Simmering Heat Chapter 4.1

Taeun had a dream. It had been a while since he’d had such a vivid one.

In the dream, Taeun was sitting in the backseat of a car, set on a day when he was eighteen. That day, Lee Taeun was deeply depressed.

Eighteen was that kind of age. An age where missing out on plans with friends felt like the end of the world. Taeun would’ve rather roamed a university festival with his friends than be dragged to a memorial service for a grandfather he’d never met. His gloomy mood didn’t lift easily.

He spent the entire drive to his uncle’s house in the backseat, earphones plugged in, trying to soothe his sinking spirits. Still pouting when they arrived, it wasn’t until his mom pinched his side that he finally tucked his lips back in.

After that, he awkwardly greeted the cousins who trickled in. Cousins he used to play with freely as a kid had become distant and uncomfortable once they hit high school. When everyone gathered to prepare the ceremonial snacks, Taeun peeled apples next to his mom. Normally, he’d be out enjoying the festival by now. Halfheartedly moving the knife, Taeun muttered to himself.

They said Wonderful Sister was performing tonight…

Wonderful Sister was a girl group riding a wave of popularity at the time. With a bold new concept and dynamic choreography, the rookie idol group had swept music charts upon debut. Taking the first letters of their name, they’d formed a fan club called “Primitive,” a rather intense moniker.

And Lee Taeun was a well-known Primitive. Despite his friends’ teasing, he steadfastly upheld the Primitive creed. He’d even convinced his friends to go to the university festival upon hearing Wonderful Sister would perform. For a high schooler with a weekly allowance of just 30,000 won, it was a golden chance to see them in person. But a sudden family event had crushed that opportunity entirely.

I memorized the dance and cheers… On the very day he’d marked as D-Day, Taeun felt pathetic peeling apples. Gripping the knife tightly in his sorrow, he was so lost in thought that he inevitably caused a mishap.

“Ah!”

His right hand, holding the knife, slipped and stabbed his left thumb. Bright red blood dripped onto the floor beneath the table. The half-peeled apple rolled onto the living room floor with a dull thud. It all happened in an instant.

“Oh no, what do we do!”

“Get some tissues!”

The room erupted into chaos. Relatives, more startled than his mom sitting beside him, shouted about calling 119. It was a deep cut but not bad enough for stitches. His mom waved them off, fetched the first-aid kit, applied some Fucidin, and stuck two bandages on before shooing Taeun away from the table.

As questions about whether he was okay poured in, Taeun gave an awkward smile and fled to a room. For a high schooler just past puberty, the relatives’ attention was overwhelming and embarrassing.

Lee Taeun flexed his stinging finger and pulled out his phone. It wasn’t his intention, but being alone eased his mind. The group chat he hadn’t checked for hours was flooded with messages from friends teasing him.

[Taeun’s crying, huh? Why no reply?] 14:05

[LOLOLOLOLOL] 14:05

[That guy practiced the dance like crazy…] 14:05

[I recorded it too] 14:06

[Video] 14:06

[Title: The Last Struggle of a Deflated Festival Balloon] 14:06

These jerks are having a blast… Taeun’s face crumpled as he read the messages. The video showed him practicing Wonderful Sister’s choreography in the classroom, looking utterly ridiculous. His friends had started debating what title suited the clip, each submitting increasingly bizarre suggestions.

When someone proposed “The Writhing of a Slime Shattered by a Hero’s Strike,” Taeun muttered to himself, “It’s not that bad.” Of course, it was a futile retort. With the star of the show absent, their interest seemed to have faded, as the chat had gone quiet two hours ago. They were probably too busy enjoying the festival.

[Get lost] 16:36

He had nothing else to say. After sending the curt reply, Taeun left the chat to avoid feeling worse. As he went to close the messenger, he froze. Right below the group chat was a personal message. From Cha Jinhyun.

[Cha Jinhyun: You going?] 10:43

[Cha Jinhyun: Busy?] 12:37

[Cha Jinhyun: Really can’t come?] 14:01

Taeun stared at the three messages, sent hours apart, for a long time. Why didn’t I see these? After hesitating, he tapped out a reply. Lately, dealing with Cha Jinhyun felt strangely awkward—especially during personal exchanges like this.

[Yeah, I’m at my uncle’s] 16:47

[Haha, have fun…] 16:47

It was a clean response—answering the question while neatly wrapping up the conversation. Guess I’ll watch some videos. As Taeun fidgeted with his oddly itchy toes and went to close the chat, the “read” notification appeared on his message.

[Cha Jinhyun: When you coming home?] 16:47

A reply from Jinhyun came almost instantly.

It wasn’t the ignore-after-reading he’d expected. Since he hadn’t left the chat yet, the “read” mark showed up right away. Flustered, Taeun hurriedly exited the chat. …Why did I do that? He didn’t know the reason himself.

[Cha Jinhyun: Ghosting me? >:(] 16:52

Unable to watch videos or reply, Taeun flexed his sore finger for a few minutes until another message from Cha Jinhyun arrived. Grumbling, he reluctantly tapped the chat again.

[Dunno. Tonight?] 17:01

[Why?] 17:06

He chose bland, casual words to seem nonchalant—it just felt right. The second message, asking why, came a few minutes later after debating whether to ask, and Taeun couldn’t help but worry about the delay. By now, his thumb’s pain and Primitive sorrows were an afterthought. He halfheartedly watched Wonderful Sister videos, repeatedly checking the chat.

But no reply came.

Not while he awkwardly bowed during the ceremony, shoved bland ritual food into his mouth, or exchanged stilted goodbyes with relatives before getting in the car. By then, Cha Jinhyun filled Lee Taeun’s mind entirely.

If he’s gonna ignore me, why ask?

Clutching his phone the whole time, Taeun slammed the car door, swallowing his frustration. Thinking his grumbling was about his finger, his dad asked, “Does it hurt a lot?” “No!” Taeun snapped, his voice thick with irritation, and stormed to his room. I won’t reply even if he messages. Hurt and resolute, he swore to himself.

Exactly ten minutes later, his phone vibrated. Lying in bed, glaring at it, Taeun shot up and grabbed it like lightning. It wasn’t a message but a call. The caller’s name matched the one he’d been waiting for. Clearing his throat unnecessarily, Lee Taeun hit the accept button.

“Hello.”

He tried to sound calm, as if he hadn’t been waiting, even relaxing his voice to seem slightly tired. Unaware of his own effort, he didn’t notice how deliberate it was.

