Miracle Illusion

“Looks like some milk spilled. Sorry?”Laughter erupted simultaneously, indistinguishable from whose it was. Rotten milk was dripping from the empty bag. Now Yeonwoo understood why Sungwoon hated plain milk. It really did smell bad. Yeonwoo gripped the bag’s strap tightly and turned his back. He just had to endure for one day. Tomorrow, Sungwoon would be back, and he had promised to deal with anyone who bullied him. Of course, he wouldn’t actually tattle, but still… Tomorrow, he wouldn’t be alone.Thud.“Oh, Yeonwoo, you should take this too!”He hadn’t taken three steps before he had to stop again. This time, his back was soaked. Yeonwoo looked down at what had hit his feet. Thud, thud. It wasn’t just one. Several more of the same thing hit his back. It was the milk cartons filled with rotten milk. Yeonwoo’s tightly pressed lips trembled.“Give it to your grandma. She hasn’t been able to collect much cardboard lately.”“…….”Jaewook sneered. The muscles in Yeonwoo’s jaw tightened. He wanted to turn around and punch them, but he couldn’t do anything. He felt utterly pathetic for just standing there while they insulted his grandmother. It was bad enough to stay still, but tears welled up, making it worse. Yeonwoo forced himself to swallow.“The cardboard grandma from last year is back, still not dead.”A song-like taunt was heard. As Jaeyul hummed, Jinwoo tapped the desk in rhythm. Yeonwoo stood still, facing away from them.“They say people smell like they’re rotting when they’re about to die. Yeonwoo’s grandma has smelled like that for ten years, but still….”Dohyeong, who was about to chime in, couldn’t finish his sentence. Yeonwoo had thrown a milk carton at him. Rotten milk dripped down Dohyeong’s shoulder. Yeonwoo, with tears streaming from his red eyes, panted heavily.“Is this bastard crazy?”“Apologize.”“Are you crazy?”“Apologize!”He couldn’t see anything. Yeonwoo picked up all the milk cartons from the floor and threw them wildly. One grazed Jaewook’s cheek, another hit Jaeyul’s head. Jinwoo, who had been filming with his camera, hid in surprise.“Why are you doing this to me? Why!”“That bastard….”“What did I do wrong? What did I do! What!”Yeonwoo screamed like a madman. His desperate cries echoed through the classroom. He threw the bag he was holding to the floor. The hastily stitched fabric tore, and the black star that had been hanging there rolled on the floor. Hot tears streamed down Yeonwoo’s tomato-red cheeks.“Hey. Come out.”Finally, Jaeyul stood up. He had endured enough. Yeonwoo, eyes wild, didn’t feel fear. He glared at Jaeyul, tears streaming down his face.“Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong!”Slap.Before he could finish shouting, a burning slap landed on his cheek. Yeonwoo’s head snapped to the left, and he laughed loudly, straightening his face.“Just kill me.”His voice was wet with tears. Yeonwoo meant it. He wished they would just kill him. He had planned to die when his grandmother passed away, but he had reached his limit. He couldn’t endure anymore. Yeonwoo glared at Jaeyul with fierce eyes. Jaeyul turned his head and sighed.“Fine. Then die.”Jaeyul’s hand, as big as a pot lid, rose into the air. Normally, Yeonwoo would have closed his eyes tightly, but this time, he stared straight at him without blinking. If he was going to die by his hand, he wanted to see his face and curse him forever.“I thought it was a joke, damn….”But the slap didn’t come. Instead, the sound of the back door breaking was heard. Jaeyul’s gang, who had surrounded Yeonwoo, and the classmates pretending not to see, all turned their heads towards the sound.“It wasn’t a school, it was a fish tank. Damn, goldfish bastards….”Sungwoon, wearing a gray hoodie, approached Yeonwoo with his hands in his pockets. Yeonwoo, whose cheek was already swollen, lowered his stiff head as soon as their eyes met. The quiet tears turned into sobs. Yeonwoo’s shoulders shook, and muffled sobs escaped his tightly closed lips.