1.

There was nowhere to go. Park Ihyun pressed db360d9505 down on his 4f6b270d25 hangover-laced head with 9938f57522 the palm of 806dea57f2 his hand. A sigh escaped him. Staring at Kim Doyeol’s face, 408f230a42 still marked from the hit, 7990204fbc made a tangle of emotions 865ee173da churn messily inside him.07885c22bf37a4e1

They were walking far too 0fc4423bf0 earnestly down a completely wrong c48c1c9632 path. Park Ihyun bought a pack 381d94ddc3 of cigarettes and sat on f141584320 one of the plastic chairs 38b9747c7b in front of the convenience a6e22e1faa store. As he pulled 2846c7606a the chair, it ae8c53abe3 scraped loudly against eb1102c1e6 the concrete. The dull ache left after 41b8c7ce66 sex slowly subsided against the d863e285ab cold seat.f6e1d8f9e0e6809d

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It was dark. Park Ihyun tilted his f79b27db27 head back. An unlit cigarette dangled 6b3b2b3149 between his lips. Fuck. He raised the back 071de9e8ee of his hand to 3b1b8a0ed5 his eyes. After sitting like 31040daccd that for a 871c4639d8 while, his mind c0a575dae8 cleared in the 0208ad4b2f sharp dawn air.f87eb8f874f24b05

He had to tell Kim 6fda6c4ee1 Doyeol. He had to d9bd0ea08f tell him how 1600923bf8 broken they were. He had to tell him 261c01e6f0 how wrong this relationship was. And he had to tell 7373224770 him that what he was 52d839493f doing wasn’t love. Park Ihyun flicked his lighter. The cigarette slowly 4375ef26f1 burned at the 717126494a touch of the 12038aa237 flame.bd8662eb96f866b0

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He should’ve brought his phone. Dawn was especially 138731ba03 cold and lonely. His nicotine-and-alcohol-addled brain briefly 0454fbb2f0 went blank before slipping dbc4d5c6e1 into a state of 65fdf7dc0c clarity. While rubbing his rough 251822157e cheek, Park Ihyun suddenly c902c069d8 noticed the boy he’d 0bce9bbbad been thinking about just a79059c177 moments before and shot f3671bf940 to his feet. The plastic chair b95e3fc04f scraped loudly as 9a9966879f it was pushed 3c1d5d7cc0 back.ee28d2d929ab6893

There was Kim Doyeol. Wandering the streets like a a6fd1fcef0 ghost, his face out of aa3b0f7818 sorts. He was even barefoot. His hair, usually neat, was a89c689c10 a complete mess, and he 3ebb5512b9 was wearing loungewear.a01bf2d2994ae837

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He’s lost it. Park Ihyun hurriedly shrugged 864b9de70d off the hoodie he 04fe67395c had thrown on. He meant to cf9b69b03e cover his face 2c9e191ee6 with it, at 95ce958501 the very least. There was no 35a6367a8c one on the 4bbe900ec3 quiet street at e34277be45 this hour, but e2e8b738b6 there was a 7a170f854b part-timer inside the 697986a717 convenience store, and da7ef2b7ed CCTV cameras were 8a071d0d95 everywhere.d15e57ca3da3cc3c

“Kim Doyeol!”105412217d3d0533

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Kim Doyeol, who had 1c52fbadef been walking like he 3be7aa5736 was completely out of a9b0ce7f13 it, slowly turned his 5f3ecae437 head. He stopped walking and 97eff7ab8d stared blankly at Park 3963f11a80 Ihyun.ff79a7d06ac2155c

He didn’t smile and a32295d940 say, “Oh, Ihyun,” like 8f2b5ac9b6 usual. His jaw twitched slightly. That alone told Park Ihyun 4e22202287 that Kim Doyeol was pressing 7c1ff43ab5 his tongue against the back a3bada6b3c of his canine tooth.7f97862b4bd74f14

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As he rushed ac0952cf0d over, Kim Doyeol’s 7d5c535875 eyes flickered like 65d9dff62a headlights, tracking Park cbc09e6712 Ihyun. Park Ihyun quickly slipped off 2370eb5b05 his slippers and set them 57c332938d in front of Doyeol. Pulling the hood 1b065e523a over Doyeol’s head, f70bfa3a9e he spoke quietly.c90859f500e8f8e2

“You’re an actor, Kim Doyeol. Get inside.”5fe39800020dcedc

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I just came 26bd102ef8 out to buy 0c391f919f cigarettes, for a d635e89666 bit. Even when Ihyun e7247fbb27 said this, Kim 620533185c Doyeol didn’t move. Instead, bizarrely, he bared 4b415753f6 his teeth like razor 11c0966863 blades and gave a c14a3c5e2d fierce smile. A bad sign. When Kim Doyeol 03de3f4d85 smiled like that, 90105a2bb4 bad things always 986410fa36 followed. Park Ihyun tensed. It felt like 2312831854 a sharp wire 244a7d6f63 had pierced through 9d5fe9d6fb his spine and ab5dd73342 was exiting through d06140ab57 the top of 44377f77ea his skull — 9bb28fcba8 a chilling sensation. A face grinning ferociously e4c1834b7c with its mouth open.0a7cd99fb0073faa

“You know what I fucking feel like doing, Ihyun? Just getting a little box, stuffing you into it, shoving myself in too, and rotting away together in there for the rest of our lives. Just shut your mouth… yeah?”3e2a12d554ad5b8d

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Kim Doyeol was out 29a1712d6f of his mind. Park Ihyun realized it too f41a7c5c7a late. Have I completely ruined him? The thought made 31e4569b78 a sudden fear 2aefb7610a rise up. His throat tightened slowly. Kim Doyeol.3fa72df1d7366dce

“Doyeol… did I ruin you?”11215e1495dcdfac

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To the question asked with ed50a8f6e5 certainty, Kim Doyeol laughed.0f01c76497ed63e4

“Ihyun, I seem like a fucking lunatic, right? But you’re not normal either. You know that.”49e40eacbcd803db

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He looked incredibly happy c9386306f0 as he said it.9096ec5657d90dd1

Fear struck him. When he stepped 71de73c19b back slightly, Kim 25fe279711 Doyeol quickly followed. The slap of bare feet 4216743288 against concrete echoed. Blue veins stood 576956c112 out against his af17bc84e0 pale feet.6bda8d3e4a006a6c

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His elbow was grabbed hard, 13d43f7fcb but Park Ihyun didn’t twist a1053842e2 away. He stood still, looking 6bc03f897b down at Kim Doyeol’s 08e8de2564 feet, as bare as 23330d2985 his own. His feet were caged between deeb823fa2 Doyeol’s.f1f3e00be6fa1a8c

When exactly did we 99f9c35892 start falling apart so f6234dd96c completely? Park Ihyun slowly bowed 8563fcda6d his head. As he leaned 762569118a his forehead against 14e0856e53 Doyeol’s chest, he b44475382a felt a calm 3a18cf3fd0 settle over him. Was it from early spring 32e779e15b when we turned twenty? Or back in high school? After we started dff4966cdd talking about the fdab58e8d3 future—or even before 9a116c8c44 that? Was it when I lied?0df18c64fdbc1294

