Harmonious Love

Where There Is Sunlight, There Are Shadows (11)

***

“…The correlation between unrequited love and academic performance?”

Mo Yeon murmured quietly, frowning.

That was the title of a column he discovered on an internet portal site he had mindlessly opened. The reason his attention was caught, and why he felt somewhat interested in the title, was probably because it struck a chord with him.

This was a very recent change for Mo Yeon. He was discovering for the first time that there were many stories about unrequited love in the world.

Whether or not he had developed feelings for Tae Young-won, the world would keep turning the same way, but somehow these kinds of titles seemed to catch his eye more frequently than before. And every time, he would click on them for no particular reason, only to feel an inexplicable displeasure afterward.

After scrolling down, he closed the window.

‘What nonsense about grades dropping.’

The column he had read in detail contained content aimed at parents with middle and high school children. He was merely drawn to the title, but it wasn’t an article that would be helpful to him at all. After all, he was a self-sufficient adult, not a college freshman, so none of this would apply to him.

Even last semester, when he was caught stalking Tae Young-won and suffered the worst humiliation of his life, and then had a brief relationship based on the premise that he had “turned Tae Young-won gay,” Mo Yeon had maintained excellent grades. Of course, that was before he had feelings for Tae Young-won.

“What are you glaring at?”

“…”

At the sudden voice, Mo Yeon glanced at Tae Young-won sitting across from him. He had been staring at Mo Yeon for who knows how long. The cafe interior, separated by glass doors, was crowded with students, befitting the new semester.

The same place as last semester, and the same setup. Even the iced coffee and strawberry juice on the table made for a very familiar picture.

Just as Tae Young-won had said things wouldn’t change much, their relationship was indeed continuing without much outward difference. They had simply redefined their relationship as sexual partners after everything they’d been through.

Mo Yeon blinked briefly and shook his head.

It was the day of orientation for a major course he was taking alone. The class had been packed from the first session. After it ended, Mo Yeon ate lunch with Tae Young-won, who had come at the arranged time, in the student cafeteria.

While Mo Yeon encountered countless people from school whom he barely knew, Tae Young-won continued to exchange greetings with them, and Mo Yeon silently ate his meal beside him. Even that scene had become familiar.

“Will you continue to come this early from now on?”

“Huh?”

“Or is it just for this week?”

The class they had successfully registered for together was still an hour away even after finishing lunch. Nevertheless, Tae Young-won had come early to have lunch together. In Mo Yeon’s judgment, this was very inefficient.

“I don’t have many classes, you know. And even those are all in the afternoon. Since I have to eat lunch anyway, might as well eat with you.”

“…”

After blinking quietly and making his own assessment, Mo Yeon spoke in a monotone voice.

“Sunbae really hates eating alone.”

Then he picked up the half-full glass of juice. When he sucked on the straw pressed against his lips, the red juice followed. Honestly, he didn’t feel bad about it.

While Mo Yeon was the most confident person in the world when it came to eating alone, if Tae Young-won was so insistent…

With the start of the new semester, Mo Yeon somehow felt like he was spending more time with Tae Young-won than when they were actually dating. Being in his final semester, Tae Young-won had matched his schedule to Mo Yeon’s, which meant most of the classes Tae Young-won took were with Mo Yeon. On days off or weekends, they were either at home together or went out to eat.

This was practically like living together. The more time Mo Yeon spent with Tae Young-won, the more good things happened rather than bad. Not only did ghosts not cling to him, but they weren’t even noticeable.

So while Mo Yeon had no reason to object to his current lifestyle, it meant he had no time to look for other sources of yang energy. Quite some time had passed in the blink of an eye since his last failed attempt.

“I’ve been wondering about something.”

At the sudden voice, Mo Yeon’s gaze turned back to Tae Young-won.

“I haven’t seen your watch since yesterday. Are you deliberately not wearing it?”

When Mo Yeon’s eyes widened momentarily, Tae Young-won spoke again.

“I thought you forgot it yesterday, but I don’t see it today either. You used to wear it every day at school.”

Being together constantly meant many things. It meant small changes were easy to notice.

Of course, Tae Young-won noticed things more often than Mo Yeon did. Indeed, Tae Young-won was a much more sensitive person than he appeared on the surface. Just as he immediately noticed that Mo Yeon’s watch, which he always wore during the semester, was gone.

