PS | Chapter 2.10

672d8b64d65a67c71f13The tempered glass screen was utterly destroyed, and the call screen disappeared.

6f6cd551afb40db890a8Yieon, who had hurried over, picked up the phone and examined it carefully before speaking in a troubled voice.

af95d1d873c5d788dc24“What should we do? It’s completely broken.”

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0090fe06c326613dab2bLooking at Yieon’s apologetic expression, Jehyuk didn’t even have the presence of mind to say it was okay. Instead, he snatched the phone from Yieon’s hand.

e912ac0c5bdbb8364b97“Hold on.”

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2cd55fbd74e6de6c1587His fingers frantically tapped the screen, but nothing showed up on the dark display.

29aebb86bf9ae6f53043He held it up to his ear, but there was no sound.

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a9733ba58938fe2ad2ebEven pressing the power button did nothing.

ad1f0a2e5df86418203aYou’ve got to be kidding me.

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731cec08d1a509de6c9bWhen things start to go wrong, they really go all the way, huh?

c957c3ecb33de05975f2Right now, even if he apologized to Sihoo a hundred times, it wouldn’t be enough. And yet, it would seem as if he had just hung up on him.

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9605acec967a086c1e78His head was a complete mess.

0e0ce13094d23515a06fWould it be better to borrow Yieon’s phone and call?

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30bedc7d186802fddbc4No.

58d69b7672fa281beb3cThat would just be another mistake. Not to mention, it would be an inconvenience to Yieon too.

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de8e267f5da4378895faFighting back the rising panic, Jehyuk spoke.

d53377cdac5e05a9bb38“Sorry, but I need to go. Something came up. Can you let the others know?”

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9d1b9328a652d6a08869Walking back in like this would only ruin the mood further. He wasn’t in a state to sit around either. He needed to go home.

28cfd21a5b029e230445First things first, he needed to sober up and sort this mess out.

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ab0ee07863b5c05b97b2“Sure, I’ll tell them.”

eb4a8e8469b6822cd4c5Maybe it was because Jehyuk’s expression was so serious, but Yieon didn’t try to stop him.

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4d26b33ab3bb15045afcStill hesitating slightly, Yieon called out just as Jehyuk was about to leave.

fdc12c3942c536a78dcd“Sunbae, can I get your number?”

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3943a69c3fbed0ba5f48“…Why?”

44aa1f78590949c912cbYieon gave a sheepish smile.

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20efcb3ef09c0ee643d7“You know, sunbae, you’re kind of adorable. You look all cool and composed, but you’re actually pretty naive. I’ve only known you for a short time, but I like you.”

040be724e351ccf7335aJehyuk stared at him blankly.

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2efcd59e9dc8857f0020He wasn’t sure what Yieon meant by that, but it didn’t seem to carry any bad intentions.

d94d8947d011f429fc89He was too drained to get into another conflict today, so he just gave in.

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fb5bce2f2999d7f7a113“…I don’t know what you mean, but I’ll give you my number. My phone’s dead, though, so you won’t be able to reach me until I get it fixed.”

3de0ac8bd6735bb1cb92“That’s fine with me.”

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3e3e4b67404e93ed8ec8Yieon quickly handed over his phone.

9f028cbd735d42eb7adfJehyuk took a deep breath and keyed in his number.

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66bca6acfa1cf9bb548fWatching him type, Yieon grinned and asked,

2383016a473b330980a6“You sure you don’t want me to walk you home?”

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2e852543ac3cc95e6741“I’ll go alone. See you later.”

04e978ea2311eeb315abJehyuk didn’t even have the energy to notice Yieon’s disappointed expression.

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8075109196ae387d2938He walked straight toward Sinnonhyeon Station to catch a bus.

6cbfbcb0cf390b18f95bThere was an express bus that went directly to campus, and it was faster than the subway.

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2cc88cbe6e10973013b0As he trudged through the crowded streets, he eventually reached the central bus lane.

d520779237d8c25860d7The roads were packed with red express buses, and people were everywhere.

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2123bda86a9d3f1cf53bJehyuk observed the mass of people for a moment before retreating to the least crowded spot.

6de900bbdc772d2e2e7eNow that he finally had a moment alone, his mind grew even more tangled.

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8c9ac42f007cdba8cf39So now he had to buy a new phone.

3325b4502251d0ac9e20The damage didn’t look repairable—he’d probably have to get a new one.

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9716551cd4bd46a23c51Whether he paid for it outright or got it on an installment plan, it would be another monthly expense to worry about.

434c60b0f3b4ad7154caI can’t even take on more tutoring sessions anymore.

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62e1430d849dd2dbc3f3He barely had time as it was.

