UPLB Ch 16

The end of the first semester was suddenly approaching. With today, all the exams were over, and after submitting one more assignment two days from now, the semester would be concluded. Although there was still an assignment to submit, he decided to consider today as the end of the semester. It was a simple assignment that just needed to be finished, as he had worked on it in between anyway.

When vacation came, Choi Sungbin would just play. He did not even do the extracurricular activities that everyone else did. There was more than enough for him to inherit upon graduation, or if he grew tired of attending school.

The businesses that would come to me were only enough to be called new money, but I had never wished for any great honor, so making money was all that mattered. In the first place, if I had considered honor, I would not have lived like this.

The first semester was one of the most confusing periods in my entire life. It might have been even more so than the winter of my seventeenth year when I started living alone. I thought I would have a semester no different from any other, but who would have thought I would end up freeloading off some man.

Still, it was time to admit it. I do not dislike the affection Yang Juwon gives me. And I was relying on him. Even though it was infuriating and frustrating at times.

Getting out of the driver’s seat, Choi Sungbin beeped—, and pressed the button to lock the car doors. A short mechanical sound rang out.

“……”

He looked up at the sky. Unlike how he had lost sleep preparing for exams, the sky was high and clear. Both he and Yang Juwon had a free afternoon today.

Should we go out for dinner? It seemed like it would not be a bad idea to create a bit of an atmosphere once in a while, rather than being cooped up at home picking at side dishes.

From July, Yang Juwon was busy again. As if his weekend convenience store part-time job was not enough, he had also applied for an on-campus work-study position and had gotten it. He ended up being at the central library all day long. I, in fact, did not even know such a thing existed, but Yang Juwon seemed accustomed to it. He said he had done it a few times.

At that time, for the first time, Choi Sungbin almost said, I will give you money, so can’t you just not do that kind of stuff?

There was nothing special he did just because he was with him. They lived under one roof, but they were not close. Occasionally, when he got pissed off, he would flip him over and fuck him or shove him between his thighs. He had grown accustomed to that as well. Though he still found it painful.

♪♬——!!

The ringtone blared from the phone that had not been set to silent. Choi Sungbin checked the phone he was holding along with his car keys.

‘Dad’

As soon as he saw the contact name, his expression hardened.

“Ah.”

A beat late, a short gasp escaped him. Come to think of it, it was always around this time. He had forgotten. June 11th.

Choi Sungbin answered the call. He did not even hesitate about whether to answer or not. He did not want to act childishly, as if in protest. Because that would mean he cared.

“Yeah.”

There was not even a common hello. He used informal language with his father, but it was not because they were close. He had missed the timing to use formal language. It had been several years since they had last seen each other.

Though he had become an adult, he had not become a grown-up. That was not just him, but his father as well.

I had never even doubted that I was my father’s biological son. I was the spitting image of my father. If you made the lines on my face bolder and added twenty years, you would get him. On top of that, he didn’t know the value of money and was also a womanizer. To anyone, it was a case of like father, like son.

—I just deposited money for your birthday present. Check it.

“Okay.”

—Looks like I won’t be able to see you on your birthday this year either.

“As if you ever did.”

Choi Sungbin let out a short laugh. Has he gone senile with age?

There was no response from the other end of the line. If he had not called, I would have gone on without even knowing it was my birthday. What is a birthday anyway? It is just the day I was born, and the people who congratulate me for being born are…….

Fuck, I hate getting sentimental. I hated even having these thoughts.

“I’m hanging up. I have to go to school.”

He hung up the phone without even waiting for a reply. He glanced down at his phone for a moment. A message had arrived stating that 10 million won had been deposited. Since he became an adult, the same amount had been deposited every birthday.

He stopped in his tracks and swiped his finger across the screen. Other than the periodic deposits, there were no other messages exchanged between them.

The first exam he took, he bombed, but the second one was okay. It was a relief that the exam weight was low in that lecture; otherwise, he would have felt like shit.

For some reason, he was annoyed. Why did he have to call so early in the morning and ruin a person’s mood, he should have just called at night.

