* * *
- I get that you’re busy with work, hyung. Don’t worry about me. You’ll probably be busy the day after tomorrow, next week, and next month too, right? Anyway, I need to head to my lecture now, so I’ll hang up.
“Siwon, wait.”
The call abruptly ended, leaving Junhee staring at his phone with his head hung low.
Siwon’s voice had clearly been hurt.
He never wanted to hurt anyone, but it never seemed to go the way he wanted.
‘…This is so frustrating.’
He was angry with himself, feeling like it was all because of his own inadequacies.
“Why do they assign so many reports right before midterms? When are we supposed to study?”
“You never study anyway.”
“What? You wanna die?”
Students passing by outside the building bickered as they walked past Junhee.
Suddenly, someone hurriedly came running down the stairs toward him.
“Hyung! You’re really here? You came without even telling me?”
Siwon tried to act nonchalant, but couldn’t hide his bright expression.
Junhee thought that despite being tired, it was worth coming.
“You always said to visit and check out the school.”
“Seriously. Couldn’t you have told me you were coming? I was just playing sports with the guys, I’m sweaty, and my hair’s a mess.”
Siwon shook his still-damp hair, his eyebrows furrowing.
“It’s just a little sweat. What’s the big deal? Don’t you remember? When you were little and wet your pants after watching a horror movie, I—”
“Hyung! Stop it! Please!”
Siwon, his ears burning red, hurriedly clamped his hand over Junhee’s mouth.
Now he understood why the orphanage head always said Siwon was still just a kid, even as he grew older.
To Junhee, Siwon still looked like a big kid too.
“Here, share these with your friends.”
“Huh? Bread?”
“I told you I went on a business trip. I stopped by a famous bakery, and the croissants reminded me of you.”
“Oh, geez. No wonder you kept talking about bread earlier on the phone. You really brought this just for me?”
Siwon’s lips twitched into a smile, showing he was pleased.
Junhee had left work early, using the hospital as an excuse, since he couldn’t focus anyway.
As soon as he got home, he had seen the shopping bag with the bread and decided to bring it along, leaving just a few pieces behind.
“Why do you always go out of your way for stuff like this? You even thought about me during your trip? Hand it over, I’ll carry it… Wait, what’s up with your hand?”
Junhee was about to experience déjà vu. He found himself repeating the same explanation again, like a parrot.
“I tripped. I went to the hospital already, and they said it’ll heal on its own as long as I rest.”
“…Seriously. You need to be more careful.”
Siwon sighed deeply, looking down at Junhee’s wrist with concern.
“You’re not showing me around?”
“Oh, right. Let’s go! Hyung, do you want to check out our department room? Or there’s the gym, and if we walk a bit further, there’s a spot where people busk.”
Siwon, who had just been pouting moments ago, quickly brightened up again and began chatting excitedly like a kid.
“Will this place do?”
“Come on, hyung. You don’t trust me? This is literally the most famous spot near campus. If we hadn’t come early, we’d be waiting in line outside.”
Junhee sat down, glancing around. The place was bustling, typical for a university area, and most of the customers looked about Siwon’s age.
“What do they sell here again?”
“Lamb skewers, hyung. This place is a real gem. Let’s order!”
Siwon confidently placed the order, knowing exactly what to get.
After being dragged around for almost an hour, Junhee was starving.
He’d barely eaten any lunch, so it was no surprise. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel tired, but rather more alert.
“Hyung, why do you look so out of it? You look like a zombie right now.”
“It’s probably from the trip.”
“You were so busy, but you still bought me bread? Hyung, next time, just keep the thought, okay? You don’t have to bring anything.”
Junhee shook his head with a wry smile and gulped down some water.
Why was such a small thing like that bread causing so much trouble?
The thought of Ki Taeryu and the orphanage’s tablet issue briefly crossed his mind, but he pushed it aside for now.
A moment later, a series of skewers were placed in front of them, spinning on the grill as the machine automatically turned them.
“Wow, even the grill is automated now.”
Junhee watched in fascination, only to get teased.
“Come on, hyung. You should go out and experience the world when you’re off work, instead of just going from home to the office. Everyone else is out enjoying life, going on dates and admiring flowers.”
“You’re the one who should be dating, Mr. Campus Couple. Didn’t you say everyone in college is dating these days?”
Junhee’s sharp response made Siwon poke at the still-raw meat.
“Hyung… Don’t you want to date?”
“Why would I? I can barely take care of myself as it is.”
“You were really popular back in school though, right?”
“Me?”
That was news to Junhee.
He had never dated nor had any interest in it.
“Junhee hyung, who went to school with you, said your locker would overflow with gifts on Pepero Day and White Day. You were just going to throw them away, but hyung would take them to the orphanage and hand them out to the kids.”
