* * *
In response to her mocking tone, Jungin pulled out something from his pocket and hit play.
[What would happen if I killed you here? Beomhyeon would probably lose his mind and come after me, don’t you think? Not that I’d go to prison—killing you with my own hands isn’t my style. But Beomhyeon? He’d be different.]
“…You…”
Jungin never imagined he’d have to use the recorder he carried out of habit like this.
Listening to the damning voice of his stepmother, Jungin spoke.
“Have you changed your mind now?”
-Impressive. I thought you were still just a naive child. Fine, I’ll withdraw the charges. I’ll take down the articles too.”
“And issue a correction. State that Beomhyeon did nothing wrong and that the misunderstanding was entirely yours.”
Madam Jang bit her brightly painted red lips and glared at the phone.
“Even if you try to overpower me or kill me, it’s useless. In six hours, an email with this recording will be sent to Kangjin Daily.”
Kangjin Daily was a rival paper to Inhwa Daily, run by her family.
Madam Jang’s grip on the phone tightened as she gave orders to her secretary to withdraw the articles and issue corrections regarding Beomhyeon and JS Hotel.
“And also, give me some money.”
-Hah. So you’re just going to go all out now, huh? Do you think I can’t deal with you just because of one silly recording?”
“No. I know full well you could kill me whenever you want. That’s exactly why I’m doing this.”
Jungin had made up his mind to put an end to everything himself.
Before Beomhyeon and his brothers had to sacrifice even more because of him, he decided to step away.
“I’ve lost. I was too greedy. I’ll do as you say. So… leave my brothers and Beomhyeon alone. That’s my condition. I’ll disappear. I’ll live my life hidden away where no one can find me. That much you can agree to, can’t you?”
Jungin demanded money and a new identity.
When he asked how long it would take, his stepmother said three days.
Three days.
Too long to endure with growing anxiety, yet too short to prepare for a goodbye.
Coincidentally, three days later was the day of a field trip.
That might be the perfect chance to slip away, evading Beomhyeon and his bodyguards.
Was leaving this place his destiny?
As Jungin lifted his head, he saw Beomhyeon darting between the lush green trees.
Another phone kept ringing, a sign that Beomhyeon was desperately searching for him.
Placing a fist over his pounding chest, Jungin spoke into the phone to Madam Jang.
“I might not be able to contact you again. So, put everything I asked for in locker 23 at Sagang Station in three days. That’s all.”
He quickly ended the call and handed the phone back to Woohyun as he exited the art room.
“Thanks, Woohyun.”
“It’s nothing. But… is something wrong?”
“Just tired, that’s all.”
Jungin forced a strained smile, avoiding Woohyun’s worried gaze.
When another call from Beomhyeon came in, he bit his lip.
“I should go. Beomhyeon’s looking for me. I’ll see you later.”
Jungin ran down the hall, picking up the call on the way.
At the entrance of the building, he found Beomhyeon waiting.
“Where were you? Ha… You didn’t even say anything.”
The scorching July sun beat down on them, and Beomhyeon’s face was flushed as he panted, beads of sweat trickling down his temple.
Security guards stationed by Beomhyeon and Jungjin ensured no one from Madam Jang would take Jungin away again.
But having already lost sight of him once, Beomhyeon was nearly driven mad during the ten minutes Jungin had been missing.
“I left my mechanical pencil in the art room.”
“And where is it now?”
“Uh… someone must’ve taken it already.”
Avoiding Beomhyeon’s gaze, Jungin turned his head and forced a faint smile, reaching for Beomhyeon’s hand.
Beomhyeon tried to meet Jungin’s eyes but ultimately let it slide, gripping Jungin’s hand tightly in return.
Jungin didn’t want to let go of this hand.
Tightening his grip, he tilted his head with a playful smile as the breeze carried the faint scent of sweat.
“Let’s get some shaved ice later. There’s a new place by the school that’s supposed to be really good. Somyung said the owner gives extra to handsome customers. We’d totally score if we went together.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
“What, you’re not?”
“No.”
With a smirk, Beomhyeon leaned closer to Jungin’s face.
“I know, but I wanted to hear it from you.”
His whispered words sent a ticklish feeling straight to Jungin’s heart.
Startled, Jungin flinched and tried to pull back, but Beomhyeon only drew him closer, wrapping an arm around his waist.
“If you keep this up, our lips might touch…!”
“What, you mean like this?”
Beomhyeon’s playful teasing made Jungin hyper-aware of the solid arm around his waist, the firm body pressing against his, and the lips that seemed just a breath away.
“But, Jungin.”
Beomhyeon brushed aside the strands of Jungin’s hair that had been tousled by the wind, tucking them gently behind his ear as he grinned.
“We’ve already touched before, haven’t we?”
“Wh-when…?”
As Jungin blinked in confusion, the memory of that night at Beomhyeon’s house resurfaced.
The night he accidentally lost his balance and their lips brushed.
“Want to try it again? I think I’d do a better job this time.”
Jungin, who had been avoiding his gaze, finally met Beomhyeon’s eyes.
He wanted to glare at Beomhyeon for teasing him, but the serious look in Beomhyeon’s eyes stopped him.
His lashes trembled as his resolve wavered.
“Well?”
“…Ah…”
Jungin’s body heated up, even though Beomhyeon hadn’t released his pheromones.
Startled, Jungin flinched and took a sharp breath, trying to suppress the pheromones that escaped, but Beomhyeon’s relaxed expression made it clear—he’d already noticed.
Ring—
At that moment, the bell signaling the end of the session echoed through the air.
Startled, Jungin pushed against Beomhyeon’s shoulder and fled inside the building as if escaping the heat rising within him.
“Jungin, wait up!”
Beomhyeon’s voice, chasing after him, quickly closed the distance.
Jungin’s heart felt like it was about to burst.
He liked Beomhyeon so much.
He liked him so much that… tears threatened to spill.
Unlike the bright weather outside, a rainstorm began to pour inside his heart.
* * *
Here he is again. Trying to fix things on his own