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“What are you thinking about?”7142adc5f07b4fbd

When he didn’t answer, 54accbe1e4 Kim Doyeol wrapped his 7beb1633a5 arms around him. Strength built up in both e46e25efed palms, compressing Ihyun’s organs until 0be7bccdee his body was lifted slightly a0ec32960b off the ground. And then, bizarrely, Kim 041e6b81bd Doyeol placed Park Ihyun’s 998c5c99a3 feet on top of 5b919b629d his own. Ihyun turned his face 4a9b84e59d to the side as 20d719544c he stood on Doyeol’s c0d2e9a8c4 bare feet. He could still 823897050a feel a heartbeat 72439d01b1 against his cheek.109d15aa4f85358d

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Humming softly, Kim Doyeol moved his feet. Even though they were on a neatly paved asphalt road, the small stones didn’t seem to bother him as he danced, encircling Park Ihyun in his arms. Ihyun blinked helplessly, trapped in his embrace. Crazy bastard, you’re going to end up all over the headlines…172dfbf016047665

“Yeah, Ihyun. Why are you thinking so hard…?”9d93bbb1a6e70f98

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Are you thinking about me? I hope so… Kim Doyeol muttered. And yet, I’m still this guy’s manager, Park Ihyun thought bitterly. Would saying it was because he was drunk fix any of this? He could already hear the voice of the agency CEO, who now knew their faces, sighing and saying, “Doyeol, just go ahead and hang your uncle from the office wall.”39a35b87093bebb9

“I’m cold.”23c049ebc83be816

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When Ihyun tugged at his a7256a8cf1 hem, Kim Doyeol stopped dancing. With a loud d55d400f58 sniff, he finally aeecdd3ec7 made a show c11cabf2bf of going back 6f32d049f6 inside. Walking barefoot beside him, Park b16409673d Ihyun rubbed his dry cheek 0efaadc19f with the back of his 306ac1eb19 hand.7a2e11f982169d54

Ah, I get it. I think I understand now. When Kim Doyeol started ruining 05a8510136 me, when I started ruining d985487b9e him. It must’ve been from the 4a9e26b803 very first time I brought d82d431bd8 him home. That summer, at the edge c4e396f700 of our teenage years, when db59b43599 the heat was so oppressive 7094dc7441 that cicadas fell from trees ae8285a345 like leaves.ca099059e90e1661

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* * *fb141ea199b4f5b7

Kim Doyeol was sitting 62bce2428c on one side of 1ab0ff2b84 the playground slide’s stairs. His cap was pulled 92e14788d1 low enough to touch f6fb7b691b the bridge of his bfbdb8a68c nose, and his head f2ccb94e2b was buried in his b05d290f8e knees. When he lifted his 5504423fad head, his face was 3165d22ecb a mess. As soon as Park Ihyun e14dea4413 saw him and heard his db7d160b70 voice, he hadn’t even been 461fadf622 able to hang up the 45437c0fb6 phone—he just ran. Now, his face twisted.ea0d487a96b1dc8b

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Kim Doyeol had a nosebleed. His face clearly showed signs 88e4913eed of having been hit. A surge of 8eff36f026 fear struck him, c7833e1f53 even though he 1a12d55cd8 didn’t know the fb6a9aff76 full story.acec9f40e30ef903

“…Kim Doyeol.”755d2b1744f87580

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When he called 22d5f17bbb his name, Doyeol f600a1b450 gave a crooked 71a03c7b9e smile. He wiped the blood from 5e60a8351c his nose casually with the 7efddd27e2 back of his hand and 0c85bad602 stood up from the stairs c97eeda15f where he’d been crouching. Blood had smeared along his 73f34a1dfb teeth below that smiling mouth. You came? That’s all he said. Just that you came. It was a trivial greeting.f7f902a970d7f453

Kim Doyeol had called 19ad6fe482 him earlier. It was close to a0a1ab2cc7 dinner time. Park Ihyun had been 734f8103cd sitting alone at home 13d8e1c71f working through calculus problems. He had put down his 9882aff8a3 mechanical pencil to answer. After a long c941eedb42 silence, Doyeol swallowed 0c02784fe0 and said in 56c9ac24fc a weak voice, 45e0e7f4ff “Ihyun-ah.” That was 19f00c2e94 all.b56412abdd600f1e

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He hadn’t babbled about random 88731f5135 things like usual. His normally clear cd2743edc2 enunciation had turned c5249be103 mushy. It felt so ominously 13019dfd1d off that Ihyun had 33a37b87c8 immediately asked where he eb5410e3ba was.a76548a99dd96b45

I’ll come quickly. I’m coming now. That’s how he b0df66fa8e ended up here—only 4470bb933c to find Doyeol 46c3269f4e waiting like this.9d1650a083ad6663

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“Let me stay just one night. I mouthed off to my 3e81e99533 mom, got beaten badly by a7dfd1b3ad my dad, and got kicked 48ba8444af out.”2d603055faf4d16d

Kim Doyeol said 1c5d06ab1e it like it b2e3fc2c5a was nothing. His lips were swollen 2147ab20ef and bleeding from the a35060008f beating, but he looked b8193cc91c nonchalant. The way he kept smiling 9fd535c478 made it feel like he b6f32072fd was saying, “I bombed my 70fc523355 test and got kicked out. Let’s just go c5eb1a6e71 to a PC a7f9e86639 bang.” Park Ihyun 20ff3ca028 was stunned. He pressed his lips 8e2026b509 tightly together. Doyeol seemed disturbingly used 2266c5f345 to this kind of 48dd568f91 violence.81d1b9bcb2ed2c94

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“What, your house isn’t an option?”3f2b002694e43318

I don’t have anywhere f3962f9408 else to go. He looked disappointed. Instead of answering, Park Ihyun fb557dda39 took out a handkerchief and f40ac62b11 handed it over. Clean up. The hand reaching toward 2cf41e0faa the handkerchief had broken 651a0442f1 nails and was mottled c0a1ee3a1d with deep, dark bruises.b450782f7089486c

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Park Ihyun blinked. The evidence of c449333c52 violence was so 8474093e51 vivid it made 257b089758 his head spin. He took the handkerchief and 606214129e pressed it against Doyeol’s still-bleeding a6cf18c6f4 nose. As he inhaled deeply, Doyeol’s b650219119 eyes locked sharply onto Ihyun’s. Yes or no.8ef028f15bc186ff

“Doyeol.”d1d5fff939865ec5

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Saying his name 9b6b1f7536 made Ihyun’s throat 028c1f43f6 tighten.e9912d04d9d34cd2

“Yeah.”7653a417696f27a7

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“Let’s go to my place.”564b408de9e348f1