Actually, Dad probably wants to get it over with quickly too. Without having to drag it out until night.

Choi Sungbin suddenly needed Yang Juwon. He should be at home. Though I know I will not be able to say anything nice even if we meet.

I liked the way the man comforted me. When he held my hand, looked me straight in the eye, and spoke in a calm tone—whether it was true or false was none of my business—it felt as if anything would become all right.

And it actually did. Unfounded irritation or fits of temper would often subside with a single word from him.

Are you home? He pulled out his phone to ask Yang Juwon. Another message had arrived. He slowly read the sentences.

Happy birthday, Sungbin-ah. I really want to see you this year. The president wants to see you too.

“Fuck, really. Stop being so sentimental.”

Choi Sungbin swore as soon as he read the message.

Along with the message, 6 million won had been deposited. In just a few hours, 16 million won had been deposited, but it only made him feel worse. It was just an act to erase their guilt.

This feels so shitty, for real. He did not even reply.

He decided not to contact Yang Juwon. He would be cooped up in his studio apartment anyway. Where else would he have to go? He would be in that one-room apartment cleaning and waiting for me.

Right now, he needed that shabby and gloomy man. It was not to take his anger out on him.

📝

Although he knew the passcode, he purposely pressed the doorbell. Ding-dong. A heavy chime echoed. No one came to open the door. He repeated it two more times. There was no reaction from inside.

Choi Sungbin furrowed his brow with all his might. I am already annoyed as hell, what is he doing in there.

In the end, he keyed in the passcode himself and entered. As always, the room was dark. Choi Sungbin looked around and muttered to himself.

“What the.”

Yang Juwon, who should have been visible as soon as he opened the door, was not there. The bag he had taken to school was there. The dishes from a meal he must have eaten were left in the sink, filled with water, as he had not had a chance to wash them.

He is the type of person who usually washes the dishes right after eating. Wondering if he had gone to the bathroom, he glanced over, but there was no sign of life from the half-open bathroom door either.

Choi Sungbin was annoyed. He felt a sense of sorrow for no reason. Just as tension is released when one enters a comfortable space after being wound up, his emotions were discharged. It was not in a good way.

He went to the bathroom and kicked the door. The door, hitting the wall, swung back to its original position, unable to overcome its inertia. Where did you go.

It was a truly dark and unpleasant house.

I am annoyed.

Choi Sungbin sent a message.

It is my birthday today.

Just you wait until a reply comes. Choi Sungbin gritted his teeth and stood his ground. Then, a short while later, a call came. It was, of course, Yang Juwon. Choi Sungbin glared daggers at the phone. He considered ignoring it but soon answered the call.

“Yes.”

—Is it really your birthday?

“Where are you?”

—Ah, hold on. I came to the convenience store. The owner had to go to the hospital and asked me to cover for a bit.

That damn convenience store. After making him work his ass off all through the weekend nights, now they were calling him in on a weekday afternoon too.

Choi Sungbin chewed on his lip. He did not answer.

—He said he is just going to the hospital and back. He said he is on his way now, so I will be back soon.

An unasked-for explanation followed. What do I care that your boss went to the hospital. His mood openly soured.

He had never told Yang Juwon his birthday. He, likewise, did not know his birthday either. Sometimes, he would even get confused about how old he was. So why was he in such a bad mood.

—Anyway, your birthday, is it for real?

“Is there any reason for me to lie to you, sunbae?”

Choi Sungbin was being openly defiant.

—Right. Yeah.

“Is that all?”

Choi Sungbin crouched down. He tapped his toes while looking at the opposite wall. The window connected to the hallway was opaque.

He hated the dark one-room apartment. He thought his own house, where sunlight poured in from the morning and raised the temperature of the whole house, would be better. Being alone, it felt like a solitary confinement cell.

—Happy birthday. Is there anything you need? I will buy it on my way.

Yang Juwon took the bait. Choi Sungbin had been twisted up all day. He had been like that since the moment he received the call in the morning.

