MY 25

The unfair memorandum from a moment ago was pushed across the desk. Won Wooje picked up the paper, sat in his chair, and narrowed his eyes.

(Won Wooje) (Han Seolwoo)

1. Han Seolwoo shall not meet any woman other than Won Wooje.

(Won Wooje) (Han Seolwoo) 2. Han Seolwoo shall not meet any man other than Won Wooje.

Won Wooje burst into a smirk as he looked at Han Seolwoo’s neat handwriting. He had been grumbling about something for a while, and sure enough, the modified memorandum with the name “Won Wooje” wedged into every clause was hilarious.

“Even you have to think this is a bit much, don’t you?”

Won Wooje, staring quietly at the memorandum, pointed his finger at clauses 7 and 8.

(Won Wooje) 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.

Han Seolwoo, who had tried to sneak those in as a package deal, avoided his gaze.

“Pass on these. Everything else is okay.”

Without even waiting for an answer, Won Wooje crossed out his name from clauses 7 and 8 with long strokes. Han Seolwoo couldn’t really argue in good conscience, as he had thought it didn’t make much sense even while he was writing it.

Won Wooje, having finished signing as if it were no big deal, handed the memorandum back to Han Seolwoo. Han Seolwoo, looking at the letters that seemed to be fluttering in the wind, suddenly pointed to clause 4.

“…But what app were you talking about here?”

“What?”

“This. What kind of inspection are you planning to do?”

At Han Seolwoo’s question, Won Wooje arched his eyebrows. After checking the clause, he acted restless, turning his head for no reason.

“Ah. That, that thing.”

“That thing?”

To the persistent questioning, Won Wooje gave a small tilt of his chin.

“Meeting apps.”

“…Meeting?”

“Yeah, gay apps, you bastard,” Won Wooje started to answer, but he held it in with effort. He shouldn’t just spit out thoughts mindlessly. He had to respect the other’s preferences.

“…Yeah. Apparently there are tons of kids doing that kind of thing these days. Especially for people on that side, they say that’s the main way.”

“… .”

“If I catch you playing tricks, you’re seriously dead.”

Won Wooje’s frowning tone became increasingly grave. It was a reaction as if he were dealing with someone who had actually been caught using them.

Han Seolwoo nodded dubiously. He had no intention of doing such a thing anyway, and furthermore, there was nothing to be caught even if his phone were searched. He had recently settled things neatly with Lee Narin to the point of being strangers, and the only person he contacted specifically was Won Wooje.

If anything, the problem wasn’t him, but the other guy. Won Wooje, who received constant contact from everyone regardless of age or gender every single day.

He had many older sisters he knew, older brothers he knew, and friends he knew. Moreover, there was a high possibility that he would veer straight onto a wide-open path of deviance if things slipped just a little. Unlike himself, who fretted over a single issue all day, the other’s personality of accepting any situation as if it were no big deal was also a problem.

“…These things you told me that apply to me, you have to keep all of them too. You know that, right?”

When Han Seolwoo asked again just in case, Won Wooje gave a half-hearted nod.

“And finally, what’s the penalty if you break this?”

“Penalty?”

“Yeah.”

“…I haven’t thought about that.”

At Won Wooje’s words, which he spat out as if it were obvious, Han Seolwoo let out a hollow breath.

“No, then there’s no reason to keep the memorandum. There has to be some kind of loss for both of us to be careful.”

“Ah, why make it so cold by creating a price. We’re just doing it on faith and trust.”

“…No, where is there a memorandum like that?”

“Right here.”

Won Wooje waved the memorandum in his hand back and forth. Han Seolwoo let out a sigh and swept his hair up irritably.

He intended to sincerely commit to the contents of the memorandum. However, he felt like he would get heated if Won Wooje didn’t keep it. He felt as if he could clearly see a future where he kept everything and the other kept nothing.

“Alright, alright. Then let’s do a wish-granting.”

Won Wooje, glancing at the change in Han Seolwoo’s expression, made a quick suggestion.

“A wish?”

“Yeah. Clean and simple.”

“…Fine, then.”

Han Seolwoo nodded reluctantly. Won Wooje smiled slightly and tapped him on the cheek.

“Now, stop thinking about other things and study.”

“… .”

“I’m going to sleep a bit. I’m tired.”

Won Wooje flopped down on his desk. Watching him toss and turn to find a comfortable position, Han Seolwoo let out a sigh. He had many things he wanted to say, but he decided to hold back. For now, he had to focus on the class that was about to start.

[Fortune Pang Pang! Welcome, Han Seolwoo. Fortune Pang Pang today too! Ask the Pang Pang Fairy about the fortune you’re curious about!]

