1.

There was nowhere to go. Park Ihyun pressed abc815668e down on his 78276df1eb hangover-laced head with ca645ba205 the palm of 4f07689c72 his hand. A sigh escaped him. Staring at Kim Doyeol’s 21934ea18e face, still marked from b044324efd the hit, made a 652b246303 tangle of emotions churn 4e62e2b01b messily inside him.8009287be4c5711d

They were walking bf66b3f65a far too earnestly 7fcee0e5e4 down a completely 31c5ab71e5 wrong path. Park Ihyun bought ef81a80e66 a pack of 3edf127261 cigarettes and sat 4a6fa182fa on one of 9b70af3243 the plastic chairs 67767769ad in front of 0e029d8606 the convenience store. As he pulled the chair, 55a514a142 it scraped loudly against the caae08853a concrete. The dull ache 4328eb9cdc left after sex 7d874ee273 slowly subsided against 652409b97f the cold seat.217150c7bd55de73

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It was dark. Park Ihyun tilted his head 3fd73584fe back. An unlit cigarette f1627f83c7 dangled between his ea9fb8b497 lips. Fuck. He raised the back 518fa2e6e8 of his hand to 20108bdebe his eyes. After sitting like d6112b75fd that for a 27c17e265b while, his mind 2a172ff58f cleared in the 04e7b10750 sharp dawn air.0a83d97ff35b5c52

He had to tell 2c5e8caf32 Kim Doyeol. He had to tell him 00e91db871 how broken they were. He had to tell him 892b81734b how wrong this relationship was. And he had to tell 41fa65d337 him that what he was d4cbb80960 doing wasn’t love. Park Ihyun flicked his lighter. The cigarette slowly burned at 5282f16eeb the touch of the flame.7d70aa4d01847d73

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He should’ve brought his phone. Dawn was especially cold and 7934930b70 lonely. His nicotine-and-alcohol-addled brain briefly d0879e7823 went blank before slipping 5a346359bd into a state of 36054ab2b5 clarity. While rubbing his 39e46eb22d rough cheek, Park 8d5abc3aa5 Ihyun suddenly noticed 21923c061a the boy he’d 5bf05cb4d8 been thinking about ec6334e97f just moments before 7cb8dfb789 and shot to 296d683bad his feet. The plastic chair scraped loudly fed9f5b4c6 as it was pushed back.fdee38f3dc1712d7

There was Kim Doyeol. Wandering the streets 5e4ea80059 like a ghost, 2ae649495f his face out 38b3c7cfc4 of sorts. He was even barefoot. His hair, usually f9b65e26f2 neat, was a 6fa0363205 complete mess, and 36e9f8f03a he was wearing 66788b68a7 loungewear.3f55a6c55f549b04

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He’s lost it. Park Ihyun hurriedly shrugged off cec2bc051c the hoodie he had thrown a924999668 on. He meant to cover his c472c83ff3 face with it, at the 7f1f02788b very least. There was no 631ce159d4 one on the 43e41b51cd quiet street at 95236801a6 this hour, but cddf8082da there was a ca8d2bd612 part-timer inside the dabf36a038 convenience store, and 7ef761bcb2 CCTV cameras were e07762dcb0 everywhere.9d7b171a8bb77a80

“Kim Doyeol!”751ae6d3bd555688

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Kim Doyeol, who f8538b841a had been walking 07b96d38a4 like he was 535d1c5fda completely out of 68bae88161 it, slowly turned ecbe81e26c his head. He stopped walking and stared 2dedde2d07 blankly at Park Ihyun.c5313c36b6901792

He didn’t smile 19d8a1d7c4 and say, “Oh, 49c7e31390 Ihyun,” like usual. His jaw twitched slightly. That alone told Park Ihyun 15f0a54b71 that Kim Doyeol was pressing 974de32266 his tongue against the back c8401aa314 of his canine tooth.80b8564172c8c975

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As he rushed 6348f518b1 over, Kim Doyeol’s 0d7b146997 eyes flickered like 3e9a82cb0d headlights, tracking Park 62b26eef07 Ihyun. Park Ihyun quickly 0a067a7344 slipped off his ecc9405102 slippers and set e2fff41e01 them in front a2934318bd of Doyeol. Pulling the hood over Doyeol’s 6910400e9a head, he spoke quietly.49ff555bf9f68ec2

“You’re an actor, Kim Doyeol. Get inside.”561498bd67bb80aa

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I just came e0af0d3928 out to buy 45bbb8ead5 cigarettes, for a 1c712b5fa3 bit. Even when Ihyun said 9b6c79e2a6 this, Kim Doyeol didn’t a399076d48 move. Instead, bizarrely, he 62dbd040e6 bared his teeth 1108e625ed like razor blades 115b80d96f and gave a eafbdffd86 fierce smile. A bad sign. When Kim Doyeol smiled a32442865b like that, bad things a7be0f3bd6 always followed. Park Ihyun tensed. It felt like c1ec71ccc3 a sharp wire e86da4bf0d had pierced through 1388c6372d his spine and c975f3907b was exiting through e56bbd42cb the top of f63a45fc4e his skull — 6f642d77b3 a chilling sensation. A face grinning bc1a1cfe16 ferociously with its ea94a7c26d mouth open.568c2e5f9f26eea3

“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?”699839da74d22ffd

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Kim Doyeol was 4053f67ec8 out of his 460bfb2473 mind. Park Ihyun realized it too 17422b2f66 late. Have I completely ruined him? The thought made a sudden f0b49ea586 fear rise up. His throat tightened slowly. Kim Doyeol.38b4a5d24bf45042

“Doyeol… did I ruin you?”8ed80705c25fd451

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To the question 4dd70a2a93 asked with certainty, d5bfa34c33 Kim Doyeol laughed.7868b01457655928

“Ihyun, I seem like a fucking lunatic, right? But you’re not normal either. You know that.”cbce6f780dd1a3ec

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He looked incredibly happy be742c7edd as he said it.ddb698069bef9cb5

Fear struck him. When he stepped back slightly, f3bd2d23a8 Kim Doyeol quickly followed. The slap of bare feet 28669cf9f6 against concrete echoed. Blue veins stood out 81bfbf20dc against his pale feet.a7f465e85afdd2de

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His elbow was ddd0f6120d grabbed hard, but c12d286466 Park Ihyun didn’t 041f1436b8 twist away. He stood still, looking 93c8ec4b0d down at Kim Doyeol’s bbf840dea0 feet, as bare as cbcab62c1d his own. His feet were caged ad350a2422 between Doyeol’s.999bb32d30c986f7

