The spot where the old man used to sleep is quieter than usual.
Only a piece of cardboard, pushed aside by the wind, rests against the wall.
Jungtae crouches and places a small candle on the ground. His hands shake a little as he lights it. The flame flickers weakly, almost going out before settling into a soft glow.
He stays there for a moment, watching it burn.
'I hope you are safe now.' He thinks.
Then he stands, brushing dirt off his pants, fixing the strap of his bag and starts walking toward school.
The morning air is cool. Cars pass one after another, nothing unusual, until one slows down beside him.
"Beep."
A familiar black car.
The window rolls down.
"Hop in," Owen calls out, sunglasses pushed up on his head, hair messy like he just woke up but still looks handsome as ever.
Jungtae stops walking. "School is literally right there. It's near."
Owen leans an elbow out the window. "And?"
"And I can walk." Jungtae replied.
"But I'm offering you a ride." Owen taps the empty seat with a grin on his face. "Come on. Don't make me beg."
Jungtae smirked and sighs, crossing his arms. "Why would someone like you beg? Kidding."
"Because you look like someone who needs saving," Owen says with a grin.
"I don't."
"Get in, Han Jungtae."
There it is again, that tone. Half teasing, half something else.
Jungtae presses his lips together, looks at the school gate, then back at the car.
"…Fine. Only because you're being annoying. I told you we're not friends."
Owen's grin widens. "Nice car, right?"
"You're starting again," Jungtae mutters as he pulls the door open.
The interior smells faintly like cologne and energy drinks. The seat is warm.
He buckles in without thinking, and Owen hums like he's pleased with himself.
The car rolls forward.
"Seven minutes," Owen says. "Shortest ride of your life."
"Why are you counting?"
"Because you'll miss it later."
Jungtae rolls his eyes but doesn't answer, then he notices that there's still a bandaid on Owen's jaw.
'I wonder if he faced his father after that day.' Jungtae thought.
The road is short. Too short, because before he knows it, the school gate appears. Students are crossing the sidewalk, some chatting, some yawning.
When Owen parks, a couple of them pause, whispering. Their eyes jump from Owen to Jungtae.
The same people who saw them fight in the cafeteria not long ago.
"Aren't they enemies?" Someone whispered.
Owen seems amused by all the staring. Running a hand around his hair with a grin. Of course he is.
Jungtae clears his throat. "Uh… thanks for the… seven minutes."
"No problem." Owen taps the steering wheel. "Next time again."
"There won't be a next time."
"Nope. There will be next time." Owen winked.
"Haha. That won't work on me."
From a distance, Haneul witnessed the scene and jealousy filled his chest. 'Han Jungtae.'
Jungtae opens the door and steps out.
The moment his shoes hit the pavement, his eyes landed on the person in front of the building.
His expression is unreadable.
Woojin.
Hands in his pockets. Shoulders still. Eyes fixed on Jungtae.
Jungtae freezes then decides to approach. "…H-hey, Woojin."
Woojin gives a small smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Made a new friend?"
"That's not…I mean, it is not like that."
Woojin studies him for a moment, then looks away. "Do you want to visit my house later?"
"Huh?"
It comes out louder than he meant. Jungtae raised an eyebrow as he gripped on the strap of his bag.
"Just for thirty minutes." Woojin shrugs lightly. "You can go to work after."
Jungtae blinks. It's sudden, but also… not surprising. Woojin always does this, changes the topic when he feels something he doesn't want to say out loud.
"Uh… okay sure," Jungtae says slowly. "Thirty minutes."
Woojin nods and walks with him to class as if nothing happened. It made Jungtae nervous.
ৎ────
After school, they take a cab.
The ride is quiet, but not uncomfortable, just… different.
Woojin rests his chin on his hand, looking out the window. His reflection is steady, calm, but his foot taps softly on the floor, out of sync with everything else.
Jungtae keeps glancing at him.
He wants to say something, anything, but nothing feels right.
When they reach the house, Woojin unlocks the door and steps inside first.
The air smells familiar, it is clean, soft, like fabric softener and old books in the shelves around the house.
It feels like it's been years since Jungtae visited, even though it hasn't been that long.