“I really hate plain milk.”Sungwoon didn’t demand anything from Yeonwoo. He walked past Yeonwoo, who had his head hung low, and picked up the bag that had been thrown on the floor. As he shook it in the air, the smell of rotten milk wafted out. Meanwhile, Jaeyul’s gang exchanged glances, looking for an escape route.“My star… damn….”Next, he picked up the black star charm that had been lying nearby. Sungwoon cursed as he picked up the dusty charm. The charm, clenched in his fist, was crushed from all sides.“This is mine. How could you treat it so carelessly? It’s upsetting.”Sungwoon’s usually playful face turned completely cold. His eyes, devoid of laughter, felt empty. Before Jaeyul could offer an excuse, Yeonwoo moved first. Wearing a uniform stained with rotten milk, he ran out of the classroom. As he exited through the back door, he heard a loud crashing sound but ignored it and kept running. Tears streamed down his temples and scattered into the air.“Ugh….”Running down the stairs, he twisted his ankle. His left ankle bent at a right angle, and his ankle bone hit the floor. The intense pain shot up to his skull, causing Yeonwoo to slow down and limp. There was still a long time before school ended, but he couldn’t stay at school today.“Hey.”He heard a familiar voice behind him as he barely reached the first floor. But Yeonwoo didn’t turn around and kept walking.“Hey.”Sungwoon called Yeonwoo again. Yeonwoo ignored him and struggled to take another step. His twisted ankle felt like the bone was misaligned every time it touched the ground.“Hey. I called you three times.”This time, Sungwoon approached him directly. Yeonwoo took a deep breath, trying to hide his panting. His tear-streaked face was a mess. Sungwoon, examining Yeonwoo’s face with sharp eyes, knelt on one knee.“Get on.”“…….”“Hurry.”“…….”“I’m really pissed off right now… so just do as I say.”His words were slurred, as if he was gritting his teeth. Yeonwoo didn’t want to be carried, but there was something compelling in Sungwoon’s voice. Yeonwoo hesitantly wrapped his arms around Sungwoon’s neck.“Let’s go home.”Supporting Yeonwoo’s thighs with his hands, Sungwoon started walking slowly. Yeonwoo buried his face in Sungwoon’s neck and cried his heart out. Ignoring the warmth spreading on his neck, Sungwoon silently crossed the schoolyard.“I told you to throw a chair if you had to.”“…….”“Throw anything you can see.”“…….”“Kick them in the weak spots.”“…….”“So, damn it, don’t just stand there and take it.”Sungwoon growled the entire way, unable to calm down. Yeonwoo just nodded silently. His slapped cheek didn’t hurt at all, but thinking about the insults hurled at his grandmother made his heart ache.November. The wind at the end of autumn was freezing. They reached the first fork where they usually turned right together. Sungwoon always led the way, but this time, he stopped before the fork. Yeonwoo glanced up.“Please, let’s not take the long way today. Just go straight.”“…….”“Show me the way. I don’t know where your house is.”Without waiting for an answer, Sungwoon turned left. The real alley leading to Yeonwoo’s house. It was the first time they walked this path together.“Did you know?”“Know what?”“Where my house is.”Sungwoon chuckled at the nasal voice behind him. As if it mattered, Yeonwoo asked several more times, needing an answer.“Yeah.”“How did you know?”“Does it matter right now?”“…….”The left and right paths were completely different. The right path, which Sungwoon and Yeonwoo always walked together, led to a bustling area with apartment complexes, while the left path led to a slum and a demolition zone with red-painted walls and broken-down buildings.“Which way from here?”After walking for about five minutes, they reached another fork. The left path was flat, while the right path was a steep uphill climb.“Put me down. I’ll walk from here.”“So it’s the right path.”Sungwoon gave an unexpected answer. Then, tightening his grip on Yeonwoo’s thigh, he headed up the steep slope. Embarrassed, Yeonwoo sniffled through his clogged nose. He had always felt that Sungwoon was very perceptive.“Did you ride a sled to school when it snowed in winter?”“…What are you talking about?”