Doyeol smiled. His steps as he ec79972d37 came down the stairs 25e90c5ab6 were slow, dragging, and b2fda09a85 limping. It seemed like the merciless b77921b245 beating had stuck to every e7fd6999dc inch of his body.d37889ddb46c5393

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“Man, you’re all I’ve got, Ihyun-ah.”d07d72ccde5b5352

He said it in 80b3f2701a the same light tone 4b22c7081d as always. Ihyun moved his lips slightly.5289226aa6cc593b

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“Doyeol, if something like this ever happens again, just come to my place.”fced34c12cd4b89e

Still pressing the 671fcf55a5 handkerchief to his 1167bfacd4 nose and happy cfe6fe7e49 to have found 2fc52e9045 somewhere to sleep, 33dcc4d7ff Kim Doyeol furrowed 0ac8f5f8ac his brows. Ihyun clenched and unclenched 77f80369d5 his fist, lowering his f2681bcf4a gaze to the ground. He hadn’t gotten his father’s a8e82ee463 permission, but he was sure e95664ae13 he’d understand. Honestly, his father was 976a2b19b7 so busy he rarely 59365e270b came home anyway—would he ae57ed706a even notice if Doyeol 9da7f68bf9 was staying?93021c6bc9383c5e

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“Even if you’re getting scolded, run away. Even if they’re just yelling, come anyway…”3e470bdbd92aeff0

“What are you…”313e7e2d276463de

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“Just… just come, okay…”896fbd935e762243

Ihyun rubbed his face 49e25891aa with his palm. No tears came, but d27fe2d96f his insides felt tight c8b2bed881 and brimming, like he dda21de193 might cry. Doyeol, it’s okay for you 522d70f1a0 to be like this.0cc5bce20a28c4e3

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Kim Doyeol stared at him 8f201aae77 for a long time without 6f13ef2644 responding. His mouth tightly closed, 77f7e54543 he ran his tongue 0c182c4ac8 over the back of c0cc43d2b7 his canine tooth before 70b3a29c84 finally asking in a b3b0b94eea dull tone:13e210feb70bcf44

“Do you pity me?”2863d981bf2b3728

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Park Ihyun blinked, once, twice. This wasn’t pity. It wasn’t pity. Ihyun took a slow 51f96ac759 breath in.c6aa5c63f14336c9

“It’s not that… I like you. We’re friends, right? So…”50f7e6d4b5675d5a

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Doyeol looked at him with 08860da9e5 wide, confused eyes. He thought they were friends. Were they not? Ihyun felt a jolt 8a39f37645 of doubt and glanced c5c657a393 at Doyeol nervously. They’d met in 02ba7b1364 the film club d7207f5778 during their first c7623f056f semester of freshman 26f2b1a3cf year. They texted often, 20957db792 talked late at 493aec0ecd night. Doyeol had been 45efbd8444 the one who b8f6211c7c first acted like 6c50f2a149 a friend. Then wasn’t he facb35d64f the kind of e908119004 friend you could 8a91c36a86 bring home?d5e6d56cf70e2f97

Ihyun’s circle of friends 98eea52d90 was small. Since before starting cc0428bfb7 elementary school, he’d fdfdb477d4 moved around with 7b9d1822bc his father and 4aa1f5df39 always felt out 09df42735d of place among 7a8a5e6a00 his peers.d3f35b5056e460b2

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He wasn’t outgoing and, unlike b348c329c4 the boys who were popular c00089ae50 among other boys, he wasn’t d1ee4e86d8 athletic either. Movies had been his only 3a5c81b96c friend. Ihyun, who barely 7190d31df9 spoke and only f6b2d3a8bb really knew how af1b5e919d to talk about cf1e7dba3d films, didn’t make a631eb395d friends easily.417d60389a50b3a8

He and Doyeol were e4282d3891 an odd match, bonded 742fe3513c by their shared interest dffcdbe5d2 in movies. Aside from that, they 670986750a had little in common. Doyeol was good-looking and had c53de288a9 tons of friends. When they played 41df49e4cf soccer at school, 1ca941f178 he wasn’t just 92a4ce6233 the first one 971a12cc8f picked—he was the dc1564b4f7 team captain who 9bf3e0819b chose the players f8b4523f17 with a sweep 061056c688 of his eyes.a0ded047bcbdba7c

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Ihyun wasn’t like that. He stood awkwardly 738bc9ca09 hunched at the 9695e1f34e back, heart pounding, 8982989811 wondering if he’d 8e41661595 be the very afc33266ec last one chosen. And often, he was.adff2da5b0530493

They were polar opposites. But Ihyun liked him. It was admiration 09b424aa20 and longing for 952a7739db someone exceptional. Or maybe he wanted 9dfe2c892a to be someone like 32993c5dc5 Kim Doyeol. Ihyun frequently, almost d428fc1ad2 absentmindedly, found himself 0b1b0e9a00 admiring him.c6b1cc7e01b69dbb

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Was I wrong? Did I foolishly think we bf1a671726 were friends? Ihyun’s lips trembled. Then Doyeol burst 2a3e67293c out laughing and 502ad03692 muttered, That’s all 5502fc2bec it takes? Just being friends?b8af17bef2b8a518

“Y-yeah.”44a766e7007add85

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Doyeol reached out and wrapped 20eb27119e an arm around Ihyun’s shoulders. From this close, he smelled 3e9feaef04 faintly sweet and tangy with cee8e08c3a the sharp scent of blood. Ihyun realized he would remember b4e147f632 this smell for a very 8b21cb3f53 long time.dac28f6a3bc49b7f

“Ihyun-ah, maybe I’ve just been making the wrong friends all this time. You’re the only one I’ve c93a049a1b got left… it’s unreal, really.”c115170d30cc563d

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He shook his head b07867e1d5 and laughed, then started 43b7ccd412 to whine.66ccd9db87cb93a5

My back hurts like hell. My ass too. He leaned all his weight cf89899d21 into Ihyun, and Ihyun staggered d6200fd1cd under him. Supporting each other, 886886cc17 the two of 672ae17a87 them headed for a13a3f23e7 Ihyun’s house. Doyeol’s nosebleed still hadn’t stopped—it 690cdf86e9 flowed without pause. It scared Ihyun. What if it was b4a985d822 a concussion? He suggested they go to 7326e08e1f the hospital, but Doyeol kept 85fc378fd4 shaking his head, saying it c2f88497b0 wasn’t that serious. I didn’t get hit 3832473bf2 on the head. Doyeol insisted he was just 3e907326e6 fine, over and over.69d1bdf07db8b23c

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Park Ihyun pulled Kim da4c649d5b Doyeol’s body closer so 50bf389da7 he could lean on dd7ce7b5c0 him more. His legs trembled under the 19738d6e94 weight, but even so, he eaa6c91912 walked all the way home 22a5313815 like that.f5457e2d824a6b88

It was the 0368781572 first time he ee172c1560 had ever brought 4d4811ae4d someone home. As he entered the door d5f4a86833 code, Kim Doyeol turned and 24e3e8f17f asked,809e057a81cfd507

