Thanks to the end-of-month evaluation taking place on Friday, it automatically granted a two-day break. Typically, activities were confined to the dormitories even on weekends, except when there was a holiday due to evaluations.
Sihyun, who had planned to go shopping for clothes with Haru, diligently prepared to head out on Saturday morning. However, the bustling sound of Haewoon rustling about in his bed until 11 a.m., a typical weekend sleep-in, disrupted his plans.
"Where are you going?"
"To buy clothes with Haru."
"I wanna come too!"
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
Haewoon leaped down from the second floor with a bounce. The impact made the floor rumble, prompting Sihyun, with a stern expression, to reflexively flick Haewoon's arm.
"Don't make so much noise."
They say even noise between floors could kill someone. As Sihyun scolded him for his lack of caution, Haewoon, perhaps feeling pain in the struck area, crawled into Hamin's bed.
"You're coming too?"
"Yeah, I'm taking Mine too."
"...He usually sleeps till 2 pm on weekends. Just let him sleep."
"No, Mine and I are soulmates!"
Is that so? From my perspective, it wouldn't be a bad idea for him to fall asleep in pursuit of his soulmate.
Sighing at the sight of Hamin, who was destined to endure this disturbance, Sihyun gave up on stopping Haewoon. Trying to intervene at times like this only led to sparks flying my way, so sacrificing Hamin seemed the easier path.
As the 6' tall guy pestering Hamin, Haewoon, rolled around, Hamin groaned, making distressing noises. Eventually, irritated, he flung off the blanket and got up nervously. Meanwhile, Haewoon cheerfully greeted the morning. It took less than a second for Hamin's expression to crumple upon waking up just now.
"What's up again!"
When Hamin gruffly exclaimed, Sihyun clicked his tongue. Waking up just now made it somewhat relatable. Especially since this wasn't just once or twice for Hamin.
Let's keep some distance from Kang Haewoon.
Even though it wasn't my intention to get closer to him, getting more chummy here might lead to me being assigned that role. Sihyun, feeling dreadful, finished putting on his hoodie and socks. Even though it was already April, it was still chilly for short sleeves and shorts, so discreetly, Sihyun's blue eyes glanced at Hamin. Irritated as he already was, asking for clothes would only make him angrier.
Quietly grabbing his things, Sihyun went up to the third floor. It seemed like today he'd have to borrow something from Seowoo or Geonu for an outer layer.
Even though they had come down to the second floor before, it was the first time Sihyun had gone up to the third floor himself. After a short while, he knocked on Geonu's door.
Knock knock! The door opened frightfully quickly after just two knocks. Simultaneously, a half-naked boy entered Sihyun's line of sight, causing him to blink.
"...."
Three seconds of silence passed. Geonu, who had opened the door, softly sighed upon seeing Sihyun, and Sihyun, having assessed the situation, promptly closed the door.
Bang!
"Kang Sihyun?"
"At least put some clothes on, crazy dude."
Even if Geonu's face was a masterpiece and art, going half-naked was a no-go. If a girl knocks on the door, cover up instead of roaming around half-naked. Even for a guy, there should be some decency. Sihyun sighed at the absurdity of knocking on the door when it was a girl and then casually strolling around half-naked. Fortunately, Geonu was already wearing clothes when he opened the door again.
But his body looks good, though.
Thinking of his fairly toned body, perhaps from eating well and sleeping well, Sihyun unintentionally glanced downward and quickly looked up again. For some reason, he kept catching glimpses.
"What's up?"
"I need an outer layer; can I borrow?"
"Come in."
Just give it to me... Sihyun nodded as he pondered whether to wait at the entrance. He gestured to go inside, so he followed Geonu, who entered and rummaged through his closet.
"An outer layer?"
"Yeah."
After a brief pause in the rustling of clothes, Geonu moved his hand again. Sihyun, examining the room intently, realized that Geonu's room was unusually quiet.
"Where's Seowoo and the others?"
"In the bathroom. The rest got evicted."
"Ah..."
Seems like he shares a room with Seowoo. As they silently waited in the now seemingly empty room, the door to the bathroom suddenly opened.
Seowoo, wearing a bathrobe and drying her hair, emerged from the steamy bathroom. She seemed to have just finished washing up.
"Hey? Sihyun?"
"Sihyun has a partner too."
He wouldn't call Haru "Hyung" no matter what. Looking at Seowoo, who referred to Haru as her partner for the past month, Sihyun wondered what he would call her after six months. He glanced at Seowoo, who was approaching him, her bathrobe partially undone. It made Sihyun's forehead narrow slightly.
"Can I borrow some clothes?"
"We're just among us, what's the big deal?"
When he teasingly complained, Seowoo replied with a mix of laughter in her tone. Seeing Seowoo and Geonu, who seemed so similar in their behavior, sharing a room, Sihyun sighed, feeling like they were just alike. No wonder Geonu was wandering around half-naked; there was another person here who casually went half-naked.
"So, what's going on?"
"I'm going out with Haru, but I don't have an outer layer."
"Where are you two going?"
"To buy clothes with Haru."