Come to think of it, he was like this every year on his birthday. He would live his life having forgotten, then he would get a call and a message saying money had been deposited. A few pennies did not make his mood swing, but hearing that voice, which he heard maybe once or twice a year, was bound to put him in a foul mood. There were such things as families that were worse than strangers.

I want to take my anger out on you. But you were not home.

He gently rubbed his thumbnail with his index finger. He racked his brain. Something that would make Yang Juwon flustered. Something he could absolutely not get no matter what money or power he used. Something untouchable.

“There is something I need.”

—What is it?

“Pluck a star for me.”

Silence followed. What kind of expression would he be making? He pictured that deadpan face, standing there with the phone to his ear, looking troubled. For the first time today, he felt good.

“Pluck a star for me. Because I want one.”

He repeated it once more for emphasis. He had never wanted something like a star. He knew it was not realistic. But just because he was in a shitty mood. You should be in a bind too.

Would it have been different if Yang Juwon had been home? I do not know. In any case, he is not here.

A gentle sigh reached him from over the phone. Choi Sungbin rolled his eyes. He urged the silent man on.

“Sunbae, are you listening?”

—Yeah. I am listening.

“Why aren’t you answering.”

—I will call you back later. Get some rest. Eat something.

Yang Juwon hung up. Choi Sungbin looked down at the phone that had been so emptily disconnected. With a frown on his brow, he tilted his head.

It was not that he had a desired reaction in mind, but he had not expected to be hung up on so insincerely. He wondered if he had gone a bit too far, but wasn’t this an inappropriate way to react?

He should have at least told him to ask for something else. Who asked him to actually pluck a star? It is my birthday, so take care of me.

He tucked his upper lip in with his tongue. I feel like shit, so I want to break up. Fucking bastard.

Choi Sungbin turned off his phone right then and there.

A birthday is just a passing day. It is a day like any other. Choi Sungbin reminded himself several times. But how could he still feel so shitty.

He always spent his birthdays like this. He would live forgetting about it, and then a call and a message would come saying money had been deposited. His mood did not sway over a few bucks, but hearing that voice once or twice a year was bound to ruin his mood. There were such things as family who were worse than strangers.

Still, it was not this bad.

There was no word from Yang Juwon even after nine at night. Choi Sungbin stared at the front door without even turning on the lights in the room. Since the building was directly connected to the outside, he would strain his eyes harder if he felt even the slightest presence from outside. Yet, the man did not show up until the very end.

The phone, which he had turned on long ago, was plugged into the charger and had been fully charged for hours. He was not hungry even though he had not eaten. Come to think of it, he had not eaten a single meal today.

Yang Juwon was literally a son of a bitch. A bastard. A fucking bastard.

I told you it is my birthday. Just because I asked for a slightly absurd gift, you leave me hanging like this?

This bastard is the same as the rest of them in the end. He just pretended to be nice to my face, spouting all those smooth words.

Choi Sungbin bit his lip hard. He calmed himself by deeply closing and opening his eyes against the welling anger.

What was I expecting when I asked that man to pluck a star for me. Even though I knew it was impossible. Even though it was obvious, it was fun at the time.

Being flustered, being troubled, being anxious while saying sorry. Was it that I wanted to see the man who would try his best to satisfy me somehow?

Honestly, this reaction was unexpected. Who would have thought he would hang up so indifferently and not even contact me.

When did he cry and beg and plead for me to date him because he liked me. Over something as trivial as this.

‘Just you wait until he comes. This time, I will definitely….’

There were plenty of shitty houses like this all over Seoul. There were probably dozens within a 100-meter radius. A cave-like one-room apartment with windows that did not even provide ventilation and were dark.

Choi Sungbin gritted his teeth. As soon as he called, he would break up with him, pack his things, and go home. It was fine if he could not sleep for a few days. Since the semester was over now, it would not be a problem even if his life pattern got messed up.

“……”

A bright light flared from the phone. Choi Sungbin, who had been silently staring at the door, quickly turned his head. He swiftly snatched the phone that was plugged into the charger.

‘Yang Juwon’

He finally called. With less than three hours left of his birthday.

