MDQ Ch 13

I grabbed Jung Yohan’s fist just before it could crash down on Park Saebit’s face.

“What do you think you’re doing? Stop it right now!”

Taking the chance, Park Saebit slipped out from under Jung Yohan. I felt him cling to me from behind, hiding in my shadow.

“Hyuuuung. Leader hyung hit me so much. It hurts. I think I’m bleeding. I can taste blood in my mouth.”

His voice trembled with tears as he whimpered.

To someone who didn’t know him, it would sound like he’d been genuinely wronged.

But I knew just how well Park Saebit could act. He often put on performances to twist situations in his favor.

And I didn’t believe for a second that Jung Yohan had hit him for no reason.

The Jung Yohan I knew was curt, but he never treated anyone else recklessly—except me.

Still, Yohan was the leader and the older one. So I turned on him first instead of siding with Park Saebit.

“Jung Yohan, what’s with you all of a sudden? Since when do you solve things with your fists? Even if Saebit did something wrong, you’re the one who should hold back.”

“Saebit^[1] didn’t do anything wrong, hyung,” Park Saebit whimpered louder, as if he really thought I was defending him.

Jung Yohan’s icy gaze lingered on Park Saebit’s hand clinging to my waist.

Without looking away, he gave a sharp warning, “Hyung, please get your hands off me first.”

However, I gently pulled Jung Yohan’s hand down and held it softly. Almost immediately, his shoulders flinched.

It was as if he hadn’t expected me to touch him so softly.

“Yohan, why did you fight in the first place?”

I wanted to understand him. I still wanted to believe there was a good reason for his anger.

I wanted to think that way because I liked him. It was a kind of leniency I didn’t extend to Park Saebit.

Jung Yohan’s slightly split lips moved faintly.

“Park Saebit is… forget it.”

He let go of my hand and walked out, his face looking strangely wounded.

The moment Jung Yohan left, Park Saebit came right up to me, thrusting his own split lips forward.

“Hyung, look at my face. Put medicine on my lips, okay?”

The wound on his handsome face was a shame, but that was all. I felt no urge to nurse him myself.

Instead, the image of Jung Yohan’s hurt expression, just for an instant, kept resurfacing in my mind.

Inside me, a strange hope swelled. Maybe Jung Yohan had been jealous when I seemed to side with Park Saebit.

It was ridiculous, after the harsh words he’d spat at me last night.

I even recalled, more vividly than the harsh words Jung Yohan had left behind, the line that misled me, “You can only kiss me.”

That small spark of hope grew larger. I couldn’t shake the thought that Jung Yohan might feel something for me, too.

Meanwhile, Park Saebit clung to my hand, acting spoiled. With a sigh, I asked, “You tell me. Why were you and Jung Yohan fighting?”

“I just asked Leader hyung if he liked you, and then he hit me.”

That was unexpected to think the fight had been because of me.

“Why would you suddenly bring me up?”

“Because I told him I liked you.”

“What?”

And before I could even process it, his lips brushed against my cheek.

Chu. That damp, sticky sound echoed in my ear.

I hadn’t even recovered from the shock when he spoke first, “I said, you seem a little different to me.”

“…”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not like I’m confessing. It depends on how you take it.”

It was almost as if he expected me to work to win his favor, as though it were only natural that I should like him back.

The arrogance was staggering.

“Sorry, but… I already have someone I like.”

“What?”

“So from now on, don’t just kiss me like that. Doing that without consent isn’t right.”

Park Saebit’s face froze in shock. It was as if rejection had never once occurred to him.

Born into a wealthy family with striking looks, Park Saebit had lived a life of nothing but success, without a single hardship or failure. He probably had never experienced failure in love either.

If he set his mind to it, he probably could be with anyone he wanted, and whenever he grew bored, he would simply move on to someone new.

I had even seen him sneak around with lovers behind the company’s back.

So of course, being turned down for the first time would be a blow.

But I had no space left to comfort him. Right now, all I want to do is speak with Jung Yohan.

I wanted to ask Jung Yohan why he got angry at Park Saebit’s words that he had started to think of me differently.

Driven by instinct, I stormed out of the room. Park Saebit, still reeling from shock, didn’t stop me.

Only Kang Junhyuk was in the living room. Jung Yohan was nowhere to be seen.

“Junhyuk, where’s Yohan?”

“That bastard just went outside.”

“Alright. I’ll go after him. You take care of Park Saebit for me.”

“Got it.”

Though he grumbled curses under his breath, Kang Junhyuk moved to comfort Park Saebit.

I grabbed a cap and headed out of the dorm.

A worry struck me—that maybe Jung Yohan had driven off far away. But to my relief, I found him sitting quietly by the flowerbeds behind the officetel.

Even tucked away in a corner, his impressive physique made him stand out instantly. He was the kind of guy who’d draw eyes even if he were dressed in rags.

I hurried over and placed a hat on Jung Yohan’s head.

“No matter how upset you are, wear a hat when you go out. You never know.”

Thankfully, the streets were empty since it was midday on a weekday.

“…”

Without a word, Jung Yohan turned his head to look at me.

There was no expression on Jung Yohan’s face, yet somehow it still felt as though he was upset with me.

I sat beside him and spoke slowly, “Sorry for scolding you earlier. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… you’re the leader and older than Saebit, so I guess I instinctively said it. Don’t take it too personally.”

The answer I got was unexpected.

“Hyung… did you forget the harsh things I said yesterday?”

That’s right, you brat. At least you’ve got a conscience.

So, you know I still treat you with care, even after all that trash you said to me.

But still… even after all that, I couldn’t help caring about Jung Yohan and liking him. That’s why I couldn’t turn away from him.

Call it foolish if you want, but that’s how unrequited love works.

“How could I forget? I just figured you said it because you were angry. And I did come back late, drunk, so it was my fault too.”

“…”

“Maybe I should’ve just gone home instead. I guess I caused trouble while living together. Sorry.”

“…”

He looked at me strangely, as though puzzled that I’d even be apologizing. His sharp brows knit slightly.

“But you should apologize too. For the harsh words you threw at me.”

But just as I thought he might, Jung Yohan stood up from the flowerbed.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah?”

“Want to go get some ice cream?”

That was clearly his way of making peace. He extended his pale hand in front of me.

Without hesitation, I took it. A faint smile tugged at my lips, as though all that had happened until now had been washed away.

---

Not far from the officetel, there was a convenience store. So, we headed there.

Jung Yohan picked out a chocolate bar. I didn’t have any preference, so I bought the same.

When I tried to pay, Jung Yohan blocked me and paid for both, then sat down casually at a table in front of the store. He had clearly forgotten he was a famous idol.

“What if someone sees us? Let’s just eat inside the dorm.”

“It’s only for a little while. And even if someone takes a photo, the worst they’ll catch is us eating ice cream.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“And honestly, I can’t trust myself to stay calm if I see Park Saebit’s face right now.”

I sat across from him and slipped in the question that had been nagging at me.

“By the way… why did you fight with Park Saebit?”

Would Yohan give me an answer similar to Saebit’s? I suddenly felt anxious to know.