Chapter 4: 2.1

2. Date me or Drink

“…… I was just going to leave after getting the mock exam grades. The teacher held up my friend, you know Youngsoo, right? You saw him that time, he’s a little short and his hair is sporty.”

Jaeyoon’s words stopped here for a moment and he looked at the person sitting opposite him. Although he was unable to know if the other was listening given his dull, expressionless face, the stare in his eyes told him to keep going. Jaeyoon swallowed his saliva once, directed his gaze down to the note and began to prattle again.

Although he’d finished reporting what had happened during the day, since Jaeyoon had nowhere to direct his sigh to, he fidgeted with the ends of the note. He hadn’t done something like this even in elementary school, but whenever he met Sieon the first thing he did was take out his note, and fluently talk about everything he had done during the day.

“Youngsoo has been failing since March. Since my homeroom teacher wanted to have a talk, Youngsoo asked me to wait… that’s why I was late. … On the way I had some ramyeon1.”

After adding the reason for being 30 minutes late, there was nothing more to say. As the one in front of him wasn’t saying anything, Jaeyoon grew anxious.

As he noted down in the report diary, Jaeyoon himself also keenly felt how boring every day was for a normal high school senior, whose CSATs were just around the corner.

The notes were full of what he studied at what time, what words he’d studied at what time. He kept wondering why he was writing this.

A moist nose nudged Jaeyoon’s hand. It was a four-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Soonsoon2; unbelievably, it was a dog Sieon was raising.

“Are you bored, should I play with you?”

Its ears covered with curly fur pricked up at the word play, then it quickly ran to pick up the ball.

Jaeyoon, who had never raised a dog before, couldn’t have been more amazed to see a dog pick a ball with such cheerful steps.

“Are you here to play?”

The silent Sieon finally opened his mouth. The actions of both the dog that handed over the ball and Jaeyoon who was going to take it came to a halt. Its behaviour was truly befitting of a dog Sieon was raising.

As soon as the owner’s voice fell, it laid on its stomach and only moved its tail gently, reading the situation. Jaeyoon was seized by subtle emotions as his and Soonsoon’s images seemed to overlap.

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“Ah, I won’t.”

“Study.”

“Ah, yes.”

Like a soldier under orders, Jaeyoon’s movements of opening his bag and taking out the workbook were precise.

Taking a private lesson for the first time ever, Jaeyoon was feeling slight excitement, so he’d even marked the problems he couldn’t solve.

As he hesitated on where to open the book, Sieon’s gaze pointed to the door on the right.

Even before the aftermath of his parents’ declaration that he was suddenly going to get private lessons could fade away, Jaeyoon had received a text message.

[We’ll do it at my house.]

He couldn’t even fight the other’s grandiose manner of making the examinee, who was pressed for time, come and go.

It was better than Sieon coming to his house. Jaeyoon, who thought he at least wanted to feel comfortable at home, only wished Sieon didn’t live alone.

The expectation that he at least wouldn’t be killed ended in foolishness, as he hadn’t thought of Sieon’s character.

In the large villa were only the one who ‘becomes a gentle sheep when he gets drunk on cola’ and a dog with curly fur.

When he asked about his parents, he only received a cynical answer: ‘Do I look like some fool who can’t even become independent at this age?’

Except for the living room which had a carpet, the rest gave off a chilly and cold atmosphere, resembling him. After opening the door, only a desk and a chair were in the middle of the room, and only a stand lamp was set there, so if the wallpaper had been grey or dark blue, it would be brutal enough to remind you of an interrogation room.

He had expected it but didn’t know it’d be this chilly…. In wonder, ‘Really, here?’, he asked filled with doubts,

“It was hard to get it.”

Saying so, he felt unspoken pressure. That if he didn’t like it, he would get killed. Jaeyoon, without even realizing, looked at Soonsoon, who was chewing on a dog gum.

The gentle eyes he met seemed to be saying to cheer up.

Jaeyoon, who was concentrating on the problems after entering the room, stealthily got up since, no matter how long he waited, his tutor didn’t come in.

Although he was a scary opponent, since he’d volunteered to tutor him, Jaeyoon had also brought along all the mock tests he’d taken since March, thinking he ought to show some sincerity.

He should at least know what his grades were, so the other could determine the level he needed to teach at.

He carefully grasped the door knob. But it didn’t turn.

“Oh?”

But as it was not budging even after he turned it the other way, he tugged on the knob and knocked on the door.

“Ex… Excuse me… Teacher!!!”