“Sledding here would be really fun. Let’s go sledding together when it snows.”Sungwoon was also breathing heavily. The slope was steep enough to be difficult to walk alone, let alone carrying Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo anxiously insisted on being put down several times but was ignored each time.“Did you do well on your drawing?”“No, it was crap.”“…….”“Don’t worry about that. Just take care of yourself.”His words were blunt, but his voice was endlessly gentle. Yeonwoo swung his legs in the air and looked at the familiar scenery.‘Ghost town,’ ‘Scheduled for demolition,’ ‘Yoonji and Junggu were here,’ ‘BJ Kahyun’s visit memorial’…. The half-collapsed walls were covered with colorful graffiti. They had planned to build new apartments, but a corruption scandal between the construction company and politicians had indefinitely delayed the project. It was practically canceled. The busy construction equipment had disappeared, and the half-demolished houses remained, giving rise to ghost stories. For Grandma and Yeonwoo, it was a fortunate turn of events. If the development had progressed further, they might have ended up on the streets.“…Choi Sungwoon.”“What?”“I’m sorry for lying all this time.”“It wasn’t a lie if I knew.”“But I’m still sorry.”“If you’re sorry, get me some water later. I’m down to 10% hydration.”Sungwoon playfully teased. Yeonwoo squinted his eyes and smiled, his tear-stained eyelids red.“My house smells.”“What smell?”“Kim Jaewook always says I smell.”“So what smell?”“…There is a smell when you get home.”Mold and Grandma’s scent. Yeonwoo sniffled and smiled sheepishly. Sungwoon didn’t react much, as if it didn’t matter.“They smell rotten next to them.”“Who?”“The idiots.”“Really?”“I’ve been with you for a month, and you’ve never smelled.”“…….”“I have a really weak stomach. That’s why I can’t drink plain milk.”“…….”“If you smelled, would I have stuck with you for a whole month?”Sungwoon explained calmly, as if persuading Yeonwoo. His words, which made sense, slowly melted Yeonwoo’s tension. They were only five minutes from home. Yeonwoo, lightly touching Sungwoon’s hair swaying in the wind, said something he had never told anyone.“I don’t have parents.”“You have your grandma.”“How did you know?”Yeonwoo’s eyes widened. He was so surprised that his body jerked upward. Sungwoon, shifting Yeonwoo’s weight on his back, spoke irritably.“Hey, don’t move. It’s really hard.”“Oh… I’ll get down.”“I’m kind of on a quest right now, so don’t interrupt.”Sungwoon continued up the slope, making nonsensical comments. Yeonwoo resumed their previous conversation.“My dad abandoned me with Grandma right after I was born. Since then, Grandma has been collecting scrap paper to raise me.”“She must have had a tough time.”“Yeah… At first, she didn’t collect scrap paper. When I was little, she washed dishes at a restaurant and worked at a necklace-making factory, but I don’t remember much.”“She’s quite talented.”“When I first started elementary school, Jaewook, Jinwoo, and Dohyeong… we were in the same class.”“Wow, that’s a long-standing connection. I’m jealous.”Yeonwoo chattered, and Sungwoon responded nonchalantly. His consistent reactions made it easier for Yeonwoo to continue sharing his story.“On my birthday… we decided to have my birthday party at our house.”“When’s your birthday?”“It passed. In March.”“Okay, and then?”“I begged Grandma to get a cake, chicken, pizza… all the delicious things. Until I was seven, I was always at home, so I didn’t have friends. They were my first friends, and I was really excited.”“Unfortunately, those friends turned out to be trolls.”“What’s a troll?”“It’s something. Keep talking.”They were almost at the top of the steep slope. The wind was colder at the higher altitude. Yeonwoo squinted his eyes against the wind blowing directly at him and then opened them. In the distance, he could see home.“Grandma bought a butter cake from the market. You know, the really greasy one. She also got electric chicken from a truck… but she couldn’t buy pizza.”“Electric chicken is really good. When you cut it open, there’s rice inside.”Yeonwoo laughed out loud. Sungwoon, looking at the ground as he walked, also smirked slightly.