Choi Sungbin stared blankly at the name that appeared. It was the call he had waited for, but he did not answer. He did not want to answer. Where had he been all day to be looking for him only now?

He pressed the reject button, and the phone rang again. He rejected it again. Again, and again. Only when the man’s name filled the screen for the fifth time did he answer the call.

“What.”

—Why didn’t you answer the phone? Were you sleeping?

Does he not think I might have rejected it?

“No. I wasn’t sleeping.”

—Were you busy?

“I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to.”

—Why did you do that.

He had not sent a single message, yet he was blaming me. My mood worsened. Who cares. Whether I was busy or sleeping, what business was it of his.

A short silence fell. Um, after a brief pause, Yang Juwon continued speaking.

—I’m in front of the house, come out for a second.

The commanding tone made him even more displeased. An apology should have come first. After making me wait all this time, is telling me to come out all there is to it?

Why should I. Just for a moment. I won’t bother you. There was a brief squabble, but in the end, he got ready to go out. The act of telling me to come out is bothersome in itself, so what does he mean he will not bother me.

As he went outside, the humid air greeted him. It smelled of a summer night. From the hallway, he looked directly in front of the building. Yang Juwon was standing there.

He was dressed as usual. He was waiting for his birthday-celebrating boyfriend in old, shabby clothes. He had not expected him to dress up, but today, he was even more displeased.

I should just buy him clothes. I can’t be seen with him when he walks around looking like that, it is embarrassing.

He trudged down the stairs and faced the man. Yang Juwon, who was standing under a streetlight, turned his head upon feeling his presence.

There was nothing in the man’s hands. Not even a common cake.

Ah, I really want to break up.

Choi Sungbin bit his lip. Yang Juwon approached and said.

“Happy birthday.”

The strength drained from his body. As soon as their eyes met, something welled up from within him. He felt sorrowful.

There were more than a few things he wanted to confront the man about.

Even if he told him on the day of, even if he spouted some unrealistic gift, does it make sense to leave him hanging all day?

Does it make sense to not even eat a single meal on your birthday. Where is the cake. If you could not buy a present, you should have at least bought a cake.

‘He shouldn’t have asked if I needed anything in the first place.’

I want to break up. For real. I wanted to just walk past him like someone I would never see again and go home.

Overwhelmed by a wave of sorrow, Choi Sungbin clenched his jaw tightly, applying pressure. With a face like that. Is being verbally affectionate all that matters. Instead of feeling better, he only got more fired up.

“Why do you look so upset.”

“……”

Choi Sungbin did not answer and glared at the man.

“Sorry. You waited a long time, didn’t you.”

The man finally offered an apology. If he had his way, he wanted to demand that he get on his knees and beg. He wondered if his anger would subside even if he knelt and begged for forgiveness until the wrinkles on his hands disappeared.

But in reality, no words came out. Instead, he just scraped the inside of his lip with his teeth.

“Did you eat?”

“No. I didn’t.”

“Not a single meal?”

“No.”

“Why didn’t you eat? I told you to eat.”

He thought of the side dishes in the refrigerator. Once a week, or once every two weeks if it was longer, side dishes arrived by delivery. They were simple, lightly seasoned side dishes.

Inside the styrofoam delivery box, there was a note along with the side dishes. Whenever Yang Juwon would stare blankly at the short note that began with ‘Our son’, it was not just once or twice that he wanted to snatch it away and tear it up.

“Who would want to eat that kind of thing on their birthday.”

“I guess so. You would have wanted to eat something delicious.”

Yang Juwon accepted it calmly. It was a remark that trampled all over the side dishes his own parents sent, but he seemed to just let it be. Heat rose to Choi Sungbin’s face. He realized the man had read his mind. That he was throwing a tantrum on a birthday no one celebrated.

He was embarrassed.

“Were you upset that I didn’t know?”

Yang Juwon, in a tone more blunt than anyone’s, spoke as if pacifying a child. He reached out and caressed his cheek.

As soon as his hand touched him, Choi Sungbin’s eyes widened and he sucked in a breath. His body stiffened so much that his shoulders curled inwards.