Answering mechanically while looking around the room, Sihyun heard a humming sound. At a lower tone than usual, a glance from the blue-eyed Seowoo landed on him. Sensing something to say, Seowoo, gazing at him intently, approached Sihyun. Even if she's persistent, if she starts persuading him, it'll become a hassle, so he let out a sigh.
"...Then, let's go together."
"Thanks."
Was there anything to be thankful for? Kang Sihyun was contemplating as he watched Seowoo fold her eyes. Suddenly, a short sigh came from behind. It wasn't until then that Sihyun realized Haru had turned around, pondering the day without asking for his opinion.
"Um, hyung."
"Yeah?"
"Is it okay if she comes along too?"
"…Yeah."
For some reason, the gap between the first and second response seemed longer. Wondering if Haru disliked the idea, Sihyun glanced at his expression, prompting Haru to suddenly lower his head. Sihyun, sensing what he wanted, ruffled Haru's hair. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly. Before cutting his hair, Sihyun hadn't realized that Haru often made such expressions when he was being petted.
"You're not even a dog, why are you petting me?"
Haru got used to it, and as I got used to it too, Seowoo, who had been watching us mess around with the hair, spoke up. Almost by habit, I said, "It's because I'm used to it," and quietly withdrew my hand, eliciting another small sigh.
…Maybe I've gotten too used to treating you like a pet.
As I stopped petting, seriously contemplating the sighs I heard, Seowoo took off her bathrobe. It wasn't until the white robe had slid halfway down her shoulders that Sihyun, who was covering Haru's eyes, looked at Seowoo disapprovingly.
"Go change inside, will you?"
"Where? To the restroom?"
This is my room, Sihyun.
Seowoo, with the bathrobe draped over her arm, smiled faintly. Her soft laughter lingered in the room, prompting me to close my eyes again.
Thunk. I added more pressure to my hand covering Haru's eyes.
After a while, when it was all done, Seowoo, wearing a spring coat, entered my field of vision. Surprisingly, among the four of us, her attire seemed the most appropriate despite initially claiming she had no clothes.
"You don't seem to need to buy clothes."
"Well, there's no guarantee I only buy mine."
"Suit yourself."
I wondered where I'd have a say in someone else buying clothes.
After receiving clothes from Geonu and heading downstairs to the second floor, another person joined us. I wondered if Baek Geonu was also coming, but seeing the person who always followed Haewoon like a thread through a needle made sense.
We asked Seowoo to wait for a moment to grab a hat, and as we entered the room, we finally saw two boys changing clothes, apparently having defeated Hamin. I took a cap from the wardrobe.
"Starting from the weekend…."
Hamin grumbled a lot. His purple eyes, looking at me as if trying to shift all the responsibility onto me, made Sihyun press the hat down. It felt like I owed about three tablespoons of regret for not stopping Haewoon.
"Shall we go?"
"Yeah."
"Great!"
"Want some food?"
"These guys are insane…."
The question was directed at Haru, but multiple answers were heard. Sihyun absentmindedly put his hand into the hoodie pocket, used to the familiar situation.
This unexpected group outing with the Four Heavenly Kings was underway.
And exactly 30 minutes later, Sihyun realized how reckless it was to bring the Four Heavenly Kings along.
"Sigh! Hamin! Geonu!"
Thirty minutes. Within exactly thirty minutes of leaving the school and heading to the city, a crowd had gathered. And it was a full-blown idol concert level crowd. Sihyun pressed his throbbing head, realizing why he had forgotten.
How did I forget for a moment that incidents become common when I go out with the Four Heavenly Kings?
For a brief moment, I forgot the fact that this place was Inso. The eyes filled with anxiety scanned the crowded scene.
What if the rival gang from the nearby school decides to show up now?
Sihyun, imagining for a moment the imaginary gang saying, "Are you the strongest and the Four Heavenly Kings? Let's fight for once," frowned.
If such a thing were to happen, it was obvious that the Four Heavenly Kings, after displaying their splendid fighting skills, would end up at the police station for assaulting ordinary people. If they were to be locked up in juvenile detention, Haewoon's secretary or family would come to bail them out, and the headlines in the media would read something like, "S Group's son Lee Haewoon, assaults an ordinary person..."
Sihyun shuddered at the thought of a morning drama unfolding in his mind. I decided to opt-out of being in any picture for that article. Just as that thought interrupted Sihyun's conscience, the surrounding commotion broke it.
"Hamin, look here!"
"Whoa, Sihyun!"
"Wow, who's the person next to Sihyun?"
"Isn't that person his partner?"
"Sihyun! I've been a fan of yours since your track days!"
That's not me.
Already drawing attention as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, having Haru and me around only increased the interest. Feeling increasingly awkward among the gathering people, I looked at Hamin, and his lavender eyes seemed cool and annoyed. It was at that moment, when I was about to turn my attention elsewhere, that a sleek black Benz smoothly glided in front of Sihyun.
Clunk. The door opened, and the noisy clamor died down as a man stepped out of the car. Gradually, the crowd that had gathered began to disperse. It was a peculiar sight.
"I came because of the commotion."
The man, who said that much, looked at Hamin.
"I didn't expect you to be here."
Hamin.
The affectionate tone sounded contradictory, strangely cold. It was a man who seemed similar to Lee Haewoon, yet exceptionally imposing, who uttered those words.
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