MY 24

When I scowled at the out-of-nowhere joke, Won Wooje laughed, chuckle-chuckle. Han Seolwoo jerked his head away and pretended to be busy with something else. It felt as if the arm holding him had suddenly frozen stiff.

As soon as he arrived at school, Han Seolwoo ran to the bathroom and washed his face with cold water. He saw a face gone pale white in the mirror. Strangely, only his ears were red.

He couldn’t control his heart, which was thumping exceptionally hard. Since the incident last night, the symptoms were getting even worse.

He was a guy who had lived like that his whole life. He was a kid whose daily routine involved being sly and clingy at any given moment. Nothing had changed much from before, yet this churning feeling had become strangely unfamiliar. He felt almost impressed by himself for having managed to endure it all this time. Won Wooje was perfectly fine, but he was the only one who had become strange.

Wiping his face roughly with a tissue, Han Seolwoo walked out of the bathroom. His fair, white skin shone smoothly.

Suddenly, Won Wooje’s humming could be heard from far away. He had purposefully come to the secluded bathroom at the end of the hallway that was rarely used, but the guy was like a ghost, knowing exactly how to follow him there. Just as he took a step while pretending not to notice.

Whirr. The sound of a whistle cut through the quiet hallway.

“Hey, you there. The one who likes me…”

Startled, Han Seolwoo turned his head. Won Wooje, leaning diagonally against the wall, was grinning with the corners of his mouth turned up. His clear, well-defined features seemed exceptionally more sparkling today.

“…Are you seriously crazy.”

Han Seolwoo furrowed his brows. He wiped his forehead, which was still damp, with the back of his hand. Won Wooje, hands in his pockets, approached him with a snicker.

“Why. Did I say something wrong?”

“No, what if someone hears you.”

“Fuck, I’ll just beat them up then.”

“…You’re truly hopeless.”

Han Seolwoo let out a sigh. Shrugging his shoulders, Won Wooje pulled a rustling piece of paper out of his pocket.

“But why did you come all the way to this bathroom? Here, take this.”

“What is it?”

Han Seolwoo took the crumpled, folded A4 paper. Dense sentences were written in Won Wooje’s handwriting, pressed down firmly.

Memorandum

※ Han Seolwoo and Won Wooje shall observe the following matters from this point forward.

1. Han Seolwoo shall not meet any woman other than Won Wooje.
2. Han Seolwoo shall not meet any man other than Won Wooje.
3. Han Seolwoo shall never lie to Won Wooje.
4. Han Seolwoo shall not install any strange apps.
5. Han Seolwoo must show his phone whenever Won Wooje wants to see it.
6. Han Seolwoo shall not stray from his fixed schedule. He shall not do anything that deviates from the duty of a minor.
7. Han Seolwoo shall unconditionally pass the entrance exam for Hankuk University.
8. In accordance with number 7, grade management shall be the top priority.
9. Han Seolwoo shall listen well to what Won Wooje says.
10. Han Seolwoo shall speak to Won Wooje immediately if any grievances arise.

As he slowly read through the text, Han Seolwoo’s brow furrowed.

…When on earth did he write this garbage? What kind of nonsensical, unfair, toxic contract is this? Did he decide to increase the nagging while the other person was worrying all night long?

When he looked up with a dubious gaze, he saw Won Wooje’s upturned lips behind the paper.

“Hey, that rotten expression is damn cute.”

“…”

“Oh, come on. Isn’t this kind hyung trying to set you straight on the right path? Can’t you tell by looking?”

Before he knew it, he had draped an arm over Han Seolwoo’s shoulder and patted his palm.

“Don’t say much and just sign it.”

He muttered lowly. Stunned by the behavior that was like a loan shark handing over a physical waiver, Han Seolwoo narrowed his eyes.

“Why does a joint memorandum only have items that apply to me?”

He said this while looking at the crooked letters where the guy had written “(Sign)” instead of “(Stamp)” or “(Signature)”.

“What. Is there something you want to do too? If there is, write it at the bottom. Oh, there’s a special provision here too.”

His gaze, moving down slowly, reached the very last line at the bottom. Only then did he notice the text that was half the size of the writing in numbers 1 through 10.

• Special Provisions

1. Han Seolwoo shall report immediately (within a week) if his romantic feelings happen to disappear.
2. If he wants to break up for any other reason, he shall speak first (this, too, within a week).

When he looked up, Won Wooje gave him a look. He had a serious face deep down.

“This is all a plan for our Happy Friends Life. It’s better than having our relationship sour because we’re brooding over things like this. Admit it?”