—You home?

A low voice settled into his ear. It was a crisp autumn day, the kind where the sky was high and hunger was sharp. They’d blamed unusual weather, but Taeun felt a heat akin to a tropical night, fanning his T-shirt collar. Did Mom turn up the boiler? He could only guess.

“Home, yeah?”

Damn it. Taeun swallowed a curse. His voice wobbled oddly, sounding comical. Sweat beaded on his forehead, as if he were standing under blazing summer sun.

—Come out for a bit.

“Huh?”

—What’s with the “huh”?

“Where are you?”

—Playground in front of your place.

“Whoa.”

—Ugh, your reactions are annoying. You coming or not?

“Wait, uh… ten minutes.”

—Hanging up.

The call cut off. Taeun froze for ten seconds, then sniffed his clothes. They reeked of incense and food from the memorial. Ten minutes was too tight for a shower.

He threw on something else and rubbed fabric softener from the utility room all over himself. An eighteen-year-old high schooler had no cologne, and his hasty ingenuity was modest but unavoidable. Ignoring his mom’s shout of “Where are you going?” he slipped into his shoes and bolted out. Waiting for the elevator from the first floor had never felt so agonizing. Taeun, irritated by the twelve floors, mashed the close button repeatedly.

“Hey!”

A tall, dark figure loomed at the playground in front of his building. Unable to hide his excitement, Taeun ran toward it. Cha Jinhyun was folded into a not-so-spacious swing.

“Eleven minutes.”

“Come on, one minute… Why’re you here?”

Taeun plopped onto the empty swing beside him. Jinhyun, lightly swaying the swing with his feet, stopped and rummaged through his pockets.

“Here. For you.”

From inside his baseball jacket, a small, square piece of plastic emerged. Beneath the case was a photo of Wonderful Sister, and above it, the members’ signatures were elegantly scrawled on a CD.

Taeun’s eyes widened as he registered the item. Unable to process its sudden appearance, he alternated between staring at the CD and Jinhyun’s face. “Not taking it?” At that, Taeun hurriedly grabbed it.

“What, what’s this, what…”

Overwhelmed, Taeun’s voice repeated the same words like a macro, proof of his shock.

“They were giving it out for a raffle. Had to go on stage to get it.”

“For real? But don’t they make you do stuff if you go up there?”

“Yeah. I danced like crazy.”

“Crazy!”

Imagining Jinhyun dancing on stage, Taeun burst into giggles.

“So funny.”

Jinhyun chuckled lightly beside the roaring Taeun.

“But you’re giving this to me?”

“You like them. What would I do with it?”

“Man, you could sell this for a lot…”

“Then sell it.”

“You nuts? I’m not selling. It’s a family heirloom now…”

Saying that, Taeun’s eyes sparkled as he clutched the CD tightly with both hands. He hugged it close.

“Th-thanks!”

Lee Taeun gave an awkward thank-you. Jinhyun just nodded without a word and dug into his pocket again. Out came a pack like those used for IV drips. What is he, a junk dealer? Taeun swallowed an amused thought as Jinhyun kept pulling out inexplicable items.

“That’s not booze, is it? Selling it to me?”

“They were selling it.”

The liquid in the pack shimmered blue. It was a common cocktail sold at university festivals. Jinhyun stuck a straw in the top, handed one to Taeun, and put the other to his lips. Taeun took it hesitantly. We’re minors… The words rose to his throat but stayed unspoken, afraid of looking foolish.

“Jinhyun, you must look old. They just gave you this…”

“Wanna die?”

Taeun sipped the blue liquid. It wasn’t harsh at all for alcohol. Recalling the bitter sting of soju he’d accidentally tried, he tilted his head and sucked the straw eagerly. It was sweeter and tastier than store-bought drinks.

“Tastes good.”

Jinhyun, also sipping through a straw, grinned and said. Taeun nodded vigorously, cheeks hollowing as he slurped. Maybe because of the drink, his heartbeat was racing.

“But this feels pretty strong. My heart’s already pounding.”

Halfway through, Taeun spat out the straw, lips pursed. His face felt hot, like it was burning up. He pressed a palm to his chest, as if checking his pulse. Watching quietly, Jinhyun’s lips curled slightly, then he ducked his head, chuckling. Turning his head sideways, he teased.

“It’s non-alcoholic.”

Taeun’s shoulders flinched. Staring at the dirt, he snapped his head up.

“What…!”

What’s that? His voice cut off unexpectedly.

The dark eyes he met head-on made his heart pound even faster through his palm. His mind went blank, forgetting what he’d meant to say. Unable to finish, Taeun closed his mouth. His face had turned as red as if he were drunk.

“What’s with you?”

In an instant, the distance between them shrank. Startled, Taeun leaned back, but his left hand, still on his chest, was already caught by Cha Jinhyun.

“You hurt?”

It’s non-alcoholic. He’d said it was non-alcoholic. Never having been drunk, Lee Taeun felt like he was drowning in liquor, unable to think straight. Afraid his racing pulse might transmit through his captured hand, he yanked it back. Suddenly, he was glad it was dark.

“Uh, just, peeling apples…”

He could feel his ears burning. In daylight, Jinhyun would’ve thought something was off. Embarrassed, Taeun kicked the swing to move it. The yellow character bandage plastered on his left thumb felt shameful, so he quickly lowered his hand.

“Cute bandage.”

At the offhand remark, a loud alarm blared in Taeun’s head, red sirens flashing. Cute. Cute. Cute… Jinhyun’s words, without a subject, echoed alongside. The echo was disorienting. Everything felt overwhelming. Taeun wanted to run. At the same time, he wanted to stay like this forever.

“C-cold. Let’s go.”

But he couldn’t sit on a playground swing forever. There was only one option left. Jumping up, Taeun was followed by Jinhyun, who stood as well. The plastic pack in his hand was already empty.

“Anyway, uh, really thanks. Yeah.”

“Where else you gonna find a friend like me? Be good to me, alright?”

Lee Taeun could only nod stiffly. With a light wave, Jinhyun turned and walked away. Taeun stood there a long time, watching his back shrink to a dot. When the figure vanished completely, Taeun’s eyes slowly dropped to the CD in his hand.

“Ah…”

With Cha Jinhyun gone, it looked like nothing more than a piece of plastic.

