Miracle Illusion

Someone draped an arm over Yeonwoo’s shoulder. Yeonwoo flinched and slowly turned his head. It wasn’t the person he was waiting for. Jaewook, who was grinning wickedly and reeking of cigarette smoke, stood there.“Waiting for the transfer student?”“…….”“Yeonwoo, have you gone crazy lately?”Jaewook tightened his grip on Yeonwoo’s shoulder. A dull pain rose from his still-bruised forearm. Yeonwoo groaned softly and twisted his body. Instead of letting go, Jaewook twisted his forearm as if pinching it.“Yeonwoo, you’re going to get yourself killed soon.”“…….”“Ugh… I told you to wash up.”Jaewook withdrew his arm from Yeonwoo’s shoulder and brushed himself off as if he had touched something dirty. Yeonwoo lowered his head and looked down at his shoes. The twenty-thousand-won sneakers Grandma had bought at the market. From the outside, they didn’t look much different from the branded shoes others wore.“You smell like trash.”“…….”“That guy must have a strong stomach.”The insults continued. That guy with the strong stomach must be Sungwoon. Yeonwoo kept his mouth shut and counted silently. Cowardly Jaewook probably wouldn’t bully or hit him more, being conscious of Sungwoon.“You’re really going to die soon. Just wait.”“…….”“You don’t even answer, you damn bastard….”Jaewook narrowed one eye and walked towards the school gate. The prediction was spot on. He didn’t even dare to hit him, fearing Sungwoon, who wasn’t even there. It was so absurd and ridiculous that Yeonwoo couldn’t help but laugh.“Smell….”Left alone, Yeonwoo looked around. After confirming twice that no one was around, he sniffed himself all over. He had tried hard to get rid of it, but the faint smell of mold and Grandma still lingered. Maybe it was a fate he had to live with, like the persistent poverty.“You really looked like a pervert just now.”“Ah…!”Startled by the sudden breeze by his ear, Yeonwoo jumped in place. He had checked that no one was around, but Sungwoon appeared out of nowhere, squinting at him. Yeonwoo’s face turned bright red in an instant.“I’ll give you three seconds to explain.”“Huh…?”“Unfortunately, three seconds just passed.”“…….”“Pervert.”Sungwoon half-closed his eyes and grinned mischievously. Feeling embarrassed enough to die, Yeonwoo pretended not to notice and cleared his throat. At that moment, Sungwoon lowered himself and got closer to Yeonwoo.“Huh….”He tried to dodge, but it was too late. Sungwoon buried his nose in Yeonwoo’s uniform, which had a name tag reading [Hong Yeonwoo], and sniffed. Yeonwoo, instinctively pushing him away with his fist, turned as red as a tomato.“Why did you hit me….”Sungwoon quickly put on a sulky expression. Rubbing his arm where Yeonwoo had pushed him, Sungwoon pretended to be hurt. Yeonwoo, wide-eyed, awkwardly grabbed his arm.“Sorry, I’m sorry.”“Well, I don’t know if this emotional wound will heal.”His voice was full of playfulness. Yeonwoo clenched his fist and followed closely beside Sungwoon, who was walking ahead.“I’m really sorry. I was just so surprised….”“Hey.”“…Yeah.”“I’m joking. Smile a bit.”Sungwoon, smiling with his eyes curved, pinched Yeonwoo’s lips and lifted them upwards. Yeonwoo’s body jerked up, forced into a clownish smile. It was an ill-timed hiccup. Laughing inwardly, Sungwoon quickened his pace, fearing Yeonwoo would notice his shaking chest.“Well… yesterday, I messed up the laundry.”“Huh?”“Maybe I didn’t dry them properly, but the clothes smell weird….”Yeonwoo muttered excuses while looking at the ground, even though no one had asked. Sungwoon’s eyes narrowed slightly, but Yeonwoo didn’t notice because his head was bowed.“They don’t usually smell like this….”The unnecessary excuses continued. The smile disappeared from Sungwoon’s face as he looked down at him.“Hey.”“…Huh?”“Did you have breakfast?”“…….”Sungwoon cut him off, as if he didn’t want to hear any more. Yeonwoo, who had been rambling without knowing what he was saying, shut his mouth. Without waiting for an answer, Sungwoon reached into his bag and pulled out a familiar bag.“Breakfast.”“…….”“Eat it all.”The sugar bread balls. As Sungwoon walked away, Yeonwoo stood in place, staring at the bag in his hand. Hiccup. The hiccups he thought had stopped started again. Yeonwoo looked at the round bread covered in sugar inside the transparent bag, then quickly ran until he was out of breath. Hearing the sound of running, Sungwoon smiled and draped an arm over Yeonwoo’s shoulder when he arrived.