He was a bit conflicted by the ambiguous title. It couldn’t be considered an appropriate title for him. After a few minutes of knocking on the door and hoping the other would show up, Sieon opened the door and appeared, his forehead wrinkled. Unlike earlier, he was wearing a black jacket and seemed to be going out.

“What! Are you intending to destroy my house!?”

“The door was locked…”

“…….”

“I-I couldn’t figure out some problems.”

“…….”

“Thi-This. I’m not really sure how to draw the graph here. The solution is also weird, I’ve thought about it at school, too, is the question perhaps wrong?”

“Are you an idiot?”

He was asking because he didn’t know, but this was the reply he got back.

“Why should I teach you?”

“What?”

“It’s your studying, so take care of it yourself. You’ve got a table and chair in the study room, what else would you want, huh?”

“Ehh?”

He poked the dazed Jaehyun’s forehead and smiled that courteous vulgar smile.

In Sieon’s eyes, how could this silly friend of his cousin be this ignorant of the world. He thought it’d be fun to watch how this fool’s round eyes3 and pale white face who said whatever was on his mind without thinking crumpled.

“Why do I, for someone like you, need to go to the lengths of doing some nonsense tutoring, and on top of that, for free?”

Having a sudden sense of foreboding, Jaeyoon took a step back.

“It doesn’t seem like it, but could you possibly not even have any brain cells? It would be over if I sewed your mouth shut, but this damned civilization will somehow get you to communicate anyway, right? If I cut off your hands, then you’re left with your feet, and if those get cut off, then you’d be left with your body. It would be the end if I got rid of you without a word, but you also don’t want that, do you? Be grateful when I let you live although you’re testing my patience, ok?”

The last remaining speck of expectations seemed to fly away, too. Being stunned into silence was probably an exact description of this situation. For the first time ever, Jaeyoon experienced the feeling of blood instantly leaving his body. His head went blank.

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“If you obediently stay here, I’ll send you home later.”

Jaeyoon got goosebumps at this display of “generosity”, feeling it was like the postponement of a death-row convict’s execution from tomorrow to two days later. Finishing his words and affectionately patting his head, Sieon mercilessly shut the door and locked it.

Along with the thud, Jaeyoon’s eyes also dimmed.

“Isn’t this bastard overdoing it? Are you going to Harvard?”

“Could you be sleeping with eyes open?”

Jaeyoon usually slept a lot. He slept so much that it was a wonder he managed to keep his grades up. When he became a senior, he did decrease the amount, but he still dozed off a couple of hours a day. When Jaeyoon kept his eyes open during 5th and also 6th period, everyone had to pitch a few words in.

“Ha Jaeyoon, since you’re keeping your eyes open even until this time, I’m getting nervous.”

Jaeyoon, who raised his head at Yoonjae’s voice, wanted to burst into tears. He was frustrated because he couldn’t even vent his pent-up feelings to anyone.

Yesterday, he was locked in that small room for about 5 hours and all he did was solve problems from the workbook. When he wanted to go to the toilet, it seemed like the owner had gone out, because no matter how much he shouted the door didn’t open and only the sound of Soonsoon barking on the other side could be heard. It was so urgent, he even considered opening the window and jumping out, but gave up when the reality that he was on the 6th floor hit him. He also considered just doing his business out the window but convinced himself not to, thinking ‘what if it landed on passers-by, it would be a real disaster’. Hoping that Soonsoon could eventually scratch a hole through the door, he kept calling its name.

A critical situation came later, when he wasn’t even able to think properly anymore; he could only lie on the desk, unable to think of studying or anything else. Was it better to bear it like this and die, or would it be better to just do it and die from embarrassment later? Complicated thoughts dominated his brain.

Unaware of the crisis being fought in the house, the heartless owner returned after finishing his business, only to be met with the pathetic sight of Jaeyoon’s back, who sprinted towards the bathroom with a deathly pale face as soon as the door was opened. He was sad, hungry, and wronged… anyway, it was like that.

He could only blame his naïve self for not having any doubts when he had suddenly been offered private tutoring. He’d assumed Sieon had just found the best method to monitor a high school senior, but he hadn’t suspected the man had had no intention of tutoring him from the start. He had completely overlooked Yoonjae’s usual remarks of wanting to deny the very existence of his heartless cousin.

“In fact-“

“In fact?”

He really wanted to spill the beans. He wanted to go behind the mountain and shout, ‘The king’s got donkey ears!’ He desperately wanted to beg, ‘Go talk to your uncle and get rid of that horrible cousin!!!’

Jaeyoon sighed loudly and hung his head.

“Jaeyoon, if you aren’t feeling well, take a day off.”

“It’s all because the 100 days party was ruined. The Devil got you, the Devil.”