His head throbbed as if hit by a hammer, and his legs gave out. Collapsing, Taeun’s fingertips trembled faintly. Burying his face between his knees, he was swept by a wave of despair. The uneasy feeling that had been nagging him lately had finally sprouted, revealing itself.

It was the first day of a catastrophic unrequited love, dreamt vividly.

🔥

“Puh-choo!”

Another sneeze—he’d lost count—filled the study room and faded. A group of freshmen glanced at Taeun before quietly sliding a tissue box toward him. Hiding his embarrassment, Taeun bowed slightly in thanks. The freshman who’d offered it flinched, then bowed deeply in return, exuding a nervous energy. Taeun instinctively bowed again. The freshman shot up, bowing once more.

The sudden bowing contest drew everyone’s eyes. What are we doing? Realizing it’d never end, Taeun gave a casual smile, stopped, and grabbed a tissue to cover his nose. A week had passed since waking in the cold room with the boiler off, but the mild cold showed no signs of improving.

That jerk—if it’s too hot, just say so…

Taeun’s eyes narrowed sharply. Thinking of his tactless roommate, the past week flashed through his mind like a montage. Living with Cha Jinhyun was far rougher than expected. Exaggerating a bit, it felt like actual hell.

As promised, Jinhyun thoroughly ignored Taeun, and Lee Taeun kept climbing the solid wall between them, only to fall repeatedly. “This sucks, I’m done!” He’d swear in frustration, but the moment he got home and saw Jinhyun, he’d forget it all like a goldfish, repeating the cycle daily.

…It’s all because of that dream.

The dream from moving day had sent ripples through Taeun’s life. For starters, it made him late for the first day of classes. He didn’t hear the alarm, lost in a dream of that day he’d fallen hard for Cha Jinhyun. They say sweet things are bad for you, and it was true—dream Jinhyun was so kind, Taeun didn’t want to wake up. Returning to reality, comparing that Jinhyun to the one before him only made him gloomier.

Whatever. What’s the point of those memories now? Smacking his lips, Taeun focused on the monitor.

“Ugh, why am I so nervous?”

He muttered softly. The screen showed multiple pop-ups for course corrections. His finger on the mouse twitched anxiously, matching the blinking internet clock updating seconds.

Not a freshman, yet screwing up course registration? Spending all of February obsessing over Cha Jinhyun had clearly fried his brain. Still, come on—course names this similar are just begging to screw someone over.

The class Taeun needed was “Media Interaction,” a third-year course. But the class he’d attended days ago was mixed with all years, even some freshmen. Only then did he realize he’d signed up for “Media Interactive Basics,” a common course.

For any college student, course registration is a battlefield. The slow don’t survive, and the hesitant get left behind. Lee Taeun had moved his hands faster than his eyes could follow. Not double-checking was entirely his fault, but he couldn’t help feeling cheated.

12:59. Taeun stretched his neck toward the screen as if diving in. When the internet clock hit exactly 13:00, he logged in and clicked “Media Interaction.”

“Huh?”

He’d canceled the old class, and his credits were sufficient, but a pop-up said he couldn’t register.

“What? What’s wrong?”

<Registration is closed due to exceeding capacity.>

No matter how many times he clicked, the message didn’t change. 1:06. One last try yielded the same result. 1:09. Panic set in.

Better ask directly. He grabbed his laptop and left the study room. At the department office door down the hall, Taeun knocked lightly and turned the knob.

“Hey! Hi, noona.”

He greeted a familiar face warmly. The senior who’d been a third-year before he enlisted wasn’t joking about grad school—she was firmly planted in the TA’s seat.

“Lee Taeun, long time no see. Back from leave?”

“Yeah, you’re really a TA? That’s wild.”

Taeun felt the passage of time anew. A wistful smile crossed his face as freshman memories surfaced.

“My first year, you were always passed out drunk in the study room. Seeing you in the department office feels like you’re a different person.”

“Hey, that was years ago.”

“Time’s cruel… Me, a returnee…”

“So why’re you here?”

“Oh, right.”

Taeun, who’d naturally plopped onto the office sofa, shot up. He wasn’t there to chat. Chiding himself briefly, he stood before the TA and handed over his laptop.

“I’m trying to register for Media Interaction, but this keeps popping up. What do I do?”

“You didn’t sign up for it? Why not?”

“Well, I got confused with another class and registered wrong… It says it’s over capacity. Don’t they usually open more spots during corrections?”

Popular or mandatory courses often faced this. With limited spots and high demand, some got left out. But extra seats were usually added, so Taeun thought the department could fix it easily.

“Hmm, that’s tricky. They said no more capacity increases for this one…”

“…What?”

Taeun blinked, waiting for a different answer. But the TA only sighed sympathetically, muttering, “What to do…”

“With so many third-years returning, they already added more classes, but they said one or two might still miss out. I didn’t think it’d be you…”

“So, what do I do? If it’s just one or two, can’t they let me in?”

“It’s up to the professor, not me. They only had one class originally, but after students kept asking, they added more. They were firm about no further increases.”

“Then… then…”

“Guess you’ll take it in fourth year… or something.”

But I’ll be swamped with my grad project then. Taeun’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

There wasn’t even a guarantee he’d get it as a fourth-year. His school prioritized each year’s classes for that year’s students. If third-years filled it up, he could be left out again next year.

“What if I can’t take it then either?”

“You won’t graduate, I guess.”

Dizzy, Taeun swayed briefly. Fourth year wasn’t called the killer year for nothing. Even if he got lucky next year, juggling a grad exhibition with a third-year requirement? Absurd. He had to get in this time, no matter what. After wavering, Taeun chose the direct approach.

“Noona… can you give me the professor’s contact info?”

He prayed the Media Interaction professor was a magnanimous soul full of compassion.

🔥

To his relief, it resolved more easily than expected.

Lee Taeun walked slowly, eyeing his corrected schedule. “Media Interactive Basics,” which had occupied Wednesday mornings, was gone, replaced by “Media Interaction” on Monday mornings. He’d hoped for afternoons, but the professor was firm. There’ll always be dropouts Monday morning, so there’s room, they’d said, oddly convincing. Taeun just hoped he wouldn’t be one of those dropouts.

All’s well that ends well. There was a slight condition, but the professor had personally accepted him. Was it really a condition? Isn’t this usually called an opportunity? Thinking that, Taeun glanced at another paper beneath the schedule. …New club member recruitment, design division. His phone buzzed as he read that far. The screen showed “Design Dept. Park Kiwon.”

