MY 17

The meaning of “how” was not something like “how dare you.” It meant “it is simply impossible,” exactly as the question implied. How could Han Seolwoo, to Won Wooje, do that.

Ha… Won Wooje clutched his chest, which was thumping wildly with anger. He curled his body up, keeping his frowning eyes closed.

He had lived revealing his entire self to Han Seolwoo. Far from hiding anything, he had never even told a lie. But Seolwoo was different.

Han Seolwoo belittled and cut down their friendship, which Wooje had thought was deeper than the deep sea. It wasn’t for any other reason, but merely because of a girl. For the sole reason of wanting to lose his virginity, he trampled on and ignored their friendship.

An emotion difficult to describe shook him. He hadn’t felt this hopeless even when he heard his parents were getting divorced. Irritation welled up. At the same time an unspeakable disappointment set in, his insides felt uncontrollably stifled. He felt like he was going crazy because he couldn’t have things his way.

Won Wooje let out a heavy breath. It had been a very long time since he felt like he would explode at the slightest touch. He knew Seolwoo would eventually come back shaking his arm with a gentle eye-smile as if nothing had happened, but he had no intention of letting it slide this time. Fuck, it meant he didn’t have the slightest intention of going easy on him just because he lowered his tail and smiled like before.

Therefore, Won Wooje did not go to school.

If he went to school, he would have to see Han Seolwoo’s face and spend time feeling uncomfortable. Perhaps Han Seolwoo, having returned to his senses in a single day, might come to apologize, and then no matter when it was, Wooje would have no choice but to accept him again.

Won Wooje was weak for Han Seolwoo. He had been that way since they were very young. Elementary school, or perhaps even earlier. Not just him, but if it were any human, any person who knew Seolwoo, they had no choice but to be weak for such a being.

Han Seolwoo had a gentle personality without any sharp edges and was very polite. He had a good family background and a harmonious home, and his grades were always at the top. As for his looks, there was no need to speak; he was so pretty and lovely that he wouldn’t fall behind even compared to anyone on TV.

When such a guy grabbed the title of first place in the whole school and fluttered a hundred-point test paper, Won Wooje felt full even without eating. Just looking at the model student Han Seolwoo, the crystallization of stainless purity, brought a rush of pride.

He was a guy completely different from Wooje himself, who was stained here and there. Han Seolwoo was different. He was a forbidden zone and a flower in a greenhouse. It was a friendship cherished that much, fearing he might break if gripped or fly away if blown upon.

But fuck, he couldn’t believe this mess happened merely because of a girl.

Dawn broke. Won Wooje, who had tossed and turned, flipped the blanket over himself. The time for the school bell to ring had long passed, but his phone was quiet. As expected, there was no contact from Han Seolwoo.

I guess he’s busy contacting Narin or whatever. Since her face is supposedly so pretty and they even went on a date, things must be burning up right now.

Won Wooje felt like he had become dust in the universe. He felt as if he had become the most useless and trivial being in the world. He lost everything he had been holding onto and became a pauper in an instant. The thought of Seolwoo now using his phone with a clear mind without minding anyone made Wooje feel like his chest was bursting.

Won Wooje, who didn’t go to school, slept for nearly half a day more. When he woke up, it was night. He rolled around on the villa floor for a long time before finally getting up to shower.

He turned on his phone. Messages had come from all the dregs, but there was no contact from the most important one, Han Seolwoo.

Shit, of course.

He continued to spout curses. Indeed, considering his shameless attitude last night, it was normal not to expect anything.

Beep, beep-beep… .

Suddenly, the phone rang. Startled, Won Wooje checked his phone immediately.

‘Lee Yooncheol Hyung’

Exhaling a sigh, Won Wooje hesitated for a moment before answering the phone.

—Huh? You’re answering?

Lee Yooncheol chuckled. A senior by one year, he was a dropout. They had gotten to know each other while hanging out with the kids, and he often bothered Wooje.

“Hello, hyung. Ah. My phone was confiscated. By my mom.”

Won Wooje glibly told a lie. Loud music could be heard over the receiver. At the suggestion to come out now, Won Wooje gave an answer with a smile.

‘Hoodlum.’

Han Seolwoo’s annoyed voice whispered. The line of Won Wooje’s mouth, as he put on his hoodie, twisted. Han Seolwoo knew nothing about what a real hoodlum was.

Han Seolwoo’s face was troubled. It was because Won Wooje had not come to school. It was an unexcused absence on top of that. The empty seat felt unusually hollow.

Won Wooje’s eyes, which had been chillier than ever, came to mind. It was clear that he was so angry he didn’t even want to see Seolwoo’s face.