“…How did you know? It broke, so I just left it at home.”

Mo Yeon placed his hand on his empty wrist, covered by his sleeve. Even in summer, Mo Yeon insisted on wearing long sleeves, fearing that even the slightest form of a ghost might touch his skin. So naturally, it wouldn’t have been very noticeable. Moreover, Tae Young-won had never mentioned Mo Yeon’s watch before.

To Mo Yeon’s surprised question, Tae Young-won calmly raised an eyebrow.

“Of course I’d notice, it really stands out.”

“The watch?”

“Yeah, a guy who dresses like a bum wearing a proper watch. I used to have one like that, so I know roughly how much it costs.”

Mo Yeon blinked blankly. Was this an expensive watch?

His parents, who had been negligent with their child, were at least generous when it came to material things. Mo Yeon couldn’t accept this happily. He interpreted it as their way of offsetting the guilt they felt toward their child deep in their hearts.

So he never asked for anything first. Instead, things he might need automatically appeared when he stayed quiet. But that only applied when they were living together.

After moving out, his only forms of contact with his parents were his brother, who visited occasionally—maybe once a month, and only when it wasn’t inconvenient for him—or the living expenses deposited into his bank account.

“Did your parents buy it for you and you just wore it?”

With slightly melancholic eyes, Mo Yeon shook his head. Even the watch he now had at home wasn’t something Mo Yeon had received directly.

“The one I used before was bought for me in high school, but I lost it, so I stole this one from my brother’s room.”

“I see…”

Was it two years ago, at the end of the year? The last time he remembered going to his family home was then, so it must have been stolen two years ago.

At the time, he had no idea it was such an expensive watch. It wasn’t particularly large-faced, and he had chosen it because it looked quite modest and plain. For a moment, his brother’s face flashed in his mind, but Mo Yeon didn’t care that much. If his brother had wanted it back, he would have said something when he visited.

“He probably didn’t even notice it was gone because he has so many.”

“I don’t think so. I think he would have noticed…”

Is that so?

Instead of thinking about his brother’s feelings, which he didn’t care about at all, Mo Yeon looked at his empty wrist. Now that he knew the level of his brother’s luxury, it might be a bit difficult to steal another watch. It was surprising that a watch he had been wearing because it looked modest was expensive enough to catch Tae Young-won’s attention…

No matter how he looked at it, Mo Yeon was in a position where even spending 10,000 won for glasses seemed expensive, so he didn’t think he would be buying a watch with his own money.

“What are you going to do about your next watch? Considering how well you wore it, you’ll probably need another one.”

“…”

Indeed, if he had to go home again, it would be better to steal one the same way. Noticing that his expression had become slightly more relaxed, Tae Young-won grinned.

Unaware of anything, Tae Young-won reached out and pinched Mo Yeon’s cheek. This contact was slightly painful but bearable, acceptable even in public, and it automatically transferred yang energy to him.

“I said you were like a cat, but looking at you like this, you’re a thieving cat.”

“…”

Why that of all things? Being called a thief made him feel guilty in more ways than one.

And now he could see a hint of pity in Tae Young-won’s eyes. He now knew that Mo Yeon was saving money for his independence. Recently, he had even started learning about stocks, albeit in a small way, as taught by Tae Young-won.

As Mo Yeon silently looked at Tae Young-won, he cupped the cheek he had been pinching with his palm.

“It’s cute to imagine you sneaking around stealing, but it also makes me feel sorry for you.”

“…”

So it was pity after all. Mo Yeon tightened his firmly closed lips.

“…We’re in public. Why are you touching me?”

Feeling strangely uncomfortable, Mo Yeon unconsciously spoke in a gloomy voice. His gaze wandered unsteadily here and there.

But Tae Young-won ignored this and raised the corners of his mouth. Then he applied more force with his hand and began to ruffle not just Mo Yeon’s cheek but his hair as well.

“It’s my choice. I’m patting you because I want to pat you. You’re the one who was born cute first, right?”

“…”

Now openly being stroked all over, Mo Yeon lowered his eyes.

Normally, he would have glared and said “stop,” maybe even swatting the hand away, but right now, he didn’t want to.