“Yeah.”

Taeun answered in a flat tone. Park Kiwon, a friend since freshman year, had taken leave and returned the same time as Taeun, so they’d likely stick together all semester.

—Where you at?

“Heading home.”

—Already? Don’t bail today. Sojin-noona’s coming too.

For a week, Taeun had dodged friends’ invitations to drink, citing his cold with a convincing sniffle. But after a week, they weren’t buying it anymore. Normally, Taeun would’ve jumped at the chance to hit the bars, but not now. He headed straight home after classes, and there was a reason for it.

“Uhmm…”

Cha Jinhyun, who locked himself in his room at home, was hard to catch a glimpse of. To see him even for a few seconds, Taeun had to get home first, sit on the sofa, and wait for the moment Jinhyun walked from the entrance to his room. It was pathetic, scheming just to see his face, but stealing a glance at that clean look made it… worth it, sort of.

—This guy’s trying to ditch again. Your place is like two steps away.

—Yeah, come out! Lee Taeun, you traitor!

Before Taeun could reply, a shrill voice chimed in. Only one person he knew could sound drunk without a drop—Kim Hyoju.

“Kim Hyoju’s there?”

—Yeah, she’s here, why? You said when we’re back, we’d lick the asphalt together, huh? For a whole week, huh?

Though Kiwon was the caller, Hyoju had snatched the phone and rapid-fired at Taeun like a rapper.

Lick the asphalt… He’d said something like that, hadn’t he? A year ago, maybe. On leave, drinking with Hyoju and Kiwon until they nearly licked the bar table. “Next time, let’s hit the school asphalt!” Hyoju had loved it. That she still remembered meant she’d taken the joke seriously.

Should I go today? He was mulling it over. Nearing home with slow steps, he spotted Cha Jinhyun across the alley. Jinhyun stood in the smoking area by the building entrance, puffing on a cigarette. Taeun stopped without thinking.

—Yo, you ghosting?

Hyoju’s sharp voice blared from the phone. Taeun pulled it slightly from his ear, wincing. As he hesitated, his eyes locked with Jinhyun’s. He sucked in a breath.

“Cough, cough!”

A perfectly timed cough burst out.

Damn, embarrassing. Unable to look away, Taeun stood awkwardly, hacking dryly. Jinhyun stared at him, taking a drag. With one hand in his pocket, smoking casually, he looked to Taeun like a cinematic scene, effortlessly cool.

What’s this?

Clearing his throat, Lee Taeun thought.

For days, Cha Jinhyun had ignored him like gum on a shoe, but today, he seemed to acknowledge Taeun’s existence head-on. A strange hope swelled inside. Maybe, after a week, Jinhyun thought completely ignoring him was too harsh.

Then it happened. As if to greet him, Jinhyun slowly raised his hand from his pocket. Taeun’s hope turned to certainty. Really? For real? It’d be their first greeting since moving day. Taeun’s face lit up despite himself. Before Jinhyun fully extended his palm, Taeun shyly raised his hand and waved. Looked like he’d skip drinks today too.

“Hyoju, I think my cold’s not gone…”

As he said that to a shouting Hyoju, Jinhyun switched the cigarette to his raised hand and took a deep drag. No greeting, not even close. A sneer curled the corner of his mouth, biting the white stick.

“…”

Tossing the short cigarette into the ashtray, he headed for the entrance. He brushed his hands as if touching something dirty. His eyes, once on Taeun, were now glued to his phone. Tapping it, he entered the building’s code and disappeared inside.

Taeun’s right hand, awkwardly waving near his chest, curled inward like a wilted fern and slowly dropped. His softened expression hardened.

—Yo, your cold…

“…Guess I’ll disinfect with booze. Where we going?”

He did that on purpose.

Taeun’s grip on the phone tightened. Embarrassment and anger swirled, making his body tremble.

—You know Daebak Pub at the back gate? We’re at the student union now, wanna head there in an hour? What’s up?

Oblivious to his turmoil, Hyoju chattered excitedly. Only faint smoke lingered where Jinhyun had stood. Taeun stared at it.

“Nah. Let’s go now. I’m drinking hard tonight.”

—This guy’s finally snapped out of it. Let’s hook up an IV tonight!

Hearing Hyoju’s cheers, Taeun ground his teeth.

🔥

Located at the back gate, “Daebak Pub” was a sizable bar. It was lively from early evening, with tables mostly packed with groups. March was especially busy. Thus, smaller groups took seats on the edges or deeper inside to avoid the noise—an unwritten rule of the place.

“Arghhh!”

But today was different. Taeun let out a bizarre yell, raising his glass…

“Argh!”

Kim Hyoju clinked hers against it, as if waiting for the cue.

“Crazy bastards…”

“What? It’s hilarious.”

Including Lee Taeun, the four of them sat at a round table in the center of the pub. Just four, but their noise rivaled the group tables. To be precise, two were howling, while the other two watched with pity, humoring them. One of the howlers was Taeun; Hyoju was just having a blast.

Taeun slammed back a glass of soju filled to the brim. Not to be outdone, Hyoju downed two in a row. Park Kiwon, across from them, shuddered as if witnessing a horror show.

“Hyoju’s still a tank, but what’s with Lee Taeun?”

“He’s got a cold, apparently.”

Jung Sojin, fishing fish cakes from a bubbling pot, pointed at Taeun with her skewer and asked. While Hyoju was busy refilling her empty glass, Kiwon answered.

“Does a cold fry your brain now…?”

Sojin muttered, chewing her fish cake.

Two years their senior, Sojin had bonded with them as freshmen through student council. Their close connection persisted because she’d delayed graduation, sticking around school. On his first day back, Taeun had pointed at Sojin in the study room, asking why she hadn’t graduated yet, and nearly got his finger snapped.

“Hey, Lee Taeun. Something up? Why’re you chugging without a word?”

“Yeah, Lee Taeun. Noona’s asking you.”

A bare skewer poked Taeun’s shoulder. He flinched, twisting away, his movements listless like a sick chicken.

“Mind your own business.”

Taeun poured soju into his glass with a chugging sound, responding curtly.

His tone, like that of a grumpy old man, carried a faint edge of irritation. As he moved to down the brimming glass, Kim Hyoju grabbed his wrist from the side.

“Hey, drink alone, and you’ll be single for three years.”

It was just a playful drinking game rule. But Taeun’s hand, hovering near his lips, froze with a flicker of fear. Pausing, he waited with a serious expression until Hyoju filled her glass.

