-1-

Drinking Americano which was prepared by only Jaejin at a mouthful, Sunghoon feels full of admiration because it’s even better than the drink he often enjoys at the coffee shop. Sunghoon really likes Americano, especially with some sweet taste, that makes his taste more difficult to resist. In recent days when school finishes, Sunghoon still always calls at a small coffee shop near school and buys Americano for himself, both zealously rides bike to back home and slowly feels the sweetness and bitterness mixed balancedly, that’s swell. Today is the first day of new year, Sunghoon doesn’t need to go to school, so a moment ago he thought that he would miss a day for drinking, but it’s unexpected when having just come to Jaejin’s house, he was received a glass. Drinking half the glass immediately, Sunghoon is excited and smiles with his close eyes.
- You made this so well, Jaejin-hyung.
Hearing that, Jaejin looks shy.
- So-so. Actually, I used to work as a bartender.
- Oh, I got it.
Sunghoon nods head repeatedly, drinks more a gulp then resumes:
- That I could drink your Americano everday
- If you like it, I’m also ready.
- Just kidding, hyung.
- I’m serious.
Sunghoon rounds his eyes and looks at Jaejin few seconds then says nothing. Jaejin’s sudden seriousness makes Sunghoon puzzled.
- Have you done? Wait for me to wash the glass.
- Sit here, hyung. A bit later I’ll help you.
- I must serve you odd foods.
Seeing Sunghoon’s eyes shining, Jaejin turns around and covers his mouth to burst out laughing. He knows Sunghoon likes odd food very much. This dawn when being with Sunghoon to see the firework, going on the way back to his boarding house and finding out a convienent store still opened, he bought many foods at once to serve Sunghoon who would come to his house today. Jaejin quickly cleans up everything to prepare for a small party, and he doesn’t forget to ask Sunghoon to sit still and not help him anything in the kitchen. Jaejin doesn’t want to bother Sunghoon because when he considers from the form, Sunghoon is still a guest.
Can’t sit still anymore, Sunghoon turns his body and looks around, then curiously walks towards the small bookshelf to see it a while. If he remembers correctly, Jiwon’s room also has a similar one... Jaejin must be a person who likes studying about animals when there are a lot of books related to that topic are arranged orderly on the shelf, including books about interesting scientific phenomena. Sunghoon was attracted thoroughly because of the small world in front of his eyes then he admires Jaejin more. Why does Sunghoon only enjoy wandering that he has never studied hard like other people around him? He believes that he is trying, but that he could be more diligent and know reading book hard like Jaejin, it would be so good.
Raising his finger to the back of books at once and standing himself woozy for a while, Sunghoon backs to the bed then sits down. Feeling startled when he realizes a small-size photo having the image of someone quite familiar, Sunghoon tries to leap from the bed to see it then a hand which is as fast as a light suddenly hides the photo then takes it.
- Jaejin-hyung, have… have you done? – Sunghoon rather panics.
- I’ve done.
Jaejin turns his back and sighs with relief. Sunghoon can’t see this photo, so Jaejin puts it into the pocket deeply.
- You can’t see it.
- I’m sorry.
- Why do you must say sorry?
Jaejin hurriedly brings food to the table, he tries to hide the embarrassment which is appearing clearly on his face.
- Do you hold it against me?
Sunghoon feels shy and asks carefully. He just saw the person in that photo was familiar but it’s too dim so he couldn’t see it clearly. Sunghoon suddenly feels at fault with Jaejin.
- No, I don’t.
Jaejin smiles to console Sunghoon.
- Why can I angry with you?
- But I...
- Come on. I can’t let you see it because it will make you...
Not knowing, what Jaejin going to say, Sunghoon is more and more curious, but then he says with himself that he will violate Jaejin’s private life and he’ll be blameworthy.
- Sunghoon... How should I declare my love?
- Do you plan to confess with the person you love?
Jaejin just set that target at the recent New Year’s Eve, but now he has started his preparation. Although Sunghoon is very surprised but he cannot be uneager. Sunghoon thinks for a while seriously then says:
- You just say straight that you love her.
- Say straight?
Jaejin expectedly worries.
- If you want your confession to be stronger, just say “Be my lover” is okay.
- Will it be okay?
- The most important thing is you’re sincere.
Jaejin still chews incessantly but his mind has flown to somewhere very far. He doesn’t know if it will be alright, but Sunghoon is right: as long as he is sincere. It looks as if at the position of a love professor, Sunghoon was quite vivacious and brisk. He is only innocent when he doesn’t realize how much Jaejin likes him.