“I’ll be here at 7:20 tomorrow.”“…….”“So don’t wait, just come at that time.”“…….”“Let’s meet there.”The bag crinkled in his hand. Yeonwoo slowly nodded. As Sungwoon laughed, Yeonwoo faintly smiled too. If pity had made him a friend, it seemed okay to look a bit more pitiful.5th period, P.E. class.“Why is my gym uniform like this?”Sungwoon, who had just changed into his gym clothes, grumbled. Yeonwoo, who had zipped up his top all the way, looked up at him and laughed. The sleeves were half a hand short, and his ankles were fully exposed. When he raised his arms, the sleeves rolled up, almost becoming short sleeves. Sungwoon tugged at the shortened sleeves and grumbled.“We’re playing dodgeball today.”“Yeah.”“Are you good at dodgeball?”“No.”“Me neither.”Sungwoon held out his palm to Yeonwoo. It was a gesture for a high-five. Hesitant, Yeonwoo thought for a moment before timidly placing his palm against Sungwoon’s. It was so cautious that it made a soft “tap” sound instead of a “clap.” Sungwoon smiled brightly, satisfied with that.“Are you going inside or staying outside?”“I’m staying outside.”“Then I’ll stay outside too.”Sungwoon followed Yeonwoo around like a shadow. Thirty students were divided into two teams of fifteen. Naturally, Jaewook’s gang was on the opposing team. Two large squares were drawn on the playground. Yeonwoo naturally moved outside the line to the least noticeable spot.“Choi Sungwoon. Get inside.”“I like it here.”“Why is someone who looks good at dodgeball staying outside? We need attackers, so get inside.”“I’m scared of the ball more than anything in the world.”“Stop talking nonsense and get inside!”The P.E. teacher, wearing black sunglasses, shouted. Sungwoon scratched his head and then quickly grabbed Yeonwoo’s wrist.“Let’s go in together.”“Huh…!”There was no time to resist. Yeonwoo was dragged by him into the square he had never entered before.“I want to go out.”“Let’s get out quickly by getting out.”“Ah….”Sungwoon seemed oddly excited. Yeonwoo was the only one feeling uneasy. He could see Jaeyul’s gang smirking at him from directly across. The bruises on his body hadn’t even healed yet, and the thought of getting hit by the ball in that spot made sweat run down his back. There were even rumors that Jaeyul was famous as a volleyball player at his previous school.Whistle-The whistle blew to start the game. The team captains stood back to back and played rock-paper-scissors, and Yeonwoo’s team got to attack first. The yellowed dodgeball cut through the air. When the ball hit a body, a dull thud was heard, and sand flew everywhere. Laughter and screams mixed together.Thud-!“Hey. Are you okay?”Jaeyul’s throw hit Yeonwoo’s head precisely. His head spun, and he felt dizzy. As Sungwoon quickly approached to check on him, Yeonwoo, in a trembling voice, said he was okay and tried to leave the square, but Jaeyul’s voice stopped him.“Hitting the head is a foul.”“That must hurt!”Jinwoo, holding the ball that had bounced off Yeonwoo’s head, laughed mockingly. The P.E. teacher was nowhere to be seen. Yeonwoo sighed softly and stepped back into the square.Thud-!“That’s a foul!”Thud-!“Sorry, Hong Yeonwoo!”Thud-!“Why do I keep hitting your head? Really sorry!”The childish bullying showed no signs of stopping. The dodgeball seemed to be aimed solely at Yeonwoo’s head. The dizziness was one thing, but the force of the throws left a long cut on his forehead. The rumors about Jaeyul being a volleyball player seemed true. After being hit four times in a row, Yeonwoo staggered and sat down, clutching his head. His brain buzzed.“Hey.”“Ugh….”“Stay behind me.”Sungwoon, who had been watching, approached the crouching Yeonwoo. His voice was calm, indicating he had assessed the situation. Yeonwoo, frowning, nodded. The cut on his forehead stung.“I really like these kinds of fouls.”A ball rolled next to Sungwoon. He picked it up with a smirk.There was a sharp sound. Not a thud, but a sharp crack. Not only Yeonwoo but also others hiding in the corners turned their heads simultaneously. Jaeyul slowly sat down, clutching his nose. Bright red blood dripped onto the light-colored sand.