MCL Ch 3

“…”

Damn it, seriously… Ki Yeonghan leaned in closer to call Yoon Yejun’s name again. It was a bit too close, but it couldn’t be helped in a movie theater. He had at least that much decency. Unlike some people who slept leaning on others’ shoulders.

“…”

“…”

As he got closer, Yoon Yejun, who hadn’t stirred no matter how much Ki Yeonghan had pushed or called, opened his eyes. Blink, blink. He closed and opened his eyes a couple of times. His long eyelashes parted to reveal eyes so close that Ki Yeonghan’s body stiffened.

Yoon Yejun’s eyes slowly widened, and so did Ki Yeonghan’s. Ki Yeonghan held his breath for a long moment, unable to hide his startled reaction. Yoon Yejun flinched.

He was clearly misunderstanding something. His face hardened as if Ki Yeonghan was about to kiss him, and he twisted his leaning body upright.

Ki Yeonghan’s face flushed red with embarrassment. He felt wronged, utterly wronged. He wanted to snap and ask what kind of ridiculous misunderstanding this was, but being in a movie theater, he had to hold back. Sure, he’d stolen a glance at Yoon Yejun’s face, but that was it.

Suppressing his indignant and frustrated feelings, Ki Yeonghan returned to his original position.

This is such bullshit…

Cursing inwardly, he crossed his legs. Leaning his body away from Yoon Yejun, he grabbed the cola from the armrest on his side and sucked it down. Damn, it’s disgustingly sweet and disgustingly cold. The movie theater, which he hadn’t thought much of before, suddenly felt stifling.

🍬

“Did I sleep a lot?”

Yoon Yejun asked as they walked out of the theater together. A couple, who seemed to have just started dating, passed by, awkwardly exchanging exaggerated thoughts about the movie.

Ki Yeonghan dumped everything he was holding into the trash can. It felt like his own heart. He wanted to pour out the embarrassing memories from the theater like the popcorn falling in front of him.

Yoon Yejun had awkwardly avoided his gaze and then fallen back asleep. Ki Yeonghan had ended up in a position that looked like he was about to kiss Yoon Yejun, and the guy had actually misunderstood it, making it impossible for Ki Yeonghan to focus on the movie. Yet Yoon Yejun had slept soundly.

If he’d just slept quietly, Ki Yeonghan wouldn’t have said anything. It might have been a bit annoying, but he could’ve dealt with it. But every time Ki Yeonghan’s mood started to settle, Yoon Yejun would lean toward him again. When Ki Yeonghan pushed his head off, Yoon would wake briefly, only to lean back again. The irritation was beyond measure.

Ki Yeonghan shot a glare at Yoon Yejun and retorted, “Did you sleep a lot?”

Yoon Yejun, waiting for an answer, stayed silent.

Seeing Yoon Yejun’s slightly narrowed eyes, Ki Yeonghan’s mood soured further. Honestly, if that guy hadn’t kept sleeping, that humiliating situation would never have happened. It was just him trying to wake him, wasn’t it? Sure, he got a bit close.

What annoyed him even more was that Yoon Yejun had misunderstood and turned away on his own. Why the hell would Ki Yeonghan want to kiss a guy? What was he lacking?

Ki Yeonghan lashed out in frustration.

“You were snoring so loud it was a riot. And why do you keep leaning on me? Was that on purpose?”

“On purpose?”

Yoon Yejun tossed his snacks into the trash can too. As they walked down the hallway from the theater to the waiting area, he muttered to himself, “You’re the one who did that to someone just sitting there…”

Ki Yeonghan reacted instantly to the low muttering.

“What kind of…”

He was about to demand what kind of nonsense Yoon was spouting when Yoon Yejun dropped a bombshell.

“You were trying to kiss me, weren’t you?”

“Argh!”

Ki Yeonghan couldn’t hold back his outrage. Messing up his hair, he caught up to Yoon Yejun, who was walking ahead.

“Hey, hold on.”

Ki Yeonghan put one hand on his hip and raised the other, even pointing a finger at Yoon Yejun’s face. Pointing like that out of nowhere? Yoon Yejun’s words rose to his throat, but he held them back. Their conversation was just a game of picking fights, and saying anything here would only give the fuming guy in front of him more ammunition.

Licking his lips with his tongue, Ki Yeonghan barely calmed his breathing and said, “You’re misunderstanding something right now. I wasn’t trying to do anything to you. I was just trying to wake you because you kept leaning on my shoulder and sleeping.”

“Yeah, I don’t really care. So… your sexual…”

“No, I said it’s not like that!”

Feeling utterly wronged, Ki Yeonghan raised his voice. People coming out of the same theater glanced at them. Some caught Yoon Yejun’s eye. It wasn’t a fight, but it might’ve looked like one, and he felt embarrassed.

After checking their surroundings, Yoon Yejun, with a grimace, nodded roughly.

“Fine. It was a joke.”

He’d meant to wrap it up cleanly, but Ki Yeonghan’s expression didn’t soften. People like him, who clung to their pride needlessly, wouldn’t let go of their anger until things were fully resolved.

Living with that personality must be tough. Not that Yoon Yejun was one to talk, but he had social skills. Maybe too much. Thanks to that, he’d never done anything like arguing loudly in public while rolling his eyes, like Ki Yeonghan.

“No… Why would I, with you… I’m a guy.”

Ki Yeonghan was so worked up he couldn’t even finish his sentences. Was the misunderstanding about kissing a guy that bad? It almost felt like self-loathing. Yoon Yejun had heard that people with extreme homophobic tendencies often had strong gay inclinations themselves.

Looking at the guy in front of him, Yoon Yejun thought about it but wasn’t foolish enough to say it in this situation. After all, this was the same guy who’d muttered “disgusting” at the professor’s joke during orientation, so saying anything now might make him even louder.

Yoon Yejun let out a low sigh.

“Got it. I said I don’t care. If I misunderstood, I’m sorry.”

After speaking, he pulled out his phone to check the time. It was just before 1 p.m. While he hadn’t checked, messages had piled up from his part-time job group chat, tutoring students, and classmates.

He had a class at 2 p.m. on Fridays. Some might think it was the worst schedule, but it was unavoidable to balance his job and classes.

Checking his phone with a blank expression, Yoon Yejun slipped it back into his pocket. Then, standing tall, he met the flushed, angry gaze of Ki Yeonghan.

“I have an afternoon class, so let’s part ways here.”

