Elsewhere, Sechan had his hands full. Literally.
Jungwon, wobbling on his feet like a newborn deer, was drunk and more feisty than usual. His hair was tousled from all the dancing, and his eyes were half-closed, his body swaying with exhaustion.
"Don't touch me, you moron!" Jungwon barked, stumbling as Sechan reached out to support him.
Sechan raised a brow. "Are you calling me a moron?"
Jungwon, with a dramatic pause, squinted. "No. I'm talking to the spirit behind you."
Sechan gave him a look that screamed "seriously?" but decided not to argue. Instead, he bent down, ignoring Jungwon's protests, and effortlessly threw him over his shoulder.
"Let me go, you idiot!" Jungwon flailed, punching Sechan's back.
Without missing a step, Sechan smacked his butt lightly. "If you wriggle again, I swear I'll kiss you right here in the middle of the street."
Jungwon's eyes widened. "How can you be a bully and a moron at the same time?" he mumbled, clearly on the verge of tears.
Sechan just shook his head with a sigh and marched to his car, placing the now-mumbling Jungwon into the passenger seat.
The drive home was silent, except for Jungwon's occasional whining. Suddenly, he started tugging at his shirt.
"I feel hot," he mumbled, then added more urgently, "Too hot. It's uncomfortable."
Sechan glanced over and saw Jungwon fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.
With a sigh, Sechan pulled the car over. He got out, went to Jungwon's side, and opened the door. "Fine. Sit still."
He took off his own loose shirt, then carefully swapped it with Jungwon's, dressing him like a big child.
Jungwon leaned against him, arms wrapping lazily around Sechan's neck. His eyes were droopy but full of unspoken emotion.
"Hey… I don't know why, but I feel really comfortable around you," Jungwon whispered, now sitting sideways on Sechan's lap, looking into his eyes. "Since you're just some random human… and I might not meet you again… lemme tell you about this moron I met today."
Sechan froze.
"This moron… he's a senior at my school. He said he liked me," Jungwon continued, his voice thick with sleep. "He even kissed me… and gave me a hickey."
Jungwon tugged at his collar, trying to show Sechan the spot. "See? See what he did to me? You shouldn't be like that moron, okay?"
Sechan's arms had gently circled Jungwon's waist by now. He leaned back in the seat and said lowly, "If you keep moving like that, you're not going home tonight."
Jungwon stilled, snuggling close instead. "I just… wanna hold you. Just for a little."
His voice faded as sleep finally took over.
Sechan carried him the rest of the way home. The night was silent, only the sound of crickets echoing in the distance.
At Jungwon's doorstep, Sechan knocked but no one answered. Realizing the door was locked, he searched Jungwon's pockets and found the key. He entered quietly, holding Jungwon like something precious.
The house was still and small. Too quiet. Sechan's eyes roamed the simple furnishings, the photographs tucked into bookshelves, the smell of paper and lavender in the air.
"Does he… live alone?" Sechan whispered to himself.
He laid Jungwon gently on the bed, pulling the covers over him. He stood there for a moment, just watching. Remembering what he had read.
Jungwon's mom had passed away. His father had vanished under a mountain of debt. Though he eventually repaid what he owed, he never came back—not even once to see his son. He just wired money now and then. Nothing more.
Sechan's heart squeezed.
"You're doing the right thing with that money," he said softly, brushing strands of hair from Jungwon's forehead. "You're using it to survive. Keep going, strong boy."
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Jungwon's forehead.
"Fighting," he whispered, then turned off the light, walking out into the night with the weight of a silent promise in his chest.
Sechan carried him the rest of the way home. The night was silent, only the sound of crickets echoing in the distance.
At Jungwon's doorstep, Sechan knocked but no one answered. Realizing the door was locked, he searched Jungwon's pockets and found the key. He entered quietly, holding Jungwon like something precious.
The house was still and small. Too quiet. Sechan's eyes roamed the simple furnishings, the photographs tucked into bookshelves, the smell of paper and lavender in the air.
"Does he… live alone?" Sechan whispered to himself.
He laid Jungwon gently on the bed, pulling the covers over him. He stood there for a moment, just watching. Remembering what he had read.
Jungwon's mom had passed away. His father had vanished under a mountain of debt. Though he eventually repaid what he owed, he never came back—not even once to see his son. He just wired money now and then. Nothing more.
Sechan's heart squeezed.
"You're doing the right thing with that money," he said softly, brushing strands of hair from Jungwon's forehead. "You're using it to survive. Keep going, strong boy."
He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Jungwon's forehead.
"Fighting," he whispered, then turned off the light, walking out into the night with the weight of a silent promise in his chest.
The morning sun spilled gently into Kwon's room, brushing his cheeks with warmth. But Kwon remained buried under the covers, his breathing steady, undisturbed. His body was heavy, his mind still foggy from last night's chaos.
"Kwon… Kwon, wake up," his grandmother said softly, gently shaking his shoulder.
No response.
She tried again, raising her voice slightly. "You'll be late for school!"
Still, Kwon didn't stir. He slept like a log, his brows slightly furrowed as if in a dream. With a soft chuckle and a small sigh, his grandma gave up, placing the blanket more firmly over his shoulders.
Meanwhile, across town, Jungwon lay curled up in his bed, a damp cloth on his forehead. His body ached, and his head throbbed with fever.
He opened his eyes slowly, squinting at the faint light creeping through the curtains.
"Who… brought me home?" he muttered to himself, barely able to think.
The effort to recall anything made his temples throb even harder. With a low groan, he shut his eyes again and let sleep take him once more.
Back at school, murmurs of concern filled the senior students' lounge. Two of their juniors, Jungwon and Kwon, were missing—and it wasn't like them to skip.
One of the seniors dialed Kwon's number. After a few rings, it was picked up—but not by Kwon.
"Hello?" a gentle, elderly voice answered.
"Ah—hello, is this Kwon's family?" the senior asked.
"Yes, I'm his grandmother. Kwon's still asleep, poor boy. He must've been exhausted from the party," she explained.
The seniors exchanged glances and sighed in relief.
But Jungwon's phone was still unanswered. They tried calling him again. This time, a raspy voice finally answered.
"Hello…?" Jungwon croaked.
"Are you okay?" one of the seniors asked, clearly worried.
"I'm fine… just a bit tired from yesterday," Jungwon managed to say before hanging up and tossing the phone aside.
Now that they'd heard both voices, the seniors were finally at ease.
But two figures at the back of the room—Tae and Sechan—had heard everything.
"We should check on them," Tae said, arms folded.
Sechan nodded in agreement.