“What’s he doing?”

Jung Sojin, baffled by the scene, nudged Park Kiwon. Kiwon just shook his head.

Finally clinking glasses and drinking, Taeun’s face was dead earnest. Three years? In his current state, three years was nothing—he might end up a bachelor ghost wandering the earth for three hundred.

“…Taeun, did you get dumped?”

“Pfft!”

As he swallowed the entire glass, Sojin’s blunt remark caught the soju in Taeun’s throat. Cough, cough! The sharp alcohol fumes flooded his nose, making him hack violently. The burning sensation forced his lips apart, and soju dribbled down his chin.

“That’s disgusting!”

Kiwon freaked out, yanking tissues and tossing them at him.

“Man, you’re so obvious…”

“Pfft, cough! What… Noona, you stalking me?”

“What? Who waits like that just to drink? I was just testing you, dummy.”

Her point was annoyingly valid, and Taeun’s face flushed. He rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand to cool off.

“So, is that the answer?”

“Huh?”

Taeun couldn’t reply right away, echoing her question.

“Did you get dumped?”

“…”

Half right, half wrong, maybe? He couldn’t easily deny it, probably because his situation was more unsettling than simply being dumped.

“Taeun, you got dumped?”

“What?”

Kim Hyoju, who’d been clutching her sides laughing at the juicy topic, suddenly butted in. Flustered, Taeun let out the same dumb sound as before.

“So that’s why you caught a cold…”

Before he could respond, Kiwon, who’d been watching, joined in.

“Begging outside all night? Crying and clinging?”

“Taeun…”

Before he could clarify, their assumptions solidified into fact. Each tossing in a comment, the three looked at Taeun with pity, patting his shoulder.

“Crazy, I didn’t get dumped!”

If he confessed, he’d probably get rejected on the spot. But he hadn’t been dumped yet. If he had, he wouldn’t feel this wronged.

“Really? Not dumped?”

“Goddamn it, I said no!”

As Taeun huffed and refilled his glass, Sojin subtly signaled to the other two, excluding him. Kiwon and Hyoju nodded discreetly.

“So you dumped someone?”

“That’s not it either. Seriously, why do you keep pushing?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop. Taeun, try this. It’s amazing.”

Sojin slid the corn cheese from her side to the center, lightly patting Taeun’s shoulder. Still wary, Taeun, who’d been snorting boozy breaths, grabbed a spoon. Wronged or not, he wasn’t passing up corn cheese.

“While you were gone, this place became the corn cheese spot. Good, right?”

“Whoa, really. It’s different from before, isn’t it?”

The creases between Taeun’s furrowed brows smoothed out. His eyes darted between the corn cheese and Sojin, then he gave a thumbs-up. They say good food lifts your mood, but for Lee Taeun, it worked at record speed.

“The owner changed a while back. Must’ve tweaked the recipe. Tastes great, huh?”

“Totally. Feels like they’re giving more too.”

“That’s why it’s busier now. Does they like corn cheese? You love it, don’t you?”

“They don’t really go for greasy stuff.”

“Your tastes are pretty different, then?”

“I eat anything, but that jerk’s so picky…”

Chewing corn kernels eagerly, Taeun froze mid-spoon, clamping his mouth shut. Looking up, he caught Sojin’s faint smile.

“Noona…!”

He finally realized what his blabbering mouth had let slip. Yelping, he triggered Kiwon and Hyoju, who’d been watching quietly, to burst into giggles.

“Lee Taeun, you’re tougher than you look. Calling your crush ‘that jerk’?”

“No, I…”

Unable to deny or confirm, Taeun just ruffled his hair frantically. Hyoju, who’d been biting her lip, jumped in as if waiting for it.

“What’s with ‘that jerk’? No wonder you got dumped. Girls hate that macho crap…”

Her helicopter-blade chatter stopped abruptly. Kiwon and Sojin stared at her, puzzled, then simultaneously let out an “Ah” as realization hit.

“Wait, hold on.”

“…”

“That jerk?”

Hyoju’s eyes gleamed like a comic book detective’s. Only then did Taeun catch the real question hidden in her words, which he’d missed until now.

Avoiding her gaze, he looked away. Hyoju always got sharp at the worst times, putting him on the spot. Just let it go… He just wanted to get drunk. He didn’t want to suffer here too.

“You mean that guy from back then?”

But Hyoju had no mercy. Her piercing fastball made Taeun’s shoulders flinch.

“Who… who’re you talking about?”

His awkward tone confirmed it for Hyoju. Bingo.

None of the four, including Taeun, questioned who “that guy from back then” was. The moment Hyoju said it, they all got it. Still, it was hard to believe. It’d been years.

“Hey.”

Unable to stand the suspense, Hyoju called out again. Lee Taeun scraped at the corn cheese stuck to the dish, making an unpleasant sound. He didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to say it, yet a strange urge to spill it all clashed like spear and shield inside him.

“…I told you I’m living on my own.”

Whether spear or shield won, one prevailed. After venting on the innocent dish, Taeun quietly spoke. Despite downing half a bottle of soju, he was still lucid.

The table’s topic had solidified into “Lee Taeun’s someone.” Hiding it now was pointless and futile. Smacking his dry lips, Taeun chose his words carefully.

“My roommate’s Cha Jinhyun…”

Trailing off, his voice was drowned out by the three gasping, jaws dropping. It wasn’t an overreaction.

“…So, you still like him?”

Frustrated by Taeun’s vague dodging, Sojin cut to the chase. Even she looked incredulous at her own question.

“Somehow, it just happened…”

About three years ago, when Taeun’s confession got brutally ignored. Back then, he was drunk more days than sober, and in that state, he came out to these three.

After hearing his long unrequited love saga, their reactions were much like now. They were more shocked that Lee Taeun had loved one person for years than that he liked a guy.

“…Did you get properly dumped this time?”

Following Hyoju, Sojin threw another fastball. These people never minced words.

“No, I didn’t get dumped. I haven’t even confessed, so how could I?”

“So not dumped. After all that mess back then, you still like him, get butterflies, and seeing him again feels bittersweet. That kind of thing?”

Even though he’d braced himself to share, having his feelings laid bare stung. Hesitating, Taeun stuffed his mouth with corn cheese and nodded slowly. Sigh… His nod triggered groans from all sides.

“Damn, that’s intense…”

“Hey, pure love’s out of style these days, isn’t it?”