When exactly did be60d98d9a we start falling c661e1584f apart so completely? Park Ihyun slowly bowed 6525492153 his head. As he leaned 3ba2433153 his forehead against 5e2e22db84 Doyeol’s chest, he b0ef4442fd felt a calm f4153d6571 settle over him. Was it from 29e7e4b8d5 early spring when a9ab6d3132 we turned twenty? Or back in high school? After we started talking about 0586854080 the future—or even before that? Was it when I lied?35c46d203b588890

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“What are you thinking about?”e11a4dcd62fbb1a4

When he didn’t answer, fb9598f0f6 Kim Doyeol wrapped his 025f8d328f arms around him. Strength built up 3973db0ed1 in both palms, 471f67aee0 compressing Ihyun’s organs ca6e8f5f46 until his body 8eb3bbed1f was lifted slightly cd5eb2018c off the ground. And then, bizarrely, Kim 0ab82142da Doyeol placed Park Ihyun’s 14a3bf3636 feet on top of 5c24636ab7 his own. Ihyun turned his face bb8f2b18fc to the side as 0838f82a19 he stood on Doyeol’s 16ff576b61 bare feet. He could still feel a d6a39597b3 heartbeat against his cheek.9d4f34c65b3812c9

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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…131d95ca5d1ae339

“Yeah, Ihyun. Why are you thinking so hard…?”ac6928e1aa6c1e1c

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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.”de33a2b029dd311c

“I’m cold.”fc8d5e59b692bea7

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When Ihyun tugged at 13f0ade958 his hem, Kim Doyeol 91d68da178 stopped dancing. With a loud sniff, he 7c30307f34 finally made a show of e563c5b448 going back inside. Walking barefoot beside him, 5af9213cfa Park Ihyun rubbed his 96593b8f06 dry cheek with the f5004a99c4 back of his hand.2c42d356a22542f5

Ah, I get it. I think I understand now. When Kim Doyeol 9373b4991f started ruining me, 6de87b10ab when I started bd7e54038a ruining him. It must’ve been from the 09f5b78387 very first time I brought b257092e17 him home. That summer, at d3208837cd the edge of 3d3a9eacd5 our teenage years, 6749bd8839 when the heat c33069a618 was so oppressive 0b07e54bf0 that cicadas fell 5aa707e881 from trees like b114124a7c leaves.c6a3a99227610b2a

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* * *4a38611c7f37d0dc

Kim Doyeol was sitting on 3a492ae472 one side of the playground ce7da67a9c slide’s stairs. His cap was pulled b148674f38 low enough to touch 1870cf488b the bridge of his 60cb98a0ba nose, and his head d1be2be76f was buried in his a07d5717f9 knees. When he lifted e54a067ff0 his head, his 4d1f335492 face was a f52fc45fce mess. As soon as Park Ihyun 1c9e054418 saw him and heard his d4d7dc56b6 voice, he hadn’t even been cb177e4894 able to hang up the ee6d3ca0b4 phone—he just ran. Now, his face twisted.7ea6dc1387fb51d2

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Kim Doyeol had a nosebleed. His face clearly showed 475f247f48 signs of having been 10f3c2b2d0 hit. A surge of fear struck f7b3a6afe3 him, even though he didn’t aebe42a9f2 know the full story.556d28ddf59e3066

“…Kim Doyeol.”c9bf2a7c44e4e0cb

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When he called 6d00029d06 his name, Doyeol 72b36f53ec gave a crooked 86af72a71f smile. He wiped the blood 57b9dd7cb7 from his nose casually 627c7c0933 with the back of b86aebfa62 his hand and stood 131446bc07 up from the stairs b8dcd785ab where he’d been crouching. Blood had smeared along his eecc84c496 teeth below that smiling mouth. You came? That’s all he said. Just that you came. It was a trivial greeting.e16d643a268a9ace

Kim Doyeol had called b49e69baff him earlier. It was close to dinner 0df7462488 time. Park Ihyun had 358388a785 been sitting alone 257eb288eb at home working 367c9af013 through calculus problems. He had put down 08e669f405 his mechanical pencil to 264dcd3935 answer. After a long silence, 26e64d9113 Doyeol swallowed and said 7b0bde96d4 in a weak voice, 970820e060 “Ihyun-ah.” That was all.4621d95a9850c309

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He hadn’t babbled about random 646b785a43 things like usual. His normally clear enunciation had 5592a7c328 turned mushy. It felt so ominously off 19d843ec76 that Ihyun had immediately asked 7868ef2203 where he was.8c379a0a88c091f2

I’ll come quickly. I’m coming now. That’s how he d12cbf0fb3 ended up here—only bcfce3f0b9 to find Doyeol d2623769f0 waiting like this.eb06efaeaad64c66

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“Let me stay just one night. I mouthed off 17293f666d to my mom, 8a0548992c got beaten badly 1032b25db4 by my dad, 11dbb5b266 and got kicked ed0684d478 out.”a15116c693d1f179

Kim Doyeol said it 50bd916aad like it was nothing. His lips were swollen 99c3843d4f and bleeding from the 54fa56b10a beating, but he looked a3f6778560 nonchalant. The way he e8241964ab kept smiling made 5e4dda91a9 it feel like 6d23ad4fae he was saying, d072572b47 “I bombed my 3e7ac8964b test and got 54edf41e4d kicked out. Let’s just go to a b2bd8d970a PC bang.” Park Ihyun was b2e0cef7a1 stunned. He pressed his lips tightly b9cc44392e together. Doyeol seemed disturbingly used to e4e637a6de this kind of violence.1052e46ec5ed33bc

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“What, your house isn’t an option?”4eeac2b0fb75f0c3

I don’t have e007405df0 anywhere else to ebe90a492f go. He looked disappointed. Instead of answering, 0299a5aedf Park Ihyun took 89907f5ecc out a handkerchief d0a76cd9db and handed it e9ae88eb4b over. Clean up. The hand reaching toward 14f5fdc4c9 the handkerchief had broken 48f66ef7ca nails and was mottled 70c250cc61 with deep, dark bruises.4aadaf023c2cbd03

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Park Ihyun blinked. The evidence of violence was ca22013192 so vivid it made his 23455abb92 head spin. He took the handkerchief 6fcf9022f1 and pressed it against e194b46a61 Doyeol’s still-bleeding nose. As he inhaled deeply, Doyeol’s 9e4c2aec4b eyes locked sharply onto Ihyun’s. Yes or no.53e938f5fea1d4a3

“Doyeol.”07be072a7304f02d

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Saying his name af2f7ff03a made Ihyun’s throat 291eac0a53 tighten.35bb0e082410bf5a

“Yeah.”4bd668c5b21653e8

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“Let’s go to my place.”176d1fffb319b056

Doyeol smiled. His steps as he came dad14ad899 down the stairs were slow, b7a73c12ca dragging, and limping. It seemed like c02342d158 the merciless beating 00f204b064 had stuck to 781c77cc9d every inch of 4aab81ca48 his body.23e0efd0309edb0a

