Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 41: Midterms

Before school, Ha Giyeon asked the housekeeper to deliver all the shopping bags to Choi Mujin’s house.

The housekeeper looked confused by the sight of him returning gifts he’d received, but she didn’t ask.

And, just as expected, after school ended, Choi Mujin began calling. The phone buzzed without pause, and Ha Giyeon, who had been ignoring it the entire time, finally pulled out his phone only after arriving in front of the café. He could just turn it off while working, but he was worried that Mujin might show up at his house late at night.

‘Still got about twenty minutes left...’

Ha Giyeon headed into the alley behind the café and answered the phone. After a few seconds of silence, a disgruntled voice came through.

— "Hey, what the hell is this?"

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

Feigning ignorance, Ha Giyeon replied, and Mujin muttered in exasperation.

— "Why are your things at my house?"

"You were the one who bought them. They’re not mine."

— "You little shit... I bought them for you, so they’re yours. You’re not gonna come get them?"

"...I don’t think I have any reason to accept those from you. They’re expensive and make me uncomfortable."

Mujin gave a hollow laugh, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The same kid who used to jump for joy over a single marble was now suspicious of the things he gave him. And now he was saying it made him uncomfortable?

Ha Dohoon, that bastard—what kind of cheap shit has he been giving his little brother?

— "Do you need a reason? Just take it like you used to. You liked that stuff."

The kind of kid who’d laugh like an idiot no matter what he was given.

Back when they were little, he’d hand Giyeon a marble lying around the playground, and Giyeon would beam like he’d been handed a treasure. That marble was probably still stashed somewhere in his room.

Because that was the kind of person Ha Giyeon was. Even if it was a cheap marble, if one of ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) his older brothers gave it to him, he’d treat it like a gem and cherish it.

"......"

But Choi Mujin didn’t know.

That marble had long since shattered and been thrown away—just like Ha Giyeon’s patience, which had fractured like broken glass.

Choi Mujin had once dumped shopping bags in Ha Giyeon’s room without a word and even told Ha Dohoon that someone had hit him. Because of that, Dohoon had stormed into Giyeon’s room and tried to strangle him.

Giyeon didn’t resent Mujin, but he couldn’t just brush it off like before.

"I don’t need them. Take them back."

— "...What?"

"I don’t need them. Refund them or give them to someone else. Do whatever you want."

Mujin sounded genuinely caught off guard by Giyeon’s cold tone.

— "Are you serious? You’re really gonna throw away something I gave you?"

"I didn’t say throw it away... Anyway, it’s not mine, so do what you want with it."

Click. Ha Giyeon ended the call just like that.

In the past, he wouldn’t have hung up until he got a firm promise from Mujin not to bring it again. But now, he didn’t want to argue. Giyeon sent a message to the housekeeper, telling her not to accept the bags under any circumstance if Mujin tried to bring them again.

“...Phew.”

He let out a long sigh and leaned against the wall. Back then, just hearing his older brothers’ voices was enough to make his heart race. Now, it only filled him with dread about what they might say.

Is this how it always feels when you reunite with someone who once rejected your one-sided love?

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the ache every time his hand brushed the area hidden beneath his turtleneck.

‘Even got choked by Dohoon-hyung...’

He still couldn’t figure out why Ha Dohoon had gotten so angry that he tried to strangle him.

After Dohoon had hit him on the head and left a scar when they were kids, he’d never raised a hand again. Dohoon wasn’t the kind of person who used violence easily. It would take overwhelming fury to push him that far, which only made it more incomprehensible.

‘Well, it’s not like I ever believed I’d never get hit again.’

If he ever finds his real younger brother, it might not stop at just being hit—he could even kill me. Giyeon sighed deeply. How long would he have to keep living on edge like this... He really needed to save up money faster.

Just as he was about to push off from the wall and head inside the café—

"Ha Giyeon? What are you doing out here?"

"Ah, Suhyeon-sunbae..."

Just before heading into the café, Son Suhyeon happened to spot Giyeon and approached him.

"I was just on a call for a bit... I’m going in now."

"......"

Suhyeon gave a small nod and scanned Giyeon’s face, sensing his low spirits. It was odd to see him looking so tired before even starting work. He hadn’t shown up on the way to school that morning, nor during lunch or after school. Suhyeon hadn’t been deliberately looking, but it was still strange not to run into someone he usually passed at least once a day.

‘Maybe it’s because of exams.’

He considered whether Giyeon might just be studying hard and run-down, but even then—why wear a turtleneck in this weather? On a day when a school shirt and a cardigan would’ve been enough, Giyeon didn’t seem the least bit hot, even wearing that high-neck top.

"Did you catch a cold?"

"Huh...?"