“Grandma woke up early and made seaweed soup, rice, japchae… for my friends….”“I’m just saying this just in case, but don’t cry. You know cotton gets heavy when it’s wet.”Yeonwoo’s eyes started to water, but Sungwoon’s joke quickly stopped the tears.“Then Jaewook came in and said our house smelled weird. He covered his nose and said he felt like throwing up….”“Maybe it was the smell from his nostrils.”“What does that even mean….”“Anyway.”“They called the chicken a pigeon, said the cake tasted bad… they didn’t even touch the japchae or seaweed soup.”“…….”“My Grandma’s a great cook. The japchae was really delicious.”“…….”“Jinwoo went to the bathroom, and I guess a cockroach came out from under the washing machine.”“…….”“I’ve been an outcast since then. Until I met you.”Finally, they were on flat ground. Sungwoon took a deep breath to calm his labored breathing. Yeonwoo rubbed his aching nose with the back of his hand and forced a smile.“See that blue gate up ahead? That’s my house.”There were piles of dog poop scattered on the ground. Sungwoon carefully avoided them and walked toward Yeonwoo’s house. The blue paint on the gate was mostly peeled off and rusty. Yeonwoo rested his hand on Sungwoon’s shoulder and said,“Put me down now. If Grandma sees me being carried, she’ll worry.”“Alright.”This time, Sungwoon put him down without protest and supported him instead. Yeonwoo smiled beautifully and said, “Thank you.”Just then, Grandma opened the gate and stepped out. Yeonwoo’s face lit up. He tried to walk without limping, despite his injured ankle. Grandma, who had just closed the gate, smiled at Yeonwoo, then saw Sungwoon beside him and her face stiffened in surprise.“Gran…”Grandma quickly turned away. Supporting her bent back with her hand, she hurried off. Sungwoon wasn’t the only one taken aback. Yeonwoo, watching Grandma leave without a word, looked around with wide eyes in confusion.“Grandma!”He knew the reason. The tears he had held back while on Sungwoon’s back burst forth all at once. His lips turned downward. Yeonwoo, limping, ran to Grandma, sobbing like a child. Grandma, with her bent back and slow steps, hadn’t gone far. Sungwoon stood still and watched them.“Grandma, where are you going? I’m home.”Yeonwoo’s voice was muffled by his heavy sobbing, making it hard to understand.“Why are you crying? Don’t cry, dear.”Grandma patted her grandson’s head gently, while still glancing at Sungwoon standing far away. Yeonwoo clung to Grandma, crying loudly enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.“Grandma, I’m sorry for pretending not to know you before. I was wrong. I won’t do it again. So please don’t pretend you don’t know me.”“I’m sorry, dear.”“I only have you, Grandma… don’t do this….”Yeonwoo cried so sorrowfully that his face turned bright red. He mumbled in a hoarse, broken voice while clinging to Grandma. Her bent back was too pitiful. The thin clothing in the cold wind made him sad. He cried so much that his skin hurt. With a nose completely blocked, Yeonwoo breathed through his mouth as Sungwoon approached from behind.“Hello, Grandma.”“…….”“I’m Yeonwoo’s friend, Choi Sungwoon.”His voice sounded like the wind.Grandma said she was going to the market to buy something. The two of them decided to go inside first.“Are you sure there’s no smell?”“Have you lived your life being deceived?”“The house is quite small.”“You’re being extravagant. This is fine.”Unlike Jaewook, who always held his nose and complained about the smell as soon as he opened the front door, Sungwoon stepped inside without hesitation. Yeonwoo nervously watched Sungwoon’s expression.“Can I sit down?”“Of course.”The small, old one-room house consisted of a combined kitchen-living space and a small bathroom. As soon as Sungwoon sat down, Yeonwoo opened the refrigerator and took out some cold water. Embarrassed by the chipped cups, he hesitated before pouring the water into a rice bowl instead.“Is this a poison drink?”“So you can drink more….”