* * *
Talking to Siyoung’s younger brother, Jooyoung, wasn’t as bothersome as Hyun had expected.
The boy listened with sparkling eyes, nodding earnestly at every word.
It was endearing in its own way.
Siyoung, sitting nearby and nodding along despite not fully understanding the conversation, was equally intriguing.
While Siyoung usually didn’t show much reaction to things, he seemed genuinely engaged when it came to his sibling.
Even his insistence on paying for the meal, despite the anxiety plastered on his face about the cost, and his noticeably softened demeanor afterward, weren’t unpleasant.
“Maybe it’s just a matter of how things aligned.”
Their relationship, born out of curiosity, began to feel distinctly different.
Being with Siyoung wasn’t uncomfortable, and there were even moments when it was surprisingly enjoyable.
“Stop spouting nonsense and get to the point. Weren’t you going to talk about course registration tomorrow?” Hyun redirected the conversation.
“After all this time, you’re sending me off without even talking properly?” Yeonseok, freshly back from overseas travel, yawned with fatigue still etched on his face.
He clearly hadn’t fully adjusted to the time difference.
Yeonseok had suggested meeting up since they needed to discuss registration anyway, and the timing coincided with his return to Korea.
It was a good excuse to gather.
“Hard to believe it’s already the second semester of our second year,” Hyun mused.
“Time flies when all you do is have fun,” Yeonseok quipped.
“If you don’t want to cram extra semesters, you’d better start managing your credits. Looking back, I should’ve taken more courses seriously in my first year,” Hyun noted.
Unlike Siyoung, who front-loaded his credit hours to prepare for job applications starting junior year, and Hyun, who spaced things out evenly, Yeonseok and Jaeyoon had spent their first year enjoying themselves.
Now, they had to catch up by taking as many classes as possible.
“We still need to cover core requirements. Got any fun electives?” Jaeyoon asked.
“What about this one? ‘Understanding Acting’?” Yeonseok suggested.
“It’s a theory-heavy class. Boring,” Hyun replied.
“Okay, what about ‘Proper Voice and Posture’?”
“That course is notorious for its presentations. Skip it unless you enjoy speaking in front of people.”
“Why do you know so much about these classes?” Jaeyoon marveled.
“Because knowing which courses are easy for credits gives you an edge,” Siyoung chimed in.
He’d thoroughly researched every course via the university app and was ready to optimize their schedules.
“Here, how about this one?” Siyoung suggested.
“Sounds dull,” Jaeyoon replied.
“It might be, but the exams are easy, there aren’t many assignments, and attendance alone guarantees you won’t fail. Didn’t you say all you care about is avoiding Fs?”
“Hm. That does sound manageable.”
Siyoung had already sorted out his own schedule and was helping match theirs for shared classes.
He’d also taken it upon himself to sort out the chaotic schedules of the other two, who, with registration three days away, had no concrete plans.
“What was your plan last semester?” Siyoung asked.
“My girlfriend made it for me,” Jaeyoon admitted. “I just needed enough free blocks, so I didn’t care.”
“I just copied his,” Yeonseok added.
“And now?”
“Currently single.”
Jaeyoon visibly flinched at this remark, betraying a hint of guilt.
“What’s with that reaction? Do you have someone you’re into?” Yeonseok teased.
“No, it’s not like that. I think someone’s showing interest, but… it’s nothing.”
“Wow, for you to be uncomfortable with someone, they must really not be your type,” Yeonseok laughed.
“It’s not that… Forget it. Let’s drop it.”
“Why? Are they a Beta or an Omega?” Yeonseok prodded playfully.
“Don’t start that,” Jaeyoon frowned, glancing at Siyoung.
‘Is he worried I’d be offended because I’m an Omega?’ Siyoung thought.
“Why are you looking at me? I don’t care if you don’t see Omegas as dating material. It’s just preference, not a big deal.”
“It’s not even about that. It’s just… complicated,” Jaeyoon muttered, shaking his head.
“You’d have to do something pretty extreme to make Jaeyoon uncomfortable,” Yeonseok remarked.
