Chapter 29: Yuamhwamyeong (2)
Part 5
– Here, you jerk.
– Yo, fast, fast.
A notification popped up on my phone screen, interrupting the YouTube video I was watching. As I typed a reply and glanced up, I spotted Seongyoon climbing the subway station stairs. Familiar black rimless glasses, slightly heavy breathing. He shoved his phone into his pocket, scanned the area, and, spotting me, strode over confidently.
“Hoo… your VIP has arrived.”
“Need some epic BGM?”
“Whatever, I just wanna sit.”
His breathing sounded rough, so I scooted to the edge of the bench, chuckling. Did he really rush over after my call? His messy hair and wrinkled shirt caught my eye, with stray strands near his ears sticking from sweat, giving an odd seasonal vibe. Summer’s still far off, right?
“You used to say you’d rather walk than run. What’s with the sprint?”
Seongyoon, from a well-off family and usually so laid-back, looked disheveled—rare for him, especially this sweaty. He flung off his unbuttoned coat, fanning himself with his hand, looking pitiful.
“You’re already a top-tier ‘watch closely’ target for us.”
His half-joking tone carried a surprising seriousness, making it hard to tell if it was just his panting or something deeper.
“Joking?”
“Ever since we saw you crying your eyes out, we legit said, ‘Let’s make sure this guy doesn’t do something drastic.’”
His lips curled into a smirk. I frowned, asking what that expression meant, and after a brief pause, he answered bluntly. Were they talking about me behind my back?
“…That was just drunk rambling. I’m fine.”
“That’s what you think. To us, you looked super unstable. Plus, we’re your only friends. If we don’t look out for you, what if you end up a loner corpse or something?”
“I’m not gonna do that. And I have other friends.”
“Liar.”
My defense didn’t even convince me. Thinking back, I was pretty shaky. I feel okay now, but wasn’t it spilling my guts to these guys that got me here?
I couldn’t exactly tell someone I hadn’t seen in days to just get how I’m doing now. Saying, “Thanks to you guys, I’m okay,” was too embarrassing. I turned away, and his cackling laughter followed.
“So, what can we do with this duo?”
“I told you to think of something.”
That aside, we couldn’t just sit here forever. Seongyoon’s random topic got an equally random reply. A brief silence. He froze, as if he couldn’t believe what he heard, then shot up, gaping at me.
“Are you actually insane? You really didn’t plan anything?”
“Why’re you getting mad?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
Fair. I’d be annoyed too if someone called me out with zero plans.
“You’re getting stares looking like that and saying stuff like this.”
“Can I really be blamed for this?”
“Guess not.”
I snickered and nodded, and he muttered something like, “This guy’s gone full nutcase in a few days.” I didn’t bother responding, just grinned.
“Still, we should go somewhere. My butt hurts from this hard bench.”
“It’s been, what, ten minutes?”
“Ten’s plenty.”
I stood, stretching my stiff body. As I peeled off the bench, a dull ache spread from my tailbone. My awkward waddling drew another mocking laugh from him.
“Don’t laugh.”
“Such a wimp.”
“…Why’s everything you say so hard to deny?”
“Let’s grab food first.”
“You didn’t eat?”
“Man, if you’re gonna say that, don’t call people out at this weird lunch hour!”
I got an earful the whole walk for dragging him out at such an awkward time.
Part 6
“Streaming?”
“Yeah, since the day you guys came over, I’ve been showing my face on cam.”
“Guess the high energy’s from getting infected by the chat…”
I stared blankly at the sizzling katsu being sliced, recounting the past week, when Seongyoon’s surprised voice cut in. Was I high-energy? Felt like my usual self. Wanting to go out was a bit impulsive, sure.
“Maybe just some good vibes. Today’s the first time I felt like going out.”
“In my memory, you were chill even when you won that piano competition. For someone like that to call people out on a whim just ‘cause of good vibes? Kinda weird from where I’m standing.”
“Hmm… maybe it wasn’t that great then.”
“The instructor must be crying. Didn’t he adore you? Still keep in touch?”
“Teacher’s Day, maybe?”
I answered absently, mulling over his words. Come to think of it, I’d been hearing stuff like “You seem happier” in texts lately. Dr. Kang Young-hoo said my expression looked better today too.
“…Did my personality change from before… this?”
“Not before this, but before and after we visited. You got… perkier, maybe?”
“Hmm…”
Since I’d eaten lunch after the hospital, my spot had just a glass of cold soda. Was that it? I twirled the glass, watching bubbles rise and pop.
“Maybe thanks to you guys.”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
Having finally sliced the katsu, Seongyoon, chewing two pieces at once, tilted his head slightly. Less “what’s with the sappy talk” and more genuine confusion. My lips curled unwittingly.
I sipped the fruity soda. Sweet taste, crisp carbonation. My throat must’ve been drier than I thought.
“How do I put it… I was living thinking I’d lost everything, like no one could’ve had it worse than me.”
“I get you were drowning in self-centered, arrogant thoughts, but go on?”
“I didn’t even realize it, but talking to the doctor today made me think that’s how it was.”
The katsu steadily vanished, leaving the salad and rice untouched. Seongyoon, stuffing more meat in his mouth, nodded for me to continue.
“Everything I’d done felt meaningless. Like I had to start from nothing. Amid that, you guys said nothing had to change, even if it felt awkward.”
“Mmph, mwe mmmph—”
“Swallow before you talk, you slob.”
After his prolonged chewing, I went to grab water, only to see him choking and coughing. What a guy, I thought blankly.
“…Thought I was gonna die.”
“How do you almost die eating katsu?”
“Wanted to see how many pieces I could fit at once.”
I decided not to ask the results.
“We didn’t say nothing changed. We said we’d still be friends. There’s a difference. It’s not a guy-guy thing anymore; guy-girl means we gotta adjust. We spent hours figuring out how to not make you feel distanced.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it’s not. Even if you’re fine with us acting the same, wouldn’t you feel weird if we kept up the crude jokes?”
“There’s one guy who’d do it even with a girl around, no?”
“Laugh it off. He’s like that even with girls.”
“Anyway, I wanted to say you guys didn’t change. That helped me realize I didn’t go through some tragic ordeal, and nothing’s that different.”
“Dude, it’s super different.”
“Just say ‘I see’ and move on, you unfeeling jerk.”
The sunlight streaming through the window was bright. Maybe it’s time for lighter clothes. Sipping the half-empty soda, I savored the peak spring weather.