Chapter 09
Yeonjae went straight back home and lay down on his bed, watching YouTube to push away his messy thoughts.
Later, when he finally felt hungry and put water on to boil ramen, something suddenly came to mind.
He had left the gukbap restaurant without paying.
It was better not to leave unnecessary debts. But it had already been over an hour since he left, and even if he went back now, Hyunoh would probably be gone.
‘Don’t think about it anymore.’
He placed the pot of freshly cooked ramen on the table. But when he picked up his chopsticks, his appetite suddenly disappeared.
The hangover from last night was still there. His stomach felt sick, and the food wouldn’t go down easily. Just as he stood up to throw it away—
A message notification popped up at the top of the screen. He still hadn’t saved the number, but it was already familiar.
Hyunoh.
Yeonjae read the preview.
This letter first started in England and travels once a year…
What?
Even the preview was ridiculous.
‘That guy really has no serious side.’
There was no need to check further. Yeonjae swiped the message away.
He got up and washed the dishes from the morning, along with the ramen pot and utensils.
Then he started to gather the laundry—and found a T-shirt stained with dried vomit.
The one he wore yesterday.
Wait.
Yesterday?
‘Did I throw up?’
Only then did he remember what his mom had said that morning.
“What kind of grown daughter gets carried home on a man’s back?”
The reason he had called Hyunoh that morning in the first place was to find out what happened last night.
But before he could even ask who carried him home, Hyunoh had brought up the kiss, and Yeonjae forgot everything else he was curious about.
Now Hyunoh’s words at the restaurant came back to him.
“I couldn’t let Dohan take care of a drunk guy, so I put you in a taxi and sent you home. Something did happen… anyway.”
He had said something happened.
If Hyunoh had really carried him home—and he even threw up on his clothes?
‘This is insane.’
And yet, instead of apologizing earlier, he had gotten angry at Hyunoh.
He had even stormed out without listening.
It was like accusing someone of stealing your wallet after they saved your life, just because they made one joke.
Yeonjae immediately called his mom. He was still holding the vomit-stained T-shirt.
“Mom. Did I really come home on some guy’s back yesterday?”
He blurted it out the moment she answered.
—I’m driving. Almost home. Hang up.
She replied like she was texting, not talking.
“No, just answer this first.”
—What.
“Did I really come home on some guy’s back?”
—I told you this morning. Yes.
“No, I mean what kind of guy?”
—I said he was handsome. Do I need to analyze his features too?
“No, but like… his height? Hair color? Did he have double eyelids?”
—Why? Oh my. Are you seeing two guys at once? I thought you said you’ve never dated? Oh my, oh my.
His mom, who had been vague, now started saying nonsense—though some of it wasn’t completely wrong.
“Mom, seriously. Never mind. Bye.”
Realizing it would take forever to get any useful information, Yeonjae hung up.
Then he called someone else. The line connected quickly.
—I, the sinner, have answered the call.
Calling the same person twice in one day.
Before delivery apps existed, he hated calling so much that he wouldn’t even order food. This was shocking even for himself.
“Was it really you who took me home yesterday?”
—Yes.
“You’re not lying about this, right?”
—No.
Hyunoh switched between polite and casual speech.
He was just answering the questions, but somehow he sounded more polite than usual.
Taking advantage of that tone, Yeonjae asked what he most wanted to know.
“Did I throw up?”
—Yeah.
The answer came instantly, without hesitation.
That part wasn’t surprising.
If it hadn’t been his vomit, that stained T-shirt wouldn’t be lying around.
“Did I throw up on you too?”
—No.
“I found a T-shirt with vomit on it.”
There was a brief silence.
—Do you really want to know?
From his tone, it seemed like what Yeonjae feared had indeed happened.
He hesitated.
Maybe it was better not to know the truth.
“No. I mean—yes.”
The answer slipped out before he could organize his thoughts.
—So are you curious or not?
“I’m curious. Please tell me honestly.”
—You threw up.
Damn it.
—You threw up in the taxi too. You were completely out of it. When I carried you on my back, you got my T-shirt dirty too. It was a total mess.
He had asked for honesty, and Hyunoh was truly honest.
But since he hadn’t mentioned any of this until Yeonjae asked, it seemed he hadn’t planned to bring it up.
“Ah… what do I do. I’m really sorry.”
Holding the phone, Yeonjae kept apologizing as if Hyunoh were standing in front of him.
—Hey. It’s fine. College students get completely drunk at least once.
Hyunoh’s voice was casual, as always. Not just words—he truly sounded like it wasn’t a big deal.
—Compared to other guys who cause trouble when drunk, you were nothing.
“No, it’s not nothing. I’m really sorry. Really, really sorry.”
—Still, you should be careful about getting that drunk in front of men. I’m not saying it’s your fault, but there are too many trash guys in this world these days—
“I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you? I feel so bad. Really.”
Hyunoh’s calm attitude only made Yeonjae feel worse. He felt like bowing all the way to the ground.
“I’ll pay for dry cleaning. How much was the taxi? With the late-night charge, it must have been expensive.”
—I said it’s fine.
“Please. I really can’t just accept this.”
—Try getting used to receiving things sometimes.
He said it lightly, as if hinting that Yeonjae rarely received anything from others.
It’s fine. It’s okay. I don’t need it.
Even after several versions of refusal, Yeonjae kept insisting.
In the end, Hyunoh gave in first.
—Then buy me a meal later.
“That’s enough? Okay. Let’s eat together next time. Something ridiculously expensive. I mean it.”
—Sure.
Just as Yeonjae was thinking the call felt strangely reversed—
Hyunoh added,
—And don’t skip class tomorrow.
Right. After skipping today, he had completely lost track of time.
And tomorrow’s class was one Dohan also attended.
‘I absolutely can’t miss that.’
Refilling his determination, Yeonjae clenched his fist.
—Lee Dohan didn’t see you causing trouble, so don’t worry.
As if he could read his thoughts, Hyunoh added that.
For some reason, Yeonjae felt like Hyunoh had seen through him.
He truly was the type who would skip class just to avoid seeing Dohan.
The call ended. His phone felt warm in his hand.
The washing machine hummed softly from the balcony. Outside the window, it was already evening.
Only then did he feel like checking his messages again.
He opened the only unread message.
The full text appeared.
This letter first started in England and traveled around once a year, bringing good luck to its receiver. Now it has come to you, carrying my apology.
I failed to realize that even a thoughtless joke can kill a frog if it hits the wrong way.
I truly had no bad intentions.
But I know that having no bad intentions is not an excuse.
I sincerely ask for your forgiveness.
I’m sorry.
I will make sure this never happens again.
