Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 49: Hyung

"Alright, good work. Just write up your book report and hand it in before class ends."

Ha Giyeon accepted a piece of candy and the book report paper from the Reading Club advisor, then found a quiet seat in a secluded corner where he could read in peace. He set down his bag and looked around before heading toward the shelves. The broad expanse of bookshelves was almost deserted. Occasionally, someone sat quietly reading, but just like Son Suhyeon had said, there were very few people here.

‘Is Suhyeon sunbae not here yet?’

He walked between the shelves, peeking around both sides, but Son Suhyeon was nowhere in sight. Figuring they'd run into each other naturally while reading, Giyeon began browsing for a book.

‘I’ll read a novel first, then use the rest of the time for something else.’

He pulled out a novel of decent thickness, then checked out a few more books. He ended up in the section on economics and society. His room was filled only with workbooks—he didn’t own any novels or books on economic history. He picked out a few books on stock investing and job hunting.

Five volumes in total. He figured he’d skim them quickly and check them out.

“Ugh...”

They were heavier than expected. He wobbled under the weight, trying to carry them back toward his seat—when a hand reached out from behind and lifted the thickest one.

Giyeon turned his head.

“...!”

It was Son Suhyeon, casually holding the thick book with one hand. Giyeon, about to greet him with a bright smile, remembered where they were and instead offered a warm grin.

Suhyeon smiled gently back and grabbed three more books from Giyeon’s arms to help carry them.

"Thanks, sunbae."

"Sorry I'm late."

"It’s okay, I had to run an errand."

Suhyeon nodded and placed the books down at Giyeon’s seat. Then, he glanced at the empty spot next to him. He usually sat in a particular spot in the corner near the shelves, while Giyeon was seated closer to the entrance.

"......"

Now that Giyeon had chosen this seat, Suhyeon felt the sudden urge to sit beside him. But asking outright felt too awkward, so he hesitated, mouthing silently.

‘He might want to sit alone.’

Some might laugh at the idea of agonizing over a single seat, but to Son Suhyeon, Giyeon was the first person around his age that felt like a real friend. It made him cautious with every word.

He thought and rethought his tone, worried he might accidentally hurt Giyeon. If things were still as awkward as when they first met at the café, he probably wouldn’t care. But now... it was different.

“...?”

As Suhyeon stood there awkwardly, Giyeon glanced around and asked,

"Where’s your seat, sunbae?"

"Huh...?"

"If it's okay with you, I’d like to sit together..."

Giyeon’s eyes darted shyly as he spoke. Suhyeon’s eyes sparkled. While he’d spent all that time debating whether or not to speak, Giyeon always reached out first. That one small gesture—it meant more than anything. Suhyeon nodded several times.

"I’ll move over here."

He grabbed his bag and sat next to Giyeon, placing a book on the desk—a moderately thick mystery novel. Giyeon asked,

"You like mysteries?"

"Yeah. I like uncovering hidden things, digging into lies and figuring stuff out. What about you?"

"I like more mellow novels. Mysteries and thrillers get my heart pounding too much."

He didn’t like stories that made his palms sweat or relied on deception. Life already gave him enough of that. And to be honest, the perpetrators in mystery novels often reminded him of himself—lying, hiding, and running away.

Suhyeon glanced at the book Giyeon had picked.

‘Mellow...’

It was a coming-of-age story, a quiet journey through one person’s life. It suited Giyeon well, he thought. But the next title caught his eye.

"Stock investment? Job hunting?"

Suhyeon blurted it out before he could stop himself. The books had nothing to do with novels, and they didn’t seem to suit Giyeon at all. It stunned him so much he couldn’t look away.

Giyeon scratched his neck, a little embarrassed by the look.

"You planning to invest or something?"

"Um... I’m just interested in the topic..."

Suhyeon was shocked all over again. He’d always seen Giyeon as someone who made careful plans and avoided unstable things. Stocks? Investments?

Was he thinking of putting his part-time earnings into this?

Only °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° one word popped into Suhyeon’s mind.

‘I need to stop him.’

Sure, whether it was stocks or crypto, it wasn’t really his place to interfere with how Giyeon spent his own money.

But still!

"This isn’t right."

He couldn’t stop the words from leaving his mouth. What sane person thinks they can profit off something that unstable?

Was Giyeon going through something? He had looked tired lately. But even so, to gamble the money he worked hard for on stocks? Suhyeon snatched the book away and set it next to him.

Giyeon blinked in surprise.

"Uh... sunbae?"

Suhyeon placed a hand firmly on his shoulder and said, with conviction,

"Save it instead."

"What?"

"The risk is too big. Sure, you might get lucky once and make a bunch, but that’s rare. Most people just end up broke and regretting it."

Suhyeon launched into a long, passionate explanation.

He absolutely loathed gambling, stocks, and anything like it. They weren’t illegal, sure, but to him, they were no different from gambling. Making or losing money in one blow—it was the same thing.

That hatred stemmed from the orphanage director. The man used to constantly rant that "life is all about one big score," threatening the kids that he’d ditch them the second he struck it rich. Sometimes, he’d spread out cards or dice on his office table, throwing money around and fighting. Other times, he’d cling to his phone, screaming and laughing like a lunatic.

The kids were the ones who took the brunt of his rage. They were beaten without reason, day or night, until they trembled in fear. It was so bad that even drunken beatings seemed preferable to the madness that came with gambling or crypto.

And it wasn’t just the director—Suhyeon had seen even kind employers suddenly flip, as if their personalities had been rewritten. That’s why, to him, all of it was revolting.

Because he was scared. Scared that Ha Giyeon might change like that too.

"Don’t. You can’t."

So he blocked him. Even though he knew it wasn’t his place to say anything. He just didn’t want to let Giyeon go.

Meanwhile, Giyeon stared at him, mouth open. From his perspective, stock investment or crypto wasn’t even a risk. Thanks to regression, he already had the knowledge—he was confident, not worried.

So seeing Suhyeon more anxious than he was left him confused. It wasn’t just a "you probably shouldn’t"—it was an outright you can’t.

‘Why’s he acting like this?’

Was it really that big a deal?

Suhyeon’s hand on his shoulder trembled slightly. In that state, how could Giyeon possibly say no?

The books... he could read them later.

"Alright."

"...Really?"

"Yeah. I just overheard something once and thought I’d check it out, that’s all."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

For now.

Giyeon swallowed the rest and smiled. Only then did Suhyeon finally look relieved and let go of his shoulder.

"When life gets hard, it’s easy to want a shortcut. But like I said—it’s not a good way. And besides, you’re still young."

Hearing himself called "young" gave Giyeon a strange feeling. His soul was that of a 29-year-old adult. Being on the receiving end of a lecture felt strange—but somehow, Suhyeon’s concern made him smile.

And then—

"Hey."

A low voice rang out through the quiet library. The sound of heavy, angry footsteps approached, and both Giyeon and Suhyeon turned their heads.

At the same time, someone grabbed Giyeon’s arm and yanked it hard. The smile instantly vanished from his face.

“...What the hell are you doing?”

It was Ha Dohoon.

Giyeon was pulled roughly, but he didn’t even have time to feel the pain before Kwon Jongseok and Choi Mujin appeared. As he was about to be dragged off, Suhyeon grabbed his other arm—this time gently, protectively.

“Let go.”

Dohoon scowled at Suhyeon’s hand.

“What the hell are you?”

"And who the hell are you to grab him?"

At that, Dohoon scoffed.

"Me? I’m his hyung."