Speaking calmly, Ki Yeonghan squeezed his eyes shut and nodded, still fuming as he stormed past Yoon Yejun. Not even a casual goodbye. After walking a bit, unable to hold it in, he stomped his foot.

A guy in his mid-20s stomping his foot because he’s pissed?

“Tch…”

Yoon Yejun clicked his tongue without hesitation.

He couldn’t understand or stand the guy.

🍬

A quiet weekend.

Ki Yeonghan was staring blankly at his monitor.

He glared with intensity at the blank report template the professor had provided. Activity report, my ass. It was the kind of thing elementary school kids would do. Activity report, reflections, one-line evaluation, what to do at the next meeting.

“What I want to do, my foot…”

Ki Yeonghan shifted his gaze to the calendar on his desk. It was still March. How was he supposed to wait until the end of June? A sigh escaped him even when he was still.

“…”

With his brow furrowed, Ki Yeonghan tapped the keyboard lightly, then focused on the monitor.

There was a field for the partner’s student ID number, but he didn’t want to contact Yoon Yejun to ask, so he dug through the school portal to find it.

He started writing the activity report.

We met at the café at 9 a.m., and though he was two minutes late, I tried to let it slide, but Yoon Yejun got defensive. I wasn’t in a great mood and was about to go home, but he suggested watching a movie. The reason… because he didn’t have anything to write for the report… He hesitated, then deleted that part. Instead, he wrote that he agreed because there was no reason to refuse.

Yoon Yejun didn’t ask what kind of movie I liked and arbitrarily booked tickets in advance. It made me very uncomfortable. Since he’d bought the tickets, I felt indebted and bought snacks, but he barely ate and slept through the entire movie.

“…”

And then│

The cursor blinked in front of him.

And then│

And then

And then│

He recalled Yoon Yejun leaning his small head on his shoulder. The first time, annoyed, Ki Yeonghan had flicked it off, but Yoon leaned back again. It repeated several times. In the end, too tired to care, Ki Yeonghan watched the movie, only for Yoon Yejun to tilt his head the other way and sleep.

Yoon Yejun had a relatively small head for a guy. Ki Yeonghan often heard he had a small head himself, but Yoon Yejun’s was even smaller. The shallow breaths and the leaning body… his frame was thin. His build was quite small, too.

“Damn it…”

Unable to hold back, Ki Yeonghan cursed out loud. There was no reason to think about it, but it came to mind. Cursing, he deleted everything he’d written. Ignoring the reflections and activity report, he went straight to the one-line evaluation. Without hesitation, he wrote his assessment of Yoon Yejun.

First impression is the worst, but his head is light.

🍬

“Hey, Yoon.”

A finger poked heavily into his side, and Yoon Yejun looked up. It was Kim Donghoon, a close friend. Donghoon puckered his lips, making kissing sounds. He could’ve just said, “Let’s go smoke,” but he always acted like that. Straight guys in Korea sure had it easy.

Yoon Yejun stood up. He and Kim Donghoon left the lecture hall side by side. They headed to the smoking area on the first floor, waiting for the elevator. It took a while to come down from the ninth floor.

In the meantime, they had a pointless conversation. The cafeteria was cheap but decent. They wanted to kill the idiots smoking in the bathroom. A professor asked what classes Yoon Yejun was taking. Most of it came from Donghoon’s mouth.

Ding, the elevator doors opened. Yoon Yejun stepped forward, naturally glancing inside. He met a familiar face.

“…”

“…”

It was Ki Yeonghan. Strangely, after getting to know his face, they kept running into each other. Probably because they used the same social sciences building. Ki Yeonghan had his usual sullen expression. Their eyes met naturally.

Should I say hi…? Yoon Yejun briefly considered it, but there was no need. Ki Yeonghan passed by as if they were strangers. Normally, when you run into someone you’re doing a group project with outside class, you’d at least nod, right? What a jerk. No wonder nobody likes him.

Yoon Yejun got into the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, a voice called out.

“Hey, Yeonghan!”

It was a cheerful, friendly tone. So he does have friends. Good for him, maybe. Though it didn’t seem like he’d care if he didn’t. He didn’t strike Yoon Yejun as someone who’d be particularly nice to friends.

And sure enough.

“Hey, I’m not deaf. Call me quieter.”

Even to his friends, he’s like that. Unbelievable. The doors slowly closed. The last thing Yoon Yejun heard was Ki Yeonghan’s friend pestering him to go drinking or do something. Does a guy like that even drink? He was suddenly curious.

“Yejun, you don’t have work today, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Wanna grab a drink? Minseok hyung opened a bar. He’s been begging us to come.”

Minseok was a senior who’d looked out for them since their freshman year. How old was he, anyway? Late 20s, but Yoon Yejun didn’t know exactly. The longer you stayed in school, the older your seniors got, and at some point, you lost track.

He’d heard at the start of the year, during a casual catch-up, that Minseok had opened a bar. The guy came from a wealthy family, famous for it. He didn’t care much about academics, but right after graduating, he opened a bar nearby. Money really made the world go round. Unlike Yoon Yejun, who barely had time to sleep because of his part-time jobs. He gave a bitter smile, then straightened his expression.

“Should we go?”

“Hell yeah, let’s go! Minseok hyung said he’ll hook us up if we show up.”

Drinking after a while didn’t sound bad. Living buried in part-time jobs, taking a day or two to relax wasn’t a bad idea.

Come to think of it, what time’s class tomorrow? As long as it’s not morning, it should be fine. Tomorrow’s Tuesday… Yoon Yejun recalled his schedule. His first class was at 1 p.m. That was doable.

He nodded lightly. Drinking sounded good. The moment he agreed, Donghoon, thrilled, pulled out his phone. Ding, the elevator reached the first floor.

🍬

After class, hanging out with friends, it was soon time for dinner. Yoon Yejun and his friends, who’d been lounging in their apartments, met in front of the bar Minseok had opened and went inside.

It had the dark, lively vibe typical of early-semester bars where freshmen would chug drinks. Just your average college-town pub.

Yoon Yejun paused at the entrance, standing still.

There were two types of bars he found particularly uncomfortable: one was the kind in busy districts where nobody cared what anyone was doing, and the other was exactly this kind—dark, damp, college-town bars.

If he had to explain why…

It was probably because they reminded him of someone from his past. In Yoon Yejun’s generally steadfast life, that was a rare time when he’d been aimless, shaken, like a small sailboat tossed on a stormy sea.