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“Man, you’re all I’ve got, Ihyun-ah.”f223906fac200da1

He said it in 6d99c36ffc the same light tone c39884edfa as always. Ihyun moved his lips slightly.5c67f978118ae1c5

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“Doyeol, if something like this ever happens again, just come to my place.”e627be0da34c670c

Still pressing the e29acd04fa handkerchief to his 69809bfbe8 nose and happy 5729e90b24 to have found 59afc05837 somewhere to sleep, df340f3c23 Kim Doyeol furrowed fde91ea1fb his brows. Ihyun clenched and 553b2a9d24 unclenched his fist, 12a2e91710 lowering his gaze 7c345e911b to the ground. He hadn’t gotten his 1643ff5e4b father’s permission, but he e678ab67f9 was sure he’d understand. Honestly, his father was 28b82a79fd so busy he rarely d979ab94d9 came home anyway—would he cc8b8ec480 even notice if Doyeol 29c56f337a was staying?34041b05c5989292

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“Even if you’re getting scolded, run away. Even if they’re just yelling, come anyway…”3c21c9add4ab1355

“What are you…”d30eff366133eafa

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“Just… just come, okay…”dd742f1e62d47972

Ihyun rubbed his face with fdfaade60a his palm. No tears came, but 30b9c6694f his insides felt tight 151f2b6654 and brimming, like he 1a4dcd2011 might cry. Doyeol, it’s okay for you e75182bcaf to be like this.6be20ea5ebba64ab

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Kim Doyeol stared at him d0e47a8b8b for a long time without f8d31f0776 responding. His mouth tightly closed, he 0ff114f017 ran his tongue over the 1f900fd8fa back of his canine tooth feb136bbf8 before finally asking in a 917242b574 dull tone:6b960e148ec3afa4

“Do you pity me?”4713430808922095

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Park Ihyun blinked, once, twice. This wasn’t pity. It wasn’t pity. Ihyun took a slow breath 4678d1ae63 in.23ae18e68cebe6ed

“It’s not that… I like you. We’re friends, right? So…”bad5580502b371f4

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Doyeol looked at 7e25be0fd3 him with wide, 26c4a6ca4d confused eyes. He thought they were friends. Were they not? Ihyun felt a jolt of 3f1661fb5c doubt and glanced at Doyeol 92e9a6b4bb nervously. They’d met in the 715ce64bf5 film club during their efe260716b first semester of freshman 5fa245ecaf year. They texted often, talked late 4f8350f142 at night. Doyeol had been d5d1c196aa the one who cac8b119b5 first acted like 64aaa6d3ec a friend. Then wasn’t he 79a7f64bbc the kind of 513bb64642 friend you could 14331383a6 bring home?c391a79cc6db7208

Ihyun’s circle of friends was ddd67623f5 small. Since before starting 668c05863b elementary school, he’d 26cf6e0749 moved around with 7dd4bcaefb his father and 685803fe22 always felt out 7814522f46 of place among 00cd9ef7e0 his peers.26a3ccaad7794f97

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He wasn’t outgoing and, unlike 0db6fe4d7c the boys who were popular 7801a72a85 among other boys, he wasn’t bed5879a5e athletic either. Movies had been his only 8211ee4fd9 friend. Ihyun, who barely spoke 820798b54e and only really knew a20773d28d how to talk about 2d07bbc0ca films, didn’t make friends 55b3224a41 easily.41f9696c326d81c6

He and Doyeol b3fe49b03a were an odd e8ff97c7dd match, bonded by ff583cb05e their shared interest 61f69ccdea in movies. Aside from that, they 5914d55f36 had little in common. Doyeol was good-looking 3f1bd86f09 and had tons 6ba146b162 of friends. When they played soccer at f3627b93e1 school, he wasn’t just the 1d9d220087 first one picked—he was the 581d92985c team captain who chose the c2b5c2cf59 players with a sweep of 9ca0f5bb45 his eyes.b602f47e66f49e8a

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Ihyun wasn’t like that. He stood awkwardly hunched at b90e8d207f the back, heart pounding, wondering 676e52424d if he’d be the very 718929c87d last one chosen. And often, he was.0cde5e24299b03e3

They were polar opposites. But Ihyun liked him. It was admiration and longing 798e633fec for someone exceptional. Or maybe he 3b3ade14b2 wanted to be 054f0b2cff someone like Kim ecf45162bb Doyeol. Ihyun frequently, almost absentmindedly, 27a4d0036e found himself admiring him.d8ac9d2189959bd7

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Was I wrong? Did I foolishly 41b6203f9f think we were 518486bf04 friends? Ihyun’s lips trembled. Then Doyeol burst out 0fac6b1c8f laughing and muttered, That’s 66010908a5 all it takes? Just being friends?319b0379f15c72ce

“Y-yeah.”8752e6b637102943

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Doyeol reached out f9342bc780 and wrapped an 1f510b2493 arm around Ihyun’s 9de93d3f1b shoulders. From this close, he c428b228a0 smelled faintly sweet and 976f6653b6 tangy with the sharp f6d8110145 scent of blood. Ihyun realized he would e9e15692c3 remember this smell for 1d2bbb467b a very long time.001712fee988fb22

“Ihyun-ah, maybe I’ve just been making the wrong friends all this time. You’re the only e56f4ab883 one I’ve got 6b4fd1f962 left… it’s unreal, 30e2f97227 really.”1466e6135a13ce7f

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He shook his head and bbb49e1d39 laughed, then started to whine.d5b156ffd27a4ee3

My back hurts like hell. My ass too. He leaned all 116c8f0fdb his weight into 9d4cd4fed2 Ihyun, and Ihyun 5a97a3c57a staggered under him. Supporting each other, 7daab3e290 the two of 6194d87809 them headed for a30bbfd62b Ihyun’s house. Doyeol’s nosebleed still hadn’t e9cf1e9ed3 stopped—it flowed without pause. It scared Ihyun. What if it 1151c22537 was a concussion? He suggested they go f393425726 to the hospital, but d0e335db93 Doyeol kept shaking his 4408c2ea8d head, saying it wasn’t 4496c72b59 that serious. I didn’t get cc5fc937a3 hit on the e5ca07331a head. Doyeol insisted he was 61cd4d2138 just fine, over and 0f78290f58 over.8bc5edb9ad128860

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Park Ihyun pulled Kim Doyeol’s c674d10951 body closer so he could 6155c7972d lean on him more. His legs trembled dc466bcfe8 under the weight, fc9b0781a4 but even so, f749e1bfe3 he walked all 1fafacad27 the way home 8f76c39825 like that.f7d98b1a45cf023c

