Between A and B C20

Chapter 20

I wanted to ask why he was back to calling me sunbae-nim again, but then I remembered how, just last night, in that trembling breath of his, he had called me hyung, and the fine hairs on my arms had risen. Perhaps it was better to just leave it be.
“Alright then, I’ll think about it. Call me after you’re finished.”
—Yes, understood.

As I hung up, Yunoel sidled up beside me and asked,
“Hyung, are you going somewhere later?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Put on sunscreen before you go out.”

At that, I placed both hands neatly over my stomach and bowed deeply at the waist.
“Yes, teacher. I will heed your words well.”
“And if you come back early, make sure you wash with cleansing oil.”
“Yes, yes. The moment I return, I’ll wash thoroughly with cleansing oil.”

As I kept bowing, Kim Kang came over and began mimicking me, bent at the waist.
“Yes, yes, my lady. I shall oil my face diligently.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Why am I being discriminated against? Am I not allowed to oil my face when I wash?”
“What oiling? Honestly. You rustic giant, go wash with cooking oil if you want grease that badly.”

I escaped their bickering and went over to Jinhyuk, who was loosening his throat. I stretched my own voice alongside him, listened to the song he had composed, and practiced.

The truth was, we didn’t even have a comeback track lined up. All we had released were two singles. There wasn’t anything specific to rehearse for, but if we just sat idle, it felt like the end would come quietly, unnoticed. So, every day, we gathered at the practice room to do something—anything—together.

Jinhyuk had played his self-composed songs for the CEO many times, but the response was never favorable. Not because the songs were bad, but always the same line: “Just wait a little longer.” We’d been hearing that for two years.

The thought that we might never have a comeback, that we might simply dissolve without anyone noticing, crossed my mind several times a day. But none of us ever voiced it aloud.

Given the situation, I kept thinking I had to make something out of this upcoming variety show appearance. Whatever they asked of me, I would do it wholeheartedly.

“Hyung, your swelling hasn’t gone down.”

It was lunchtime. The others were eating, while I just sat watching, when Jinhyuk commented. I checked the mirror, and it looked the same as in the morning.
“I’ll try washing with cold water when I get back to the dorm.”
“Wear sunglasses at least. They’re in the vanity drawer.”

I nodded at Yunoel’s suggestion. Then Kim Kang handed me a shrimp tempura.
“Just have one of these.”

I hadn’t intended to eat, but since he offered, I couldn’t refuse. I opened my mouth and took the large shrimp tempura in a single bite. Then Jinhyuk held a piece of tonkatsu to my lips.
“Want some of this too?”

He asked as he pushed it into my mouth. Again, I accepted without choice, and then Yunoel gave me a spoonful of kimchi fried rice. At this rate, I felt like a baby bird being fed by its mother, so I stood up to escape.

Leaving the company and walking back to the dorm, I noticed the sky was thick with clouds. It looked like rain was imminent, and soon enough, a few drops began to fall. I quickened my pace, nearly running, and by the time I reached the dorm, the clouds had cleared and the sun was blazing again. It felt strange. I checked the weather forecast on my phone, but there was no mention of rain.

Was it just a passing shower?

As I showered, I mulled over where to take Jung Woojin to eat. Normally I’d just go anywhere, but bringing him into a crowded place could invite trouble. It seemed best to find somewhere with private rooms, just the two of us. Since work-related talk was bound to come up, a quiet and secluded place was ideal.

While washing, I decided, then came out and sent Woojin a message.
[Do you like seaweed soup?]

I thought he might not check right away since he was working, but less than ten seconds later came the reply:
[Yes, I love it. Do you feel like eating seaweed soup?]
[There’s a place a friend mentioned recently. Said their abalone seaweed soup was amazing. Want to go? The side dishes are great too.]
[Sounds good. Are you at your dorm now? I can come pick you up there.]
[No need. Let’s just meet at the restaurant. I’ll send you the address.]

