Free Web NovelBi rubbed his hands slyly and began to move his lips.
“Hyungnim, first take a look at the item. It’s brand new, and here’s the B-grade warranty certificate.”
When he offered the card, Hojin took it as if enchanted.
It was a genuine warranty certificate stamped with the official mark of the Awakener Management Department.
「Boyfriend Look Lucky Half-Sleeve (B)
Item Classification: Top (Cannot be Reformed)
Charm: +110
LUK: +6」
True to its grand name, it even had two options attached: Charm and Luck.
Of course Bi thought those options were far too generous for the item’s quality.
If it weren’t B-grade, it would’ve been tossed straight into the used-clothes bin ages ago.
In truth, he had briefly considered wearing it as pajamas.
But what chance did he have to show off his Charm at home, living under the same roof with his two-year-younger housemate?
It was obvious his sister would tear him apart with teasing—why would he ever wear this in front of her?
He didn’t want to give his housemate any excuse to tease him.
“But I’m not even sure if I should accept this... I’m always indebted to you, Bi.”
“It’s not like I’ll wear it anyway. It’s better if someone who needs it takes it. Besides, aren’t we family? Haha!”
In fact, they weren’t blood-related.
But to survive, Bi had no choice but to turn on his best survival charm today.
It was the only way to make up for the ABC juice.
“Here you go.”
Bi handed over a shopping bag tightly wrapped in black tape.
It looked as if something sinister had been sealed inside, causing both giver and receiver to flinch.
“Why tape it like this...?”
“It’s magic-repellent tape. I saw on the news yesterday that there was a robbery at the Jongno Item Exchange.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Pickpockets are on the rise these days. I’m an Awakener so I’m fine, but it doesn’t hurt to be careful for you.”
At those words, Hojin glanced around and hugged the shopping bag to his chest.
“Thanks for looking out for me. I’ll go home and open this then.”
Good, things were going according to plan.
The news story had been nothing but an excuse—Bi’s real purpose was to keep Hojin from pulling the T-shirt out right then and there.
As he’d said earlier, the quality really was... lacking.
Even B-grade items had reasons for not selling.
“But, hyungnim, since it’s clothing, the style might not suit you. From what I saw, the size looks fine.”
“It’s okay. I can pull off anything.”
Indeed. With that face, even a rag would be recognized as fashionable.
“That’s a relief.”
“Thanks so much. But, um...”
Hojin looked hesitant.
Bi, in all his kingly goodwill, sensed that Hojin wanted to bring up the ABC juice and decided to preempt him again.
“Oh, and about the juice.”
“Yes!”
As expected, Hojin responded eagerly.
“I haven’t been feeling well these past few days, so I couldn’t make it. I’m sorry.”
“Ah...”
At the mention of ABC juice, Hojin’s bright expression darkened immediately.
“I tried to push myself to make it, but I read that the quality varies a lot depending on your condition.”
“Ah... really?”
“Yes.”
Bi finished his lie, saying he wanted to give him the best since it was for his hyung, but Hojin was deeply disappointed.
“I thought I’d be able to get it for you today...”
Unaware that he was voicing his inner thoughts, Hojin’s confession made Bi flinch for an instant before he chastised himself.
No, it’s fine. I gave him a free B-grade item—if he has any conscience, he won’t push for juice too.
He’d blamed it on his poor health, so unless Hojin was a psychopath, he’d let it slide.
“I’m sorry.”
At the tired apology, Hojin stared at Bi intently.
His eyes were full of concern as he looked at Bi’s scarred arm, but to Bi they looked like the crazed eyes of an obsessive fangirl.
Bi convinced himself that Hojin was merely plotting how to punish him for breaking his promise.
His survival instincts kicked in once more.
“So! I was just going to tell you that I’ll definitely bring it next week.”
“Huh? No, if you’re sick—”
“No?! This time for sure! I promise on my parents. I swear. Should I write you a pledge?”
Bi pulled out a pen and grabbed a tissue from the tray.
Tomorrow, Lee Roi would come out and fix things, so if he could just get through this moment...
His unfilial hand wrote the pledge with reckless speed.
✧
Thus, the boneheaded fool went home with a shopping bag and a single tissue pledging ABC juice.
I wanted to treat him dinner, but Bi, busy as ever, stood and left first.
Am I that hard to please?
He thought they’d grown closer since Bi reached out to him first, but interpersonal relations were evidently difficult.
Hojin decided he must repay him next time and picked up a pair of scissors.
I never expected to get a B-grade item so quickly.
He’d heard from his mentor that he was surrounded by good people, and Bi was apparently one of them.
In truth, real B-grade items were so expensive that as a student he could never afford them.