As if he was still bummed about that day, Youngsoo frowned. After being grilled by Jihye and his parents, Yoonjae didn’t look that carefree either. However, nobody knew. The one who had suffered the most damage was neither Yoongjae nor Youngsoo, but Jaeyoon himself. The naïve and kindhearted one had accidentally provoked the wolf in sheep’s clothing and had his week ruined. He was anxious, not knowing what would happen in the future.

“Uhm, what kind of person is your cousin?”

“Eh?”

At the unexpected question, Yoonjae sharply raised his eyes. He didn’t want to think about that human being in this peaceful moment of eating and digesting dinner, but when he saw the word ‘sorrow’ in the questioner’s eyes, he drained the coffee cup he was holding in one gulp.

“Is that a question? You know it from the rumours already. Do not approach.”

“Hyuu-“

“Could the reason why you’re not feeling well recently-”

“No, it’s not!”

“Then why ask?”

Come to think of it, didn’t he also ask me last time if I gave him his number? He hadn’t paid much attention to it, but it was suspicious. Yoonjae scrutinized Jaeyoon.

“Why, did something happen that day? You were the only one awake. Did he say anything to you? Did that bastard take it out on you? That wicked hyung’s every word is filled with malice, so let it go in one ear and out the other. Forget them all.”

Even if he wanted to forget, it was difficult when the person continued to appear. It had now reached the point where he thought he may have dreamed of that night when Sieon was so obedient. He was so desperate that he thought it would be better if all of this was just a dream and when he opened his eyes, he’d find himself inside the exam room.

“Would he have lived on his own since high school if it wasn’t so bad? My uncle also raised both his hands and feet in surrender.”

Yoonjae, who didn’t gossip about others, looked far off and searched his memory.

“He’s been famous since he was a kid. His behaviour is like that of a psychopath. He once got bitten by a dog while walking on the street. The owner of the dog apologized and took him to a hospital to get treated, and the conversation ended on a nice note. But do you know what that bastard did once his bandage was taken off? He waited on the dog’s walking route and threw an egg.”

Thinking ‘That’s it?’, Jaeyoon saw it as a normal type of revenge for a kid that age. Having experienced a more vicious side of Sieon’s character, Jaeyoon uncomfortably thought it wasn’t like him to just finish it with throwing eggs.

“Psst, you have no idea.”

Reading the thoughts written all over Jaeyoon’s face, Yoonjae raised a finger and waved it to dispel those complacent ideas.

“If you throw a raw egg, it goes ‘puck’ and that’s the end, but did you know? If you microwave an egg, it explodes. It’s okay if they explode when you do, but some don’t.”

“Really?”

“Those kinds of eggs are more dangerous. When you throw them, it’s like a small explosion on impact. He made five or six of these and threw them at the dog.”

“Heok!”

Jaeyoon breathed in. It was worse than fireworks; Yoonjae put on a bitter smile.

“Normally you don’t even throw firecrackers, but he went as far as creating something like a fireworks display in retaliation. I heard from my aunt that the dog was so shocked over the incident that it even refused to take walks after.”

“But he has a dog-!”

“Eh?”

“No, so he hates dogs?”

“Of course. That scum doesn’t see them as anything other than crawling ants. After all, he even hates humans, so what would you expect?”

Then what about Soonsoon that he keeps at home? Jaeyoon had yet another question.

“He’s basically a human that is faithful to the Code of Hammurabi.4 Even if he says something to you about that day, never show any reactions or approach him. Well, I’m sure you’re well aware of that with all the rumours going around.”

I’m sorry, my friend. It’s too late for that.I think I’ve already crossed the Rubicon River. 5

Jaeyoon looked at his friend, who was firmly advising him, with mournful eyes.

TN:

1) ramyeon – Instant noodles

2) Soonsoon – meaning obedient etc.

3) round eyes – innocent, like a baby’s round and innocent eyes, picture to visualize below

4) Code of Hammurabi – An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.) Even if he says something to you about that day, never show any reactions or approach him. Well, I’m sure you’re well aware of that with all the rumours going around.

5) crossed the Rubicon’s River – Past the point of no return. This high-level idiom comes from an event in ancient Roman history. In 49 BC, Julius Caesar’s army crossed the Rubicon River, an action that started the civil war which ultimately led him to become dictator and paved the way for the imperial era of Rome. It was forbidden for any army to cross the border river, so when Caesar’s army did, he knew he was doing something which would have important results that could not be changed later.

(Still looking for TLC if you’re interested ^^)

Also sorry again for taking long almost a month, my editor was feeling sick and is also busy, plus we had to figure some parts again. ^^;;

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