Taeun chewed through the jeers, focusing on the corn cheese. Three years ago, he’d boldly sworn to forget, yet here he was. He got it—they’d be baffled. Even he was.

But despite that vow, Taeun had never fully erased Cha Jinhyun. During military service, he’d stalked Jinhyun’s SNS, accidentally liked a post, and deactivated his account out of shame. He’d never told anyone that, too embarrassed.

“Did I… did I do something that wrong?”

The soju he’d chugged was finally hitting, and Taeun felt a slight buzz. His mumbling voice was damp.

“Yeah, did I… do something that shitty? Fuck, he ignored my confession. Noona, say something. You’ve lived the longest here. Share some life wisdom… What do I do?”

Riding the buzz, Lee Taeun dug deeper. Suddenly cast as wise King Solomon, Sojin soothed him and ordered more corn cheese. To give advice, she needed the full story.

“What the hell happened to make you like this?”

At her concerned tone, Taeun’s face crumpled. Like a mutt whose bowl was snatched, grievance layered his expression. Inside, emotions surged like a tidal wave, crashing against a jagged cliff, swirling into a sorrowful vortex.

“That crazy bastard…”

Starting with a heated pronoun, Lee Taeun began recounting the past week.

🔥

A week ago, the second day of living together.

When Cha Jinhyun added that absurd house rule, Taeun had been somewhat complacent. No personal interactions whatsoever? How could that work when they lived together?

Jinhyun tended to go to extremes when angry, and Taeun figured this was just one of those. Plus, he felt obliged to sincerely appease him. After all, in this broken relationship, Lee Taeun was the offender.

That morning, the boiler spat had soured his mood, but by midday, it melted away like springtime, as if it’d never happened. Lee Taeun was that kind of guy. He’d burn with revenge, plotting how to screw over someone rude, only to think, Eh, I feel better now… Whatever, they’ll crash on their own. His grudges lasted three hours tops. In a way, life was never complicated for him.

Let’s be as good to him as possible. Just don’t let my feelings slip. Sniffling, Taeun resolved as he headed home.

“Jin, hyun-ah.”

Opening the front door, he playfully ran into Cha Jinhyun. Fresh from a shower, Jinhyun’s black hair was damp and flattened. Meeting his indifferent eyes between clumps of wet hair, Taeun called his name without thinking. It’d been years.

“Have you eaten din—”

Bang.

The door shut faster than Taeun’s words.

It wasn’t the angry slam from the first day, but for Taeun, it was just as bad.

“Whoa…”

Cleanly ignored, Taeun rubbed the plastic bag in his hand, calming himself. I messed up… Can’t help it… I don’t get to be mad here! Taking deep breaths, Lee Taeun hypnotized himself.

Knocking wouldn’t get the door opened. Taeun crept to Jinhyun’s door, grabbing the knob. Hot breath escaped his lips. Okay, go back in and ask to eat together…

“…”

That was… the plan.

Click. The knob wouldn’t turn, locked. Shaking it up and down didn’t help. Clunk, clunk. The firmly shut door felt like a final blow.

“Hey!”

Unable to hold back, Taeun shouted. No response came. He kicked the door instead of yanking the knob.

“Hey! I asked if you ate dinner!”

Nothing. Grabbing the knob again, a sweet saxophone melody floated to his ears. Get lost. Blasting jazz from inside answered for Cha Jinhyun.

“Ha, ha…! Fine, I bought your favorite low-fat, oven-baked chicken ‘cause I felt bad, okay? Was gonna give it to you!”

That was the extent of Lee Taeun’s idea of “being nice.” Had Sojin and the others known, they’d have suggested something else, but they didn’t, so it was a moot point.

“If you don’t come out, I’m eating it alone…! Don’t regret it!”

Taeun deliberately rustled the plastic bag loudly. It was a pathetic scene, but it didn’t draw Jinhyun out.

“Man, this is good.”

At the dining table behind, Taeun slammed the chicken down, tore off the wrapper, and bit into a piece. His mumbling lips let out a forlorn voice.

“Tastes even better with your favorite grapefruit soda…!”

Bullshit. The sour grapefruit tang with dry chicken was not Taeun’s thing. He was all about greasy fried chicken skin with cola. Chewing a second piece like rubber tires, his face soured.

“I’m really eating it all…!”

His desperate cry only made the music louder. Until Taeun finished the whole chicken, Jinhyun remained indifferent and unresponsive.

A sad chicken night. The second day of cohabitation.

At least then, Lee Taeun could rationalize it. Okay, we just reunited, so he’s still pissed. I was too eager. Patting his full stomach in bed, he shook off defeat quickly. Warm and fed, sleep came, and Taeun closed his eyes, banking on tomorrow.

🔥

The next day.

Both had morning classes. Around the fifth alarm, Taeun groggily woke and bolted to the bathroom. Thirty minutes until class. Jinhyun must’ve showered earlier—steam fogged the mirror.

Taeun rushed through washing, threw on clothes and a bag, and dried his hair. Fifteen minutes. A brisk walk to the arts building could just avoid tardiness. Drying only his roots, he turned off the dryer as Jinhyun slipped on shoes and left. Taeun hurried after, catching the elevator door closing over Jinhyun’s neat figure.

“Hey, wait a sec…!”

His earnest plea didn’t stop the elevator’s descent. That crazy jerk! Cursing, Taeun raced down the stairs.

🔥

The day after that.

Ignoring the previous day’s humiliation, Lee Taeun bought a ton of 500mL beer cans. Honest talks needed booze. Jinhyun might live like others didn’t exist, but Lee Taeun couldn’t. Beyond liking him or not, this life would suffocate him.

Home, Taeun flung open Jinhyun’s door without a word, quick to prevent locking.

“Let’s talk!”

Spending 20,000 won on imported beers—four for 10,000—he shouted boldly.

“Sure. Talking’s good.”

Surprisingly, Cha Jinhyun responded as if waiting. Excited, Taeun entered, plopping on the bed. Thrusting the bag forward, Jinhyun took a can.

“Why’d you ghost me?”

“Uh…”

Taeun was kicked out with seven cans.

🔥

And yesterday.

Undeterred, Lee Taeun knocked on Jinhyun’s door again. No hesitation now. Getting no response, he pounded harder with his fist. Bang, bang, bang! The shaking door suddenly swung inward.

“You insane?”

