Jensen woke up at eight in the morning and floundered lazily in bed for a few minutes, stretching his tired limbs. Du Hyun was hard asleep on the bed next to him. A thin streak of saliva rolled from his parted lips down his chin, wetting the edge of the blanket. Jensen, seeing this, grinned, rose quietly on his toes, and took a quick picture. Hyun's face was cartoonishly flattened, and his red cheeks were imprinted with pillow marks.
He left the room and hurriedly went for a warm shower. The sounds of the television were coming from the living room.
Slapping his bare feet on the floor and rubbing his wet bangs, Jensen stopped beside the couch and looked at Du San with surprise. She was wearing a black nourishing mask on her face. After a long weekend during which she had to work, the woman spent almost all her time watching dramas.
Jensen understood her perfectly.
"Oh, you're awake!" the woman exclaimed softly. The mask on her face shifted slightly.
The boy nodded, scratching the back of his head, and moved toward the kitchen.
"I made breakfast, it's on the table. Have a bite to eat for now."
There were four juicy, thick meat sandwiches wrapped in lettuce on the plate. Picking up one of them, Jensen greedily bit into it with his teeth. His stomach churned happily.
When he wanted to join his aunt in watching the morning program, there was a sudden knock on the door. After swallowing his breakfast in one bite, he looked perplexed at Du San.
"I didn't invite anyone," she said slowly.
Jensen moved toward the door. He lifted the latch with his finger and pushed it open with a creak. His eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
Jamin was standing in the doorway. The warm sports jacket hung lightly over his shoulders, as if it were several sizes larger than he was. His hands, tucked into his pockets, trembled a little. A faint blush bloomed on his pale, rough cheeks.
"You asked me to run with you in the morning," he replied calmly.
Jensen leaned his hand on the threshold. A slight smirk spread on his lips.
"How did you know where I live?"
Jamin shook his head, taking his phone out of his pocket.
"You texted me the address a couple of days ago."
He brushed back his wet bangs with a wide palm, and then bit his lip and nodded after a few seconds, stepping away from the threshold.
"Come in," he nodded. "I'll dry my hair and we'll be off."
Jamin hesitated, wrinkling the sleeves of his jacket. The expression on his face exuded doubt. Jensen curved the corners of his lips and, leaning toward the boy, slid his fingers over the thick, thick collar. Hooking the black tiny slider of the zipper, he pulled the older boy toward him without hesitation, pulling him into the apartment. The door slammed shut behind them.
Exhaling heavily, Jamin felt the fleeting touch of hot fingers against the cool skin of his chin. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, feeling the stuffy air sneak in and burn his lungs.
In a low voice, Jensen whispered, pointing to a small cushioned ottoman beside the mirror:
"Wait for me here."
A stranger's head curiously emerged from the living room. Jamin, noticing something black covering his adult face, flinched a little.
"Who do we have here...?" inquired Du San. Her eyes lit up strangely when she saw the young stranger on the pouffe. "You have a friend coming to see you?"
She lowered her voice on purpose, addressing Jensen with a pleasant smile. Jamin jumped up and tilted his head respectfully several times.
"Yes. We're going for a run."
Du San swiped the mask off her face and smiled broadly.
"Nice to meet you."
"Why did you put him in the hallway, huh!" the woman frowned and playfully clapped Jensen on the shoulder. He pretended that this weightless blow had hurt him, and mumbled pitifully, arching his black eyebrows. A grin spread across his face.
Jamin felt uncomfortable and immediately began to deny it:
"No, it's okay, I'm fine here."
However, Du San didn't listen to him. She gently nudged him into the room, from which the sounds of a comedy TV program could be heard.
"Come into the living room, come on, there's nothing to sit in the hallway. It'll be three hours before he gets ready!"
Jamin humbly exhaled, glimpsed the distancing Jensen and his beautiful eyes, covered with thick lashes, widened at what he saw. In the aisle he saw the guy's muscular back, where he was slowly pulling off the white T-shirt, slightly translucent because of the wet skin. Hard back muscles, sharp large shoulder blades, and wiry powerful arms.
Something inside Jamin, just seeing something like that, erupted, cutting off his breath.