Today’s Fortune April 23, Year XX, Taurus, Han Seolwoo! Here is today’s fortune!

—Love Fortune 「If you do nothing, nothing will happen.」 The more you shrink back, the further away your cupid will get. Before it’s too late, try to appeal your charms. The more actively you approach, the higher the chance of falling in love! Now then, LET’S GO! LET’S GO!

A fairy character with wings waved its hands while hopping up and down. Han Seolwoo, who had been staring blankly at the phone, clicked the screen off. For some reason, the blond fairy’s flashy hand gestures felt like a finger being pointed at him.

The Pang Pang Fortune Fairy was something he had looked at once in a while for fun since middle school. He didn’t believe in things like fortunes one hundred percent, but it had become a habit to look into it whenever he felt anxious about exam results or had something on his mind. It helped calm his mind because it often gave answers that were subtly appropriate for his circumstances and situation.

Life was too quiet. It was a life far more flat and stable than before he started dating Won Wooje. In this peaceful daily routine, Han Seolwoo felt a sensation as if something were going wrong.

Are we actually dating right now?

He was the one who said let’s date. He was the one who said it was day one. He was the one who made jokes about marriage and mothers-in-law, acting in a way that was hard to adjust to, yet in reality, even though more than a week had passed since they started dating, the relationship remained exactly the same as being “Close Friend 1.” Aside from the fact that they had written a single, strange memorandum.

What kind of romance is this. What kind of dating is this.

Was reality different from dramas? Even romance movies released in theaters, variety programs that matched couples, and even the dating stories of friends around him weren’t this dull and uninteresting. The dating Han Seolwoo knew wasn’t like this.

Sharing sweet and pretty words with the person he liked, having his hair swept back with a tender gaze, walking through busy streets together to eat delicious food, and having heart-fluttering dates where they gave small gifts—that was the romance he had imagined.

But was fantasy just fantasy? Currently, the words he heard most from his lover were “cut the crap” and “fuck.” Instead of tender gazes, snickering was the daily routine, and if there was no business to attend to, their eyes hardly even met.

Eating delicious food together? At most, it was cup ramen and triangular kimbap; at best, it ended with a McDona’s Big M. Thinking of gifts, there was nothing. While he had napped for a moment, the guy had written something like ‘Princess Baek Seolwoo, Long Life and Health ♡’ in crooked letters on his cast, and that was the end of it, with the guy blabbering, ‘Wooje’s surprise gift—.’

A deep crease formed between his brows. Han Seolwoo, gripping his pen, whipped his head around and glared at Won Wooje, who was sprawled out on the desk. Seeing him sleeping without a care in the world somehow made him heated.

We’re only a dating couple in words; it’s just the end of me being unable to date others. Looking back, he felt resentful toward the guy for thinking of this relationship so easily.

Is he an independence fighter, a charity worker, or what. Why is he dating someone he doesn’t even like for my sake.

The swelling dissatisfaction gradually covered his mind. He couldn’t understand Won Wooje at all, who must have thrown himself into this, saying they should sacrifice themselves for his sake.

Han Seolwoo looked at Won Wooje with a pouting face. He looked again and again at the long, closed eyes, the sharp bridge of the nose, the well-shaped closed lips, and the dark eyebrows. Somehow, the more he looked, the more it felt like the strength was leaving his brow.

Resting his chin on his hand at the desk, he let out a deep sigh.

…He certainly is handsome. At any rate, it’s a brilliant appearance that wouldn’t be outdone anywhere. He had a feeling like a rising actor who had suddenly sparkled out of nowhere.

If only he would keep his mouth shut and fix his personality, he would be able to gain a hundred times more popularity than he has now.

In the moment he was having useless thoughts, a strand of hair flowed down over Won Wooje’s eye. His slightly furrowed eyes twitched as if it were ticklish.

Han Seolwoo, who had been looking at him while resting his chin on his hand, reached out his hand without realizing it. At the touch that naturally swept his hair back, Won Wooje mumbled with his lips and smacked them.

“Now, this problem is a variation of a previous exam question. If you look at the sentence below…”

The sound of the teacher’s sermon could be heard from afar like a radio. Rather, Won Wooje’s steady breathing, which was much smaller than that, began to feel louder.

Suddenly, his heart gave a thump, and a strange emotion billowed like waves inside his chest. It was the same thing he had felt when he saw Won Wooje in front of the bathroom last time.

Han Seolwoo, furrowing his brows, bit the inside of his cheek. The impulse that suddenly rose was one.

At the sudden realization, Han Seolwoo pulled his arm away and dropped his head. As he covered his face with his palms, heat flared up. An emotion of unknown origin kept swelling like a balloon, not knowing its place.