“Exactly. Normally, I’d be grateful if someone liked me, but… not this time,” Jaeyoon admitted.
“Tsk, I told you not to lead people on,” Yeonseok scolded.
“When did I ever do that? And you’re one to talk.”
“Hey, I don’t get swayed like that.”
The conversation veered off course into dating habits and personal stories.
Siyoung tuned them out, returning his focus to course planning.
“You’ve never dated, have you?” Yeonseok asked Siyoung out of the blue.
“What’s with the random question?”
“Just curious.”
“I don’t have time for dating. I’d rather focus on studying,” Siyoung replied matter-of-factly.
“Boring,” Yeonseok muttered with a laugh.
“Liking someone isn’t something you can always solve with logic, right? Who knows? One day, you might meet someone who completely changes how you see things.”
“Well, maybe. But relationships only happen when the timing’s right. Right now, in my situation, dating feels like a luxury I can’t afford.”
“When you meet someone you really like, timing and circumstances won’t even matter.”
“Sounds like you haven’t experienced that kind of love either.”
“I just haven’t met the right person yet.”
They had both dated before but neither of them seemed particularly invested in the concept of “true love.”
After a moment of thought, Siyoung turned to Yeonseok and asked.
“You don’t seem like the type, but do you have any romantic ideals?”
“Not exactly ideals. But I do think that meeting the right person could make life better than it is now. You know, someone who makes you feel like all the inconvenient, uncharacteristic things you do for them are actually worth it.”
It wasn’t what Siyoung had expected to hear from Yeonseok—words that sounded almost romantic.
For a brief moment, Siyoung thought, ‘I wish I could be that person.’
But he quickly buried the thought, brushing it off as ridiculous.
“Do you think Yena could be that kind of person for you?”
“I don’t know yet. But… I don’t have a bad feeling about it.”
“What about you, Jaeyoon?”
“Me? I guess I feel… about the same.”
Jaeyoon smiled sheepishly, his tone embarrassed, as if admitting that liking someone was inherently special.
Siyoung realized that even these seemingly careless guys had their own small romantic ideals.
Turning his attention to Hyun, who had been silently observing the exchange, Siyoung asked,
“What about you?”
“Me? What about me?”
“You’ve dated before, haven’t you? Do you have any romantic ideals or thoughts about relationships?”
“Just feels like a hassle to me.”
Hyun thought back to his past relationships, none of which had been particularly meaningful.
Back in middle and high school, he’d only dated to prove he wasn’t a loser, pressured by the alpha-male bravado of his peers.
He had approached it all with indifference, dating just to see what the fuss was about.
“Having to care about someone else is a bother. And acting like you’re in some grand romance when it’s really not? I hated that.”
“…Are you sure that even counts as dating?”
“If you call it dating and others see it that way, then it’s dating. What’s the big deal?”
“He’s the least suited person for a relationship I’ve ever met,” Yeonseok interjected, clicking his tongue.
“Honestly, it’d be better for everyone if he just stayed single. The guy’s practically on the brink of being a sociopath.”
Siyoung ignored Yeonseok’s exaggerated remarks.
Sure, Hyun didn’t seem interested in relationships, but was it necessary to say all that?
“Maybe it’s because you forced yourself into it. Things might be different if it happens naturally someday.”
“No. Even we’ve given up on him. He’s just not meant for it.”
“That’s Hyun’s decision to make, not yours,” Siyoung retorted, brushing off the conversation.
It felt like too harsh a judgment to make about someone who, despite his cold demeanor, could still be unexpectedly kind.
“Have you ever liked anyone before?” Siyoung asked Hyun directly.
“No. What about you?”
“…”
“You have, haven’t you?”
Of course, he had.
Hyun noticed the tips of Siyoung’s ears turning red and confirmed what he had already suspected.
Siyoung was harboring unspoken feelings for Yeonseok.
“What does it feel like to like someone? It must feel special if it makes you realize that’s what it is, right?”
“…What?”
“Those two wouldn’t know, so I’m asking you. Just curious.”
Hyun’s unexpected question caught Siyoung off guard.
After a moment’s hesitation, Siyoung began to answer slowly.
* * *
