After having a meal, he dashed back to the dormitory as if fleeing. He then proceeded to look more closely at the room he hadn't examined before. With Haru stuck at his side, marveling at the bathroom and terrace together. Looking at Haru resembling a big dog, Sihyun patted his hair.
Haru, having discovered the terrace hidden behind the curtains, let out a small gasp. My reaction mirrored his.
Come to think of it, it was the same at the cafeteria earlier.
The only two startled souls at the buffet were Haru and me. Unlike the Four Heavenly Kings, who strolled as if familiar with such places. I silently observed him with a peculiar amount of curiosity. Thinking about it, Ban Haru was quite a mysterious person.
Of course, it's possible that he was making assumptions, but where is a surname like 'Ban' common? Moreover, to claim that a name like Haru was common contradicted his ten years of web novel experience. Sihyun couldn't help but hear the alarm bells. As Sihyun was eyeing him carefully, Haru may have sensed his stare because he turned around to look back at him. His disheveled bangs obstructed his line of sight.
As I quietly observed Haru, the door swung open.
"I'm so full I'm going to die!"
The tranquil and peaceful room suddenly turned chaotic.
Feeling full and drowsy after a meal is normal, but Kang Haeun, having filled his empty stomach, began bouncing around like a lunatic.
"I'm bored~."
"Oh, give me a break, let me be alone for a bit."
"Is Min upset right now?"
"Yeah."
"Kyaah, so fierce!"
"Ha."
Amidst this nonsensical conversation, Hamin let out a sigh. Sihyun was truly relieved that Haeun's focus wasn't on him, but he still felt bad for the weary-looking Hamin, who was being clung to. Initially Sihyun had just thought of him as a rude guy, but looking at him now, with Haeun hanging off him, he looked very pitiful.
Just as he pondered this, Haeun's gaze suddenly turned towards Sihyun. Sensing his stare, Sihyun swiftly stood up, grabbed a towel and underwear from his wardrobe, and slipped into the bathroom.
"I'll shower first."
Realizing that Haeun's attention was redirected to me, I entered the bathroom, ignoring his apparent disappointment. I closed the door, took a quick breath, and turned on the shower, blocking out the sound of Haeun's lament. As a habit, I turned the tap all the way towards hot water, and suddenly, a rush of scalding hot water poured from the shower head attached to the ceiling.
Startled by the hot water cascading onto my head, I stepped back. At home you would have to wait a while to get the temperature right, but these dormitory showers seemed to work instantly. Turning it to cold resulted in icy water pouring down on my reddening body. I finally managed to find the middle.
After experiencing both a steamy hot and freezing cold shower against my will, I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around my neck. Upon emerging from the steam-filled bathroom, I saw Hamin, who looked like he had given up, and Haeun, who was still clinging to him.
They have quite a peculiar relationship.
At first glance, it seemed like Haeun was afraid of Hamin, but from this angle, it looked like Hamin was the one losing. No, it didn't just look like it, he might genuinely be losing.
Still, they seemed somewhat close in their own way. While observing the two he used his towel to dry his hair.
Seeing as the other two didn't seem like they were planning on washing up anytime soon, Haru wen't in next. As Sihyun was drying his hair, Haeun sat down and offered to do it for him, but Sihyun refused and instead waited for Haru. As he came out of the bathroom, Sihyun made him the same offer as Haeun, but unexpectedly he was also rejected.
"I'll do it myself…"
"Okay, it's whatever."
At first Sihyun was a bit shocked since it was the first time that Haru had rejected him, but he quickly shook it off. To him, Haru was a kid that needed to be taken care of, but for everyone else Haru was an eighteen year old that was one year older than Sihyun. Instead of feeling choked up about it, he just went and handed him a hairdryer. Accepting the hairdryer Haru lowered his head to use it, his thick hair was flying around enough to make you dizzy.
"Haru hyung, don't you want to trim your hair?"
"Huh, what?"
"It looks messy."