"Want something to eat?" Woojin asks. "You look hungry."
"Yeah, you are right, I kinda am."
He hadn't noticed until now.
"Pizza then." Woojin picks up his phone to order.
While he waits on the call, he walks into the kitchen and comes back with two glasses of juice.
Jungtae sits on the couch. He lets out a small breath he didn't know he was holding.
He feels nervous, and he can't explain why.
Woojin is his best friend.
This house is familiar.
Nothing is wrong.
And yet, his heart beats a little too fast.
"Is Aunt Sue not home? The house feels quiet." Jungtae asks.
"No idea where she went again." Woojin sets the juice on the table. "Drink."
"Thank you."
They both take slow sips. It felt awkward for a moment.
The house is quiet.
It felt too quiet for Jungtae.
Woojin breaks the silence first.
"So." He turns slightly on the couch. "You and Owen. Since when? Why did you not tell me?"
Jungtae stiffens.
"It's nothing," he says quickly. "He just offered a ride earlier this morning."
Woojin nods once, but the nod is tight.
He presses a thumb against the rim of his glass, turning it slowly, like he's trying not to say something.
"Relax," Woojin says after a moment, smiling again. "I'm not interrogating you."
Jungtae lets out a breath through his nose. "Didn't say you were."
"You looked like you thought I was," Woojin teases softly.
Jungtae scratches the back of his neck. "Well… you were staring at me like I stepped on your cat."
"I don't have a cat."
"Exactly."
Woojin laughs under his breath. The sound lightens the air a little.
The pizza Woojin ordered came and they ate together. The mood felt a little lighter.
After they finished eating, Woojin spoke first again.
"Come on," Woojin says, standing. "I want to give you something."
"Huh? Give me what?"
"You'll see."
ৎ────
They headed upstairs.
Jungtae hasn't been up here in a long time.
Woojin's room looks the same, but also not. The shelves are tidier, the bed is neatly made, the desk is full of papers and books. But the air feels different, calmer, maybe.
Woojin walks to his closet and starts searching inside.
Jungtae looks around slowly.
One thing catches his eye. Some parts of the wall were covered with curtains.
'What could be behind those?'
Then another thing catched his attention, in the corner of the room.
A small door inside the room, half open. Just a crack, but enough for darkness to seep through. The hair on his arms rises without reason.
'Weird.' Jungtae thought, brushing his arms.
He takes a step toward it, curious.
Before he touches it…
Something soft hits his chest.
He blinks and catches it.
A black jacket.
Brand new.
And another one lands on top of it.
Woojin grins. "These are for you."
Jungtae stares at them. "These… are expensive."
"You better wear them," Woojin says, flicking his forehead.
"Ack, hey!" Jungtae rubs his forehead. "Thank you! Really."
"They suit you," Woojin says softly.
Jungtae tries one on. It fits perfectly.
He turns toward the mirror, smiling a little.
"Cool! Thanks again Woojin."
Then his eyes catch the time.
"Oh, I have to go now," he says. "My shift will start soon."
Before he can move toward the door…
Arms wrap around him.
Woojin pulls him into a hug.
Not rough, not weak, just firm enough that Jungtae feels the warmth through the jacket.
Jungtae stiffens. And looked at Woojin
wide eyed.
"W-Woojin…?"
Woojin's voice is quiet, close to his ear.
"You remember what I told you, right?"
"About… not bottling things up?"
Woojin nods against his shoulder.
For a moment, Jungtae is too aware of everything, the closeness, the warmth, the steady breath against his neck.
"This is."
'Woojin seems different than usual.' Jungtae thought still standing straight. Not knowing what to do.
Then Woojin steps back, letting him go.
"I just… worry about you getting closer to that guy, I hope you don't forget." Woojin says with a small smile. "That's all."
Jungtae's chest tightens.
He pats Woojin's back, trying to ease the weight in the room.
"Don't worry too much," he says softly. "I'm fine."
Woojin nods, but the way his fingers tighten slightly at his side says otherwise.
As Jungtae stepped out of the house, he let out a slow breath, his shoulders sagging in relief. He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rapid thump-thump of his heart, like a wild drumbeat. He furrowed his brow, puzzled by the sensation.