A Scorching Day Chapter 24

He parked the bike in the alley that had become familiar over the past few days and made a call. Before the ringing tone could even finish once, the call connected.

—You, you… you didn’t actually come, did you?

It was a dumbfounded tone. The tears that had been so thoroughly soaked into his voice just moments ago were gone now. That alone made the trip here worthwhile.

“Yeah. Can you come out for a bit?”

—You’re serious…! I, I sent you a message telling you not to come!

“Really? I didn’t see it. Anyway, take your time coming out!”

He hung up nonchalantly and opened the messenger. Just as Gawon had said, there were messages full of dissuasion. What time do you think it is, the taxi fare will be expensive, it’s okay so you don’t have to come….

Ki Joon chuckled and put his phone in his pocket. The door to Yoon Gawon’s house soon opened with a creak.

“Ki Joon.”

How quickly had he rushed out that he came wearing such thin clothes. Ki Joon furrowed his brow slightly. No matter that the season was spring, the early morning air was still chilly.

The shabby training pants with knees sticking out, and beneath them, defenselessly exposed straight, slender ankles. His feet, shoved into slippers, were pale and small. Ki Joon took in the sight of Gawon rushing toward him breathlessly, then took off his jacket and draped it over Gawon’s body as soon as he stopped.

“What… what are you doing.”

“In case you’re cold.”

“…I’m fine.”

Those round, wide eyes were adorable. It was only natural given the difference in their builds, but dressed in his clothes, Gawon looked exactly like a child wearing an adult’s outfit. If he told him honestly, Yoon Gawon wouldn’t stay still. He’d probably refuse to wear it and hand it right back.

“Gawon-ah.”

“…Yeah.”

“Why were you crying.”

He reached out and gently touched Gawon’s eye area. It was dry and neat now, but his eyes were red and puffy.

The gaze that had been neatly directed toward him trembled for an instant. Gawon lowered his eyes and subtly avoided Ki Joon’s touch. Then he slowly shook his head and forced a smile.

“…It’s nothing.”

“Yeah.”

“…No. I just ended up making you worry… for nothing. Making you come all the way here.”

Just when it seemed he might open up, he shuts himself tight; just when he hesitantly takes one step closer, he gets scared and steps two steps back.

But Ki Joon didn’t find this side of Gawon frustrating. He could understand. Because they were of the same kind. Because their way of dealing with the world was the same. It was just that their methods of expression were different. He himself, who acted friendly with everyone but couldn’t truly trust anyone, and Yoon Gawon, who couldn’t easily open his heart—in the end, they were the same.

He was the only one who could understand Yoon Gawon, who was like himself. Likewise, the only one who could pinpoint his nightmare and gently soothe him was Yoon Gawon.

“Gawon-ah.”

The low call spread through the still early morning air. Gawon’s eyes, which had been avoiding him, were now facing him again.

Gawon, who looked straight at him just for having his name called once, was beautiful. Ki Joon liked that Gawon.

“You told me earlier. That I could call you anytime I had a nightmare.”

“…Yeah.”

“You call me too.”

“…”

“When you need me, tell me anytime. I’ll come running like this every time.”

He meant it. If this kid needed him, Ki Joon was confident he would cut through the early morning air and come to this alley again and again.

Because Gawon had been the one to break his nightmare first. Because he’d said he could call if he had that dream again. Because he’d gently soothed the young, powerless version of him, saying it must have been scary.

“…Anytime?”

“Yeah. Anytime.”

Gawon dropped his gaze again. His lips, glowing white in the moonlight, twitched, struggling to form words.

“Still… is it really okay to do that.”

It was the answer he finally gave after a long while. Hearing that faintly mumbled voice made him feel strange. The edges of his heart were being soaked by something, growing soft. The wick of his heart was melting away.

“Of course it is.”

So Ki Joon deliberately spoke in a firmer voice. And he grinned. He wanted to make this kid smile. He wanted Yoon Gawon to regain his spunky, confident attitude, like when he used to scold Ki Joon for teasing him at school. Not asking him with such an unsure voice.

“Then, I.”

“Yeah.”

“Just for a little while… even just a little while is fine.”

Gawon’s eyes, which had been dry and composed, flushed red. The wave that had seemed to subside for a moment rose again in his voice. Gawon finally bowed his head deeply.

“…Let me lean on you.”

