Chapter 50: A Change of Heart and Festival Plans

Yoonwoo recounted his hospital visit. He had met with the doctor before the surgery and asked to see the ultrasound screen one last time.

He was a patient who had come to terminate a pregnancy. The doctor was reluctant, suggesting it might be better not to look, but they couldn’t overcome Yoonwoo’s persistence.

Yoonwoo lay on the examination bed, a cold gel spread across his abdomen. As the transducer glided over his lower belly, his gaze remained fixed on the monitor.

Soon, a faint, tiny, bean-like shape appeared. It had no limbs, no eyes, nose, or mouth—just a pale, diminutive form.

Yet, despite its nascent state, that tiny bean had asserted its presence to Yoonwoo so powerfully, even as he stepped out of the taxi for the surgery. His stomach had churned so violently, and he’d dry-heaved so much, that he’d had to rush to the restroom immediately upon arriving at the hospital.

A myriad of scenes flashed through his mind: the chirping voice of his niece clutching her phone, Yeon-chae’s brightly smiling face as he looked at the monitor when they had visited the hospital together. Yet, none of them had stirred his heart as profoundly as this moment.

‘Just a tiny bean…’

Yoonwoo sniffled softly, his eyes still on the monitor. The doctor, flustered, quickly turned it off.

After tidying his clothes and getting off the bed, Yoonwoo requested a printout of the ultrasound image.

Yeon-chae listened to Yoonwoo’s story in silence.

“I didn’t want to abort it,” Yoonwoo confessed. “It wasn’t a careful decision. My heart just suddenly felt this way.”

Yeon-chae knew Yoonwoo wasn’t someone who acted impulsively. This was likely the first time in his life he had done something without thinking it through.

“I’ve always lived so diligently, but it turns out life isn’t all that much. My grades were always mediocre. If that’s the case anyway, shouldn’t I be allowed to live as I please, just once in my life? Right?”

“…You’re right.”

“But I think I want to have this baby.”

Yoonwoo said, gently stroking the bean-like image in the photo with his index finger. A soft smile touched the corners of his well-formed lips.

“When it came down to actually aborting it, I couldn’t. So I’m not thinking about future plans or my life at all; I’m just going to do what I want, just this once. That’ll be okay, right?”

‘It’s okay. Because I’ll be by your side.’

Instead of speaking the words he wanted to say, Yeon-chae reached out his arms to Yoonwoo. The slender body willingly came closer, nestling perfectly into his embrace.

As he stroked Yoonwoo’s soft hair, Yeon-chae’s chest slowly grew damp. Yoonwoo continued to sob quietly for a long time.

“I’m really scared.”

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

“Why did you take me to your place that day…?”

He hadn’t truly hoped for things to turn out this way. When Yoonwoo was in pain, Yeon-chae felt it too. Why had he brought Yoonwoo-sunbae home? He shouldn’t have.

Yet, no matter how many times he asked, there was only one answer. Gazing at Yoonwoo’s clear, tear-streaked cheeks, Yeon-chae recalled the answer to the question he had pondered for days.

‘Why did I bring Yoonwoo home that day?’

‘Because I liked him.’

‘Because I liked Yoonwoo so much.’

‘I wanted Yoonwoo’s memories to be etched into my space, even just a little.’

With midterms finally over, festival season had arrived.

Yoonwoo, a fourth-year student, hadn’t expected to participate in the festival, but then he received a notification from the stock investment club he’d forgotten he’d even joined: they were opening a one-day pub.

While Yoonwoo generally enjoyed club and departmental events, his cafe part-time schedule often clashed with the festival dates, meaning he rarely got to participate.

Moreover, a one-day pub was a first for him. Though he figured it wouldn’t be much different from his cafe work, he felt a subtle sense of anticipation.

Secretly excited, Yoonwoo attended the club meeting for the first time in a while. It was time to discuss festival tasks and assign roles.

However, Yeon-chae, who sat beside him, maintained a consistently sullen expression. Yoonwoo glanced at Yeon-chae’s profile, recalling what had happened just before they arrived at the meeting room.

Thirty minutes earlier, Yeon-chae had appeared at the cafe where Yoonwoo worked, sitting listlessly at a table in a corner.

As Yoonwoo’s shift neared its end, he changed clothes and approached Yeon-chae, whose eyes finally regained focus, a spark of life returning to them.

“Were you bored?”

Finding his change in expression amusing, Yoonwoo ruffled the back of his head. Yeon-chae shook his head with a disgruntled look, yet his cheeks flushed.

Lately, Yeon-chae often wore such a complex expression whenever Yoonwoo unconsciously found him cute. Before, Yeon-chae seemed to enjoy it, but recently, it had suddenly changed.

It was a similar look to when Yoonwoo’s twin siblings pretended to be all grown up. While Yoonwoo thought Yeon-chae might be annoyed at being treated like a child, he also found it a little absurd and amusing.

In any case, since Yeon-chae disliked it, Yoonwoo tried to be careful, but sometimes he would unconsciously treat him cutely, just like now. Each time, Yoonwoo thought, ‘Well, what can I do if he *is* cute?’, though he never let it show in front of Yeon-chae.

“Sorry. Did that bother you?”

