WYK 50

There had been no contact from Chae-heon until it was time to leave for Incheon Airport. He must be very busy at his parents’ house. Usually, he would ask about his whereabouts to the point of annoyance. Jeong-yoon considered calling Chae-heon… but decided against it, not wanting to disturb him, and boarded the plane.

Several hours later, the first thing Jeong-yoon did upon arriving at Taipei Airport was to text Chae-heon. Though it was a bit late, it didn’t matter.

[Kang Chae-heon. I’m in Taiwan now so I can’t go to school Monday. See you when I’m back in Korea.]

And making a big decision, he took and sent a selfie showing half his face. Though it felt somewhat like attention-seeking behavior, he couldn’t help it. Whether he was curious about him or not, he wanted to let him know how he was doing. His sister, who was next to him, chuckled and teased him, making his ears a bit hot, but he felt satisfied.

“Noona, here.”

After sending the photo to Chae-heon, Jeong-yoon handed his phone to his sister to hold. Now that the ritual was complete, it was time to move the luggage.

Though his sister had claimed he hadn’t bought much duty-free, what were all these insane shopping bags? The tree-bark colored shampoo bottles were incredibly heavy, and there were crazy amounts of cosmetics wrapped in bubble wrap. Carrying it all made him feel like a Joseon-era merchant.

“Hey, maknae. I’ll carry it. Sorry, okay?”

“It’s fine. Just pull my suitcase.”

Seo Jeong-yoon replied curtly, gathering all the plastic bags and also taking care of the large suitcase as he moved forward. At this point, he wondered if his sister was a person or a shopping villain. The duty-free shopping must have cost more than the airfare and hotel combined.

‘I just want to get to the hotel, shower, and rest.’

His shoulders sagged naturally, probably from fatigue.

But Jeong-yoon’s wish to rest quickly didn’t come true. It was because of his sister, who was frantically searching through her bag with a pale face at the airport entrance.

“Hey! My bag was robbed!”

Seems like they’d been pickpocketed. Jeong-seon rummaged through her bag again with a bloodless face, sighing and stamping her feet.

Jeong-yoon sighed too. What bad luck to be pickpocketed right after arriving.

They didn’t even know when it happened. When she looked for her phone to check the hotel shuttle bus photo, both her phone and Jeong-yoon’s phone were gone from the bag, along with the envelope of money. Jeong-seon explained this with tears welling up.

First, Jeong-yoon calmly sat Jeong-seon down. Jeong-seon was anxiously fiddling with her earrings. Jeong-yoon decided that since what was lost was lost, he needed to calm his sister first.

“Noona. It’s okay. Our passports are in my bag, and I have my card and half of the Taiwan yuan we split.”

“…I’m sorry, Jeong-yoon…. I really didn’t know… When did they take it…?”

“What are you sorry for? The thief is the one who’s wrong. Want to sit here for a moment? I’ll go explain to airport security and ask if anything’s been found.”

“…Okay… sorry….”

“Stop saying sorry. Since we can’t contact each other, don’t move from here. Got it?”

“…Yeah.”

Jeong-yoon dug through his bag and handed a bill to Jeong-seon, who was nodding with tears.

“Have something sweet while you wait. Want me to buy it for you?”

“No, it’s okay. …When did our youngest become so reliable?”

“Me? Since sixth grade when I got taller than you.”

Jeong-yoon answered casually, then grinned and turned around. He planned to find security as he’d said. Though he didn’t really expect to recover the phones or wallet, there was always a chance.

And as expected, after explaining the situation to security and waiting while they made some calls, there was no result. Well, it was obvious. How could they find someone who stole with intent?

After bowing to the security guard who shook his head, he turned away. A troubled sigh escaped naturally. Though he’d told his sister it was fine, he was upset too. After arriving tired at the airport, instead of resting, they were running around dealing with pickpockets.

Moreover, this meant he obviously wouldn’t be able to contact Chae-heon throughout the trip. Though it was silly to report his every move when they weren’t even dating.

Fortunately, he had sent the text earlier, so at least Kang Chae-heon wouldn’t wonder where he’d disappeared to. Still, Jeong-yoon had wanted to hear his voice at least once over the weekend and was secretly disappointed. But if he looked depressed, his sister would feel more sorry. It wasn’t his sister’s fault, and he couldn’t ruin the rest of what should be a happy trip. Jeong-yoon smiled again as he walked toward his dejected sister.

What’s done was done. Now they just had to enjoy the trip with their reduced budget.

***

The next morning, the mood improved a bit. Jeong-seon also seemed to have gotten over much of his anxiety and guilt. She was smiling brightly as they toured around and ate various things.

