ETP Ch 31

While Yoo Sunjung was having fun teasing Hwang Yoohyun at his house, Sungyeon was getting sick of receiving thank-you messages from his friends that went on for five rounds.

“It was really delicious today. There’s no more room for food!”

“Right? Totally full! Bokseung’s Sunbae is really the best!”

“But is it okay if we don’t send him money after he bought us so much?”

Sungyeon gave a small smile to the chattering trio. They were like baby birds, patting their full bellies and acting cute.

“I’ll send another thank-you message. Sunbae will be satisfied knowing we enjoyed the meal.”

The trio nodded at Bokseung’s shy demeanor, his chubby cheeks blushing.

If I had a junior like that, I’d want to buy them meals. Yeah, that’s right. I’d want to buy anything for such a pure and innocent junior. They communicated with their eyes.

After several exchanges of glances, just as the beagles were about to start the sixth round of thank-yous:

“Ah! Guys, I think I have to go to work now. See you tomorrow.”

“What?! Already? We were going to treat you to dessert!”

“Yeah, I couldn’t work because of exams, so I’m going in a little early today.”

“Aww, too bad!”

He finally managed to send the regretful beagles away with the excuse of his part-time job. After waving goodbye to them one last time, Sungyeon headed to the PC bang and quickly typed a message.

Thankfully, Sunjung used the messaging app properly, making it much easier to communicate with him compared to Yoohyun.

You can even send money without knowing the account number. The world sure has changed. Sungyeon felt a surge of old-man sentimentality as he pressed the send button.

[Sunbae! I’ll send you the money for today’s meal!]

The thought of more than 10% of his part-time job earnings disappearing at once made his stomach churn, but he felt uncomfortable getting another expensive meal, especially since Yoohyun had paid last time as well.

His fingers trembled with regret as he typed in the amount.

[Yoo Sunjung Sunbae: (photo)]

[Yoo Sunjung Sunbae: Bokseung, I already paid.]

“……?”

What does he mean?

He erased the numbers he was typing and went back to the chatroom. And when he saw the picture Sunjung sent…

“Holy crap!”

A loud exclamation burst out involuntarily.

The picture Sunjung sent clearly showed the amount Yoohyun had transferred. And it had been sent an hour ago, right when Bokseung started eating.

His head throbbed. Sungyeon held the back of his neck and quickly found Yoohyun in his message history to compose a text.

[Sunbae, I don’t know why! Why on earth! you paid for lunch, but I will definitely pay you back. My friends and I ate it, so ^^]

And as expected, the reply was only one word.

[Hwang Yoohyun Sunbae: Debt]

“This son of a……!”

I’ll have to call him and argue after work, ugh!

While exchanging messages, he had arrived at the PC bang. Work came first, so Sungyeon put his phone away and stomped inside.

The air of the PC bang felt a little unfamiliar after taking two weeks off from work.

“Hello.”

“Oh, Bokseung, you’re here? You could have come on time, why are you so early! So, are your exams over today?”

“Yes, they finished today. Noona, you can leave early today. I’ll take care of everything from now on.”

Bokseung smiled at Bomi, who was in charge of the previous shift, and quickly started working. He felt sorry for her having to work overtime for an hour every day because of him.

“No, it’s okay! I get paid for it anyway!”

Bomi waved her hand dismissively, but Sungyeon insisted on sending her away from the counter.

“Are you sure I can go?”

“Yes, you really can go. You’ve worked hard!”

Finally, after getting confirmation from Bokseung multiple times, Bomi left the PC bang.

Sungyeon walked around between the seats to help digest his full stomach.

After walking around for a while, he suddenly turned his head and saw a familiar face at the counter.

He shouldn’t be here at this hour? Sungyeon finished wiping the monitor and hurried to the counter.

“Boss! What brings you here at this hour?”

“Oh, Bokseung! Did you do well on your exams?”

“Huh? Ah, I worked hard.”

On the test paper, that is.

Sungyeon managed a small smile.

The worry about his grades, which he had forgotten while eating meat, suddenly surfaced. But there was nothing he could do about it now.

Hyungseop looked satisfied with Bokseung’s answer, but his expression quickly hardened.

Sungyeon’s eyes widened at the sudden change in Hyungseop’s expression. Did he have something to say?

“Um, Boss. But what brings you here at this hour…?”

