Ch.110110. Enlightenment

With one week left until the 23rd batch’s trip, the highlight of the summer break, Suhyeok’s vacation routine was finally settling into place after being completely derailed by his elimination in the preliminaries.

First, exercise.

Though his arm injury prevented him from doing any upper body workouts, Suhyeok still faithfully went to the gym for cardio.

“…If you only do cardio, you’ll lose so much muscle!” Choi Gang wailed beside Suhyeok, knowing there was nothing to be done but lamenting nonetheless.

“Still, isn’t doing this better than doing nothing at all?”

“When will you be fully healed?!”

“Well… it needs at least a month, so next month?”

“That’s when classes start again!!!”

As Choi Gang clutched his towel and muttered that this couldn’t be happening, Sohye, who was standing nearby, sighed as if they were both hopeless.

“Gang oppa, stop that and help me instead, okay? Let Suhyeok oppa do his running.”

“…But you can barely do any reps.”

“I’m twinning with Suhyeok oppa, you know?”

“And you keep trying to avoid working out and just chat!!!”

Watching the two of them bicker as usual, Suhyeok couldn’t help but smile.

Though they seemed incompatible, seeing them like this made Suhyeok think they actually matched well.

Today was the first day Juyeon would teach him guitar.

Suhyeok returned home, showered, and changed his clothes.

Inside his eco bag were sheet music he had printed out for Juyeon’s practice.

Since they’d agreed to use Juyeon’s instrument, Suhyeok walked to the club room empty-handed.

When he tried to unlock the club room door, he found it was already open.

Guitar sounds were coming through an amplifier from inside.

Of course, this wasn’t actual playing.

When he opened the door, he saw Juyeon awkwardly holding a guitar with a pick in her hand.

“Oh, you were already here?”

Suhyeok slowly approached her.

“Ah. Yeah. Hi.”

“Hi.”

Suhyeok pulled up a chair and sat in front of her.

“So, have you tried playing with the guitar since you bought it?”

“…Yeah. I don’t know much, but I watched some YouTube videos.”

“What kind of videos did you watch?”

“Um… just really basic stuff.”

Juyeon eagerly explained what she had studied on her own.

She had learned the names of guitar parts.

She had learned about different playing techniques.

Though she wasn’t perfect at it yet, she had memorized the finger positions for C and G chords.

“Oh… just knowing that much already cuts down on a lot of what I need to explain.”

“Ha. I didn’t want to be a nuisance by asking you to teach me everything from scratch.”

Juyeon was a model student from the start.

When she decided to learn something, she was the type to thoroughly master the basics step by step.

“Still, feel free to ask if you need anything.”

“…Okay!”

Juyeon nodded up and down.

Suhyeok hadn’t planned a specific lesson structure, but he wanted to include two things in the hour.

First, theory and basic exercises she could practice alone at home.

Second, applying that theory to play simple songs.

“Um… is this how you do it?”

Her hand holding the pick awkwardly dangled.

Suhyeok encouraged her as if she was doing well.

“Yeah, that’s right, but it would be better if you could keep a steady up-and-down rhythm.”

Suhyeok’s hand naturally wrapped around Juyeon’s wrist.

Juyeon tried not to be conscious of it, but she couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Suhyeok either didn’t notice or didn’t mind, seeming completely focused on the lesson.

“Good. You’re doing well.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. If you can do that well and learn a few chords, you’ll be able to play songs we know.”

If she could master strumming and chord positions, a huge part of guitar playing would be solved.

The hour passed too quickly for Juyeon.

As the lesson ended, Juyeon was planning to invite Suhyeok to get something to eat.

“Suhyeok.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to… have dinner together?”

Though it was only 4 o’clock, she thought it was still a valid proposal.

“Ah, sorry. I have to go to my part-time job.”

“Part-time job?”

“Yeah. I agreed to help out at Hana’s uncle’s store.”

At the mention of Hana’s name, Juyeon’s gaze dropped to the floor.

“I… see.”

“Yeah.”

Normally, Suhyeok might have picked up on her reaction, but there was no sign of that awareness.

Should she say something or not?

After hesitating, Juyeon finally spoke.

“So… about that confession… is that why you’re going there?”

Suhyeok had been talking about making a confession but still hadn’t done it.

