TWYW C20

It wasn’t that he was disappointed about the money he didn’t receive, since he had taken on the tutoring job regardless of payment from the start. It was just the attitude of his foster parents, who had taken the money and said nothing, that left Gyeoul with a bitter taste. He thought he no longer had any feelings left for his foster parents, but there was nothing he could do about his sinking mood. Gyeoul tried hard to focus on his studies, struggling to push the thoughts away.

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After finishing the last exam of the midterm period, Gyeoul headed to his own secret hideout where he always stayed when he came to school. In truth, it wasn’t exactly his own hideout, as Yuhyeon would occasionally visit, but he hadn’t seen him there recently.

Having finished his exams, Gyeoul now had to return to his usual schedule at the café, so he sat on the bench for a moment to catch his breath before heading down the stairs. Walking towards the main gate, Gyeoul looked around, wondering if he might run into Yuhyeon. And soon, he spotted a familiar back in the distance that looked like Yuhyeon.

No, it was definitely Yuhyeon.

As Gyeoul got a little closer, he saw a woman walking right next to Yuhyeon. The side profile that was slightly visible with each step quickly revealed her to be the same woman who had come to the café with Yuhyeon before.

Fuck.

Gyeoul quickly caught up and grabbed Yuhyeon by the sleeve of his wrist, stopping him.

“Senior, don’t go.”

As he suddenly approached and held Yuhyeon, telling him not to go without any explanation, Yuhyeon tilted his head to the side as if to ask what he meant and looked at Gyeoul.

“What’s wrong. What’s going on.”

However, Gyeoul couldn’t find a proper reason and just held onto his sleeve, gripping it tightly as if he wouldn’t let go.

“If it’s not urgent, I’m leaving.”

Of course, Gyeoul had no reason to hold Yuhyeon back. But as he continued to grip his sleeve, he could feel the gaze of the woman next to Yuhyeon, her eyes filled with curiosity. Gyeoul had no time to worry about that. He looked at him with his lips pressed together like a stubborn child.

“Lee Gyeoul.”

Even at Yuhyeon’s call, Gyeoul couldn’t open his mouth and just looked at him with a crooked gaze. At the same time, his mind was racing, trying to find a reason to hold Yuhyeon back.

“Senior, you’re like a total manwhore.”

However, unable to find a suitable reason, Gyeoul’s past memories of seeing Yuhyeon with other women combined, and he spat out words that were like an insult. Then he turned and walked away quickly. He wondered if Yuhyeon might grab him, but no sound came from behind. Feeling an unexplainable frustration, Gyeoul looked back again, but Yuhyeon was already out of sight.

On his way to the café for his part-time job, Gyeoul sighed dozens of times. Yuhyeon had told him to speak prettily, but in the end, he had just blurted out harsh words. But seeing him walking with a woman, Gyeoul couldn’t hide his unpleasant feelings. Yet, he had no legitimate reason to stop him, so Gyeoul rationalized his actions as unavoidable. However, a creeping worry arose about what he would do if Yuhyeon never spoke to him again. The group project with Yuhyeon was already finished, so their only point of contact was being in the same club.

That night, Gyeoul returned home and sat in front of his phone, lost in thought. Should I contact Yuhyeon. Do I need to apologize. However, Gyeoul was afraid that Yuhyeon might be angry and not accept his apology, so in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to contact him.

After that, Gyeoul didn’t even see Yuhyeon’s shadow. It even got to the point where he had the foolish thought that maybe he was avoiding him. Fortunately, today was a day he had a liberal arts lecture with Yuhyeon. He put down his bag and sat in the corner seat by the window in the back, which had now become his designated spot. Students started to enter the lecture hall one by one, and Gyeoul searched for Yuhyeon among them.

Don’t tell me he’s not even coming to the lecture.

But thankfully, just before the professor entered the lecture hall, Yuhyeon appeared and pulled out a chair to sit in his usual spot next to Gyeoul. Gyeoul had wanted to see Yuhyeon so badly, but he couldn’t even spare him a glance and just stared at his desk. However, his every nerve was focused on him. And as soon as the lecture ended, Gyeoul bit his lower lip hard at the sight of Yuhyeon leaving the lecture hall first. Gyeoul embraced his empty heart and made his way out through the crowd of students.

“Lee Gyeoul.”

However, his steps, which hadn’t gone far, stopped at the voice calling his name. Then, an expressionless Yuhyeon approached Gyeoul.

“Don’t you have something to say to me.”

“….”

Gyeoul couldn’t say anything to Yuhyeon who had suddenly approached him and just stood there, his eyes darting around with anxiety. Since they were in front of the building where the lecture was held, he could feel the sidelong glances of people passing by as they saw Yuhyeon and Gyeoul standing face to face. Yuhyeon, noticing Gyeoul’s concern for those glances, grabbed his wrist and led him to a more secluded place. Gyeoul just followed Yuhyeon quietly.

Yuhyeon, having found an empty space between buildings, stood facing Gyeoul again.

“Nothing to say?”

“….”

“If not, I’m leaving.”

Yuhyeon waited a moment for the silent Gyeoul before turning his back to leave. Gyeoul, surprised by Yuhyeon’s action of actually trying to leave, grabbed his sleeve.

“What.”

However, when Gyeoul still kept his lips tightly shut and couldn’t even make eye contact, Yuhyeon brushed off his hand and started walking again. Gyeoul, afraid of losing him, quickly moved to block his path.

“I-I’m sorry….”

Unable to meet his eyes, he stared at the tips of his own feet and uttered an apology in a voice that was barely audible.

“I-I was wrong….”

“You were wrong, weren’t you?”

“…Yes….”

At Yuhyeon’s question, Gyeoul admitted his fault. Gyeoul chewed on his lower lip, wondering why he always acted like such a child in front of Yuhyeon. Then, Yuhyeon’s hand came up and caressed his reddened lips.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean anymore.”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t mean it at all….”

“What?”

“N-No, I said I was wrong….”

Yuhyeon chuckled at Gyeoul’s expression, his eyes still darting around 불안한 듯. At the sound, Gyeoul finally looked up at Yuhyeon’s face.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you. You have to go to your part-time job.”

Gyeoul, who grabbed the sleeve of Yuhyeon who was about to turn and walk away first, met his eyes.

“Senior, but… can’t you really not see that woman?”

“Why, should I.”

“J-Just… don’t see her.”

At Gyeoul’s unreasonable words, Yuhyeon tilted his head and looked at Gyeoul, just like that day.

“If I don’t see her, what will you do for me.”

“I’ll see you.”

“You’ll see me? I have a lot of people who want to see me.”

“…Senior, do you know you’re a real jerk?”

“No, I don’t.”

Gyeoul glared at him with eyes mixed with dislike, finding him truly detestable.

“Then are you only a jerk to me?”

“Because there’s no one else who acts like you.”

“What did I do.”

“You speak badly when things don’t go your way and throw unreasonable tantrums.”