“I should have asked beforehand. I’m sorry.”

“……What are you doing right now?”

“Ah. Sorry. I guess it became a habit.”

The man finally dropped his hand. His breath hitched strangely. Fuck, what is this bastard doing right now? Does he think this is a joke? He stared at him blankly with incredulous eyes.

Yang Juwon rolled a piece of asphalt on the ground with the sole of his shoe. The clattering sound repeated several times. It seemed he too thought he had done something stupid.

The man, averting his gaze in embarrassment, changed the subject.

“Shall we go now.”

“Go where?”

“It’s your birthday, it’s a shame to just let it pass.”

“A person who knows it’s a shame to just let it pass isn’t someone who crawls in at this hour, are they?”

He picked a fight with every word the man said. A person who dozes off like a sick chicken as soon as it hits one in the morning, where is he going.

“That’s why… you should have told me beforehand.”

“I didn’t know either.”

“Let’s just go. I have it prepared.”

Standing there motionlessly, the argument only grew longer.

In the end, Yang Juwon reached out his hand. He carefully grabbed my wrist and led me away. There was no force in his grip, but Choi Sungbin let himself be led by the wrist.

‘What kind of amazing thing is he planning to do for me. Just you wait if it’s nothing special. This time, I will definitely.’

Choi Sungbin grumbled to himself the entire way.

As he trudged along behind the man, they arrived in front of a white car. He stopped in his tracks and scanned the car. The license plate, which had a ‘허’ indicating a rental, was framed in light blue. He had no idea what he was thinking, bringing a rental car of all things…….

“What is this?”

“Get in. Let’s go for a drive.”

“Do you know how to drive?”

“I haven’t driven much in Seoul, but. Still, I managed to drive it all the way here.”

Choi Sungbin did not trust the man. He himself was a skilled driver, having started right after his college entrance exams, but Yang Juwon did not seem to be. At best, he had probably just driven a few times back and forth with his parents beside him.

As he stood there, staring with a look of displeasure, Yang Juwon personally opened the passenger side door for him. Choi Sungbin crossed his arms tightly.

“Can’t we just take my car?”

“I’ll be careful. Hurry up and get in. We’ll be late.”

What on earth was he planning to do that he even rented a car. He wanted to say, I won’t get mad, so let’s just go in my car. That he would take him anywhere if he just put in the address. But the man was being unusually persistent.

The nerve of him. Acting like a proper boyfriend.

“Move. So I can get in.”

Choi Sungbin shook off the man’s hand and got into the passenger seat. He fastened his seatbelt tightly so he would not be thrown out even if there was an accident, and pulled on it. He did not know where they were going, but as long as they did not speed within Seoul, there probably would not be a major accident.

Soon after, Yang Juwon got into the driver’s seat and prepared to depart.

“I’ll start right away. It won’t take long. You can sleep if you want.”

Do you think I could possibly fall asleep, mister. Choi Sungbin stared at him with an incredulous look before finally letting out a sigh.

He turned his gaze out the window. A short while later, the car started smoothly. It seemed his claim of having driven before was not a lie.

📝

Driving for an hour and a half without even any music playing was hell. His initially tense and stiff posture relaxed once they left the outskirts of the city. He leaned his body against the seat and just stared out the window.

He did not know where they were going, but if they had just taken the highway, they would have arrived long ago. The only thing visible was mountains. The cars that had occasionally been with them were no longer in sight at some point. They drove on, piercing only the darkness.

With his arms crossed, he stared endlessly out the car window before shifting his gaze diagonally towards the driver’s seat.

Yang Juwon drove just like himself. He obeyed every rule and regulation to the letter, while not disrupting the flow of traffic. Even though he could have sped up a little when there were no other cars.

Choi Sungbin discreetly looked around. Why were they going so deep into a secluded area. Don’t tell me.

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re not planning to abandon me here just because I said a few things, are you?”

“It’s not that.”

He says it is not, but. Then again. Was Yang Juwon the type of person to do that?

Choi Sungbin surreptitiously gauged his expression before turning his gaze back out the window. He took out his phone.