He was a man of art. And what he saw was one of his weaknesses.
The smooth bare skin, from which hot, thick steam seemed to emanate after a shower, was like a silk cloth over glowing coals.
The tips of his fingers that he used to squeeze the edges of his sleeves felt a strangely pleasant itch. The desire to touch and run them along his back, to feel the roughness of the scalding skin beneath him, forcibly clawed at his brain.
Surely he was a high school student, not an MMA fighter?
But when Jamin squinted his eyes, he noticed something strange. On his back, a pale old scar stretched across his spine.
Like dry tree branches creeping toward the sun, it touched the edge of his shoulder blades on both sides.
A lone pulse pierced him from head to toe.
Jamin swallowed the unvoiced question that was eagerly pounding in his head and turned away sharply. His hospitable aunt seated him on the sofa and plopped down beside him, smiling happily. Jamin caught a glimpse of the room and was embarrassed by the stranger's gaze. He unbuttoned his jacket and silently exhaled as the cool, refreshing air licked his entire body through his clothes.
And why had he even succumbed to this guy's entreaties to go for an early morning run...?
Ha, just his smirk was so damn convincing.
Five minutes later, a short kid came running out of the room where Jensen was hiding. His red face blazed with irritation and anger.
"'Why didn't you go dry your head in the bathroom?! Did you have to wake me up?" came a sleepy, nervous teenage voice.
A satisfied Jensen followed, already dressed in a black sweatshirt and wide, loose pants. He held a rubber band in his mouth, which he later used to tie his hair into a little ponytail.
"Are you coming with us?" he asked his brother with a raised eyebrow.
Hyun, frowning, looked at him like he was a fool.
"Are you serious? Is this some kind of mockery or something? How about I wake you up at three in the morning and call you to sweep the street?"
Rolling his eyes disappointedly, the boy disappeared into the bathroom, slamming the door loudly. Jensen smirked, tossing him a look:
"Anything you want for any money."
He approached Jamin, sitting on the couch, who looked like a lone tree growing in the middle of the desert, and touched his shoulder.
"I brought my purse with me, let's go."
Du San stood up, looking at her nephew questioningly.
"What do you need money for? Let me feed you at home."
The boy brushed it off.
"I promised to treat him to something."
Surprisingly, Jamin didn't remember such a promise, but he was still intrigued.
Jensen quickly threw on his jacket and tied the laces of his sneakers tightly. He let Jamin through the door, whispered something in Du San's ear, and moved toward the elevator. Chom Jamin, leveled beside him, stared thoughtfully at his face. Jensen smiled at him with a corner of his lips.
"Ready? I already have an outlined path I run every day."
Jamin had no choice but to nod and walk past the ajar doors of the elevator, which had the sweet smell of women's perfume from past passengers.
He crinkled, rubbing his nose, and heard a velvet laughter above his ear. Jensen leaned sideways against the elevator wall and looked at the guy with a chuckle.
"Unpleasant?"
"So-so."
"You smell very fragrant, though," Jensen said jokingly.
Jamin turned away. The tips of his ears flushed.
Jensen, who had tracked his reaction, laughed again.
***
The early morning weather outside was much warmer than it had been a few days before. The melted snow lining the road sloshed quietly underfoot.
After a thirty-minute run, Jensen wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed loudly. Jamin, who looked as if he had just left the house, stopped next to him.
"What do you think?" asked El with a gasp.
Jamin straightened, threw his black hair back, and smirked faintly at his plump lips.
"I feel fine. And you?" his voice sounded a little snide.
Jensen pressed his lips together, remembering his extravagant fall when there was a crust of ice under the pile of snow, and shook his head.
"There's nothing I can't overcome."
Jamin hummed ironically.
They smiled at each other. As they continued down the road, Jensen spoke:
"I want to treat you to something. I hope you're not disgusted with my taste after those toasts."
Jamin shook his head negatively when he heard this and obediently followed Jensen. They entered a small coffee shop. The decor inside was enchanting: faint red lights illuminating the hall, dimly decorated furniture, and soft barely audible music. In the corner sat a few visitors, probably office workers who had stopped in for a bite to eat.