They used cards when they could and saved the remaining cash. That way, they managed to travel decently. Though it was a bit inconvenient not having phones to use the internet, traveling with just guidebooks and maps had its own romance.

Every restaurant his sister took them to was satisfying. She truly lived up to being a food travel devotee. How did she find places that matched their taste so well? Jeong-yoon caught himself thinking he’d like to come back with Chae-heon, then immediately shook his head. Thinking about Kang Chae-heon even in Taiwan – this was getting serious.

Even while saving money, he bought two gifts for Chae-heon. A Jo Malone perfume from a store in a tall building and a box of pineapple cakes from the shop they visited today.  If it were up to him, he would have wanted to buy everything, but he restrained himself because he was unsure if Chae-heon would like it.

Was it because he was in another country? Or was it because they weren’t under the same Korean sky? He missed Chae-heon more than usual. Thinking back, wasn’t this the norm before? It was natural not to see each other on weekends. During vacations, he lived holding onto Chae-heon’s pictures, and even when he went to the military, they had been apart for nearly two years.

But how funny the human heart is – they’d only been close for such a short time, yet he missed him so much after just two days apart.

‘I wonder how shocked Kang Chae-heon would be if he knew my feelings. He might find it creepy.’

But even so, he wanted to hear his voice and see his face right away.

“Jeong-yoon! Quick, let’s go there!”

“Okay. Got it.”

If it weren’t for his sister’s voice calling him, he would have kept standing there like a statue thinking about Chae-heon. Jeong-yoon looked up at the sky while following Jeong-seon. Though being with his sister was fun and enjoyable, one corner of his heart felt strangely uncomfortable and anxious. He couldn’t understand why.

***

“Noona, I’ll go to school first.”

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I am tired, but I’m okay. If I go now, I think I can make it to one afternoon class. I want to go.”

“Do whatever you want.”

Jeong-seon nodded while rubbing her tired eyes. It was Monday now. Jeong-seon and Jeong-yoon, having just finished their Taiwan trip, had arrived at Incheon Airport and were preparing to go home.

But Jeong-yoon soon changed his mind and decided to go to school. Though he did want to attend afternoon classes as he’d told his sister… the real reason was Kang Chae-heon. He wanted to see him soon. If he went to school and visited the department office during his break time, he thought he might at least see his face.

“I’ll take your suitcase. This one’s heavier.”

“You’re going to school with that? I’m fine.”

“It’s okay. You take mine home.”

“…I don’t know when our youngest grew up like this.”

Seo Jeong-seon spoke in a genuinely moved voice. She patted Jeong-yoon’s shoulder and left to catch the airport bus, pulling Jeong-yoon’s small suitcase.

“See you at home, Noona.”

Jeong-yoon waved his hand lazily at Jeong-seon before forcing his tired body up. Now all that remained was going to school and reuniting with Chae-heon after four days.

***

Despite struggling to drag the carrier all the way there, Chae-heon wasn’t around.

“Chae-heon didn’t come to morning classes today?”

Mi-hee in the department office only delivered this news. Jeong-yoon tried calling him using Mi-hee’s phone, but he didn’t answer. His face immediately fell.

‘…I thought I could see him if I came to school.’

He’d said he was busy on Friday morning, and it seems he was too busy even to come to school on Monday. For Chae-heon, who was so diligent he’d never missed a class, he must be really busy.

Though he was disappointed, there was nothing he could do. Since he was already there, Jeong-yoon decided to actually attend the afternoon class. Though nothing sank in, he was satisfied just to be marked present.

After class, he declined Min-soo’s invitation to dinner and headed home. Pulling his sister’s suitcase made the subway commute particularly difficult. Having just arrived by plane this morning, his accumulated fatigue made it worse.

Moreover, there weren’t even any seats on the subway as rush hour approached.

‘I’m a young Korean. I can stand.’

Jeong-yoon muttered while leaning his tired body against the wall. Watching Seoul’s darkening scenery from the rattling subway somehow made him feel drained. He hadn’t realized because Chae-heon always gave him rides… right. Commuting was always this tiring. Swaying among the packed crowds of people.

Thinking about it made him newly grateful to Chae-heon and miss him more. Anyone would think they’d been apart for months. His feelings were that intense right now.

‘I want to see him soon. When can I see him? Can I see him tomorrow? First, I need to buy a phone so we can contact each other.’

Jeong-yoon blinked his tired eyes before closing them. Though he wanted to doze even while standing, he couldn’t because he was afraid someone might steal his sister’s suitcase. The duty-free cosmetics inside were worth nearly a million won, so all he could do was move like a zombie with half-open eyes.

He got off the subway and dragged the suitcase home. Even the streetlight shining overhead now seemed melodramatic.