“Thanks.”Sungwoon chuckled and drank the water. It tasted different from the filtered water he was used to at home. The yellowish color suggested it was probably barley tea.“Is this barley tea?”“Yeah. Grandma made it.”“It’s really good.”“Really?”“Yeah.”“Do you want another bowl?”“Why are you offering it like soup?”Sungwoon laughed first. Yeonwoo, placing the empty bowl on the sink, smiled along. Seeing Sungwoon act so naturally made him feel at ease too. Sungwoon leaned back on his arms and looked around the small house. It was smaller than his room but filled with traces of the years they had lived there. His gaze settled on something, and then he got up. Yeonwoo’s eyes followed him closely.“Is this you as a baby?”“…Yeah.”“You’re really cute.”Yeonwoo didn’t attend kindergarten, so the playground in front of his house was his playground. In the photo, the gate’s blue paint hadn’t peeled much. There was a picture of Yeonwoo playing with sand in front of the gate. Sungwoon smiled slightly, rubbing his lips. He hadn’t changed at all since he was little.“The camera broke, so we couldn’t take any more pictures after that.”“That’s a shame.”A film camera a neighbor had given them when they moved away. Grandma had enthusiastically taken pictures, intending to create a baby journal for Yeonwoo, but the old camera didn’t last long. Since then, there hadn’t been a single picture of Yeonwoo.“Grandma’s here.”The gate opened. Yeonwoo, eyes swollen from crying, smiled brightly and opened the door. Grandma, carrying black bags in both hands, crossed the yard. Sungwoon quickly ran out to help her with the bags.“It’s what’s trending nowadays, so I bought some….”She placed the fruit on the purple wobbling table with a broken leg. It was Shine Muscat grapes, much larger and sweeter than regular grapes. Sungwoon’s lips curved up. Sensing they wouldn’t eat until he did, he quickly said, “Thank you for the food,” and popped the top grape into his mouth. He could feel their eyes on him.“It’s delicious. I’m a grape fanatic, you know.”In truth, he didn’t like grapes much. Chewing the Shine Muscat grapes that filled his mouth, Sungwoon gave a thumbs up. Grandma and Yeonwoo’s faces lit up with relief. They looked like family, the resemblance was uncanny.“Please, help yourselves.”“What’s it called?”“This? Shine Muscat.”“That’s a unique name.”Yeonwoo’s cheek puffed out as he put a grape into his mouth. Sungwoon had to suppress his laughter. Shine Muscat. The name didn’t matter. What mattered was Grandma’s love, shown by buying the most expensive grapes at the market for him. That day, Sungwoon ate ten grapes, even though he didn’t like them.⟡˖ ࣪“Is your leg okay?”“Yeah. It’s not that swollen. I can walk fine.”“And your cheek?”“It doesn’t hurt much.”“That’s a relief.”The next morning, they met at the first fork in the road. They usually met in front of the school gate, but now that wasn’t necessary. Having arrived first, Sungwoon waited for Yeonwoo and handed him something.“Here.”“What is it?”“A bag.”“Why a bag?”“They ruined yours.”“…….”“Don’t feel burdened. It’s the price of the Shine Muscat Grandma bought.”“What does that mean….”“Seriously. It was really expensive. Ten times more than this bag.”“Really?”“Yeah. Make sure to tell Grandma it was delicious.”“…Okay. Thanks.”“Sure.”The fabric of the new black bag Sungwoon handed him was stiff, indicating it was freshly bought. The familiar black star charm was attached to it. Yeonwoo had planned to wash the old bag once he got to school, but thanks to Sungwoon, he had a new one. His steps felt lighter on the way to school.<Absence: Park Jaeyul>Where Sungwoon’s name had been written on the board yesterday, Jaeyul’s name was now there. No reason was given. Sitting down and placing his new bag, Yeonwoo whispered,“Did you hit Park Jaeyul yesterday?”“Yeah… no.”Sungwoon, who had casually affirmed, quickly changed his words. Yeonwoo’s smile faded.“What if it causes problems?”“And it’s okay that he hit you?”“…….”“Stop worrying about useless things.”Sungwoon nonchalantly checked the timetable. It was P.E. class. Tilting his head, Sungwoon said with a sullen expression,“Hey. Why does this school have P.E. first period?”