Jamin trusted Jensen's choice of seating, and he seated him at a table for two by a large window through which he could see almost the entire street.
Jensen called to the waitress and mouthed his order. With a nod, the waitress immediately rushed off toward the kitchen.
Putting his chin on his hand, the guy blew his bangs off his forehead and, stretching his lips, asked:
"Have you ever tried hot dog churros?"
Jamin leaned back in his chair and shook his head negatively.
"I'm not much of a baker."
Jensen parted his lips.
"You'll definitely like this."
His tone sounded very convincing.
When several beautifully packaged appetizers appeared on the table, with jets of steam shooting upward, Jensen immediately leaned forward and, picking up a special bowl with hot cheese in it, dipped a crispy, spiral-shaped churros into it.
The mouthwatering aroma of custard dough hit his nose.
Jensen handed the snack to the guy across the table and raised an eyebrow.
"Try it."
The fried sweetish pastry, drizzled with warm salty cheese, left a taste of something unusual on the tongue. The meat filling, hitting his emaciated body, made him want to take a bigger bite. This was the first time Jamin had tried something like this.
But the mild, juicy taste was nothing compared to the sight that lay before him.
Jensen was so engrossed in his meal that he didn't notice the stare. His eyes glowed with pleasure while his mouth devoured the churros as quickly as possible.
The happiness on his face forced Chom Jamin into a stupor.
Was food really capable of evoking such emotions?
Looking at the unfinished churros in his hands, the boy took another small bite, and the look in his cold black eyes flicked back to Jensen.
At that moment, he felt an unprecedented hunger.
He bit into the snack and chewed it greedily, as if it were his first meal.
The atmosphere between them softened. Jensen glanced sideways at the dancer, who was engrossed in his meal, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously lifted. The silence that reigned between them was not awkward.
The rays of the early sun splashed through the window and illuminated the entire café. Silent music, caressing the ear, continued.
***
After the third lesson, Jensen snatched his brother out of class and headed for the cafeteria. The voices of the students, bunched together, were cutting to the ears. Dragging the muttering Hyun behind him, the boy stood in line and, relaxed with his hands in his pockets, looked around indifferently at the crowd in front of him.
Some students jostled, impatiently looking at the fresh food on the counter. Some, seeing the tall, familiar figure, famous throughout the school, pressed their heads into their shoulders and fell silent.
Jensen stomped his foot and muttered loudly:
"Let's get your asses moving, work faster with your hands, well. My stomach's already twisting, I'm starving," the boy urged the students. After the third lesson, his appetite was running high, and even the morning churros couldn't dampen it.
Hyun glanced at his brother and threw a lazy "glutton". He pinched his side, and Jensen smiled. They pushed each other around for a while longer, and when it was their turn, they rushed to get their portions.
Finding an empty seat with several other students sitting next to it, Jensen plopped down at the table, immediately picking up his chopsticks, picking up a large lump of rice, and greedily stuffing it into his mouth. Hyun, after watching him for a few seconds, joined in. Feeling the stares sliding down his back, he shrugged.
Obviously, some people who were unaware of their kinship were now a little stunned. It was inevitable, but the residue was still there.
The familiar company passed by, led by Gum Dae Han, who was walking in a sprawling manner. When he came across Jensen, hunched over his portion, who saw nothing but rice, his expression immediately changed. Turning away, Dae Han hurried away as quickly as he could. His desperately blushing ears were visible a mile away.
The conversations of the dining students did not stop, soon becoming one rumbling mass.
Suddenly there was a rumbling sound.
Hyun turned hastily, throwing away his chopsticks. Jensen raised his head and squinted.
"What's going on out there?" he asked perplexedly.
The sound came from the far side of the dining hall. Several students suddenly jumped up from their seats and rushed to the sides with strange shrieks.
Jensen stood up and took two cautious steps forward. Hyun slowly rose after him and grabbed his forearm.
"What is it?" he asked in a whisper.
The silence that hung in the air for a second was broken by a deafening scream:
"Get the nurse!"
