7C | Chapter 03.2

Though they still shared a room, Yoonjae hardly saw Youngso except when they slept. The boy left at dawn and only returned late at night. According to what he’d heard, Youngso was somewhere in the house during the day, but Yoonjae never caught a glimpse of him until the afternoon.

Meanwhile, guests came and went endlessly at the Ryu Gwan residence. Since they entered through the main gate straight to the inner quarters, Yoonjae, staying in the servants’ quarters, never crossed paths with them. But sometimes, while spending time on the porch, he heard crying, laughter, or singing from beyond the middle gate. Some laughed as if their throats would tear, while others wailed as if the world had ended.

Even that grew dull with repetition. By Thursday night, it felt like he’d been there for a month. As he absentmindedly shook his nearly dead phone, the sliding door opened without fail. Youngso had returned for the night.

As usual, the boy silently began preparing the bedding. Yoonjae’s spot was near the warmer part of the floor, while Youngso’s was by the door. Tapping the edge of his phone against the small table, Yoonjae spoke up.

“Aren’t you cold sleeping there?”

Naturally, the thin paper-and-wood door couldn’t fully block the chill of dawn. Youngso, about to slip under the blanket, paused and looked back.

“I am.”

His soft, rounded lips answered simply. Yoonjae couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

“Then why sleep by the door? It’s not like there’s no space further in.”

“I have to leave at dawn. If I rustle around right next to you, you’ll wake up.”

“…So what if I wake up for a bit? I’ll just go back to sleep. Move over here.”

He waved dismissively, but Youngso remained frozen, unmoving. Eventually, Yoonjae pushed the table aside, braced himself on the floor, and yanked Youngso’s bedding toward his side.

“Ah—!”

Losing his balance, Youngso wobbled, bracing himself on the blanket. Ignoring him, Yoonjae dragged the bedding all the way to the warmer spot.

Youngso stared at the new arrangement with a troubled expression, but soon gave in and crawled over. His arms, exposed as he adjusted the blanket, had largely regained their original pale hue. Following the boy’s slow movements, Yoonjae lowered his voice further.

“The other day, Auntie Miran said… when a curse is that severe, the pain is indescribable.”

“…….”

“How are you feeling now?”

By common sense, bruises were either signs of illness or violence. So, the boy before him was either suffering from a disease or being abused. He should be taken to a hospital, or the police should be called. Not that either would be easy.

But beyond all that, Yoonjae was genuinely curious. The boy had compared himself to someone trying to cross an eight-lane highway, but the analogy was flawed. Covered in bruises, enduring unspeakable pain, subjected to water torture. It wasn’t just stopping a reckless jaywalker. It was more like pushing that jaywalker aside and getting hit by the car yourself. At least, that’s what the boy seemed to believe.

“Now…”

Of course, questions arose. Why go that far?

“It’s better than before.”

How important was my father to this house—or to you?

“Did he pay a lot?”

Youngso’s gaze dimmed. Yoonjae propped his cheek on his hand and smiled.

“Well, you saved the life of a VIP’s son, right? After suffering this much, you should be compensated fairly.”

“…….”

“You’re getting your share too, right? They’re not taking advantage of you because you’re a kid, are they…?”

“Hey, Inyeok.”

A clear, calm voice cut through the sarcasm. Youngso looked at him like a puppy, focusing on human speech.

“I heard you were a top student. Was that wrong?”

“…….”

“Or maybe academic success and situational judgment aren’t that related…”

The innocent-faced boy delivered the insult without a hint of malice. Yoonjae’s lips parted slightly in disbelief. Youngso continued calmly, as if he hadn’t just roasted him.

“I told you at the start. Because I revealed it, things might’ve gotten even more dangerous. So why would he thank me? If anything, he’d be angry, right?”

“…….”

“Grandmother was angry for the same reason. You’re… in your words, an important guest. She thought I harmed you.”

Youngso tilted his head slightly, still resting his chin on his hand. Understand now? His gesture seemed to ask. Yoonjae finally couldn’t hold back a sharp retort.

“—Then why the hell did you do it?”

He expected Youngso to be startled, but the boy’s dark eyes remained serene.

“If it wasn’t even a calculated move to impress my father, why take such a risk? Why go through all this suffering to keep me here?”

Only after his voice rose did Youngso’s expression change. His lips parted slightly, and his round eyes rolled thoughtfully. Translating his expression, it roughly meant: Huh. Why did I do that again?