I should check the address to see where we are.

“……”

If they went any further, they would cross over into Cheorwon. Something he felt occasionally, but why did this bastard have no middle ground. It was always all or nothing. Just because I asked you to celebrate my birthday, you drag me all the way out here this late at night?

It would have been better to just eat at a restaurant and say, I couldn’t prepare a gift, I’m sorry. It was a problem that could have been resolved with just an apology.

It had been over a month since they started living together, and almost three months since they became a couple, yet how could he still not know me like this.

“Haah……”

Choi Sungbin finally let out a short sigh. He felt a gaze turning towards him from the side. Frustrated, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

“Don’t look at me. It’s annoying.”

Yes, even in the midst of this, Yang Juwon answered every single time.

After driving through the deep mountains, the place they arrived at was a parking lot. There was a large bridge, but that was all. It was one of those ordinary scenic drive courses.

The parking lot was excessively large, but not a single other car was in sight. It was not a place to come to in the middle of the night.

The man, having turned off the engine, turned to look at him.

“Let’s get out.”

“I don’t want to.”

Choi Sungbin refused flatly. Get out for what. After dragging me here against my will this late at night.

He was a man who did not even flinch no matter how much he was glared at with eyes full of dissatisfaction. He soon got out of the car by himself. Fine, do whatever the fuck you want. Letting out a conspicuous sigh, Choi Sungbin eventually followed him out.

There was a fishy smell of water and the scent of grass. It was humid, but less hot. Surrounded by mountains, he did not know what it would be like during the day, but at this hour, it was eerie.

Choi Sungbin quickened his steps and approached the man. The wind blew. The lush leaves thrashed about eerily. To be honest, he was a little scared.

I don’t like it.

He had no idea for what reason he drove for two hours to come all the way here. If he was looking for a secluded spot, he could have found one easily within an hour’s distance. How many famous night view spots were there.

And this place… there was nothing that could be called a night view. Not a single light was on, not even on the bridge that crossed the river.

Yang Juwon walked without a word, and Choi Sungbin matched his pace. Seeing the man sit down on a bench, the complaint he had been holding back finally burst out.

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“I told you it’s my birthday today.”

“You did.”

“But you didn’t even buy a cake.”

“Ah, the cake.”

Yang Juwon replied a beat too late. Choi Sungbin finally bit his lip. He really forgot, this bastard.

“Let’s say the cake is whatever, but isn’t it wrong to drive for two hours to bring me here? Why did you suggest coming here? There’s nothing here.”

When things got disadvantageous, Yang Juwon clamped his mouth shut. Choi Sungbin glared at the man with all his might before standing opposite him. He leaned his body against the safety railing.

“The lights on the bridge were supposed to be on too. I guess it was too late.”

His fingertip pointed towards the bridge that crossed the river. Not wanting to even look at him, he turned his back and stood there. With his hands on the safety railing, he stared only at the calm river stream.

A nature lover would have surely liked it if they came during the day. But I was not one. I was far from nature, and moreover, today was my birthday. Though less than an hour of it remained.

“Why do I have to come to a place like this on my birthday.”

Choi Sungbin continuously grumbled with his back to the silent Yang Juwon. He stared blankly at the river with a sullen face. It was peaceful, but it was not what he wanted.

He was full of complaints for Yang Juwon. A drive is something you can go on anytime, so why did he have to drive two hours in the middle of the night to come here. It would be a different story if at least the lights on the bridge were on.

Choi Sungbin pouted and grumbled.

“You should have just suggested we go to a restaurant to eat. Or at least come home early. It’s so late, dragging a person around, why do I have to……”

He stopped mid-sentence as he raised his gaze while chattering on.

“……”

He could not finish his sentence. His mind went completely blank. Whether it was because his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, or because he only noticed it belatedly.

He had never seen such a sight in his life.

Countless stars were spread out as if embroidered. It looked as if they might pour down. It was the first time in his life he had seen so many stars.

Choi Sungbin took in the stars that he would never have been able to see in the city. He opened his eyes wide and focused on the night sky. It was a scene so beautiful that he could not say a word or think any thoughts.