- So... tonight...
Jaejin clears his throat with a cough to take the rhythm back then resumes:
- Can you follow me to the confessing place?
- ... I don’t want to frustrate the atmosphere.
- Just help me feel less nervous.
Jaejin rubs Sunghoon’s head, tries to harass and entreat and finally he succeeds. Having done, he suddenly calls at the bookshelf and takes out a ring then gives it to Sunghoon.
- How is it? Is it beatiful?
- Really beautiful. She’ll very like it.
- Yep. She’ll very like.
It’s unexpected that there will be a moment when Jaejin must tell a lot of lies because of a great mission, Jaejin bursts out laughing and feels himself miserable. He seems to only wanting to finish everything quickly because of the feeling of losses that he doesn’t think of the fact that he is too hurried.

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-2-
- Hey Eun Jji-jji, why do you suddenly call at my house today?
Jiwon is completely focusing on his game playing part. He doesn’t want to answer, just lets his body incessantly shake to the left then to the right as if he became the character in game. All of a sudden, the screen is turned off that makes Jiwon’s head spinning.
- Ya Jang Suwon!
- Hey Eun Jiwon, being your friend for 3 years, although I haven’t yet reached the level of your best friend, but I knew your characteristics a part. Sometimes you show your cool and cold appearance like a guy who is indifferent, but sometimes you have a hot temper like a crazy man. Finally, what’s your purpose to come here?
Jiwon is tired and lays by the remote control in the cabinet. Sitting there and thinking again, he even doesn’t know why he can come here, maybe because if he is not in Jaejin’s house, he will have no other place to call at. Thinking about Jaejin, Jiwon suddenly gets butterflies in his stomach. The feeling is like there is something that will happen but his fugitive thought disappeared less than a second. Jiwon has never thought of and also never wanted to confront Jaejin no matter in what aspect. In the first and second year of high school, two people shared the first and second position in their grade in peace and happiness, but this time... it is not the study affair so it might not easy like that anymore.
Suwon opens his eyes widely to look at Jiwon so long then claps his hand strongly making Jiwon immediately startled and ‘wake up’. Jiwon sighs and realizes that he has ‘wrapped’ himself in the worries very long.
- Is it Soyeon’s affair? Jinjja. You told me that two people had been friends, you also no longer put much affection in Soyeon.
- That’s the problem of half year ago.
- So you want to confess again?
- No.
Hesitating and not saying clearly, Jiwon is hit on head with a stabbing pain then he only resigns to taking it and keeping silent. This life is easy like the way Jang Suwon thinks? If it was easy, Jiwon could solve the problems himself, why did he must show his face here to defame him lugubriously?
- If you don’t want to say, that’s all. Stay here to play. I gonna go out for some affairs.
If Suwon said that, Jiwon doesn’t have to be formal anymore. He holds the remote control again, turns on the screen then comes back to the fight which is still unfinished. Jang Suwon often says rough words and in a roundabout way but he’s actually kind-hearted. When talking to others, he keeps showing his stiff face like a robot that can make misunderstanding, but every time he is asked to help by someone, if he feels that action doesn’t harm anyone, he will be willingly to help. In the first stage when two people had just had a sense of propriety, Jiwon and Suwon didn’t leave good impressions to each other, but now they don’t hesitate to stick to one another to be mutual hold. Anyway, in a life with many false things, Jiwon still feels very good when having a friend like that.

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Playing game during 1 hours, Jiwon realizes it has been mid-day. His spirit is boiling like burning whole his body when he has won from this battle to other ones that makes him cannot stop, so he resigns to coercing himself. Jiwon doesn’t know Suwon will go until when. Suwon should make a careful recommendation to Jiwon that what he need to do when being hungry at least.
- I’m back.
So miraculous…
- I bought food for you.
Suwon can cook, he even can open a chicken or seafood restaurant in the future, but he often eats outside, it’s because he’s lazy or in comfortable circumstances that Jiwon isn’t clear. Jiwon laughs lightly, walks towards a few canned foods which have been opened then briskly runs to take more bowls and chopsticks.
- Seeing you get rid of your cold and shrewish appearance, I’m so glad.
- Few days later... I think I have a matter to beg you.
- What is it?
Suwon immediately turns into the seriousness and listens carefully.
- I’ll say later.