“Hey. Sorry about that. Why did the ball go there….”Sungwoon, with an expression that wasn’t sorry at all, picked up the ball again. He tapped the top of the ball with his palm, pretending to choose the next target. The other students, not knowing his target was only one person, screamed and ran to the corners. Jaeyul, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand, glared at Sungwoon as he stood up. His pride seemed deeply wounded.Crack-Before Yeonwoo, who was standing close behind Sungwoon, could stop him, the ball cut through the air again and hit Jaeyul’s face directly. The nosebleed that had stopped started again. The playground fell silent. The sand-covered ball rolled between them.“Sorry, Jaehyung!”Sungwoon shrugged and drooped his eyebrows. Jaeyul, picking up the ball at his feet, let out a laugh of disbelief. Yeonwoo, who had been fidgeting, whispered in Sungwoon’s ear.“It’s Jaeyul.”“Huh?”“His name. It’s Jaeyul, not Jaehyung.”Whoosh. An unwelcome sound was heard. The ball spun through the air. Yeonwoo squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them at the sound of a thud.“Who cares.”Sungwoon, who had blocked the ball with his forearm, grinned mischievously. Then, just like before, he lightly grabbed Yeonwoo’s wrist.“I’d like to give you a chance for revenge, but unfortunately, you’re out.”The two stepped out of the square together. His pulse was pounding so hard that it felt like his wrist would burst. Thump, thump, thump….“It’s getting colder.”“Yeah.”On the way home. Sungwoon and Yeonwoo walked side by side, with the school wall next to them. Seeing the shorter days, it seemed like autumn would quickly pass, and winter would be here soon. Yeonwoo hated winter the most. He had to endure the harsh cold with a single worn-out padded jacket. This winter wouldn’t be any different.“My nostrils are cold.”“…….”Taking a deep breath that made his chest rise, Sungwoon draped an arm over Yeonwoo’s shoulder and spoke. Yeonwoo didn’t respond but followed his lead and breathed through his nose. The evening wind, already cold, stung his nostrils, just like Sungwoon said. Yeonwoo chuckled softly.“You smile more than I thought.”“…….”“You look good when you smile. Do it more often.”Sungwoon, much taller than Yeonwoo, looked down at him with a kind smile. The round and gentle eyes were so different from when he confronted Jaeyul’s gang, making Yeonwoo’s heart race again. His heart, oblivious to the situation, beat louder and louder.“What do you do after school?”“Well… just….”“Do you study?”“No.”“Well. I’ve never seen anyone sleep so well in such a proper posture.”“…….”Yeonwoo’s face turned bright red. Sungwoon lightly shook the arm around Yeonwoo’s shoulder and chuckled.“So, what do you do?”“Just… rest at home.”“Do you have siblings?”“No. I’m an only child.”“Then who do you play with?”“I play alone.”They soon reached the first fork in the road. Their idle conversation continued as they naturally turned to the right path. Darkness was already starting to settle on the street. It was only seven o’clock, but the days were indeed getting shorter. Yeonwoo glanced back at the path he was supposed to take, hoping Sungwoon wouldn’t notice.“Want to come over for dinner?”“Huh?”“Come hang out at my place.”“Uh… maybe next time….”“I’ll make something really delicious. We’ll have a feast.”“…….”“Really. My mom used to be a chef. Come on.”Sungwoon tightened his grip on Yeonwoo’s shoulder, stretching out his words like a whining child. It suited him perfectly. But it was too late to follow Sungwoon’s suggestion. Seven o’clock. If he went to Sungwoon’s house and then returned, it would be at least nine o’clock, and without a phone, Yeonwoo had no way to communicate with his grandma.“Then tomorrow….”He was about to say he could go tomorrow. He could tell Grandma he’d be late and then go to school, so tomorrow was entirely possible. But he never finished his sentence. A rattling sound came from the end of the alley. With a sinking feeling, Yeonwoo looked up quickly.“Oh….”He saw his grandma, pulling a much bigger, worn-out cart. Her eyes were on the ground, thanks to her bent back. The cart seemed lighter than usual, probably because there wasn’t much cardboard today. Yeonwoo stopped walking and tried to calm his pounding heart.“What’s wrong?”“Let’s go to your house. Let’s go.”Yeonwoo spoke quickly, almost like rapping. At that moment, his grandma straightened up and met his eyes. She smiled brightly, tapping her aching back. Just like Sungwoon always did, Yeonwoo grabbed his wrist and almost ran, pulling him along. Confused, Sungwoon followed with a puzzled expression.