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“Should I close my eyes?”0f760752e4311f48

Ihyun shook his head. “No.” But Doyeol had already turned around, so his eyes weren’t visible anyway.5c98be4519c1afdb

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Park Ihyun wanted to d959f3eaab be someone good for 8ab2ffcdd0 Kim Doyeol. So, awkwardly, he sat 5d148e3cd3 him on the sofa, 9cf84f1c72 applied some bandages, and 1f1b03d02e made dinner for him. Doyeol, his face 3ae0892d0b swollen, kept dozing 33744fdf9d off. Like a wild animal finally cf0271a68a feeling safe in a secure 30b49509f2 place after never sleeping deeply, 95422c9bd2 always alert. That’s why Ihyun, even though 741ee6c6f3 the sun hadn’t set yet, 8200207bbc laid him down and covered 6579b687ae him with a blanket.894fb3a765395e0d

“Get some sleep.”b10324fd28bd1ea8

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“Mm…”8f8124856f684085

Kim Doyeol quickly drifted off. The whole time Ihyun 5963cbafe3 cleaned the table and cb665777d2 did the dishes, he 508b3c8273 moved quietly and cautiously cb515c6dc2 around his own house, 54e35deca7 barely making a sound.71b06e5c1df16507

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“…Ugh.”ed33f0fd39a889f9

For some reason, Doyeol a645df424e kept groaning in his d496e915be sleep. Eventually, Ihyun approached d772d377ec him with hushed 4b9e804e55 steps. He hadn’t noticed aee2c09ee9 earlier, but Doyeol’s 396dd68483 arm was strangely e984db229f swollen. Cautiously, he called out his 2238b83f6a name. Doyeol-ah. Too afraid to touch 5f1efd0aa8 his shoulder, which connected 456c60ff63 to the arm, he 57b1a8e191 gently cupped his cheek. Slowly, Doyeol lifted his eyelids.b45a057055edefac

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In those clear d732893862 black eyes, Ihyun’s ab82bff783 reflection trembled. Unconsciously, Ihyun swallowed. Oddly, Doyeol looked fragile.a56f05f0c44bf748

“…Doyeol, you keep groaning in your sleep. Are you in pain somewhere?”b4219d06d7ccc489

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A sick boy. His voice was so 363fd9bbf5 cautious and soft it 0ff311e4ff surprised even himself. When he stroked eb9a436bd9 his cheek with 14da808abe the back of fd142ea640 his hand, Doyeol d499212766 blinked sleepily. His cheek and forehead were 342d52d9d6 drenched in sweat. He might even have 3e9f4c5295 a fever. Ihyun pressed his b74de82117 forearm to Doyeol’s 7870e4260d forehead. It did feel a f6b3b8b0b3 bit warm.95d11d6c06910f98

“…Let’s sit you up for a second. You’re sweating cold.”0d1693aa70adbcce

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Supporting him under the waist, 76abe62eda Ihyun lifted his limp, heavy 64a9988fc7 body. Doyeol’s body was 1695f2fe9a hot and large. “Ugh,” he groaned softly, rubbing his cheek like a young animal against Ihyun’s shoulder. Warm breath grazed the skin e7896eaf6e of his neck, and Ihyun 88d7f317cb froze. In a hoarse 7d04729fc7 voice, Doyeol murmured,480c8776df379569

“…It’s itchy.”b03d5f029c3ef614

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“…Ah, your back.”92578dd68bb83854

The area behind 5034803105 him was soaked 8de190580f with clammy sweat. “Let me take a look.” Acting as though he were a doctor or nurse, Ihyun carefully lifted Doyeol’s shirt to check his back—and fell silent. Reddish-purple bruises covered it. No pain relief 3c002b6765 patch was going 90700f1bd4 to fix that.4657f37c6a221abe

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“Is it bad?”e42abca92cf21517

Doyeol asked without turning around. His bare neck 2b5ec8fc2e and the slope dc3fc0bf16 of his shoulder 0226c30240 were visible beneath a166f8457f his ruffled hair d313137504 and raised shirt. Ihyun gently brushed 040c22cc66 beside the bruises. Afraid it would hurt, he 495cbfb7ee avoided touching them directly. “Ugh…” Doyeol flinched and tensed his back. “Does it tickle?” Ihyun asked. Doyeol lowered his head. “Yeah.”773cf494851ff8be

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“I don’t know if a patch will help…”4997a7430663e94a

“…Just put on anything.”5e8d6f4833daef9a

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His voice was still hoarse. Only then did Ihyun notice 2ec3d06db8 how red the back of 442b8a25c1 his neck was. Pretending not to see 83e13d9531 how shame had flushed b1c1c3d9cd his ears and neck, 059fb6411d he quietly applied the e31aaf40a5 patch. The strong medicinal 397cef01eb smell stung his 07d21e0491 eyes and nose. As he checked for f26b750dcf other areas needing treatment, 49892afacd he noticed how red cc03753be8 and swollen Doyeol’s forearm 9caf5fa30f was. Something was definitely wrong.1f21e1ad8fcee3bd

“Doyeol.”aaae8f9813df7367

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“…Yeah.”a6afdb70c8add6fc

“This isn’t good. Get up, get bea9a40706 dressed—we’re going to d6adb6d7e3 the hospital.”5b9d11288730bc85

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Just as Ihyun had cf35d38a12 guessed, there was indeed f63a9a0e93 a problem with Doyeol’s 0015fca9bc arm. A fracture running across f78f08202b the bone.07216523aff624e5

Even in the waiting room cea465ed77 of the clinic, nearly closing ad299ec2b1 for the day, people were cc8f76d644 shocked when they saw Doyeol’s 9ec30c21a9 face. Maybe it was e1d007a625 the visible injuries 13857fe5ab that the loosely bd4b0a6879 applied bandages couldn’t 1fcbc584ad hide, or maybe a2a4431349 it was the cb572b7ff4 bloodstained clothes.b008e3ec46c8682f

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The doctor wasn’t much different. He didn’t seem to 453c727627 believe Doyeol’s claim that 0c077fb727 he’d gotten into a 50b5172398 fight with a friend. When he saw e5c7261208 Doyeol undressed, he 44fcde15ca went silent for 78583ee117 a moment before 0ec56076e8 saying he would 75c45d1475 write a medical 13c1911eb5 report.ef67ade435d30bdf

“I don’t need it.”9ec9d66456d634a5

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“No! No, please write it. Just in case.”2e79327d7d7ab8d5

Doyeol shook his head, but 89446134bd Ihyun quickly interrupted. The doctor glanced between the 325fd13790 two of them, then relayed 1f35d9f09b some instructions to Ihyun and 13cd48bd94 added, “Even if you don’t 97860ef5d1 use it now, it might 3c4fd391d9 be useful later. Listen to your friend.”d9cd18e06d9844f0