“…”

His expression hardened, and Yoon Yejun stood rooted to the spot. His friends, minus him, gathered at the entrance, chattering loudly. They called out, “Minseok hyung,” waving their hands. The senior, standing in the hall soaking in the vibe of a young bar owner, noticed them and approached.

“Hey, you guys actually came?”

“Hyung, what’s with that? You told us to come!”

Donghoon, with a cheeky grin, teased the senior. Watching their light, ping-pong-like banter, the shadows of the past slowly faded.

Yoon Yejun left his friends chatting with the senior and looked around the bar. Despite it not being late, the interior was dim. The atmosphere screamed drinking, and it seemed unlikely he’d leave sober tonight.

“Come this way, over here.”

Yoon Yejun sat where the senior directed. Minseok led them to the center and handed over a decently put-together menu. “Hyung, you really look like a boss now,” his friends teased, and the senior laughed heartily.

Since it was in place of dinner, they ordered spicy stew and fried snacks as appetizers, along with 3000cc of beer and four bottles of soju.

In high spirits, the senior chuckled, saying he’d treat them big tonight and to eat whatever they wanted, then headed to the kitchen.

“Guess why hyung invited us?”

“Who cares?”

“His classmates are all super ugly.”

“That year was cursed for guys.”

“But we’re pretty decent, right?”

Yoon Yejun, listening to their gossip with a bored expression, propped his chin on one hand and scrolled through his phone with the other. It was aimless chatter. He had no interest in joining their pointless banter. Waiting for the food with a blank look, he opened his messenger and swiped the screen with his thumb.

[Political Science and Diplomacy Ki Yeonghan]

The real catch is right here.

Yoon Yejun stared briefly at the bare profile, lacking even a photo or status message.

He didn’t see every guy as a potential partner, and though Ki Yeonghan wasn’t his type, he was good-looking. It wasn’t easy to be both pretty and masculine, but Ki Yeonghan pulled it off. Sharp jawline, deep eyes, long eyelashes. A pretty face, but his strong nose bridge gave him a distinctly masculine edge.

If he didn’t run his mouth so much, he’d be even better. If that were the case, they might’ve at least been decent friends. It wasn’t easy for two guys to awkwardly navigate a group project like this without some camaraderie.

“Hey, we gotta stay as long as possible, okay?”

The senior, who’d approached unnoticed, set a half-cooked stew on the gas burner and spoke.

“It’s not fully cooked yet, so adjust the heat as you eat. Oh, and grab the drinks from the fridge over there.”

Pointing to the fridge with a generous air, the senior spoke, and Yoon Yejun put his phone away. Time to drink. He dished out some appetizers and tilted his glass. One drink, two, and as time passed, more people trickled in. The place was getting pretty full.

“Yo, there’s actually a lot of people.”

Donghoon commented, and Yoon Yejun nodded. Then he brought the soju glass to his lips and downed it.

The conversation warmed up. It wasn’t the wild, freshman-year kind of laughing and drinking, but it was comfortable now. Yoon Yejun was mildly buzzed. He usually needed three or four bottles of soju to get drunk, so he wasn’t a lightweight, but maybe because it’d been a while, he felt the buzz strongly.

A friend, back from the bathroom after chatting with the senior, sat down and said, “Yo, I just heard from Minseok hyung.”

“What?”

Yoon Yejun tilted his head slightly, meeting his eyes instead of asking.

“Jaeui hyung’s coming back to Korea soon.”

“…”

The slight buzz Yoon Yejun had been enjoying slowly faded. His lips tightened. He bit his lower lip slightly. His dry mouth was soothed with water. Sure enough, the question came.

“Jun, weren’t you close with Jaeui hyung?”

“He was super fond of you. Practically glued to you.”

“…”

“I thought you two were dating for a bit. I was kinda suspicious.”

“No, but Jaeui hyung seemed like he could swing that way. He lived in the States for a while, right?”

“What are you talking about…”

Yoon Yejun tried to brush it off playfully, but his voice was heavy. Damn it. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. The soju sloshing in his glass looked tempting.

Swing that way, my ass. Even if he did, it was just curiosity. The one who actually liked him was Yoon Yejun.

There was a time they were inseparable, sure. Back when Yoon Yejun was aimless and shaken. How fun it must’ve been to toy with him. His feelings must’ve been obvious in his eyes. Yoon Yejun tilted his head. Tonight’s a good night for drinking. Afraid his friends might ask more, he couldn’t even muster a bitter smile.

“I don’t talk to him anymore. We lost touch after he went back to the States.”

“Oh, really? But from what Minseok hyung said, he still keeps in touch with some college people.”

“Whatever. Let’s just drink.”

Yoon Yejun returned to his usual expression. Appropriately polite, appropriately sly, appropriately laughing it off.

He naturally raised his glass for a toast. Clink, the glasses lightly tapped, mingling with the bar’s music.

🍬

“I told you a million times, I’m not going. Stop bugging me.”

Ki Yeonghan responded without hesitation to his classmate Lee Yoonhak, who was clinging to his arm. Yoonhak was practically begging.

“Please, just this once, huh? Please, please, just one time.”

“Goddamn it… What, is some drunk ghost possessing you or something?”

“Yeah! Think of it like that. It’s been way too long since we drank together. Look, there’s this senior we took a liberal arts class with last year who opened a bar and keeps asking us to come by. How am I supposed to go alone?”

“Then don’t go.”

“Ki Yeonghaaan. You love drinking too, don’t youuu?”

Ki Yeonghan’s expression turned grim at Lee Yoonhak’s blatant attempt to act cute. Noticing the sharp gaze directed at him, Yoonhak let out a light cough.

“He said to bring a good-looking guy.”

“What, is it a gay bar?”

“What kind of nonsense is that? No, it’s just… it’s right nearby. Not far at all.”

It wasn’t even Friday, so why drink on a weekday? But if it were Friday or the weekend, Ki Yeonghan wouldn’t have been out anyway. Ugh, what a hassle. Ki Yeonghan shook his head.

Whether he liked drinking or not, Ki Yeonghan definitely leaned toward liking it. But there were days he wanted to drink and days he didn’t, right? Today was the latter.

“Hey, forget it. I’m leaving.”

Ki Yeonghan shook off his classmate’s grip on his wrist and turned around without hesitation. He planned to head straight to the parking lot, drive to his apartment, and relax.

That was definitely his plan. If only his classmate hadn’t grabbed his pant leg…

“Hey, Yeonghan, please. Just once… Please…”

Not only did Yoonhak grab his pant leg, but he was pulling so hard it seemed like he’d strip Ki Yeonghan’s pants off. Ki Yeonghan, his face full of irritation, clutched the waistband of his pants.

