jaemin, who had been lying on his stomach, turned to his side, and Seungpyo lay down beside him. Jaemin quietly watched Seungpyo, who was staring at the ceiling in silence, and then spoke.

“Are you still mad?”

“Yeah, but not at you.”

“Sorry.”

“I said I’m not mad at you, so why are you apologizing?”

“I’ll tell you later. I’m not ready yet.”

“What’s so serious that you need to prepare yourself?”

Seungpyo turned his head, seemingly more curious now. Jaemin hesitated, then offered an excuse.

“It’s embarrassing.”

“Did you really do something wrong? What could possibly be embarrassing for you?”

Seungpyo’s voice sharpened, as if his barely calmed emotions were flaring up again. When Jaemin quickly shut his mouth, Seungpyo took a few deep breaths, as if trying to compose himself, and then softened his tone.

“I’m sorry too. For yelling.”

“It’s okay.”

An awkward silence fell between them again. Jaemin blinked a few times and then mustered up his courage again.

“Oh Seungpyo.”

“Yeah.”

“Could you… kiss me if you’re not mad…?”

They must have kissed hundreds of times by now. He was long past the stage of being nervous about asking for a kiss, but Jaemin’s heart was pounding like a schoolboy’s before his first kiss. He knew Seungpyo, who was upset, might coldly reject his request, and although he knew it was a possibility, he also knew he would be unreasonably hurt if it actually happened.

Seungpyo scoffed, his disbelief evident.

“You’ve developed a very strange habit.”

“….”

“You think everything can be solved with a kiss, even when someone’s pissed?”

Jaemin couldn’t deny it and lowered his gaze, feeling dejected. It can’t be helped if he doesn’t want to. Just as he was thinking that, he felt a large hand on his cheek.

“What can I do, it’s all my fault.”

In a blink of an eye, their lips met. Starting with small pecks, the kiss gradually deepened.

The kiss that had started abruptly at the beach had made his face and neck tingle, but the tongue now slowly exploring his mouth felt like the hand that had caressed his swollen cheek, soothing something invisible deep within his chest.

His racing heartbeat, which had made his whole body tremble, slowly calmed down. Mmm, Jaemin finally moaned freely and wrapped his arms around Seungpyo’s shoulders.

“Mm, hhh, mmm.”

“Haa.”

Jaemin moaned softly every time Seungpyo’s tongue brushed against his, and Seungpyo’s breath grew ragged in response. While Jaemin held onto his broad shoulders, Seungpyo’s hand explored the nape of his neck. Perhaps because the old air conditioner on the wall wasn’t very effective, their bodies quickly heated up from the close contact and kissing.

They both pulled away to catch their breath, their warm breaths mingling on their wet lips. The humid heat spreading through their bodies made their clothes feel sticky.

Jaemin was already aware of the growing tightness in his lower abdomen, and of the hardening bulge beneath Seungpyo. Seungpyo awkwardly shifted his body, trying to create distance between them, as if trying to hide his erection, but it was too large to conceal.

“Is your grandmother really asleep?” Jaemin whispered.

“My grandmother always sleeps early,” Seungpyo replied, lowering his voice.

“If we’re quiet, she won’t hear us, right?”

“She might not hear us because she’s hard of hearing, but…”

Even in the darkness, the conflict in Seungpyo’s eyes was clear. When Jaemin stared up at him, Seungpyo averted his gaze with a troubled expression.

“I don’t really want to.”

“Why? And after you were waiting for the right moment.”

“I’m not really into it with someone who has bruises on their legs.”

“You can’t even see them in the dark.”

“It might hurt.”

“I told you it doesn’t hurt.”

Jaemin purposely slapped his calf to show that it didn’t hurt, but Seungpyo grabbed his wrist in alarm.

“Don’t.”

Their eyes met again at close range. Seungpyo was frowning slightly. He seemed to not believe Jaemin, no matter how much he insisted it didn’t hurt, as if Jaemin was the one in pain.

However, contrary to his restrained words, the growing hardness he felt against him was undeniable. After taking a few deep breaths to control himself, Oh Seungpyo, who usually jumped at the chance for physical contact, was now pretending to be a sage who had transcended desire.

For some reason, Jaemin felt the opposite today. His body was burning from the inside out, and even though he was sweating from the heat, he reveled in the warmth of Seungpyo’s body pressed against his and the scent emanating from him.

He couldn’t believe that Oh Seungpyo, who had coaxed him into this overnight trip, intended to spend the night behaving himself. Jaemin nuzzled his face into Seungpyo’s strong neck, and he could feel Seungpyo’s Adam’s apple bobbing.