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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 : Being Strong

Do-Yung went back every day after that. Well almost, sometimes he couldn't avoid his brothers and their lackeys. Na-Kyum wasn't always around but Do-Yung still waited, trying to understand the boiling discomfort that would melt into something warm and very unfamiliar the second the chestnut head appeared. It was all so strange.

Once, his father had invited him for dinner on a holiday. Everyone was there and they took jabs at him the whole time but Do-Yung had been too focused on wolfing down as much food as he could to acknowledge anything else. His father, out of some weird impulsion to embody the spirit of the day, had asked him if there was anything he wanted in particular. Do-Yung's mind had gone blank. There was nothing. Nothing mattered but surviving and even that was mostly done out of some instinctual reflexes and a body that couldn't seem to shut down. But there was absolutely nothing that Do-Yung wanted. Life went on and dragged him behind.

But in that moment it felt like finally opening his eyes to the world. When he sat with Na-Kyum, looked at his toothless smile, heard him blabber about his day at the orphanage… He found himself wanting. Wanting more. Wanting him.

For the first time ever, Do-Yung was eager for another day to come, impatient for these stolen moments hidden amongst the bushes.

« Look at what I brought ! » Na-Kyum beamed and threw himself down beside Do-Yung. « I figured since you don't have a birthday, we could share mine ! »

« Your birthday ? » Do-Yung had started speaking around the second week though he still mostly listened.

« Yup, » Na-Kyum nodded and spread the booty on the grass. « I had an extra serving and I hid everything in my pockets or you ! »

There was a flattened piece of bread, something that looked like meat with both pink and brown spots, a small handful of squashed fries and a relatively well preserved slice of chocolate cake.

Do-Yung's heart squeezed tight as his friend started clapping his hands and singing a happy birthday. That sixth of may, Do-Yung's existence was celebrated for the first time. He didn't blink while Na-Kyum excitedly wished him happiness, desperate not to miss a second of it.

The bread was dry, the meat barely chewable and the fries had dust on them but he savored every bite. He had never ever had such a delicious meal before. Something just for him. He had eaten at the main house a few times and there, meals were prepared by professional chefs and yet nothing had ever tasted as good as the few pieces Na-Kyum had shoved in his pockets.

« No, it's yours ! » Na-Kyum shook his head and tried to refuse the cake Do-Yung had split in half.

« Please, » he insisted and his determination finally got the better of his generous friend.

Too soon, the workers came back and fixed the wall but Do-Yung didn't blink an eye. Instead he slid in the garage he was only allowed to enter to sleep and stole a screwdriver and a hammer. Nobody came around this part of the propriety and nobody cared to search for him either. He worked on the wall for two days straight, his small, thin arms shaking from the exertion. He dug small holes up the wall, just enough for him to grab onto something and put his feet in.

Na-Kyum's worried welcome was sweet when he finally reached him.

The months passed and it became vital to see Na-Kyum every day. The times he didn't show up, Do-Yung didn't hesitate to go to the orphanage and spy on him for afar. He was usually studying then. Once Na-Kyum caught his eyes and shouted in surprise. The teacher dragged him by the shirt to the front of the classroom then and whipped his leg with a hosepipe. Do-Yung had never felt fear and fury as deep as he had then.

By the time he got his shaking limbs under control, Na-Kyum had been thrown out of the classroom and hurriedly ran to his spying friend to drag him away.

« You can't be here ! » Na-Kyum frowned and only slowed down when they were far enough.

« Does it hurt ? » Do-Yung pulled on his hand to stop him and looked down at the short reddened legs.

« Not much, » Na-Kyum lied. He was a horrible liar.

« Then why are you crying ? » Do-Yung reached to wipe the tears away.

« Because I was scared he'd see you. »

« Who ? »

« He'll think you're an orphan, » Na-Kyum looked down with a somber, worried face. « It's not a good place to live. »

« But I'll be with you then, » Do-Yung frowned in incomprehension, the boiling anger still there in the pit of his stomach. « I'll protect you. »

« You can't, » Na-Kyum chuckled wetly. « You're just a kid. »

« So what ? »

« The teacher says only strong people can decide, » Na-Kyum's hand tightened over his own. « We're not strong. That's why this happens to us. »

« We're not… Strong ? »

This moment changed everything for Do-Yung.