Isn't it frustrating?
As Haeun mixed in friendly words, Haru seemed perplexed. Seeing his awkwardness, he debated if he should stop them, but Sihyun was also curious about his response. Haru opened his mouth, hair still covering his face.
"Not yet…"
"Then, could you let me take a peek for a moment? I'm curious."
"That's enough."
He stopped Haeun, who was grabbing onto an already uncomfortable person while asking awkward questions. Wheezing, the hairdryer turned on again. As Sihyun gave him a dry look, Haeun pouted.
"You're no fun!"
Haeun shouted, but at this point Sihyun was used to it.
How would you even get close to this guy?
Even though it's childish, Haeun keeps picking fights. He seems like a good-natured cute kid, but he's actually just a brat. Sihyun wondered how the other heavenly kings managed to get close to him, but soon he remembered that all four of them were crazy. Like attracts like or something like that.
Baek Geonu seemed a bit different, though.
Shaking my head at passing thoughts, I laid down on the bed. Later, when Haeun finished showering he suggested watching a movie, I felt somewhat tempted, but I also didn't feel like sitting together with him so I refused.
Due to my refusal, Hamin was dragged along instead. Haru paced around, glancing at the two of them. He seemed like he wanted to see the movie, so after some consideration, Sihyun got out of bed.
The two large, long sofas looked like they could fit at least four people each. But Haru still seemed to feel too awkward to go and sit down. I grabbed his shoulders and asked.
"Do you want to watch the movie?"
"Ah... um... yes."
Hesitating, Haru slowly nodded. Expecting this response, I moved to the other sofa across from where Haeun and Hamin sat, looking over at Haru. After a moment, Haru, who had been hesitant, came and sat down next to Sihyun. Haeun complained about favoritism. Without bothering to acknowledge that it was true, I turned my attention to the screen.
With a 75-inch screen, even though the TV and the sofa seemed quite far apart, the screen was clearly visible. The movie starting reflected Haeun's taste, a film heavily infused with action.
The once noisy room now fell silent, preserving only the sound emanating from the movie. As I focused on the actors and the movie's plot, I realized with a frown it was a crime thriller. Wondering if it was okay for kids to watch it, my eyes fell on Hamin, who was focusing on the movie.
His youthful purple eyes shined with interest. After looking at him for a bit, with an impassive face, I turned back towards the TV.
The two organizations, once involved in drug trafficking, eventually clashed. Cars skidded, and the bosses of each faction took control of their vehicles. It was the absurd beginning of a chicken race.
The clash of egos in a chicken race built on profit and pride saw the wheels of the cars rolling. The two cars, accelerating, met head-on. Bang! At the sound of the collision, my shoulders flinched.
Of course, it had to be something like this.
I tightened my grip on the pillow, feeling a bit uneasy. Two vivid memories swiftly flashed through my mind, and I felt a slight queasiness.
The cars that collided had their headlights go out and sparks flying. In the end, it was a B-grade movie where both organizations died together. Amidst the somber background music and rolling credits, Haeun injected vitality into the quiet room.
"I watched this director's previous work, it was decent, but this is quite low-grade, isn't it?"
"...Then why are you grabbing the remote again?"
"Ah, if I only watch one, it's unsatisfactory."
Despite delivering a merciless critique, Haeun's expression remained cheerful. He said it was boring, but his face said otherwise. As I shook my head and looked over a Haru, Hamin managed to steal the remote.
"Give it up, lunatic!"
This time it was Haeun's loss, as he won over the remote Hamin started pressing the arrow button recklessly. The movie they settled on after Hamin's victorious remote takeover happened to be a romance. I didn't expect him to like this kind of genre. As I thought about it my eyes traveled towards him, and as if predetermined, our eyes met.
As their gazes interlocked, Sihyun blinked.
'What'
As his lips silently formed the word, I turned back towards the TV without answering. At any rate, even if he's not a complete bastard, he still has a bad personality.