872f98b880ae5e44163dHe’d already put his tutoring jobs on hold, so there was no way to make extra money.

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eab8844142b048ae6131And it wasn’t like he had anywhere to turn for financial help.

bc8c6eaefaf993e2ca8eThe weight of it all bore down on his shoulders.

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9dcf4814526a3e319a77For a brief moment, his aunt’s face flashed through his mind, followed immediately by the image of his uncle.

c4c896f43fa2de33d9e5Stop thinking of her like she’s your real mom.

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4cf42a2d0f5e13dd63fcA familiar voice echoed in his head.

6ee3fa091d14c8127c1cIt was his cousin, Choi Ina.

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6297b1ba7b11ea5df927Unlike Jinyoung, who openly tormented him, Ina never actively interfered.

e2ac6b3b5befc0426d15But she had said that to him once.

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b10cd93d08eae02276d8It was probably on the day their aunt skipped Ina’s festival performance to attend one of Jehyuk’s soccer matches.

7bcb6ffc429f0b153be4Am I just a selfish bastard?

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fe111b2725ee05008d7cA deep, sinking feeling dragged him down.

fc3f9b58bdd583765e40He tried not to think about Sihoo or Choi Ina, but no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts kept circling back.

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ef0d9118bcb76a40f939The bus finally arrived, and he quickly got on.

c2159f5804a5a88cd367It must have been the last bus of the night, because as soon as he boarded, the route number disappeared from the display.

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b324d5dd6bf76e0a9de1He pulled out his wallet and tapped his transit card.

18871dd59835b3be0c8fBeep.

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312a5ee5d69c45e13d22A sharp, ominous sound rang out, followed by an automated message.

838bba4fbb6c19d75553“Insufficient balance.”

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a0a7832bd3240ce876a4He didn’t even have 2,000 won left.

63ec09a346ddba25e928I should’ve recharged it.

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dc34f7c1c4ac7f49795fJehyuk glanced at the bus driver’s expectant gaze and the people waiting behind him. Without a word, he stepped off the bus.

3b6fc4433697d87dfb8fFrantically, he searched his pockets.

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7857c6dacf0265d6c5efNothing.

18806b53701ab0743057He had completely forgotten that they had collected money at the start of the meeting.

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fac6ea899442d193c073To make things worse, he hadn’t brought anything other than his transit card.

577c5e12248b7b472556His debit card was at home.

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25f5969580af2a3ddbc2It was a habit—he intentionally left it behind to avoid unnecessary spending.

d1fb33db19e5342fdd4fNow, though, it left him completely broke.

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564cbe988598c3c41d40A dry, humorless chuckle escaped him.

bfdb71aa9495563cfb26Ji Jehyuk brushed past the people around him and sat down on the long bench at the bus stop. Perched lightly on the edge, he stared blankly into the air.

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e7a7410d1ddcade126c6There was one solution. He could go back and borrow money from Rina or one of the others.

362b8e9bcfc292694122But just thinking about it made him feel pathetic. It was exhausting, suffocating. He was so sick of everything that he just sat there, unmoving. Even though his mind kept repeating, I should go home. I have to go home, his body refused to listen.

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2e14cd0fb1067c2b54a6Everything’s a mess.

99f74984d267d3530533He didn’t think of himself as pitiful. There were plenty of orphans in the world, and countless people lived in far worse conditions than him. It wasn’t that he was trying to compare himself to them, but he knew he had been lucky. Just having the chance to do what he wanted was proof enough of that.

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77be509b5c100032eed6Still, sometimes being alone was overwhelming. If he’d never had a family to begin with, maybe it would have been easier. But Jehyuk had known happiness once—his childhood had been full of it. If he had never experienced it, maybe he wouldn’t miss it, but he couldn’t just pretend it had never existed.

b371414b81816c024df0He hadn’t shed a single tear since his parents passed away. And yet, he could feel the sting at the corners of his eyes now, the heat creeping up. His eyes felt dry, sore. His lips pressed together tightly as he bowed his head.

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d93433eb00d2990a5265Why the hell am I getting so emotional?

6d63c52f68968330f9c1“Ji Jehyuk.”

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64d066abaa8908e90395Just before the tears could fall, a familiar voice called his name from above. Slowly, he lifted his head, and when he saw who was standing there, his eyes widened in disbelief.

ef988610136688967190“Why are you sitting here crying all alone?”

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e6e529a05325773d1fd2There stood Yoon Sihoo, his hair a mess, looking like he had sprinted to get here.

fd78123ca4f003432ca2“…Huh?”

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717996b0387ded69f61dThat didn’t make sense. There was no reason for Sihoo to be here. He hadn’t been at the bar, and of all the bus stops in the city, there was no way he would have found him by coincidence. Was he hallucinating? Was this real? Jehyuk blinked, trying to clear his vision, and in that moment, a single tear slipped down his cheek.

