Sunshine Shower Chapter 126

At those words, Professor Moon’s eyes widened behind his glasses. At the same time, Professor Jung’s shocked face entered Moon Seoyoon’s view.

He knew he was too consumed by emotion. He knew that lashing out at his father was purely an emotional response. He might regret this moment someday.

But for now, all he could think about was releasing everything he had bottled up. He wanted to feel the same relief as when he had confessed his feelings to Woo Yeonjae, to finally purge the festering emotions he had kept inside.

“You… right now…”

Professor Moon faltered, clearly taken aback.

“Just go.”

Professor Jung grabbed his wavering arm, looking guilty, and led him out of the room.

“Oh dear, what do we do?”

The housekeeper, wringing her hands in distress, came closer.

“Let me be alone for a bit.”

Seeing her about to comfort him like he was still a child, Moon Seoyoon gently pushed her away. She gave him a sympathetic look, much like one would give a child, before quietly leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Finally, Moon Seoyoon was alone in the empty piano room.

“Ha…”

He staggered backward a few steps, nearly losing his balance. Instinctively, his hand reached out to steady himself on the piano, but he stopped himself just in time. There was nothing left to support him.

The surge of emotion that had threatened to overwhelm him vanished as quickly as it had come. Now, instead of rage, all he felt was a cold emptiness. It wasn’t satisfaction that filled him, nor triumph over his father. It was the quiet realization that all the expectations and hopes he had clung to had decayed into nothing.

As he steadied his breathing, Moon Seoyoon slowly looked around the room. The surroundings were exactly as they had been a few weeks ago—except for the missing piano.

“Well, I suppose I should try to find it.”

It was an expensive item, after all. They probably hadn’t thrown it out like garbage. Most likely, his father had arranged to have it taken away by a company. First, he would ask the housekeeper. If that didn’t work, he would ask his grandfather.

“Ah…”

Moon Seoyoon let out a groan without realizing it.

Already feeling physically drained, the energy he spent on expressing anger—something he rarely did—left him utterly exhausted. But he couldn’t afford to collapse just yet, so he steeled himself. If there were a moment when he could allow himself to break, it would only come after resolving the issue with the piano.

“I should ask the housekeeper first…”

He endured the dizziness for a moment, then slowly walked out of the room. As he opened the door, he saw the housekeeper holding a glass of water. Feeling guilty for causing such an uncomfortable situation so early in the morning, he apologized.

“I’m sorry. You had to see such an unpleasant scene.”

“Don’t say that, you’ll make me sad. It’s fine. Here, drink this first.”

Moon Seoyoon slowly drank the water she handed him. Her hand patting his back was as warm as the water she had prepared at just the right temperature.

“I’m sorry to ask, but… do you happen to know what happened to the piano?”

He fiddled with the glass as he asked. The housekeeper took the glass from him and nodded.

“I thought you might ask, so I discreetly asked the delivery man when he came to pick it up yesterday. I got a call today.”

Though he hadn’t been expecting much, hearing this answer was a relief. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until he let out a long exhale.

“Thank you for looking into it. Could you tell me who I should contact?”

“Of course. I made sure to find out so I could tell you.”

The comforting hand on his back slowly withdrew.

“If you give me the contact info, I’ll reach out myself.”

“You actually know the person quite well. I was surprised too.”

“…What?”

Moon Seoyoon blinked in confusion at the unexpected answer. There was no one in his circle who would take an interest in his piano.

He took a sharp breath. Though things had become awkward between them, he knew he wouldn’t be able to bear it unless he went to see him. Despite knowing the door code, he chose to wait instead of unlocking it. He had already rung the doorbell, so if he was willing to meet, he would open the door.

After waiting for what felt like forever, the door, which had been firmly shut, quietly opened.

Before the person behind the door could fully appear, Moon Seoyoon burst out, his voice trembling.

“Why did you do it?”

Finally, he saw those familiar eyes slowly lower toward him.

“Why…”

Seeing Woo Yeonjae, tears immediately welled up in his eyes.

“Why would you go so far for me?”

It was an item that meant nothing to Woo Yeonjae.

Sometimes, it even seemed like he disliked it. Once they’d entered the upper grades of elementary school, he had stopped interfering, but before that, he used to occasionally interrupt Seoyoon’s piano practice. He’d press random keys during school music sessions to mess around or try to convince Seoyoon to hang out on lesson days.