It was the first time de0a732e91 he had ever brought someone b74ed2d361 home. As he entered the door 7540e40a5a code, Kim Doyeol turned and d844b052b0 asked,183fc9e97914d927

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“Should I close my eyes?”09ba079a2e19daa8

Ihyun shook his head. “No.” But Doyeol had already turned around, so his eyes weren’t visible anyway.d015997fcc1a0c75

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Park Ihyun wanted 9424b8bde3 to be someone ea5da41e81 good for Kim f72838937b Doyeol. So, awkwardly, he sat c792e4a03c him on the sofa, 90552ac9bf applied some bandages, and d0748cb902 made dinner for him. Doyeol, his face swollen, kept a952e272d4 dozing off. Like a wild 3308118b0f animal finally feeling 888ceec248 safe in a 7eff19527c secure place after e8677b6b17 never sleeping deeply, 7d14cca76c always alert. That’s why Ihyun, even though eff1d4aedd the sun hadn’t set yet, d3119ea95e laid him down and covered 0e1be7a0da him with a blanket.1c96ac455bd73e0b

“Get some sleep.”d9e373137f047454

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“Mm…”256212d018889252

Kim Doyeol quickly drifted off. The whole time 03e45bfb2f Ihyun cleaned the 25869a95d2 table and did 9bb82a2f40 the dishes, he 2e127a2497 moved quietly and 6a691a20d5 cautiously around his 034e80b0e8 own house, barely 5dcee92cb5 making a sound.06c4d4875f675906

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“…Ugh.”b9fa08ee96372f92

For some reason, Doyeol 2a7192e64c kept groaning in his a820e87985 sleep. Eventually, Ihyun approached him 440ded530a with hushed steps. He hadn’t noticed earlier, 01e10a0796 but Doyeol’s arm was 392509b989 strangely swollen. Cautiously, he called out his 1c9fc388f5 name. Doyeol-ah. Too afraid to a08f2f3337 touch his shoulder, 405c9379e9 which connected to b963a3ef53 the arm, he eab462ff86 gently cupped his e8daa14d78 cheek. Slowly, Doyeol lifted his eyelids.1aa32c112f621883

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In those clear c0c9ffddbf black eyes, Ihyun’s 3887a8d9da reflection trembled. Unconsciously, Ihyun swallowed. Oddly, Doyeol looked fragile.6b3d68d3eadddfad

“…Doyeol, you keep groaning in your sleep. Are you in pain somewhere?”32e592d1364ef598

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A sick boy. His voice was so cautious 0d277b2c11 and soft it surprised even 6e6d93bf9f himself. When he stroked ab644ff3c8 his cheek with 98d6d8bf7e the back of d5d182d75c his hand, Doyeol 366965c295 blinked sleepily. His cheek and 36c42bab0e forehead were drenched dedc74b2ec in sweat. He might even have a c3ed840b41 fever. Ihyun pressed his forearm cd8bc2562d to Doyeol’s forehead. It did feel a cec573f2af bit warm.9deb8119ebe80c90

“…Let’s sit you up for a second. You’re sweating cold.”cc7ebe36d89066e7

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Supporting him under 27503538a7 the waist, Ihyun fa6cb87f40 lifted his limp, 574f28536f heavy body. Doyeol’s body was 47d10aa475 hot and large. “Ugh,” he groaned softly, rubbing his cheek like a young animal against Ihyun’s shoulder. Warm breath grazed the skin ad75aaf726 of his neck, and Ihyun 5a5bc124d9 froze. In a hoarse 020ab0c750 voice, Doyeol murmured,3edeb13c90972176

“…It’s itchy.”db86b89f16a9833a

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“…Ah, your back.”aeec61676f1b8030

The area behind 282f477565 him was soaked 3cb9abf473 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 patch bee712749a was going to fix a7075369d5 that.443b9c2692c42714

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“Is it bad?”b07b79a6ebaa8808

Doyeol asked without turning around. His bare neck 44b224b230 and the slope b108592e05 of his shoulder 84b600b13e were visible beneath 1abfd2ad70 his ruffled hair 22536a3fdc and raised shirt. Ihyun gently brushed beside the e2b952e7a0 bruises. Afraid it would hurt, he 807310d368 avoided touching them directly. “Ugh…” Doyeol flinched and tensed his back. “Does it tickle?” Ihyun asked. Doyeol lowered his head. “Yeah.”80dc7434657c93a5

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“I don’t know if a patch will help…”900ca127921d0a93

“…Just put on anything.”07aecbed4e01e998

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His voice was still hoarse. Only then did Ihyun 846db30ee1 notice how red the f25ec49a1a back of his neck ebc102a91c was. Pretending not to see how e95e21a13c shame had flushed his ears 95e7fc3725 and neck, he quietly applied 3ae34abbc5 the patch. The strong medicinal f279f91988 smell stung his 8b3033bf28 eyes and nose. As he checked for other 3d3a19fe03 areas needing treatment, he noticed 1153793b54 how red and swollen Doyeol’s 7ee3470698 forearm was. Something was definitely wrong.9423dafe591bcdf9

“Doyeol.”f01eb3fba35701e5

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“…Yeah.”d8a99ad94666144f

“This isn’t good. Get up, get dressed—we’re going b269830593 to the hospital.”db03b4f0822a2ce3

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Just as Ihyun 6115bfbfd2 had guessed, there 397ead9b18 was indeed a dc3b7424f6 problem with Doyeol’s 43d10b014c arm. A fracture running across the b5110cf25b bone.40f19b74158fd803

Even in the 06408faaab waiting room of 8156a02649 the clinic, nearly 2ff29015bc closing for the 826ba66e78 day, people were e6798c46f1 shocked when they 5546038247 saw Doyeol’s face. Maybe it was the 89573d0b13 visible injuries that the 54a8c97d59 loosely applied bandages couldn’t b81da77f7c hide, or maybe it 6050cdc30a was the bloodstained clothes.3734663a211bad36

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The doctor wasn’t much different. He didn’t seem to believe b1b17b624c Doyeol’s claim that he’d gotten b53f2ed8a6 into a fight with a 2a12c5f6a2 friend. When he saw Doyeol undressed, c6885b35b4 he went silent for a a8fb5a1a36 moment before saying he would 138077e29a write a medical report.dd89e331924e6987

“I don’t need it.”ca2dd718e5f1bc9e

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“No! No, please write it. Just in case.”40c1fe053b5e2649

Doyeol shook his head, 1440f3c387 but Ihyun quickly interrupted. The doctor glanced between 3b89f5f5bb the two of them, e0ab853e00 then relayed some instructions e4b9e6b641 to Ihyun and added, d8b4ff6613 “Even if you don’t 6c5e0ed7ce use it now, it 65f34273bd might be useful later. Listen to your friend.”7a8aea70c61ed990

