Ch.127127. Above

“Two. Three.”

On this late night, Suhyeok had made his way to the practice room.

He had agreed to help Juyeon with her practice.

At first, Juyeon hesitated, saying he could go home, but that didn’t last long.

“Oh… is this how I do it?”

“Yeah. Do it like that, and later when you learn vibrato, just add a touch of that and it’ll be even better.”

Was this how Hana felt?

Watching Juyeon quickly catch on to the key points and make progress, Suhyeok felt a strange sense of pride.

“…Really?”

“Yep.”

“Should we call it a day then?”

Time had flown by, and the clock was already pointing to 10:30.

“You want to?”

“Yeah. I’ll practice the rest at home.”

With those words, Juyeon packed up her instrument and slung the guitar case over her back.

Mid-September.

The summer heat lingered, but the season had reached the point where cool breezes blew at night.

Suhyeok and Juyeon walked side by side, heading home.

Juyeon glanced up at Suhyeok, who had his hands in his pockets and was dragging his slippers.

“…Suhyeok.”

“Yeah?”

“Want to stop by the convenience store?”

“I don’t mind, but what do you want to buy?”

“Beer.”

Suhyeok nodded, signaling that it was fine.

At the three-way intersection that divided their paths home.

The two entered their usual convenience store and stood in front of the refrigerator.

“There’s a promotion if we buy four, so let’s get these.”

Juyeon grabbed a basket and put two cans in first.

“You choose the other two.”

“Huh? Me? Why?”

“…Lesson fee.”

She wanted to ask him to drink with her but felt oddly shy today.

“Really? Then…”

As if not minding at all, Suhyeok picked up two tall cans.

“Thanks.”

“…No problem.”

Juyeon grabbed a pack of dried squid as a snack and completed the purchase at the counter.

According to plan, it was now time to part ways.

“The beer. Just give me mine. I’ll take it.”

All their items were packed in one bag.

But Juyeon wasn’t willing to hand over the items to him.

“…Do you… want to drink together?”

“Huh?”

“I was planning to drink at home anyway… so…”

Suhyeok scratched his head as if he hadn’t expected this turn of events.

“Where?”

“…My place?”

As Juyeon’s fingers fidgeted, the bag rustled.

Since Juyeon had confessed her feelings for him, Suhyeok had been uncomfortable about going to her place.

Of course, he was concerned about Hana, but physiologically, he felt it wasn’t right.

For Juyeon’s sake.

For his own sake.

Making such a judgment didn’t seem particularly wise.

“I’m not really in the mood today. Let’s do it another time.”

Suhyeok stretched out his hand, asking for his beer.

Juyeon took a step back.

She clutched the bag tightly, as if protecting something precious.

“…But you drank with Hana.”

“Huh?”

How did Juyeon know about what happened yesterday?

Who could it be?

If there was any leak, it could only be Hana.

But why would Hana tell Juyeon about that…

“Is it… because I’m not Hana… that you won’t drink with me…?”

The streetlight cast a faint shadow beneath Juyeon’s feet.

“No. That’s not it.”

“You’ll drink with Hana even when you have morning classes, but with me.”

“Look, I don’t know what you heard, but there are circumstances.”

Suhyeok was in a difficult position.

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

Juyeon’s childlike complaint.

Her reaction, as if asking why Hana was allowed but not her, made Suhyeok feel like he was being accused of discrimination.

“I… I can be a better drinking partner…”

Even if he drank with Hana, Suhyeok couldn’t handle much more than cleaning up after her.

If he truly wanted a relaxed drinking companion who could match his pace, Juyeon would be a hundred times better.

“No, Juyeon.”

“…Here.”

Juyeon took a can out of the bag and held it out to Suhyeok.

“Go on in, Suhyeok.”

A face that anyone could see was hurt.

Juyeon didn’t insist any further.

Instead, an infinitely sad expression took its place.

“…We’re just having this one drink, right?”

Suhyeok, who hadn’t taken the can, stared at Juyeon.

“…Yeah.”

Juyeon looked straight into his eyes, as if asking if he was coming.

“Let’s go.”

At his words, Juyeon put Suhyeok’s beer back in the bag.

The two then silently passed through the intersection and headed to Juyeon’s place.

The atmosphere had become strange.

Going up the stairs, they had to pass the spot where Suhyeok had been stabbed.