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While the doctor 7dac8562c3 explained everything to 0b5337bb2d Ihyun, Doyeol sat 8b13c9eaf5 there quietly, smiling 3245d73eef vaguely. Ihyun gripped his 189a794e30 wrist tightly, afraid e934d856cd he might slip 4c5647d196 out and disappear d58d46bf06 at any moment.01278ddf54bd77a4

Even after getting the cast, 20adaebc8a Doyeol didn’t seem particularly concerned. Ihyun sat him down 2af610e9b7 on a long scarlet a62058f7f4 bench and gathered the 79f4927ae9 diagnosis and prescription. “Stay here.” When he gave the instruction, Doyeol replied sweetly, “Okay\~.” Ihyun handed the prescription to the pharmacist and collected the medicine.93fccbfd1eee5d14

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“Apply this twice a day. And this one, take it 2b939bd50c 30 minutes after meals.”3bb73ab51f2fe64d

“Okay. Ah—do you have anything cf8bcdd2ac for bruising?”a335233d661724e3

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“Ointment or cream?”c33a790115644e2c

“What’s the difference?”85311b50a719cdd6

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The pharmacist recommended ointment. The bag of ointments Ihyun 5034d35647 selected steadily grew.6b814e7903b764cf

“Let’s go.” Seated on the waiting bench, Kim Doyeol obediently stood up.e14465f57ba47164

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“Here, take this. Open up—ah.”7bd4306d713be348

Kim Doyeol opened 438ed7ac89 his mouth without ec9e21459d knowing why, like ddb9df94c5 a baby bird 90d87efb0e desperate to eat 9a1fb8d1ce whatever its mother adae89abe9 dropped in. Park Ihyun placed one of 52760a744a the sugar-free candies the pharmacist d412d00d1c had included in the bag 97d117391f into Doyeol’s mouth. As he rolled the donut-shaped 2864fa8176 candy around with his tongue, a74a804d79 Doyeol gave a look of 0c25903c61 disbelief.a3cc3df11e0baa20

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“Ihyun-ah, how old am I again?”704175a08ab9d845

“That’s just how it is when you’re sick.”1dea9558056b7ad8

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“Oh, right…”473619b1288758fd

Doyeol’s smile was crooked. Ihyun could hear the 1a0aaf8b0b crunch as Doyeol bit b605d11782 down hard on the 0fabfa4876 candy just above his 3b0cd8f034 head. Feeling around for 56fcad5c14 the vibrating phone c8511e0b79 somewhere in his eb3f95a6cf pocket, Ihyun struggled 7255119324 to find it. Doyeol, watching him fumble, 6f7234673d reached straight into the e19276f8a8 cluttered pocket and pulled 19ba5c0c96 it out for him.4841659b8abd07d5

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It was his father.7340ec461756ccd6

The card Ihyun had 7a7ef4106d used belonged to his 40d4f8b590 dad, given to him 322d2eedc4 to use for living 32a433e44a expenses and allowances. His father rarely d4677e083b gave him cash. “If you’ve got cash, you’ll just mess around,” he used to say. Everything Ihyun bought was always 6dbe1d38b6 reported back, but he was 03b9efdf88 used to it now. Apparently, the usual payment e2c5969b6a notification had gone through 1491d4a1f2 again. “Just sit tight a sec.” Ihyun waved to Doyeol after checking the caller.d0a5e6f00e105f63

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“What, are you ditching me again?”40d45b39feabfb44

“I won’t, just wait a minute. It’s my dad.”9143abfb5ff20c49

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“Then hurry back,” Doyeol said, settling again on the scarlet bench with the bag of medicine in his lap. Ihyun stepped just outside the pharmacy glass door and answered. His father’s tired voice came through, skipping any greeting.26859b3c25c8a4ae

— Did you get hurt? What did you 720cb5530f buy at the 478cb39c18 pharmacy?22354885cc41bbad

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“Uh, no, it’s not like that…”c35f4b184745f612

— What did you buy? Did someone ask you d5868aee79 for something? Did someone say 12da69c95d they needed medicine? Did your mom contact you?5e3178520c5ea2af

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Mom? It was a word he c099b12e76 hadn’t heard in far too 9ef89da68a long. What was all this about? His father pressed again, impatient. “Was it cold medicine or something?” Ihyun blinked. “No, my friend got hurt, so I brought him to the hospital. I’m sorry…” His efd32c0ed0 father went silent.4246059d7eae7b01

— Is that true?3bc21ea00774d169

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“Huh? Yes. Want to talk to him? I’m sorry for 2d59e5ad3a using the card ccf331f325 without asking.”d2b7c42c52ded016

His father sighed. “That’s not the issue. Are you sure your 710e4e9d23 mother didn’t contact you?” 9a06b76295 Sometimes, his father behaved 0fad2eef3e strangely. Divorced couples who 2502385adf split on bad 0ddd33a415 terms could be 5a0b457d16 like that. He was especially 6d687a830a sensitive about anything a8acbce74c regarding Ihyun’s mom. It bordered on paranoia. When Ihyun was younger a2150a1334 and once casually brought cd0d670ef1 up his mom while 07ee47cc37 watching other kids with fb379073ee theirs, his father even a620d26cfa checked the call logs d5e04c436b on his phone.54efb0d0af0ff8b8

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But his mom had never 1ba4b08d73 once called.40d4493867decc50

The last time she’d dc9e5e0090 contacted Ihyun was ages 1a0961c490 ago. She didn’t get 1aefe670e5 custody after the 7cede814f4 divorce. He didn’t know why. The last thing she’d 21dc90fc82 ever sent him was 7b0d3e7717 a Christmas card that 09e61f5f0e read, “Merry Christmas, I 63dbed0d30 love you, my Ihyun.” 45ba63bf00 There was no return 5edceef718 address. His father had left it b8407e1a33 by his bedside. That was the end. He had been ca5ecd2b76 so young then 1d75c8214a that it didn’t 7bd083f701 even feel sad d4132a0a56 anymore.d4d6055b3d5c6197

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“She didn’t. Why?”d4f4d88091d9e737

— Never mind. You’re not hurt, right?ac9d5fce5eb3fe86

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“No…”d55c45506d9b0b09

— Okay. Hanging up now.d463e5e8e85aefab

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Ihyun thought of 6e7357f3dc Doyeol back at 6b4aa7aa5f the house. “Dad!” he called out quickly.03a681206dcdb0ed

— What?ad85a8c2552ba6da

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“Uh, can my friend stay over tonight?”675bbd5d10587c26

— …Do what you want. Just don’t make a mess.68d552dcffb4cb88

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“Got it! Thanks!”ee8508e23fb23ea3

— Yeah.baa6ace2bd42e884

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A weight lifted a7b9d0883e from his chest. The call ended simply, f04b1ed8ba like always. Ihyun poked his head 02ffceed29 through the pharmacy’s glass b27a299860 door. “Let’s go, Doyeol.” Doyeol, who had been browsing the wall lined with health supplements, turned his head and smiled. His eyes puffed adorably, blooming 08dfe4daf4 like pear blossoms.588ad2ba9398270d

