The next day, Friday. Heewoon was on edge all day long. Today, Seo Kangwoo had a major core class, then he got something to do so they couldn’t have lunch together. He had said he would come to pick Heewoon up in the evening.
As he sat down to listen to the last lecture, Heewoon became extremely anxious. Heewoon hastily took out his passport from his bag.
Should he bring it up while they’re in the car? Kangwoo wouldn’t be able to hit him while driving.
As he got lost in his thoughts, the teaching assistant entered the classroom. She wrote on the blackboard.
‘Class canceled’
“Today’s class is canceled.”
The classroom became noisy with disappointed students and excited ones. At that moment, Heewoon stared blankly at the blackboard, his passport still clutched in his hand.
It was still only 1 pm. Seo Kangwoo was coming to pick him up at 5 pm. Although there were still four hours left, he was so anxious that he couldn’t focus on his assignments. Holding his passport no longer provided the comfort it used to. Its effect seemed to have worn off.
Suddenly, he thought of the airport.
Maybe he could gather some courage if he went to the airport.
Heewoon carefully placed his passport in his bag, packed his belongings, and stood up. Since the airport bus was too expensive, he took the airport railway. He sat in a daze for over an hour during the journey.
Walking into the airport hesitantly, Heewoon saw numerous people inside. It was his first time coming to Incheon Airport, so he didn’t know whether it was always this crowded or if it was because it was a Friday. Heewoon navigated through people dragging their suitcases and looked for a place to sit. There was an empty seat in the middle of the crowd.
He sat down and continued to watch people.
The faces of those who pulled their suitcases in groups were filled with excitement. For a long time, he watched a group of people laughing, talking, and taking pictures together. Laughter chaotically echoed around the high ceiling.
There were also people walking alone. A man, carrying a suitcase in one hand and holding a passport with the other, walked in front of Heewoon. The sound of footsteps on the uneven floor, the sound of wheels from the suitcase rolling – they sounded just like what he had seen a while ago. But that person wasn’t smiling.
Although it was natural for him not to be smiling since he was alone, Heewoon thought that he might not be going on a holiday. Heewoon gripped the passport in his hand tightly. The thick material was wound round and round. That person was probably not going on a holiday, but here for…
At that moment, the phone in his pocket vibrated. Heewoon, who had been staring blankly at the man dragging the suitcase, was startled and took out his phone. The caller was his mom.
“Yeah, Mom.”
-Where are you?
“Uh… just outside. Why?”
Heewoon vaguely responded.
-The leaking roof that needs to be fixed, everyone agreed to split the cost. And they asked me to give the money by this week.
“How much is it?”
-It’s 100,000 won. Do you have any leftover money, Heewoon?
“Ah…”
Heewoon checked his bank account balance. It was surely less than 100,000 won. He suddenly remembered the card in his wallet and got rid of the thought immediately.
“Mom, I’ll send it once I get my tutoring fee.”
-On the 5th? They said it needs to be fixed before the rain comes…
“I’ll receive some fee on the 1st too. I’ll send it tomorrow.”
-Okay, got it. I’ll send you the account number, so please deposit it tomorrow. Take care, my son.
“Yeah.”
The call ended. Heewoon looked down at his phone screen.
‘Mom.’
His gaze shifted from the text on the screen to the green passport resting on his thigh. Heewoon held the passport again and fiddled with it. The man had just passed by Heewoon’s side. The sound of the suitcase wheels rolling faded into the distance.
Once again, he watched people in a daze.
The time flew by faster than he thought. It was already half past three. An hour had already passed since he arrived around 2:30 PM. To return to school by 5 PM, it would be best to leave now so he wouldn’t be late. However, just as he was about to make up his mind to leave, he couldn’t pull himself away from the chair as if his butt was glued to it. He decided to stay for just another 10 minutes.
Then, someone stood in front of Heewoon.
Heewoon glanced to the side. He thought someone wanted to sit in the empty seat next to him, so he moved his backpack on the floor closer to his side.
However, the shiny shoes didn’t move and remained still in that spot.
Heewoon slowly raised his head.
“Huh-uh?”
His eyes widened. The person he was supposed to meet at 5 pm was standing right in front of him.
Seo Kangwoo, dressed in a formal suit, had his hair slicked back neatly. He looked more like a young entrepreneur, not a student.
“How did you get here?”
The eyes below his dark eyebrows slowly scanned Heewoon. Still wide-eyed, Heewoon swallowed dry saliva. The situation didn’t seem much different than usual, but he felt an intimidating pressure.
Directing his gaze at Heewoon’s passport, Kangwoo asked in a low voice.
“Are you trying to go somewhere?”
“No. Just…”
Heewoon froze as he lost his words. If he said he came here because he was anxious, others wouldn’t understand.
