LCL 27

I rested my arms on the garden railing and looked at the playground. Familiar figures were running around on the field in Zone A. It was the soccer club from my department. The soccer club had activities twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. And Lim Dae-han had ended up joining it.

From the sports field not far from the Business and Economics department, I could easily spot Lim Dae-han if I paid a little attention. I just had to look for the tallest and biggest person among those running.

Park In-gong was struggling in the corner. Tsk tsk. I told him not to join, but he wanted to impress the seniors, and now he couldn’t even keep up with his share and was staggering.

Watching Park In-gong run reminds me of myself in high school. Then and now, I’m completely useless at ball games. I’m good at running, but why am I so bad at soccer? It’s really strange.

That’s how I met Lim Dae-han in high school too. I got hit by a ball he kicked while playing soccer, and I ended up fainting. When I opened my eyes, I was startled to see Lim Dae-han in front of me, and he tells this cliché but childish story about falling for me at that moment.

If it were me, I would have found myself pathetic for fainting after getting hit by a ball like an idiot. Was I a bit better-looking then? Well… I think I look a bit more refined now. After all, I’m an adult now.

I stretched, pulling my shoulders back. Unexpectedly, because of Lim Dae-han joining the soccer club, I found myself waiting for him while studying in the reading room. Actually, it was a distance I could easily walk home alone, but it was better to go together. It’s definitely not because I want to mooch a ride in his car.

“……”

At that moment, Lim Dae-han kicked the ball. Whoosh, it cut sharply across the field. It flies so far. I watched him kick the ball around.

Lim Dae-han was extremely good at soccer, a result of monopolizing the field with his friends in high school. He would go out and kick the ball whenever he had the chance, so of course he’d be good at it.

“…Maybe I’ll get a drink.”

I walked towards the vending machine installed in the corner of the Sky Garden. As I stood in front and held up my card, a small beep sounded, and lights came on under the products currently available.

Orange juice for me, and a sports drink for Lim Dae-han.

I sat on the bench with the two cans. I fidgeted with my fingers, trying to lift the can tab. Maybe because I cut my nails yesterday, the tab that would usually open easily remained stubbornly closed. Lim Dae-han could open these easily with one hand. It was always just me struggling like this.

Finally, I gave up trying to open it with my hands. Do I have any coins…? I was about to rummage through my pockets that would probably only yield dust.

“Want me to open it for you?”

I turned my head towards the voice. There was a man sitting there. I didn’t know there was someone next to me… I couldn’t tell if he had been there from the beginning or if he had approached deliberately.

The man reached out his hand. As I just stared at it, he wiggled his palm, urging me.

“Give it to me. I’ll open it for you.”

Several thoughts crossed my mind in that short moment. What if he takes my drink under the pretext of opening it for me? I know it’s unnecessary suspicion, but I don’t view the world as entirely peaceful and beautiful either.

I tried to lift the can tab with my nail one more time, but it was futile. The tab that sat back down with a clack was frustrating. The man, reading my expression, laughed.

“I won’t steal it, so give it to me.”

With a wary look, I handed the drink to the man. He couldn’t open it as skillfully as Lim Dae-han, but he was at least better than me.

He opened the can tab naturally and handed it back. I took the drink he passed to me. The fragrant orange scent overpowered the metallic smell typical of cans.

“Thank you…”

As I bowed my head and thanked him, the man smiled slightly. So this is how conversations can start. Since enrolling, I had only formed connections with people from my department, so it felt awkward but also interesting. Ah, could he possibly be a senior from my department?

“Are you perhaps a senior from our department?”

“I’m not a senior. I just opened it for you because you were struggling with the can.”

“Ah, I see…”

“Are you a freshman?”

“Yes.”

I nodded as I answered. I brought the can opening to my lips and took a sip. The sweet and sour juice flavor spread in my mouth. It was a familiar taste. Not particularly delicious, nor particularly bad.

Feeling awkward under the gaze of the man staring at me from the side, I kept drinking the juice. It’s not like I was thirsty.

I glanced sideways and our eyes met. As soon as our eyes met, I shifted my gaze straight ahead.

“I opened the can you were struggling with, but you’re not even offering me a sip? That’s not very polite.”

As I was writhing in awkwardness, the man picked a fight. I frowned unconsciously and turned to look at the man. I was speechless with bewilderment.

“Excuse me?”

It’s not like opening a can is such a big deal. And I didn’t even ask him to open it for me. If it’s a favor, it should end as a favor.

I stuffed the sports drink I had put down on the bench into my coat pocket. The man chuckled. Is it a joke? But I can’t trust it.

“Did you enter as a current high school graduate?”

“Yes. But why do you keep…”

Acting like we’re close? He’s not a senior in my department, and he doesn’t even know who I am. I heard that people who show excessive familiarity on campus are usually from banned religious clubs. Even though I didn’t need to know what kind of person he was, I couldn’t help but look at him with suspicious eyes.

