ETP Ch 63
by soapa“What were you talking about?”
As soon as Bokseung came towards the front door of the lecture hall, Yoohyun stuck close to the kid’s side like a puppy finding its owner and asked.
“Pardon?”
“Before you came out, you were talking to that girl. You even did a pinky promise?”
“How did you see all that?”
I thought he was looking at his phone for sure.
Sungyeon stood on his tiptoes and examined the back of Yoohyun’s head, just in case he had eyes there.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, I was wondering if you had eyes on the back of your head, Sunbae-nim…”
“What are you even talking about. I asked what you were talking about.”
His clever joke fell flat. He was number one when it came to being no fun.
Sungyeon pouted and answered.
“I made dinner plans with my friends for tomorrow.”
“Dinner?”
“Yep!”
“Who gave you permission?”
Yoohyun even stopped walking and glared at the kid. Well, it wasn’t quite a glare, more like he just looked at him, but a chill dripped from his eyes.
Sungyeon took a step back and stood beside Yoohyun.
“‘Who gave you permission’? They’re my plans, I’m making them myself, whose permission do I need to get…? Ah, by any chance, did I have plans with you tomorrow evening, Sunbae-nim?”
“No.”
“Then why are you getting so angry about me making plans?”
“When did I.”
“Right now.”
Sungyeon, dumbfounded, let out a huff of air through his nose. Wasn’t he just mentally tearing the kid to shreds with his eyes, asking who gave him permission to make plans?
However, Yoohyun’s face had already returned to its shameless state, as if he had forgotten what happened less than a minute ago.
“I did no such thing.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m sure you didn’t.”
“So, until what time?”
“Until what time am I going to hang out? Hmm, let’s see?”
“Be back by 7.”
As if he had been waiting, Yoohyun’s words came out immediately, and Sungyeon tilted his head. 7 o’clock?
“7 in the morning?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Then don’t tell me you mean 7 in the evening?!”
Nod.
Regardless of the kid’s horrified expression, Yoohyun steadfastly nodded his head.
Of course it’s 7 in the evening, right? What’s this nonsense about 7 in the morning.
The two faced each other with expressions of mutual misunderstanding. A strange silence fell between them.
“Sunbae-nim, my lecture tomorrow ends at 5:30, you know.”
“I know.”
“And you know that, yet you’re telling me to be back by 7?”
“It’s dangerous.”
Yoohyun looked down at the round face filled with dissatisfaction. As if he hadn’t understood Yoohyun’s worried words at all, Bokseung puffed out his cheeks. Where did he learn such an expression?
Tsk, Yoohyun clicked his tongue briefly and continued.
“The sun sets early these days. Just eat and come straight back.”
“Still, 7 is too early. I’ll be back by 9.”
“7:30.”
“Agh! No!”
Bokseung stomped his small foot on the ground, throwing a tantrum. Of course, Yoohyun didn’t even bat an eye. If anything, he just watched with a tilt of his chin as if to say ‘go on.’
Eventually, Bokseung, exhausted from his own efforts, nodded. His eyes glistened, as if he was furious about losing to Yoohyun.
Only when it looked like he was about to cry did Yoohyun let out a smirk and pat the kid’s head. And he whispered quietly in his ear.
“If you’re even one second late past 7:30, don’t expect me to open the door. And make sure to take that pepper spray I bought you last time.”
It was a chilling request that would make anyone hearing it break out in a cold sweat.
🍑‧₊ ⋆˙
It was still early evening, so the tables were sparse. Sunjung, who had been glancing around half-heartedly, quickened his pace upon spotting his old friend in a corner.
Plop, Sunjung sat down with a thud and grumbled in complaint.
“Hey, you’re the one who told me to come here, yet you don’t even pretend to see me when I arrive. What a thug.”
Regardless of what Sunjung said, Yoohyun was just looking at his phone. Not even an eyebrow twitched, making it seem like Sunjung was truly not on his radar.
Sunjung, dumbfounded, let out a sigh and tapped Yoohyun’s phone.
“Mister. I said I’m here.”
Nod.
It was a sign of acknowledgement. Should he be grateful that he at least moved his head? What an ass, anyway.
Glaring slightly at his friend, Sunjung flipped through the menu. He had planned to go to Hwang Yoohyun’s place and order a ton of delivery food for a change, but he was annoyed that he had been turned down and had to meet outside. To make matters worse, looking at the limited food options on the menu, nothing particularly appealed to him. And because nothing appealed to him, he got annoyed all over again.
“Fuck, I told you I’d go to your place, but you just had to be a dick and call me out here. I knew it. There’s nothing good to eat here.”
“There are over 50 side dishes on the menu and you’re whining that there’s nothing to eat. Aren’t you the problem, you bastard?”
Harsh words poured out of Yoohyun’s mouth. Finally getting some acknowledgement, Sunjung shook his head.
“Uh, not my problem. So, your place now? Call?”
