Miracle Illusion

“Is it funny?”“…….”When Yeonwoo finally reached the flat ground, Sungwoon was sprawled beside a tree. Yeonwoo hurriedly ran over and helped pull the rubber basin off Sungwoon’s butt. With snowflakes clinging to his eyebrows, Sungwoon squinted at Yeonwoo.“It’s not funny at all.”“Your nostrils are flaring.”“…Sorry.”Honestly, it was hilarious. The disappearing scream, Sungwoon zigzagging in the basin like an overturned beetle, and then stuck in the snow with the basin on his butt… Just thinking about it made Yeonwoo laugh. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand to stifle his laughter.“As long as you’re happy.”Sungwoon brushed the snow off Yeonwoo’s hair and laughed along with him. Yeonwoo’s cheeks, red from the cold, crinkled into a smile.“Now it’s your turn to ride the basin.”“…….”The laughter disappeared instantly. Sungwoon smirked meaningfully, raising one corner of his mouth.They went up and down the hill sledding until their fingers were red with cold and their numb cheeks lost feeling. They screamed until their voices gave out and laughed until their cheeks hurt.“It’s my first time sledding.”Yeonwoo’s voice cracked slightly. Sungwoon, with the rubber basin slung over his shoulder, nodded.“Was it fun?”“Yeah. It was really… so much fun.”“Then that’s enough.”Their faces were so cold that their words were slurred. They held hands tightly and cautiously made their way home.⟡˖ ࣪“Are you going straight home?”“I could. What about you?”“Nothing else to do?”“No.”“Come with me.”December. This winter was said to be especially cold. Without the padded jacket Sungwoon had bought him, Yeonwoo might have gotten frostbite. Shrugging his shoulders, Yeonwoo followed Sungwoon across the schoolyard. Sungwoon’s back, with the black bag slung over his shoulder, seemed oddly cheerful.“Are you really cold?”“No, I’m fine.”His ears were frozen, but Yeonwoo preferred staying with Sungwoon over going home immediately, so he shook his head. While the first and second years were still in class, the two of them, having finished their exams, sat side by side on the bleachers before noon.“But why here?”“I have something to give you.”The yard was empty, likely due to the cold weather. Sungwoon took off his bag and rummaged through it.“First, this.”“What’s this?”“You’ll see.”The first thing Sungwoon pulled out was a crumpled piece of paper. Yeonwoo unfolded it, puzzled.Certificate of Acceptance. The words at the top caught Yeonwoo’s eye. There was no need to read the exam number listed below.“You got into college?”“Yeah.”Sungwoon’s lips curled up. Eyes wide, Yeonwoo clapped, holding the paper in one hand.“Congratulations!”“Thanks.”“Seongyeong University is really prestigious. Were you good at studying too?”“I wasn’t bad.”“Wow….”Yeonwoo’s eyes sparkled. He had always assumed Sungwoon, who fought better than Jaeyul’s gang, was far from being a studious type, but it was a huge misconception. Seongyeong University was one of the top three prestigious universities in South Korea. College was a dream beyond Yeonwoo’s reach, and he was simply amazed and awed by Sungwoon.“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”Yeonwoo felt as if he had been accepted himself. He struggled to find better words to express his joy, feeling a bit regretful. Sungwoon, laughing softly, pulled out the second item from his bag.“Here.”“What’s this?”“Let’s work on developing some self-reliance by figuring things out on your own before asking.”“…….”This time, it was a frame about the size of two palm-widths. Tilting his head, Yeonwoo slowly turned it over. Sungwoon’s eyes were full of anticipation.“…….”“A gift.”“…….”“A gift for my significant other.”Sungwoon said something, but Yeonwoo couldn’t hear it clearly. His hands trembled as he held the frame tightly. Inside the frame was a picture of himself.“Do you like it?”“…Yeah.”“Then why do you look like that?”“…….”“Are you going to cry again? Hey, a man is only supposed to cry three times in his life.”“…….”Even though Sungwoon teased him, Yeonwoo had no response. His nose started to tingle. In the drawing Sungwoon had made, Yeonwoo was smiling brightly, as if he owned the world. The night sky, as dark as seen from the hillside neighborhood, was dotted with tiny stars, and Hong Yeonwoo, hugging his knees and tilting his head, looked the happiest he had ever been.