“Uh, actually…”

“Yes, do you have something to tell me?”

Hyungseop looked at Bokseung’s innocent face. He was small, white, and soft.

Bokseung was finally living his own life after recovering from the shock of the accident. Hyungseop was still conflicted about whether it was right to say this to him.

However, his friend Sungyeon had no one. Only him and Bokseung. If they didn’t take care of him, Sungyeon would be forgotten forever in this world.

Hyungseop ran a large hand over his chin and spoke with difficulty.

“Well, actually, next weekend is Sungyeon’s forty-ninth day memorial. I’m planning to go, and I was wondering if you could come with me?”

His voice was uncharacteristically small for his large frame.

Sungyeon silently looked at his dejected best friend. Hyungseop’s expression was a mixture of apology for bringing this up and hope that Bokseung would agree to go with him.

“…….”

“I guess it’s a bit difficult, huh? I probably shouldn’t have asked so suddenly. Bothering you when you’re busy… my bad.”

As the silence stretched on with no response, Hyungseop forced a laugh, hiding his rising feelings of disappointment.

“Oh, no! It’s not like that!”

Seeing Hyungseop’s obvious disappointment, Sungyeon quickly denied it.

He didn’t actually not want to go. He was just surprised that Hyungseop cared about him this much.

Moreover, he was a little shocked to realize that this much time had already passed since he entered Bokseung’s body.

Waking up in the morning, going to school, working part-time, and going back to sleep. He had adapted to the repetition of those days without even realizing it.

Rubbing his cold fingertips, Sungyeon continued.

“I don’t not want to go. I’m grateful that you’re looking out for me, Boss.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I should’ve been the one to do it. I honestly completely forgot. Thank you, Boss.”

He wasn’t lying; he was truly grateful.

Both he and Bokseung were alone without families. If Hyungseop hadn’t been there for them, they would have been truly lonely.

At the sudden expression of gratitude, Hyungseop rubbed his nose in embarrassment, the rough motion turning the tip of his nose red. That silly gesture was something Sungyeon hadn’t seen in a while, and his lips curled up involuntarily.

“So, the time works for you?”

“Yes, of course, it works for me. Is there anything I need to prepare?”

“No, nothing! Just come and show your face, so he knows you’re doing well.”

Hyungseop shook his head exaggeratedly, worried that Bokseung might feel burdened. He was grateful that Bokseung agreed to go without complaint.

Hyungseop and Bokseung made plans to go early Saturday morning and went back to their respective tasks. Hyungseop, who had stopped by briefly to talk to Bokseung, returned home, and Sungyeon started diligently preparing food while looking at the accumulated order slips.

🍑‧₊ ⋆˙

Beep.

Even after hearing the sound of the lock clicking, Sungyeon remained motionless, leaning against the door and letting out a long sigh. His gaze, which had been fixed on the ground since he left the bus stop, remained downward.

What was it like when he first came to this house?

Back then, it was filled with confusion and bewilderment. When did this house start feeling so comfortable and cozy?

Humans are creatures of habit. It was bitter and disconcerting that this saying applied even in this situation.

“Oh dear.”

Muttering an exclamation that the 33-year-old Sungyeon would make, he took off his shoes and went inside.

The house that came into view looked completely different from the first time he saw it. The house that was covered in small sticky notes was nowhere to be seen.

Should I put the sticky notes back up now?

Sungyeon scratched Bokseung’s chubby cheek as he looked around the house.

He felt like he should restore it to exactly how Bokseung had it. Because this time, Bokseung might actually come back.

Sungyeon wrinkled his nose, recalling what he’d read about the forty-ninth day memorial on his way home.

‘A ritual wishing for rebirth as a human in a better place.’

Clearly, the one who needed to be reborn was him, whose physical body had completely disappeared from this world.

If what he read was true, shouldn’t Bokseung’s soul still be somewhere around here? Because he’d have to get his body back once Sungyeon was gone.

“Bokseung, how is it? Don’t you want to come back?”

Even though there was no way to get a response, Sungyeon wanted to relieve his frustration. He even thought that Bokseung might have been waiting for this day.

Lost in his thoughts, it was already 2 a.m.

Even though he was feeling down, he still had to wake up early and go to school the next morning.

“Since I failed the exams, I should at least attend classes diligently.”

It was quite a constructive resolution for a college student whose exams were over.