4038ea8c62ae3643b13eSihoo, who had been watching him with a serious expression, furrowed his brows. His deep, conflicted gaze swept over Jehyuk before he let out a quiet sigh. Then, he crouched down to meet Jehyuk’s eyes. His long, well-built arm stretched out toward him, and his hand landed gently on his cheek.

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f4f1638ce942ad0755a9“Don’t cry.”

1e6bca2f76480b8dba63Sihoo looked like he had just come from home, dressed comfortably in a plain white t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. And even in this moment, he somehow looked effortlessly cool.

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00035e94e76b4a4e068fThat realization suddenly hit Jehyuk—how mismatched they were as friends. I’m a complete mess, and Sihoo always looks good no matter what.

6622740f217b41c0ac9b“…I’m sorry for getting mad. I didn’t mean to make you cry. So please, don’t cry, okay?”

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ec6f8c9ee6afbf4b634cJehyuk should have been the one apologizing, but somehow, the roles had reversed. Maybe it was because it had been so long—since childhood, in fact—since someone had comforted him like this. But for some reason, he couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

bb1ec77e5bf444029c41The moment Sihoo told him not to cry, another tear rolled down.

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f3d8796c050e95da2074Alcohol really was strange. It had a way of amplifying emotions that were usually kept locked away. If he were sober, he never would have cried like this. But now, Sihoo’s gentle voice was making his defenses crumble.

c29597a77b21a69e411dJehyuk had only ever been this drunk three times. Once, during his freshman welcome party. The second time, when he drank with Sihoo the other night. And now, tonight.

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be9a9d78a334b7f110a4Unlike last time, he wasn’t falling asleep—his emotions were riding out in deep, uncontrollable waves. Fueled by alcohol, he finally let out the words he had been wanting to say.

2eb5883ccabe6934f0e4“…I’m sorry, Sihoo. It was my fault. So… can you stop being mad at me now? I promise it won’t happen again.”

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9576855cc8cb7b823cc9Sihoo’s thumb brushed against his cheek, wiping away the tear before it could trail down any further. The touch was so soft, so warm—it felt like it could melt him.

5200fe590a7474959010Sihoo comforted him as if they were something more than just friends.

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caa76f269c4914114320“No, it wasn’t even something to be mad about. I was too sensitive. I overreacted. So… can you forgive me?”

8a202e6b640301f98e38“What are you even apologizing for? I’m the one who… acted like an idiot.”

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6767c5d75bcae108897eNo matter how he spun it, this was completely his fault. He knew that. But still, if Sihoo could just understand his situation a little bit, it would mean the world.

4454b7fc921977ad66f6“I swear I didn’t do it on purpose. It just happened that way. A classmate was watching when she asked for my number, and with the rumors going around about my breakup with Rina… I just—” Jehyuk sucked in a breath, clenching his hands into fists. “I’m so tired of people talking about me. I hate getting caught up in drama. But I regretted it the second I gave her my number.”

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52473a190354cad977edSihoo simply listened, letting Jehyuk ramble on.

b70d34fd6372771afc9dHis tears had already stopped, but Sihoo’s hand was still resting against his face. The warmth of his palm was a soothing contrast against the heat lingering around Jehyuk’s eyes. His gentle touch, the way his fingers brushed over the sensitive skin—it was ticklish, but not unpleasant.

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1aabecee65ecc1d3e164“…Who’s Rina?”

bae23a50eb51ce3ef0d5Sihoo didn’t know. They never really pried into each other’s love lives, so Sihoo had never asked about her before. After their last drinking session, he probably realized that Jehyuk had broken up with someone, but he had never bothered to ask for details.

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d9d2199d2b6e39e33382Ijun’s words from earlier suddenly came to mind. Can you really call it a close friendship if you don’t know anything about each other’s personal lives?

bae0b170c4e8c6642138“…My ex-girlfriend.”

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61e02e0574bda24d05f8At that, Sihoo’s dark brown eyebrows twitched upward.

1e4bfed60fa274bdc864“You broke up, but you still call her by name?”

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498d93dfc4b6d4ab8e3a“Is that weird?”

91a2d6731cab96d44b68Jehyuk looked at Sihoo with a puzzled expression. Sihoo pressed his thumb against his lips, pausing for a brief moment before changing the question.

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9abe30a625c28ca42067“Why is your department talking about you and that girl?”

4315e56481bbe948513aThe question made Jehyuk’s chest tighten. Avoiding Sihoo’s gaze, he muttered, “People love making up rumors. They think spreading gossip is fun.”

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