“Hey, don’t cry, don’t cry. It’s a secret, but I tend to cry when someone else does.”Feigning tears with a straight face, Sungwoon handed him the third item. Blinking rapidly, Yeonwoo took the last gift Sungwoon offered.“A letter?”“You’ve developed self-reliance so quickly.”“Why a letter….”“You don’t like letters? Then give it back.”Sungwoon’s usually confident cheeks turned slightly red. His earlobes were bright red, and his hands fidgeted nervously.“No, I like it.”“…….”“I really like it. Thank you.”Yeonwoo didn’t know why he was receiving gifts when Sungwoon was the one who got into college, but he felt happy nonetheless. Pressing his tingling eyes, Yeonwoo smiled brightly. It wasn’t polite to cry on such a good day.“You have a really pretty smile.”“…….”“So don’t cry.”“Who says that to a guy….”“…….”Yeonwoo, his eyes reddening, tried to speak cheerfully. He held the letter and the frame tightly in each hand. Sungwoon flicked Yeonwoo’s forehead lightly.“Don’t make it obvious that you’re not good at studying.”“Why are we talking about studying now?”“Focus on the main point. You’re really bad at Korean, aren’t you?”“Not that bad.”Yeonwoo furrowed his brows in protest. His grades were similar across all subjects, but Korean was his highest-scoring subject. He even got the highest grade in the college entrance exam. Was it a 7th grade? All his other subjects were 9th grade, so he had a bit of pride.“What’s the main point of what I said?”“…….”‘You have a really pretty smile’ and ‘Don’t cry.’ If he had to find the main point…. Yeonwoo’s cheeks rounded. It was too easy.“Don’t cry?”“Wrong, dummy.”Sungwoon flicked Yeonwoo’s forehead again, as if he’d been waiting for it. Yeonwoo frowned, clutching his forehead. The tears that had been on the verge of falling were gone.“Then what is it?”“You really have no clue.”“That you’re pretty?”Unable to grasp Sungwoon’s feelings, Yeonwoo clung to his answer. Sungwoon, staring at him, let out an exasperated laugh and covered his eyes with his hand. Laughter kept escaping.“You’re right about being pretty and about not crying.”“See, I got it right, the main point….”“When you cry, it really hurts me.”“…….”Yeonwoo, who had been grumbling, clamped his mouth shut. Sungwoon, blushing and avoiding his gaze, slung the bag with the unexpected gifts over his shoulder. He didn’t cry this much even when Jaeyul’s gang beat him up, but his insides churned. Afraid he’d burst into tears, Yeonwoo bit the inside of his cheek.“Hey.”“Yeah.”“Smile.”“…….”“Come on, smile.”Yeonwoo’s head shot up. Sungwoon had cupped his cheeks and lifted them. Their eyes met, and Sungwoon was the first to smile beautifully with his eyes.“Yeah. If you’re going to cry, do it like this. Smiling.”A tear ran down Yeonwoo’s cheek. Almost at the same time, Yeonwoo’s eyes crinkled in a smile. Blinking slowly at him, Sungwoon wiped the tear with his thumb.“Choi Sungwoon.”“Yeah.”“I really think I like you.”His heart pounded as if it would burst. They hadn’t known each other that long, but his feelings for Sungwoon were growing uncontrollably. Sungwoon’s eyelids, moving slowly up and down, stopped. Yeonwoo, cheeks flushed, mumbled without realizing he was embarrassed.“I can’t imagine how I lived without you… Now I think about you all the time.”“…….”“It scares me a little.”This time, tears didn’t fall but welled up in his eyes. Sungwoon transferred the teardrop to his finger.“Yeonwoo.”“…….”“Don’t be scared.”Sungwoon’s eyes shone brightly. He gently stroked Yeonwoo’s hair with the hand that wiped his tears and patted his back.“I’ll be by your side. Always.”Sungwoon nodded slowly, reassuring Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo’s eyes darkened. Smiling brightly, Yeonwoo nodded vigorously.“I’m going to Seoul today and will be back late.”“Seoul? Why?”“I promised to visit my friends if I got into college.”“Friends?”“Yeah. Friends from my previous school.”“Ah….”Yeonwoo secretly swallowed his disappointment. He had planned to stargaze on the train tracks tonight, but if Sungwoon was coming back late, they’d have to postpone it. Then again, considering how popular Sungwoon must be everywhere, Yeonwoo felt a bit selfish.“I really don’t want to go, but I’ll go just this once.”