He felt like he now understood what it meant to be moved by nature. So this is what it is like. It was different from the city’s night view.

Stars. Choi Sungbin gripped the railing tightly. He felt nauseous. Did he bring me here to show me this?

“……Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you bring me here to show me this?”

“Because I can’t pluck you a star.”

It must be nice to be simple. To bring me here to show me so many stars just because I asked him to pluck one. Choi Sungbin tried his best to scoff at the man.

He really does everything you tell him to. Without any pride. ……He does everything for me.

He could not scoff. He tormented his lips. He bit and released them, pulled them in, and then returned them to their original position. He blinked his eyes artificially.

For some reason, it felt like he was about to cry.

He must have been tired too. He had an exam in the morning just like me, and he had also covered a shift at his part-time job. And in the midst of that, hadn’t he driven two hours just to show me some stars?

Choi Sungbin furrowed his brow. If it were not for the short click—, sound, tears might have welled up in his eyes. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he purposely exaggerated his movements and turned around.

He leaned against the railing and looked at the man. His phone was aimed precisely at me. The wind blew and the leaves trembled as before, but it was no longer scary.

Choi Sungbin went and sat down next to the man.

“Did you take a picture of me?”

“Yes, but it’s so dark only your silhouette came out.”

“Let me see.”

He checked the phone.

He really sucks at taking pictures. Apart from being moved, the photo was a mess. His silhouette was barely visible in the darkness. It could have been mistaken for a spirit photograph.

“Sunbae, there’s nothing you know how to do. You can’t even take pictures.”

“I guess it doesn’t come out because it’s dark.”

“It’s probably a lack of effort.”

“Should I take another one?”

“No, it’s fine. ……Send this to me.”

“Okay.”

Yang Juwon fiddled with his phone, and a message arrived shortly after. Choi Sungbin stared blankly at the photo that had been sent to him. No matter how he looked at it, it was taken so poorly. He was buried in the darkness.

But strangely, he liked this messy photo. To the point where he wanted to show it off.

Should I post it on social media? He had an account but had never posted a picture.

There were times when others tagged him when they posted, but he never posted first. There was nothing that was so enjoyable or fun that he wanted to show it off.

For the first time in a long while, Choi Sungbin entered his social media. Without checking the notifications, he went straight to the upload section. And before uploading the photo, he asked the man.

“Sunbae, do you have Instagram?”

“Huh?”

The man was excessively surprised. What was he thinking about, the space between his eyebrows wrinkled without hesitation.

“I asked if you have Instagram.”

“No. I don’t.”

“Okay.”

Choi Sungbin posted only that dark picture without tagging anyone. He was not particularly curious about the reactions, so he put his phone aside. It was better to look at the night sky than to be looking at his phone.

He blinked, trying to adjust his eyes to the darkness. After a short while, he was able to face the pouring stars once again.

This is nice. It is comfortable. It was the first time he had received a birthday present like this, but he would probably never forget it for the rest of his life. Who else would show someone stars as a birthday present?

By the way, how did this bastard find out about this place?

“Sunbae.”

“Yeah.”

“How did you know about this place?”

“Ah.”

Ah?

“I came here before with my family. To see the bridge with the lights on. My parents’ house is near here.”

Right, only after hearing what neighborhood he lived in did Choi Sungbin nod his head. That made sense. Who else would he have come here with if not his family. Only then could he focus on the night sky again with a satisfied face.

He felt the presence of the man next to him, fidgeting with his fingers and letting out a sigh. Choi Sungbin moved the hand that had been leaning on the bench. He fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt with his fingertips. He twisted it with his thumb and index finger. He felt a fleeting glance but that was all.

They stayed like that for a long time without a word.

My mind feels at ease. Being under the stars, all the negative emotions I had harbored all day—annoyance, dissatisfaction, sorrow, sometimes a sense of victimization, and inferiority—all feel like nothing. It will be an unforgettable birthday.

He didn’t pluck a star for me, but he gave me something more.

