144 How it All Started (2/2)

”My aunt owns the bar upstairs. She lets me use this place for free, so I stay here on most days,” Yeong Gi explained. ”It's more like a hideout rather than my house, though.”

”...” Who the f*ck cares, Hyuk thought. He didn't have any intention of sticking with the guy after this so he barely paid attention to his words.

”Ah, found it,” Yeong Gi muttered as he pulled out a first aid kit from somewhere in the messy room.

He wasn't an expert at patching up other people, but after years of getting into fights and cleaning up after himself, he treated Hyuk's wounds adequately enough.

”Might need to see the doctor, though,” he shrugged after putting away the first aid kit. ”So what are you going to do now? Go home? Wanna stay here for the night?”

Yeong Gi rummaged the small fridge near the couch and took out a can of beer. He cracked open the bottle and casually chugged it down.

Letting out a satisfied sound, he handed it over to Hyuk, ”Thirsty?”

Hyuk frowned at the other boy, ”No thanks. I don't drink.” After seeing the effects of alcohol on a certain b*stard, it was safe to say that Hyuk had sworn against touching the devil's drink.

”What? You serious? You're missing out on life, man,” Ji Yeong Gi said, his brows raised. There were a lot of kids their age who liked to drink, so it was rare to find someone like Hyuk. He was really nothing like the rumours. Other than his tendency in getting into fights, Hyuk was a pretty good boy. Ji Yeong Gi almost snorted at the thought. 'Lee Hyuk' and 'good boy' should never be described in the same sentence. He inwardly blanched.

”Whatever floats your boat, I guess,” Yeong Gi said, shrugging. He didn't have any intentions to force him to drink, anyway. Beer was hard to get at their age and the ones he had were mostly stolen from his aunt. Although she was a bar owner, she was very much against underage drinking. He wouldn't waste his painstakingly accumulated stock on someone who can't appreciate a good drink.

”Here's to a long friendship,” Yeong Gi grinned, toasting the empty air before finishing the rest of his beer. He tossed the empty can towards the trashcan, but missed. However, he didn't mind it and left the cleaning up to another day. It was late and he was getting tired.

”I have a feeling that you didn't want to go home yet, so feel free to use the couch,” Yeong Gi said. He was feeling extra generous so he threw a threadbare blanket towards Hyuk. It was the only blanket in the room.

”...” Hyuk made a face as if he didn't really want it, but he had no words to reject him. He didn't want to go home but he had nowhere else to go. Ji Yeong Gi's offer was really timely.

”...Thanks,” Hyuk said, after struggling with his thoughts for several minutes.

After deciding to rest in the decrepit basement room for a while, Hyuk closed his eyes and had a fitful sleep.