Jungtae stood behind the counter, watching Owen pull bottles of alcohol from the fridge. The bottles made a soft clink as Owen set them on the counter.
"Isn't that a lot?" Jungtae asked.
"These aren't pure alcohol," Owen replied with a smirk. "I guess you've never been drunk."
He picked up the bottles and walked toward the small table near the glass front, offering the view of the street outside. His steps seemed heavier than usual.
Jungtae wanted to ask what happened to his face. His eyes were drawn to the bruises on Owen's cheek and jaw, the faint purple swelling under his skin. They were not small, nor were they light.
He shrugged and decided not to ask.
Owen broke the silence first. "I'm kinda hungry."
He stood up again, scanned the ramen shelf, grabbed a red cup, and walked to the microwave.
"How do you use this thing?" he asked, staring at the buttons like they were something new to him.
"Seriously? You don't know?" Jungtae blinked in disbelief. 'Ok. I get it.'
Owen shrugged.
With a sigh, Jungtae walked over. "Here. Like this." He opened the lid, filled it with water, and pressed the right buttons.
"Oh," Owen chuckled. "That was easy."
Three minutes later, the microwave beeped. Jungtae placed the ramen on the table and turned to walk away.
But Owen's hand suddenly wrapped around his wrist.
"Sit with me for a while."
Jungtae paused. He wanted to pull away. He wanted to snap. But when he saw the tired look in Owen's eyes, the bruises on his face, and his tense shoulders, he sat down.
"…What?" Jungtae asked.
"Here. Drink with me." Owen pushed one of the bottles toward him.
"I don't drink."
"It's only 8%," Owen said. "You'll be fine."
Jungtae stared at the bottle. Then he opened it. One sip. "Not bad. A little bitter."
"See? Told you."
Owen slurped his ramen, steam rising in front of his bruised face. Jungtae didn't realize, he had been staring for too long.
Owen noticed. "Are you curious?"
Jungtae blinked. "Yeah. What the hell happened to you?"
Owen leaned back as if telling a joke. "Well, a trash father beat me up because I embarrassed him in his company."
He tossed the empty cup aside lightly.
"Oops," he added. "Said too much."
Jungtae's eyes widened. He had expected
some stupid fight with guys their age. But the way Owen casually said it was his father made him surprised.
"What…" Jungtae muttered, unable to finish. Pity tugged at his chest, but he didn't understand why it felt strange.
'Weird.'
Owen's eyes were on him, waiting for his reaction. Teasing, but also… something else.
Jungtae stood up without a word. He walked to the staff drawer, pulled out an ice pack, and returned.
"Here," he said. "Put it on your cheek. It'll stop the swelling."
"Wow, Jungtae. How thoughtful." Owen grinned. "Thanks."
He pressed the ice to his cheek and winced. "Ow, ow, damn, that hurts."
"Don't press so hard, idiot."
Owen laughed softly.
Then his tone shifted, lighter, playful again. Looking at Jungtae with mischief.
"Anyway, have you thought about the deal I told you about?"
"You're still on about that?" Jungtae crossed his arms. "I told you, I'm not interested."
"Well, it won't disappear. Sooner or later, you'll agree." The grin stretched across Owen's face.
"You look confident."
"Ooh, I am."
Owen pulled out his wallet. He placed bills on the table, then casually dropped a folded paper on top.
Jungtae unfolded it.
"…Seriously?" he asked, annoyed. "Your number?"
"Yep. And keep the change." Owen winked. "Nice chat. I'm going now, Jungtae."
Owen left with a casual wave. The bell chimed as the door closed.
Jungtae stared at the paper for a moment, then slipped it into his pocket.
ৎ────
Owen reached his apartment and found someone waiting.
Haneul stood at the door, twisting his fingers nervously around the strap of his bag. His eyes softened with relief.
"I heard what happened," Haneul said quietly.
Owen raised a brow. "So that's why you're here even though I didn't call you."
He unlocked the door, stepped inside, and dropped onto the couch. The apartment lights cast faint shadows over the bruises on his face.
Haneul followed him and sat on the chair in front of the couch. His eyes traced the marks, slow, worried, gentle.
"We should treat those bruises," Haneul said.