An annoyed voice slipped through the half-open gap. Not liking it, Taeun pushed the door wide. Jinhyun stepped back, exhaling a ha.

“Can’t you just… let it go?”

“What.”

“I… I’m sorry. For ignoring you like that. I’m sorry, so… can’t we just get along?”

The past few days’ grievances spilled chaotically from Taeun’s lips. Handsome Cha Jinhyun, playful Cha Jinhyun, oven-baked-chicken-loving Cha Jinhyun. Taeun thought he knew countless versions of him, but not the one who completely ignored him. That hurt. More than ever.

“Still no plans to say why, huh.”

Despite Taeun’s heartbroken face, Jinhyun’s response was flat. Leaning against the doorframe, he looked down at him. Their height difference stood out up close.

“Do you have to hear it to get over it?”

“Oh, so there is a reason?”

Unlike the agitated Taeun, the unshaken Jinhyun pinpointed the truth in his frantic words.

“I’m not asking for much. Just give me a reason I can accept. Is that so hard? Let me ask—why’re you being so stubborn?”

He wasn’t wrong. Taeun clamped his mouth shut, eyes glaring. Being pressed for an unspeakable answer felt more humiliating than expected.

I know I screwed up, was clumsy, rushed. He knew it painfully well, but his heart couldn’t keep up with reality. Taeun’s emotions always led. That’s why he fell for someone out of reach, confessed, and ran. Impulse struck without warning, and he always struggled to tame it.

“What do you wanna hear? Tell me. I’ll say it. My phone broke, I was in a bad mood, you just annoyed me. That good enough?”

Pressing down a trembling voice, he feigned calm. If I told the real reason, would you accept it? No. Taeun was certain he wouldn’t.

The truth Jinhyun wanted would lead to an even worse ending. So this was the only way—reciting what he wanted like a programmed AI. His tone was sarcastic, but it was sincere.

The air felt frozen. In the brief silence, only Taeun’s choked breaths filled the gaps.

“I’ll take it as you’ve got nothing to say.”

But only Lee Taeun was heartbroken. The one who held his heart seemed unmoved. Jinhyun, slouched, uncrossed his arms, went inside, and shut the door. Taeun stood blankly before it. Another failure. He felt lost in a maze he’d walked into himself.

“Oh, and.”

Then, as Taeun wrestled his churning emotions, Cha Jinhyun reappeared with a short sigh. Startled, Taeun’s heated eyes widened, tensing up.

He couldn’t hide his reddened eyes or hold back the tears welling up. His teary face was fully exposed. Jinhyun, not expecting it, paused briefly.

“…You don’t seem to get what ‘rules’ mean, so I figured I’d add a clause.”

Flustered but not softened, he spoke a beat slower.

What now, more of that shitty rule talk? Taeun’s rigid body sagged with hollow disappointment.

“Some people only follow rules with enforcement. I forgot you’re one of them. Been a while.”

What bullshit. Lee Taeun retorted inwardly. His emotions were still raw. Jinhyun didn’t seem to expect a reply, walking past to the living room. In his hand was crisp paper. Chore Schedule and House Rules. The flimsy sheet on the front door was covered by a new one.

‘Violations incur a 10,000 won fine, accumulating per infraction.’

Reading the new clause, Taeun muttered in disbelief.

“Crazy bastard…”

“You’re one to talk.”

Jinhyun just smirked.

“Follow it this time. I’m getting seriously pissed.”

Maintaining his emotionless facade, Jinhyun disappeared into his room.

“…”

Only then did Taeun fully recall what kind of person Cha Jinhyun was. A guy with zero tolerance for those outside his circle. Until three years ago, Lee Taeun was deep inside that circle, he’d thought.

Now, it was all pointless.

🔥

“But that crazy jerk, you know what he did? He pretended to wave, then just… switched his cigarette… Made me look like an idiot, that bastard…”

And today.

Recounting the week’s events at length, Taeun chugged soju after every sentence. When he got to the fine part, he started blowing on the bottle like a trumpet.

“Hey, hey! Stop drinking. You’ll wreck your stomach.”

“Come on, noona. Tomorrow’s free, so who cares? I’m really upset…”

“Let him be. He’s already gone.”

“I’m not! I’m fine.”

Taeun, struggling to scoop broth with chopsticks, protested. Kiwon swapped them for a spoon.

The three listeners split sharply. Sojin sided with Jinhyun, Hyoju backed Taeun, saying, What’s friendship for? Kiwon stayed silent, so Hyoju called him a cowardly neutral, pointing accusingly.

“Anyway, from his view, it’s understandable to be mad. You ghosted him out of nowhere, won’t say why, and just ask to move on? I’d be pissed too.”

Sojin’s specialty was sizing things up and hitting hard with truth. She’d verbally skinned dozens. Stripping away personal baggage, what remained was a rude Lee Taeun and an inexplicably ignored Cha Jinhyun.

“Y-yeah… I know, but…”

“Hey, unnie! That’s harsh. You saw how he was back then. Our boy! Madly! In love!”

Banging the table with her spoon, Hyoju overzealously defended Taeun. Her sudden love talk drew stares. She looked drunk, but Hyoju’s liver wasn’t weak enough to fold after a few bottles. In truth, she was the soberest of the four.

“Love…”

Muttering the word Hyoju tossed out, Taeun’s ears reddened. Sigh. Sojin, facing him, let out another incredulous scoff.

“Anyway… that’s the deal. And Lee Taeun, you clearly haven’t moved on, so isn’t this kinda good? If things stayed as they were, you’d have no contact. Now you’ve got an excuse to see him.”

“Exactly. It’s a chance, man. Know why you can’t let go? ‘Cause you’ve done nothing. You gotta do something to move on.”

Hyoju’s spoon pointed at Taeun. Done nothing? Taeun felt wronged.

“I confessed…”

“So what? He didn’t even know it was a confession.”

Sojin nailed the truth again. That noona, always… Taeun shook his head in his blurry vision and grabbed his glass.

“Just seduce him already.”

Pfft. Like at the start, Taeun dribbled the soju in his mouth. Kiwon, now resigned, dabbed a rag on his chin. Seduce? Cha Jinhyun? It was funny to imagine, but no laugh came.

“He doesn’t like guys.”

“How do you know?”

“Just… looks like he’d like girls.”

Was it praise or shade? Sojin, who’d never seen “Cha Jinhyun,” pieced together a vague image from Taeun’s stories.

