BCGWR Chapter 6 Part 2

“Haha, alright. I’ll believe that. Let’s go up. Preparations for takeoff are complete.”

“It’s not ‘I’ll believe that,’ it’s ‘that’s how it is’……”

Han Ji-su, grumbling unnecessarily from embarrassment, put his phone in his pocket and stood up.

Kang Jae-yoon, once again using psychokinesis, gently placed the tray and drink cups on the return counter. Then, completely ignoring the glances around them, he demonstratively helped Han Ji-su into his coat, before putting an arm around his shoulder and leisurely exiting the cafe.

‘This is the second time I’m going to Busan by helicopter……’

Han Ji-su, lost in thought as he gazed blankly out the window, recalled old memories and checked on Toto reflected in the glass. Toto sat on his caretaker’s shoulder, completely absorbed in watching the scenery outside with sparkling eyes.

Han Ji-su, who had just turned his gaze from Toto and was about to let his focus blur again, suddenly made eye contact with Kang Jae-yoon, reflected in the window. As if he had been watching all along, Kang Jae-yoon smiled naturally, his eyes crinkling, without any hint of surprise, and said:

“It reminds me of old times.”

“……”

Instead of replying that he too had been thinking of that time, Han Ji-su gave a small nod of affirmation, then lowered his eyes, avoiding Kang Jae-yoon’s gaze.

When he closed his eyes, it was as vivid as yesterday, yet looking back, it was a memory from quite some time ago.

Before The Cataclysm, Kang Jae-yoon and Han Ji-su had traveled to Busan by helicopter in the late afternoon, just like today, but back then, there were many more people on board.

The space had been noisy with the sound of propellers and raised voices, filled with Kang Jae-yoon, the reliable eldest brother and leader who still stood by him, himself as the youngest, and three other older brothers who were two years older than Han Ji-su.

Han Ji-su, recalling the three people who were called “0n Squad” in the top male idol group ‘Loveis,’ took his eyes off the window and turned slightly to face Kang Jae-yoon.

In his gentle gaze towards Han Ji-su, there was an unmistakable concern. It was exactly like the look he had given that day, reassuring the nervous youngest member during their first helicopter ride amidst the boisterous five members.

‘It must be a different kind of worry now.’

Han Ji-su leaned back against the seat, still maintaining eye contact with Kang Jae-yoon.

Until recently, whenever Kang Jae-yoon brought up stories about his own older brother and younger brother, or those three people, Han Ji-su would always give a moderate answer and then say nothing more. He would express his unwillingness to continue the conversation on that topic through silence.

The reason was simple. Talking about those he loved and cherished made him miss those three terribly, but he could no longer meet them.

Especially when he called their names aloud, he missed them even more, and listening to shared memories made him want to return to that day before The Cataclysm, often causing him to cry alone in secret.

But today, somehow, he felt like talking about the three of them. He didn’t know why this feeling suddenly came over him, but he thought it would be alright today, so he spoke in a low voice.

“……Hyung.”

“Hm.”

“……Back then…… Shin Hee-won Hyung gave me a green grape flavored candy……. He told me to put the candy in my mouth and close my eyes if I was scared to look outside……”

“……”

“Actually, I wasn’t scared, I was just carsick.”

“Haha.”

Unlike that day when they had almost shouted to each other over the loud propeller noise, this was a voice closer to a low whisper, but Kang Jae-yoon, an S-rank Esper, could hear every word clearly.

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