Juyeon was relieved there was no news yet, but his attitude puzzled her.

“Hmm…”

Suhyeok trailed off.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yeah. I’m going to the military anyway. So it feels a bit awkward.”

After his conversation with Seo-eun and Jaejun, Suhyeok had broadened his perspective.

“Starting a relationship now… doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

This had been Hana’s thought for quite some time, but Suhyeok had only recently started focusing on it.

Setting aside all external factors, what did Suhyeok want most?

A relationship with Hana?

His connection with Juyeon?

Or a successful winter performance?

He looked deep within himself.

And he traced the trajectory of his life.

Why he joined the band after entering university.

Why he left the terrible Purple Storm and joined Spirit.

It was never about picking up girls or dating.

[Enjoying band life]

Performing wonderfully with the members and playing guitar happily.

That’s what he had aimed for, so in his view, that’s what Lee Suhyeok should prioritize—this was his final verdict.

The most effective way to achieve this was suggested by Seo-eun.

Assuming he followed Seo-eun’s advice, by the time Suhyeok would start dating, he’d only have 1-2 months left before enlistment.

Dating for 2 months and then making someone wait for 1.5 years.

No matter how much he wanted to date Hana, that seemed too cruel for both her and himself.

Even if they started dating right away, it would be 6 months together and then 1.5 years of waiting, which still didn’t seem reasonable.

“Um… so you’re saying… you’re not interested in dating at all right now?”

Juyeon asked to make sure she understood correctly.

“Yeah! That’s what I think.”

Should she laugh?

Should she cry?

It wasn’t that the opportunity had come to her; it had disappeared entirely.

“Anyway, I think it’s better to focus on Spirit activities until I enlist.”

Unlike when he was struggling with his unrequited love, today’s Suhyeok seemed to radiate a Buddha-like aura.

Seeing him looking as if he’d abandoned all worldly attachments, Juyeon reluctantly nodded.

“Ah, well… I guess that’s one approach…”

“Yeah. So, Juyeon.”

“Yes?”

“Practice, and let me know if you have any questions.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll head out first?”

As Suhyeok walked away, Juyeon waved at him.

Is this… right…?

Juyeon couldn’t quite adjust to his transformed demeanor.

* * *

How many kids use their uncles as emotional trash cans?

After being his niece’s punching bag for an hour and a half, Hana’s uncle was starting to crave a cigarette.

“I mean, Uncle! Does this make any sense to you?”

She used to say he wasn’t her boyfriend.

Now it seemed his niece had become the embodiment of unrequited love.

“No, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Ah! But does it make sense that he’s coming here for a part-time job just because there’s a position available?”

“…You’re the one who invited him and offered him the job.”

“No! But he needs money! How else is he supposed to pay for the trip!”

Either take care of him or stop whining.

Just as he was about to say something harsh, the part-time worker in question, Suhyeok, entered the hall.

“Hello, boss.”

“Oh, Suhyeok, you’re here?”

“Yes.”

“Right. It’s the same as last time, okay? First, do a quick round of cleaning.”

Finally seeing his chance for a smoke break, he quickly grabbed his wallet and lighter and headed upstairs.

The two were left alone.

Hana frowned as she looked at Suhyeok.

“Lee Suhyeok.”

“Yeah.”

“Come here.”

Hana gestured toward a table.

“Sit here.”

“What about cleaning?”

“It’s not urgent, so sit here first.”

The wooden chair creaked as he sat down.

“How’s your arm?”

Health check before getting to the main point.

“It’s fine. Moving it isn’t really a problem anymore.”

“That’s good.”

“You know…”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

A direct attempt to prompt a confession.

“I’m sorry.”

“Not an apology. You already did that over text.”

“Um… thank you?”

“Gratitude is important, but that’s not it either.”

Hana finally drew her sword.

“How do you feel about me?”

Suhyeok stared directly at Hana’s face.

A faint smile appeared.

He no longer tried to hide what everyone already knew.

“I like you.”

The words Hana had so desperately wanted to hear finally came from his lips.

“S-so you mean romantically, not as a friend, right?”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

Hana’s face turned bright red.

“T-then, you know.”

“But…”

“Yes?”

“I don’t really want to date right now.”

A huge question mark appeared above Hana’s head.