“You said you’d make something delicious.”He didn’t even know what he was saying. As he passed by Grandma, the same smell that clung to his body wafted strongly. Yeonwoo, afraid that Sungwoon might notice the smell and piece everything together, deliberately blurted out anything loudly as he walked past her. What if she acknowledged him, what if she spoke to him… The worries that sent cold sweat running down his back turned out to be unfounded. Grandma didn’t do anything; she simply picked up the cart again. The rattling sound gradually faded away.“Son, are you home?”Sungwoon’s house was exactly fifteen minutes from the first fork in the road. Since it took twenty minutes to get to Yeonwoo’s house from the same spot, their homes were thirty-five minutes apart on foot. It was an ordinary high-rise apartment. As they entered through the front door, a kind-looking lady in an apron came out. It was Sungwoon’s mother.“A friend is here.”“Oh my!”“Hello….”Yeonwoo, who had followed Sungwoon home without any plan, smiled awkwardly and bowed his head. Sungwoon’s mother, looking surprised, alternated her gaze between her son and Yeonwoo.“Did the sun rise in the west? You brought a friend home?”“I lured him with promises of delicious food.”“I told you not to use such strange words.”“I told him we had all kinds of delicacies.”“Where do you even learn such words….”Except for the fact that Yeonwoo didn’t have this, they were a typical mother and son. Sungwoon pulled Yeonwoo by the wrist and headed to his room. His mother called out from behind, “Come out when I call you.”“I’ve never brought a friend home before.”“Oh….”“You’re the first.”“…….”“Mark it on your calendar when you get home. Got it?”The absurd talk started again. Sungwoon sometimes showed this quirky side. Yeonwoo nodded vaguely in response.“Is that your family?”“Yeah. Dad’s busy, so he’s rarely home.”While Sungwoon took off his school shirt, Yeonwoo looked at the family photo on the desk. His father, wearing black-rimmed glasses, the mother he had just met in the living room, and Sungwoon. It seemed he was an only child too.“You look like your dad.”Sungwoon looked just like his father. The sharp features and piercing eyes made it clear they were father and son, even to a stranger. Sungwoon shrugged as he put on a black T-shirt.“No way.”“You look exactly alike.”“Really? That’s amazing.”“What’s so amazing about family looking alike?”“He’s my stepfather.”“…….”Yeonwoo, who was about to say more, shut his mouth. A stepfather? They looked so alike, it was hard to believe they weren’t blood-related. And yet, Sungwoon talked about it so casually. Sungwoon, seeing Yeonwoo’s stunned expression, chuckled.“Do you look like your mom or dad?”Pulling Yeonwoo by the wrist to sit on the bed, Sungwoon handed him a soft pillow and asked. Yeonwoo looked down at the white pillow in his arms and bit his lip. The grandma he had pretended not to know earlier felt like a thorn lodged in his heart.“I….”His throat tightened. Sungwoon turned his head to look at Yeonwoo intently. Yeonwoo gripped the pillowcase tightly.“…Grandma.”“Grandma?”“…Yeah. I look like Grandma.”“You’re amazing too.”Sungwoon smiled warmly, just like before. Sungwoon, who looked like his stepfather, and Yeonwoo, who looked like his grandma. Yeonwoo scratched the pillow, trying to ignore the churning in his stomach.“Yeonwoo, eat a lot.”Sungwoon’s mother had a very kind impression. In front of Yeonwoo was a steaming bowl of radish soup filled with neatly cut beef and freshly cooked rice. Across from him sat Sungwoon.“Do you like yukjeon (pan-fried battered meat)?”“Uh… yes.”Yeonwoo didn’t know what yukjeon was. Sungwoon’s mother seemed pleased and pushed a plate piled high with golden-yellow yukjeon towards Yeonwoo. Sungwoon shrugged as if he had cooked it himself, saying, “Eat a lot,” boasting a bit.“Thank you for the meal.”There was no wobbly table with one leg wrapped in blue tape, no smelly side dish containers. There were no chipped cups or mismatched chopsticks. And… it didn’t smell. Yeonwoo took a spoonful of the soup and put a piece of meat in his mouth.“I hope it suits your taste. We tend to eat a bit salty at our house.”Because of him. His mother playfully glanced at Sungwoon, and Yeonwoo nodded as he chewed the meat.“It’s really delicious.”“I’m glad. There’s plenty, so eat as much as you want.”“Thank you.”The rice was incredibly delicious too. It was worlds apart from what he ate at home or school. It seemed like they used expensive rice. Even eating it plain, the rice had a sweet taste. Yeonwoo focused solely on his rice and soup, not even touching the other side dishes piled high in front of him.