“Hey, let go!”

“Come on, let’s gooo. Please. I… I’ve got something bothering me. For real. A serious issue.”

People passing by the social sciences building glanced at them. It was a busy time of day as it was. What a ridiculous scene. A guy kneeling and clinging, and another guy next to him, holding his pants up in case they slipped. There’s a limit to looking foolish. Ki Yeonghan, biting back a curse, squeezed his eyes shut.

Ki Yeonghan, who hated attention and being the center of people’s gazes the most, licked his dry lips and pressed them together hard. In the end, he gave in first.

“Fine, I’ll go!”

He shouted. Why were there only such shameless people around him? He couldn’t understand why they thought whining and begging would get them their way.

And so they arrived at a typical college-town bar. Lee Yoonhak had even gone back to his place to change clothes. If he dressed neatly normally, he wouldn’t have needed to go through the hassle of changing and coming back out.

Ki Yeonghan buttoned up his coat, which was thinner than it had been a few weeks ago. The bar looked like it had just opened recently, but it was already pretty crowded.

“Hyung…!”

“Hey, Yoonhak. You made it?”

While Lee Yoonhak chatted with a man who seemed to be the bar’s owner, Ki Yeonghan stood at the entrance, scanning the interior. Hardly anyone came in pairs. Most were in groups, occupying tables. It was a typical weekday scene in front of the university, a full-on party atmosphere.

It wasn’t even eight o’clock, so it wasn’t late, but the place was already packed with drunk people. It felt like a gathering spot for drunks. Did he really have to drink here…? It wasn’t too late. Should he just bolt?

The owner glanced at Ki Yeonghan. “He’s definitely good-looking,” the owner whispered to Yoonhak, who replied, “Told you, right?” with a grin. Honestly, Ki Yeonghan was used to comments about his looks, so he pretended not to hear.

“I’ll tell the staff to comp your bill, so have fun. If you get the chance, join some tables. Got it?”

Yoonhak bowed at the waist.

“Hyungnim, I’ll serve you with utmost devotion.”

“Cut the crap.”

Their ridiculous conversation should’ve been drowned out by the music, but sadly, it wasn’t. Ki Yeonghan muttered a curse under his breath without hesitation.

Soon, Lee Yoonhak, guided to a table by the owner, approached Ki Yeonghan. Ki Yeonghan couldn’t hide his sour expression.

“Came here to mooch drinks?”

“Yeah. Hyung said he’d treat us if we showed up.”

“Then bring someone else.”

“Ugh, hyung said to bring a good-looking guy… Never mind. I actually have something to talk to you about. Let’s go in and chat. Two birds, one stone.”

Ki Yeonghan was sure there was no real issue to discuss. That’s just how Yoonhak was. When he wanted to drink, he’d drag up some nonexistent problem and pour down liquor.

Ki Yeonghan had no idea why Yoonhak kept dragging him along. He wasn’t the cheerful, joking type like others, and to be honest, he wasn’t a strong drinker. At most, he could handle one bottle of soju. That’s why he preferred drinking alone.

Whatever. Let it be. Ki Yeonghan waved his hand. If he got drunk first, he could just leave, so it wasn’t a big deal.

🍬

“Goddamn… How much does that guy drink?”

What a tank. Ki Yeonghan muttered a curse and put a cigarette in his mouth.

The bar was on the top floor of a four-story building, so the rooftop was used as the smoking area. The fresh air was nice. He’d barely drunk, trying to stay sober, but the bar, filled with the smell of food, was stifling. Good thing Yoonhak didn’t smoke. If he did, he’d have followed Ki Yeonghan up here, whining in that grating voice.

Ki Yeonghan bit the filter and flicked the lighter’s wheel to spark a flame. Click— The small flame caught the tip of the cigarette. It lit, and the cigarette burned down quickly.

It was spring, but still chilly. The noise from beyond the building was loud. Spring songs blared, and freshmen, likely drinking together, spilled out in groups before disappearing again. What a carefree life. Ki Yeonghan sneered repeatedly.

Without using his hands, he kept the cigarette in his mouth, letting smoke escape through the gap. Buzz. His phone vibrated briefly.

Only then did Ki Yeonghan take the cigarette between his fingers and pull his phone from his pocket to check the messages. Group chats from his department and a few messages from freshmen he’d run into by chance. That was it.

Since nothing was urgent, Ki Yeonghan skimmed them and put the phone away when he suddenly sensed someone nearby. His head slowly turned toward the source. In a corner of the rooftop was a wooden swing, probably set up for aesthetics, but the only light was where Ki Yeonghan stood, leaving the swing in darkness. No wonder he’d noticed the presence late.

Someone was sitting on the swing, curled up. They weren’t smoking, so what were they doing there?

Ki Yeonghan stared at the swing briefly before turning his head back. Watching the giggling groups inside the bar was better.

Drunk or not, he had no interest in meddling. He stubbed out the nearly finished cigarette in the ashtray. As he turned to head back downstairs, the person on the swing called his name.

“…It’s Ki Yeonghan.”

“…”

His head turned back instinctively. He glanced to see if anyone else was there, but it was just him and the person on the swing. The voice was calm. Before he could place it, the person stood abruptly and walked slowly toward him.

When they reached the lit area, Ki Yeonghan recognized them. It was Yoon Yejun.

Yoon Yejun, after calling his name, approached and just blinked. His movements were slower than usual. Was he drunk? The reason for smoking up here was obvious. He must’ve been drinking at the bar downstairs. The way he stared made Ki Yeonghan uncomfortable for some reason.

Finally, Ki Yeonghan spoke first.

“What are you staring at?”

Saying that, he turned his head. College towns were always noisy. Freshmen being freshmen, upperclassmen being upperclassmen. The buoyant atmosphere never suited him.

Even in spring, nights were chilly. Good thing he’d worn a coat. Though it’d probably get hot again in a blink. He buttoned his coat and checked Yoon Yejun’s state.

He figured the conversation with Yoon Yejun would end there. Ki Yeonghan’s mouth felt inexplicably dry. Should he smoke another? But as he considered, he fixed his gaze back on the approaching figure with a scowl.

“…”

Yoon Yejun, now close, leaned against the rooftop railing. He seemed pretty drunk. His usually sharp eyes were softened. Ki Yeonghan looked at him with his usual cold gaze.

Despite being a head shorter, Yoon Yejun tilted his head and said something outrageous.

