SMNTCERR, Chapter 17 <11> #4.
The loud sound of a door closing made the two male students who were playing games turn to look in surprise. Sangwoo’s heart raced, and he could feel the heat rising on his face.
‘Why do you like taking other people’s belongings?’
Sangwoo hurriedly ran out of the drama club room, remembering that he had always been someone who liked change. Yes, that’s right. His own words were correct. Sometimes he was like this, sometimes he was like that, a person whose behavior was unpredictable like the weather.
Sangwoo’s hurried footsteps gradually slowed down. As time passed, he became more and more embarrassed. Even though Jang Jaeyoung had taken the hat and refused to return it, suddenly, he seemed too vulnerable when Sangwoo got closer. Normally, Sangwoo wasn’t easily intimidated, but when someone approached him, he made a face-pulling gesture and became so surprised that he couldn’t make a sensible decision.
‘It’s not like I’m attracted to the same sex.’
When fighting for the ball on a football field, the touches were more intimate than this. It was the same in wrestling or Korean wrestling. Even though their bodies were closely connected in every way, it didn’t seem strange. When entering the dressing room and changing clothes together, it still didn’t seem like a big deal because they were both men.
Sangwoo concluded that it was his own lack of self-control that caused him to do such things. So when Jaeyoung chased after him, he dared not look at the other side. Jaeyoung handed him a blue outfit for the play along with a wig.
“I just took off the hat to put on the wig, so I teased you a little. Didn’t expect you to get angry.”
“I’m not angry at all.”
He lied, because until now, Sangwoo’s heart was still pounding with anger. Jaeyoung was just preparing things, and it was clear that he had misunderstood something weird, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it seemed like the other party could make him stressed in many ways, whether intentional or not.
“We have to practice and perform well, so let’s do our best. Sangwoo.”
Sangwoo evaluated the other party’s words as he put away his clothes and wig into his bag and left the building. He heard Jaeyoung’s voice following him. So Sangwoo turned around to speak.
“It seems like the plan has changed. However, it doesn’t matter. So let’s not pretend to be close.”
The corner of his mouth that used to be calm curved into a smile.
“I didn’t plan anything. I just did what I wanted to do.”
“And from this point on, there’s no need to follow anymore. Because of you, sunbae. I won’t go to the library anymore. I will go back home and study there.”
“The more you forbid, the more tempting it becomes.”
“So please come along.”
“Come on, talking about something like that, I’m already there.”
“…”
Sangwoo hurriedly walked towards the library to get his bicycle as usual. He thought that if he deliberately rode the bicycle past Jaeyoung and ran down the slope, it might help him forget about it. But Jaeyoung followed him down.
“What are you doing?”
“Just following you, I told you.”
Sangwoo looked at the sparkling skateboard that Jaeyoung was riding with a surprised face. How crazy can this person be? Isn’t time important for everyone? Why waste such a valuable time on something that doesn’t make any difference?
He shook his head and thought that he would just stick to riding the bicycle. But his gaze kept shifting towards that direction. Jaeyoung was very skilled at skateboarding, and he knew how to attract people’s attention. Not just Sangwoo, but everyone who saw Jaeyoung in that alley looked at him with curiosity and admiration. Jaeyoung seemed to enjoy getting attention, so he showed off his skateboard tricks in front of many people, smiling like a celebrity and high-fiving children. While the skateboard was still rolling.
The other side seemed free like a character in a video game. At that moment, even though Sangwoo already knew that Jaeyoung was different from him, when he saw the smiling lips, flowing hair, and skateboarding skills, he felt that Jang Jaeyoung was a completely different species.
They were completely different from each other. Sangwoo did what he had to do, while Jaeyoung did what he wanted to do, no matter what it was. Sangwoo had no friends, not even one person, while Jaeyoung was a famous person at the university, known by many wherever he went. Sangwoo wore only black clothes, while Jaeyoung’s wardrobe had to be full of rainbow colors. Sangwoo often looked expressionless, while Jaeyoung often smiled like a mischievous child. Sangwoo clung to his daily routine, while Jaeyoung acted like a carefree wanderer, they lived in different worlds. If it weren’t for those unfortunate events, they would have never crossed paths.
