LM 84

After seeing Kwon Yuwon again after a long absence, Kwon Siyul regained some vitality. From being like a withered plant unable to absorb water even when watered, he became more like a potted plant that had somewhat regained its green color. Even that was a huge improvement compared to how he was before.

However, his confinement remained unchanged. He was given limited freedom. He could walk in the nearby park, but needed Woo Hyunse’s permission to go any further than that.

[Oppa, are you free this evening?]

[I had plans with a friend, but they canceled.]

[I don’t want to waste the reservation since it’s hard to get.]

When Yang Hye-na reached out to him, it was more than welcome. If nothing else, Woo Hyunse was lenient about hanging out with the bar staff. At first, he was displeased about Kwon Siyul meeting Yang Hye-na alone.

‘I’m feeling a bit depressed staying at home all the time.’

With this one sentence from Kwon Siyul, Woo Hyunse agreed. Having easily obtained permission, Kwon Siyul quickly got ready. Although he said he could go alone, Woo Hyunse wouldn’t let him go quietly. A bodyguard was attached like a tail.

‘You said it was safe now.’

‘Not until everything is finished.’

‘Can’t I just go alone? I feel bad for that guy, I mean, the mister.’

‘No.’

Dejected after failing to persuade him, Kwon Siyul left the house gloomily. It was a cold day where white steam poured out with every breath. The day was short, and by the time he arrived at the meeting place, dusk was already settling around them. Even wrapped in a long padded coat, hat, and scarf, the cold wind found ways to penetrate through one’s clothes.

Kwon Siyul was stamping his feet while waiting when he heard a loud “Oppa!” and looked up. Yang Hye-na was waving her arms widely from across the crosswalk. But Kwon Siyul’s gaze first landed on the unexpected figure standing next to her.

As the green light came on, the crowd crossed the crosswalk in a huge jumble. Yang Hye-na and Woo Taeju, who were on the opposite side, mixed in with them and walked toward Kwon Siyul.

“It’s been a while, hyung.”

Woo Taeju greeted him warmly with a bright smile. Despite the unpleasant scene at the concert, he treated Kwon Siyul exactly the same as before, as if he had never witnessed such a thing. Kwon Siyul, surprised by the unexpected meeting, simply blinked before nodding awkwardly with an “Oh.”

“Actually, Taeju made the plans…This guy kept singing about wanting to see you, oppa. He said he couldn’t contact you directly. He even told me not to say he was coming…I’m not usually the type to agree to these requests. I felt bad for you, oppa. But this place is somewhere I’ve wanted to go for months.”

Yang Hye-na scratched the back of her head as she spilled out the truth Kwon Siyul hadn’t even asked for. Woo Taeju wasn’t someone Kwon Siyul needed to avoid, and even if he had been deceived, it wasn’t something to get very angry about. Even as Kwon Siyul waved his hand saying it was fine, Yang Hye-na apologized, bowing her head deeply.

“Anyway, that’s what happened. I’m sorry for lying, oppa.”

“Yes, I asked her to. I wanted to see you, hyung. I told her not to tell you I was coming because I was afraid you might refuse.”

“But why would Siyul oppa refuse if you were coming? Did you do something wrong to oppa?”

“I borrowed money from him and then disappeared.”

The lie came naturally. When Kwon Siyul stared at him, Woo Taeju winked secretly at him behind Yang Hye-na’s back before turning his gaze away.

“Crazy…In a capitalist society, the most heinous crime is borrowing money and not paying it back. That’s too much. Oppa, make sure you fleece Woo Taeju properly today.”

“I was planning to pay it back today anyway. I brought plenty of allowance. Let’s go quickly. It’s freezing.”

The tip of his nose peeking out above his muffler was turning red from the cold. As Kwon Siyul hunched his shoulders, Woo Taeju reached out as if to wrap around him, then hesitated and lowered his arm. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a warm heat pack, offering it to Kwon Siyul.

“You use this, hyung.”

“It’s okay. Give it to Hye-na. She looks cold.”

“There you go again. You speak casually to her but formally to me. I told you not to do that.”

Woo Taeju forcibly stuffed the heat pack into Kwon Siyul’s pocket. When Kwon Siyul tried to take it out, Woo Taeju furrowed his brow like an adult scolding a child and said sternly, “Ah-ah.” Kwon Siyul hesitated, then, thinking it would be impolite to return it when Woo Taeju was insisting so much, he pushed the half-removed heat pack back into his pocket.

“Hey, is oppa’s hand a hand and mine a foot?”

Yang Hye-na, who had been watching, narrowed her eyes and grumbled. Woo Taeju just shrugged it off. Feeling guilty, Kwon Siyul tried to hand over the heat pack, but Woo Taeju intercepted it. Shaking his head, he insisted that his hyung should use it.

“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll warm my own hands.”