“No.”
“Ah, really! Why not?!”
Sunjung shook his shoulders with his large frame. A vein popped on Yoohyun’s forehead at the pathetic whining.
“Fuck, are you crazy. Where did you learn to lisp like that, you dick.”
“Aww, why not!”
The more annoyed Yoohyun got, the more excited Sunjung became, raising his voice into a high-pitched ‘Aaang~’. Unable to stand it anymore, Yoohyun went beyond just being annoyed and was about to get up from his seat when Sunjung quickly grabbed his wrist. Any more of this and that guy was more than capable of actually going home.
“Ah! Alright, alright! I’ll stop. Look, I’m ordering food now, okay?”
Sunjung raised both hands in surrender and quickly picked up the menu. Only after watching him complete the order in a flash did Yoohyun sit back comfortably and pick up his phone again.
“Fucking bastard. Treats people like dog shit.”
“Get your words straight. You’re worth less than dog shit.”
“Aargh!!”
He couldn’t get a single kind word past him. But then again, that was what made it fun, so Sunjung stopped yelling and grinned.
“Ah, but really, why did you want to meet outside? A homebody like you?”
Usually, no matter how much he asked him to come out, he wouldn’t even pretend to listen. But what got into him today that he insisted on meeting outside even when he said he would go to his place?
Sunjung asked what was going on several times. Worn down by the relentless questioning, Yoohyun reluctantly gave an answer.
“Kim Bokseung is over.”
“Bokseung?”
Yoohyun’s brow furrowed slightly at the familiar use of the name, but he soon returned to his usual indifferent expression and just nodded.
“Ehh? Then you should have come out together. Why’d you invite the kid over and then leave him at home? Let’s eat together!”
“He went out too, he has plans with a friend.”
“Huh? I thought you said Bokseung was visiting your place.”
Sunjung tilted his head from side to side with a confused expression. It was cute when Kim Bokseung did it, but seeing a bear-like guy do it was just annoying.
Yoohyun reached out, grabbed Yoo Sunjung’s head to hold it still, and then continued.
“I mean Kim Bokseung isn’t just visiting, he’s living at my place right now.”
“Huh?”
Explaining things to a dimwit like him would only be a waste of breath. Without any further explanation, Yoohyun released Sunjung’s head, crossed his legs, and sat back.
Only Sunjung, who had received the unhelpful explanation, was left with a blank expression.
“Your food is here.”
In the meantime, an employee who brought the ordered dishes placed the plates on the table. They looked delicious, but neither of them touched the food.
“Uh, wait a minute. So you’re saying Bokseung isn’t just visiting, he’s actually living at your place?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Something happened.”
Yoohyun summarized the many events that had occurred up until now in just four words. His expression said that even saying that much was a bother.
Sunjung pounded his chest, thinking, ‘I’d rather play patty-cake with Yuja than talk to this guy!’
Of course, Sunjung wasn’t one to give up there. He immediately picked up his phone. If Hwang Yoohyun wouldn’t tell him, he could just ask Kim Bokseung. It seemed better for his own peace of mind.
However, Sunjung’s attempt was foiled by Yoohyun, who divined like a ghost who he was trying to contact.
“Kim Bokseung is hanging out with his friend right now, so don’t you dare disturb him.”
“Then you explain it properly!”
“What are you going to do with the information?”
“Hey, what am I going to do? Can’t I just be curious?”
Yoohyun’s head moved up and down. It meant he shouldn’t even be curious. Seeing that, only Sunjung’s face grew more and more grim.
In the end, because of the tight-lipped Yoohyun, Sunjung, unable to pry into how Bokseung ended up living at his house, asked another question he was curious about.
“But, are you okay?”
“With what?”
“Living with someone else. You kick me out in a day even though I’ve known you for over 10 years.”
“Are you the same?”
Yoohyun looked at Sunjung with a dumbfounded expression. He seemed to be angry, as if asking how dare he be treated the same.
“Wait, no, wait a minute.”
Observing his attitude, Sunjung shouted “Stop!”. Regardless, Yoohyun’s expression didn’t soften.
“I have a very ominous feeling right now. Hwang Yoohyun, I know it’s unlikely, but I’m just really curious. Do you really, possibly, by any chance, have romantic feelings for Bokseung…?”
Even after asking, Sunjung thought it was ridiculous and quickly laughed it off.
Romantic feelings from that severe sub-gender-phobe, no, misanthrope Hwang Yoohyun? It must be pity. No, wait. Even pity doesn’t make much sense…?
No matter how hard he racked his brain, so much that steam was practically rising from his head, it was difficult to guess why on earth Yoohyun had invited Bokseung into his home.
Watching Sunjung’s face change through a kaleidoscope of colors in front of him, Yoohyun smiled with only one corner of his mouth raised.
“Yeah, I do. Romantic feelings.”
It was the only clear answer that came out of Yoohyun’s mouth today.