“Eat this too.”Sungwoon had put down his spoon long ago. His initial goal in bringing Yeonwoo home was to feed him. Sungwoon used clean chopsticks to place a piece of golden-brown yukjeon on Yeonwoo’s rice. In a small voice, Yeonwoo said, “Thank you,” and quickly put it in his mouth.“When you eat land meat, you should also eat sea meat.”Next, a large piece of grilled croaker was placed on his rice. Yeonwoo quickly lifted his head and said, “I’ll eat it. You eat too,” but Sungwoon didn’t listen. Sungwoon’s mother was busy watching her evening drama in the living room, occasionally muttering insults at the protagonist.“It’s good, right?”“…Yeah.”It was so delicious it almost brought tears to his eyes. He hadn’t had such a feast in ages—actually, never in his life. It was so delicious that he felt choked up. One face kept filling his mind.“Come over again next time. I’ll make something delicious.”“Yes…. Thank you.”“I’ll walk him home.”“Do as you wish.”His mother, who had smiled kindly at Yeonwoo, shot a glance at her son and disappeared into a room. It was already half past eight. They hadn’t done much except eat, yet it was already dark outside.“Hey. Wear this.”As they stepped outside the apartment’s main entrance, Sungwoon took off his navy jersey and handed it to Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo, holding his bag strap, widened his eyes.“It’ll be cold on your way home.”“I’m fine.”“I’m not fine with it. Put it on.”“I’m usually not sensitive to the cold.”“So what are these? Tattoos?”Sungwoon ran his hand over Yeonwoo’s nape. The goosebumps raised by the cold wind were visible. His earlobes quickly turned red. Realizing it was pointless to refuse, Yeonwoo took the jersey.“I’ll carry your bag.”Sungwoon took it a step further, grabbing Yeonwoo’s bag. Helplessly, Yeonwoo put on the jersey and zipped it up. It was a bit big and looked a bit silly.“I might as well keep carrying it.”Sungwoon slung Yeonwoo’s bag over his shoulder. Yeonwoo asked for it back several times but soon gave up, seeing that Sungwoon had no intention of returning it. The evening wind was cool. Yeonwoo glanced worriedly at Sungwoon in just his T-shirt, wondering if he’d catch a cold.“I know the way. You can go back now.”“No. I’m full too, so I want to walk a bit.”Sungwoon made it impossible for Yeonwoo to refuse further. Yeonwoo fidgeted with his cold hands and kept walking. The apartment complex was beautifully maintained. The flower beds were well kept, and the trees were nicely trimmed. Families strolled hand in hand, and occasionally a fluffy white dog wagged its tail as it passed by.A normal life, a normal family. But to Yeonwoo, these were things that would never be ordinary.“…Choi Sungwoon.”“Yeah?”Sungwoon answered while spinning Yeonwoo’s bag in the air a couple of times. The empty bag was light. If he kept spinning it like that, the strap might break. Immersed in the night air, Yeonwoo asked a question he wouldn’t normally dare to ask.“Why did you become friends with me?”At the sudden question, Sungwoon stopped walking and turned to Yeonwoo. His expression seemed to stiffen a bit. Yeonwoo clenched his fists.“Is it because you felt sorry for me being bullied?”Knowing but wanting to confirm it from his mouth was to avoid wanting more from him. To not depend on him more. To draw the line before it was too late.Sungwoon looked up at the dark sky without stars, then shrugged and looked down at Yeonwoo. He nodded a couple of times as if asking why he asked that.“Well… partly.”His heart sank. Knowing it didn’t make it hurt any less. What was he hoping for? He knew, but still thought it was okay. It was funny how his heart tightened.“Now I really know the way. I have somewhere to stop by. I’ll go ahead. Thanks for today. Tell your mother the meal was delicious.”He said something in response, but Yeonwoo didn’t hear it. He almost ran as he walked away, speaking incoherently. His feet hurt with each step, and his heart, lodged in his navel, hurt too. Tears just came out. Pathetically, why….The way home felt even longer. It wasn’t until he reached the alley where he passed his grandmother that he realized his bag was still with Sungwoon. Nothing was going right. A sigh escaped.