Yang Hye-na muttered about how unfair it was to be discriminated against and stuffed her hands into her pockets in frustration. She walked quickly as if trying to distance herself from the two.

Kwon Siyul’s pace also quickened, still feeling awkward about being left alone with Woo Taeju. “Hyung, let’s go together!” Woo Taeju called out loudly, not wanting to be left behind.

As soon as they entered the store, Yang Hye-na pulled out her phone. The walls were packed with CDs and records, soft lighting illuminated the space, and there was an open kitchen—it looked like a place often featured on social media.

When asked to take photos, Kwon Siyul dutifully complied, even bending his knees to get the right angle. He expected to be asked to retake them due to his amateur skills, but thanks to the lighting, a few good shots were captured among the many.

“Should I take some photos of you too, oppa?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Aw, why not? This place is famous. You’d get lots of likes if you posted them.”

“I don’t use social media.”

Yang Hye-na looked at Kwon Siyul with shock written all over her face. Her expression suggested she was looking at a primitive man using a stone axe when there were chainsaws. She made a fuss, saying she couldn’t believe it and had never met someone like that before.

“Why don’t you start now? You’d get tons of followers just by posting selfies, oppa. Let me have an influencer acquaintance for once.”

That comment inevitably brought back memories. Of Woo Hyunse, who rushed to the store despite his work when Kwon Siyul sent an awkward photo. Kwon Siyul quietly shook his head.

It was a modest restaurant with only a few tables. They only open for dinner, not lunch. No wonder it was so hard to get a reservation. Even after sitting down, Kwon Siyul kept looking around.

He had rarely been to places like this, and it showed in his awkwardness. Living with Woo Hyunse had at least allowed him to set foot in expensive restaurants he never thought he’d visit in his lifetime.

The menu was filled with unfamiliar names. There were descriptions, but even the ingredients were foreign. What was ragu, and what was gnocchi? Unlike Kwon Siyul, Yang Hye-na and Woo Taeju were engrossed in a heated discussion, effortlessly reading through the menu full of alien terms, commenting on what was delicious and what was famous.

“What do you like, oppa?”

“I don’t really know. Everything’s good.”

“Do you prefer tomato, cream, or oil-based sauces? How do you like your meat cooked?”

“Tomato. I’m not sure about the meat.”

The pasta Woo Hyunse used to make also had tomatoes in it. Woo Taeju, who had been explaining things at Kwon Siyul’s level, smiled contentedly and pointed to a few menu items, saying they should order these.

Kwon Siyul only took photos when the food arrived. Before reuniting with Kwon Yuwon, he would often skip meals when bored, so Woo Hyunse had given him the task of photographing what he ate. Even when Kwon Siyul complained that it was bothersome, Woo Hyunse insisted out of concern.

Even if he took careless photos, Woo Hyunse would praise him. If the meal looked inadequate, he’d call immediately. He’d ask if the food wasn’t to Kwon Siyul’s liking, if there was anything he wanted to eat and offer to buy it on his way home, gently coaxing Kwon Siyul to eat more.

He might be alive now thanks to that. There was a time when even swallowing a sip of water was a struggle. His appetite had completely disappeared, and he didn’t want to eat even a grain of rice, feeling like someone with their days numbered. He wished he could just disappear from the world. Something more terrifying than death had appeared, and the fear of it approaching him step by step was overwhelming.

Woo Hyunse gave both the disease and the cure. Could there be anyone more duplicitous in the world?

The food suited Kwon Siyul’s taste. But he couldn’t eat much. Perhaps his stomach had shrunk—he felt full after just a few twirls of pasta. He sipped the accompanying wine without really tasting it.

By the time dessert was over and wine snacks were served, Yang Hye-na’s face was already flushed red. She talked to herself and giggled, then insisted she wasn’t drunk with a serious face. She gestured at the air, adamantly claiming she couldn’t possibly be drunk from mere wine.

“Do I look like someone who would get drunk on this measly wine?”

Her face and neck were red, and her eyes were unfocused. After mumbling this typical drunk person’s claim, Yang Hye-na suddenly slumped her head onto the table. Kwon Siyul quickly reached out to cushion her forehead. Woo Taeju chuckled at the sight.

“Hyung, want to drop Hyena off and go for round two? There’s a time limit here. We’ve got about 30 minutes left.”

“Well, that’s…”

It was getting late, and Kwon Siyul was already struggling with how to explain drinking alone with Woo Taeju to Woo Hyunse. As Kwon Siyul hesitated, Woo Taeju leaned forward, resting his crossed arms on the table.

“Then, hyung, let’s drink just a bit more before we go. We were supposed to drink together last time but couldn’t. And you can let go of Hye-na now. Your hand must hurt.”

True to his words, Kwon Siyul’s hand that had cushioned Yang Hye-na’s forehead was sore. He carefully withdrew his hand. There wasn’t much time left, but some remained. With half of the newly ordered wine still left, it seemed a shame to leave right away.