BHB 19

“Ah, shit… This really sucks.”

I covered my face with both hands in frustration. That’s when it happened.

“Excuse me… Han Yeowon?”

At the familiar call, Yeowon looked up with an annoyed expression. At this moment, when his head was pounding with so many thoughts, anyone trying to act like they knew him just felt irritating.

As soon as he confirmed who it was, his eyes widened instantly.

“Seungha hyung?”

Yeowon couldn’t hide his surprise as he jumped up, pushing his chair back.

“It is you, Han Yeowon.”

The man smiled warmly, but Yeo-won just blankly stared at him, dumbfounded. It was such an unexpected encounter.

**

During Yeowon’s unremarkable school days, there was only one senior he truly respected. While he was always surrounded by friends, none of those relationships had any real substance. They were all just as pathetic as he was. Either rich kids who grew up fearless and immature, or just ordinary students.

But this senior was a bit different. He was as infamous for fighting as Taegang, and the leader of Choi Youngdoo’s gang that Yeowon hated most, but unlike the rest of them, there was something about him that set him apart. Before this senior dropped out, even Youngdoo was a fool who couldn’t say a word in front of him.

When Youngdoo didn’t know Taegang well, he had picked fights with him several times. At that time, Taegang was in a phase where he never avoided a fight. Whenever things got serious, it was always this senior who stopped them. Despite rumors of him being a great fighter and a terrible delinquent, he was actually quite well-mannered. Of course, the tattoo covering his back was quite vicious, but there were many unexpected aspects to him that differed from his appearance.

“How… how is this possible…”

Yeowon approached the man with a stiff expression, looking him over. For some reason, he was drenched in sweat, but his handsome appearance prevented him from looking shabby. Only the fierce tiger tattooed on his back stood out through his sweat-soaked white t-shirt.

“Look at you. You’ve become a real adult, Han Yeowon.”

The man looked Yeowon up and down, smiling pleasantly.

“You suddenly dropped out like that. Do you know how much I looked for you?”

“Did you?”

He playfully ruffled Yeowon’s hair with his thick hand. Suddenly feeling nostalgic at his touch, he let out a hollow sigh.

How many chances do you get in life to meet a truly decent person? Yeowon was more sentimental about such relationships than he appeared. Taegang was the only person in his life, and sometimes it felt pathetic that there was no one else besides him. This senior was someone Yeowon met during those occasional moments of self-doubt. Someone who knew when to fight and when to avoid it, living life more earnestly than anyone else.

At first, Yeowon thought he was just a scary senior, but he was actually a reliable older brother supporting two younger siblings. He had worked every part-time job imaginable since his school days. He worked at meat restaurants, and even lied about his age to work as a club bouncer at dawn. Then he would faithfully attend school in the morning.

Yeowon had never seen anyone live so diligently before. Unlike other delinquents, the senior didn’t show off unnecessarily, didn’t pick unnecessary fights, and didn’t try to discipline his juniors. Instead, when he met younger students, he would buy them milk or greet them playfully. Because of these unexpected traits, Yeowon followed him well. He was a senior Yeowon really liked as a person.

When he heard that this senior had finally dropped out of school, unable to attend anymore due to his family circumstances, Yeowon panicked for a while. He went to his house and his workplaces, but he couldn’t find him. His phone number was disconnected; he had completely disappeared.

Yeowon too stopped going to school for a while due to the shock. He was the only senior Yeowon followed and respected, someone he thought he had become quite close with, and disappeared without a word. The shock was immense.

“Are you smiling?”

Realizing that he was face to face with Baek Seungha again, Yeowon frowned at his good-natured smile. This senior couldn’t know how betrayed Yeowon had felt back then unless he was him.

“How could you not contact me even once all this time…”

Yeowon swallowed the words that were about to burst out due to his surge of emotions. It was already a long time ago. It seemed silly to blame him now. The panic of his disappearance was temporary, and he had lived well enough without him since then.

“You could have at least contacted me once,” Yeowon continued, lowering his voice calmly.

“Did you miss me?” he asked, playfully tapping Yeowon’s chin with a smile. Yeowon glared at him sulkily before smiling.

“Of course. You were my favorite senior.”

“You were my favorite junior too.”

“Then why did you disappear like that?”

“…My family situation wasn’t good. Anyway, enough about me. What have you been up to? Did you finish your military service?”

“Of course. Honorably discharged as an Army sergeant.”

As Yeowon lifted his chin proudly, Baek Seungha looked at him fondly, as if he were his own younger brother.

“You look good.”

It had only been a few years, but those years showed on his face. Rather than aging, there was a weathered look that revealed how much he had struggled during that time. Yeowon could only guess roughly how hard his life had been and still was, but considering he had dropped out when he was close to graduating, it was clear that his family situation wasn’t something that could improve in just a few years.

“By the way, what brings you here? Do you live nearby?” Yeowon asked, changing the subject to inquire about his recent life.

“No. I was working,” Baek Seungha answered, waving the helmet he was holding. Behind him, Yeowon could see a motorcycle parked in front of the convenience store.

“I was doing some deliveries and thought I’d stop for a quick smoke.”

He also showed me a pack of cigarettes, still in its wrapper, suggesting he had just bought them. Seeing him smile as if nothing had changed made Yeowon feel a bit bitter, so he changed the subject again.

“Give me your number, hyung.”