“Why can’t I stare?”

Is he actually crazy?

Ki Yeonghan didn’t respond. If you’ve got a drinking problem, don’t drink. He was picking a fight for no reason. Not a single likable thing about this guy. If he had to have a drinking habit, giggling like an idiot would’ve been better. Picking a fight with someone like this was worse.

Ki Yeonghan silently licked his dry lips.

Yoon Yejun continued, undeterred by Ki Yeonghan’s silence.

“Can’t I look a little? I’ve got eyes too.”

“Wow… This is nuts.”

If you’ve got eyes, glance and look away when you meet someone’s gaze. Does getting drunk turn him into a reckless jerk? You can usually tell someone’s personality after a few interactions, whether in class or a meeting. Ki Yeonghan’s assessment of Yoon Yejun was clear: a jerk who hides his bad personality. Smirking in front of the professor, and earlier with that classmate too, right? But drunk, he dropped all pretense.

“Crazy bastard…”

Yoon Yejun muttered under his breath.

Who’s calling who that? Ki Yeonghan’s lips twitched. He had no intention of arguing with a drunk.

He stared at Yoon Yejun for a moment. The breeze tousled his hair. Annoyed by the strands tickling his skin, Yoon Yejun grimaced slightly.

Objectively. Purely objectively. Setting aside his personality entirely and looking only at his appearance, Yoon Yejun was on the pretty side.

‘Thinking that now? I must be drunk too.’

Ki Yeonghan barely swallowed the urge to snap and ask if he was calling him pretty. He wasn’t clueless enough to say that in this situation. The guy in front of him, though, seemed to be.

“You’re really… such a jerk.”

Ki Yeonghan knew that. He’d heard it plenty. But never to his face like this.

What a weird guy. Approaching someone out of nowhere, picking a fight. Sure, alcohol played a big part.

With a dumbfounded expression, Ki Yeonghan looked at Yoon Yejun and said, “If you’re drunk, go home.”

They’d have to see each other for at least a couple of months. Regularly. Not just in class but outside too. Why was this guy acting like this toward him?

“I’m not drunk…”

“Oh, come on.”

“Ki Yeonghan, you’re a jerk.”

Yoon Yejun didn’t stop at once. Twice, thrice, four times… He kept calling Ki Yeonghan a jerk. Hearing it to his face was a first, and it came like a bombardment. Was he trying to brainwash him?

Ki Yeonghan licked his teeth and lips with his tongue, then nodded.

Just leave.

As he turned to walk away from Yoon Yejun, it happened.

With a tilt, Yoon Yejun’s body, drained of strength, swayed.

“Uh…”

With nothing to grab, he let out a dazed sound. And it was Ki Yeonghan who caught him.

“…”

Yoon Yejun collapsed, unable to hold himself up, putting his full weight on Ki Yeonghan. His thin frame pressed against Ki Yeonghan’s sturdy, solid build. The contrast was stark. Ki Yeonghan had felt it in the theater too, but Yoon Yejun’s frame was indeed slight. Instinctively, Ki Yeonghan grabbed his wrist lightly, then relaxed his grip.

“Is he insane…?”

He couldn’t hold back the curse boiling up. Why did he keep getting tangled with this guy? Ki Yeonghan had lived a steady, uneventful life. Steady. He hadn’t done anything particularly wrong. Sure, he was a bit harsh and hot-tempered, but…

But…

If this was some kind of trial for that, he’d live gently and kindly from now on.

“…”

Held by the arm and slumped against Ki Yeonghan’s chest, Yoon Yejun lifted his head.

“…”

Ki Yeonghan’s brow twitched unconsciously. Yoon Yejun blinked slowly. Ki Yeonghan openly grimaced. Why did that mole have to be under his eye? Why were his eyelashes pointlessly curled? Why were his lips so glossy and slick?

Ki Yeonghan was definitely drunk too.

He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them, Yoon Yejun’s eyes were slowly closing too.

And at that moment…

“Urgh…”

Yoon Yejun retched. A horrific sound followed. Vomit splattered across Ki Yeonghan’s beige coat. Food from his mouth spilled onto the coat, dripping to the floor. Meanwhile, Yoon Yejun, unable to hold himself up, kept leaning into Ki Yeonghan.

“Goddamn it…!”

In shock, Ki Yeonghan shoved Yoon Yejun away. He almost pushed hard enough to make him fall but grabbed the collar of his jacket instead. His fingers trembled with rage.

“Ha…”

Holding Yoon Yejun at arm’s length, Ki Yeonghan looked down at himself.

“Argh…”

He turned his head from the horrific sight. He wanted to escape the situation, but he couldn’t.

Yoon Yejun, leaning on Ki Yeonghan’s arm, barely propped himself against the rooftop railing. Ki Yeonghan couldn’t even look at his coat and rummaged through his pocket with his free hand. He was ready to call the police and end this.

Yoon Yejun, with vomit smeared around his mouth, mumbled, “My friends… are downstairs… My head hurts…”

“Stop screwing around, seriously.”

“I’m gonna puke…”

“You already did!”

Is this guy actually crazy?!

Yoon Yejun brought his hand to his mouth. Another “Urgh…” sound came. Ki Yeonghan’s face turned ghostly white. Without hesitation, he grabbed Yoon Yejun by the collar and dragged him. He hurried his steps. Rather than calling the police, he decided it was better to get rid of this mess.

He wanted to drag him by the hair, but couldn’t bring himself to. Ki Yeonghan exhaled roughly, muttering every curse he could think of—damn, hell, shit. Words he’d never imagined spilled from his mouth.

He let out a frustrated breath. The breeze, which he’d thought was chilly, now felt warm, but that wasn’t his concern. It was definitely because he was pissed.

🍬

“…My head hurts.”

A cracked, hoarse voice slipped out. As Yoon Yejun lifted his heavy eyelids, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.

He wanted to pull himself together, realizing this wasn’t his four-pyeong studio apartment, but the ceiling spun. Or maybe he was the one spinning.

The night before, he’d binged. He didn’t want to know if it was because of someone he’d accidentally heard about, the bar’s atmosphere, or just drinking after a long time. His memory was so fragmented he couldn’t recall anything clearly. To piece it together, he’d need to sober up first.

And this place.

“…”

Yoon Yejun bolted upright. The blanket covering him slid down. He wasn’t even wearing a shirt. He wanted to assess the situation, but the crushing hangover headache forced him to collapse back onto the bed.