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While the doctor explained everything ec3d7326f4 to Ihyun, Doyeol sat there d123eb4c10 quietly, smiling vaguely. Ihyun gripped his wrist tightly, 483595a18e afraid he might slip out 5b383890e6 and disappear at any moment.baa9a072480e61ed

Even after getting the 6bb4c4011f cast, Doyeol didn’t seem 467f17156a particularly concerned. Ihyun sat him down on b7bf7ccec6 a long scarlet bench and cd6a927e24 gathered the 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.4eb2ece9164efda4

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“Apply this twice a day. And this one, take 36b6542611 it 30 minutes after 0e04ca24a8 meals.”97a9bf853f50cea2

“Okay. Ah—do you have anything fb56ebf96e for bruising?”3248f33602ba0e8d

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“Ointment or cream?”5f1b59977ac9a2a5

“What’s the difference?”c43220fb7d747cda

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The pharmacist recommended ointment. The bag of e9171ba44c ointments Ihyun selected 63f3cd2d3c steadily grew.668ddb651fcb02e7

“Let’s go.” Seated on the waiting bench, Kim Doyeol obediently stood up.b36cc98f219d730e

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“Here, take this. Open up—ah.”fc6bb6c5880a0833

Kim Doyeol opened his ecb1cc54e0 mouth without knowing why, d746d4724c like a baby bird f6b5ee2d27 desperate to eat whatever 61a8bd7e46 its mother dropped in. Park Ihyun placed 607b303877 one of the e15abe5cc4 sugar-free candies the 898cbd29c2 pharmacist had included cdc5c1436b in the bag 0125a61925 into Doyeol’s mouth. As he rolled the donut-shaped 548f72f93a candy around with his tongue, 59b0fd54ab Doyeol gave a look of c0cb6cc03c disbelief.f4bd4147920b8d56

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“Ihyun-ah, how old am I again?”7f1bdba92c573e8c

“That’s just how it is when you’re sick.”cc886bf8cc9a338a

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“Oh, right…”f52f1b3c1560d8f1

Doyeol’s smile was crooked. Ihyun could hear the 42a7223bac crunch as Doyeol bit 3cba6b57d0 down hard on the 9530951730 candy just above his 711e56d5a2 head. Feeling around for the vibrating 8660534ddd phone somewhere in his pocket, 05858c9e00 Ihyun struggled to find it. Doyeol, watching him fumble, 4f322f8ac2 reached straight into the 79c304fde0 cluttered pocket and pulled 4f7ff2c509 it out for him.6b78eebc1165860c

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It was his father.72f2c1eab239e1a6

The card Ihyun 269b07accb had used belonged 4e716fa2e6 to his dad, a4f88f3ee0 given to him 7a4e47cedd to use for 74f92bd7fd living expenses and 43718a7b03 allowances. His father rarely gave him 303495f819 cash. “If you’ve got cash, you’ll just mess around,” he used to say. Everything Ihyun bought was 569a26a3b3 always reported back, but 446e6e6819 he was used to f2775294b0 it now. Apparently, the usual 2ba8ce257b payment notification had b927260a5f gone through again. “Just sit tight a sec.” Ihyun waved to Doyeol after checking the caller.6d690022acc86d7b

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“What, are you ditching me again?”dde4f2c4a14256a8

“I won’t, just wait a minute. It’s my dad.”761228e240b3c5a2

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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.2cd6ac9378d1fc99

— Did you get hurt? What did you e12bbafd0b buy at the c537762caa pharmacy?7a7e2b82c77804ef

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“Uh, no, it’s not like that…”b98d64ba9530750a

— What did you buy? Did someone ask 515892d7b3 you for something? Did someone say they f0eca66573 needed medicine? Did your mom contact you?b8a68f5fb13b1ad5

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Mom? It was a word he 105c1285ab hadn’t heard in far too 26d580243b 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 51673f4c96 father went silent.be97b30421175a01

— Is that true?0f27d25adfeffd65

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“Huh? Yes. Want to talk to him? I’m sorry for using the 33c9a5c0ba card without asking.”04c7f89ad857a42e

His father sighed. “That’s not the issue. Are you sure 168c6bb1ea your mother didn’t 399c131f16 contact you?” Sometimes, 763796b9a0 his father behaved 93ed1abb28 strangely. Divorced couples who split d0d88e9327 on bad terms could 75566307eb be like that. He was especially sensitive about 2c03e3f759 anything regarding Ihyun’s mom. It bordered on paranoia. When Ihyun was younger d918bb3ea7 and once casually brought 6bb0db278c up his mom while 71def0b8a3 watching other kids with 9f91ec0194 theirs, his father even 7e49bc4007 checked the call logs 0eb8e018e8 on his phone.dd30a8bbecd461eb

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But his mom had never 2c77906133 once called.4cd8fc2e3db3e253

The last time 50b40b01e0 she’d contacted Ihyun 35879c5911 was ages ago. She didn’t get custody after 9223f9ce8b the divorce. He didn’t know why. The last thing she’d 2af95686a2 ever sent him was 3e6eb56d1e a Christmas card that 6d216fbbc3 read, “Merry Christmas, I ec298e84f1 love you, my Ihyun.” ca7d8c8b68 There was no return b6a2f6794f address. His father had b08d9d237a left it by 63320a8fef his bedside. That was the end. He had been so b6e4aca3b3 young then that it 95058d07b0 didn’t even feel sad 5bfbe1d356 anymore.38881a16b1688c29

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“She didn’t. Why?”8091cb646e38fbb8

— Never mind. You’re not hurt, right?e5bdf015e4697f51

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“No…”d205b748c5b692d7

— Okay. Hanging up now.9f13f2319e538798

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Ihyun thought of 8bbe38ce77 Doyeol back at 6f5e82fd62 the house. “Dad!” he called out quickly.8cef7e7dd81fb4b1

— What?1878cc1307640774

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“Uh, can my friend stay over tonight?”119b34f8ea1ea25b

— …Do what you want. Just don’t make a mess.467bf2a048127d11

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“Got it! Thanks!”a91b76407b71b32d

— Yeah.adf58253586f0b48

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A weight lifted from his d31e58c207 chest. The call ended simply, like 32fef0ca0a always. Ihyun poked his head through 250b1f2f23 the pharmacy’s glass 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 4184df2a24 like pear blossoms.fb68a7158632c709

Whenever Kim Doyeol f237b10873 smiled like that, a5c29a7508 as if nothing ee20809e8f had happened, something a64119411c inside Ihyun would 383d340729 suddenly turn soft cc39444204 and swell with 0220b3a927 emotion. Even if he didn’t fully b7c33fca75 understand it. Ihyun cleared his e91aa4125e throat unnecessarily and ae7bb6c3f1 walked ahead.f1f350ff804a6b05