From what she gathered, he was an inflexible hardass, with strong likes and dislikes, always settling scores, yet somehow blessed with looks and background, gliding through life. What… No one would guess that was a crush from the description alone.

“Why’d you fall for him?”

“…He’s hot.”

Lee Taeun answered instantly, voice drooping.

“Wow… That’s it? If I find someone hotter, you’d get over him?”

“No one’s hotter than him…”

That alone proved looks weren’t the only reason. Looks were the prelims. Among everyone Taeun met, Cha Jinhyun aced them with flying colors.

“That’s really it?”

At the repeated question, Taeun’s face crumpled slightly. Hmm. Like an old man recalling distant days, he sifted through the past. Among countless memories, the first was that dream from a while back.

“Can’t say exactly when. Uh… there was a day I couldn’t hang with friends ‘cause of my grandpa’s memorial. I was so hyped but couldn’t go… Felt awful all day, and my friends just teased me. Then he texted. Asked when I’d be home.”

His soju-soaked tongue slowly dredged up the past. Even Kiwon, sitting impassively, leaned toward Taeun with interest.

“Fuck… thinking back, that text totally threw me off… Anyway, that night, he showed up at my place. We were supposed to hit a university festival, and I was obsessed with Wonderful Sister, right? He got a signed Primitive CD and brought it to me. At night! On purpose… And some non-alcoholic cocktail… He bought it, and we shared… Honestly, who wouldn’t fall for that? Am I easy…?”

“No, no way.” Hyoju chimed in as Taeun trailed off.

“But… that’s just him. He’s super attentive to people he cares about, but everyone else? Doesn’t give a shit. Back in school, he got called an asshole the most. But he wasn’t like that with me… So I thought I was special… and ended up like this.”

A wave of nausea surged from his gut. Too much booze? As he thought that, Hyoju yelled, “Hey, don’t cry!” and scrubbed his face with the strewn rag. The fishy stench nearly made him puke.

“A week later, he got a girlfriend. That’s when I knew. Fuck… I was nothing! Of course… who am I to him…”

Pushing down the urge to retch, Taeun finished with a hiccup. Once started, his mouth spilled all the pent-up grievances freely. It was a backstory even these three hadn’t heard three years ago.

“He… messed up.”

Sojin, who’d sided with Jinhyun, offered a brief comment. Hyoju nodded beside her.

“Noona… should I cut it off? If this was gone, maybe he’d be less weirded out? You said to seduce him…”

The three’s faces froze in shock, but Lee Taeun, unfazed, reached between his legs. This stupid thing… Muttering, his hand was grabbed urgently by Kiwon.

“You nuts?”

Genuinely alarmed, Kiwon yanked his hand away. Taeun’s talk of cutting it off seemed sincere—he fought to reach down despite being restrained, dropping his head and mumbling.

“Let go, fuck. It’s useless anyway…”

In the sudden arm-wrestling match, Sojin hurriedly tried to defuse things.

“Taeun, you’re decent-looking, okay? Cute face, tall too.”

It was to cheer up a Taeun whose confidence had been crushed by long unrequited love. Not entirely a lie, and in this mess, boosting his morale seemed priority.

“Unnie, nah. What’s tall about him?”

Hyoju didn’t help. Sojin hissed, signaling with her eyes.

“He’s like third tallest in our department.”

“That’s ‘cause our department’s full of short losers.”

Kiwon, the tallest, nodded, “True.”

These guys… Jung Sojin suddenly felt a headache coming on, pressing her forehead lightly as she observed Taeun. He was still staring at his “useless dick.” His expression seemed to ponder, How do I get rid of this… Even though it wasn’t her own genitals, Sojin felt a surge of anxiety.

“Still, huh? Lee Taeun, you’re pretty popular. The freshmen were super curious about you. Asking who that senior was.”

It was meant to cheer him up, but it was true. Rumors about the handsome returning student, often overheard in the department lounge or hallways, were all about Lee Taeun.

“Huh? Taeun, you’re totally fine.”

“I’m fine?”

“Yeah, so please stop staring at your dick.”

“I’ve got potential?”

Just moments ago, he’d been wallowing in sadness, rubbing his face with a rag, but now he was asking about his potential. The guy who’d whimpered, “He doesn’t like guys…” with a soggy voice seemed to have forgotten everything he’d said.

“You gotta make it happen even if you don’t have it. You can’t give up anyway, right?”

Make it happen? Taeun, struggling to focus through his drunken haze, retorted, “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sojin patted his head with a bittersweet touch. This pitiful, clueless guy would clearly pine away forever, squawking about his unrequited love until he died. His tombstone might even read, “An old man who loved Cha Jinhyun for about 70 years…”

It was obvious Lee Taeun needed a coaching team to guide him right now. And Jung Sojin was more than willing to play the passionate shonen manga coach for her tactless junior.

“Lee Taeun. Do you want him or not? Say it straight.”

Sojin slammed the table with a bang! and demanded. Chugging drinks in rhythm had gotten her tipsy too.

“I-I want him.”

“Louder!”

“I want him!”

Mimicking a drill sergeant, Taeun hiccuped but answered dutifully. Satisfied, Sojin grinned.

“It starts with talking, talking. He’s mad now, but if you approach him humbly, he won’t completely shut you out. Open the door to conversation first. Don’t lose your temper like yesterday.”

“Talking…”

“Do something while you’re at it, right? I’ll help. People are all the same.”

Half understood, half didn’t. Lee Taeun’s head spun, so he nodded faintly. Seeing his agreement, Sojin barked, “Report regularly!” and posted a notice in their group chat.

<Lee Taeun must talk to ‘that jerk’ once a day and report back.>

Taeun kept rereading this notice on his way home, over and over.

Walking slowly under the stretched glow of streetlights, he let out a deep haa sigh. He’d gone drinking to forget his troubles, but somehow, he’d come back with homework.

How was he supposed to talk to a guy who locked the door and shut him out before he could even open his mouth? Grumbling, Taeun recalled Sojin’s advice piece by piece.

“Approach humbly, make opportunities for conversation…”

Basically, just try to say something, right? Hoping his interpretation matched Sojin’s intent, Taeun paused his steps. His flushed, boozy face furrowed like a monk wrestling with deep thoughts. Standing under the yellow streetlight, he mulled for a moment before clenching his fist, as if resolving something.

Soon, Taeun’s steps turned back toward a 24-hour convenience store. His destination: the ATM. His alcohol-soaked gait wobbled precariously toward it.