Whenever Kim Doyeol 8dbfa6db78 smiled like that, dd1e7f7a9a as if nothing 2c4d494f25 had happened, something 49395df0c6 inside Ihyun would ccb67960ab suddenly turn soft cf555c02c4 and swell with 40f41e494a emotion. Even if he 251bf7c1fb didn’t fully understand d01d50ef58 it. Ihyun cleared his aefcbd76b3 throat unnecessarily and c07bd6429e walked ahead.96405496db9b2c7d

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“Look at this.”c2c066240ca8bf98

Doyeol stuck out his tongue. The half-melted sugar-free candy 6d6a138109 dangled from the tip cbfc5ec5c7 like a ring.404c36a739fa88cb

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“…Are you a kid?”8a47f364f3c07732

And that’s when the 6cb110fcab solemn sense of responsibility 523237a8c5 hit him: someone’s got 2e09e35ccf to look after this dfd0c2778f guy. That’s how it started. Gently holding Doyeol’s b67e774e5b bruised arm, Ihyun 99453891be led him home.1fbee84a533d1551

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That heavy sense e40402f092 of responsibility might 7265c60ef7 have been a de37ff10ad premonition of what 8a70136f23 was to come. Doyeol needed help with everything—from 068862af2c undressing, dressing, to washing his 88d4f76ddd hair. And he shamelessly 5e16ef221b enjoyed every bit 5f0681bdc0 of it. Before he knew it, Ihyun f4361a8221 was washing the hair of c9f9933088 a boy his own age, fbe330e2e6 who was larger than him.ed3cd42f2689e53c

“My neck hurts. Sir, your service here is 2c6ab25531 awful.”c77432c35fb9d791

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Doyeol had dragged a c3c4e13c27 kitchen chair into the adad2df57a bathroom and was sitting bcf0a5c8d2 on it with his 7373e55de8 head tilted back and f82cd2d9a7 eyes closed, looking pleased. When Ihyun scrubbed his b6a27ba82e scalp a bit too 697d54e409 hard, Doyeol laughed and a282e160dd let out a mock 568aa16ebe scream. “Ow! No good! Gonna leave a 64729da08b half-star review!” Ihyun a386574909 nearly sprayed water f9b7a08f4d in his face 16398a0b7f with the shower 3eaee62e3b head but stopped e01d7c4ad3 when he saw f72a4fbb9d the bandages stuck b1e79294ee to his skin. Instead, he gently wiped his 8cec243b92 forehead and eyes with a f36ef3e178 towel.a9bdcb6f4c046f72

It felt strange. Doyeol was kind of annoying, a5a69db84c but he kept making him 40dea91432 smile. When he accepted Doyeol’s d92276c5d1 childish whining and playfulness f882b7be14 like an adult, Ihyun c75949f0ca felt like he really 46d7a1ddec had become one. The sense of fulfillment that a5cf7b2066 filled his chest was unfamiliar. Maybe this was how 2cc8c24ea9 it always felt to 6afc032aeb take care of someone d253719456 for the first time. He didn’t know. He looked down 36b6760d78 at Doyeol’s closed 160b33960e eyes. He looked obedient, innocent.cd25ab46560e9955

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Kim Doyeol, who couldn’t seem 7c9afadd4f to do anything without him… a16651ab36 Ihyun stared at his wet 234e124a72 eyelashes for a long time. When Doyeol suddenly 6e785ba742 opened his eyes, 431b5834cc he quickly dabbed 3734274f97 at them with cddb746b58 a towel.a9994066dd015de5

“My eyes are flashing. You pressed too hard, Mr. Ihyun.”59362d7b8450572b

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“You’re imagining things.”b7e8783f099cd3f3

“Ugh, so mean… I’m the patient, you know.”2538717fb59427ba

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Wrapping the towel 011fd2f5f6 around Doyeol’s head, 622283f8e4 Ihyun supported his 9f13d396d8 neck. “Go lie down in the living room.” Doyeol obediently walked out. Ihyun wiped his own forehead 647e6e8943 with the back of his d985eecf24 hand and glanced at himself 6d0fb14524 in the mirror. His face was a 526ba6eec1 little flushed.c06a71d8ccf7010e

It must be the yellow bc5ee90d95 bathroom light. He hurriedly swallowed down 142b4c7b97 the secret joy rising 3accedb083 in his throat and 33e24af9e0 tried to forget it 63a1559ee7 by splashing his face c2b6faf84a at the sink.cc518c33171111fe

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“You sleep in the bed.”5f396bec7a4f3d47

“You’re the one with the cast, not me.”ebe9a7f7ab53cf25

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As soon as Ihyun 2af4b409ba brought the pills and 8126b4b236 a glass of water, abfcce36ee Doyeol said that from a7cd232e57 where he was sitting babf1c2c83 on the bed. “Take your medicine and sleep early tonight.” Ihyun opened the packet and handed it to him.2b5be6a32c56e307

“Ah.”9bed4c5c16da409c

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Doyeol opened his mouth 41a9a533cf wide and stared at 001f738968 him shamelessly. Sighing through his nose, Ihyun b8615f330e stood between Doyeol’s knees, placed c25ab97dc9 the pills in his mouth, 67fb171666 and gently cupped his jaw. Doyeol’s lips trembled. Ihyun brought the 420d524128 cup to his b3bd347796 mouth and tilted ba63f421c0 it, then softly f33a2b3820 wiped the damp 6458b7c332 chin afterward. “Don’t spill.”6a83e88c40156237

“Swallow.”2a47953413b5d248

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Doyeol lowered his eyes. His lashes cast 7f9d866bcf shadows under them, 552d09a09f and his Adam’s 34b469e1ca apple bobbed. Once the white 04dfd7df25 and yellow pills a1fc5d7b70 were completely gone, 10705e2405 Ihyun stepped back. Like a well-behaved d14dc20b46 child, Doyeol lay ce7343aa26 down in Ihyun’s 1bf42e9ff2 bed and pulled 631815439e the blanket over f927c69653 himself.c296e1b506c2a0bb

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d come for me.”eb432675911bec2e

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Holding the half-full water glass, d2fad0b6e2 Ihyun chose his words carefully. “I didn’t either. But… I wanted to. Really.” He murmured.b7d3c52bc0ee38d7

Doyeol yawned and smiled.b1c3202c7cd1e735

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“Good night.”fc7709d1aa3583ec

“Good night.”1a8edb581936c090

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Ihyun turned off the 42e73c4dc3 lights and gently shut ea0d59f002 the door. Through the crack, he looked 68dea6233f at Doyeol’s side profile, eyes a499d61d23 closed, and thought he hoped c45387274a Doyeol would stay a long, 6094006240 long time. When there was someone a01d050e0c to care for, he acf2c83fbf didn’t feel lonely.c7fe3f10ed538a90

This feeling was strange. Finding fulfillment in looking after 6a1933520d a friend. Even after the door closed 56efb6e352 completely, Ihyun stood there for 2e3f9a6ad5 a while. Friday night was slipping away.05309c8bb216ee2d