“Why don’t you go more often?”“Do you mean that?”An empty schoolyard. Sungwoon tightly held Yeonwoo’s hand and put it in his padded jacket pocket. The pocket, filled with their overlapping hands, puffed up.“Will you really go often?”“…No.”“Alright. I’ll go today and break up with them.”“No…! What do you mean, break up…!”Yeonwoo’s eyes widened as he waved his hand. Sungwoon threw his head back and laughed loudly at the sight. Teasing Yeonwoo was the most fun. His reactions were so endearing that Sungwoon couldn’t help but laugh. Meanwhile, Yeonwoo, who was being teased, huffed and glared at Sungwoon.“Today, spend time with Grandma.”“Okay.”“Even if you miss me, just for today, hold back.”“…Okay.”“Oh? No denial?”“…….”“Even if you miss me, hold back. Got it?”Sungwoon repeated the question as if he wanted to hear it again. Yeonwoo, who had been smiling while looking ahead, replied with a soft “Yeah,” giving the answer Sungwoon wanted.“Wow….”“So, when will you come back?”“Hong Yeonwoo says he misses me….”“After ten?”“I feel like my heart is going to explode….”“After eleven?”“Wait a minute. I think I’m having a heart attack.”“Should I stay over?”“Ugh….”Their conversation was interrupted by Sungwoon, who pretended to faint and rested his head on Yeonwoo’s shoulder. Yeonwoo took a deep breath. The heavy feeling on his shoulder made his heart beat faster.“Hong Yeonwoo.”“…Yeah.”Yeonwoo answered as quietly as possible, afraid his heart would burst if he opened his mouth too wide. Sungwoon’s voice, muffled against Yeonwoo’s shoulder, was barely audible.“The weather is really nice today.”“Really?”In fact, Yeonwoo had watched the weather forecast for the first time in a long while yesterday. The old TV screen was distorted and hurt his eyes, but it still showed the necessary channels. The weather was so nice that he wanted to go stargazing with Sungwoon. It was just one day, but the desire to spend that day together was growing.“Lie in the yard and watch the stars with Grandma.”“…….”“Hang the picture I gave you where you can see it best.”“…Okay.”“Read the letter while watching the stars at night.”“While watching the stars?”“Yeah.”“Why?”“Because it’s really sentimental.”“…What’s that?”“I’ll be back late today. Let’s go see a movie after school tomorrow.”“Tomorrow?”“Yeah. Something fun is coming out.”“Okay.”Sungwoon took away today but promised tomorrow. Yeonwoo, feeling better, stretched his legs forward and smiled brightly. His cheeks felt warm. Sungwoon, who had pressed his face against Yeonwoo’s shoulder, rubbed his cheek, marked by the zipper, and laughed along. His heart felt so ticklish that he wanted to scratch it.“Yeonwoo, make sure to eat.”“Okay. When will Grandma be back?”“Today, I’ll be back a bit late. I’ll be home around nine.”“Take care.”“Alright.”As it passed six o’clock, dusk quickly fell. Yeonwoo, who had been sitting idly in the one-room house, saw Grandma off as she left for the neighboring village and then returned inside. The silence in the room felt strangely awkward. He had lived here his whole life, and he was always alone when Grandma went to work, but it was curious why it suddenly felt so unfamiliar.“What should I do….”Lying on his back, he rolled his eyes around, staring at the ceiling. Yesterday, he and Sungwoon had gone to the reservoir they visited before. The day before that, they went to the market with Grandma and ate tteokbokki. The day before that, he visited Sungwoon’s house and had a meal. The day before that, they walked the train tracks with the white dog raised by the junk dealer in Buan.“…….”Come to think of it, he had been with Sungwoon every single day lately. It was no wonder he felt empty without him. Yeonwoo turned to lie on his side.‘Even if you miss me, just hold on a little longer.’Yeonwoo thought he understood why Sungwoon had said that. It had only been a day, no, just a few hours, but Sungwoon was already floating around in his mind.What did he do before Sungwoon transferred? How did he spend his days? Lying with his arm as a pillow, Yeonwoo blinked rapidly, deep in thought.