As they were watching Hamin's romance film, one by one they stretched out on the couches. Together they relaxed and took a break, until the dinner notice was heard.
Unlike the other youngsters who needed three proper meals a day, Sihyun was someone who could make do with just one.
I was still full from lunch and not in the mood to eat after the movie. Returning to bed, I turned and waved my hands at Haru.
"I'm not going to eat, but hyung should go."
"But…"
"Eating alone feels lonely. Go eat with them. I want to rest a bit."
While I tried to soothe him, he just looked at me. As if to demonstrate, I pulled the covers up past my nose, covering half of my face. Suddenly Haru held his hand to my forehead.
"… Are you hurt?"
Sihyun froze slightly at the sudden contact, but then answered that he was fine. Haru got up but was still reluctant to leave, after reassuring him a second time that I was fine he finally went out the door.
As soon as I was sure that Haru was gone I closed my eyes. Scenes from the movie flashed by and the memories came crashing down like waves, as I tried not to get caught in them sleepiness overtook me.
The accumulated fatigue from exams and facing the Four Heavenly Kings became a river that dragged him to sleep.
***
I thought I'd have a nightmare. The sensation of being constrained was familiar, so I was certain it'd be a nightmare, but...
"So we meet again?"
An unexpectedly familiar face greeted me.
"Why are you here?"
"I told you before, but you're the one that came into my space."
Caught off guard, I squinted at Kang Sihyun with narrowed eyes. Wondering if he was a figment of my dream or the real Kang Sihyun, the boy observing my contemplation seemed unimpressed.
"Why do you look at a perfectly fine person with suspicion? If this is an illusion, then this scenario is something created by your fantasy."
Injustice tainted the voice, and Sihyun's gaze shifted to where the boy pointed. Surprised by an unexpected presence, my eyes widened. Two uninvited guests sat exactly where Kang Sihyun indicated, one of them was even crying.
"Why are you crying?"
Hamin asked.
"Mind your business."
Daun replied.
"Why are you crying?"
"Mind your own business."
"Is that all you can say?"
The sharpness in Daun's voice faltered as her once beautiful brown eyes moistened. I hesitated, halted in my steps, watching. I've never seen Daun like this. I couldn't fathom what was happening.
"What is this?"
"Isn't it the fantasy you created?"
Kang Sihyun replied to my surprised voice. Meanwhile, Hamin approached Daun, closing the distance between them. They were closed enough for their breaths to mix, for some reason it I swallowed nervously..
"I'll ask one last time. Why are you crying?"
"…Mind your own business."
"Jeong Daun."
"Why are you so concerned? Who are you to worry about me? Lee Hamin, who gave you the right…"
Daun's voice, initially assertive, began wavering as she struggled to speak.
With her voice cut off by tears, she raised her hand to strike the one in front of her, but Hamin was quicker and firmly grabbed her wrist. Daun shouted at him to let go. I had just been quietly watching but now I could feel the color draining from my face. My own thoughts made me flinch.
"You did, You're the one making me concerned."
Crazy.
I staggered back another step. It felt like my hand was convulsing, I felt it all the way to my veins.
"I also have something to ask."
After saying that, Hamin took one of Daun's fingers and put it on his chest. I shut my eyes tightly. Next to me, Kang Sihyun smiled and began speaking with interest, but I covered my ears tightly to block everything out. Unfortunately Hamin's voice slipped past my fingers.
"Who gave you the right to make me worry like this?"
'What is this… Why is my heart reacting to you?'
The indifferent voice marked the culmination of an unbearably web novel-like revelation. Sihyun, nauseated, awoke with a jolt, staring at the ceiling with dilated pupils. Instead of the familiar patterned ceiling, coated wood filled his vision. It took a while for me to remember that horrible nightmare, trying to shake off my confused thoughts, I got out of bed.
The content of my dream came back to me.
This was for real.
Honestly, not even in my wildest dreams could I conjure up such a crazy dream.