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* * *5ab542f3fbc464c0

On Monday, the two of 6d533585ee them went to school together. Kim Doyeol borrowed 6d05b860d1 one of Park 40793aa541 Ihyun’s summer uniform 9e94606f07 shirts, the kind e09f22ae88 Ihyun didn’t usually f13ebe4652 wear because they bd863dd14c were too big, 5ab6a76760 and they walked 7fd3ee860a side by side 04a31dc5e9 like brothers, teasing 55ee3e1231 each other.e287dcb840c9c256

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Many people were looking for f388bde159 Kim Doyeol. Park Ihyun quietly b0feedc395 watched the boys 6dd083296b who called out 9b539a281d to Doyeol, who f5bab4a77f had come to 3c21d8cf06 school without even a6c3aab13d a backpack. When it was just the d051c0543a two of them at home, 1d2e846675 it had felt like they a7ba04d398 were in their own world.e017d400ff61f217

It felt like 687e1c322f being thrown back 82355f4498 to first year, 6086829ca6 when Ihyun used 1e2b0eee5d to hover awkwardly 3f84fd4c06 near Doyeol’s classroom, 9648eeef27 hoping he’d acknowledge d54f5672a3 him. Back then, when Ihyun ee58b46073 had no friends and f87cfa64a1 loitered during breaks, Doyeol ec838d0b09 had once whispered, “Those 816c65dcea bastards talk way too 07c28b10b5 much. Just call me.”bc4cb948a98598af

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Standing a little behind, Ihyun bb296130ee hesitantly called out to him.6f30f993908819b9

“Uh, Doyeol.”27e8c2bc1fcdc514

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“Yeah?”0079fd5d75185173

Doyeol turned with d611cc17aa a smile, holding 95c5318518 up his cast. Draped over his shoulder was 16f0c1582d the arm of a boy 8a3c07fbac Ihyun didn’t recognize. The loud group 16ec0a92e7 of boys all 523581aa03 turned their eyes 73e9e22442 to Ihyun at 2e30e2ee75 once. Feeling a bit small, c92785e6bb Ihyun lowered his gaze 138527c627 awkwardly.adbedd85f839beb6

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“…Uh, never mind. I’ll see you later.”917adf5c0f0bbb24

“Okay.”996b5eac28c0770f

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Doyeol didn’t try to stop 39d03c8fb5 him. He even looked slightly annoyed. Should I just go back 3831498b6d home? Ihyun thought.4c2e4c7f3eb0f972

“Who’s that, anyway? Didn’t know Doyeol had 90acebfbd7 a little brother. Doesn’t look like him.”ce42cf37f9a03dd3

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“Seungjun, try stepping outside your classroom once in a while. Isn’t he in our grade?”c8bd885f4190d946

“Goddamn, how the hell am I supposed to know every student in this school?!”3349254bc603a19e

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As Ihyun walked away, e9663f8965 he glanced back at cd5ab48726 Doyeol’s back. None of the boys d70c378e7f in that group would 11c63bf978 ever know that the 80b6b3ee8b slightly too-small school shirt 4eb1756a63 Doyeol wore belonged to 7d8c7b2700 Ihyun, or that under 2131533065 the shoulder where the 55646e41ca boy’s arm rested, the a03c2a50bf bruises still lingered. A faint sense of ebf12cdcbc victory welled up in aff6b41329 him—followed immediately by a fea50d1a34 terrible bitterness. Ihyun trudged back to class.fd83e70708ebb9e6

Before lunch, the earth 1b6fd447fc science class was unusually 7b62a63437 chaotic.27db362796f230c3

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The smell of d272e2aa83 the cafeteria food 5e5c2b094f drifting down the 587c9b366e hallway sent the a5f95c6a00 class into a d2611a9edf frenzy, and Ihyun 3521c2dd69 stared indifferently at 0335677d99 the noisy room.4d4a069bd80dcdd4

“You think pork bulgogi is going to save your GPA? None of you are focusing. Class 7, you’re way behind. What are you gonna do b60d0d7754 during midterms, huh?”662841f9a22f443e

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“But it’s pork bulgogi.”bf801940877a1d08

Laughter erupted. In an all-boys 04e145a514 school, boys are 005869368b either humans or ed3cc3cb73 beasts. But when lunchtime approached, 1b01171cca even those who could 5cb208002f pretend to be human 8a10a56775 quickly reverted to beasts. The teacher covered two more 2fcd362b35 pages, then gave up and 5167cd7595 ended class two minutes early. Seeing the students 6d390a733a already standing by 56ab5467b6 the door with 68faa01e7b slippers in hand, 311a9f4103 he gave a e9446a5669 dry laugh.cf8a807fcf66c2d1

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When the bell rang, the 750f0eaec6 boys burst out of the b140c33a90 classroom like a stampede, but 1048ef09b0 Ihyun didn’t join them. Instead, he slowly 226eeb0eb5 gathered the printed f51d7bfb43 materials and stuffed 22c51d7326 his textbook into 3dab31ee09 the desk drawer. It’d just be crowded anyway. As always, he 4e4e85e125 planned to go 41acbfc8e9 when the rush 8d49851f49 died down.055525fce8afa41e

That was when it happened.9f12fc060367c06a

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“Ihyun, aren’t you gonna eat?”d7bda339a634eebd

Ihyun looked up dcaecffa87 awkwardly, holding a 4eae3adfef movie magazine he c25d6f42e6 had just taken f742bb0c26 from his desk. Doyeol was leaning against d3ec8bfc41 the open back door. When their eyes met, f7b025d496 Doyeol mimed eating with 272089975a chopsticks. Let’s eat.d71f2aeeb32a18ed

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“…Huh?”d16dd76c6b2c3caa

“I couldn’t find our little Ihyun in the cafeteria, so big brother came to look for him.”ac06cb349bb3cab8

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As he walked over, 500939ff69 Doyeol’s cast was covered 0081e57645 in doodles. Ihyun stared at 3370fe61b9 the scribbled messages 0ef38db99a in highlighter and 49264c141e pen, until Doyeol 003e4b6582 grabbed his forearm ab3f228ed8 and pulled him ec547b5d4c up, slinging an 6a1dc8187e arm around his 60619fb822 shoulders.9cdb2d62e3181c7c

“You always come looking for me during breaks. Why not at lunch?”db669e8050c1490c

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“You saw that?”2f17487879cf4e4e

He often hovered around 5f2113e653 Doyeol’s class during breaks, 729a6ebf5c only to walk away fdce4e1021 because he was always a21c0ee3dc surrounded by others. Doyeol asked again.3593bf707239e685

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“Was it ’cause they were too loud?”973af0aec2b1d3ee

“They’re just people I don’t really know\… and they were talking.”0e90bf4e8857201c

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“Then next time just ask to borrow me. If you want me out, just say it. It’s never anything important anyway, just bullshit… Anyway, did you miss me?”fda4f77708737622