“Oh….”Oh, right. He used to sit on the dirty bathroom floor, washing his uniform stained with spit. He hated the distinctive smell of the blue laundry soap, so he breathed through his mouth while scrubbing the washboard. The mixed smell of spit and cigarette smoke was unbearably disgusting.He would close the bathroom door tightly and sigh deeply, looking at his bruised body in the full-length mirror. Purple, blue, red, green, yellow…. His arms were always covered in bruises of various colors. There were fist-sized bruises on his thighs, shins, and under his ribs. With no ointment or patches to apply, he would just groan and rub his palms over them.He had thought about dying. On days when Grandma was home, he could at least look at her bent back and resist the urge, but on days when he was alone, it was unbearable. Especially on days when his head was matted with spit. He would open the drawer, take out the hairdryer, and measure the length of the cord. Of course, he never succeeded. He couldn’t drive a nail into Grandma’s heart by leaving her alone.“…….”He couldn’t drive a nail into her heart.“…….”No, the truth was, he didn’t want to die.Yeonwoo sprang up. He didn’t want to lie in bed like this. He didn’t want to give depression a chance to creep in. He didn’t want to live like that. It wasn’t that he wanted to die. It had been a long time since he last thought about dying. Everything changed the day Sungwoon became his friend.Sitting up, Yeonwoo first took out the picture Sungwoon had drawn for him from his bag. He carefully wiped the frame with his sleeve and placed it on the dresser. Just as Sungwoon had said, it was the most visible spot in the house. Next, he took out the small letter. He wanted to read it immediately, but he decided to follow Sungwoon’s advice. Putting on his padded jacket, Yeonwoo tucked the mat placed in the corner of the entrance under his arm.“Ugh… it’s cold.”He hadn’t expected to come alone, but having visited a few times with Sungwoon, it didn’t feel as scary. Turning his back on the house, Yeonwoo climbed the hill until he saw the abandoned train station. He could see stars from the yard, but there were many more visible here. Finding a flat spot, Yeonwoo spread out the mat.“The weather is really nice.”Talking to himself was second nature to Yeonwoo, who had been alone all his life. Sitting on the wide mat, he sniffled and took the letter out of his pocket. Opening the envelope, he found a folded letter inside. Yeonwoo’s lips curled up.To. Hong Yeonwoo It was his first time seeing Sungwoon’s handwriting, which was neat and tidy, just like him. His heart raced just from reading his name. Leaving his lips curled up, Yeonwoo lay back on the mat. The Big Dipper was clearly visible in the dark sky. It would have been much better if he could see it with Sungwoon. Swallowing his disappointment, he turned his attention back to the letter.My handwriting looks weird. Maybe because my hand is shaking so much. This time, he laughed out loud. The first line was so typical of Sungwoon. There wasn’t much content yet, but his heart felt ticklish, and his eyes kept drifting to the sky. He counted the seven stars of the Big Dipper and then returned to the letter.My mom bought a ton of stationery because she wanted to write letters to someone. So I asked for one and wrote this. No particular reason. It felt like he could hear Sungwoon’s voice in the writing. Yeonwoo chuckled and continued reading.When I’m at home, I think about you a lot. No… actually, I only think about you. I think I really like you. Yeonwoo’s tongue peeked out between his lips. His hands and feet tingled, and he couldn’t stay still. He wanted to read it all at once, but his heart was pounding too hard to focus. Taking a deep breath, Yeonwoo concentrated again.You asked if I became your friend because I felt sorry for you. Well, that’s partly true, but not entirely. You’ve been on my mind since the first time I saw you.Thump, thump. His whole body felt hot, and he didn’t even notice the cold.I don’t usually get close to just anyone. It’s because it’s you. You look so pretty when you smile. I like seeing you smile more these days. You appear in my dreams every night. At first, you were always crying in my dreams, but now you smile even in my dreams. Can I take that to mean you’re really happy with me? “…Yeah.”Even though no one was listening, he answered softly. His lips curled up on their own, but his eyes stung. He had a strange face, smiling while