CEL 16

The text, which had started with a typo showing his impatient state of mind, ended with a period that could not hide his anger. Hamin stared down at the chat window with a slightly troubled look.

It was not right to enjoy teasing a twenty-one-year-old kid.

But honestly, it was very hard not to tease Han Jaeha every time he got annoyed. Jaeha always pretended to smile politely with his handsome face, but Hamin, who had once seen his real smile, knew that Jaeha had never truly smiled. He wondered what could be weighing on a boy barely past twenty that made him live such a difficult life.

A moment later, Hamin’s face returned to a blank expression. He tapped the screen firmly.

Where should I go? 2:08 PM

Han Jaeha

That cafe from earlier. 2:08 PM

‎

Why are you still there, are you sketching again?

As he walked, he pictured Jaeha drawing. Holding a pencil with an indifferent look, he looked like a painting himself. His unusually pale irises for a Korean seemed to let everything pass through, and his matching hair color suited him too well. Even with dyed hair and a bunch of piercings, he still gave off the image of a class president.

Hamin wondered what it must feel like to live with such a face. When he reached the cafe, the doorbell rang and Jaeha reacted quickly. He jumped to his feet. He could not hide his expression as he walked over, holding down his anger and irritation as he asked:

“Sunbae, what are you doing? Who just buys a car with a card? And over three hundred million? A Maybach, right?”

“Yes.”

“You gave me your card just so you could squeeze everything out of it, is that it?”

Seeing Jaeha’s stiff and cold face, Hamin felt a little embarrassed. He had only meant to play a light joke like always, and he had not expected this reaction.

Is he really angry?

“I thought the limit wouldn’t work.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought it would exceed the limit. You’re a college student, there’s no way your card limit is over three hundred million.”

“Then why did you do it knowing it wouldn’t go through?”

Seeing his still subdued expression, Hamin bit his lip. In his head he kept repeating that this was wrong, only for the thought to sink and rise again. Last time it had been close to sorrow, but this time it was clearly anger.

The longer the silence lasted, the colder Jaeha’s stare became. His expression, more cold than when he was openly angry, made Hamin press his lips together.

Hamin had no immunity to situations like this. He had never been close to anyone, so he had no idea how to calm someone’s anger. He had been cursed at plenty before, but it had been from people he did not care about. Jaeha was different. The thought that Jaeha might despise him made his chest ache.

In the end Hamin muttered in a low voice.

“…to tease you.”

“What?”

“To tease you.”

His cheeks heated up. At his age, the fact that he had gone so far just to tease a kid left him with shame and self-reproach. It had been unlike him.

Unable to meet his eyes, he kept staring at his chest instead. Then a voice full of doubt asked.

“You mean you did it to tease me?”

“Yes.”

“Not to squeeze money out of me?”

“Why would I take money from a kid?”

He answered with a frown. Jaeha murmured, “There’s barely even an age difference,” his cold eyes softened.

Seeing him sit back down looking much calmer, Hamin let out a small sigh. It felt awkward to just leave, so he sat down too. Jaeha gave a few hollow laughs, as if he himself found it ridiculous.

“What would you have done if it had actually gone through?”

“I would have refunded it.”

“The clerk’s reaction would’ve been pretty funny.”

Reaction? At most they would think, ah, just another troublesome customer.

Relaxing his shoulders, Hamin handed the card back.

“It’s a violation of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act to lend your card to someone else.”

“What…? We’re dating.”

“What legal effect does that have?”

Jaeha, now fully in a good mood, brought up the lover thing again, but Hamin shook his head. Laws were there to be obeyed, and every deviation started from small things like this.

“You’re really a weird person.” Jaeha tapped his knee as he said it.

When he had first gotten the text, the rage had been blinding, but what hit him right after was betrayal. He thought this guy is the same as the others after all.

It was strange to feel that way toward someone he had not even known long, but at that moment Jaeha was very depressed. Seo Hamin… this strange sunbae had seemed different. He often acted like a psychopath, always chose the oddest things to do, but Jaeha had thought at least he wasn’t out to take advantage of him like the others around him.

