* * *
Inside the bathroom, Jungin approached Woohyun, who was waiting for him.
“Here are the clothes and the air device you asked for. Is this okay?”
Jungin donned a white mask as he replied.
“Yeah, thanks. Here’s something for your trouble.”
Seeing the envelope of cash Jungin handed him, Woohyun waved his hands in alarm, his face full of surprise.
“You don’t have to do this. We’re friends.”
“I’d feel more comfortable this way.”
Jungin had asked Woohyun to find him old clothes and an air device.
Shouldering the bag Woohyun gave him, Jungin spoke again to his hesitant friend, who was nervously twisting his fingers.
“You know how much my stepmother hates me, right?”
“Ah, yeah, I guess…”
“That’s why I’m running away.”
“R-running away?”
Woohyun grabbed Jungin’s hand in shock, his mouth opening and closing silently.
Whether he wanted to help or stop him, Jungin wasn’t sure.
Smiling faintly, he reassured him.
“It’s okay. I’m just rebelling for a few days. So, just go along with it, alright?”
“…Alright. If you need anything, call me. My number’s in the air device.”
Although grateful, Jungin didn’t want to rely on anyone further.
Nodding slowly, he adjusted his glasses and mask before slinging the bag over his shoulder.
“Don’t tell Beomhyeon or my brothers. You don’t know anything about this, okay?”
After one last request, Jungin ducked his head low and exited the bathroom.
His heart pounded as he worried the bodyguards might notice him.
Keeping his head down, he quickened his pace.
“Hey, Park Seonil! Is your school here too?”
A group of bulky students unintentionally blocked the view between Jungin and the bodyguards, giving him the cover he needed.
Blending in with the students, Jungin quickly slipped out of the building and flagged down a taxi.
“Please… take me to Geummyeong Station. Hurry…”
Soaked from the rain, Jungin’s drenched appearance made the taxi driver frown, but he held back any comments upon seeing the young man’s tear-streaked face.
[Rrrring…]
[Beomhyeon]
Seeing Beomhyeon’s name on the screen, Jungin bit his lip.
By now, he would’ve realized Jungin was gone.
The messages followed quickly, one after another, as Jungin stifled a sob and looked down.
[Where are you?]
[Answer your phone.]
[Jungin, please pick up. Are you okay?]
[Jungin, where are you? Jungin… please.]
Images of Beomhyeon frantically searching the school for him just days ago flashed through Jungin’s mind like an old film reel.
Even now, he must be looking for him just as desperately.
[Did Jang Sunhee take you?]
[Jungin, if you’re okay, just send me any message. Anything.]
[Jungin, please… Please answer.]
Tears wouldn’t stop falling onto the phone screen, and Jungin’s chest burned.
If he’d known it would hurt this much, he wouldn’t have come back.
Even if it meant losing everything, he wished he could have spared Beomhyeon, his brothers… everyone from this pain and just lived quietly.
[Jungin, I’ll come to you.]
[So please, don’t move. Stay right where you are.]
[Even if you’re scared, wait a little longer. I’ll come to you, Jungin.]
“I’m sorry… Beomhyeon, I’m so sorry…”
Jungin silenced his phone and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.
Everything felt like it was his fault, born from his selfishness.
The fact that Beomhyeon hadn’t yet suspected Jungin was running away only made it hurt more.
Still crying quietly, Jungin barely noticed the taxi driver speaking to him.
“Kid… didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
“…No.”
Jungin, with his nose tinged red, looked up hesitantly at the man holding out a blue umbrella to him.
“A customer left this behind. They didn’t come back for it, even after a while. I thought you might need it, so take it and use it.”
“Th-thank you…”
Biting his trembling lips, Jungin hesitated before pulling a 10,000 won bill from his pocket and addressing the driver.
“Excuse me, sir. I’m sorry, but where can I go with just 10,000 won?”
It was an unusual question, but the boy’s trembling voice made the driver consider it seriously before replying.
“Hmm, I suppose you could get to Hwangji.”
“Then… I’ll give you the 10,000 won. Can you drop me off here and drive the car to Hwangji for me?”
The taxi driver furrowed his brows at the odd request.
As Jungin lowered his head further, clutching the umbrella tightly, he continued.
“The truth is… I’m being chased by debt collectors. My father borrowed money, and now they want me to repay it…”
It was the only lie he could think of. Jungin gripped the umbrella so tightly his knuckles turned white, silently praying his lie wouldn’t be detected.
“What kind of scum does that!” the driver spat, his voice rising in anger. “Even if it goes over the meter, I’ll take you all the way to Hwangji, so don’t worry about a thing.”
“Thank you so much…”
Jungin bowed deeply and discreetly left his phone in the backseat corner before getting out of the taxi.
It would make tracking him much harder.
He hid his face with the umbrella and hurried into the station.
Glancing behind him nervously, he adjusted his slightly askew mask.
To avoid any potential pursuers, he switched clothes at every transfer to Sagang Station, discarding his previous outfits one by one.
Wearing a black cap pulled low, he opened a pre-arranged locker to check its contents: cash and an ID.
“Hah…”
Gazing out of the train window, he fled as far as possible, eventually reaching Dongincheon Station.
He got off the subway at the last stop and looked up at the sky, where rain poured down like mist.
“Hah…”
The mask trapped the humid air, making his face sweat.
Arriving in an unfamiliar town with no connections, he was hit by a wave of loneliness.
He had chosen this path, but the silence felt oddly unsettling.
Exhaling in defeat, Jungin slowly walked out of the station.
After walking for what felt like ages, he found a small goshiwon far from the subway station.
For 200,000 won, he secured a tiny, windowless room.
The fake ID his stepmother had made identified him as Baek Sooyoung, a 20-year-old.
Not being a minor made finding work slightly easier.
Jungin checked the remaining cash in his possession and let out a long sigh before sitting in the cramped room, leaning against the wall.
“Hah…”
His slow-blinking eyes fixed on the peeling wallpaper.
He would have to live alone from now on, constantly on the run, bearing everything by himself.
Yet, barely any time had passed, and the crushing weight of solitude was already pressing down on him.
“Beomhyeon… Hyung…”
He needed to steel himself, but the ache of longing made him weak.
He buried his face in his knees, recalling the kiss they’d shared that morning.
First loves never work out—they say—and now he believed it.
“If I’d known, I would’ve stayed up all night trying to catch those cherry blossom petals, no matter what… It wasn’t fair that they fell into my hands instead of yours.”
A bitter laugh escaped him as tears soaked his knees.
“Even so, I’ll remember you forever. Thank you for teaching me what love is, Beomhyeon…”
Murmuring words that would never reach him, Jungin leaned against the cold floor.
It was a night he wouldn’t mind disappearing into forever.
* * *