tears streamed down. Yeonwoo let the tears flow down his temples as he continued reading the letter.There are so many things I want to do with you. A hundred years wouldn’t be enough. I hope you have so many things you want to do with me that you feel like each day is too short. I’ll make it that way. So don’t ever think about wanting to die again. It really… pisses me off because it hurts my heart. The words “pisses me off” were underlined multiple times before “hurts my heart.” The amount of tears wetting his earlobes increased. The sound of his sniffles echoed at the top of the deserted hillside neighborhood.I’ve never said this before… but when you like someone so much… isn’t that love? The word “love” was underlined more than five times. It seemed like he had hesitated for a long time before writing it. It really looked like he had only received one sheet of stationery. A smile crept onto Yeonwoo’s lips.Then I guess I love you. Damn, this is so cheesy…. Even his love confession was so Choi Sungwoon. Sniffling, Yeonwoo wiped his tears with the back of his hand.So stay by my side from now on. I’ll stay by yours too. Hong Yeonwoo. I love you. The last three words were noticeably smaller than the rest. It was like a whisper. Despite trying to hold back, tears and laughter kept coming simultaneously. Yeonwoo, having finished reading the letter, covered his eyes with the back of his hand.“Ah….”He was so happy, so incredibly happy, that he couldn’t stop crying. The corners of his lips drooped, and wrinkles formed on his chin. He couldn’t believe something like this could happen to him. He couldn’t believe he could be this happy. Tears flowed because it was so unbelievable. Closing his eyes, he pictured Sungwoon’s smiling face in the darkness. I think I love you too.“Pathetic, pathetic, so pathetic.”Could anyone believe he was crying because he was happy? As soon as the sob he had been holding in burst out, a familiar, mischievous voice echoed in his ears. Yeonwoo, who had been crying his eyes out, sprang up.“Is this the yard?”“…….”“You scared the hell out of me. I thought you ran away.”Sungwoon, who had said he’d be back late from Seoul, naturally sat next to Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo, eyes wide, couldn’t say anything and just gasped for breath.“Didn’t you read the letter?”“…….”“It says not to cry.”“…….”“It really hurts my heart.”Sungwoon, speaking in a calm voice, reached out and hugged Yeonwoo. Caught off guard, Yeonwoo froze, blinking. Sungwoon’s large hand slowly patted Yeonwoo’s back.“Seoul was so boring.”“…….”“I don’t need friends. I just want to be with you.”“…….”“Please, don’t cry.”His voice seemed to tremble a little too. Yeonwoo nodded, trying to hold back his sobs. He didn’t want to look like a crybaby, but once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop. Sungwoon’s padded jacket grew wetter and wetter.“Sorry, but this is a new jacket, so please don’t get snot on it.”“…….”“I’ll allow the tears.”“I didn’t get snot on it….”Yeonwoo protested in a nasal voice. Sungwoon chuckled and pressed the back of Yeonwoo’s head.“I can see the yellow stuff.”“I didn’t get snot on it.”“It’s okay. I forgive you because I love you.”“…….”Love. Because I love you. It was the phrase at the end of the letter. Yeonwoo pushed against Sungwoon’s chest and looked up. With a tear-streaked face, he smiled brightly and spoke.“I love you too.”“…….”“A lot.”“Crazy….”Sungwoon let out a helpless laugh at Yeonwoo’s uncharacteristic choice of words, then burst into loud laughter, shaking his shoulders. Yeonwoo reached out and held his hand tightly. On a bitterly cold winter day with a biting wind, their shared warmth was comforting.⟡˖ ࣪“Enjoy your break, but make sure you don’t get hurt, stay healthy, and come back safe.”The chalkboard read “End of Term Ceremony.” The principal’s boring sermon was replaced by a TV broadcast. Cheers erupted from all around. They weren’t just taking a one or two-week break only to return for self-study sessions. They were given a chance to truly rest until February.“I’ll be right back from the teacher’s office. Wait for me.”“Okay.”Sungwoon followed the teacher out of the front door. Left alone in the classroom, Yeonwoo rummaged through his desk to make sure he hadn’t left anything behind. Two days ago, he and Sungwoon had thrown all their textbooks into the dumpster behind the school, so there wasn’t much left to carry.