Even on the way down 5c7f8f4dcd to the cafeteria, Doyeol didn’t fcaa07ed54 let go of his arm. His crooked name ec2b5e9999 tag tickled Ihyun’s 7839b53b50 chest now and 781966a40e then, and Doyeol’s dc7e1d5cf7 uninjured forearm brushed e12436d339 across him as ccfcd442d8 they walked. Ihyun gently held his hand.63c04849aa6a352a

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“But… why do you keep calling yourself ‘big brother’?”3bbbeb208014dea0

“You act like a little brother who follows me around all the time.”2949db96144da969

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“…Me? I don’t.”56574b27e92f0911

He was at edff69164f a loss for c18380e01f words. Did it show that 653ff4b3ec he didn’t have friends? Embarrassed, Ihyun bowed his head 8803e98d0b and rubbed Doyeol’s well-groomed fingernails, 2f89a93d6f then let go. “Aw, why are you sulking again?” Doyeol said with a teasing smile. They stood at the d2b97744c4 end of the cafeteria ced871acf0 line.14284585be07f16a

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“…Aren’t I your hyung?”896a0c47a2ece12e

Doyeol looked at ce96a6066d him with round 4dc21cf4b9 eyes and laughed e0083ba11c before asking, “What 722dd2221d was that, Ihyun?”79b4d71561944746

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“I washed your hair.”cff006b8615617da

At that, Doyeol burst 573d5069fc out laughing. Come to think of it, 5311e6bffe Ihyun had cooked for him, 310e460751 nursed him, and even handled 54248406a4 the hospital paperwork.b8b67636be41bca0

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Ihyun grabbed a tray, sulking. What’s so funny? The back of 97e721976f Doyeol’s hand brushed fc8b5471dc against his cheek 8b4facb47b lightly, then tapped f64d960df4 his shoulder. “Look at this guy, trying to mount me,” Doyeol said with a laugh.78b907457f3f6560

“Yes, hyung. Poor little Doyeol f6c49aab01 ran all the cb6894f2da way up here a2eedb18d4 in the middle bfeb772006 of his meal 51a7cba6ef ‘cause he was c22bc92b4d starving. Please go get your food.”d2563780d0600b02

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“…Don’t.”1ecb330a833ebc90

“Looked all over the cafeteria, but I only saw losers, so I knew right away you weren’t there, hyung.”68de83390b594dc5

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“I said stop…”7f5e9b259b2caa60

“Little Doyeol, who still needs his big brother, was so scared when—”8e14e14a3433b34e

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That was the 58e836f552 first time Park 45c1aab73e Ihyun smacked Kim aa1c227441 Doyeol.302431bd835a9aa8

Doyeol’s tray really was only 4a5cc08f20 half-eaten. The long table was full 8a31ae237c of trays already emptied by cc3a3ae330 his group. Picking up a b8627da8f0 white and yellow dcb9ecce73 milk carton from 833989c1b8 his tray, Doyeol f5cc12acd9 read the label 09ad7e72b4 out loud.239956d332dc45a5

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“‘Bananas are tasty.’ Who the fuck stole mine?”80144681a8088713

“You already drank it, you lunatic.”4240ac7cab28811c

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Doyeol and another boy exchanged d38e5fb23e light punches. “He doesn’t even know if he drank it or not,” they said. Ihyun quietly sat at f9eeadc925 the end of the 28b67fe3ca table and started chewing dd1a8a7179 his pork bulgogi.690aa8e96027e9f8

“By the way, who’s this?”989e18eee77ffdba

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“Ihyun.”a1c1f6e0a52cffd9

“Hey, Ihyun. Nice to meet you.”464eaf64e0ddffdf

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“…I’m Park Ihyun.”16cbb3a5f3bf4137

“Christ, Doyeol, don’t you know anything about your own friends?” one of the boys scoffed.407cf45c44b8f5e1

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“I’m Kim Seojun,” the boy added.7a5a4c055e12614d

“Oh…”a643695b7dabbaee

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“When this guy suddenly threw down his spoon and ran off, I thought he’d lost it. If you’re gonna bbe042b2e0 go get a c66788756c friend, at least 9e3ed9586c tell us, you ba5e634034 psycho.”db4688a771bde6d1

“Don’t just sit there like a lump when you’re done eating.”bb69fbdddfb1b861

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While they exchanged 8832b8e5e2 messy introductions, a a21a42e1a5 boy with a c4a566d897 shaved head stood 3c3aea500a up suddenly. He had a grumpy face. He’d been glaring at f9e9ff8719 Ihyun ever since he ed47fbab57 first sat down. Most of the group 4ed2f14974 had finished eating by 4fab4c1e31 then, so Ihyun stayed 0c285611a3 quiet. Doyeol grinned and pointed 19a40d92b3 him out with his d3e215a136 finger.0c017ad3e27f73b4

“That one’s Oh Yoonseok. Don’t get too close ca0722f86f to him.”c9e530335699223b

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“Why not?”d84fa0b31d7df9ee

“He’s got a shitty temper. He’s insufferable.”e9bf0c29b4418a77

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“You fuck… What are you, a kindergartener? What is this, some official meet-and-greet?”b931efea002190ae

The jab flew toward Ihyun. Doyeol tilted his head nonchalantly.35e41dd45fcd3de9

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“Yoonseok, important people always get introduced. Hyung’s gonna eat now, alright?”89035218bc16e67a

“Then just leave already.” Yoonseok waved dismissively like he was shooing a fly. His face twisted in annoyance. Muttering curses, he walked away d830bc838e from the table. Doyeol picked at his bean f074a37b95 sprouts with awkward chopsticks, not a4aa525402 seeming to care at all.d54d4b442cef95cd

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“How long is it gonna take Doyeol to finish his lunch?”a25ee29f0dd9821c

“I told you, you can leave. I’ll eat here with Ihyun.”b0932474b26052a3

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Kim Seojun looked dissatisfied but d1215bcff8 didn’t leave. A couple of fc146da174 boys stood up, ac65fe0503 but six still d4880ca795 remained at the 2a5235dff3 table, including Doyeol 1ab7734d69 and Ihyun.6477ff77d9f2cc16

“How do you even wash your hair?”0a29d2501a841e79

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“Oh, I don’t.”8858745a3d65b3f8

“You filthy bastard… Stay away from me.”0f003a3fc93caf60

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The conversation veered into unfamiliar 264e447929 territory. Ihyun felt like a 65c9ba8833 total outsider. Soccer, trendy games, de55c5680e basketball, stories about 12f9c52e40 getting rejected by 888ea2a925 girls, cram school d7dd3e4d58 gossip, classmates breaking d7f236ab7e up and getting 6c2284e9b4 back together—none of f64469da5a it meant anything 53d3cc678c to him.06f7506083ebf5ff

“So, Park Ihyun. What club are you in?”d30aaba1ef2da214

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“Film appreciation club…”f683e7d1e525c4f6

“Oh! I was wondering b872bbef6d where I’d seen a2f6bb05f7 you. You’re in François!”ad98ef0d1a767928

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