“Yeah, it’s a bit weird, right?”“Yeah. Really weird.”Of course, there were advantages. The two quickly changed out of their uniforms into comfortable gym clothes.“Self-study time is for self-studying.”“…….”As soon as he sat down, Yeonwoo felt drowsy. Holding a pen in his right hand, he sat upright and closed his eyes. The whispering chatter around him sounded like a sweet lullaby. Just as he was about to drift into a dream, Sungwoon’s voice woke him up. Yeonwoo struggled to open his sleepy eyes, which were heavy with drowsiness.“The college entrance exam is really soon. Aren’t you going to college?”“No. I’m not going.”“Why?”“I don’t have money for college. And I’m not good at studying.”After confiding in Sungwoon about his family situation, Yeonwoo felt relieved. Answering honestly, he closed his eyes again, signaling not to wake him.“What’s your dream?”It seemed Sungwoon wasn’t going to let Yeonwoo sleep. The question came back. Yeonwoo eventually gave up on sleeping and rubbed his heavy eyelids with the back of his hand.“Dream?”“Yeah. Is there something you want to do?”“There is.”“What is it?”“Buying Grandma a washing machine.”“…….”“And later, buying her an apartment.”“…….”“I’ll earn money when I become an adult.”“That’s a good dream.”Sungwoon, who had been watching Yeonwoo with his arms crossed, nodded and smiled. Yeonwoo followed suit, smiling broadly, and yawned while covering his mouth. Sungwoon lightly pushed Yeonwoo’s forehead with his palm.“Sleep. I’ll wake you up when self-study is over.”“You won’t wake me up now?”“Yeah. Just don’t snore.”“I don’t snore.”“Sleep quickly.”With a playful smile, Sungwoon covered Yeonwoo’s eyelids with his palm. As soon as he closed his eyes, sleep came quickly. He could see the supervising teacher walking outside the window. It was impossible to sleep comfortably lying down. Yeonwoo rested his elbows on the desk and balanced himself. He could sleep well enough like this.“He’s really sleeping.”Sungwoon, who had taken out a large sketchbook from his bag, looked at Yeonwoo’s profile with curiosity. He seemed to be sleeping soundly, without any movement. His eyelashes, completely covering his eyes, and his smoothly raised nose didn’t move, making him look different. Sungwoon rested his chin on the back of his hand and watched him for a long time. He had thought about it, but Yeonwoo was really beautiful. Without considering gender, Yeonwoo was a beauty.Sungwoon took out a thick pencil he had tucked into the sketchbook’s spring. His hand, which had paused for a moment, soon drew smooth lines on the square paper. The thick and thin lines, drawn without hesitation, gradually formed someone’s face. For an hour, Sungwoon alternated between looking at Yeonwoo’s face and the paper, filling a page of the sketchbook.“It’s raining.”“It smells like earth. I like the smell of earth.”As self-study time was ending, heavy raindrops hit the window. Yeonwoo, staring blankly at the streaked window, sniffed. He liked the unique earthy smell that could only be smelled on rainy days. Maybe it was because it was a familiar smell.Sungwoon took a deep breath through his nose, following Yeonwoo’s lead. He wasn’t sure what the smell was, but the atmosphere wasn’t bad.“Class president, are we going to the gym?”“No, it’s self-study.”The class president wrote “Self-study” on the board. For high school seniors with the college entrance exam just around the corner, self-study time was more valuable than classes. Cheers erupted from the back. For students preparing for the exam, it was time to study hard, but for those not planning to go to college, it was just a chance to sleep comfortably. Having already slept enough during self-study, Yeonwoo wondered what to do with the sudden free time.“What are you going to do? Sleep again?”“No, I’m not sleepy.”Sungwoon seemed to be in the same boat, having nothing to do. Yeonwoo had never seen him draw at school, so he hadn’t known Sungwoon was an art major. He glanced at the large sketchbook on Sungwoon’s desk.“Don’t you need to practice drawing?”