BHB 85

His continued remarks were equally unexpected. As the blame shifted to an uninvolved party, Yeowon gave a faint, incredulous laugh.

“What’s wrong with him? He’s the son of a family more impressive than mine, and he can do whatever he sets his mind to.”

What a formidable person he was. Yeowon knew better than anyone the potential Lee Taegang possessed. Born naturally clever, he could accomplish anything he committed to. Perhaps due to the rigorous gifted education he’d received since childhood, he excelled at everything he attempted.

If he knew this, how could his parents not? That’s probably why Lee Taegang’s parents never easily gave up on him despite his numerous misdeeds. Things might be quiet now, but who knew if they would stay that way.

“I’m not saying I don’t know Taegang is capable.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Seeing his eagerness to comment, it suddenly occurred to Yeowon that Baek Seungha and Lee Taegang must really dislike each other. What could have happened to make both of them react this way whenever the other was mentioned?

“Because he’s trying to control you.” Just as Yeowon was about to laugh at this absurd statement, Baek Seungha continued, “You know it too. You two have been together for quite a while, closer than most. Even in high school, I found it strange. Two guys, so attached they couldn’t bear to be apart.”

“What are you talking about?”

“But I think it’s all because of Taegang.”

Yeowon’s smile faded at this unexpected response. Baek Seungha was making sharp observations and emotionally unleashing hidden sentiments. His words seemed excessive, making Yeowon uncomfortable as he rolled his tongue inside his mouth. His jaw tensed involuntarily.

“I didn’t know you disliked Taegang this much.”

“I did. I told you. I cared about you too.”

“That doesn’t give you the right to badmouth Taegang in front of me.”

That was the most irritating part. He hated hearing others speak ill of Lee Taegang. Especially for such irrelevant reasons.

“And I don’t see how it’s any of your business whether I hang out with Taegang or not.”

“You two are unusually close, that’s true.”

“I don’t understand why that bothers you.”

It really seemed like a bad day. He hadn’t expected Baek Seungha to sour his mood this way.

He knew Baek Seungha was right. About him and Taegang being unusual. They were even physically intimate now because of it. But whatever others thought or how they viewed it didn’t matter. Rather, the very idea of being criticized for it was incomprehensible and, amusingly, only prompted an arrogant thought: “How dare they?”

“I’ll be going now.” Yeowon pushed back his chair and stood up smoothly. 

Whether he had more to say or felt wronged, Baek Seungha just bit his lip tightly and looked elsewhere.

About to leave immediately, Yeowon stopped and faced Baek Seungha directly again, “I don’t know what bad blood is between you two.”

“…”

“But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t badmouth him in front of me.”

After delivering this advice-like comment, Yeowon clenched his molars with an irritated expression and turned away sharply. If he didn’t leave quickly, he felt she might really get into a serious fight today.

Today felt like he had reverted to his high school self. Even with simple provocations, with things he could normally tolerate, his emotions surged like a childish student. He became like a teenager unable to control his feelings. Despite recognizing his own immaturity, he couldn’t suppress the constant irritation, nervously cursing and kicking at innocent trash in his path. His troubled mind made it even harder to regulate his annoyance.

This is why proper family education matters. But how would he know, never having received it? The bitter night air tormented her with its unpleasantly disturbing atmosphere.

Waking up late the next morning, Yeowon felt not at all refreshed despite having slept well. He opened his eyes slowly and lingered in bed. Reluctant to get up, he tossed and turned for a while, then absently raised his hand, meaninglessly opening and closing his fist repeatedly.

He felt dismayed as memories of yesterday came to mind. It had been a long time since he’d acted so emotionally. It had been years since he’d hit someone like that. It was the first time since his school days when he used to hang out with gangs and get into fights. As an adult, such incidents were rare. He had entered university properly and cut ties with most of his high school acquaintances. Or so he thought.

Yet he had charged like a loose screw and beaten someone up. Would he be sued? With an expressionless face, Yeowon pondered idly while searching for his phone among the bedding. There were several regular group chats and messages, and a missed call from Lee Taegang. As he first scanned through the messages, his eyes stopped at Kim Myungjoo’s name. The preview message was particularly eye-catching. He opened their conversation.

[Hey are you okay?]

It was a message from early yesterday morning. And another message came an hour later.

[Choi Youngdu wassayin he’s lookinforyou]

Yeowon instinctively frowned at the typo-filled content. He seemed to have heard this before. So it appeared Choi Youngdoo was really looking for him. Why bother? After several years since graduation, he was tired of still hearing Choi Youngdoo’s name.

Because everyone around him had passed through his life like a season, Yeowon didn’t remember people well. Partly because he had many people around him, but also because he was naturally indifferent, most remained just blurry memories of the past.

That’s why particularly disliking someone was quite significant for him. It was remarkable that someone would constantly do things he disliked, and the fact that they still lurked around was annoyingly persistent to the point of disgust.

Yeowon tossed his phone away without reading the other messages. But as it immediately began vibrating, he had to rummage around to find it again.

“What?”

-What do you mean ‘what,’ you crazy bastard.

It was Do Yeongjae. 

Greeted with cursing as soon as he answered, Yeowon let out a low, languid laugh and replied, “Why are you acting up so early in the morning?”

-How could I not? Hey, I heard you beat someone up yesterday?

“Ah…”

He had expected a lawsuit, but apparently rumors had already spread. Well, it made sense—he had beaten someone up in front of two classmates with clear intent. It would be strange if word hadn’t gotten around, though the rumors seemed to travel unusually fast.

“… I didn’t beat him that badly.”

-You’re screwed. The rumors are everywhere. I heard he was even hospitalized?

“… Hospitalized? For a guy getting slapped a few times…”

‘When I was hit, even with cracked ribs, I never went to the hospital.’ 

Going to the hospital could escalate things, and it was also a matter of male pride. To Yeowon, it seemed pathetic to pick fights to look tough and then run to the hospital at the first sign of pain.

-This might get serious. I think even the teaching assistants and professors have heard about it.

“…How did it spread so quickly?”

-The guy posted everything on social media. Photos of his beaten face and him in the hospital.

“To brag about getting beaten up?”

-Of course not. He’s gathering evidence! That you beat him up.

“Whatever. Tell him to sue me.”

-Lawsuit aside, if this escalates, the university might take disciplinary action against you.

Yeowon finally got out of bed and went to the living room to find some cold water. Though Yeongjae spoke as if it were a serious matter, Yeowon didn’t really care either way. If there was a lawsuit, so be it. If the school punished him, so be it. 

With nothing to lose either way, he responded calmly, “Then there’s nothing I can do.”

-Huh? That’s it?

“What else could I do?”

-You’re really crazy. How can you be so indifferent? The whole school is talking about you. You were already causing a stir recently—fighting with seniors, getting stabbed. And now this… nevermind.

“It wasn’t a fight. It was 4 against 1. Or was it 3 against 1? Anyway, I was ganged up on.”

-Ganged up my ass.

“If you’re just going to nag, I’m hanging up.”

-It’s not nagging, it’s concern, you idiot.

“Oh. Thank you?”

Entering the living room, Yeowon put the call on speaker, gave a casual response, and sat heavily on the sofa with the sparkling water Lee Taegang had bought. Speaking of which, what was Taegang doing?

“By the way, did Taegang come to school?”

-He wasn’t in class, but I saw him earlier.

“Really? What was he doing?”

“I saw him with a TA in passing. You know, that older female student Taegang met as a freshman.”

“Ah…”

At this, Yeowon let out a small sigh as he suddenly remembered seeing the two of them together before.