Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 16: Locked Out

I need to get out of here.

As soon as Ha Giyeon stepped out of Ha Dohoon’s room, he pressed hard on his temples.

The accumulated fatigue, topped with having just stepped foot into his brother’s room, made his head pound like it was about to split open. That room was second only to their parents’ in terms of places he never wanted to go.

“......”

Giyeon rubbed at the scar hidden beneath his bangs. His fingers brushed across the uneven bump, about the size of a knuckle.

He remembered that day vividly—the day Ha Dohoon’s fountain pen had been broken.

He’d gone into the room at Dohoon’s request. The pen was already smashed and lying on the floor. Knowing it was something his brother cherished, he had panicked, hovering near the scene in indecision—only for Dohoon to walk in at the worst possible moment. Anyone would’ve assumed he’d done it. Still, Giyeon had trusted him. He thought that if he just said he didn’t do it, his brother would believe him.

But what came flying at him instead was a punch filled with rage—one he’d never experienced before.

“You disgusting little insect.”

The cold gaze, twisted with hatred and fury, hadn’t changed in his mind even after all these years. Giyeon had met many kinds of people before his regression, but no one had ever looked at him like they wanted to tear him apart. No one except Ha Dohoon.

I-I’m sorry... I didn’t...

Not knowing what he’d done wrong, Giyeon had fallen to his knees and begged with both hands. The bleeding from his forehead hadn’t been as frightening as Dohoon’s utter indifference. From the beginning, Dohoon had already decided he was the culprit. So begging was the only way to survive.

Looking back now...

“Who actually did it?”

Who would’ve gone into Dohoon’s room and broken just that one pen—the one he cared about most?

He thought about the culprit for a second, but quickly gave up.

“Well, it’s over anyway.”

What was the point in figuring it out now? Even if he found out who it was, nothing would change. And it wasn’t like anyone would believe him if he said it.

“Let’s just get going.”

Giyeon picked up the phone he’d already packed in a small box and left his room.

He walked softly down the stairs, careful not to make any noise in case Dohoon was nearby—but as he passed the kitchen, he caught sight of his mother. She’d just come out and was headed toward her room, wearing a wine-colored dressing gown, apparently getting ready for bed. As she passed the staircase, she turned her head and stopped when she saw him.

Giyeon lowered his head slightly and walked to the front door, slipping his shoes on.

“Where do you think you’re going at this hour?”

He was just tapping the toe of his shoe and grabbing the doorknob when—

“Ha Giyeon.”

“...?”

Startled at hearing his name, Giyeon turned around. His mother stood there, brow furrowed, eyes fixed on him.

Did... Did she just call my name?

His mother almost never addressed him directly. Of course she didn’t—she had no interest in him. It had been so long since she’d called him by name that even just hearing it felt unfamiliar.

As he stood frozen, startled, she looked at him like he was something unpleasant.

“So now you’ve forgotten your manners, too.”

“...I didn’t realize you were speaking to me. I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t go wandering off for no reason at this hour. Just go back upstairs.”

Giyeon bit his lip. Why did they both—his brother and now his mother—so casually label everything he did as pointless? The words slipped out of him before he could stop them.

“It’s not pointless.”

His mother’s normally composed eyes widened. As if she couldn’t believe he’d dared to talk back.

He turned toward the door again and took a step out when her voice rose sharply behind him.

“Are you not going to come back inside this instant?”

“...I’ll be back.”

He opened the front door and stepped out.

The cold night air puffed white from his lips. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel cold at all anymore.

Clutching the box in his hand, he broke into a run toward the meeting place.

***

“...He’s late.”

Son Suhyeon blew into his reddened hands, warming his fingers.

He’d arrived in front of Hwaguk High School, waiting for the person he was supposed to meet. There had been no response for ten minutes—he’d started to think it was a scam. But thankfully, a message had just come through saying the seller was on their way.

He tucked his low-battery laptop into his backpack and leaned against the wall.

Tap tap tap.

“...?”

Footsteps, not far off.

Suhyeon turned toward the sound just as someone came running out from a dark alley nearby.

“...!”

Ha Giyeon?

His hair was messy, and he was still wearing the same hoodie he’d had on when he left work. He bent over, clearly out of breath from sprinting.

“Pimang... Wait, huh?”

Just as Suhyeon recognized him, Giyeon looked up—and his eyes widened too.

What is he doing here at this hour...?

They stared at each other for a long moment before both finally snapped back to their senses and spoke at once.

“Are you the Pimang trade—?”

“You’re here for the phone—?”