“What I’m doing now is useless. I should have done it earlier.”“Can I see your drawings?”Yeonwoo was curious about Sungwoon’s drawings. But Sungwoon firmly shook his head and even put the sketchbook back in his bag. Yeonwoo pouted.“That’s mean.”“I’ll show you later.”“When?”“When I get into college?”“The college you took the exam for yesterday?”“Yeah.”“Okay.”Yeonwoo beamed. Sungwoon leaned back and laughed, showing his throat.“Hey, want to go out?”“Now?”“Yeah.”“But it’s raining.”“A little rain won’t hurt.”“What if the teacher comes in?”“Don’t you know the P.E. teacher is the laziest? Let’s go.”Sungwoon made an unexpected suggestion. Yeonwoo blinked in surprise. Thinking it was a joke, he watched as Sungwoon immediately acted on it. He got up, dragged his chair, and left through the back door. Yeonwoo hurriedly stuffed his uniform into his bag and followed him.“You said you like the smell of earth?”“…Yeah.”“Let’s play outside and wash up before the second period starts.”“…….”“Cold?”“No, I like it.”Yeonwoo shook his head vigorously. His flushed face was filled with excitement. Since meeting Sungwoon, he felt like he was experiencing countless things he had never done before. Standing in the hallway, Sungwoon looked around and put his finger to his lips, signaling for silence.“Let’s go.”Sungwoon grabbed Yeonwoo’s wrist. Yeonwoo, putting weight on his still-painful leg, followed him down the stairs. Sungwoon led them to the school backyard, where the green-feathered parrot from Yeonwoo’s bingo game was.“It’s raining a lot.”“Yeah.”They stood side by side under the old eaves. Their bags, containing their uniforms, were placed at the innermost part of the eaves. If they really got wet, they would need a change of clothes. But facing the rain, they hesitated. The November rain was as cold as ice water. Yeonwoo extended his hand outside the eaves, watching the raindrops pool in his palm.“Hey, Hong Yeonwoo.”“Yeah.”“Want to know something really weird?”Sungwoon, who had been silently watching Yeonwoo, suddenly spoke. Despite the pouring rain, his voice was clear. Yeonwoo, still looking ahead, nodded.“I really care about you.”“…….”Only then did Yeonwoo turn his head. This time, Sungwoon looked ahead. The sound of the rain hitting the eaves was deafening. It helped mask the sound of his wildly beating heart.“Sorry.”“I knew you’d react like that. Idiot….”Sungwoon laughed bitterly through his teeth. Concluding that he had been too much of a bother, the foolish Yeonwoo hung his head low and bit the inside of his cheek. Taking a deep breath, Sungwoon tightly grasped Yeonwoo’s wrist.“Hey.”“…….”“I don’t mean it in a bad way.”“Huh?”“I don’t know. Anyway, I don’t mean it in a bad way.”“…….”“Let’s get wet. Let’s have fun in the rain.”Without giving Yeonwoo a chance to respond, Sungwoon pulled him into the pouring rain. The fierce downpour soaked them instantly. Squinting against the rain hitting his face, Yeonwoo caught a glimpse of Sungwoon’s flushed face.“This feels amazing!”They had to shout to be heard over the rain. Yeonwoo pushed his wet bangs back and nodded energetically. They splashed through puddles, heading toward the parrot. The bird, sheltered by the cage’s roof, shrieked at their approach, as if they were monsters.“Hey. Didn’t you say it was a talking parrot?”“This one can’t talk.”“But your bingo card said ‘talking parrot.'”“That was the one on TV….”Yeonwoo’s eyes widened.“How did you see that?”“It’s a secret.”“Did you spy on me?”“Wow, calling me a thief now.”“Oh….”Even in the rain, his ears turned red. Sungwoon, soaked, grinned widely. The parrot flapped its wings and squawked louder, as if telling them to go away.“It’s raining so hard.”“Are you cold?”Instead of asking if they should go back inside, Sungwoon asked if Yeonwoo was cold. Raindrops gathered at the end of his bangs and trickled down his nose. After a moment’s hesitation, Yeonwoo shook his head vigorously.“I like it!”They had to shout to be heard over the torrential rain, but strangely, Yeonwoo felt so happy it brought tears to his eyes. He took a deep breath, his chest rising. Rain entered his nostrils, but he didn’t care. Here, he could fully enjoy the earthy smell he loved. Despite the situation, his throat tightened, and his nose stung.