…I shouldn’t have spoken like that.

The aftermath of the words he spat out last night was significant. He had told the homeroom teacher he would find out what was going on, but he was in a position where he couldn’t even contact him right now.

The wick of the troubles he had piled up all day while being with Lee Narin had caught fire, and those sparks had flown toward the innocent Won Wooje. It was his fault for arguing instead of apologizing for hiding things. He wanted to take back the bad words he had fired off without taking a breath.

But still, how could he skip school?

Even though it was his routine to come and sleep, he was a guy who didn’t go as far as being absent. The more he thought, the more his head ached. Han Seolwoo, clutching his throbbing forehead, let out a sigh.

“Seolwoo, why isn’t Wooje coming?”

Park Seongbin tapped on Han Seolwoo’s desk. Han Seolwoo, lowering his hand, glanced up at him.

“…I don’t know either.”

Even though he told Choi Sangyoon to keep it a secret, seeing as it leaked to Won Wooje, it was obvious. He didn’t feel like blaming anyone. He had wondered “what if,” and it wasn’t an unexpected event.

“By any chance, did he say something to you yesterday? Ah, did we make a slip of the tongue?”

“What slip of the tongue?”

Han Seolwoo slowly raised his head. Kim Chanju, who had approached before he knew it, poked his head over Park Seongbin’s shoulder.

“…Wooje knew. That you got set up.”

Choi Sangyoon, who cut in without a sound, added his words. He looked somewhat troubled, as if his conscience were pricking him.

“Ah, I wasn’t going to tell him either… . But Wooje sensed everything and asked. He threw such a fit that I had no choice but to tell him. He moved past it without saying much after hearing it, so I thought it was okay.”

“… .”

“Seolwoo, sorry, sorry. You know how I feel, right? I had no choice either.”

“Did you meet Wooje yesterday?”

Park Seongbin looked at Han Seolwoo with curious eyes. Han Seolwoo, lost in thought for a moment, shook his head.

“…No, it’s probably not like that. He contacted me just fine. Isn’t he angry because of the game?”

He feigned ignorance. He didn’t want to make the problem between him and Won Wooje something that was talked about by those guys.

“Hmm, no. Wooje was filming almost a legendary mad movie. He was a total slaughterer.”

“Right, right. If he hadn’t disconnected, the ‘Legendary—!’ would have even popped up?”

Kim Chanju spoke while waving his arms like a martial artist. Park Seongbin chimed in while cackling.

“But Choi Sangyoon did some serious trolling. It’s a relief he didn’t get hit. Dammit.”

“You want to die?”

“Ack, why! It’s true!”

Park Seongbin, caught in a headlock, struggled.

“…He kept saying he didn’t want to come to school. I guess he’s tired today.”

Han Seolwoo muttered softly. Around the time the uncomfortable situation became difficult to endure, the bell rang just in time. Han Seolwoo avoided the situation by opening his textbook.

He barely endured through class time and flopped face-down on his desk as soon as the bell rang. He even skipped his meal because he had no appetite. When he turned on his phone, he saw a message from Lee Narin. Naturally, there was no news from Won Wooje.

He was wandering around late at night yesterday too, did he even go home… .

Should I contact Wooje’s mother? He hesitated for a moment but decided to stop. Won Wooje’s family was on the free-spirited side, but he didn’t want to go looking for trouble for no reason.

Lunchtime, 5th period, 6th period, 7th period, cleaning, dinner, and soon it was time for evening self-study to begin. The sun was setting. Time passed just fine even without Won Wooje.

Han Seolwoo, who had come outside and was pacing around, let out a sigh while looking at his phone. Finally, he dialed Won Wooje’s number.

‘Byung-je’

Ring, ring. The long-continuing dial tone cut off. The call he had finally summoned the courage to make was coldly not connected.

Han Seolwoo, biting his lip, pressed the call button again. After the agonizingly long dial tone, the call was finally connected.

Startled, Han Seolwoo opened his eyes wide and clutched the phone with both hands.

“Hel… .”

—Mmm, a call came? Princess Baek Seolwoo? What, is it your girlfriend?

Along with boisterous noise, a woman’s laughter was heard. Han Seolwoo frowned at the unfamiliar voice.

—Do you have a girlfrie-nd? Do you have a girlfriend and still set a fire in noona’s heart like that? Haha, haha! Wait a minute, wait a minu-te!

Strength entered the hands of the breathlessly listening Han Seolwoo.

—Ah, noona. Why are you being like this.

Won Wooje’s sly voice was heard. It was the familiar voice, exactly like his usual way of speaking.

What is all this loud noise, and to be with a woman at this hour. He felt a surge of irritation at what on earth he was doing.