They crossed the sidewalk and turned into the alley, then both of them gilded side by side. Even though there was no one around, Jaeyoung still jumped and spun half a turn before landing on the ground, the skateboard seemed to stick to his feet.
“So why did you follow me?”
If Jaeyoung wanted to skate, there would be plenty of good places to do so. I don’t understand why they had to play in a street full of potholes. Jaeyoung answered nonchalantly that there was nothing else to do, and that wasn’t an answer that matched the question. But no matter what, Sangwoo didn’t need to understand the other side because he had already passed halfway.
“Now there’s only one week left.”
“What?”
“During the withdrawal period for classes.”
Jaeyoung just laughed. He didn’t say anything.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the apartment where Sangwoo lived. It was a four-story building with vines crawling up the walls. Sangwoo locked his bicycle in the designated bicycle parking area labeled ‘Room 402’ and had a chain lock.
“Here we are.”
“Breaking into someone’s residence carries a maximum penalty of 3 years.”
“Why haven’t you mentioned that yet?”
“If you take the bicycle, I’ll report it to the police immediately, including any modifications or accessories.”
Hearing Sangwoo speak like that, instead of scolding, Jaeyoung just laughed.
He stepped on one end of the skateboard, and then the other end popped up.
Jaeyoung held up the skateboard with his left hand and raised his right hand.
“Have fun on your day off.. Sangwoo.”
“…Okay.”
Upon hearing the non-hostile words, he politely responded. Sangwoo turned his gaze away from the other side and walked into the building. He wondered why he felt so unsettled and tried to think about it while climbing the stairs. It seemed like this was the first time they had separated on good terms. There were no curses exchanged.
Even though he worried that the other person would follow, there was no sound behind him. Sangwoo reached the fourth floor, entered the code at the door, and went inside.
He let out a sigh for no reason. Then he placed his bag by the door, took off his hat and coat, and hung them on the coat hanger. After changing out of his jeans into sportswear, he went to wash his hands with soap in the bathroom. The reflection in the mirror showed an ordinary teenage boy with flat bangs sticking to his forehead.
Sangwoo picked up a book to read from the bookshelf and placed it on the table. He took out a pencil box and a notebook from his bag and put them side by side. But before sitting down on the chair, his feet walked towards the window.
He squinted a little and looked through the window below. Jaeyoung was still in the same place. On the other side, he left the skateboard and played with the black cat lying belly up, while Jaeyoung sat there gazing, using his hand to stroke it. Sangwoo had encountered that cat several times, but if it didn’t feel threatened, it would run away quickly. Sangwoo looked at Jaeyoung as he picked up his phone to take a picture of the cat before closing the curtains.
In the two-day hardcore mode, one day off. Then, it would be slightly annoying for another two days, as Jang Jaeyoung’s actions were unpredictable, like an irregular function, just like his indescribable nature.
Sangwoo didn’t like anything without structure, because it couldn’t be predicted.
He sat down at the table and started reading a book. return 0;
Uncertainty comes with inefficiency.
Jaeyoung’s actions had no pattern, so it was impossible to guess what he would do on the weekend break. Therefore, when he saw the reflection of a person on the frosted glass door of the internet cafe with posters attached, Sangwoo felt restless. Then, after a while, he felt relieved and continued to stay this way.
The special working hours on Saturday passed slowly because there were fewer people using the service than usual, so he didn’t have much work. However, because he was idly staring at the door, he didn’t use his free time effectively. If an enemy suddenly appeared, he had to be prepared to deal with it, so vigilance was a good defense. But from the situation, it seemed like he was waiting for Jaeyoung to arrive, which Sangwoo thought was funny.
‘I haven’t missed a day of us seeing each other until now.’
That was the only pattern Sangwoo found in Jaeyoung’s various behaviors, even on Wednesdays when they studied different subjects. The other side still came chasing after Sangwoo as if to catch him.
But until four o’clock, Jaeyoung didn’t show up. Sangwoo felt disappointed and slightly uneasy. At the same time, he thought that the other side might be waiting in front of the house. It wouldn’t be surprising since the other side had come before when riding a skateboard. When looked at from that angle, it wasn’t strange if the other side came again.