The scar was still there.

It didn’t hurt anymore, but there was no sign that this mark would disappear anytime soon.

-Beep beep beep beep

After entering the passcode, the two went inside.

As always, Juyeon’s place was neatly organized.

“Want to wash your hands?”

“Yeah.”

As Suhyeok went into the bathroom, Juyeon put down the bag and rubbed her face with her dry hands.

She wasn’t pleased with her recent behavior.

Inconsiderate and childishly selfish.

Perhaps Suhyeok really wasn’t in the mood for a drink when he gave that answer.

Knowing all this, she still brought him here, largely due to Hana’s influence, she thought.

The feeling of falling behind.

In three words: inferiority complex.

In some ways, it was a familiar emotion, but one she didn’t want to feel right now.

When Suhyeok came out of the bathroom, Juyeon quickly washed her hands and sat on the floor.

Suhyeok sat in his usual spot.

Juyeon sat across from him and opened her beer can.

“I’m sorry.”

In the end, the shameless Juyeon apologized first.

“Huh? For what?”

“Just… for bringing you here…”

“No, it’s fine. I don’t mind having a quick drink.”

When Juyeon apologized like that, Suhyeok waved his hand as if it didn’t matter at all.

“…That’s a relief.”

“Besides, you don’t have morning classes tomorrow.”

Suhyeok and Juyeon were in the same department.

Their schedules only differed by about two courses.

“Right. That’s good.”

“What do you do during your free periods these days?”

Suhyeok naturally continued the conversation.

“Me… guitar practice and working on our song.”

“Ah. What was the title again?”

“‘So I Played Guitar.'”

“I’ve been wondering, why that theme?”

Though it didn’t matter, Suhyeok was curious why Juyeon, as the vocalist, had chosen that theme.

“I.”

Juyeon crawled slowly toward Suhyeok on her knees.

“Like you.”

This was Juyeon’s space.

And what she just said was something she had already told Suhyeok once before.

The first time is always the hardest; the second and third times aren’t so difficult.

In that context, the small amount of alcohol and comfortable atmosphere were doubling Juyeon’s courage.

“You also wrote a song about someone you like. No, about Hana.”

Suhyeok’s sore spot.

She was referring to his failed original song, “Maze.”

“Uh…”

After she said that, Suhyeok couldn’t think of a response.

He couldn’t ask why she did that when he had done the same thing himself.

“Suhyeok, I.”

“I play guitar because I want to know you.”

Juyeon took another sip of beer and gently rested her shoulder against Suhyeok’s arm.

“What you like.”

“What you want to be good at.”

“What you find difficult.”

Juyeon wanted to convey her way of loving in a calm tone.

“If I get to know you bit by bit like that, and become someone who can listen to your stories better.”

Juyeon’s head rested weakly on Suhyeok’s shoulder.

“I thought maybe you would like me too.”

Suhyeok could feel that his instincts had been right.

The reason he had been reluctant to come here.

It was because the probability of hearing such words from Juyeon would be higher.

“I… see…”

Since he had already declared that he wouldn’t date, Juyeon probably wasn’t expecting an answer to her confession.

These were difficult words to respond to.

“…Yeah. Want to see the lyrics? I have some written down.”

Despite feeling nervous, he was curious.

He wondered if this song was also about unrequited love like his own…

[Because I couldn’t do anything]

[Because I hated myself for not changing]

[I played guitar]

[Intoxicated by the sound of drums]

[I shake my head]

[My heart that won’t stop]

[The vacuum tube that feels like it’s going to burst]

[Can it reach you?]

[Listen to this sound]

“The lyrics are not really…”

It didn’t seem like a love song.

“Right. They’re not very honest. But what can I do?”

Juyeon smiled wryly.

“You know, and Hana knows. How could I be that obvious?”

When she said that, Suhyeok felt even more heartache.

Looking back, it seemed extremely bold and foolish to have created such a song right beside the two of them.

“Do you like it?”

“Ah, yeah. I think everyone can relate to it and have fun playing it.”

“Hm.”

Instead of answering, Juyeon smiled brightly.

“Did I do well?”

“Right?”

Juyeon raised herself slightly.

Suhyeok’s eyes widened at what followed.

A soft, squishy sensation on his thighs.

Juyeon, without any resistance, leaned her back against Suhyeok’s chest.

“…Then give me a reward.”