“Ah….”Why am I living like this? That thought kept coming. He had arrived home a while ago, but couldn’t bring himself to open the old iron gate. He didn’t have the courage to face his grandmother. He wandered in the alley in front of his house, looking at the sky, then the ground, over and over. It was said that even taxis avoided coming in at night due to rumors of ghosts, but to Yeonwoo, it was just a familiar place.The night deepened. Without a phone, he couldn’t tell how much time had passed, but seeing the goosebumps on his skin, he realized he’d been outside for quite a while. Yeonwoo sighed deeply and pushed the iron gate. Creak. The sound of rusty iron scraping the ground echoed through the narrow alley.“Yeonwoo, are you back?”Worried about her grandson who hadn’t returned late into the night, his grandmother had been pacing the yard. She ran out as soon as she heard the gate open. It was amusing how one of them had been pacing outside and the other inside, separated by the old iron gate. Without the bag strap to hold onto, Yeonwoo tightly gripped the sleeve of the jersey that wasn’t his.“Yeah. Grandma, I’m back.”“Did you eat?”She acted as if nothing was wrong. It was stifling. Yeonwoo forced a smile and nodded.“Yes, I ate. How about you, Grandma?”“I ate too. Aren’t you tired?”“No. I’m fine.”“I laid out your bedding. Go wash up.”After patting Yeonwoo’s hip a couple of times, his grandmother, supporting her bent back, waddled inside. The cart in the corner of the yard, filled with collected cardboard, looked sadder than ever.“Grandma.”“Yes?”Yeonwoo, standing still in the yard, called out to her. She turned around and answered, “Yes?”“I’m sorry.”There is an advantage to living in a slum. Being close to the sky means the stars are clearly visible. Stars twinkled above their heads. Standing on the uneven ground, Yeonwoo let out the guilt he had been holding in.“I’m sorry, Grandma.”“Go wash up. You’ll catch a cold.”She didn’t ask more or say anything, just waved her hand in the air a couple of times. Yeonwoo slipped into the bathroom next to the front door. Even after living here his whole life, he didn’t have a room to call his own. The only place he could cry freely was the bathroom, where cockroaches scurried under the broken washing machine when he turned on the light, and the air was filled with the smell of bleach.“Grandma.”“Yes, dear.”“When I earn a lot of money, I’ll make sure you live in comfort.”“Oh, thank you, dear.”“It’s true. I’ll really make sure you live in comfort when I earn a lot of money. I’ll buy you a washing machine, a rice cooker, and, um… no, I’ll buy you a house. I’ll get you an apartment.”“An apartment?”“Yeah. I want to live in an apartment with you, Grandma. It’s really spacious. There are flowers and trees shaped like squares. People walk their dogs there. We can go for walks together….”“That sounds nice.”In the small one-room space, the two lay side by side on the square blanket, shoulders touching. Talking quietly until they fell asleep was how they ended their day. Yeonwoo covered his eyes with his arm and continued to mumble.“I’ll buy you lots of delicious food. Gamjatang, beef radish soup….”“That sounds delicious.”“What was it… yukjeon? Anyway, there’s some kind of jeon. It’s yellow. It’s delicious too. You haven’t tried it, right? I’ll buy that for you too.”“Sure, sure.”Tears flowed endlessly down his temples. His nose was so blocked that he couldn’t speak anymore. Pretending to be asleep, Yeonwoo turned to his side, rustling. His grandmother behind him said nothing.Sungwoon’s jersey hung on the clothesline in the yard, fluttering in the wind. He had hung it outside to avoid the smell clinging to it inside. It shouldn’t rain. To hide his sniffles, he opened his mouth to breathe. The warm air was trapped under the blanket.The next day, when he returned the jersey to Sungwoon, there was a small black star-shaped charm attached to the end of his bag.⟡˖ ࣪The days repeated similarly. Jaeyul’s gang acted as if they had never bullied Yeonwoo, allowing him to enjoy a normal school life like everyone else. The main reason was that Sungwoon was always sticking close to him.“Do you like rides?”“Well… just okay. How about you?”“I love them.”He had become much closer to Sungwoon. He was no longer afraid of him. It might be presumptuous, but he really felt like they were friends now. It didn’t matter what emotions Sungwoon had towards him, whether it was pity or compassion. He decided to focus on the fact that he had a friend, something he had never had in his life.As a high school student, field trips were now called “field studies.” The amusement park, which he hadn’t visited since elementary school, was chosen as the field study location.