His parents would’ve bought it for him if he’d asked, but they would’ve asked why.
How could I explain that I awakened so I’d be useful to Roi...?
He couldn’t say it, not even to die.
So his only option had been second-hand transactions.
But the marketplace’s items were absurd: novelty capes, umbrella hats, no-parking signs. All equally awkward.
According to his mentor, the more portable an item, the better its effect.
In that sense, the T-shirt Bi gave him was perfect.
Bi had worried about the design, but it was just a T-shirt after all.
It’s still better than the bizarre things on Tomato.
Hojin was ready to embrace any strange design.
And the moment he tore open the shopping bag, a bold typographic print on a white background seized his attention.
Your Boyfriend’s Walking By
My word.
Not bad?
The design was clean and spare.
Ah, but there was one catch.
The slogan is a little...
Only then did he understand why Bi had been so concerned.
Am I going to get egged...?
Indeed. Shooting Star’s Hojin was already infamous for disastrous selfies and was now about to become a fashion disaster.
He bit his lip in dismay.
But then he steeled himself.
A few days ago he’d received a call that still echoed in his mind.
Roi’s words had been too fast to catch most of, but these were the few he remembered.
Don’t do anything. Just stay still. Please.
And hadn’t he said he’d come get him when the time was right?
Thinking it through, it meant Roi had no expectations of him now—either stay out of sight or wait until he’d earned the right to be seen.
At the time, his heart had shattered, but now it had steeled his resolve.
Roi, I’ll become someone useful and wait—or rather, I’ll come find you. Just wait a little longer.
Hojin, his eyes damp as he looked at Roi’s profile picture, clenched his eyes shut and blocked Roi’s number.
✧
The next day.
Two weeks after being freed, Roi called Hojin immediately.
But every call was cut off before the first ring.
“Huh? What’s this?”
Did his phone break?
Roi banged his phone against the floor, puzzled.
“Hey. What’s going on?”
“I can’t call you.”
“Did your phone break?”
“No...? I haven’t had it long.”
“Try calling me.”
Roi called Yeonwoo to find out the cause.
When he pressed call, Yeonwoo’s phone vibrated and the screen displayed ‘Little Poop Dog.’
“What the hell? Why am I ‘Little Poop Dog’?”
“Don’t you know by now from what you do? Perfect fit, wa.”
“That’s ridiculous, seriously.”
Roi shot Yeonwoo a displeased look.
While the two bickered, Taeeon, who had loaded the younger brothers’ luggage into the trunk, approached.
“Shall we head off? Where does Roi live? I’ll give you a ride.”
“No. I’m going to see Hojin.”
At that, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Yeonwoo reacted.
“Hojin? You two playing without me! Ham, let’s go too.”
“With Hojin? Is that okay?” ƒrēewebnovel.com
“Nothing stopping you. Hyung will like it, too.”
Roi mumbled a half-hearted reply and redialed.
But once again, the call wouldn’t connect.
“Huh? What the heck?”
That dirty feeling.
Could it be...
“Did he block me?”
“Pfft! Wow. You two fight? Looks like he’s upset.”
At the word ‘blocked,’ Yeonwoo burst out laughing.
“That kitten Min-ki can be sensitive. Think about what you might’ve done wrong.”
Roi felt wronged.
Who else thought of Hojin as much as he did...?
At that moment, he remembered what Galbi had said—accusing him of no longer needing his hyung.
But I explained it clearly on the phone.
...Or did he?
Could he really not have understood?
Roi’s face turned pale.
His words had been fast, but as Shooting Star’s former rap position holder, his hyung should’ve understood.
Was it his mistake?
Then now...?
Knowing Hojin, he must have burrowed down into a tunnel—or five tunnels deep—with worry.
He was screwed.
He couldn’t even begin to guess what the self-esteem-flatlining human was thinking.
Roi hurriedly demanded Taeeon and Yeonwoo hand over their phones.
Surely he didn’t block the others too.
But there were no exceptions.
All three had been unilaterally blocked by Hojin.
“What the—why am I blocked too!”
Yeonwoo raged, and Roi, in disbelief, tore at his hair.
Taeeon just gave an awkward smile, then suddenly seemed to have an idea.
“Seems like Hojin must’ve been upset about something... Why don’t we go find him? We kind of know where he is.”
At that moment, Roi’s face lit up and he grabbed Taeeon’s hand.
“Where? Where is he?”
“He said he’s taking a special lecture over break. He’s probably at the academy.”
“You know which academy?”
Of course.
Taeeon had been Hojin’s driver on his errands for a month at Roi’s request. Who knew it would be this useful?
“Let’s go. Get in.”
Thus, the Bermuda trio of the Star Hero community headed for Hongdae.