The room fell silent again. But Yoonjae’s patience was wearing thin. He tapped his fingers impatiently before finally snapping.

“Hey, Dong—”

“…Because.”

In the quiet of late autumn, the sound of deep breathing was unnaturally clear.

“I’d never seen anything so beautiful before.”

“…….”

“So, without thinking…”

His wandering gaze returned to Yoonjae. His expression was blank, starkly contrasting his soft tone.

“I’m sorry for inconveniencing you in the end.”

“…You—”

“If you want compensation, let me know through the adults. I’ll help as much as I can.”

Youngso started to lie down again. Unthinkingly, Yoonjae slapped his hands on the table.

“Hold on, you’re just going to sleep like this?”

After dropping that bombshell? He was dumbfounded, but Youngso looked utterly unfazed.

“Yeah, I need to sleep to wake up in time for prayers.”

“…Dongja-nim. Don’t you think what you just said leaves too much room for misunderstanding to fall asleep peacefully? If that meant what I think it did, I can’t sleep this close to you.”

“Meaning? What meaning?”

“What was so beautiful about me? The severed heads clinging to me?”

Unfortunately, Yoonjae had plenty of experience being the object of romantic interest from peers. He also knew how to deflect and downplay such situations when the admirer was the same sex. Having spent his school years in academically competitive districts, his admirers were usually quiet and discreet, making it easy to handle. A little feigned ignorance, and they’d awkwardly play along.

“Ah, did it make you uncomfortable?”

Of course, he already knew shallow tricks wouldn’t work on this boy. Youngso scratched the side of his head, unfazed.

“Severed heads aren’t beautiful. But if I explain, I’ll have to tell you…”

“…Tell me what?”

“What those heads were saying.”

Yoonjae’s expression stiffened. Youngso wiped his face dry with a hand and sighed.

“They were conspiring. To tear you apart and share you.”

“…….”

“So, I thought, I can’t let this happen. If ghosts team up, it’s dangerous. The chances of something really bad happening are too high…”

His words slowed, his blinks growing shorter. He was clearly fighting sleep. Yoonjae frowned and pressed further.

“Tear and share what? Me?”

“Yeah, you… Well, not your body, but your soul.”

“……?”

“Though to tear a soul, they’d have to kill the body first, so the result’s the same…”

Lying on his side, Youngso yawned deeply. He sounded no more concerned than if he were discussing the death of a stranger on the other side of the world. Yoonjae chuckled and asked sarcastically.

“Ah, really? What did all those ghosts have against me?”

Youngso yawned repeatedly before shaking his head slowly. His eyes were nearly closed.

“They didn’t hate you. They wanted you.”

“…What?”

“Because of your soul. It’s called Muguhon. A flawless soul. Untainted by karma… perfectly pure and beautiful.”

“…….”

“Even I, who am alive, was entranced, so wandering ghosts would be worse. They’re desperate to have it, and when they can’t figure out how to get it, they’ll ultimately decide they need to kill you. If they succeed, the ghosts that have been lingering around you will all gather together and tear you apart into pieces. Until you vanish without a trace…”

The boy’s calm words sounded more like a curse. Yoonjae spent a long moment dazed before realizing Youngso had already fallen asleep.

His eyes were shut tight, lips slightly parted, making him look even younger. How can someone with this face say such terrifying things so easily?

Dawn would mark the end of the promised period, and by afternoon, Manager Hwang would come to pick him up. He lay down reluctantly, but sleep wouldn’t come. Youngso’s words circled his mind all night. Until the deepest hours of dawn, he couldn’t escape.

***

“They said they’d come by 4 PM.”

Youngso, who had left at dawn as usual and returned around lunchtime, spoke while holding the old rotary phone. Yoonjae gestured at the dangling cord.

“Why’d you bring that?”

“Thought you might want to call.”

“Why? You already got the schedule.”

“Don’t you want to talk to your mother? Kids always look for their moms.”

“…….”

It was so absurd he couldn’t even muster anger. Yoonjae chuckled dryly.

“If I’m a kid, what does that make you?”

“I’m a kid too.”

“Oh? You’re still a kid?”

“You’re a kid too. The days of youth pass in the blink of an eye. Why waste time denying it?”

“Yeah, yeah. Fine. You win.”

Raising his hands in surrender, Yoonjae watched Youngso tilt his head. “I wasn’t trying to win.” The boy set the phone down and sat.