The atmosphere evaporated, filled with panic. Jensen moved forward, and, struggling through the crowd, froze when his gaze fell upon a teenager lying in an unnatural pose.
His face looked like a bright scarlet tomato. His eyes, covered with a white translucent film, rolled up, his pupils barely visible from beneath his eyelids.
White foam protruded from his mouth, obstructing his breathing. One of the girls bent down and rolled him over onto his side, flicking her frantic eyes at his frozen classmates.
"What are you standing there for?!" she shouted. "Call an ambulance!"
Some of them grabbed their phones with trembling fingers at the same moment.
Jensen stared tensely at the overturned chair and the dinner scattered across the table. With his tongue pushing the inside of his cheek, he flinched at the startled voice of his brother under his ear.
"That's my classmate..."
After pondering, EL squeezed out softly:
"Don't eat in the cafeteria anymore."
Du Hyun arched an eyebrow in surprise.
"What...?"
"You heard me," Jensen cut off. His eyes darkened as he looked his brother in the eye. "Take the food from home."
Soon the director, teachers, and a concerned nurse came running in to the noise and screaming of the students.
She said something in the principal's ear after examining the convulsing teenager, who recoiled in surprise.
The physics teacher, known throughout the school for his loud harsh voice, wailed:
"Everyone please return to your classrooms, now! Leave the cafeteria! Now! He needs air!"
Jensen clutched at his brother's collar with his fingers and dragged him out of the room after him as one of the first. The crowd of children slowly moved toward the exit, looking back and forth at the adults surrounding the schoolboy.
Everyone seemed to be in a bad dream. The food, still in their stomachs, begged to be expelled at the memory of the gruesome sight. Some of them rushed to the toilets, some returned safely to class. Jensen parted with his brother in the corridor, giving him one last punishment:
"Wait for me at school after class, don't go anywhere, okay?"
Hyun only had to nod obediently.
***
The next class was a little late because the teacher was late. The woman who entered the classroom seemed unrealistically pale. With trembling fingers she nervously went through her papers, tapping her desk with the other hand at the same time.
At last she let out a hoarse voice:
"Guys, I have a little message, please listen to the end and don't be distracted by anything."
The seniors' ears perked up. The woman, realizing that all attention had shifted to her, continued:
"Due to the situation that occurred during lunch, we have an emergency special order coming to our school. I will now ask you all to open your backpacks for inspection."
There was a commotion. The teacher hurriedly calmed the class down:
"This is not done for any purpose of violating your personal space, it is done for safety purposes, so all personal items must be inspected. Don't worry, nothing that violates school policy will be confiscated."
"What happened to that guy?" inquired from the back desks.
She was silent for a moment, the teacher was covered in sweat and leaned tiredly on her desk with her hand. Lowering her voice, she said confidentially:
"It's not worth talking about, but I think you're understanding kids, so you won't talk."
The students, whispering, nodded in agreement. Jensen leaned back in his stiff chair and twirled a pen between his fingers. The teacher staggered to the front of the row. Her hoarse voice, which sounded in the silence, struck her like a gust of frosty wind.
"They found a drug in his system."
The pen slipped from Jensen's hand and hit the floor with a sharp pop.
His breathing quickened. The overturned portion of rice flopped in front of his eyes.
The class was silent.
"Please don't spread this around," the teacher asked as she placed the stack of papers on the table. She turned back to the students and continued. "Now please open your bags."
Everyone rustled their backpacks unreservedly, and though their every movement was a little wooden, no one dared to disobey. Jensen, following the others, also clicked his zipper, but his expressive, predatory eyes stared fixedly and tensely at the back opposite.
Dae Han, feeling the pressure enveloping the back of his head, swallowed hard.
His fingers trembled.
Exhaling noisily, he unzipped his black backpack and tried to keep a calm expression on his face.
The teacher hurried along the row.
An ambulance siren squealed outside. Jensen looked dryly out the window overlooking the courtyard.
Heavy flakes of snow were coming down from the darkened sky, which, like a solid white wall, shielded the school from the rest of the world. A cold, prickly wind blew in through the window, which was slightly ajar for the break.
The previously warm weather that had haunted Pusan this morning had finally deteriorated.