Unexpected Gifts and a Heavy Revelation

‘Uh-oh…’ An utterly foolish sound escaped me.

Having never once been described as sickly, or even frail, throughout my life, I found myself devoid of any negative emotions like inferiority or self-consciousness. I simply wasn’t used to such treatment.

When a schedule loomed, I used to be consumed by the thought, ‘I must avoid a no-show, even if it kills me.’ Yet, looking back, that intense compulsion had also inexplicably faded.

Instead, it merely felt a little ticklish, a blush creeping up my face. Their unadorned, honest expressions were quite disarming.

“Why is your face turning red?”

Han Doyoung, despite being unable to conceal his own awkwardness, needlessly taunted me. When I simply stared back, offering no reply, he began to grumble to himself, as if harboring some deeply suppressed resentment.

“Honestly, who asked you to keep going until you nearly collapsed? Why make the person who suggested it worry? It makes it seem like it’s all my fault.”

Han Doyoung appeared to be burdened by a sense of responsibility. Truly, it was a rare and unexpected sight.

“I simply did it because I wanted to. The performance was enjoyable.”

“Enjoy yourself like that twice, and you’ll be heading straight to the underworld.”

The word ‘underworld’ seemed to pierce Lee Seon’s ears, causing his eyes to widen dramatically. He then began to vigorously smack Han Doyoung’s back.

“Why would you utter such an ominous thing! Are you truly out of your mind?!”

“Ack! The crazy one is clearly you, pummeling your hyung!”

A subtle smile graced my lips at the utterly childish scene, reminiscent of two puppies squabbling. Indeed, these guys were never dull to watch.

Just then, a single, vague thought drifted into my mind.

‘What if Kwon Yohan, not I, had witnessed this scene, had heard these very stories?’

“Anyway, Jihyuk hyung truly possesses foresight.” Lee Seon, who had been squabbling with Han Doyoung for some time, suddenly declared, pushing his hands against the floor and leaning back. Yoon Jihyuk, who had remained silent, reacted a beat too late.

“…Huh? Me?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Goodness, I thought he was just being overly attentive, sticking close to us guys, fussing over every little thing we did. But you were just keeping a close eye on me because you anticipated something like this would happen, weren’t you?”

‘It probably wasn’t solely for that reason…’ Still, for now, it was undeniably true.

“I intended to prevent it beforehand, but I ultimately failed.”

Regardless, initiating the conversation had been a good decision. The man who had been trapped in his own world, eyes glazed over, now appeared to have regained at least half of his composure.

Now that the tense atmosphere had somewhat dissipated, I, too, felt compelled to speak my mind.

“I apologize for causing such worry. I believe I was somewhat complacent. I honestly hadn’t anticipated an incident like this, despite trying to gauge my condition as I moved.”

Four pairs of eyes were fixed intently upon me. I had no intention of doing so, but their collective gaze felt as though I would be torn apart if I dared to utter a single lie to escape the situation.

“I cannot definitively promise that such an incident won’t occur again. I’m unsure how much you all heard at the hospital, but there are times when I feel perfectly fine, only to suddenly and drastically worsen. It’s simply not something that can be entirely controlled by mere caution.”

“If that’s the case, then we’ll just cover for you.” Lee Seon, who appeared to possess absolutely no talent for ‘covering,’ declared.

‘…This implies I’ll continue to be a liability. Yet, no one is telling me to leave? The brief connection between HEX and Kwon Yohan was far too short to be considered truly strong. It was genuinely perplexing.’

What’s more, the other members also nodded in agreement, seemingly concurring with his sentiment.

‘Do they simply treat someone favorably if they sense genuine passion? If so, that’s a refreshingly straightforward approach.’ Han Doyoung, seemingly satisfied that all necessary points had been addressed, abruptly rose from his spot.

“Alright, are we done here? Let’s all disperse. It’s hot, so there’s no need to huddle together.”

With those words, Han Doyoung retrieved something from his room and casually tossed it in my direction.

“What’s this?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking?”

It was a shark plushie, almost as large as Kwon Yohan himself. ‘Is it a birthday present? But why a shark?’

Before I could even voice the question, he scratched his belly vigorously and disappeared into the bathroom adjacent to the living room. Truly, he was an odd fellow.

“…Does he mean for me to be crushed to death by this doll?” Lee Seon’s interpretation, mumbled with a furrowed brow, was equally peculiar. From that moment on, as if by some unspoken agreement, the other members began to bring items, one by one, and place them into my hands.

“I bought this because you seem so terribly frail, but can you actually take it?” What Lee Seon presented was a multivitamin supplement.

“It’s good for your body; why wouldn’t it be alright?”

Choi Seung-beom then interjected.

“Take it with you to the hospital and ask before you consume it. Just in case.”

He warned that its efficacy shouldn’t conflict with any existing medications I was taking. This was a consideration I hadn’t even remotely thought about. After all, if I had to be cautious with food, how much more so with medicine?

“Hyung, how do you know things like that?”

“That hyung lived with his grandmother, remember?”

“Ah, I see.”