One step, Gawon came closer. His dejectedly lowered crown was visible. Ki Joon’s large hand wrapped around his small back. Then he carefully pulled in and embraced Yoon Gawon’s body, gritting his teeth and suppressing his sorrow.

“Come here.”

The pale white forehead touched his chest. The weight was so light that Ki Joon bit his lips.

Soon, the frail shoulders trembled faintly. He patted the back, so thin that bones could be felt, with extreme care. He could feel Gawon’s breath as he cried silently, holding it in. Because that kid was hurting, he ached too.

Now, only Gawon’s pain was vividly visible before Ki Joon’s eyes. The nightmare that had stuck in his head for days after he had it, tormenting him, had long since flown away. Ki Joon held the small body trembling and crying in his arms for as long as it took.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Okay, so, what is the correct explanation for (a). Let’s look at this problem together… Number 1, ‘The speaker’s negative perception of reality appears,’ Number 2, ‘Various rhetorical devices are used to embody the theme’…”

The monotonous voice of the teacher sank into the languid air. The classroom was thick with the drowsy atmosphere. It was the peaceful tail end of 5th period.

Even before the teacher started going over the answers, he had lightly found the correct answer and checked it. It was 3 minutes before class ended. Feeling proud, Gawon set down his mechanical pencil and finally raised his gaze from the workbook. His eyes now naturally turned toward the very front.

Pfft, a small laugh escaped. Ki Joon was dozing off again today, as expected. His bobbing head was about to thump onto the desk. While that sight was amusing, on the other hand, it also made him feel a little sorry for him.

He must be so tired, having worked out until late last night too. The message saying he’d gone home was sent around nearly midnight. The message saying he’d wash up and sleep came after 1 AM.

He’d said the competition was coming up soon. Plus, midterms were also just a few days away. So Gawon had been the one to first suggest reducing their nighttime meetings until the competition and exams were over. It was a bit disappointing since meeting at night had become a habit over those past few days, but they could do it again later.

Finally, the bell signaling break time rang. Usually, the kids would have sprung up like zombies, but even they were all overcome by the powerful drowsiness and remained lying face down. Only a few students quietly got up to go to the bathroom or the snack bar.

Gawon rested his chin on his hand and silently watched Ki Joon’s back. Looking at his infinitely broad back, so different from his own, made him feel inexplicably secure. When he was awake, he’d always come to his seat, try to strike up conversations, or go to the snack bar together. Not having that made him feel empty.

They could just walk home together after school. Just as he was tearing his wistful gaze away and pulling out a workbook for another subject from his bag, the back doorway of the classroom suddenly became noisy.

“Hey. Where’s Ki Joon?”

At the familiar name, his shoulders flinched. Gawon turned around with startled eyes.

“…Huh?”

“Ki Joon, that bastard, is in your class. The transfer student. Where is he?”

“He, he’s at the very front.”

A few senior students, emanating a strangely aggressive atmosphere, barged into the classroom. Even Gawon, who had little interest in the school’s goings-on, could at least roughly recognize the names and faces of the so-called delinquents.

Four or five seniors filed in and headed toward the front of the classroom. One by one, the sleeping kids rubbed their eyes and sat up, and the classroom atmosphere, which had been steeped in lethargy, instantly grew tense. Curious gazes quietly focused on the seniors.

Why would people like that be looking for Ki Joon. Gawon raised his anxious gaze. His hips unconsciously shifted. Just as he was hesitating over whether to wake Ki Joon or not.

“Hey, you little shit. Are you dead?”

Thwack! At the sudden loud noise, Gawon’s eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his hand. He hadn’t even had time to grasp the situation. Ki Joon, who had been face down on his desk in a dazed sleep, was unable to resist and was forced to topple sideways.

The student sitting next to him was horrified, jumped up from his seat, and moved away. The senior who had kicked over Ki Joon’s chair gave the fallen chair another forceful kick. He was the biggest of the group.

“Hey, get up. You little pissant.”

“Yeah. We heard you wiped out all the guys at Gwangyeom High and transferred here. Show us what you’ve got.”

“Crazy, you ugly piece of shit.”

Snickering laughter spread. The seniors acted arrogant, nudging Ki Joon’s body with their feet. Ki Joon slowly raised himself up and rubbed his face with his palm.

“Ah… fuck.”

His voice, still thick with sleep, was low and rough. It was a tone Gawon had never heard from him before. Through his long fingers, his half-lidded gaze was visible. With a dark, menacing expression, Ki Joon let out a dry sigh.