Their eyes widened further.

First school uniforms, then part-time jobs—and now even secondhand sales?

They stared at each other, dumbfounded, the air turning immediately awkward.

“Um... funny running into you again.”

“......”

Scratching at the back of his neck in embarrassment, Giyeon glanced away. Suhyeon darted his eyes before speaking first.

“Can I take a look at the phone?”

“Ah, yes...!”

Giyeon handed over the box. Suhyeon took it, pulled out the phone, and examined it from all angles. There were barely any scratches, and the screen lit up just fine. After checking that everything worked, he asked, puzzled,

“This doesn’t seem like the kind of phone you’d sell at this price.”

“I needed to get rid of it quickly. And you were the first one to message me.”

Giyeon’s face held a trace of unease, but Suhyeon didn’t press further. He handed over the cash.

“If there’s any problem, let me know. I’ll refund you.”

“It’s fine. Seems to work well...”

The mention of a refund erased any lingering doubt. The guy had changed uniforms with him, now worked part-time with him—would he really scam him over a phone?

Giyeon took the money and bowed his head.

“Well, I’ll get going now.”

“I... I’ll use it well.”

Suhyeon lifted the phone slightly in a small wave. Giyeon gave a faint smile and disappeared back into the alley.

“......”

Suhyeon stared after him until he vanished into the dark, then turned to walk away.

He clutched the glowing new phone tightly in his pocket.

***

Turns out, money really is the best medicine.

Giyeon felt his spirits lift completely, the weight in his chest gone as he fingered the thick wad of bills in his pocket.

Honestly, he’d considered canceling the sale. He’d listed the phone cheap, wanting to offload it quickly, but everyone who contacted him had been ridiculous.

People who wanted him to ship it and pay later. People who asked to use it for a month then # Nоvеlight # pay. People who haggled the already-low price even lower. Someone even asked him to come to Busan to make the sale.

He’d experienced this before his regression too—there really were all kinds of people in the world.

He’d once been mugged at a trade, another time beaten up, so he was cautious now. He never imagined the buyer would turn out to be Son Suhyeon. Honestly, it was a relief.

Maybe I should’ve given him a discount. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Thinking back, he’d gotten a new gym uniform thanks to him, and the guy had helped him settle into the part-time job too.

Would he accept a refund...?

He’d even been suspicious about the price earlier. No way he’d take the money back.

Maybe he could give him something useful instead...

“Ah... That’s right!”

He remembered—he still had that phone case in his room. Brand new, never even opened.

He’d originally made it as a birthday gift for Ha Dohoon back in middle school. It had been a custom order, but on the day he planned to give it, Dohoon had changed phones. So it was tucked away somewhere in his room, never used.

I should find it and stick it in my bag.

Giyeon made a mental note to dig it out when he got home—

That is, until the phone rang.

“Ajumoni?”

He blinked. It was late, long past her usual shift. And she’d never called him before.

Uneasy, he picked up right away.

“Hello?”

—I’m sorry to call so late, Giyeon. It’s just... a bit urgent.

“It’s fine, what’s going on?”

—Are you outside right now?

“Yes, but I’m almost home. Is something wrong?”

—Well... Madam told me to lock the front gate.

“...What?”

His steps froze, and the world seemed to blur around him.

So it was because of earlier...

Leaving the house despite running into her must’ve ticked her off. He’d expected to be ignored. She usually didn’t care whether he went out or not.

He never imagined she’d lock him out.

Should I be glad I wasn’t thrown out completely?

He came to his senses just in time to hear the housekeeper’s worried voice again.

—Maybe... you should try calling Madam.

“No, it’s okay. Thank you for letting me know.”

She wouldn’t answer his call anyway. And even if he stood at the front gate and begged for forgiveness, she wouldn’t let him in. He knew her better than anyone.

She never went back on a decision. When he’d been kicked out before, she told him, You’ll never see us again. And just like she said, he didn’t—until the day he died.

Because he knew her that well, he accepted the situation quickly.

—It’s cold out... You’re not going to just stand outside, right?

“...I’ll stay at a friend’s house tonight.”

He didn’t have any friends, but it was the only excuse that might keep her from worrying too much. Still, she remained silent on the line, clearly uneasy.

Giyeon hurried to reassure her.

“Really, I’m fine. It’s late—you should rest.”

—Giyeon... Do you need anything? I can sneak something out for you.

He was about to politely refuse, not wanting to cause her trouble—but then he looked down at his trembling fingers, stiff from the cold.

“...If it’s not too much trouble...”