I searched the location and texted him the address, but instead of a reply, a call came in. It was Woojin.
“Hey, what’s up?”
—Sunbae-nim, I’m nearly finished here. Let me come get you.
“No, it’s fine. It’s not far. Just two bus stops away.”
—Still……
“You got the address I sent, right?”

But he didn’t answer. I frowned, waiting a little longer, then checked my phone, wondering if the call had dropped. The timer was still running, so it hadn’t.
“Hello?”
—……
“Hello? Can’t you hear me?”
—I can hear you.
“When should I head out?”
—Maybe in thirty minutes.
“Got it. See you then.”
—Yes.

After hanging up, I dried my hair, slathered on sunscreen just as Yunoel had insisted, and got dressed. There was still time, so I thought I’d leave early and wait there. But when I looked in the mirror again, my eyes were still swollen like balloons. If it had been mild, I’d have ignored it, but this was too much. After some hesitation, I grabbed a pair of sunglasses. I rarely wore them, and they felt awkward, but better to have them on.

When I left the dorm, the sun was still shining. But on the way to the bus stop, the sky darkened as if on cue. Just like earlier. Soon, the rain began. At first it was just a drizzle, but within minutes it poured so heavily the pavement steamed with mist. I had no choice but to duck under the awning of a shop I didn’t know, staring up at the sky with a helpless expression.

Last time the rain had stopped quickly, so I thought this would too. But ten minutes passed, and still it fell. No taxis in sight, no convenience store nearby to buy an umbrella. Running through it would soak me completely. I stood there, stuck, when my phone rang.

“Hello?”
—Hello, sunbae-nim. I… are you outside right now?
“Huh? Yeah, I came out, but it suddenly started raining…”
—Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.

I had told him earlier not to, but there was no choice now. I scanned the road one more time for taxis, sighed, and admitted,
“Would you? I’ve got no umbrella, no convenience store nearby, no taxis either. I’ve just been standing here in front of the restaurant.”
—Which restaurant? Where exactly?
“Uh… On the way from our dorm to the bus stop… I’m in front of Gooni’s Restaurant.”
—Hold on, I’m on my way. It’s not far from the dorm, right?

I was about to say yes, but something felt odd. Suspicious, I asked,
“Are you in front of our dorm right now?”
—Yes.
“What? Why? Why are you there? I told you to meet at the restaurant.”
—Sunbae-nim, can you see my car?

I turned my head—and there it was, his familiar car rolling toward me slowly.
“Oh—yeah, I see it. I’ll come.”

I hung up and dashed through the downpour. The moment I slid into the car, Woojin handed me a handkerchief.
“Here, dry off.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Were you standing out there long?”
“About ten minutes? Before you called, I was debating whether to just run through it. Thank god you came.”

I dabbed off the water. It smelled faintly pleasant—maybe the fragrance was from the handkerchief. I brought it closer to my nose, and Woojin said,
“You should have called me.”
“Oh… It didn’t even occur to me.”
“Next time, if it suddenly rains, or snows, or if it’s too hot or cold to walk, please call me. I’ll come right away.”

I laughed at his earnest tone, and he muttered to himself,
“I mean it…”

“Here.”
I handed back the now-damp handkerchief. He accepted it, looked at it briefly, then asked,
“Sunbae-nim, why are you wearing sunglasses?”

I blinked at him blankly before sheepishly removing them. The rain had started so suddenly, I’d forgotten I still had them on. Now I could see the water droplets clinging to the lenses. Wearing sunglasses in a downpour—anyone who saw me must have thought I was strange.
“My eyes are swollen…”
“Your eyes? Why? Are you sick?”
“No, I couldn’t sleep last night. I watched a movie, and it was really sad. I cried, and when I woke up, they were swollen. This is already better than in the morning—it was unbearable then.”
“What movie was it? Do you like movies? I love them too. Should we go watch one together sometime? What kind of genres do you like? I enjoy everything.”

Another barrage of questions. I took a deep breath, steadying myself, before replying.