“Are we filming a movie?”Yeonwoo tilted his head back. Looking directly at the rain, it felt like needles falling in straight lines. The raindrops hitting his cheeks didn’t hurt much. Laughing, Sungwoon followed suit and tilted his head back. Their gym clothes, soaked through, felt heavy. But it felt good.“I just like you.”“What?”“I don’t know about caring, but I just like you.”Yeonwoo shouted with his eyes tightly shut. Even though the cold rain hit him, his cheeks burned as if they were on fire. Sungwoon, who had been looking up at the sky, turned slightly to look at Yeonwoo.“So let’s stay friends forever.”“…….”Yeonwoo’s words made his heart stop. The loud heartbeat that had filled his ears was no longer audible. Sungwoon, seemingly frozen, tilted his head and stared at Yeonwoo. Eyes tightly closed, Yeonwoo continued speaking, unaware of Sungwoon’s gaze.“When I earn a lot of money, I’ll buy you Shine Muscat grapes. And those round buns.”“…Idiot.”Sungwoon was the first to lower his head. His shoulders, heavy with water, shook up and down. Laughter kept escaping.“What?”“I said okay.”“Thank you.”Even though the sun hadn’t risen, Yeonwoo smiled brightly like the sun. Sungwoon brushed Yeonwoo’s wet bangs back with his palm. The swollen cheek from Jaeyul’s slap looked pitiful. Sungwoon’s eyes held an indescribable emotion.“Let’s go inside. You’ll catch a cold.”“Yeah. There’s a shower on the first floor. We can wash up there. I brought our uniforms.”It was a relief that a new shower had been built last year. It was meant for the sports teams, but no one would mind if they used it. The two walked shoulder to shoulder again. Sungwoon draped his arm over Yeonwoo’s shoulder.“Grandma, I’m home!”“Yeonwoo, you’re back?”“Sungwoon’s here too.”“Is that so?”The blue gate, its paint peeling, scraped the ground. Grandma, who had been doing laundry in the yard, greeted them warmly. Sungwoon came and went from Yeonwoo’s house as if it were his own. Going to Yeonwoo’s house after school had become a routine.“Grandma, this is for you.”‘Grandma’ was what Yeonwoo called her, and Sungwoon shamelessly copied it. It might have seemed rude, but Grandma just smiled kindly.“What is it?”“A dining table.”“Why did you buy a dining table?”“The old one has a broken leg. It would be a disaster if it collapsed while eating.”“Then let me pay you.”“I’ve eaten so many meals here… consider it a gift.”Sungwoon did his best to make sure Grandma and Yeonwoo didn’t feel uncomfortable around him. Even though the food at home was much better, Sungwoon always ate dinner at Yeonwoo’s house, where the side dishes were just a few pieces of kimchi, soggy stir-fried fish cakes, and dried anchovies. Of course, the ingredients he brought each time made their fridge more plentiful.“The college entrance exam is next week.”“Yeah. Are you taking it?”“I registered, but I probably won’t be able to answer anything.”As if it were something to brag about, Yeonwoo smiled brightly. Sungwoon, sitting with his legs stretched out, laughed in disbelief. Grandma, setting the table for them, joined the conversation.“What’s the college entrance exam?”“It’s the university entrance exam.”“A math exam?”“Yes, there’s a math exam too.”Though it could have been corrected, Sungwoon nodded, saying Grandma was right. Yeonwoo’s cheeks turned red as he watched. They say some people are genuine, and Sungwoon seemed to be one of them.“I need to use the bathroom.”“The bathroom?”“Yeah.”Despite visiting countless times, the bathroom had never been shown. Yeonwoo hesitated, looking flustered. It was obvious the bathroom was next to the front door, so Sungwoon got up first.“That’s the bathroom, right?”“Uh… Choi Sungwoon, but….”“Yeah?”“There might be bugs in the bathroom.”“What bugs….”He answered absentmindedly, then remembered what Yeonwoo had said before.‘Jinwoo went to the bathroom, and a cockroach came out from under the washing machine.’‘I’ve been an outcast since then. Until I met you.’