“…”

“Do you like my memorandum?”

He laughed mischievously. Han Seolwoo stared at him unpleasantly as if he were playing a fun game, then let out a deep sigh.

“Do you think this is some kind of bet?”

“Huh?”

“No. Who on earth dates…”

…like this.

He forcibly swallowed the words that were about to come out. Irritation surged, but he wasn’t in a position to argue. It was because he knew this entire situation originated from him.

He hadn’t intended for it to happen, but he was the one who said he liked him first, and he was the one who made the situation difficult.

Won Wooje is currently helping him in the most common-sense way he can think of within his own limits. Because he knew that, because he felt it even subconsciously, he was more at a loss for words. Although it was an abnormal thing, it was exactly what Won Wooje, who had overprotectively looked after him his whole life, would do.

Above all, Han Seolwoo didn’t want to fight with him anymore. Since most of it was stuff he had been doing anyway.

Finally giving up halfway, Han Seolwoo nodded.

“…Fine.”

“What do you mean fine. I said sign it.”

Won Wooje grabbed Han Seolwoo’s wrist.

“Don’t think about backing out.”

Then he shoved a pen into his hand. At the contact that interlaced as if wrapping around the back of his hand, Han Seolwoo was startled and pulled his hand away.

“Every time I just touch you, you get all sharp and act up.”

“…”

“Not even a kitten.”

Won Wooje furrowed his brows. It meant he was being excessive. Han Seolwoo turned his head while fiddling with his released wrist.

“…It’s because unlike you, I’m sensitive to physical contact.”

He dropped his gaze to the floor as if evading. He was different from Won Wooje. Unlike him, who would touch people regardless of whether they were men or women without any hesitation, he had no immunity to such actions. Even more so in a situation like this.

‘Let’s go, noona.’

Suddenly, the image of Won Wooje placing his hand on a strange woman’s shoulder came to mind. Abruptly, irritation surged up.

“Sensitive?”

“…”

“Where are you sensitive?”

Won Wooje, oblivious to his feelings, wrapped his arm around his waist like a sly snake. Stiffened, Han Seolwoo pushed him away.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“…”

“Hey, I’m telling you, the more you act like this, the more bastards like me want to tease you?”

Won Wooje, looking up, slyly held his cheek in one hand. At the action of firmly wrapping around his waist and clutching his cheek, the restrained Han Seolwoo became stiff as a board.

“Try changing your reaction instead, make it a bit more refreshing. For example…”

“Ah, I told you to stop!”

Han Seolwoo grabbed his wrist firmly. Won Wooje’s upper body was pushed by the strong force. Won Wooje, whose back hit the hard wall, scowled intensely.

Han Seolwoo, who had been looking at Won Wooje with a scowl, stared down at him silently. A deep gaze wavered. In the situation that had been reversed in an instant, Won Wooje also blinked slowly. A thick and strange air flowed between the two. In a flash, the distance became close enough for their breaths to touch.

Thump, thump, thump. Between the silence, a heartbeat echoed, though it was unclear whose it was.

“…Why, are you going to kiss me here?”

Won Wooje whispered lowly. Then he blew a short puff of breath, huff, as if blowing dust away from his eyes. Han Seolwoo blinked at the small breeze.

“…”

Only then did he snap back to his senses and pull away abruptly. With a rustle in the silence, Han Seolwoo, clutching the crumpled paper, turned his back sharply. He began to stride toward the classroom as if running away.

Won Wooje, fiddling with his stinging wrist, looked up and watched his back. Only after his figure had completely disappeared behind the corner of the hallway did he sweep a hand over his dry face.

…Fuck, I really thought he was going to do it.

A hollow breath escaped him unconsciously. When he recalled those wavering eyes, heat flared up belatedly.

I swear, not even once had I ever imagined something like this with Han Seolwoo. Although he had considered all sorts of possibilities last night, it meant he hadn’t dared to cross the line this far.

The day he received the confession. There was what he himself had done to Han Seolwoo, but at least Han Seolwoo shouldn’t have been the one to take the lead in this kind of matter.

Did this bastard really try to press his lips to mine? To think he’s having those kinds of thoughts just one day after saying let’s date? Isn’t he a crazy bastard? Where did he learn to be so bold…!

Won Wooje, feeling appalled, breathed out heavily. He swept his hair up irritably and let out a sigh. From far down the hallway, the sound of a crowd could be heard.

He walked stiffly into the bathroom Han Seolwoo had just come out of. He couldn’t go back to the classroom like this.

୨ৎ

“Here, you sign this too.”