OMLM | Chapter 27

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Kang Yebon frowned and scanned Lee Seunggu with a strange look.

He had thought it was obviously a joke, but for some reason, Lee Seunggu didn’t have a playful expression on his face.

“…You serious?”

“Surprisingly, yes. Didn’t Kim Junghyun treat you better back in our freshman year?”

How would I remember that? Yebon groaned inwardly, trying to recall his freshman days, but the memories were fuzzy.

Back then, he was busy dating Jung Woochan, so he honestly didn’t mingle much with the other college kids.

Without Lee Seunggu, Yebon would probably have known no one in his department.

“I don’t remember. Was it like that?”

“Probably. When you finished classes in our freshman year, you’d vanish like you were running away. It felt like we were out of your circle. Kim Junghyun initially followed you around like a puppy, don’t you remember that?”

Yebon was startled by this revelation.

At the same time, he realized anew how much Jung Woochan had dominated his life. It was to the extent that he couldn’t remember any of these events.

“Uh… I don’t remember at all.”

“Well, Kim Junghyun got offended afterward and went off the rails a bit, but he was pretty extreme. It would have been better if you guys just fought it out. …But are you having a tough time these days?”

Lee Seunggu, who was walking a bit ahead, stopped and turned around.

His dark brown eyes trembled slightly as if he feared Yebon might hit a wall.

But even amidst this, Yebon didn’t have the courage to spill all his troubles to Lee Seunggu.

Yebon avoided eye contact and said painfully,

“Yeah… I’ve got a lot going on these days, so it’s tough. But it’s hard to talk about it. Not just with you, with anyone. Sorry…”

He had a feeling that things might not be the same with Lee Seunggu anymore.

Yebon couldn’t bear to see what expression Lee Seunggu was making, so he kept his head down.

A sharp silence flowed around Yebon.

“Is that so.”

His brief reply felt chillingly cold. As Yebon cautiously raised his face, Lee Seunggu wasn’t showing a hurt expression but was smiling faintly.

“You have nothing to be sorry about. I have no intention of prying if it’s hard for you to talk. Honestly, I felt a bit hurt last time, so my words might have come out harsh, but all I wanted was for you, Kang Yebon, to tell me when you’re having a tough time. You’ve never once said you’re struggling or that you’re tired.”

…Have I never said that? Lee Seunggu scratched his head awkwardly.

“Maybe you really weren’t struggling, but sometimes you look exhausted. I’ve always been concerned that you’re just putting on a brave face. So, just tell me something simple like, ‘Things are a bit tough these days because of some stuff,’ when you feel like it. I know I might seem nosy.”

You’ve been putting up with a nosy friend like me for five years. So try to understand a bit.

Saying this, Lee Seunggu nodded his head as if to beckon Yebon closer.

Yebon’s lips quivered slightly.

The old Yebon thought that apart from Jung Woochan, there were no close people around him.

He did consider Lee Seunggu a friend, but he thought of him as just a fleeting connection that would eventually leave him.

He thought this way, but… Yebon muttered in a choked voice,

“…What’s so good about being friends with me? Putting up with all my nosiness to stay friends, I feel sorry for you.”

Resentment could be felt, but it was directed more at himself than at Lee Seunggu.

Lee Seunggu chuckled in disbelief and lightly pushed Yebon’s back as if to keep walking.

“You don’t really like people who are clingy and meddle too much, do you?”

“…Maybe?”

“But from what I see, you need someone who’s a bit persistent and meddlesome to get close to you. Otherwise, you always keep a safe distance and don’t hold onto anyone who leaves. It might be an overreach, but I felt like you were always keeping people at arm’s length before. Just enough distance to only see the good in each other.”

…Lee Seunggu was insightful. Yebon couldn’t think of any rebuttal to everything he said.

You need to be a bit persistent and meddlesome to get close… That’s when Yebon finally realized why he had liked Jung Woochan in the past.

Yebon chuckled subtly and murmured, “…Right, you’re spot on.”

Yebon lay in bed, slowly blinking his groggy eyes.

Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, illuminating the room. Morning had come. A Saturday morning.

Only after confronting his feelings did Yebon realize what going to Cha Hyuk’s house meant for him.

He unconsciously simulated various scenarios, worried about making a mistake or the atmosphere turning awkward.

Thus, he ended up staying awake all night.

“Sigh…”

Rubbing his dry eyes, he finally sat up.

His phone showed a message had come around 6 a.m., which he hadn’t noticed because it was on silent.

He knew who had sent it without having to check—Yebon only received texts from one person.

“Cha Hyuk hyung: I’ll be at the apartment gate at 11:10, take your time coming out.” (6:49 AM)

After some thought, Yebon replied.

“Okay.” (9:01 AM)

It felt too stiff, but strangely, he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

After staring at the screen a bit longer, Yebon tossed the phone down and left the room to get ready.

In the living room, there were sandwiches and a note on the table. Yebon remembered his mom saying she had a gathering and would be home late.

“Son, call me if anything comes up~ Mom will be back later^^❤ Sorry and love you always❤”

Yebon texted his mom that he also had plans and would be out.

After washing up and eating a sandwich, he spent a long time in front of his closet, pulling out clothes, trying them on, and taking them off again.

He usually met in casual attire every day, yet Yebon pondered over what to wear.

Training clothes because it’s home…? But it’s kind of a date, so maybe something neat?

After trying on this and that, Yebon settled on jeans and a knit. It was no different from his usual attire.

As he was putting on his jeans, his phone buzzed loudly. It was an alarm set for 11 a.m.

Yebon hurriedly finished dressing and grabbed only his phone before heading out.

The air outside was quite chilly. He hesitated briefly because the knit’s neckline was a bit deep, but it would probably be fine indoors.

Yebon quickened his pace toward the apartment gate.

He arrived around 11:06, and immediately a familiar car caught his eye.

Cha Hyuk had noticed him too, as the car window slid down. Inside, Cha Hyuk leaned forward slightly, smiling and waving.

…Strange. Yebon knew Cha Hyuk was handsome, but until now, he hadn’t thought of him as his type.

Yebon had liked someone like Jung Woochan, who was neat and dignified, almost like a student council president.

Maybe it was because he had only liked Jung Woochan, but anyway, he was not into big, bear-like guys with fierce looks.

But still…

Yebon approached the car, awkwardly smiling as his loose knit flapped around.

“Hello, thanks for picking me up.”

“It’s nothing. But are you warm enough?”

As Yebon climbed into the car, he couldn’t quite look at Cha Hyuk properly and just kept up a faltering smile.

His heart thudded loudly, and sweat gathered in his palms.

Yebon realized he was in deeper trouble than he thought. He felt like he might faint.