“Yeonwoo.”Yeonwoo, who had been tracing the knife marks on the wooden desk with his fingers, flinched at the familiar but dreadful voice. Goosebumps rose on his back.“Have a good break.”It was Jaeyul. Behind him stood Jaewook, Dohyeong, and Jinwoo. Yeonwoo clenched his fist on the desk.“Sorry for bothering you all this time.”“…….”As long as Sungwoon was around, they wouldn’t dare bother him again. Yet, Yeonwoo, conditioned by past experiences, broke into a cold sweat and bit his lip. If he didn’t bite something, his teeth would chatter, and they would hear it.“But don’t let me see you during the break.”“…….”“I’ll really kill you.”Jaeyul, with a sneer, patted Yeonwoo’s head with his rough hand. His neck shrank, bringing his shoulders closer to his ears.“Idiot, beggar.”Their laughter faded, and the back door closed. Finally alone in the classroom, Yeonwoo stared at the chalkboard, frozen in place. His body remembered the terror of those times, even though it had been a while since they last hit him.“Hey. Am I late?”It was Sungwoon who broke the silence. The front door opened with a bang. Wearing a long padded jacket that reached his knees, Sungwoon strode towards Yeonwoo, who sat alone in the empty classroom.“Is this sweat?”“…….”Sungwoon, noticing Yeonwoo’s pale face, widened his eyes. Yeonwoo’s forehead was drenched. Sungwoon brushed the sweaty bangs from Yeonwoo’s forehead, his eyes narrowing.“What happened…? Did they bother you?”“No.”“Those bastards… Where did they go? Did they leave?”Sungwoon looked ready to go after them, pushing his chair back. Yeonwoo quickly reached out to stop him.“Really, it’s not that. I’m just hot.”“It’s freezing. What are you talking about?”“Really. I’ve been sitting here the whole time.”“What the hell….”“Let’s go. Grandma’s making japchae.”Sungwoon glared at the back door like an eagle, while Yeonwoo babbled to calm him down. With a deep sigh, Sungwoon wrapped his arm around Yeonwoo’s shoulder.“Were you scared?”“No.”“You’re lying again.”“Really.”“Then why were you sweating?”“Because I was hot.”“Bullshit….”“You told me not to be scared.”“…….”“You’re here. So I’m not scared anymore.”Of course, it was a lie. He was so scared that his whole body was trembling. Cold sweat was dripping, and his hair stood on end. He might never fully escape the scars and fear they had inflicted. But it was okay. With Sungwoon by his side, he could overcome the trauma. Besides, once they graduated, he wouldn’t have to see Jaeyul’s gang again.“I should put a brick in Hong Yeonwoo’s bag.”“A brick?”“Yeah. Next time you see them, hit them on the back of the head with a rock.”“…….”“Can you do that?”“No.”“That’s what bricks are for.”“What are you talking about?”“Well, you’re such a scaredy-cat, you’d never do it.”“What’s a scaredy-cat?”“Never mind. I’ll just stick with you every day. That’s the only way.”Sungwoon sighed and pulled Yeonwoo closer by the shoulder. Yeonwoo’s face flushed. He lowered his head to hide it from Sungwoon, watching their feet move in sync. He had been feeling down just moments ago, but now he felt better. It was always like that with Sungwoon.“I feel like my stomach is going to burst.”“Grandma’s japchae is delicious, right?”“It’s the best japchae I’ve ever had.”Grandma had left a mountain of japchae before going to work. Thanks to her, Sungwoon and Yeonwoo could eat as much as they wanted. It would have been nice if Grandma could eat with them, but she was rarely home these days, saying there was a lot of cardboard to collect.“My stomach is full of noodles right now.”“Let’s ask her to make it again next time.”“Grandma will get tired.”“My grandma makes great japchae.”“Making it well and making it often are different things. Do you know how hard it is to make japchae?”“…I guess not.”“You’re such an ungrateful grandson.”Yeonwoo, at a loss for words, pouted and glared at Sungwoon. Leaning against the wall, they playfully patted each other’s full stomachs.“Your belly looks like a sixth grader’s.”“Why isn’t your belly sticking out?”“I exercise.”Even though they ate the same amount—actually, Sungwoon ate more—Yeonwoo’s belly was round like a mountain, while Sungwoon’s remained flat and firm. Yeonwoo tapped Sungwoon’s stomach with his palm, then gave it a harder slap.