A spicy, greasy smell filled the air. Yoon Yejun barely glanced to the side.

“You up?”

His friend Kim Donghoon was eating ramen at a low table.

Oh…

It was Donghoon’s place. Thank goodness. Now that he thought about it, the space wasn’t that unfamiliar. It just wasn’t his apartment. The tension in his body finally eased. Yoon Yejun let out a deep breath.

“Uh, yeah…”

“You drank a lot last night.”

“Ha…”

He clutched his throbbing head with hands that felt heavier than usual. His body still felt feverish. The brutal hangover seemed ready to consume him.

“My memory’s gone.”

“Figured. First time I’ve seen you that drunk in years.”

Donghoon finished speaking and slurped up the rest of his ramen. Slurp, slurp… The greasy smell made Yoon Yejun want to puke. Unable to hold back, he barely sat up and opened the window by the bed.

“Want me to cook you some ramen?”

“I’m good…”

Donghoon got up and rummaged through a shelf. The sound of his movements reached Yoon Yejun’s ears. He peeled open a packet and pressed the microwave buttons—beep, beep. Probably planning to mix it with rice.

Yoon Yejun, overwhelmed by the rare, agonizing hangover, couldn’t even lie on his side. He just stared at the ceiling. Opening his eyes made it spin; closing them made him nauseous.

He tried to recall his last memory.

The last thing he remembered… was going up to the rooftop to smoke. He’d stumbled up the stairs. Did he make it to the rooftop? Did he smoke? The memory was hazy.

Slurp, slurp. Donghoon, eating rice mixed with broth, spoke with his mouth full.

“You know Ki Yeonghan?”

“What?”

Yoon Yejun, caught off guard by the familiar name from Donghoon’s mouth, asked back. There was only one Ki Yeonghan he knew.

“Ki Yeonghan. The political science guy.”

“Oh…”

How does he know? Yoon Yejun let out a soft exclamation and steadied his breath. What did it matter? He probably mentioned him while drinking.

“He brought you here last night, said you puked. That guy’s usually got no drinking quirks, so what was up with him yesterday? You puked all over his clothes, and he was freaking out. Ki Yeonghan looked like he was ready to kill someone.”

“…”

…Screwed.

🍬

Yoon Yejun was seriously considering skipping class on his own for the first time since his freshman year.

Why does time pass so quickly? Or perhaps my time flows faster compared to others? I have no way of knowing. Regardless, Thursday came in the blink of an eye.

Thursday, 12 p.m. A three-hour elective liberal arts course, “Gender and Communication.” As soon as Yoon Yejun opened his eyes to the sound of his alarm, he buried his face in his pillow. He had absolutely no idea what to do. He tried to gather his thoughts while rolling around in bed, but time slipped away mercilessly.

Finally, pushing himself to the brink of being late, he sat up abruptly.

“…”

He cautiously pressed the power button on his phone. The lock screen displayed messages, all from classmates or the group chat for his part-time job. Just in case he’d missed something, he opened the messaging app and checked the texts he’d sent to Ki Yeonghan.

Tuesday

Me

I heard I was rude. I was too drunk… If it’s okay, I’d like to cover the dry-cleaning costs, so could you please contact me? I tried calling, but you didn’t pick up.

2:05 p.m.

Wednesday

Me

Are you really upset? About, you know, me throwing up… There were circumstances. No, regardless of the reason, I’m sorry. Please get back to me.

4:27 p.m.

Have you submitted the report? I’m confident about the report. If you don’t want to write it, just let me know. ^^

7:49 p.m.

The messages were polite and formal. Yoon Yejun didn’t even know what he’d said to Ki Yeonghan. The memories from that night had been completely erased. But what Kim Donghoon had told him was shocking.

“You were dragged in, covered in puke on Ki Yeonghan’s clothes. He was ready to flip out. His glare was so intense, I thought I’d die of fear.”

“You’re taking a class together? Just grovel. You might actually die if you run into him. I’ve never seen eyes like that.”

“He didn’t seem all there either. Making a scene in a crowded bar, yelling about calling the police… He freaked out when it looked like you’d puke again.”

Kim Donghoon had described the incident in vivid detail to jog his memory, but nothing came back. It was just horrifying. Yoon Yejun had called and texted Ki Yeonghan, but he never answered the calls, and though he read the messages, he didn’t reply.

“Ha…”

Yoon Yejun let out a sigh. It’d be better to just face him and talk. Given Ki Yeonghan’s personality, he’d probably demand Yoon Yejun kneel or something ridiculous. What should he do then? Should he actually kneel? As Donghoon said, it’d be better than dying.

🍬

At the same time.

The professor for Ki Yeonghan’s major was reading straight from the textbook, lecturing verbatim. Occasionally, he’d call on a student to translate the text into Korean. It was supposed to be about the Korean Peninsula and international politics, but it felt more like a translation class.

Normally, Ki Yeonghan would’ve brushed off any complaints, chalking it up to the professor’s teaching style. But not today.

“…”

He’d always been confident in his studies since childhood. He’d never goofed off in class, and unless someone distracted him, he could focus adequately and follow along. But now, he couldn’t concentrate. The professor’s words sounded like nonsense, and the text in front of him squirmed like worms crawling through wet soil.

He closed his eyes deeply to calm himself, but it didn’t help.

Maybe it was because he hadn’t slept properly the night before. He’d run into Yoon Yejun at the bar on Monday, so it made sense that he couldn’t sleep that night into Tuesday. He was so pissed he thought he’d die.

He’d rushed back to his apartment, thrown out all the clothes he was wearing, and showered twice, but the anger didn’t subside. Even lying down, thoughts of Yoon Yejun made him so mad he flailed his legs in the air. When he finally tried to close his eyes, the image of Yoon Yejun, eyes neatly shut just before vomiting on him, flooded his mind, fueling his rage even more.

Sure, the first day could be excused. But the problem was that the next day, and the day after, were the same. Even last night, he hadn’t slept properly.

His head was full of thoughts about Yoon Yejun. He was pissed, and pissed again. Yoon Yejun’s neatly closed eyes, his glossy lips. And the vomit spewing from his mouth. As if Ki Yeonghan wasn’t already furious enough, Yoon Yejun kept calling and texting, as if trying to rub it in. That made him even more agitated.

Sleeplessness was one thing. Getting mad when someone wrongs you is natural. But when it started affecting his daily life, the anger he’d barely suppressed boiled up again.

“Haa…”

Ki Yeonghan finally rested his folded arms on the desk and buried his head in the textbook. Studying was impossible…

“Want to try, Yeonghan? …Yeonghan, you asleep?”