“Here.”

He placed a small prayer bead bracelet on the table. What’s this? At Yoonjae’s questioning look, Youngso straightened his back.

“Grandmother made it for you. If you keep it on you, it’ll deceive the ghosts.”

“Deceive them?”

“Your soul shines too brightly, so ghosts flock to you like moths. This will dull the light a bit.”

Dull the light… Remembering the ancient, stone-faced shaman, Yoonjae felt a vague discomfort. If it were this boy, maybe. But the aura of that terrifying old woman?

“If Grandmother made it, what did you do all week?”

“I’m not skilled enough to make these yet. I placated the gods so they wouldn’t harm you. Without that, you’d have been in trouble the moment we separated.”

“…….”

“I was worried the prayers might fail, but… Thankfully, Grandmother joined me, so we finished in time. Were you worried about missing school?”

So, for the past few days, he’d been begging the gods for forgiveness so Yoonjae could leave within the week. Yoonjae crossed his arms, eyeing the bracelet. A small wooden bead with a magatama pendant.

Of course, he had no intention of carrying this around. His superstitious parents could be handled gently. All he wanted was to escape.

“…….”

But regardless, he couldn’t help feeling indebted to the boy. Brainwashed or not, he’d suffered for Yoonjae all week. Slowly lifting his head, Yoonjae forced out insincere gratitude.

“—Thanks anyway, Dongja-nim.”

Youngso’s eyes widened. He looked shocked, as if he’d never been thanked before. Flustered, Yoonjae quickly regained his composure.

“Speaking of which, is there anything I can do for you in return?”

“…In return?”

“Like, once I’m back in Seoul, if you need something, I can send it… That sort of thing.”

A student at a school with only one pupil, living among elders, he probably didn’t have many wants. If it were something money could solve, Yoonjae could easily oblige. That way, he could shake off this debt and forget about it.

Youngso was silent for a while. He seemed deep in thought, but not because he didn’t know what to ask. More like hesitating to voice a wish he already had. Is it something expensive? Yoonjae smirked and shrugged.

“Just say it. I can handle most—”

“Then, you.”

“Huh? Yeah.”

“Can I watch you for a bit?”

Yoonjae blinked. “Huh?” Youngso was staring intently at him now.

“Just until the person picking you up arrives…”

“…….”

“I want to keep looking at you. Something this beautiful… I’ll probably never see it again in my life. So, it feels… sad to let it go.”

Youngso seemed slightly nervous. His gaze was fixed, his voice trembling faintly. Watch me? Me? Or that soul thing?

—What face would he make if I refused? The mischievous thought made Yoonjae smirk silently.

“How are you going to watch me?”

“You do whatever you need to. I won’t disturb you.”

“I can’t focus if someone’s staring.”

Youngso closed his mouth, mid-reply. He blinked rapidly, then lowered his head slightly.

“…Okay…”

He started to rise, bracing on the floor. Reflexively, Yoonjae reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“I was joking. Do whatever you want.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. Did I hurt him? But Youngso just sat back down and nodded impassively.

“Thanks.”

Truthfully, Yoonjae had nothing to do. He’d finished a week’s worth of studying long ago, and there were no assignments left. Not wanting to sit staring dumbly at the boy, he pulled out a practice test he’d memorized down to the footnotes.

As Yoonjae arranged his stationery and test papers, Youngso sat cross-legged, perfectly still. He didn’t speak or let his gaze wander.

“…….”

Only the sound of thin paper turning broke the silence. Between questions, Yoonjae glanced up at the boy. Youngso watched him with unwavering focus, but their eyes never met. His dark pupils, glimmering faintly, looked like moonlit river water.

“Isn’t your leg numb like that?”

Yoonjae kept his eyes on the test as he asked. Youngso inhaled softly. It seemed to be a habit of his before speaking.

“I’m used to it.”

“You’re used to everything, huh…”

Scritch-scratch. He doodled aimlessly before looking up again. This time, their eyes met. Blink. Youngso’s eyelids closed slowly, long lashes brushing together.

“Dongja-nim.”

Words he hadn’t planned slipped out.

“After I leave… Come visit me in Seoul sometime.”

“…….”

“I’ll show you around.”

—And take you to a hospital and a domestic violence counseling center. He left that part unsaid. Youngso didn’t reply. Yoonjae wondered what expression he was making, but didn’t look up.