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“Look at this.”284874e185139339

Doyeol stuck out his tongue. The half-melted sugar-free 56c4f87dbf candy dangled from db78d9b3a0 the tip like dedbcfc5d0 a ring.28ae29663b088e84

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“…Are you a kid?”0b9b46f487b8af39

And that’s when the 5c3f7769e0 solemn sense of responsibility b4e799fc74 hit him: someone’s got 1cb472b0ff to look after this 43d3f8fb07 guy. That’s how it started. Gently holding Doyeol’s bruised 0f6674c1ab arm, Ihyun led him 77f80ed0b7 home.2a72a3fd438c9b11

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That heavy sense 75586dfae4 of responsibility might 1b8d8430d4 have been a 4c19fd1598 premonition of what 1bd6cbe4f7 was to come. Doyeol needed help with everything—from 3d8f8e136e undressing, dressing, to washing his e4fcf34dfe hair. And he shamelessly enjoyed every 71eaa28c22 bit of it. Before he knew 405389b1d0 it, Ihyun was 30ce157193 washing the hair 6e31d1441f of a boy 4c6c7521b2 his own age, a3a000e192 who was larger a01274b84c than him.1de8a7ca07569f02

“My neck hurts. Sir, your service bcc948a4ad here is awful.”e806d009c9a17faf

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Doyeol had dragged a kitchen 7ca97a5d2a chair into the bathroom and 8079a0d777 was sitting on it with 263ca75fcb his head tilted back and dd470ef8b0 eyes closed, looking pleased. When Ihyun scrubbed 50dae2855c his scalp a 44dd12c4e8 bit too hard, 3672e16e0f Doyeol laughed and 05f72758ec let out a 876e0ef94a mock scream. “Ow! No good! Gonna leave a half-star 8424d30743 review!” Ihyun nearly sprayed 1af3d186a3 water in his face 9af60ea5b2 with the shower head e709cf665c but stopped when he 29ff9b7eba saw the bandages stuck cb48d1317e to his skin. Instead, he gently wiped 3d52baef5d his forehead and eyes 52154d2dd1 with a towel.826f8f9adaefff18

It felt strange. Doyeol was kind of annoying, af3abaa699 but he kept making him 43221b4c3d smile. When he accepted Doyeol’s childish a1eee82035 whining and playfulness like an bc28801953 adult, Ihyun felt like he daa90f1f57 really had become one. The sense of fulfillment that 70ea778b0a filled his chest was unfamiliar. Maybe this was how 23cc1ff693 it always felt to 39046b3de9 take care of someone 1e1739bcb0 for the first time. He didn’t know. He looked down d990449d06 at Doyeol’s closed cc7ec34421 eyes. He looked obedient, innocent.c0527412ee253219

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Kim Doyeol, who e0f608750f couldn’t seem to 46e86560e5 do anything without 6f9d7fad20 him… Ihyun stared a24af84bee at his wet 041ddb3441 eyelashes for a e3b92511a2 long time. When Doyeol suddenly 89403dad63 opened his eyes, e3d30ea5f2 he quickly dabbed d04e9af465 at them with 513ba81eef a towel.75cf815b8fca1f44

“My eyes are flashing. You pressed too hard, Mr. Ihyun.”014d7dcc36e4a317

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“You’re imagining things.”c4e60db6ed49c29f

“Ugh, so mean… I’m the patient, you know.”32369b0b607a4524

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Wrapping the towel 39b6f84359 around Doyeol’s head, f41aadbabb Ihyun supported his 0a30144651 neck. “Go lie down in the living room.” Doyeol obediently walked out. Ihyun wiped his own c9660d97ad forehead with the back d5030ab437 of his hand and 7b415a027e glanced at himself in e613b68469 the mirror. His face was a little 181a69be4a flushed.ebf24452a4f765d2

It must be cc638cae60 the yellow bathroom f41ce4879b light. He hurriedly swallowed down the 7dca8bf1da secret joy rising in his c0035e25b8 throat and tried to forget c60f359527 it by splashing his face cb5c8fddd9 at the sink.ba6a007ccb7f245c

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“You sleep in the bed.”412fae00ea131f4c

“You’re the one with the cast, not me.”0a69f7ebddb6b169

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As soon as d950036d80 Ihyun brought the 1901bd1650 pills and a 1363f716e6 glass of water, e3d3b89c98 Doyeol said that bc4ace5cf4 from where he 8a808bd64e was sitting on 7218f61a89 the bed. “Take your medicine and sleep early tonight.” Ihyun opened the packet and handed it to him.91aa1c7541a5574a

“Ah.”c47e50caa4d5731d

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Doyeol opened his 782c8a2205 mouth wide and 243c0c7ac3 stared at him b9c2b8b1d0 shamelessly. Sighing through his nose, 65c48f22e6 Ihyun stood between Doyeol’s dba078a728 knees, placed the pills ec9d70c4b7 in his mouth, and 9dca09b841 gently cupped his jaw. Doyeol’s lips trembled. Ihyun brought the cup 3d5229803f to his mouth and 81f838a7bd tilted it, then softly 0884f5baa0 wiped the damp chin 1c78356816 afterward. “Don’t spill.”6cf1cfb1a07bf2bf

“Swallow.”1c6dcb39358152d2

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Doyeol lowered his eyes. His lashes cast shadows 4b8c6bc287 under them, and his 6c622902d3 Adam’s apple bobbed. Once the white and 4b13d864eb yellow pills were completely 82da1f1595 gone, Ihyun stepped back. Like a well-behaved child, Doyeol a2a0d532d7 lay down in Ihyun’s bed a63532794f and pulled the blanket over b3810bac32 himself.3feb4d608fcc57c5

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d come for me.”e0176e8b529d421d

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Holding the half-full 8026db79b1 water glass, Ihyun ae44f5589e chose his words 672622ed47 carefully. “I didn’t either. But… I wanted to. Really.” He murmured.c9dc601b12d83fe8

Doyeol yawned and smiled.9df525cc50343789

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“Good night.”96f5bf39f2ead0c4

“Good night.”23389faa657daa4e

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Ihyun turned off the lights 0e6e211374 and gently shut the door. Through the crack, he eadf5d99f0 looked at Doyeol’s side b93a10fc0b profile, eyes closed, and 7467ddaaf6 thought he hoped Doyeol a381e397ef would stay a long, f2ffb9834f long time. When there was someone 7fe7269651 to care for, he fc0cb710c4 didn’t feel lonely.9e177de1f68c5cf4

