EAR Ch 42

After causing a stir with an unprecedented runaway incident in a model student family, Ryu Jaemin had a long, all-night conversation with his parents.

When Jaemin poured out all the feelings he hadn’t been able to express to his parents, they admitted that they had placed too much pressure on him. Although somewhat belated, they promised to understand and improve upon their treatment of Jaemin. Perhaps because all the family members were inherently intelligent, they were able to resolve the issue through conversation.

Ryu Jaemin changed as well. Perhaps because he felt free from his parents’ abnormal oppression, his expression and tone became much brighter compared to before.

…It would have been wonderful if it had ended with such a simple and beautiful ending, but that was just an ideal fantasy. Reality was different.

“What do you want to drink?”

Jaemin asked, picking up a chocolate milk from the drink display. Seungpyo, who had been looking only at Jaemin, grinned.

“Just plain milk for me.”

After choosing their drinks, the two sat under a parasol outside the convenience store and inserted their straws.

It would have been much cooler inside the air-conditioned store, but they wanted to get some fresh air after being cooped up indoors all day. Summer had already passed its peak, and the cicadas were chirping even in the city. The white midday sunlight was bleaching the world.

Seungpyo murmured languidly,

“It’s hot.”

“Want to go inside?”

“No, let’s eat quickly and go to the academy.”

Summer vacation was coming to an end. The two had stopped by the convenience store for a quick snack after their supplementary classes.

Their snack time was very short. The bread disappeared in a few bites, and the milk was gone after a few sips through the straw. After cleaning up their trash, the two headed to the academy building across the street, chatting.

“The part-timer will be disappointed. He was happy that he could drive a Benz.”

“But he has to quit soon anyway. He got a job.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

There was a small change in Jaemin’s life. The pick-up service that had faithfully transported Jaemin from school to the academy and back home was gone.

Other students without pick-up services, including Seungpyo, had always envied Jaemin’s Benz pick-up, but Jaemin said that it made him feel restricted and monitored, and that he wanted to try commuting alone for at least one semester before starting his senior year.

“Is it inconvenient? Taking the bus after always having a pick-up?”

“It’s okay. I’m with you.”

“Did your parents say it was okay for you to not have a pick-up?”

“Yeah, they said I could do whatever I want.”

At the mention of his parents, Jaemin’s expression became sullen. Having taken the biggest impulsive action of his life, Jaemin must have expected some kind of change.

There had been a change. Ryu Jaemin’s parents, genuinely shocked by their always obedient model student son running away, had withdrawn their overly controlling attitude, but that was all.

Why did you do that? or What should we do from now on? Despite the many things to discuss, Jaemin’s parents had chosen to bury the incident without a word, as if nothing had happened.

On the day he returned home, after telling him to go to his room and rest, they remained silent until night, and their attitude didn’t change the next day. Even when they saw Jaemin getting ready for school to attend supplementary classes again, they acted as if it were an everyday scene, so Jaemin said he only confirmed that his running away wasn’t a dream after hearing the housekeeper’s worried words, “You shouldn’t stay out overnight without permission.”

His father’s question, “Where did you stay?”, was the only one related to Jaemin’s runaway incident. Jaemin simply replied that he had stayed at Oh Seungpyo’s relative’s house for a day, and his father only sighed lightly and didn’t talk about it anymore.

“It’s comfortable now that they let me do whatever I want.”

Seungpyo silently watched Jaemin’s profile as he added those words. His expressionless side profile looked somewhat disappointed.

Wouldn’t it have been better if they had at least had a big fight? It was understandable that he felt empty after returning home with a big resolution, practically throwing himself at them, only to be met with silence.

Jaemin considered the fact that he was more comfortable than before as a silver lining. Now, even after Jaemin returned home, they could freely exchange messages or talk on the phone. It became much easier to meet on weekends, and at school, he started playing basketball with his friends again.

I have no choice but to slowly fill the void he feels from his parents with my overflowing love. Seungpyo resolved inwardly and opened the academy door.

“You have something on your shirt.”