This was the road he’d once walked with Chae-heon. Back then, even these low stone walls had seemed charming, but why did they look so desolate today? Probably because he wasn’t with Kang Chae-heon. The human heart is so fickle. He pondered this to himself as he entered the apartment complex.

As he was walking weakly toward the entrance, he saw someone getting out of a car parked in front of the main entrance. The car door slammed shut in the quiet complex.

It was Chae-heon.

Kang Chae-heon whom he hadn’t seen for days. Kang Chae-heon whom he’d been longing to see.

That Kang Chae-heon was striding across the parking lot toward Jeong-yoon. At first, Jeong-yoon was a bit surprised seeing Chae-heon walking with heavy steps, and after a few seconds he smiled happily, but,

“Seo Jeong-yoon, you…”

Seeing Chae-heon run his hand over his face unable to continue speaking, Jeong-yoon quickly erased his smile.

The atmosphere was somehow strange.

A long sigh escaped Chae-heon as if barely containing his anger. Soon he lowered the hand covering his face and continued.

“What exactly are you doing?”

“…Huh?”

Though it was a welcome face after several days, this didn’t seem like the usual Chae-heon. Taking another deep breath, Chae-heon stepped closer to Jeong-yoon and gripped his arm painfully tight.

Jeong-yoon looked up at him blankly. Standing under the white moon, Chae-heon wore an expression he’d never seen before. Though trying to appear calm, Chae-heon’s face seemed mixed with excitement and anger. His cold, desolate gaze made Jeong-yoon want to shrink away.

He couldn’t even grasp what this situation was. The last time Chae-heon had been angry at him in the café, he had quickly smiled when Jeong-yoon approached, but what on earth was going on now? He tried to part his dry lips to speak, but he couldn’t muster the courage to say anything in the face of Chae-heon’s terrifying aura.

Chae-heon spoke, trying to keep his voice gentle.

“Jeong-yoon. I won’t ask who the earring-wearing person next to you was.”

“…”

His grip on Jeong-yoon was incredibly strong. Strong enough to make his shoulders instinctively shrink. It was a strength Chae-heon himself probably wasn’t aware of.

“But… didn’t you think of me? Did you not think at all about me, who would be anxiously clutching my phone alone, filled with all sorts of delusions?”

Was it that being too flustered could leave one speechless? In the suffocating silence, Jeong-yoon could only blankly receive the abyssal gaze pouring down on him from Chae-heon. He had just returned from a trip, and his body was exhausted, but the unfamiliar sight of Chae-heon left his mind confused.

At Jeong-yoon’s lack of response, Chae-heon’s grip tightened further.

“Seo Jeong-yoon.”

“…”

“Jeong-yoon.”

His name was called softly and tenderly.

Only then did Jeong-yoon release his held breath. His unfamiliar demeanor had intimidated him, making his chest tighten with anxiety. Though he wasn’t sure what was happening or what misunderstanding Chae-heon had, he needed to explain the situation first.

“Kang Chae-heon… I don’t really understand what you’re thinking right now, but that-“

“You. Don’t understand what I’m thinking. Don’t understand.”

Jeong-yoon’s attempt to explain that it was all a misunderstanding was sharply cut off by Chae-heon. Something in what he’d just said seemed to further provoke Chae-heon’s twisted emotions. Chae-heon laughed quietly as if mocking himself.

“Right, you never understand. Pretending not to know, pretending to forget – that’s your specialty, Seo Jeong-yoon.”

“…”

“What should I do? Hm? Your unpredictable behavior is driving me crazy.”

“…”

His voice came out low and rough, as if through clenched teeth. Chae-heon tilted his head and stared at Jeong-yoon’s face. All trace of laughter had vanished. His eyes glinted eerily under the cold moonlight.

“If you tell me to kneel, I’ll kneel. If you tell me to beg, I’ll beg. Would that work?”

“…What?”

Jeong-yoon’s eyes widened in shock.

“Answer me, Seo Jeong-yoon. If I let myself be swayed and dragged around by you like this… if I wait like this, will I ever be able to stay by your side?”

“…”

“Just how far down do I have to sink!”

His voice erupted so harshly it made Jeong-yoon’s head ring. Chae-heon’s tone which had been low and calm finally erupted into a desperate rage. His distorted face was filled with desperate indignation.

Jeong-yoon inhaled sharply, his eyes filled with confusion and shock. He knew he had to say something, but his mind was a jumble of incomprehensible sentences, leaving him disoriented.

Chae-heon, who had been glaring at Jeong-yoon, finally let out a heavy sigh and released Jeong-yoon’s arm, turning away. He began striding toward his car. His angry footsteps receded like a storm.

Jeong-yoon stood rooted to the spot like a tree with deep roots, unable to move. It felt like he had been hit hard on the back of his head. His heart raced, and his breath quickened.