"I'm fine. It doesn't hurt anymore." Owen closed his eyes.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Haneul's hands fidgeted again. "C-can I stay for tonight?" His voice was small, hopeful, like he already expected rejection.
Owen opened his eyes and looked down at him.
Then, suddenly, he leaned forward, grabbed Haneul by the collar, and pulled him close.
Their mouths collided together.
It wasn't deep or messy…just a firm, needy kiss. The kind of kiss that steals breath for a second. Owen's hand slipped to the back of Haneul's neck, holding him there.
Haneul stiffened in surprise, then slowly relaxed. His hands clutched Owen's jacket, pulling himself closer.
When they pulled apart, Owen's forehead rested lightly against Haneul's.
"That lip balm tastes sweet," Owen muttered.
Haneul's cheeks flushed. "O-Owen…"
Owen didn't kiss him again. He leaned back on the couch with a tired sigh, letting Haneul settle beside him.
The room was quiet, only the sound of their slow breaths filled the space.
ৎ────
The next day.
Owen leaned against the chair, feet on top of the table inside the school officer's private office, hands in his pockets, when a familiar guy stepped inside.
Bandages wrapped around his arm. A healing scratch ran across his forehead.
Owen smirked. "You're still alive."
Taekyun laughed dryly. "Yeah. It was a whole week of recovery."
"You better catch up fast or you'll fail your classes, Taekyun."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I never thought I'd fall off a cliff."
Owen spun the chair lazily. "Oh? I wonder what really happened back there."
Taekyun paused, just a little too long. "Well… I was an idiot. I didn't see the cliff and fell."
"Really an idiot," Owen said without looking at him.
Taekyun forced a laugh and walked outside.
ৎ────
Jungtae and Woojin walked side by side down the hallway, talking about homework.
From a distance, they saw Owen with Haneul… and Taekyun.
Jungtae's eyes went to the bandages first on the guy besides Owen, then to the bruises on Owen's face.
"Isn't that the guy who fell from the cliff?" Jungtae asked.
Woojin tilted his head. "Yeah. It is him."
"So he's back now? Glad he recovered."
Woojin gave a small nod.
Just then, Taekyun glanced their way. His face froze for a split second, then he looked away and walked ahead of Owen and Haneul.
Owen called after him, "Hey, where are you going? We're supposed to go the other way."
Taekyun didn't answer, his body was tense and kept on walking.
ৎ────
Night fell.
The convenience store lights glowed through the glass, bright against the dark street.
Jungtae was restocking snacks on the shelves when the bell chimed.
"Welco-" His words were cut off when a hand wrapped around his shoulder.
Jungtae flinched and stepped back, only to see a familiar smirk.
"Owen."
"Prick," Jungtae muttered. "Don't do that. We're not friends."
"Sorry," Owen said with a laugh.
"Are you here to buy alcohol again?" Jungtae asked, returning to the shelf carrying a few packages in his hand.
"Nope. Just here to visit again."
For some strange reason, Jungtae didn't feel annoyed today seeing Owen's face.
"Then you better buy something rather than tease me again," he said.
"Sure. Sure" Owen chuckled and began grabbing random snacks…chips, sweets, drinks. He piled them on the table by the window.
"That's a lot," Jungtae said.
"Come on. Eat with me."
"Yeah. No thanks."
"You don't need to be shy. You've been working since after class. I bet you're hungry." Owen insisted.
Jungtae paused. Yes. He was hungry. He had forgotten to buy snacks for himself earlier.
He stared at Owen suspiciously. 'I wonder what this guy is up to. Is this his way of persuading me to accept his deal? Showing more often?'
Still, he sat down.
They ate together and talked. The conversation felt easy, not forced. Not too deep. Owen didn't mention about the deal, they just talked normally.
Outside, a figure slowed to a stop.
Woojin.
He had come to visit Jungtae, a bag of food in his one hand, the warmth from the food bag slowly faded.
When he looked through the glass.
His eyes widened.
Inside, under the warm store lights.
Jungtae was having a conversation while eating with Owen.
Talking like they had known each other for a long time. Even though their conversation couldn't reach him.
Woojin stood frozen.
His hand inside his pocket tightened. Turning away, a trash bin caught his eyes. Then he raised his hand and tossed the warm food inside the trash bin.
The night suddenly felt colder. Woojin just decided to go home instead.