As Yoonwoo withdrew his hand and apologized, Yeon-chae quietly lowered his gaze and nodded repeatedly.

“I’m a father-to-be now, too.”

“…Oh.”

Yoonwoo nearly burst out laughing. He bit down hard on his molars, suppressing it.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t think of me as a child.”

“…Right. My apologies.”

Only when Yoonwoo offered a docile apology did Yeon-chae’s expression finally soften. It was clear that if he laughed now, things would become uncontrollable.

Pretending to be distracted to suppress his laughter, Yoonwoo looked around. His gaze then suddenly fell upon the wall clock. It was 2:40 PM.

“You said the festival meeting starts at 3, right?”

“I suppose so.”

“We should leave now if we want to get there on time. Let’s hurry.”

“I’m not going.”

“…”

Yeon-chae responded with an utterly nonchalant expression. He seemed to have no interest in the club or the festival.

Watching his carefree, innocent face, Yoonwoo was reminded of Yeon-chae’s social life, which he had almost forgotten. Yeon-chae never showed his face at student council meetings or club events, nor did he have many friends he hung out with.

‘Well, I can just play with him,’ Yoonwoo thought, repeating a sentiment he’d had several times last year.

In any case, he had planned to attend today’s meeting for a while. However, he felt guilty leaving Yeon-chae, who had been cooped up in a corner of the cafe, waiting for Yoonwoo’s shift to end, so the words to go to the club meeting alone wouldn’t readily come out.

‘Should I just ask him to come along?’ Yoonwoo wondered, cautiously asking as he observed Yeon-chae’s complexion, whose eyes remained fixed on his phone screen, engrossed in whatever he was doing.

“It’s a rare festival occasion; wouldn’t it be good to go?”

“I’m not participating in the festival.”

Yeon-chae replied dismissively, continually fiddling with his phone. Yoonwoo unconsciously furrowed his brow, but then asked, feigning an attempt to appease Yeon-chae.

“Still, it seems like it would be fun. Why aren’t you going?”

“Because I’m busy.”

“Busy with what?”

“Just… there’s a lot to look into.”

He didn’t look busy at all.

Yeon-chae continued to give half-hearted replies, his gaze fixed on his phone, until suddenly his eyes sparkled, and he showed Yoonwoo the screen.

“How about this restaurant? They say it’s in Songdo. During the festival, do you want to have lunch here and then go boating on the lake?”

“…”

Yeon-chae really wasn’t busy. He just wanted to spend time with Yoonwoo.

So, Yoonwoo ignored Yeon-chae’s pleading voice and headed for the club meeting room.

“Yeon-chae, go play in Songdo by yourself. I’m going to the club meeting.”

“Aw…”

With a dejected expression, Yeon-chae trudged along behind Yoonwoo.

“Then I’ll do serving too. The first day clashes with a lecture, so the second and last days.”

Yoon Jung-joo, the club president, wrote Yoonwoo’s name on the whiteboard with a welcoming smile.

The club didn’t have many members. It seemed manpower was tight to keep the pub open for all three days. When Yoonwoo stepped forward, Jung-joo looked greatly relieved.

At that moment, Yeon-chae, who had been sitting as still as a doll, suddenly furrowed his neat brow, wearing a displeased expression. His full lips slightly parted, suggesting he had much to say.

Yeon-chae’s voice, cheerfully showing his phone screen and asking, “During the festival, do you want to have lunch here and then go boating on the lake?” echoed in Yoonwoo’s ears. A sudden, ominous premonition struck him.

‘I’m doing this. Don’t interfere.’

Yoonwoo sent his telepathic message with all his might, his eyes intensely focused. Yeon-chae opened his mouth, but flinched at Yoonwoo’s gaze.

Unable to intervene in the meeting, Yeon-chae could only watch Yoonwoo register as a staff member, his expression sullen.

“They call it a one-day pub, but why is it for three days?”

However, unable to hold it in any longer, Yeon-chae finally grumbled. Under the table, Yoonwoo kicked Yeon-chae’s foot.

Jung-joo, not seeming bothered at all, merely chuckled good-naturedly, saying, “You’re right, perhaps we were a bit too ambitious.”

“If you look at it that way, it’s not even a pub anyway.”

“Exactly. We can’t even sell alcohol because it’s on campus.”

“So, if it’s not ‘one-day’ and not a ‘pub,’ why is it called a one-day pub?”

“Oh, right. It is funny.”

The other club members sitting around Yeon-chae also smiled continuously. The atmosphere wasn’t bad, but Yoonwoo swallowed dryly, unable to say anything, worried they might secretly find Yeon-chae annoying.

“Yeon-chae, what brings you to a festival meeting?”

A faint voice from across the table asked.

At the mention of Yeon-chae’s name, a tense Yoonwoo straightened his back, feigning indifference as he pricked up his ears.

“They probably just dropped by. Surely they wouldn’t actually participate in the pub, would they?”

Another person whispered in reply. Yoonwoo’s expression turned serious. It seemed Yeon-chae was being viewed unfavorably.

“Who will take charge of the kitchen? Is there anyone here who can cook?”

The discussion moved to the next agenda item. Jung-joo looked around the club room and asked, but no one readily volunteered.