Unfortunately, the moment Ki Yeonghan slumped over, the professor called his name. With his head still down, he lifted only his eyes before slowly sitting up.

That damn Yoon Yejun. Crazy bastard. How did I get tangled up with a guy like that?

He couldn’t help but curse.

🍬

Yoon Yejun arrived at a café near the liberal arts building, known for its takeout. He planned to buy a drink for himself, having stayed up all night, and one for Ki Yeonghan. He’d start by offering it and apologizing. Since Ki Yeonghan wasn’t responding, he couldn’t even tell him he was bringing something. They weren’t close enough for that anyway.

There were a couple of people ahead of him, but they got their drinks quickly and left. It was Yoon Yejun’s turn.

“Welcome!”

The barista greeted energetically. Yoon Yejun returned the greeting with a “Hello.” Normally, he’d smile brightly, but not today.

He pulled out his card and handed it over.

“Two iced Americanos…”

His gaze drifted to a signboard next to the counter.

A fresh spring with mint chocolate.

Topped with emerald whipped cream and heaps of chocolate chips, the undisputed popular menu item at [Café Name]!

Experience the rich taste of chocolate and refreshing mint for yourself.

Was an Americano too cheap? It was meant as an apology, after all. Plus, it was the perfect time for a sugar boost. Sure, the class was broken into ninety-minute segments, but a three-hour lecture still felt grueling.

Yoon Yejun had good intentions. He’d only tried the iced Americano here, but it was pretty good. So, a popular menu item should be decently tasty.

“One iced Americano and one cold mint chocolate latte, please.”

He picked up the takeout cups. The Americano came in a clear cup, while the mint chocolate latte was in a paper one. Didn’t they usually use paper cups for hot drinks? That’s unusual. Yoon Yejun tilted his head and walked toward the liberal arts building.

Approaching Mugunghwa Hall on the first floor, Yoon Yejun would’ve normally walked in casually, but today he couldn’t.

He knew he had to go in, but his feet wouldn’t move easily. He lingered on a bench outside the hall, catching his breath, sipping his Americano, and swallowing hard. After spending about ten minutes outside, he finally stood up.

‘Just go in. You’re going to apologize anyway.’

Opening the door and stepping inside, a few students who’d arrived early glanced back at him.

“…”

The familiar lone wolf was seated right in the middle.

Yoon Yejun swallowed dryly. His throat kept feeling parched, and his grip tightened on the cup. He slowly approached the lone wolf. Even when he got right next to him, Ki Yeonghan didn’t turn his head. Yoon Yejun bit his lips inward tightly before slowly releasing them.

“…Hello.”

He spoke first. Ki Yeonghan, who’d been expressionlessly fiddling with his phone, whipped his head around. His blank face filled with displeasure instantly.

…Screwed.

“You must’ve been busy.”

Yoon Yejun set the cup on the desk and sat next to Ki Yeonghan. Since the class involved a lot of group work, he had to sit with his project partner.

Yoon Yejun handed the mint chocolate latte to Ki Yeonghan.

Ki Yeonghan didn’t say a word. It would’ve been better if he’d snapped or grumbled like usual. I’m screwed. Yoon Yejun cursed inwardly. Then he curved his eyes as usual. He felt like he was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Yoon Yejun pushed the takeout cup a bit closer to Ki Yeonghan.

“Have this. I got it on the way.”

Ki Yeonghan looked at Yoon Yejun with an irritated expression and picked up the cup. At least he didn’t say no, which was a relief.

“What’s this?” Ki Yeonghan asked, not waiting for an answer before putting the straw in his mouth. The thicker-than-usual clear straw sucked up a mix of green and brown. At least he didn’t reject it, so that was something. Yoon Yejun was about to breathe a sigh of relief when it happened.

Ki Yeonghan quickly pulled his lips from the straw. Holding up the cup, he shot Yoon Yejun a sharp glare.

“…You bring something like this?”

Of course, it wouldn’t go quietly. Yoon Yejun’s awkward smile shattered. Ki Yeonghan handed the cup back.

“You drink it.”

He was openly sarcastic. Yoon Yejun’s mouth felt dry.

“Oh…”

“…”

“You don’t like it, huh.”

Since Yoon Yejun was the one at fault, he let it slide gently. He didn’t know anyone who disliked mint, so he was at a loss. Or maybe it tasted bad?

Yoon Yejun put his lips to the straw of the cup Ki Yeonghan had handed back. Ki Yeonghan’s face filled with shock. It tasted fine…

“You don’t like mint?”

“Who likes that crap?”

So he doesn’t like it. Yoon Yejun thought it was decent enough.

Ki Yeonghan returned to his phone with a grumpy expression. Yoon Yejun squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. He pulled out handouts and a pen for class, then turned to look at Ki Yeonghan.

“Um… You probably saw my messages, but I was so drunk that day… I actually don’t remember much. Did you… get your clothes cleaned?”

“Threw them out.”

“Threw them… Oh, I see. Should I buy you new ones?”

“No. Don’t talk to me.”

“Oh, you don’t want me to talk to you…”

Yoon Yejun turned his head the other way, looking at students chatting amicably among themselves. What a great time. Now he understood why this class was good for making rational friends. But why did he have to sit here placating this jerk next to him? He admitted his mistake, even if he didn’t remember it, and he knew he was at fault, but… separately, a tangle of resentment welled up.

Ki Yeonghan’s personality wasn’t just weird—it was bizarre. Since becoming an adult, Yoon Yejun had worked various part-time jobs and met people with all kinds of personalities. He’d encountered good people, steady people, and plenty of strange, bad ones who made him worry how they got by in the world. He’d always believed he was good at handling people. But Ki Yeonghan was a first.

Ki Yeonghan was irritated by everything and picked fights over nothing. During class, if Yoon Yejun accidentally dropped his pen, Ki Yeonghan would glare at him with eyes wide like a flounder’s.

Even if Yoon Yejun was in the wrong, it was excessive. He offered to pay, but got no response. He was told not to talk, and when he brought a drink, Ki Yeonghan snapped that no one would drink that crap, yet he kept grumbling.

But that was just Yoon Yejun’s perspective. If Ki Yeonghan was upset, there was nothing to be done. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling of sitting on a bed of thorns.

“…”

Normally, he’d be dozing off, but not today. Last time, Ki Yeonghan had already made a fuss about him sleeping, so how much worse would it be now? He fought a grueling battle against drowsiness, eyes straining.