Even in high school, with its small number of students, there were always one or two weird kids, so there’s no way there wouldn’t be any in a university with several times more students.

Just as I was about to question him with suspicion, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Trying to avoid the situation, I glanced at the man as I took out my phone. I couldn’t even put down my drink. What if he snatches it away saying, “Thank you for the drink”?

“Aish…”

As soon as I saw the caller, a disgruntled sound escaped me. It’s one thing after another. Should I answer or not? I wrinkled my nose, lost in thought.

Holding the vibrating phone, I looked at the man, and he stood up from his seat.

“Answer your call.”

I thought he was a suspicious person because he was saying strange things, but unexpectedly, he quietly moved away. I watched the back of the man as he walked towards the exit. Who on earth is he?

Now’s not the time to worry about that. Before I could resolve my questions about the man, an even bigger ordeal hit me. I chewed on my lip. Finally, I answered the phone.

“Oh, hyung…”

My voice dragged. Sigh. I barely swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out. Ki Young-han, my older brother by five years, is an embarrassment no matter where you put him in the world.

Who knows where his age goes, he’s always grumbling, and fundamentally lacks manners. His personality is weird too… Originally, I was too scared to even think this much about him internally.

These days, he’s become much more docile because he’s dating, but he’s still more rough and bad than the average person. He hasn’t fixed his unique nature. In short, it’s the same old story. As soon as I picked up the phone, my brother yelled.

-Hey, you were trying to avoid answering the phone, weren’t you?

How did he know?

-Can’t you answer the phone quickly?

Ki Young-han, you weirdo. Contrary to my inner thoughts, I answered in a cowed voice.

“What… No, that’s not it.”

If I blurted out everything I was thinking, who knows what he’d say. Lim Dae-han says my brother seems to care about me, but from my perspective, that’s not the case at all.

“Ah… wait, uh, I was just doing something.”

-Forget it. Where are you?

“…Why?”

-Don’t think too hard, just answer. Huh?

What sin did Ye-jun hyung commit in his past life to date my brother? No, what on earth does Ye-jun hyung see in this guy?

No, that’s not it. I shouldn’t blame Ye-jun hyung. The problem is Ki Young-han.

Our family all pities Ye-jun hyung. But thanks to my brother’s relationship, our family members have all breathed a sigh of relief.

A few months ago, my brother brought Ye-jun hyung home, whom he introduced as “my boyfriend,” and he was a really kind and gentle person. That evening, after my brother returned to his place, my mom said this to me.

‘It’s such a relief that Ye-jun is so nice. I was ready to bow a hundred times to anyone who would take Young-han away. Right, son?’

I agree a thousand, ten thousand times.

“I’m at school now.”

-Oh yeah? When do you finish?

“I just finished. I’m studying in the reading room.”

-Ah, really?

Why is he like this? His constantly questioning tone was irritating. I found myself frowning without realizing it. Usually, he’d just get to the point and pick a fight, but he was acting strange. With an indescribable unpleasant feeling, I gulped down my drink.

Unable to bear the silence, I had been sipping my drink, and it was already empty. I took the can and threw it in the recycling bin.

Instead of returning to my seat, I leaned on the railing again and looked at the playground. My pocket was wet from the condensation on the can. I should have just bought it at the store later.

It’s not like I can give it to him right away. Come to think of it, if I buy it now, won’t it get lukewarm? I picked up the can I had bought for Lim Dae-han.

Fortunately, it’s still cold… though I’m not sure how long this coldness will last.

-Want to grab a bite to eat today?

My brother even made the suggestion in a sarcastic tone. Am I crazy? My throat was dry. I wanted to open the sports drink and gulp it down too. But there was no one to open it for me like before, and I had bought it for Lim Dae-han, so I saved it.

Why would I eat with you, hyung? I tried to calm the desire to demand an answer. I took a deep breath. I asked carefully.

“Just you and me? Why?”

-Are you crazy?

My brother bluntly voiced the thought I had been keeping to myself.

-Hey, Ki Young-hyun. Do you think I’m crazy enough to eat with you?

That’s my line.

-It’s not like I want to call you. Dream on.

My brother nags worse than our parents. As he started rambling on about this and that, I thought about hanging up, but I held back, fearing the aftermath.

Judging by my brother’s reaction, it doesn’t seem like he’s hosting the gathering. Which means…. My voice, which had sounded gloomy even to my own ears, brightened considerably.

“Is Ye-jun hyung coming?”

-Yeah. We’re having dinner.

“Awesome. I’ll come.”

I laughed softly. My brother, with an uncanny ability to hear my laughter, muttered lowly.

-What are you laughing about like an idiot?

Damned if I laugh, damned if I don’t.

-I’m coming to pick you up now, so call Lim Dae-han too.

“Lim Dae-han is playing soccer now. It’ll probably be a while before he finishes.”

-Is that so?

“Yeah. I’ll come alone.”

-Alright. I’m leaving soon, so be ready. Honey says he’ll come straight there after work.

“Okay.”