So when Hamin came right back, he had reacted unlike himself, exploding in anger. At the time it had felt right and justified. And Hamin had quickly picked up on his thoughts.

At first, Jaeha had thought Hamin’s excuse about the limit was just a lie. Everyone knew Jaeha spent money freely, so there was no way Hamin didn’t know that. But then, a limit of three hundred million? He had been ready to lash out again.

“To tease you.”

His complexion, which had stayed pale even when he was drunk, was now flushed red. Shame, it seemed that it was that kind of feeling.

Jaeha stared at the faint blush for a long time. He wondered if his earlobes would turn red too if he kept watching. And while he thought that, his anger faded naturally.

His peaceful daily life had been nothing but turbulent ever since Seo Hamin appeared. Normally his emotions barely moved, but now he was swinging back and forth like someone with bipolar disorder.

What a troublesome man.

“And by the way, I gave you that card on purpose. I usually use a card with no limit.”

“…..”

“You already have it, so what’s the point in returning it? Just use it when we eat. Stop rushing your meals so much you’ll choke.”

He could almost hear the final consonant clearly, or maybe he was imagining it.

“And seriously, what kind of law violation? That’s why you have no friends and you’re always alone. Next week is the festival, what are you even going to do?”

Watching Jaeha suddenly accelerate like a car with broken brakes, Hamin tilted his head slightly. He could tell Jaeha was in a good mood now, but he did not know why. Was it bipolar disorder?

“What kind of idiot takes part in the Korea University festival.”

“You wouldn’t join even if it were another school’s.”

That was true. Was there any need to? Even if he set up a booth, it was unpaid work in the end. He couldn’t understand why people were so obsessed with festivals.

“It’s inefficient.”

“What is?”

“It’s better to study in that time.”

After his first exam, he realized he had been more nervous than needed, but he couldn’t let his guard down. Maybe he should tutor in his spare time instead.

It would take effort to prepare summaries and problems outside the allotted hours, but it was good for earning quickly in a short period. In his last life he had been strapped for money, saving from his loans, and when that wasn’t enough he had done short-term jobs at convenience stores. Now he had more time and peace of mind.

As he thought about it seriously, Jaeha replied curtly.

“It’s only three days.”

“Three whole days.”

“You live a boring life.”

“Are you going to the festival?”

“Yes. If I don’t, people will think it’s strange. It’s easier to just do it than to answer everyone.”

For someone who had been spreading the joy of the festival, his attitude was bored. At some point, as if he had decided to stop putting on an act in front of Hamin, Han Jaeha started answering in a more relaxed tone.

Hamin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at him. So that was his real personality, and all that politeness before had been an act… or was he only like this as a college student?

“So I can’t have lunch with you for a time, so don’t come looking for me.”

“I understand.”

Even though Hamin answered obediently, Jaeha’s face stiffened unpleasantly.

“Sunbae, I really don’t know if you’re interested in me or not.”

“I’m very interested. A lot.”

He laughed at Jaeha’s sarcastic words. Jaeha could not know it, but for the first time in his life, Hamin’s goal had become a person.

Jaeha scratched the back of his head as he looked at Hamin, whose smile was starting to look natural.

Seriously, he’s been smiling strangely since last time.

It felt like a heat was rising at the back of his neck, but he forced himself to ignore the unfamiliar feeling and averted his eyes.

“Don’t come looking for me. Don’t even contact me.”

“I won’t.”

Why was it irritating even though the answer was quiet?

He glared at him. At least he will have a week of peace, right? It would be nice not having to deal with this bothersome man. He was even thinking maybe it would be fine if Hamin disappeared altogether.

“Call me if you get bored.”

“What did you hear just now? I told you I’m busy?”

Hamin held back his laughter and nodded as Jaeha furiously replied. It had not even been five minutes since he had decided to stop teasing him.