Should I say it or not. At the very least, isn’t it okay to say thank you? Choi Sungbin’s lips twitched.

“Ah, the present.”

Yang Juwon broke the mood from beside him.

“There’s a present too?”

As he turned to look at the man and asked, he stood up.

“I’ll go get it from the car.”

He listened to the sound of rapidly receding footsteps and then straightened his posture. He straightened the back he had been leaning. How great of a present could it be.

Should I get my hopes up? Or should I not?

A short while later, the man returned with a small shopping bag in his hand. Choi Sungbin pretended not to see it.

“This.”

What Yang Juwon took out of the shopping bag was star candy in a milk bottle. Choi Sungbin was dumbfounded.

“Is this the real present? It’s lame.”

At his urging hand, he finally accepted the star candy. He shook it in the air. There were so many candies packed inside that there was not even a rattling sound.

“If you’re going to give me something like this, you might as well not give it at all. This is ridiculous.”

He shook the bottle filled with candy in front of the man’s eyes. No sense at all.

No matter how he thought about it, it was so absurd that he looked at the bottle from all angles. The colorful star candies were of the most obvious shape.

“……Are you laughing?”

He chided the laughing man. What was so funny when he was complaining about a gift he did not like.

“Why are you laughing, sunbae? What’s so funny.”

“Because you’re laughing.”

“Ah.”

Choi Sungbin hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand. He was flustered. He did not know he was smiling. To think he would be grinning after receiving just some star candy. He let out a short, dry cough and hardened his expression.

He fiddled with the bottle and then tore off the plastic wrap. He put one candy in his mouth. It was just the taste of sugar. And cheap sugar at that.

He put a star candy in Yang Juwon’s mouth too. He seemed awkward, but he obediently opened his mouth and accepted it.

“And there’s this too.”

Yang Juwon took out another item from the shopping bag. Choi Sungbin tilted his head at the palm-sized jewelry box. Inside the jewelry box was a bracelet with a star on it.

This time, he was genuinely surprised.

It’s so not pretty…….

The design was also a clumsy shape with a blatant ‘star’ on it. He had wondered who would buy such things, and it turned out bastards like Yang Juwon were buying them.

“Really, it’s so not pretty.”

“It was hard to find.”

“You went around looking for it?”

“Yeah, since you told me on the day of.”

“How much did you pay for it?”

“I think it was a little less than forty.”

He himself was a person who spent money like water, but he felt it was a waste to have paid 400,000 won for something like this. I should have just suggested we eat a nice meal. I ended up seeing him buy something like this for 400,000 won after asking him to pluck a star just to put him in a difficult position.

“Want to try the bracelet on? Or do you not want to because it’s not pretty.”

“No. Put it on me.”

Choi Sungbin held out his arm. Yang Juwon sat with his shoulders hunched and fumbled around. He fiddled with the bracelet’s clasp several times with his short fingernails before finally succeeding.

Choi Sungbin held up the hand with the bracelet on it. It sparkled conspicuously in the darkness.

Ah, I like it.

The sorrow and annoyance had long since dissipated, and now he was happy. He was joyful and happy. Could he be this happy after receiving such a tacky bracelet and star candy that only tasted like sugar? It was incomparable to when he had checked the balance in his bank account.

It was probably because the person giving it was different.

Yang Juwon was really strange. At first, he was an eyesore, an annoying and irritating person, but now he could easily lift and drop his mood. It was fascinating and strange.

Choi Sungbin knew what this feeling was.

“It’s really tacky.”

“You don’t have to wear it.”

“You already gave it to me, so don’t meddle.”

“Okay.”

Yang Juwon replied as usual, but he could feel that he too had relaxed a little. It was an atmosphere where that was okay. It was a relationship where that was okay.

Choi Sungbin lowered his head completely and fiddled with the star on the bracelet. I like it…….

“Did you wait all day today?”

“Yes.”

“I should have contacted you.”

“What were you doing that you were late?”

“I was looking for the bracelet, and a place that sells star candy, and renting the car. I found the star candy quickly, but I couldn’t find a bracelet.”