As I think back, it feels like there were a few times throughout the year when there was something in my locker or desk drawer, but that was all.
Although I was teased for being an orphan, I had never received a confession.
“I thought it was just a joke.”
“Then, don’t you want to go to college? Mother said you were good at studying. She mentioned you even considering becoming a teacher?”
That did happen at some point.
I wasn’t exceptionally good to the point of being the top student, but I managed to stay in the upper ranks consistently.
Not because I was particularly smart, but because I was always alone and had nothing else to do besides studying.
But after that incident, I even stopped studying altogether.
“Junhee, I’m sorry. Dad is sorry. Let’s go home. Back then, I was so filled with hatred for your mom that I must have lost my mind.”
My dad, who came all the way to school to find me.
Even while resenting my parents, a part of me longed for that fleeting warmth for a lifetime—do they truly not know that?
And knowing it and still behaving that way was even worse.
“Jin Siwon, why are you asking pointless questions today?”
Because of the burdensome memories, I unintentionally snapped back sharply.
“No, I was just curious. I’m sorry if it made you feel bad. Oh! It’s burning. Hurry up and eat. It tastes even better if you dip it in the seasoning. Do you want something cold to drink?”
“No.”
“Beer?”
“I’m not drinking.”
After turning down multiple offers, Junhee took a bite of the skewer that was perfectly grilled to a golden brown.
“How is it, hyung? It’s good, right?”
Even though it wasn’t a dish he had prepared himself, Siwon looked as serious as a chef waiting for a food review.
“Jin Siwon.”
“Why… Is it not good?”
“I should order some beer.”
Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five…
“It’s just like my age.”
Seeing Junhee counting the skewers one by one, Siwon tried to stop him.
“Hyung, stop drinking now.”
“I’m just getting started. Why stop?”
“You said you’d only drink one glass. You’ve already finished two bottles, so let’s go now, quickly.”
“You go.”
Junhee, unusually stubborn, slapped away Siwon’s hand sharply.
Feeling slightly dizzy, drowsy, and wanting to drink more, but not quite drunk. Probably…
Siwon sighed deeply and stared at Junhee’s slightly unfocused pupils.
“What are you going to do if you feel sick again tomorrow?”
“It’s Saturday, so what does it matter?”
Honestly, I just wanted to get completely drunk and spend the entire weekend lying down.
Staying home during the weekends had been a routine for Junhee, but in the past few weeks, weekends had become unexpectedly busy.
‘Damn it… Because of that Alpha.’
Of all things, losing his weekends made him the angriest.
As he drained the half-full glass, Siwon took it away from him.
“Hyung, seriously, stop drinking.”
“Give it back.”
“Then let’s move to a second location. We’ve been here long enough, so let’s go somewhere else.”
With that, Junhee silently got up.
The negotiation worked.
He grabbed the jacket hanging on the back of the chair, fumbled through his pockets, and headed toward the counter.
“I’d like to pay for that table over there, please.”
“Yes, sir! Oh? But it’s already been paid for.”
Junhee frowned and turned around while opening his wallet.
Siwon, holding two candy bags, was standing by the entrance, waiting for him.
“Hyung, come on out.”
“Jin Siwon, you…”
“I told you I’d pay.”
“What money does a student have—”
“Hyung! Stop nagging like some old man. Why do you have so much to say these days? Turn around. I’ll spray some deodorant.”
Siwon turned Junhee around by the shoulders and liberally sprayed fabric freshener all over him.
“All done. Now, let’s go.”
He was practically pushed out the door.
The chilly night breeze brushed against Junhee’s pale cheeks, bringing him back to his senses a little.
It was late at night, but there were even more people than when they first entered the alley, which felt strange.
“Why are there so many people here?”
“Don’t you know, hyung? This place is secretly a hot spot. Do you see that building over there? They said a famous chef opened a wine bar recently. My classmates were talking about it, but I haven’t been there, so I don’t know much.”
A famous chef?
Wine bar?
Strange words floated around Junhee’s mind, mingling with the lingering buzz of alcohol.
“Places like that must be expensive.”
“Of course, it’s expensive. Why else would it have such a name value?”
“How much?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been, but a single bottle might cost tens of thousands.”
Tens of thousands? At that, the thought that came to Junhee’s mind was, ‘Only tens of thousands?’
He was startled by his own reaction after thinking that way.
Spending hundreds or thousands a day like it was nothing, having someone nearby who called that pocket change—it seemed like his sense of value had been distorted without him realizing it.
And that wasn’t all.
Staying at a hotel that cost hundreds of thousands per night every day, sending several expensive tablets to the orphanage.
‘…Who asked for that?’
The way he did things on a whim was truly infuriating.
Having made up his mind, Junhee briefly said to Siwon.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
