n

n

n.

nYoo Chun Young might have gone through a lot as I realized Yi Ruda’s amazing fighting skills ever since she jumped out of the second-floor window. She also had some bruises on her face but so did Yoo Chun Young. They both seemed to attack and counterattack at the same time.

nAs my mouth got wide opened at his swelling blue cheek, Eun Hyung came over to me while dragging Yoo Chun Young.

nHe then said to us, “The class is gonna start. Go in ASAP. I will take Chun Young to the nurse’s office.”

n“Hey, hold on.”

nWhen Eun Jiho called them to stop in a hurry, Eun Hyung turned back to look at him.

n“What’s up?”

n“Why did you fight?” Eun Jiho asked while casting his gaze at Yoo Chun Young, who was standing silently behind Eun Hyung.

nYoo Chun Young’s blue eyes looked serene as usual, which relieved me. He glanced over at me then had his eyes on Eun Jiho to respond.

n“Because Yi Ruda degraded the three years we spent with Ham Donnie like nothing.”

n“…”

n“I tried to chill… but I couldn’t help myself, so I punched him.”

n“And as a response, you got one back and came up with a friendly give-and-take,” Eun Jiho replied with a slightly pale face. Yoo Chun Young, who kept quiet without a response, reminded me of the maxim, ‘silence gives consent.’ In this regard, was I the reason why they fought?

nMy face exhibited the feeling of complication when looking at Yoo Chun Young’s back. He then turned back to see me before he followed Eun Hyung.

nWhen my eyes widened in surprise as our eyes met, Yoo Chun Young heaved a sigh and strode toward me.

nHe said, “Don’t you get why we looked after you for 40 minutes while skipping our lunch break?”

n“Huh?”

n“You can let us worry about you. It makes me upset, and I feel suffocated when I think that you’re suffering alone, get it?” Yoo Chun Young said in a faster and emotional tone than usual. Before I had the chance to reply, he turned back and descended the stairs.

n* * *

nYoo Chun Young’s brow met in the middle. That was when the brush on the antiseptic bottle cap swept just above his brows.

nRegardless of the pain, that Yoo Chun Young displayed on his face, Kwon Eun Hyung moved his hand to finish applying the ointment. He then smiled as he turned the cap to close it. It was a soft grin that he usually had.

nEun Hyung asked, “What are you gonna do with today’s photoshoot?”

n“I must call now that I can’t make it today… to give a notice at least 3-hours in advance.”

n“What if they ask you why?”

nRubbing his stinging brows, Yoo Chun Young lifted his eyes to see Kwon Eun Hyung.

nUnder the sunlight, Eun Hyung’s reddish hair and the smiley green eyes below it were heading toward Chun Young. He looked into his eyes carefully then fetched a faint sigh.

nHe replied, “I’m not gonna think I did something wrong even if you stare at me like that.”

n“There’s no intention in my gaze. I was just wondering how far you were thinking,” Kwon Eun Hyung said with a smile. His eyes were somewhat stricter than before, which made Yoo Chun Young heave another sigh.

nKwon Eun Hyung’s attitude was nothing new. From an early age, Yoo Chun Young tended to suppress his anger but just the smallest trigger pressed the button at last, which made people around him become befuddled by his demeanor. Whenever that happened, it was Kwon Eun Hyung, who picked up the pieces.

nGeez… Yoo Chun Young swept down his hair with a sigh.

nHe said, “Am I Woo Jooin to think any farther than this?”

n“Well, it’s not only the brilliant’s virtue to handle the aftermath.”

n“If I were to think like that, I might have beaten him up after a week.”

n“Yeah… you’re slow,” Kwon Eun Hyung replied with a smile. He then stretched out his hand to pat Yoo Chun Young’s hair. A moment after, Yoo Chun Young, who was dropping his gaze at the floor, became surprised then soon stared at Kwon Eun Hyung, who was just smiling speechlessly.

n“What’s that look?”

n“I mean. This seems like…”

nA compliment… Yoo Chun Young, however, just swallowed the last word in silence.

nWhenever Yoo Chun Young presented his explosive anger, Kwon Eun Hyung never praised him for that negative actions. That was because most situations were enough easily solved verbally with a calm demeanor. Ever since Yoo Chun Young expressed so much anger, it was his first time to receive a compliment from Kwon Eun Hyung than to get severely reprimanded.