That thing now is still a secret and Jiwon needs more time to say it straight. Jiwon seems to having had his own intentions but he still feels hard to know where he should start from. Suwon doesn’t ask anymore, gives Jiwon the chopsticks then starts eating.

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-3-
Sunghoon doesn’t try to dress the most suitable clothes but he still spurces himself up carefully. In the fighting plan very important tonight, he will belong to the ordnance, so he prepared a tube of powder-filled paper string that he has just bought at a store. If Jaejin hyung succeeds, it will not waste Sunghoon’s effort to make preparation, but anyway, he is happy when he can help Jaejin. Sunghoon excitedly puts the tube in his backpack, contemplates himself on the mirror few more seconds then walks outside.
Jaejin has just arrived. His arms and legs have quickly quivered, all the words and statements that he prepared in his mind have also flown away, now he doesn’t know what he will have to do and say, so what can he solve the issue a bit later? Fixing his shirt collar in good order, twisting the sleeves to make two of them equal of the height, Jaejin inflates his mouth and breaths out strongly, then breathes in and out again. This maybe the first time the feeling of nervousness can make him go crazy like this.
Sunghoon appears.
- You will go by your own bike?
- A moment later you must take her back home.
Jaejin bursts out laughing and looks puzzled.
- Has noona arrived?
- Don’t call like that. Why is it ‘noona’?
- So is she the same age with me? Or younger than me?
Witnessing the curiousness and activeness of Sunghoon, Jaejin is the more puzzled. Jaejin doesn’t want to let Sunghoon see this mass of complicating feelings which is overflowing strongly in his soul – so strong that he is unable to hide it. If Sunghoon will see and concern about it?
- You’ll know soon.
Two people leave quickly.

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Along the long road, Jaejin ignores the wolrd around and absorbs in the disorderliness although his foots are still letting the bike go forwards. There are many things piling up in his mind and he’s helpless in front of them.
- Are you worried a lot?
- Suddenly I feel that... the first day of new year but I declare my love, will its result decide my fate in this whole year?
Jaejin tries to tell a joke.
- So why didn't you confess at the New Year’s Eve?
- Because... that day I went to see the firework with you.
- Why didn’t you go with her?
Jaejin tries not to sigh then only shakes his head to reply. His hands squeeze the handles stronger making all his sweat soil on there, the drops of water on his forehead which are hidden behind the bangs also stand out like rain. The heart suddenly beats stronger than usual and it makes Jaejin more panic. His life and his nature is not afraid of anything, why does everything now become like this? Jaejin glances at Sunghoon’s face which is even more excited than that of him. Actually, there’ll be not any girl there.

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Finally, they arrive. Sunghoon opens his eyes widely and looks at the large square, smiles then asks Jaejin:
- It’s time for you to show yourself.
Hearing that, Jaejin more trembles. He bites his lips, keeps the quiver legs balance on the ground then climbs down the bike. Sunghoon also follows closely, at the same time he checks the tube of paper string to make sure that it’s still undamaged.
- Too crowded.
- Nope. It’ll be definitely decreased.
Jaejin often goes across this place so he is very notice of the time. There is a very beautiful fountain near here. He wants to go there to carry out his intention.
- Wait for me a bit.
- When will she come?
- ... She’ll come quickly.
Jaejin suddenly comes up with a certain idea. At Sunghoon’s sight now, Jaejin is like another person with a bit hurried and nervous but of course he can’t prevent himself from those expressions.
- Come to the fountain to wait for me, okay?
Jaejin runs into a nearby store, finds a big mirror to contemplate his appearance again if he is handsome and tactful enough. The result of every confession may depend a part on luck but it’s obvious that no one wants themselves to fail. Loving someone when that person also loves us is too good, but for Sunghoon, Jaejin believes that Sunghoon hasn’t really put all his affection on Jaejin, it’s just… the sooner the better Jaejin wants to become a person that Sunghoon can recommend his inmist feelings by all his trust from that little heart where had the deep injuries, and furthermore, Jaejin is afraid that if he keeps hesitating, someday he even cannot express his feelings comfortably anymore. If Sunghoon can understand that? Holding the ring and revolving it by two fingers, Jaejin lifts his shoulders then smiles. Anyway, he’s ready.