Preoccupied with looking at Jaemin, he hadn’t noticed his own attire. When he checked the spot Ryu Jaemin was pointing at, he saw a bit of something like strawberry jam on his white school uniform shirt, probably dropped while eating his snack. Seungpyo rubbed the stain a couple of times with his hand and said,

“I need to wash it off with water. I’ll go to the restroom. You go in first.”

“Okay.”

Jaemin headed to the classroom, and Seungpyo went to the restroom alone and lightly washed the hem of his shirt in the sink. Fortunately, the stain came off easily with just water and soap.

Walking down the hallway with one side of his shirt’s hem damp, Seungpyo ran into a familiar face after a long time. The other person greeted him first.

“Oh Seungpyo, you still go to this academy?”

“Kang Jiseon.”

It was a middle school classmate he had briefly greeted at the academy around winter break. Seungpyo also greeted her back without hiding his surprise.

“Long time no see? I haven’t seen you around lately.”

“Yeah, I was attending another academy for a while, and I just re-enrolled here.”

“Is studying going well?”

“It’s always stressful. We only have half a year left of our sophomore year.”

As if something had come to mind upon seeing Seungpyo, Jiseon’s eyes widened.

“Right. You met with Suhyun before, right?”

“Jung Suhyun? Yeah, it’s been a while, but I saw her briefly.”

Hearing that, he recalled the atmosphere between the two classmates who used to be close friends but seemed to have drifted apart, saying they hadn’t been in touch recently. Since she knew about their meeting, did that mean they were close again? It wasn’t his business, but since he had met her after a long time, Seungpyo asked after her well-being.

“Are you getting along well with Jung Suhyun these days? I heard it was hard to contact her.”

“Yeah, we’re getting along well.”

After a brief reply, Jiseon continued, looking a little embarrassed.

“Actually, we were a little awkward for a while.”

“Yeah, I thought so.”

“You knew? Did Suhyun tell you?”

“No, you both mentioned before that you weren’t in contact much. You guys were really close.”

“Right.”

Jiseon hesitated and pointed to an empty table in the lounge. Did she have more to say? He had intended to just exchange brief greetings, but Seungpyo followed his middle school classmate and sat at a table in the lobby. Jiseon lowered her voice and continued.

“We’ve been writing a blog together like a diary since elementary school, but since around our third year of middle school, I’ve been the only one writing, and she stopped writing much.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, we fought because I was a little upset about it. But thinking back, I think I was being too clingy. Being a trainee is completely different from school life, so she can’t do everything the same as me.”

“That’s true.”

“She’s going to be a celebrity, and I’m going to college, so I have to accept the things that have changed. Suhyun said writing in the diary was a bit hard for her.”

As far as Seungpyo knew, Jung Suhyun wasn’t fond of writing and reading. Even on the SNS she currently used, she only added a few words like “sparkling,” “pretty,” “what I ate today,” or “beauty” to her photos.

She was articulate, but it was rare to see her write proper sentences, let alone keep a diary blog with Kang Jiseon, who loved books. He couldn’t help but admire Jung Suhyun’s efforts for their friendship.

“Don’t you think I made the right decision?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad. I don’t have anyone to talk about these things with, so I just told you since you know.”

“That’s good. I hope you continue to get along well.”

“Let’s hang out together all three of us sometime.”

“Yeah, if we have time.”

Perhaps embarrassed after confiding in him, Kang Jiseon stood up, saying it was almost time for class. Seungpyo watched her hurrying back to her classroom, then hummed and rested his chin on his hand.

Now they were all high school students, so their lives were similar, but in the future, they would all be different. He and Ryu Jaemin, who naturally wore the same clothes, studied at the same school, ate the same school lunches, rode the same bus, and went to the same academy at the same time, would have more differences than similarities. More and more as time went by.

Would there come a day when they wouldn’t understand each other, lose their common ground, feel resentful, fight, or drift apart? If such a day came, what should they do?

“Aren’t you coming to class? I saved you a seat.”

Seungpyo, lost in vague thoughts, turned his head at the slightly sullen voice. Jaemin, who had gone to the classroom first, had come out into the hallway and was looking at him.

“Oh, I’m coming.”