nWhen Yoo Chun Young blinked his eyes in surprise, Kwon Eun Hyung burst out laughing as if it was funny. He then said with a soft smile.

n“I’m proud of you even if you have not reflected on yourself; though you’ve calmed down after a while.”

n“What’s that about?”

n“The fact that you aren’t reflecting on yourself even when you’ve calmed down implies that the situation truly provoked you. The heat of the moment didn’t carry away you.”

n“…”

nYoo Chun Young closed his mouth, feeling a little strange.

nKwon Eun Hyung’s remark logically made sense; however, he felt that Kwon Eun Hyung looked strangely brighter after Chun Young beat Yi Ruda. ‘Am I getting it wrong… Or does Kwon Eun Hyung also dislike Yi Ruda as much as I do?’ Chun Young fell into consideration.

nHam Donnie’s face came across when Yoo Chun Young thought about Yi Ruda. Her dark brown eyes that were looking at him in wonder when he cast out some words and tried to turn back revolved around in his head.

nYoo Chun Young asked, “What happened to Ham Donnie?”

n“Oh, you mean that…” Kwon Eun Hyung replied with a smile.

n“We just made her swear. She will never keep silent or be alone when she’s in danger… something like that.”

n“Did you ask why she didn’t tell the truth?”

n“No, because it’s obvious.”

nAfter that response, Kwon Eun Hyung’s eyes became cold-hearted.

n“Obvious… What do you mean?” Yoo Chun Young asked in wonder.

n“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half sorrow… but she might have wanted to only share something good although she would go through some inner struggles alone.”

n“…”

n“In this aspect, do you know that you and Donnie are alike? Both of you never tell your hardships before someone runs you guys to the earth.”

nAfter his remark, Kwon Eun Hyung laughed as if he realized that he had spoken something ridiculous, which made Yoo Chun Young upset.

n“We’re not alike,” Yoo Chun Young spat out like he was shooting the words out to Eun Hyung.

n“What?”

n“Those I didn’t tell were problems that I couldn’t solve, but Donnie’s case is different. If she confessed that she was almost dead because of those bastards, we could solve her problems. Why didn’t she open up?”

n“…”

nKwon Eun Hyung tapped Yoo Chun Young’s head with mellow eyes. It looked like he understood what Chun Young wanted to say. Yoo Chun Young closed his mouth.

nHe didn’t like talking long. It scared him. Unlike his light and fragile nature, words sometimes drew heavy situations unexpectedly.

nYoo Chun Young asked after a moment of hesitation, “Eun Hyung.”

n“Huh?”

n“Ignorance is bliss…”

n“Yeah,” Kwon Eun Hyung nodded while putting his generous smile that relieved people.

nDo you believe in ‘ignorance is bliss…’ Yoo Chun Young shook his head while stopping himself to continue the words. He then pointed at the door with his chin.

n“Never mind… I’ll tell my uncle that I can’t make it to the photoshoot today. Go back to class. You shouldn’t miss it.”

n“It’s been a while since I last skipped a class. Not bad though.”

n“Come on, it’s early in the semester.”

nYoo Chun Young’s words made Kwon Eun Hyung stand up and leave the nurse’s office. Before he stepped out of the door, he shortly nodded then closed the door.

nWhen the door closed, he heard not even a footstep from the hallway. Yoo Chun Young lifted his hand slowly to sweep back his hair but frowned when his hand touched the wound above his brows.

nEveryone would find out after spending time with Kwon Eun Hyung that he wasn’t that stubborn but quite flexible despite his attitude of strictly observing the rules.

nWhenever Eun Hyung felt stuffy, he often wandered around parks or streets. Ever since Yoo Chun Young saw Eun Hyung leaving the house, he went out for a night walk together with him.

nThey did nothing special. All they did was to lean against the bench inside the park while enjoying the lake breeze and tilting their head toward the back to watch the sky darkening.

nKwon Eun Hyung hated stuffy feelings; however, he always contained a perfect attitude to school schedules or his chores. It looked like an obsession to Yoo Chun Young.

n‘When you grew up too fast, do you behave like that?’ Chun Young thought about Kwon Eun Hyung while looking up at the ceiling then took his phone out from the pocket.

nHe opened his phone and pressed the call button; the person he was calling didn’t answer the phone for quite a while. ‘Should I give up… Before making that decision?’ Chun Young tried again, and this time, he heard someone picking up the phone.

n“Hey uncle, I can’t make it to the photoshoot today.”

n