"I asked because of the turtleneck. Isn’t it hot?"

"I-I’m fine! I get cold really easily..."

Giyeon let out a dry laugh, his lips twitching awkwardly into a forced smile. The corner of his mouth trembled like it might start spasming at any moment, but he couldn’t lower it under Suhyeon’s watchful gaze. Making a deliberate show of energy, Giyeon pushed lightly on Suhyeon’s back to nudge him toward the café.

"We’re gonna be late! Let’s go!"

"...Alright."

Suhyeon silently watched the stiff movement, then followed him into the café.

"You came to my place—what, the hell?"

Choi Mujin stared incredulously at Ha Dohoon, who was sprawled out on his bed like he owned it. It was strange enough for someone like Kwon Jongseok to show up unannounced, but for Dohoon—who rarely visited anyone’s house—to not only drop by but take over his bed was flat-out bizarre.

"You come to my place too."

"That’s not what I meant... Ah, forget it."

Mujin shook his head while Dohoon scowled and turned away.

Unlike his own home, Mujin’s house had a more natural atmosphere.

Dohoon, uncomfortable with the idea of waiting for Giyeon in that big empty house, had come here instead. Truthfully, it was because he felt uneasy facing Giyeon—so he ran away.

He found himself staring at the hand he’d used to strangle Giyeon.

That day, everything about Giyeon had rubbed him the wrong way. Getting gifts from Mujin, hiding his bruises—most of all, the look on his face when he said he didn’t need Dohoon.

And so, Dohoon had tightened his grip on Giyeon’s collar and choked him. He could still feel the resistance in his hand, the way Giyeon had struggled. Ever since he’d left a scar on Giyeon’s forehead as a kid, he’d vowed never to hit him again.

“...Haah.”

He had no idea how to face Giyeon now. But one thing was clear—he couldn’t treat him lightly anymore. Giyeon was already avoiding him. If he said something careless now, Giyeon might actually run away and spend the night somewhere else.

That, more than anything, could never be allowed. Even if he had to lock him up, he would never accept Giyeon leaving the house.

Even if the place he ran to was Mujin or Jongseok’s house.

‘I need to find out who hit him.’

But instead of finding the one who’d hurt Giyeon, he’d ended up hurting him himself.

Mujin, still lying with his back turned, asked:

"Did Giyeon really not say anything?"

"......"

"What kind of bastard hits someone so bad they won’t say a word about it? What if that bastard actually threatened him or something?"

"Someone hit Giyeon...?"

Kwon Jongseok, who had been lounging on the couch on his phone, suddenly joined the conversation. His expression turned stony.

Mujin, unbothered, described the bruises on Giyeon’s body in detail.

"His back and his arms..."

Jongseok muttered. It was already infuriating to hear that someone had laid hands on Giyeon, but knowing there were visible bruises made it worse. What kind of bastard left marks on his body?

‘Back means a kick... Then, what about the arms?’

To leave bruises on both arms like that... someone must’ve gripped him hard.

“...!”

As he ran through various scenarios in his head, a sudden flash of memory struck Kwon Jongseok like lightning.

That day in the art room—when he’d grabbed Giyeon’s arms and slammed him against the wall.

It had to be that. He hadn’t even controlled his strength. He could still feel how violently Giyeon had trembled beneath his hands.

Jongseok’s frozen lips finally twitched.

‘So that’s why he kept avoiding me.’

It was true he had been too aggressive that day. But he hadn’t expected to leave bruises. Still, the fact that Giyeon hadn’t said anything to avoid starting a fight between him and Dohoon was... admirable.

If someone else had hurt Giyeon, he would’ve been enraged. But knowing it had been him made him feel strangely better. If anyone was going to hurt Giyeon, it had to be him—Jongseok thought so, without hesitation.

‘Should I give him some meds during club?’

Smirking faintly, Jongseok imagined seeing Giyeon again at their next club meeting.

***

"Alright, numbers 11 through 20 go to Class 2-8, and the rest head to Class 3-8."

On the first day of midterms, everyone moved to their assigned classrooms. Ha Giyeon, whose number placed him in the latter group, was assigned to Class 3-8. As he picked up his bag and headed for the back door, Nam Taekyung waved.

"Giyeon-ah, good luck on your exam~"

"Yeah, you too."

He felt relieved as he walked out. Taekyung had a lower number, so he stayed in the original room, and his friends had either stayed put or gone to Class 2-8.

Giyeon steeled his resolve to focus on the test and entered Class 3-8. As expected of seniors facing college entrance exams, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost hostile. He checked the seating chart on the board and found his number—third from the back.

"Huh...?"

And diagonally behind him— ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"Suhyeon-sunbae...?"

Son Suhyeon was sitting there.