“Have fun and meet at the main gate by 8 PM.”At nineteen, high school seniors preparing for college entrance exams were practically adults. The supervising teacher, looking annoyed, let the students go, and they scattered in pairs, grinning widely, throughout the amusement park.“Let’s ride the flume ride.”At thirteen, Jaewook’s gang had left Yeonwoo alone in line among tall adults while they had fun. Standing at the main gate, looking around the vast amusement park, Sungwoon spoke to Yeonwoo.“What’s a flume ride?”“A boat ride on water.”“Is it fun?”“It’s really fun. Let’s go.”Sungwoon grabbed Yeonwoo’s wrist and pulled him along. Flume ride. It was a ride he had never heard of. His stomach fluttered. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling; it was probably excitement. Their steps were light as they walked through the amusement park, filled with lively music.“They take a picture in the middle of the ride.”“Really?”“Yeah. When you drop the second time.”Even though they went there first, the line was long. Standing behind the long line of people, Sungwoon rested his chin on Yeonwoo’s head.“I’ll sit in the front. You sit in the back.”“Which is scarier?”“The back, of course.”“Then why am I in the back?”“Because I’m scared.”“…….”He had said he loved rides earlier…. It was a bit absurd, but Yeonwoo just nodded. It didn’t matter who sat where since it was just the two of them.“How are we going to pose for the picture?”“Um….”After much deliberation, Yeonwoo settled on a simple ‘V’ sign. Sungwoon, who had expected something grand, laughed in disbelief, and Yeonwoo followed suit with a shy smile.After a long wait, the boat they were to ride finally arrived in front of Yeonwoo and Sungwoon. The couple disembarking from it were soaked from head to toe. Yeonwoo’s mouth dropped open.“Do we get that wet?”“Yeah. It’s a boat ride on water.”“I only brought one set of clothes.”“No one here has two sets of clothes.”“Really….”Sungwoon pretended to scold him, but his voice was endlessly gentle. Yeonwoo, worried about the impending splash, followed Sungwoon onto the boat. Sungwoon sat in the front seat, and Yeonwoo sat right behind him. Sungwoon’s larger frame completely shielded Yeonwoo.“Hey. I made a bad choice. Only I’ll be in the picture.”“No…. If the picture is taken during the drop, I’ll be in it too.”“Really?”Yeonwoo gripped the metal handles on both sides tightly. The boat started moving slowly.“Wow…. They made this really well.”“Right? Let’s ride Sinbad later.”“Sinbad?”“Yeah. Sinbad’s Adventure. It’s a boat ride too, but less scary than this. There are lots of dragons like that.”Sungwoon pointed to a fire-breathing dragon model they could see during the ride. Yeonwoo nodded. He was past the age to be excited about amusement parks, but that only applied to those with lots of experience. To Yeonwoo, everything was new, exciting, and fun.“Ahhh…!”It was the first drop. Completely unprepared, Yeonwoo let out a pterodactyl-like scream. The strange feeling of his stomach dropping surprised him once, and the massive splash of water on his face surprised him twice. As the boat slowed down on the flat part, he saw Sungwoon laughing, his shoulders shaking.“Hey. I thought a dinosaur was riding behind me.”“Ah… I was so surprised.”“The second drop is higher. Don’t cry.”It wasn’t that scary. He just hadn’t expected it. His heart tingled. He was so happy that he couldn’t help but smile. Yeonwoo thought it was a good thing he sat in the back. If he had sat in the front, his uncontrollable grin would have made it obvious he had never been to an amusement park before.“Hey. We’re about to drop. Make a proper V. If the picture turns out well, let’s buy it.”“Okay.”“Here we go…!”The boat paused briefly before dropping almost vertically. Instead of screaming, Yeonwoo let go of the metal bar and made a ‘V’ with his hand as promised. He saw the flash go off. As they came down the curved slope, his shirt was soaked. The first ride they had waited so long for was over. Sungwoon shook his wet bangs and smiled brightly like the sun.“Fun, right?”“Yeah.”“Let’s go see the picture.”“Okay.”He was now used to Sungwoon grabbing his wrist. Yeonwoo followed Sungwoon’s lead. The water the flume ride boat traveled through wasn’t very clean, so his body had a faint fishy smell, but Yeonwoo didn’t mind.