This feeling was strange. Finding fulfillment in 83b658fab1 looking after a 193f8986b0 friend. Even after the door closed 04ae3f52fc completely, Ihyun stood there for f7bba4fb8a a while. Friday night was slipping away.5f7e66bb2513e221

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* * *6d8125dad79a9fa0

On Monday, the two a0924a658d of them went to 3721a3e0a7 school together. Kim Doyeol borrowed one of c772eff6a3 Park Ihyun’s summer uniform shirts, aef53b6751 the kind Ihyun didn’t usually b1e80d61dd wear because they were too 81c076b2b7 big, and they walked side 355b0020d4 by side like brothers, teasing 9a52ae6112 each other.e581919decd0f979

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Many people were looking for 18892b589a Kim Doyeol. Park Ihyun quietly 9b86ab31a4 watched the boys 64edb61f10 who called out de36e5a533 to Doyeol, who f297f9912e had come to 1654d1e1ce school without even c712875b85 a backpack. When it was just e7426f19f0 the two of them 2bc3a3ceeb at home, it had 45abf34755 felt like they were c7e5ea79bd in their own world.c834318aaaeecd12

It felt like 7e64fc07c9 being thrown back e0aaa8f674 to first year, d68fbb9500 when Ihyun used ad9d8f90a5 to hover awkwardly e1cd950910 near Doyeol’s classroom, a7b045e98c hoping he’d acknowledge 28e82b1069 him. Back then, when 62a9ec5fa1 Ihyun had no 2f5e83af70 friends and loitered 38fa462104 during breaks, Doyeol 99a9cad49f had once whispered, d09482bfd7 “Those bastards talk e982f6f55f way too much. Just call me.”995b31e679a2e503

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Standing a little behind, Ihyun d99330caed hesitantly called out to him.0340b10f4b327227

“Uh, Doyeol.”e6d90eeb6f9d4eda

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“Yeah?”9b6c318eeea36a69

Doyeol turned with a 23abf52c9b smile, holding up his d45ca1b212 cast. Draped over his shoulder 82df3822d5 was the arm of 016dc9b156 a boy Ihyun didn’t c5428a75c9 recognize. The loud group of 6a6a396640 boys all turned their 6aab8e0307 eyes to Ihyun at 0c6d2533ac once. Feeling a bit small, Ihyun e95f131b32 lowered his gaze awkwardly.bd6151962471ad92

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“…Uh, never mind. I’ll see you later.”43b5bd83e826bf23

“Okay.”439ac3c3fbf45ea4

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Doyeol didn’t try to stop ff36b1f8a6 him. He even looked slightly annoyed. Should I just go 35f18557e3 back home? Ihyun thought.c26ca124ff7ea123

“Who’s that, anyway? Didn’t know Doyeol had a 0452668df2 little brother. Doesn’t look like him.”060cc05ed3d5d76e

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“Seungjun, try stepping outside your classroom once in a while. Isn’t he in our grade?”3d8f56342086b46b

“Goddamn, how the hell am I supposed to know every student in this school?!”5bce3be5dd47fad4

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As Ihyun walked 74acdd6e2f away, he glanced 6ccbb5d329 back at Doyeol’s 31321e944a back. None of the boys 9589978451 in that group would 3e4160b108 ever know that the 0096133360 slightly too-small school shirt 154c8561b3 Doyeol wore belonged to 3ff5737192 Ihyun, or that under 838ab41604 the shoulder where the aa313126bd boy’s arm rested, the d9d162b391 bruises still lingered. A faint sense of victory ba423e4cee welled up in him—followed immediately 9a25e172d7 by a terrible bitterness. Ihyun trudged back to class.3db6aec28700692b

Before lunch, the earth ac1b2c3d92 science class was unusually 1a7fdeb88f chaotic.ec91573663855351

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The smell of 7e185fad91 the cafeteria food 406d1bddf1 drifting down the c5be0a6c6b hallway sent the 0351d1a3c1 class into a c6a6b0b096 frenzy, and Ihyun 849fdfba4d stared indifferently at 78a24091af the noisy room.0ad5e3613128e85d

“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 579529980c during midterms, huh?”bf7331ac8a814248

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“But it’s pork bulgogi.”978e721d55390914

Laughter erupted. In an all-boys 88a6760aae school, boys are e3ca098f92 either humans or 97f336d7a2 beasts. But when lunchtime f5aebea68c approached, even those 0222fdf592 who could pretend f770ba5be5 to be human 0e78938f6e quickly reverted to 8409998075 beasts. The teacher covered two more fd7bb921c2 pages, then gave up and 0932cf87c5 ended class two minutes early. Seeing the students 24a59abf92 already standing by 0551422dcc the door with 94e9072342 slippers in hand, 8f394e25b2 he gave a a2ac36c37f dry laugh.acdbad9bcb52b558

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When the bell rang, the 6896796751 boys burst out of the e1bb563f70 classroom like a stampede, but d164c9eb5a Ihyun didn’t join them. Instead, he slowly gathered 21fdd4b97e the printed materials and 34a1f45303 stuffed his textbook into a665c02d65 the desk drawer. It’d just be crowded anyway. As always, he 2049549127 planned to go f9b4713cf3 when the rush 8f9529ae42 died down.55cf416df5f85e00

That was when it happened.36db7b7cc30482b0

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“Ihyun, aren’t you gonna eat?”3981a3ef905abf2c

Ihyun looked up 482bb31b78 awkwardly, holding a 0f57294009 movie magazine he 45f6c7a612 had just taken ead4eb9511 from his desk. Doyeol was leaning 74ccc4af46 against the open b4772877ee back door. When their eyes met, Doyeol fc469467cc mimed eating with chopsticks. Let’s eat.7f65bfa95657b467

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“…Huh?”6faecd0fd2c19f65

“I couldn’t find our little Ihyun in the cafeteria, so big brother came to look for him.”fa40bdb4ccf34b81

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As he walked over, Doyeol’s ea2b0a3c92 cast was covered in doodles. Ihyun stared at the 9b3e231d74 scribbled messages in highlighter 98ae7612a1 and pen, until Doyeol 2b5e912cff grabbed his forearm and 5d8621497c pulled him up, slinging e552857faf an arm around his ca2a278377 shoulders.0990243ac6380e70

“You always come looking for me during breaks. Why not at lunch?”aac53f217fbcac61

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“You saw that?”5bd3b57f2ce44ae3

He often hovered around Doyeol’s e39c332a1a class during breaks, only to c5424de21e walk away because he was 0388ffc5a1 always surrounded by others. Doyeol asked again.490d7ed2e8695cf5

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“Was it ’cause they were too loud?”3202ba7e1d96eab7

“They’re just people I don’t really know\… and they were talking.”c76a02cba7814693

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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?”a73ad609f33397b3