Woo Yeonjae had been the only one who didn’t say anything about being disappointed when Seoyoon decided to quit the piano. Since he knew why Seoyoon had made that decision, he likely saw no need to make unnecessary comments. But sometimes, Seoyoon wondered if Woo Yeonjae had actually wanted him to quit. There had been no particular words or actions to indicate this, just a subtle atmosphere.

That made it even harder to understand. Why had Woo Yeonjae taken the piano that his father was going to dispose of?

“Seoyoon.”

Instead of answering, Woo Yeonjae called his name. His voice trailed off at the end. Only then was Moon Seoyoon able to look at him properly. Woo Yeonjae’s narrowed eyes, sharp as if gauging something, were fixed on him.

“It was you?”

Woo Yeonjae asked softly. Having stayed awake for days, his mind felt hazy and disconnected from reality. He knew that he had opened the door because it was Moon Seoyoon, but he still couldn’t fully believe that the person in front of him was really Seoyoon.

Why is he crying?

“Why are you crying?”

The hand that had come close to touching his cheek stopped just short of making contact. He’ll probably push me away again, Woo Yeonjae thought, closing his eyes slowly. He frowned, trying to gather his thoughts, but everything still felt blurry. Maybe when I open my eyes, it’ll be gone.

When he opened his eyelids slowly, the sight of a tearful face came into view. He’s still here.

“Because of me?”

Woo Yeonjae asked for confirmation with his third question.

“Who else would it be because of?”

“Ah…”

The answer was as expected.

Woo Yeonjae let out a quiet groan. Seeing Moon Seoyoon crying in front of him made it all seem like a dream.

“Why did you do it?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“The piano. Why did you take it?”

“Oh, the piano…”

Now that’s a new one.

Woo Yeonjae had taken Moon Seoyoon’s piano. It wasn’t in his apartment, but rather at his family’s house, so saying he “took it” might not be entirely accurate. Still, he did take the piano that was about to be disposed of.

He couldn’t remember exactly when he got the call. Maybe it was yesterday, or it could’ve been this morning. Then again, is it even today right now? Did the morning even come?

“Just because.”

What mattered, in the end, was that Moon Seoyoon was standing in front of him—whether it was reality or a dream.

Woo Yeonjae leaned his head against the doorframe and continued speaking.

“It’s something that’s meaningful to you.”

He hadn’t predicted that Professor Moon would decide to dispose of the piano. However, he knew the piano’s unique serial number and had made sure that he could be contacted to retrieve it if it ever became available. There weren’t many places that handled such expensive instruments, so it wasn’t too difficult. He had been surprised when he got the sudden call, though.

“Are you… always like this?”

I want to wipe his tears. Woo Yeonjae hesitated, his hand hovering near Seoyoon’s cheek before letting it drop. Since Seoyoon said he was crying because of him, he feared that touching him might make him leave. Normally, he would have grabbed him without a second thought, but in this state of mind, he wasn’t sure he could follow if Seoyoon walked away.

Besides, he hadn’t been sleeping, and he kept standing under cold water, so his strength was in shambles.

Well, it doesn’t matter if it’s a dream.

“You really don’t know, Seoyoon?”

Instead, he gave a thin smile.

“No way you wouldn’t know I’m only like this with you.”

“…Come inside, let’s talk.”

Moon Seoyoon motioned with his chin for Woo Yeonjae to go inside. The sudden command made Woo Yeonjae squint one eye in discomfort.

The script seemed to be returning to its usual course, just when it had started to feel a little different. What will it be today? Confinement? Or maybe assault?

In any case, Woo Yeonjae had absolutely no desire to let Moon Seoyoon into his space. This never-ending nightmare would only conclude when he saw a devastated Moon Seoyoon or his lifeless body.

Woo Yeonjae just stood there, motionless, staring down at Moon Seoyoon. Maybe it was because of the sight of him crying, but his chest tightened like it was sinking into a swamp, making it hard to breathe. Still, no matter how painful this moment was, Woo Yeonjae wanted to keep looking at him for just a little longer. Even if it meant drowning completely in the end.

“Don’t come in.”

When Moon Seoyoon made a move to step inside, Woo Yeonjae blocked the door. If he let him into his space now, who knows what he might do.