Eighteen's Bed

Chapter 4.4

"......."

And yet, as if possessed by a demon, I stepped forward and looked down at Han Junwoo. His face was half-swollen, and he was sleeping like the dead. Seeing him like that, the first emotion that surfaced certainly wasn’t love.

I spat on his face.

The truth was, I didn’t have to do anything. I could’ve just let it go. I could’ve simply scolded Go Yohan, put on my usual air of indifference, and stayed on the sidelines—the ever-innocent, beloved Kang Jun who never got involved in anything.

But I didn’t want to.

Because why the fuck did he have to step on me? I never asked for his attention. I never forced my feelings onto him. And yet he crushed me underfoot.

All because he was obsessed with some cheap, trashy version of love. That bastard. That fucking bastard.

My deep, festering resentment and betrayal splattered onto the bridge of his nose and his cheek. When given a chance to do something to Han Junwoo, I didn’t express desperate, self-sacrificing love. Instead, I chose this—petty revenge.

That meant I was no different from Go Yohan.

"Wow. What the hell."

Go Yohan clapped his hands in delight. Panicking at the thought of getting caught, I grabbed Junwoo’s blanket and wiped away the spit, pressing the fabric against his face.

Seeing that, Yohan clasped his cheeks between both hands and beamed.

"This—this must be what happiness feels like, Jun!"

"......What the hell is?"

Honestly, if I was bad, Go Yohan was absolutely insane.

We left the hospital room just as visiting hours ended. Go Yohan hummed a tune under his breath, and I walked beside him in silence. Then, abruptly, he stopped humming and turned to me.

"Oh, right, Jun."

"......?"

"Hey, wanna go somewhere today? Just the two of us?"

So now he liked me, huh? What a bastard.

I took another step forward and answered.

"Whatever."

At that, Yohan suddenly stepped ahead of me. Surprised by the movement, I looked up—only for him to turn around and place a hand on my shoulder.

Like he was looking at a well-trained dog.

"Hey."

"......What."

"I finally like you a little."

His tone felt like he was offering praise from a position above me.

That subtle, almost imperceptible nuance made me uncomfortable.

I hesitated. Should I call him out on it? Or should I just lower my head and pretend not to notice?

Choices like these always came suddenly. Just like now.

What would lead to a better outcome for my life?

I thought about it for a moment, then took the easier path.

It’s not like I’d be seeing Go Yohan after graduation, anyway. But for the sake of a peaceful high school experience...

I smirked slightly, shrugging my shoulders. I still wanted to keep at least some dignity.

"Guess it’s just because, for once, you and I happened to be on the same page."

"On the same page?"

Yohan repeated my words, then stretched his lips into a slow grin under the setting sun.

"Damn. You really hate Han Junwoo, huh?"

His voice dripped with mockery, but there was no real hostility behind it.

A cold, frostbitten expression.

The bruised, blue-tinged jaw of Go Yohan.

I glanced at the darkening sky reflected in the window.

And in that dim reflection, I saw Yohan smiling faintly.

"Thanks."

The reflection of his white teeth shone just slightly.

For what?

For hating Han Junwoo?

Or for retrieving the tooth that Junwoo had broken?

He never clarified the most important part, so I had no idea what exactly Go Yohan was thanking me for.

"Let’s go."

"......Yeah."

Still, from that moment on—

I realized that I quite liked Go Yohan.

When had it started? I wasn’t sure.

But if I had to pinpoint the moment I finally acknowledged it—

It was now.

*****

"Then wouldn’t it be better to ask the teacher? I’m not confident in my answer."

"I just wanted to double-check before I go up to him. You’re pretty good at studying."

Jisoo gave me a cautious smile.

Was it the kind of smile that formed naturally during a conversation?

Or was he smiling because he liked the situation?

I had no way of knowing.

But Jisoo was smart.

If I let jealousy slip here, I’d feel like a dog that had lost a fight.

So I pretended to listen to his brilliant explanation even though I didn’t give a shit.

Long story short, we were both fake as hell.

"Player number one, Park Dongchul! With an ass round and plump as a peach!"

The topic at the back had shifted again.

"Alright, Dongchul, you ready?"

"Yes!"

Their giggles went from quiet snickers to full-blown cackles.

"Holy shit, this fucker’s lost it! Yohan! Look at this! This dude’s insane!"

"This is fucking hilarious. Yohan, hurry up and look at this crazy bastard!"

At the ruckus, I placed my hand on one of Jisoo’s test papers and turned around.

I could hear Jisoo shifting as he followed my gaze.

"Uugh, ugh—!"

Park Dongchul was shoving the neck of a soda bottle into his mouth.

Lips sealed around it, one hand gripping the body of the bottle, he moved it in and out in slow, deliberate strokes.

I frowned.

"What the fuck are they doing?"

"No idea."

Jisoo shook his head.

But it wasn’t that we didn’t understand what was happening.

We were just too stunned to process it.

"Seriously, what the fuck is going on...?"

The green bottle slid in and out of Park Dongchul’s mouth at an increasingly rapid pace. It went deeper and deeper, the wet slosh of liquid against plastic growing more pronounced. The boys surrounding him erupted in louder cheers.

"Dongchul, you crazy bastard!"

"That fucker’s got talent!"

The bottle tilted and curved, sometimes pulling all the way out before being shoved back in. His tongue completely sealed the bottle’s opening, making it perfectly visible as he demonstrated his technique. The pace quickened.

Park Dongchul spread his legs apart in the chair, bending at the waist to look down at the floor.

Foamy white bubbles streamed from his lips.

The soda fizzed, rolling down his chin, dripping onto the wooden floorboards beneath him.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

The gasping chants grew in rhythm, echoing through the classroom. Bent in half, Dongchul suddenly straightened up.

At the same time, he yanked the bottle out of his mouth.

As soon as the plastic parted from his tongue, the trapped foam burst out, spilling freely down his chin.

"He’s coming, he’s coming!"

Park Dongchul lowered his arm, positioning the soda bottle near his crotch, and shook it vigorously.

The boys around him recoiled, throwing up their arms in defense, but it was useless. Their uniform sleeves still ended up splattered with sticky soda.

"Ah, fuck! That’s disgusting!"

"Hahhahaha! You dumbass!"

A trail of bubbles clung to the corner of his lips, a few drops still hanging from his chin before plopping onto his shirt.

The bottle’s mouth now pointed downward, its contents splattered across the floor, leaving dark brown stains.

Absolutely fucking revolting.

"......."

Was he really that desperate to be included?

It was so pitiful I could hardly bring myself to look.

I turned away, and sure enough, Ahn Jisoo wore the same disgusted expression, his features twisted in revulsion.

Meanwhile, Go Yohan wiped his thumb against his chin, grinning.

From that day onward, the boys at our school stopped calling it a blowjob.

They used irrumatio instead.

Not long after, Han Taesan returned.

Freed from Han Junwoo’s grasp, albeit unintentionally.

And for me, that was nothing short of uncomfortable.