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Sunghoon is still sitting at the step of the fountain, putting his chin on his hand and looking at the passers-by. Everyone has their own partner, so Sunghoon looks lonely and much different. He doesn’t want to be alone no matter where he is because sometimes there’ll be some secrets and confidences that he wants to share with someone he really trusts. At the first period when he come this city, he was very headache when realizing the differences in his lifestlyle from the crowd’s, so it was too hard to find a friend that he thought two people would have a congenial companion. Because of that reason, Sunghoon was really grateful to Jaejin’s appearance in his life. Jaejin hyung is really a good man.
The phone suddenly shakes that makes Sunghoon briefly startled. It’s from a SNS message.
"Jiwon hyung?"
In spite of having unfollowed and deleted the conversation between two persons, Sunghoon couldn’t forget Jiwon’s name account. Sunghoon thoroughly doesn’t want to believe in what he is seeing.
"Kang Sunghoon"
"Let’s meet each other"
"I wanna talk to you a bit”
Three continuous messages make Sunghoon’s phone shake incessantly. His finger quivers and touches the screen making the keyboard appear, but he absolutely hesitates because he isn’t clear what he should reply, Sunghoon struggles with his conscience again that whether he should reply. However, it’s obvious that Sunghoon asked himself not to be related to Jiwon anymore, and then he wouldn’t ruin the current relationship between Jiwon and that noona. He has never forgotten the moment when that noona embraced tightly Jiwon’s waist at the New Year’s Eve with her satisfying face of a girl who found a place of refuge for herself. If it has been like that, why does Jiwon still find Sunghoon?
Looking at a far spot and seeing Jaejin, Sunghoon is like finding a savior for his life, so he immediately sits up and waves hand to call Jaejin.
"Kang Sunghoon"
"I’m sorry. I’m busy"
- Where’s she?
Sunghoon is impatient and quickly asks Jaejin the state when the main character hasn’t yet appeared. Sunghoon expected tonight very much but it seemed that the time has lasted rather long that made him run out of patient.
Witnessing that face which is both excited and quite tired, Jaejin lightly his lips then looks up at Sunghoon’s eyes where is full of expectation. He suddenly feels the current state is very serious, and he just wants to find a reason to withdraw and spend more time preparing. However, that choice will not be what Jaejin has expected, because anyway, for him, this time is the best opportunity...

There may be nothing to lose, Jaejin holds Sunghoon’s shoulder and keeps Sunghoon stand straight, then clears his throat with a cough and decides to raise voice:
- I’m sorry. There’s not any girl here.
- Why? Did she not come?
Sunghoon becomes puzzled clearly.
- There’s only you here. Sunghoon...
- Yes?
- I like you.
That statement strikes like a thunderbolt that makes Sunghoon nearly cannot stand steadily. He gapes and looks at Jaejin.
- I don’t confess with wrong person. Everything was arranged by me.
- Jaejin hyung...
- I’ve followed you since the first days and witnessed almost your happiness and sadness. Afterwards, I could often call at your house and play with you, take a walk with you, spend the New Year’s Eve with you, I more realized that... you’re important to my life since when.
Sunghoon is more bewildered when seeing Jaejin take out the ring which he has stored carefully in his pocket. Was it the ring Jaejin gave to Sunghoon this morning?
- Be my lover.
His mind cannot stop repeating the question “It is real?”, Sunghoon lightly shudders and turns his eyes dewed with tears towards Jaejin. Jaejin spent all his time and determination so that he could brave enough to say his true love to the person he liked, why was that person not a girl or another better one? Sunghoon also wished Jaejin would have a fully happy love. Sunghoon casts down his eyes, his foot puts rearwards but he can’t move. All of a sudden, he only wants to run away when the current situation makes him feel himself ruthless. Sunghoon, to Jaejin, has never had a too deep advance, but for Jiwon, it’s on the contrary that there was too much. Kang Sunghoon has never given up to Eun Jiwon... Never...
- What can I do now?...
- Sunghoon...
Realizing something, the whole Jaejin’s body slowly hardens.
- ... I’m sorry.
- ...
- I’m sorry, Jaejin hyung.
It turned out to be not much surprised, Jaejin keeps silent few seconds to absorb the feeling of being refused then takes a sigh with calmness. The eyes with tears lighly close behind the eyeslashes, he keeps the ring in his tighten palm then smiles and says:
- My love seemed that... it could touch the sky, the ground and even everything, but except you.
Although he knows that the opportunity for him to be agreed is not high, Jaejin still feels great anguish and awkward. He thinks that he will burst out crying but by any cost, he must force him to smile. Jaejin worries that Sunghoon will be scared and this child will think that he is becoming a love burden for Jaejin.