“Why did you hit me?”“Just wanted to try.”“You’re funny.”“…….”“Bring a brick. I feel like you could hit me.”“What’s that supposed to mean?”“If someone bullies you again, hit them like you just hit me. With a brick in your hand.”Sungwoon furrowed his brows and spoke seriously. Yeonwoo chuckled through his teeth and nodded vaguely. He knew he couldn’t do it, but he said he would to ease Sungwoon’s worry. Sungwoon smiled, satisfied.“We won’t see each other as much when I go to college, right?”“Why? Will you miss me?”“Yeah.”“Wow… Think before you speak. My heart hurts when you suddenly say things like that. Especially when I’m already full.”Sungwoon’s voice was teasing, but Yeonwoo didn’t laugh. He tried not to think about it, but he kept feeling sad. The thought that there were only a few days left to spend together all day made him tear up. When Sungwoon went to college, he would make new friends, join various clubs… What if he found someone he liked there?“Since the university is in Seoul, we’ll probably have less time to meet than we do now.”“…….”It seemed like Yeonwoo was the only one feeling sad. Sungwoon spoke casually, as if it were obvious. Yeonwoo’s lips stuck out like a duck’s. Sungwoon turned his head and chuckled.“It’s only an hour’s drive to Seoul. I’m not going to live there; I’ll commute. We can see each other in the evenings on weekdays and spend all day together on weekends.”“…….”“Still feeling sad?”Yeonwoo shook his head. Sungwoon’s palm covered the top of Yeonwoo’s head.“Make lots of friends. Enjoy college life. That’s what college is for.”“You’re funny. Who says that? College is for studying.”“…….”“If Hong Yeonwoo went to college, it would be a disaster. You’d give me a heart attack.”“I mean, don’t feel burdened because of me.”“…….”He hated the thought of sharing Sungwoon’s time with others so much it made him want to cry, but he hated burdening him even more. He didn’t want Sungwoon to feel tied down to him. Sungwoon had his own life, just as Yeonwoo had his. Sungwoon looked down at Yeonwoo with deep eyes. Yeonwoo, fidgeting with his hands, quickly spoke.“But… you can’t have a boyfriend.”“Then a girlfriend is okay?”“No…! I mean, you can’t have a partner….”Yeonwoo’s face turned rosy in an instant. He was so flustered that he stuttered.“My partner is right here. Who else would I meet?”“…….”“I like you so much I don’t see anyone else. Don’t worry about that.”Sungwoon gently stroked Yeonwoo’s hair. The strands felt soft between his fingers. Yeonwoo finally smiled faintly. The worries and anxieties that had been weighing on his heart melted away.“What’s this?”“It’s you.”“…….”Yeonwoo, who had been drawing diligently in a large sketchbook, casually answered while rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. Sungwoon’s face twisted.“Isn’t it a monkey?”“It’s you.”“…I’m at a loss for words.”This was the result of asking Sungwoon to teach him how to draw. Holding a 4B pencil and drawing long lines in the sketchbook made him feel like an art student. Excited, Yeonwoo glanced at the focused Sungwoon and captured his image on the white paper. The result was disastrous.“Can you explain why the eyes and nose are in the same position?”“Oh… no wonder. Something felt off.”The bottom of the eyes and the nostrils were at the same level. Yeonwoo, mouth slightly open, vigorously erased the nose with an eraser. Sungwoon chuckled at the unrecognizable drawing. It wasn’t easy to draw this badly. Yeonwoo seemed to have no talent for drawing.“Wow…. That’s me.”“Yeah. People look like this.”Sungwoon’s sketchbook contained a brightly smiling Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo abandoned his own drawing and admired Sungwoon’s. Even though it was a drawing, not a photo, the eyes sparkled as if they were alive. While Yeonwoo was engrossed in Sungwoon’s drawing, Sungwoon picked up Yeonwoo’s fallen drawing and slyly slipped it into his bag.“Are you giving this to me?”“No. It’s mine.”“…….”He could have given it to him, but Sungwoon coldly closed the sketchbook and put it in his bag. Yeonwoo pouted and glared at him. Then again, the framed drawing Sungwoon had given him before was more than enough.“Hey, Hong Yeonwoo.”