“Yeonwoo, just curse….”“…….”Yeonwoo’s eyes widened slightly. There was a place right next to the flume ride entrance where they displayed the photos taken during the ride. As they excitedly searched for their picture, Sungwoon covered his mouth with his palm, speechless. Yeonwoo was the same.“I told you to make a V… but you flipped the bird.”There was no excuse. In the photo, Sungwoon was grinning widely, making a perfect V with both hands, while Yeonwoo behind him was flipping the bird with one hand. That couldn’t be right. He was sure he made a V, so how did the picture turn out like this? Yeonwoo scratched his neck awkwardly.“The picture came out a bit weird.”“If there’s anything you don’t like, I apologize now.”“It’s unfair.”“Will you forgive me?”No matter what Yeonwoo said, Sungwoon still muttered openly with a shocked expression. Knowing better than anyone that it was a joke, Yeonwoo just smiled brightly instead of fidgeting like before. Sungwoon quickly shook off his sulkiness and draped his arm over Yeonwoo’s shoulder again. The weight of his arm on Yeonwoo’s right shoulder had long since become familiar.“Want to ride the roller coaster?”“Sure.”Yeonwoo was just happy with everything. He didn’t know what was what, so he couldn’t refuse, but everything was fun. If he had known amusement parks were this enjoyable, he would have come with Grandma too. Maybe she couldn’t ride now because of her bent back. Still, he should ask her to come once. Sungwoon’s expression was somewhat peculiar as he watched Yeonwoo follow him with a light step and a gentle smile. Yeonwoo rubbed his face with the back of his hand.“Why?”“…Just because.”“Is there something on my face?”“No. Let’s go.”Sungwoon looked ahead and walked again. As Yeonwoo followed in the direction he led, he spotted a truck selling churros.“Why? Do you want a churro?”“Yeah.”He had tried them before but couldn’t remember the taste. The five churros he brought home in a plastic bag had become soggy and bent, tasting only of oil. He had bought five with the allowance Grandma gave him; she ate three, and Yeonwoo ate the remaining two the next morning.“Let’s eat.”“Do you like churros?”“I can start liking them now.”Sungwoon confidently headed to the churro truck. Standing in front of the employee, he pulled out his wallet from his back pocket, took out a five-thousand-won bill and a one-thousand-won bill, and ordered, “Two, please.” Soon, the long churros with a cinnamon scent were in their hands.“Sword fight.”Sungwoon immediately tapped his churro against Yeonwoo’s. Yeonwoo burst into laughter at the childish game. Sungwoon smiled prettily, his eyes crinkling.“Is it good?”“Yeah. It’s good. It’s crispy, so it’s delicious.”“Look at your taste. You’re such a kid.”“Then you don’t like it?”“Not really. I’m an adult.”“You ate it all….”Yeonwoo couldn’t stop smiling. Sungwoon, who had taken big bites of his churro, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at Yeonwoo. There was a sparkle of sugar on the edge of his plump lips. I knew it. Sungwoon reached out his hand.“…….”“If you ride the roller coaster with this on, the person behind you will have a sweet time.”It was a ridiculous joke, but it made Yeonwoo’s heart race. When Sungwoon’s fingers brushed his lips, Yeonwoo held his breath and clenched his teeth. The muscles at the tip of his chin tightened.“The line is really long.”“It looks like we’ll have to wait two hours.”The line for the roller coaster was incredibly long. He had heard it was the most popular ride at the amusement park, and it was true. It seemed like they would spend the whole day waiting. Sungwoon and Yeonwoo, making eye contact, turned away from the long line without a word.They decided to wear animal-shaped headbands. Two big guys might find it embarrassing, but that was the charm of the amusement park. Sungwoon didn’t care much about others’ opinions, and Yeonwoo wanted to try the furry headbands he couldn’t wear as a child.“You suit the deer.”“You’re an elephant.”“…….”“Why?”“…It feels really weird.”There were dozens of headband types. After rummaging for a while, Sungwoon picked a deer headband with pretty red antlers and handed it to Yeonwoo. He gave it with full sincerity, but what he got in return was an elephant headband with floppy gray ears. Sungwoon made a sour face.“Don’t you like elephants?”“I didn’t think much of it, but now I suddenly don’t like it.”