BHB 73

The school was in an uproar. Do Yeongjae, who had come out to give some fresh air to the drunk guys, witnessed this scene and, being the clever guy he was, immediately called the police and an ambulance. The ambulance was overkill, but given the nature of the incident, he insisted that they should go to the emergency room and get a medical certificate. That too was a smart move. Even though it was just a cut from a box cutter, it was still assault and battery.

Jo Suchan and Lim Yoona rode in the ambulance. Yeongjae had to relay what he had heard to the police, and Jeon Chaemin was needed as a witness to the situation. But from Yeowon’s perspective, it seemed like Jeon Chaemin was the one who needed to go to the emergency room. He looked like he might faint from crying so much. But not knowing how to navigate this situation, Yeowon deliberately ignored it. It was embarrassing to acknowledge that sorrowful confession, and he couldn’t understand it in the first place.

“What on earth happened here?” Lim Yoona, standing around Yeowon who was sitting after receiving basic first aid, lamented worriedly.

“That’s what I’d like to know.” It was Jo Suchan, standing on the opposite side, who responded. 

Though Yeowon was the one directly involved, they seemed more shocked than him.

“Why did you both come along?” Yeowon clicked his tongue in embarrassment, having two guardians for such a minor injury.

“No, sunbae, are you really okay?” Lim Yoona examined the bandaged hand with a face full of concern.

“It’s just a cut from a kid’s box cutter.”

“Since when are there kid and adult versions of knives?” Lim Yoona retorted sharply. Having memories of fighting guys with jackknives, a box cutter felt like just a stationery knife used by kids.

“I can’t believe there was a crazy person wielding a knife in our school too.” Lim Yoona clicked her tongue again, sighing.

“Hey, absolutely don’t settle with him. We need to teach bastards like that a lesson. That crazy bastard is really creepy. Fuck.” Suchan shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself as if he was still getting goosebumps. 

Unlike the two making a fuss on either side, Yeowon just wanted to sleep. Maybe because he had stayed up the night before, or because shocking events had happened one after another, he was plagued by extreme fatigue. The cut didn’t even register as painful. The slap he had given himself last night hurt more.

“Guys, let’s go home now.”

“What are you talking about? You need to lie down for a while.”

“… People might think I got stabbed in the stomach or something.”

“Hand or stomach, getting cut is getting cut! Besides, how shocked must you have been? The doctor said to sleep well and be discharged tomorrow, just in case.” Yoona retorted decisively, expressing her opinion. 

Yeowon wanted to ignore it and go home, but he wasn’t heartless enough to disregard someone who was genuinely worried. He gave up and lay down on the bed. Well, since it had come to this, he might as well get some sleep here.

“Then I’m really going to sleep.”

“Yes. Sleep well, sunbae.”

“Yeah. Rest well.”

Yeowon let out a deflated laugh, finding their careful attitude, as if dealing with a newborn baby, quite funny. “I’m really fine, so you guys should go too.”

“No way. Yeongjae sunbae told us to stay by your side no matter what.”

“That’s right. How could we leave on our own after what happened to you?”

… They’re making a fuss.

It was an uncomfortable fuss, but not entirely unpleasant. Yeowon quietly covered himself with the blanket and rested his head comfortably on the pillow that reeked of medication. With the comfort, all tension and strength drained away, and he quickly fell asleep.

Although he fell asleep instantly, even as he was sinking into slumber, he felt as if he could hear the sound of sorrowful crying echoing in his ears. The mournful crying and confession lingered like a vivid afterimage.

**

Yeowon suddenly opened his eyes as if struck by lightning and sat up, looking around. It felt like he had just closed his eyes for a moment, but at the same time, he had unconsciously startled awake from a deep sleep. He was embarrassed to realize he had forgotten he was in the emergency room, having been so incredibly tired.

‘What time is it now?’ 

Yeowon looked around the hospital interior. It was uncomfortable not having his phone in his hand. He must have dropped it unconsciously while confronting Yoo Kyungcheol. Moreover, Suchan and Yoona, who had insisted they wouldn’t leave, were nowhere to be seen. Did they leave first because he slept so deeply? He kept looking around as he swung his legs out of the bed. As he was fumbling for his shoes, a warm drink was suddenly held out in front of him.

“Where are you going?”

The lingering scent of familiar cologne, a deep voice. Everything from the body odor to the voice was too familiar.

“… Taegang.”

The one who handed him the warm chamomile tea was none other than Taegang. Yeowon stared at the suddenly appeared Taegang for a moment, dumbfounded.

“How did you…”

“I got a call from the others and came.”