While listening to the lecture, Yoon Yejun subtly rolled his eyes. He stole a glance at Ki Yeonghan’s notes. The handwriting, neatly jotting down the professor’s words with a pen, was impeccable. Unlike Yoon Yejun, who scribbled during class and organized later, Ki Yeonghan’s writing was so precise it could’ve earned him fame as a calligrapher in the Joseon era. It suited him, in a way. He was meticulous and rigid.

🍬

The class, which felt like sitting on a chair stabbed with sharp needles, finally ended. With a part-time job in two hours, Yoon Yejun debated whether to eat dinner at home.

Then, as Ki Yeonghan packed his things, he said, “Hey.” Yoon Yejun, stuffing papers into his bag, stiffened and replied, “Yes.”

What’s he going to say now?

Ki Yeonghan was like a faulty time bomb. You never knew when he’d explode. Yoon Yejun almost wished he remembered that drunken night. Then, no matter what Ki Yeonghan threw at him, he could use those memories as a buffer. But with no memory and having to tread carefully, he felt a bit wronged.

Ki Yeonghan asked, “We’re meeting tomorrow, right?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Yoon Yejun nodded in response. Ki Yeonghan glanced at his phone screen before standing up.

“Let’s meet at 7 a.m. tomorrow. I have a place I want to go.”

Not 7 p.m.? Yoon Yejun wished he’d misheard. His eyes widened. But the guy in front of him, as if worried he’d misunderstood, repeated himself.

“7 a.m. Not evening.”

Stunned for a moment, Yoon Yejun blurted out, “Are you crazy?”

“No.”

“You’re doing this because I puked, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Goddamn… You’re such a psycho.”

Even if Ki Yeonghan offered to pay for a trip to Hawaii, Yoon Yejun would’ve refused. He had a part-time job until 2 a.m. the previous night at a busy pub. The day they first set a meeting, Yoon Yejun had mentioned it, so Ki Yeonghan knew, yet he stubbornly set the time anyway.

“Then let’s meet after class today. I’m done at 6 p.m.”

“You said you have a job.”

“Yeah, I know. 7 a.m. at school, then.”

“Hey.”

Finally, Yoon Yejun called out to stop him. Ki Yeonghan tilted his head, meeting his eyes with a dry gaze. Yoon Yejun couldn’t quell the boiling frustration inside.

“I said I was sorry for puking that day.”

“You think that’s all?”

“What else?”

“You called me a jerk to my face, over and over.”

“…”

Yoon Yejun looked away. No matter that it was his first drink in a while, why had he gotten that drunk? Was it because he drank without eating? Or because he went to the rooftop to smoke while plastered? If he could go back a few days, he’d grab himself by the collar to stop himself from drinking.

Yoon Yejun’s resolve weakened. Forcing a smile, Ki Yeonghan’s expression grew even grimmer. He knew Ki Yeonghan wouldn’t let it slide. Yoon Yejun cautiously broached the subject.

“Can’t we make it 8?”

“…”

“Please.”

He looked up, blinking rapidly a couple of times on purpose. Ki Yeonghan, meeting his eyes, furrowed his brow intensely. Pride was a luxury for Yoon Yejun. He just wanted to sleep a bit more. He smiled kindly and tilted his head. As he blinked, Ki Yeonghan turned his head sharply, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

“…Fine, do that.”

Then he left the classroom without a moment’s hesitation. Yoon Yejun watched his back, then buried his head on the desk, endlessly muttering, “Yoon Yejun, you’re dead.”

Drinking was never worth it.

🍬

Hurrying toward the social sciences building, Ki Yeonghan ran his hand through his hair. He was practically jogging, so his breath was short, and his heart pounded heavily.

“…”

Yoon Yejun was utterly incomprehensible. They weren’t close or anything special, yet he casually used the straw Ki Yeonghan had used, and his handwriting was annoyingly round and neat.

Everything irritated Ki Yeonghan. During a break, he’d impulsively looked up nearby mountains, determined to mess with Yoon Yejun. Even when he actually suggested it, Yoon Yejun just pleaded to push the time back, widening his eyes and acting pitiful. It was pathetic. No pride, relying on his looks—it was laughable. What pissed Ki Yeonghan off more was that he’d fallen for that face and pushed the time back.

“Ugh…”

Stopping in front of the social sciences building, Ki Yeonghan stared blankly up at the tall structure. Why did thinking about that guy make him so annoyed? And it wasn’t just annoyance—thoughts of him kept flooding his mind.

It had probably started after that night on the bar’s rooftop. His vision darkened. He felt frustrated and pathetic for being so affected.

Just go to class. Steeling himself, he entered the building. Waiting for the elevator, he thought of Yoon Yejun again. The image of him biting the straw and tilting his head was etched deeply in his memory.

Here we go again.

Feeling stifled, he turned his body. Across from the elevator, a large poster on the college bulletin board caught his eye.

Date: XX.04.02 ~ XX.04.04

Location: Gapyeong XX Resort

Fee: 10,000 won for current students, free for freshmen (contact the student council if fees are unpaid)

Most departments held their MTs in late March, but it seemed the Media and Communication Department went in the first week of April. Ki Yeonghan skimmed the shoddily made poster while waiting for the elevator. Were they planning to chase down students who hadn’t paid their fees? What were college students even doing?

Then, with a ding, the elevator doors opened. Taking the sound as a cue, Ki Yeonghan stepped toward it. Whether the Media and Communication Department held their MT in April or charged a million won for fees, it wasn’t his department, so it didn’t matter. But wasn’t Yoon Yejun in that department? Not that it mattered. A guy always talking about jobs and such wouldn’t go to something like this.

🍬

“Yejun, you worked hard today. You can head out.”

“Oh, okay. Just finishing the dishes.”

Yoon Yejun, wearing rubber gloves, scrubbed a dish covered in detergent and raised his voice. The pub job was more physically tiring than tutoring, but the people were nice. Today was bearable, too. Going home, showering, and sleeping sounded perfect. He craved a beer but held back. It hadn’t even been a week since his drunken fiasco.

It’d be tough waking up early tomorrow. After finishing the dishes, Yoon Yejun set down the wet gloves, grabbed his bag from the staff break room behind the hall, and headed out.

Despite the late hour, the pub was still loud and bustling. Drunk patrons laughed loudly. The crowded room felt hot and stuffy. Wanting to escape, Yoon Yejun gave a quick nod to the remaining staff and slipped out of the building.