When Hamin was with Jaeha, he felt he was not quite himself. He cared about small things, he played pointless jokes, he did inefficient things. The problem was that it wasn’t really unpleasant.

The cafe was more crowded than earlier, and the jazz music playing could only be heard if one paid attention. He unconsciously hummed along with the little melody.

•••

A week might feel different to others, but for Hamin it was very short. There was always much to do, and time was always lacking. Sometimes when he came to his senses, a month or two had passed in a flash.

So this week should have gone by the same way.

He tapped the black screen to check the time. May 19. Only five days had passed.

Even as students left one by one after class ended, he just stared blankly at his phone. He was living according to plan, nothing special had happened, but something felt a little…

As he failed to pin down what bothered him and his expression grew harsher, someone called him carefully.

“Um, Hamin-ah.”

He raised his head. It was a classmate he recognized by face, though he couldn’t remember her name. Behind the nervous girl stood several others, watching him cautiously.

He tilted his head at this scene that had never happened in his previous life. Then a small, hesitant voice saod.

“The festival’s in two days. Our department decided to make fruit punch, but I think we’ll be short on help… If you’re free, could you help us?”

“…Me?”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s nothing hard, you just need to cut fruit.”

Why are they asking me this?

It was strange that they would bring this up with him, who was known for completely ignoring classmates. Maybe they were really desperate for help. After a moment’s thought, Hamin shook his head and refused.

“Sorry, I’m busy that day.”

“Huh? Oh… but even just for a short while would be fine! Even for an hour.”

He looked at the short-haired classmate, whose face had turned red as she stammered. All he had done was refuse to help with festival prep, but she looked as if she had just been rejected after confessing. And behind her, the others looked at him as though he were some shameless villain.

I’ve been cursed at plenty for dirty courtroom tactics, but this is the first time for something like this.

With more of a curious than a dumbfounded feeling, he packed his bag and left. From behind came loud gossip, clearly meant for him to hear.

“Why’d you even ask him? You think someone like that would lower himself to help here?”

“No, I just thought it’d be nice if Hamin joined too… He doesn’t even check group chats unless it’s an announcement.”

“Exactly, why are you looking after someone with no friends?”

Friends, is that really so important? Lately, more and more people had been nitpicking that he had none.

Sunbae, that’s why you have no friends and you’re always alone.

In any case, once people get jobs, get married, get busy, everyone looks after themselves. Even if they move around in groups like a herd of elephants now, after graduation, a year or two later they’ll forget who was who.

He walked away with a blank look. He had only morning classes today, so he went home, dropped off his things, and then packed what he needed for afternoon study before heading back out. On the way to the study room, he stopped by his usual cafe and ordered coffee.

“Iced Americano, extra shot.”

“Will you be drinking it here?”

“No, takeout.”

As he waited for his coffee, his eyes unconsciously turned to his phone. He had been checking his phone more often lately. Maybe he had picked up a phone addiction. As he was clicking through meaningless news articles, a light vibration brought up a messenger alert.

His expression, which had softened just slightly, stiffened again when he saw the sender.

★Seyeoning

Hamin-ah, it’s Seyeon. I hope I didn’t make things too awkward earlier?? 11:54 AM

Since he hadn’t saved her number, it showed the name she had set herself. Seeing the unfamiliar name immediately dampened his mood. And from the first line alone, he knew it wasn’t worth his time to read. He turned off the screen. Just then, the part-timer’s cheerful voice called out.

“Order number 57! Your coffee is ready.”

He went to the counter to pick it up, only to find the coffee came in a carrier. Which meant it wasn’t one cup, but two.

He checked the receipt. Order 57. It matched.

Puzzled, he glanced back and forth between the receipt and the carrier. The part-timer gave a shy smile and explained.

“You’re a regular, right? The weather’s nice, so… we gave you two cups as service!”

“Two cups…”

“Yes! Share it with a friend. Or, well, I’m getting off work soon…”

“Thanks.”