Lee Taegang answered nonchalantly, but Yeowon felt a bit uncomfortable knowing this situation couldn’t possibly be pleasant for him. They had fought viciously just the day before, and above all, the fact of being injured was a sensitive issue for both of them. They both hated seeing each other get hurt.

“Taegang, about what happened…”

“I heard. From Yeongjae.”

Yeowon was a bit taken aback by his calmer-than-expected demeanor. Just a day ago, they had said everything they could to each other. Well, it has always been like this. They would fight as if they’d never see each other again, but the next day it would be as if nothing had happened. But now was clearly different from then. His feelings were.

His emotions were too different to pretend nothing had happened and move on. They were much more complex than feelings of friendship. But not knowing where to start, he found it hard to speak. Should he first ask about the meaning, the intent of what Taegang had said that day, or should he explain what had happened today?

If nothing else, one thing was certain. If he had heard the news of Yeowon going to the emergency room, he must have been worried sick. That much was clear even without seeing it. If the situation had been reversed, Yeowon would have felt the same.

“I’m not hurt at all.” Yeowon had dozens of things he wanted to ask, but he started with what needed to be said first. “It just grazed me lightly, like a paper cut.”

At these words meant to ease his worry, cracks started to appear one by one on Taegang’s previously composed face. Then, with a grinding sound, the veins around his jaw tensed coldly.

“…So.”

“…”

“Why did you have to get even a light cut?”

The words meant to prevent worry seemed to have the opposite effect, turning into poison. Taegang, as if the anger he was swallowing suddenly surged up, barely managed to utter each syllable while suppressing his voice.

“… You really…”

“Taegang.”

“… No. Forget it. Just sleep more.” Lee Taegang inhaled deeply as if trying his best to hold back, pressing hard on his temple. 

Yeowon, feeling sorry at the sight, hesitantly opened his mouth, “Hey Taegang, that’s not what I meant, it’s really nothing… Hey, you know. It just grazed me.”

Yeowon hurriedly continued as if making excuses, feeling like a criminal, but Taegang’s brow furrowed even more visibly.

“Even that graze is fucking awful.”

“…”

“Why did you…!”

“…”

“… Why did you take the knife instead of that bastard?”

Blue veins rose frighteningly on the back of Taegang’s hand as he gripped the bed’s headboard. The vibrating force was so strong it could be felt through the bed, and his direct gaze flashed with an intensely cold light.

“…I didn’t take it instead…”

“Do you like him?”

“What?”

“Jeon Chaemin. Do you like him?”

Ha, Yeowon’s throat closed up in bewilderment. He felt apologetic like a criminal one moment, but hearing this made his anger surge. Taegang’s thought process was one-sided and completely lacking in empathy. Wasn’t he the one who had been passionately involved with Jeon Chaemin in the first place?

“… Are you seriously asking that?”

“…”

“You’ve been misunderstanding like this since before, but shouldn’t I be the one asking that?”

“…”

“If anything, you’re the one who was all over Jeon Chaemin…” Yeowon blurted out, unable to hold back as he remembered the conversation between the two he had overheard at the bar a few days ago. 

Then suddenly, he felt like he could hear Jeon Chaemin’s crying from afar, which he had forgotten. Jeon Chaemin had confessed to him as if he had lost his mind. But that day at the bar, he had also heard him say the same to Taegang. That he liked him.

‘What on earth was going on?’ 

Yeowon’s voice trailed off as he couldn’t understand at all. 

At the unfinished question, Taegang retorted as if he had been waiting.

“It’s true that we were all over each other.”

“…”

“But not recently. I have a conscience too, I don’t look for other holes behind your back while I’m all over you all day.”

Yeowon looked up at him with a sour face at his brazen words. “… What? Should I thank you?”

“No. I want you to be clear too.”

“…”

“While you’re all over me like a dog, don’t even think about other bastards.”

“…”

“Whether it’s women or men.”

“…”

“Don’t get involved with others, don’t stand up for others, and don’t get hurt for others.”

“…”

“Every inch of your body is mine right now.”

“…”

“I have to fuck every inch of you until I’m sick of it.”

After casually uttering words that were either a warning or a threat, he ran his hand over his face, which showed clear signs of fatigue. Lee Taegang continued the rest of his words as if trying to calm himself down after getting so worked up.

“And.”

“…”

“This time, you’re going to settle. Know that.”

“What?”

“Otherwise, I think I’ll really go crazy.”

The meaning of those words was connected to before. It was the opposite of when he had said he wouldn’t settle at all for fear of wanting to take revenge himself. The implication was obvious.