Choi Seung-beom then presented me with a weighty bundle containing various puzzles. He suggested I occupy myself with them if I grew bored while resting alone at the dorm. His earnest declaration that he had specifically chosen only animal pictures to make it ‘worthwhile’ was quite amusing.

Lastly, Yoon Jihyuk’s gift was a bath bomb shaped like a birthday cake.

“You’ve chosen something quite adorable.”

“Yeah, well… it would be a shame to miss out on cake, wouldn’t it? This is meant to soothe that disappointment, at least.”

‘Oh. That’s actually quite thoughtful.’

Once the exchange was complete, the members literally scattered to attend to their own tasks. In the living room, only the surprisingly cute gifts, exchanged between grown men, remained, along with myself and Yoon Jihyuk.

“Seon stayed until the very end, it seems.” Yoon Jihyuk muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips. Lee Seon, even after delivering his own contribution, had lingered in the living room, perhaps curious about what the other members would give, before finally retreating.

“I brought this just in case. It’s almost unsettling how perfectly my prediction aligned.” He concluded with that meaningful remark, then pulled something from his pocket.

“It seemed everyone deliberately chose things that might help you, keeping them light and without burden. While that’s thoughtful, I wanted to give you something more substantial.”

It was an accessory case. Upon opening the lid, a bracelet adorned with a distinctive star-shaped charm was revealed. Yoon Jihyuk gently lifted my hand and fastened the bracelet around my wrist.

The brand name engraved on the case alone was enough to tell me. This couldn’t have been an amount an idol, barely a year into their debut, could easily afford.

It would have been rather crude to abruptly ask, ‘Is your family well-off?’ Therefore, the only appropriate words were already decided.

“Thank you.”

“Do you like it?”

To admit I couldn’t even discern whether I liked it, having no prior experience with expensive accessories, would hardly be a ‘Kwon Yohan-esque’ response. So, I merely offered a subtle smile and nodded.

“That’s a relief. I really went all out for it.”

“…Was it perhaps too much for you?”

“No comment.”

As I found myself questioning the 24-year-old’s financial judgment, Yoon Jihyuk suddenly burst into laughter.

“What’s wrong? Are you worried I might have spent beyond my means?”

“…Should I answer that honestly?”

“Hmm, no. I think I already know what you’re going to say, so there’s no need for me to hear it.”

Yoon Jihyuk appeared intent on glossing over the subject. He offered no further explanation, simply leaning back deeply into the sofa’s backrest. His listless posture, coupled with his closed eyes, conveyed an overwhelming sense of profound fatigue.

He had been speaking clearly and even cracking jokes, so I had assumed he was alright. Was I mistaken?

The topic they were meant to discuss at the dorm had already passed, so if he intended to rest, it would be better for him to lie down in his own room rather than lingering here. Just as I was about to offer this advice, he spoke.

“Yohan.”

‘Was there still something he needed to say?’ I nodded unconsciously, even though his eyes remained resolutely closed.

“…About your mother.” His words continued, each syllable laden with a heavy weight.

“She said she’s going to make you quit. Is that something you’re alright with?”

“Ah.”

‘I hadn’t imagined that news would have reached this far.’

The other members were certainly not the type to conceal their feelings after hearing such a significant matter. If everyone had been aware, today’s questioning would not have concluded in such a manner.

This implied that Kwon Yohan’s mother had confided this information solely to Yoon Jihyuk.

‘Did she do it because she knew he was the leader?’

‘Yes, perhaps it’s better that at least one person knows.’

“She wasn’t particularly keen on my idol activities to begin with.”

I explained the full circumstances as gently as I could, choosing expressions that made it sound like an insignificant matter, without actually omitting any facts.

“…So, I intend to try and persuade her further before the deadline expires.”

Yoon Jihyuk, who had been listening intently, let out a deep sigh.

“So, there’s no guarantee you can change her mind?”

Watching his face sink into a melancholic expression, my chest tightened with frustration. I occasionally felt this way, but Yoon Jihyuk was far more sensitive and easily shaken than he appeared.

He was simply accustomed to concealing it.

“I’ll have to use every means necessary.”

He truly required a lot of care, it seemed.

“Do I look like someone who would meekly give up?”

Yoon Jihyuk’s eyes widened, then he let out a soft chuckle. A faint light glimmered within his dark pupils.

“You’re right. That’s true.”

Then, he leaned his body towards me. Yoon Jihyuk slumped onto my lap, wrapping his arms around my waist. Burying his face in my stomach, he looked exactly like a petulant child.

So many Red Moon members were openly affectionate that I hadn’t truly noticed, but Lee Seon was right. Lately, his physical contact had become excessively ‘ticklish.’

And I, too, was naturally patting his back.

“Don’t be so anxious.”

“Mm…”

If such a small gesture could soothe his heart, wouldn’t that be a blessing?

“I’ll overcome everything.”

“Haha, how impressive.”

My strong declaration wasn’t solely to alleviate his anxiety.

It was a pledge.

I would find a way to return this body to Kwon Yohan.

Until then, I had to hold onto everything he possessed and not let it slip away.