Even on the way down 3332adc4d9 to the cafeteria, Doyeol didn’t 1d4091b629 let go of his arm. His crooked name e960afb5bc tag tickled Ihyun’s 8a4f2d8e35 chest now and 2b34eed6a2 then, and Doyeol’s 96131a6476 uninjured forearm brushed 3c3e6d2522 across him as bc5cb2675b they walked. Ihyun gently held his hand.1b807f0f0736d065

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“But… why do you keep calling yourself ‘big brother’?”74d5ce43a15749d4

“You act like a little brother who follows me around all the time.”d21885f5ca08f4cc

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“…Me? I don’t.”7109e19478e33e36

He was at a loss 5026f54e98 for words. Did it show that he d6b31299f6 didn’t have friends? Embarrassed, Ihyun bowed his head c82c29cd86 and rubbed Doyeol’s well-groomed fingernails, 5fd08c3803 then let go. “Aw, why are you sulking again?” Doyeol said with a teasing smile. They stood at the end e6c0529a39 of the cafeteria line.ecbc6e3d91b08693

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“…Aren’t I your hyung?”84f0e73141f1f257

Doyeol looked at him with b92a7014a0 round eyes and laughed before 733fe3dca3 asking, “What was that, Ihyun?”a30aa3a2d58c391e

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“I washed your hair.”b2095966653ec005

At that, Doyeol burst d74090d3b2 out laughing. Come to think of 83a73d79ee it, Ihyun had cooked a37c4def0f for him, nursed him, 26b9e32ad9 and even handled the a59a0a93de hospital paperwork.4eae43bed2edd0ee

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Ihyun grabbed a tray, sulking. What’s so funny? The back of edfbca61e2 Doyeol’s hand brushed 26cf96efe6 against his cheek 23022a1fdb lightly, then tapped 1e55398ec1 his shoulder. “Look at this guy, trying to mount me,” Doyeol said with a laugh.2cf4659376f03997

“Yes, hyung. Poor little Doyeol ran 914e27cc59 all the way up c4fa95825e here in the middle 312f1c4c9f of his meal ‘cause 5f912b0649 he was starving. Please go get your food.”e65ca66c6ec597a8

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“…Don’t.”64c7aa7990316712

“Looked all over the cafeteria, but I only saw losers, so I knew right away you weren’t there, hyung.”1b65cacc148b09fa

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“I said stop…”e80c8ff3e65406a7

“Little Doyeol, who still needs his big brother, was so scared when—”9ed84f08c012f3f2

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That was the 6a8c917b08 first time Park e5a328dd50 Ihyun smacked Kim dbafc4b036 Doyeol.f2966076e65b5b22

Doyeol’s tray really was bc69d87c0f only half-eaten. The long table was 7a99744911 full of trays already dd2d6ee2d4 emptied by his group. Picking up a white and fad3c36722 yellow milk carton from his ac915f3bbe tray, Doyeol read the label 22ed7091d6 out loud.cfac10c530f288c7

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“‘Bananas are tasty.’ Who the fuck stole mine?”4b1d90e004ac46c1

“You already drank it, you lunatic.”86fe2221f633526b

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Doyeol and another boy exchanged bd3188f894 light punches. “He doesn’t even know if he drank it or not,” they said. Ihyun quietly sat at 7d3a9397ca the end of the 545fecd352 table and started chewing 25808976b2 his pork bulgogi.213c3a280d9dd0b3

“By the way, who’s this?”757b83470833b388

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“Ihyun.”ffa9944ef8e51058

“Hey, Ihyun. Nice to meet you.”be04c7b29772577c

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“…I’m Park Ihyun.”439d215ee5eb74c3

“Christ, Doyeol, don’t you know anything about your own friends?” one of the boys scoffed.8c9a52230edcfb27

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“I’m Kim Seojun,” the boy added.a74f8d827d3dc674

“Oh…”8aad7d308ba72e81

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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 go get 2d490a917d a friend, at least tell 3d29b682c9 us, you psycho.”8d67043e513ec862

“Don’t just sit there like a lump when you’re done eating.”2f23ae815f5f579d

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While they exchanged messy introductions, dc0146c757 a boy with a shaved 80bdde7d69 head stood up suddenly. He had a grumpy face. He’d been glaring c386a1a47f at Ihyun ever 2ecf6ba622 since he first e6514de6ab sat down. Most of the 110be6d04e group had finished 322ba5197d eating by then, bba311ee1c so Ihyun stayed 184365d00c quiet. Doyeol grinned and ee342c71a3 pointed him out daff1e33a9 with his finger.829b76974bf42fbb

“That one’s Oh Yoonseok. Don’t get too close 282666bc23 to him.”260d3fc1687b9c23

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“Why not?”5ced2ca269af1ae7

“He’s got a shitty temper. He’s insufferable.”56296a1bdf1361e6

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“You fuck… What are you, a kindergartener? What is this, some official meet-and-greet?”fefe052cf2a2e428

The jab flew toward Ihyun. Doyeol tilted his head nonchalantly.75fd17b839c3138d

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“Yoonseok, important people always get introduced. Hyung’s gonna eat now, alright?”27a80fdcbdde12fd

“Then just leave already.” Yoonseok waved dismissively like he was shooing a fly. His face twisted in annoyance. Muttering curses, he walked 5c903ddfb3 away from the table. Doyeol picked at a8ebc286a9 his bean sprouts 05b78ea800 with awkward chopsticks, 5a7d58738d not seeming to 5c447f83fc care at all.a29ab45ba80e6cca

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“How long is it gonna take Doyeol to finish his lunch?”928b2480db684ec1

“I told you, you can leave. I’ll eat here with Ihyun.”869a587893934ac7

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Kim Seojun looked 569627a8b7 dissatisfied but didn’t 8c612d237a leave. A couple of boys stood bd49e3bb03 up, but six still remained 3fb70ce8de at the table, including Doyeol 02b552fa3f and Ihyun.cb41084dc3f4cf62

“How do you even wash your hair?”84bc5209fae2d9f2

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“Oh, I don’t.”02bd4f46f50d3228

“You filthy bastard… Stay away from me.”6f4a120e49601698

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The conversation veered into unfamiliar 367b0072f9 territory. Ihyun felt like a f4933c8503 total outsider. Soccer, trendy games, basketball, 2e2000a384 stories about getting rejected 9b44e834c4 by girls, cram school cf5e6b281e gossip, classmates breaking up 798a07493f and getting back together—none f85cd2baa7 of it meant anything ed131ae32e to him.f7375ef897337217

“So, Park Ihyun. What club are you in?”b94a482b515da0f4

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“Film appreciation club…”4f2c2450ab407a60

“Oh! I was wondering 7790732d05 where I’d seen ae3c9c11b1 you. You’re in François!”4f4afef92da3a71d

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