- Do you still like Jiwon, right?
- ...
- Tell me. I won’t tell Jiwon.
- What should I do now?
Looking at Sunghoon move to tears,Jaejin’s heart is like becoming weightless and falling down into a deep abyss without bottom. He is glassy, silly, he even can’t step forwards and hug Sunghoon to say a reassuring statement.
- Because I’m not Eun Jiwon, but the fate arranged that Kang Sunghoon must like Eun Jiwon, so I don’t blame on you. It’s the fate’s fault.
- ...
- Afterwards, you must be really happy. And please remember, there used to be a person who always followed after you on every way but he never felt he did something stupid. That person, until the end, has never had your heart.
Lightly kissing on Sunghoon’s forehead then saying goodbye, Jaejin chooses to leave first. He can’t stand there to let Sunghoon see him cry, and he the more cannot content himself to see Sunghoon cry. Being friends is also good, right? And two people will provisionally not meet one another to make the hearts lighter.

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"Are you still stay up, Jiwon?"
Suddenly receiving a call from Jaejin at midnight that makes Jiwon’s mood unstable.
- What’s up?
"Go out and have a little talk."
- Are you may not happy?
"Maybe."
Sometimes, when Jaejin’s heart has something sad, Jaejin will call Jiwon and say out loud everything until he can say that ‘I’ve been better’. And Jiwon will always listen more than saying and sometimes he says nothing. Jiwon is not good at consoling other people, so he has his own encouraging way.
- I’ll go out a while.
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Being asked to go to a coffee shop near his house, Jiwon immediately calls at there. Jaejin is sitting thoughtfully at a corner, he looks so lonely that he’s poor. Seeing Jiwon, Jaejin quickly asks Jiwon to sit but his face is like trying to be happy but actually, it’s still very inappropriate. Jiwon orders two cups of hot coffee then sits still to wait for what Jaejin will say, but ten mitunes has passed, the atmosphere around them is still in silence.
- Eun Jiwon.
- What?
Hearing Jaejin’s voice clearly and deeply sad, Jiwon lightly raises himself stand up and prepares to listen.
- I really want to feel hatred for you, you know?
- ... Feel hatred for me? What’s the matter with you?
Haven’t yet understood what happened, Jiwon opens his eyes widely and looks at Jaejin who has slowly become calm extraordinarily now.
- You didn’t give to Sunghoon the love that he wanted, why did he still choose you and refuse me?
- Jaejin, why do you say that?
- Why are you suddenly silly?
Jaejin rises his finger to revolve the cup’s handle then lightly resumes, as if there would not be anything in this world could make him angry anymore.
- I said it clearly.
- You... did you confess?
- Stepping in front of you a step, I thought it would be good but it turned out to be a complete deviation. If Sunghoon has turned to you right from the start, why did you still treat him like this?
Jiwon falls silent because of the unexpecting news. His lips quiver and try to say a word but then he doesn’t know what to say. Will that word be a consolatory, a thankful or a apology word? There’s no word worthy to say now when Jaejin’s mood is definitely not good. Jiwon can anticipate that Jaejin will be active in this race, but everything has happened too fast and Jiwon couldn’t manage again, and now it’s only the feeling of fidgeting and being at fault rolling up tightly his heart. The best friend who has been with Jiwon since childhood is heart-broken and wants to show his hatred for Jiwon… If it is like that, does Jiwon should receive it to make Jaejin’s heart lighter? Shyly drinking coffee in mouthful, Jiwon suddenly feels that the sweet taste is like having dissapeared, his body also follows it and be exhausted.
- Do you have nothing to say?
- ... I’m sorry.
- Jiwon.
Jaejin quickly interrupts.
- Now it’s not time to say sorry. Sunghoon needs you. You also need him, right? So don’t run away anymore.
- ...
- I don’t want to tolerate you, but the person Sunghoon chooses is you, not me. Good take care of him, if not, afterwards I’ll not look at your face.
Jaejin smiles and walks out, leaves Jiwon behind with the emptiness in front of Jiwon’s sight. What has been happening is like a dream, Jiwon just wants to wake up and he will definitely forget all because of being busy, but the truth will be always the truth. Looking at the cup of coffee which has been dry since when, Jiwon looks up at the quiet nightsky over the town slowly sparsing at night. Thousands of questions in his mind are still somewhere and he doesn’t have answers.