“So you just came. Until the airport here.”
The murmuring voice was so low that it sent shivers down one’s spine. Heewoon, crushed by Kangwoo’s presence, couldn’t say anything and just nodded his head. Twisting his lips, Kangwoo grabbed Heewoon’s wrist tightly and pulled him up.
“Ah, ugh.”
Kangwoo’s grip was so firm that Heewoon couldn’t help but let out a groan. However, Kangwoo didn’t even pretend to hear him and continued walking. Only when he reached his car did he let go of his wrist. Once in the passenger seat, Heewoon massaged his sore wrist and glanced at Kangwoo.
Haaah-.
Kangwoo sighed and fastened his seatbelt while looking ahead. The suit that perfectly fit his body subtly revealed the contours of his muscles whenever he moved.
“Seatbelt.”
Heewoon, who was glancing at Kangwoo, was surprised by the sudden low voice and buckled his seatbelt. The car started moving. Heewoon felt that the uneasiness that had subsided a little was gradually growing again.
Why is Seo Kangwoo so angry?
Could he have found out that he hadn’t quit tutoring?
“Kangwoo. Where are we going now?”
Heewoon cautiously asked. However, Kangwoo didn’t answer and looked straight ahead, focusing solely on driving. Heewoon suddenly recalled that Kangwoo was wearing a suit on the day he witnessed the murder. His face turned pale in an instant.
“That…”
“Shut your mouth.”
A sharp voice cut off Heewoon’s words. Heewoon turned his head away in fear. Seo Kangwoo had been expressionless since they saw each other at the airport. Normally, he would smile and speak affectionately to him, but not this time.
His gaze towards the passport and his question earlier. Heewoon watched for his mood and then spoke up.
“Y-you said we were meeting by 5, right? What brings you here?”
“I just got home and heard some damn shit.”
“…”
“Then I came all the way here in a haze.”
His tone was harsh. Watching his chiseled side profile, Heewoon bit his lip. Unable to ask anything further, he just clasped his hands together and looked straight ahead. Then he realized they were in Incheon. Maybe they were going to the restaurant they planned to go, he thought.
However, the car stopped in front of an apartment.
Heewoon followed Kangwoo while being cautious.
When they got into the elevator, he felt like he was suffocating. He knew very well how Seo Kangwoo, who had no expression on his face, could hurt someone in a certain way.
Standing in front of the entrance of a house that was like a show house with almost no traces of life, Heewoon hesitated. Could this be Seo Kangwoo’s house too? Amidst these thoughts, he remembered something.
Kangwoo, who entered first, threw his jacket onto the sofa and loosened his tie. He then looked at Heewoon.
“It’s a shame that you somehow ran into me at the airport.”
At his dry remark, Heewoon blinked his eyes. There seemed to be a misunderstanding.
“Ah, no! I wasn’t going anywhere, really. I just… came to look around.”
“Because you wanted to run away?”
Kangwoo tilted his head stiffly.
‘Run away.’
The word stuck in his ears.
Heewoon’s eyes opened widely and he looked at Kangwoo. The corner of his passport, which he had hurriedly put in his pants pocket, pricked his flesh sharply. His lips trembled. The man he had seen earlier came to his mind. Was that man not going on a holiday but running away, fleeing?
The suppressed emotion came out from his trembling lips
“Why? Can’t I, go somewhere?”
“What?”
“I can leave on my own too. Later, I might be able to go somewhere. Maybe… even sooner than you think.”
“…”
Kangwoo stared at Heewoon in silence. He opened his mouth after a while.
“So. You were just having a field trip today?”
“…Yeah. I planned to go back by 5.”
Kangwoo lowered his eyes and muttered to himself, seeming to mull it over.
“Later, on your own, leaving. Sooner than you think.”
Heewoon stepped back hesitantly. He hadn’t said anything wrong. As he distanced himself from Seo Kangwoo, who was standing still, his back touched the front door. The chill from the door seemed to chill him to the bone. Heewoon clenched his fist and glanced at Kangwoo.
The chest muscles bulged in his tight-fitting vest. Exhaling a long breath, Kangwoo lifted his eyelids and looked at Heewoon.
“Sunbae.”
The corner of Kangwoo’s lips curved. It was his usual gentle curved smile, but for some reason, it sent shivers down Heewoon’s spine.
“I’ll set one thing straight.”
“…”
Thump, thump. Heewoon’s heart pounded rapidly. A strange, ominous feeling of foreboding crawled under his skin.
“Sunbae, you can only go where I allow you to go.”
His curved eyes and voice were sweet.
Another triple update!
Become a member in my ko-fi to get early releases!
Make me feel happy and supported by leaving a comment!