When he walked to the front of the house, Sangwoo saw a black shadow in front of the building.
“So, he must be there!”
But when he walked closer, he found that it was just a large garbage bin. In the end, on that day, Sangwoo didn’t meet Jaeyoung even once. If he knew that it would be like this, he would have used the spare time during work more productively. He regretted wasting his time idly staring at the door.
Sangwoo entered the house in a gloomy mood. And Saturday life came to an end.
[1.) On an ordinary day, there is a 100% possibility that Jaeyoung will appear.
2.) On a day off, there is a possibility of x% that Jaeyoung will appear,
(0≤x≤50).]
From the case of Saturday, although it was not conclusive, it could be inferred according to the above conclusions. Today, Sangwoo chose to believe the option that Jaeyoung would not show up in order to avoid restlessness like yesterday, as if it were his belief system.
Gong-ging gong-ging.
But Jaeyoung destroyed Sangwoo’s “belief” by appearing at 19:33. When the ringing sound echoed through the door, dealing with customers became one of his responsibilities, and Sangwoo’s former assumption was torn in half, shattered to pieces.
Jaeyoung picked up the card and walked past the counter. Sangwoo felt anxious because he didn’t know what the other side would do, but luckily there were surveillance cameras installed on the ceiling. If Jaeyoung did something pointless, Sangwoo would immediately inform the store manager and make sure he never came here again. The store manager was a kind person. Previously, when Sangwoo had an argument with another man who asked him to put something on hold, the store manager sided with Sangwoo. [Order from customer number 22: Spicy Fried Chicken.]
Sangwoo glanced at the notification message. It had only been a minute since Jaeyoung passed by the counter; he had to place the order immediately upon opening the computer.
Sangwoo got up from his seat and went to boil water, preparing the ramyeon according to the instructions. He placed the ramen bowl on a tray and carried it to the smoking area. Jaeyoung sat leaning against a chair, reading manga on his shaking legs. As soon as Sangwoo placed the tray on the table and turned around, he heard a loud exhale behind him.
After returning to the counter for three minutes, the notification popped up again.
[Order from customer number 22: Lemonade.]
“So, the strategy for today is training a thousand dogs, huh?”
If that’s the case, it must be the most tolerable thing he has encountered so far. Despite sitting not far from the counter, Jaeyoung seemed content, and there was nothing unsatisfactory for Sangwoo because this was a job that earned him money.
He filled the glass with filtered water, about 80%, and stirred the lemonade powder with a teaspoon. After adding four ice cubes, the water level rose to just below the rim of the glass. Sangwoo placed the glass on a tray for a moment and went to find Jaeyoung. The other side was watching a video of someone spray painting on the wall, the ramyeon already more than halfway gone in the bowl.
“Huh…”
The sound of a loud exhale seemed like the earth was collapsing, coming from the mouth of the person sitting there. Sangwoo placed the drink next to the ramyeon bowl and stepped out of the smoking area.
After returning to his seat for five minutes, the notification popped up again.
[Order from customer number 22: Fried Clam-Purse Potatoes.]
Sangwoo looked at the screen with a dissatisfied expression. Customers could order any food through the store’s system, but hardly anyone ever ordered pastries. Normally, they would come to the counter to buy them themselves.
“So, you’re trying to give me an excuse to exercise, huh? Thanks.”
Sangwoo picked up the pastries from the shelf and walked to the smoking area, while Jaeyoung was watching a basketball game from another country.
“Ohhh….”
The sound of exhaling grew louder each time. Sangwoo placed the bag of snacks next to the Lemon Green water and the Ramyun cup before leaving the smoking zone.
Sangwoo knew well that it wasn’t over yet. He sat down at the counter and hugged his chest, looking at the screen. It wasn’t known how many minutes had passed when the notification sound became louder.
[Customer request number 22: Jelly fruits.]
Sangwoo grabbed the jelly from the shelf and headed towards the smoking zone.
________________________________________.
[1] Training a disobedient dog. “똥개, 훈련, : Tong-gae, Hoon-nyeon.” A proverb used to describe giving orders to perform tasks that are both difficult and easy or have no repeated meaning.
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