Suwon recognizing the guy before them.
Ah. Grasshopper
Park Dong stepped forward, stopping right in front of Kim Kwangwoon.
Park Dong ask with a straight face. "Why did you call me out here? Do you know we have night study? It was about to start. Now it looks like I'm about to get dragged somewhere and beaten up again because of this."
Kwangwoon avoided his eyes immediately, shoulders stiff.
He lowered his head like he was bracing himself.
"Um…"
He slipped his backpack off one shoulder and fumbled inside.
"I know this is… really embarrassing."
From inside, he pulled out a folded yellow paper.
Carefully.
Like it might fall apart.
He extended it toward Park Dong.
Park Dong stared at it.
"…What's this?"
"It's a letter. I wrote it." Kwangwoon swallowed. "Can you… give it to Rina?"
Park Dong froze.
Then slowly turned his head toward the two behind him.
He mutter slowly. "…Ah. For Irina."
The next second, he stepped closer too close leaning his face right in front of Kwangwoon's while gritting piss off.
"…Are you kidding me? You called me out to run an errand?"
Kwangwoon flinched slightly.
Suwon quickly grabbed Park Dong's shoulders. "Hey, hey-"
Park Dong shook him off, jaw tight. "No, seriously... wow. This is unbelievable."
"I-I can't give it to her myself," Kwangwoon said, voice smaller now. "I feel too ashamed…
Park Dong's mouth twitched.
A flush crept up his neck and spread across his face, the color betraying the anger he was trying and failing to swallow after hearing that.
"Ashamed?" he snapped. "You're talking about shame now? Who told you to cheat in the first place? What exactly did you think you were doing?"
Kwangwoon's shoulders drooped further.
"…You're right," he murmured. "I just don't have the courage."
His fingers tightened around the letter.
Slowly, he began to pull it back.
"Maybe it's better if I don't give it to her."
Park Dong let him take it.
"Yeah. Why should I be the one delivering that?" he shot back. "Why should I get cursed at along with you? Fck that."
Silence settled heavy between them.
Kwangwoon stood there, head bowed, the folded letter hanging at his side.
He looked smaller than before.
Suwon stepped forward, reaching for Park Dong, hoping to calm him down.
"Hey…" he said carefully. "No matter what, he's still your hyung."
"If this is some pathetic 'let's get back together' letter, then forget it."
Park Dong didn't even look at Suwon this time.
His eyes were locked on Kim Kwangwoon, sharp and unyielding.
"You already hurt her enough. What more do you want from her?"
Suwon glanced sideways at Park Dong, surprised by this rare sight of him being serious.
Park Dong didn't stop.
"Playing with someone's heart like that… She's finally doing fine. She's forgetting everything."
Kwangwoon let out a quiet breath. A bitter smile pulled at his lips.
"I know," he said softly. "…Does it even make sense? Wanting to get back together?"
He shook his head faintly.
"I at least have that much conscience. I'm not trying to ask for anything. I just… wanted to say sorry. It ended without even a proper apology."
Park Dong's jaw tightened.
He couldn't stand the way he's acting, as if he regretted everything when he happily did it..
"I told you to just stop," he said flatly. Cold. "No matter what you say, you can't change what you did. There's no regret pill you can swallow and fix it."
Kwangwoon stood still for a few seconds.
Park Dong just stared at him.
Then Kwangwoon gave a small nod.
"…Okay. Sorry about this. Just forget this happened."
He turned around slowly, shoulders hunched, and walked away, eyes still on the ground.
Park Dong watched Kwangwoon's back retreating into the dark, his fists still clenched.
Irina's voice echoed in his head what she'd said on the trip.
"How can I forget someone like that so easily? I really did like him."
His jaw tightened.
"…Fuck," he muttered under his breath.
He clicked his tongue in irritation, then let out a long sigh like he was trying to swallow something bitter.
"That!!"
His voice cut through the air.
Kim Kwangwoon stopped mid-step.
Slowly, he turned around.
Park Dong stood there, arm extended stiffly palm open.
Park Dong looked away immediately, embarrassed at his own decision.
"Doesn't mean I'll give it to her though," he added quickly. "Don't get it twisted."
Kwangwoon blinked in surprise, then slowly stepped forward, holding the letter out to him once more.
-
Across town, the sky had already darkened as Hong Aera stepped out of the so-called non-smoking class.
She walked down a narrow alley, hands shoved deep into the front pocket of her jacket, lips pressed into a thin line.
Tiny flesh-colored patches clung to her ear acupuncture beads meant to reduce cravings.
She clicked her tongue.
Seriously. What an annoying day.
She kicked lightly at a pebble as she walked.
I'd rather sit through night study.
At least I could sleep for a few hours.
The class had been a hassle. Signing in. Sitting through lectures. And the acupuncture that only hurt like hell was supposed to magically fix everything.
"All this effort just to attend one class…" she muttered. "Such a pain."
And the irony of it irritated her even more.
What's so 'quit smoking' about that place anyway?
They sneak out to smoke every break.
Her hand came up to her face, fingers brushing over her cheek as if she could hide from the world by covering half of it.
Then her steps slowed.
And of all people to be seen… it had to be Seol Hyorim.
That moment replayed in her mind.
She didn't know if she should be grateful that it was Seol Hyorim who had helped her.
Aera exhaled sharply.
"Good thing Yoon Seojin didn't see," she muttered under her breath. "If he had… I might've actually quit school on the spot."
She crouched down in the alley, arms resting loosely on her knees.
The cold concrete seeped through the soles of her shoes.
This place.
How many times had she stood here after school?
How many times had she pretended it was coincidence just to catch a glimpse of that oppa?
She barely spoke to him, but just seeing that pretty face was more than enough.
When she entered high school, she thought it would be different. She thought seeing someone like Yoon Seojin would make things bearable. For a while, it did. But then… the news spread. He was dating. And of all people it had to be Seol Hyorim.
She took a long drag from her cigarette.
Haven't seen him since entering high school…
He must definitely have a girlfriend by now, right?
She exhaled slowly, smoke curling into the evening air.
"I should've gotten his number…"
With a face like that, of course someone would make a move on him.
He was totally her type.
Will I ever meet him again?
She glanced at three guys walking down the alley.
He's tall… dyed hair suits him well… nice voice…
As she continued thinking, one of the guys seemed to match the image in her head.
Her eyes perked up.
The guy noticed her too look back.
He keep her glance at her before disappearing behind the wall, though his gaze lingered for a second too long.
She thought dreamily.
And above all… he's a pretty boy.
She shook her head. Maybe it was just her imagination.
Did I miss that oppa so much that I'm even seeing things?
Then the guy stepped out again, sneaking another peek her way.
She gasped.
The pretty boy she'd been thinking about was, by coincidence, Choi Giryang Seol Hyorim's ex-boyfriend, the guy she'd dated for three days.
"Hey, you! It's you, right?"
Aera could only stare back, her face flushed a deep red, eyes wide and mouth parted as though her body had forgotten how to move.