Seungpyo picked up his bag. Jaemin, after scanning Seungpyo who was striding towards him, turned and headed back to the classroom.

The atmosphere is strange. Seungpyo followed Jaemin closely and leaned his head near him.

“What’s wrong? Are you upset about something?”

“No.”

He said no, but Ryu Jaemin’s characteristic coldness permeated his entire expression. What is it? Seungpyo tried hard to guess the reason as he sat at the desk Jaemin had saved for him. The classroom was already filled with several students, so it was difficult to continue their conversation.

However, they could still communicate without speaking. Seungpyo subtly picked up his phone and typed a message.

Tell me what I did wrong

Jaemin glanced at the notification, hesitated as he looked ahead, then picked up his phone and quickly typed. Jaemin’s messages quickly filled the messenger window.

You’re too friendly with girls

I overheard from the middle but you said okay when she asked you to meet

Seungpyo blinked and swallowed his surprise. Was he jealous because of Kang Jiseon, whom he wasn’t even close to?

It was unfair to hear that he was too friendly with girls. This year, he had only talked to girls twice: Jung Suhyun during the first semester, and the brief conversation with Kang Jiseon just now. And even the reason he met Jung Suhyun was, in fact, because of Ryu Jaemin.

Suppressing the laughter that almost burst out, he bit his lip and sent a reply.

It’s not just the two of us meeting it’s three of us middle school classmates

And I said if I have time

Two out of three are girls I’m dead

I won’t meet her she just said it as a greeting she won’t actually ask to meet she’s busy

Seungpyo, who was earnestly explaining himself, let out a chuckle and tapped the screen even faster.

It’s like this now because it’s an all-boys school but you’ll have tons of female friends when you go to college

Let’s see how well you set boundaries just try giving them a chance

I’m definitely not like you you’ve been like this since middle school

Is she also someone you kissed?

Seungpyo blinked again in surprise.

What are you talking about? I only kissed you… Seungpyo, about to retort in bewilderment, stopped. Lost in their sweet relationship, he had forgotten the lie he had casually told.

After impulsively kissing in the coin karaoke booth, Seungpyo had asked Jaemin if the kiss with him was his first kiss. Just in case, because Jaemin’s reaction had been more sensitive than he expected.

Jaemin had answered, “Of course not,” and feeling like he would lose if he was the only one whose first kiss it was, Seungpyo had also lied, saying it wasn’t his first either… Yes, that had happened.

‘Why is he jealous of this when it wasn’t his first kiss either? I’m not saying anything about him posting those provocative pictures online for everyone to see.’

Seungpyo pouted and sent a reply, feeling sulky.

I won’t tell you

Right

However, his conscience pricked him for letting innocent Kang Jiseon be mistaken as someone he had kissed. Seungpyo typed a new message.

Are you curious?

Whatever

If you tell me when, how, and with whom you had your first kiss, I’ll tell you mine

I’m not the only one who’s going to be exposed

Damn human curiosity. He didn’t even know why he wanted to know Ryu Jaemin’s first kiss partner. He probably wouldn’t even know the person even if he heard the name.

But jealousy wasn’t exclusive to Ryu Jaemin. Once curiosity took root, Seungpyo also became incredibly curious.

Honestly, posting anonymous photos with a hidden face online and kissing someone face-to-face were completely different things, weren’t they? In the former, neither the person posting nor the person viewing knew the other’s identity, but kissing couldn’t be anonymous.

Jaemin remained silent, frowning. Then, instead of replying on his phone, he suddenly held out his hand.

“Rock-paper-scissors.”

“Suddenly?”

“The loser tells first.”

It was just rock-paper-scissors, but Ryu Jaemin had proposed a bet after a long time. Seungpyo narrowed his eyes and nodded. He didn’t know how things had gotten to this point, but since things were already awkward, it was a good idea to clear things up today so it wouldn’t happen again.

As more and more students filled the classroom, the two whispered, hands extended under the desk. Rock, paper, scissors.

“I won!”

Seungpyo shouted without realizing he was in a classroom. Jaemin, frowning, stared resentfully at the “paper” he had put out.

“You suggested it first, right? Now tell me.”

Seungpyo tapped his phone smugly. It meant he wanted Jaemin to send the answer as a message. Jaemin sighed deeply and hesitated for a while, then began to type slowly as if making up his mind.

My first kiss was

Finally, the first message arrived.

Seungpyo gulped. To find out about Ryu Jaemin’s veiled first kiss so suddenly…

With a thumping heart, anxiously holding onto the mixed feelings of jealousy and curiosity, Seungpyo waited for the next message.

At the arcade karaoke

Seungpyo’s eyes widened in shock.

His first kiss was at an arcade karaoke too? I thought I had my first kiss in a rather unusual place, but for it to overlap like this?

…Wait, Ryu Jaemin said it was his first time at an arcade?

With a classmate

“What?!”

Seungpyo, who had been concentrating on the message, raised his voice again without realizing it. As he turned his head abruptly to look at Ryu Jaemin, wanting to ask for more details, the classroom door opened and the instructor walked in.

“Everyone be quiet and put your phones on your desks!”

“Teacher, wait a second!”

“Ah, Seungpyo wants to be the first to hand it in?”

When Seungpyo protested, the instructor walked over and held out a bag specifically for confiscating phones. Seungpyo sighed and put his phone in the bag, realizing he had stirred up trouble.

“While we’re at it, Jaemin too.”

“Yes.”

Jaemin obediently handed in his phone. In the quiet classroom, Oh Seungpyo was the only one anxious. Seungpyo hurriedly whispered to Jaemin.

“Ryu Jaemin, is what you said earlier true?”

“Oh Seungpyo, be quiet! Now, everyone open your textbooks. If you weren’t sleeping during the last class, you should know what page we’re on, right?”

Damn it. At the instructor’s sharp cry, Seungpyo closed his mouth, opened his textbook, and quickly scribbled on the corner of the page.

―So who was it

―What was their name

Meanwhile, Jaemin calmly wrote his reply. His handwriting, usually neat, was even more meticulous today.

―Class started let’s talk after it’s over

―You like seeing me all worked up, don’t you?

―Yes

“Crazy.”

Seungpyo muttered his feelings quietly and turned his gaze forward, giving up on the conversation. The top student wanted to focus on the class, so he couldn’t disturb him any further.

He couldn’t help the corners of his mouth turning up. If he kept grinning to himself during class, anyone would think he was a crazy person with something good going on, so Seungpyo covered his mouth with his hand and fixed his gaze on the textbook he couldn’t even focus on.

As soon as class ended, he would take Ryu Jaemin out and ask him if what he said was true. Even though he knew the answer, he still had to confirm it. He wanted to hear those lips say “Oh Seungpyo” as his first kiss partner with his own two ears.

Next, it would be Oh Seungpyo’s turn to confess, having lost at rock-paper-scissors. How would Ryu Jaemin react to his confession revealing his first kiss partner?

He was full of curiosity. Even though they lived a repetitive life, wearing the same clothes in the same classroom, eating the same school lunches, taking the same bus, and arriving at the same academy, his desire to know more about Ryu Jaemin didn’t subside. Rather, new curiosities swelled up every day, like the white clouds forming outside the window.

The blue summer sky cast a spell called hope once again. That even if everything around them changed and crises occasionally arose, they would be able to overcome them together.

Wasn’t there a saying that studying is a lifelong endeavor? Even after passing the entrance exam, graduating from college, and successfully getting a job, Oh Seungpyo would continue to study Ryu Jaemin, and Ryu Jaemin would continue to study Oh Seungpyo.

It would be a truly vast research topic. Fortunately, both of them were acknowledged top students, so studying the person they loved wouldn’t be particularly difficult.

If they were to name this subject of learning about each other…

“Everyone understand? If there are no questions, turn to the next page.”

As Seungpyo was about to turn the page according to the instructor’s instructions, his gaze fell on the words written next to the page number on the edge of the page, a place he usually glanced over without much thought. Scientific Inquiry Domain. Staring blankly at the short phrase indicating the subject of the book, Seungpyo chuckled and turned the page.

…If they were to name this subject of learning about each other, they could call it the “Oh-Ryu (Error) Analysis Report,” taken from their names.