Yujin, puzzled by the repeatedly ringing bell, hurried to check the wall pad. A familiar face appeared on the screen.
Andrew.
Seeing Winston’s older brother, Yujin let out an unconscious sigh of relief. Andrew had started coming to the house at some point, always leaving before Winston arrived after bingeing on pills and alcohol. Probably because he had nowhere else, not even the mansion, where he could take his drugs in peace.
At first, Yujin found Andrew very uncomfortable, but over time it got better. Although Andrew took a lot of drugs and drank heavily, he never spoke disdainfully to Yujin nor acted rudely. Among the Campbell family, excluding Winston, he was one of the kinder ones. He even sometimes made jokes, so Yujin didn’t dislike him.
But taking that much medicine can’t be good...
Once Andrew was let inside, Yujin knew he couldn’t stop him. What to do? Pretend not to notice? No, Andrew already knew well that Yujin was mostly at home...
While Yujin was contemplating this, the doorbell rang loudly again as if urging him. Hesitating, Yujin had no choice but to press the screen’s button. While Andrew was riding the elevator up, Yujin composed himself and waited for the guest. When the machine sounded that Andrew had arrived at the entrance, Yujin roughly brushed his hair with his hand and hurried to the door.
“Hello, Andrew...”
Yujin froze just as he was about to greet the man who appeared through the door first. Andrew was not alone. Seeing several men behind Andrew, Yujin felt a strange tension and instantly became wary.
“Where’s Winston? Ah, working, I guess.”
Andrew looked around the house as if it were his own, confidently, and Yujin glanced at the other men while answering.
“Yeah... so, what brings you here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Andrew smiled, pulling out a plastic bag filled with white powder from inside his jacket pocket. The men following him also showed bottles of alcohol and pill packets, grinning.
“Hey, Andrew...”
Amid the men ahead, Yujin caught Andrew’s arm and spoke quietly. Andrew looked down at him, puzzled, as Yujin spoke with a worried expression.
“You’re taking too many drugs... I want you not to do drugs here anymore. Last time Winston noticed and got mad because you had to make excuses... And bringing your friends too.”
Andrew laughed out loud at the troubled look on Yujin’s face and replied casually.
“Don’t worry, Yujin. I know. I won’t do drugs anymore, and I won’t come to your house either.”
“Really?”
Surprised, Yujin opened his eyes wide and asked. Andrew nodded as if seriously agreeing.
“That’s why I brought those guys along. It’s the last time. Since I owe you a favor, we thought we’d have a party together.”
“Uh...”
It seemed more like ‘their own party’ than ‘a party together,’ but anyway, quitting drugs was good news.
“If you’re not coming to do drugs, you’re welcome anytime.”
Yujin said this while grabbing Andrew as he was turning to leave. Andrew looked surprised but soon smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.
“Thanks, Yujin. You’re really kind.”
After lightly tapping his cheek, Andrew turned and followed his friends. Watching him, Yujin hurried to take out some liquor and glasses. He thought if Andrew drank a lot, he might take fewer drugs. Of course, alcohol was also bad for the body, but better than drugs.
“Wow, seriously? How much is this? You have this whiskey at ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) home?”
“Wow, I want to try this. Amazing! Awesome!”
“Damn booze, let’s drink and die, die!”
Seeing the men swearing loudly and making a racket, Yujin felt his mind go blank. Though Andrew swore and shouted along with them, he somehow didn’t quite fit in. Maybe because Andrew was from the Campbell family? Yujin thought so and sat a little apart, watching them carefully.
“Sorry, Yujin. These bastards are too loud, huh?”
When they had become somewhat drunk, Andrew spoke to Yujin. Yujin honestly answered with a slight “A little.”
He was not used to such a loud atmosphere. He preferred quiet, calm tea-drinking conversations. Hearing this, Andrew looked at him with a strange gaze.
“You like it when I come alone?”
“Yeah, of course.”
For some reason, Yujin felt a strange discomfort at his lowered voice but nodded.
“Don’t bring your friends anymore.”
“Got it.”
Surprisingly, Andrew readily agreed.
“I will, if you like it better when it’s just the two of us.”
There was a double meaning behind that. Andrew was testing him once again, but Yujin was too naive to notice.
“Yeah, I like it better too.”
Andrew’s mouth slowly curved up as he quietly looked at Yujin. For the first time, Andrew smiled brightly and said,
“I see.”
Finishing his glass of liquor at once, Andrew rolled up some bills and snorted the powder on the table.
“Today’s the last time.”
Wiping the reflexively flowing runny nose with his finger, Andrew added,
“I’m really done with drugs and alcohol. For real.”
“That would be really good. Good decision, Andrew. Don’t do this anymore.”
Yujin nodded with delight, and Andrew stared at him intently.
“If you’re here, I can do it too. Like Winston.”
Only then did Yujin feel something strange but quickly ignored it.
“Yeah, of course. I’ll cheer for you too.”
Andrew’s face brightened further at Yujin’s words. That day, they all got drunk, drinking both the drugs Andrew had brought and the alcohol Yujin took out. Staggering as he left the entrance, Andrew promised in a heavily slurred voice.
“Next time I’ll come sober. I’ll be quick, like the wind, faster than a plane...”
“You better. You have to come sober.”
Yujin laughed and accepted Andrew’s drunken rant.
“Don’t forget because you’re drunk, okay?”
Teasing, Yujin added, and Andrew frowned but answered seriously.
“I’ll never forget.”
Nodding firmly, Yujin said,
“Alright, I’ll wait.”
As Yujin saw Andrew off at the door, waving goodbye, Andrew suddenly turned and hugged him.
...Huh?
Blinking in surprise, Yujin almost gagged at the strong smell of drugs and alcohol on Andrew but barely held it back. After patting his back encouragingly, he gently pulled away and smiled.
“Time to go now. I’m busy cleaning up before Winston gets back.”
“...Yeah.”
Andrew muttered unhappily and stepped back.
“I’m going.”
“Yeah, goodbye.”
After a longer-than-usual farewell, Yujin barely closed the door and returned to the living room. A bigger mess than usual awaited him there. Normally Andrew alone messed up, but this time several men came and made a ruckus, so it was natural. Yujin sighed, turned on the fan to clear the smell, and hurried to clean up.
When Winston returned, things weren’t much different than usual. Coming home just after midnight as usual, he went straight to the bedroom to check on Yujin. Half asleep, Yujin quickly opened his eyes and greeted Winston happily.
“What did you do today?”
After a kiss, Winston asked tenderly, and Yujin smiled in reply.
“I played with friends.”
It wasn’t a lie. Winston didn’t know Andrew had come to the house. If he knew Andrew did drugs at his home, he would surely get angry. Yujin didn’t tell Winston because he didn’t want to lose the only Campbell family member he had barely gotten close to.
Besides, Andrew said he wouldn’t do drugs anymore...
If he really quit next time, then it would be okay to tell Winston. Yujin thought so. Winston would be happy Andrew quit if Yujin persuaded him. He wondered how much Winston would praise him for that.
Already feeling proud, a smile came to Yujin’s lips naturally. Winston assumed Yujin was happy recalling the day he had played with friends and dismissed it lightly.
“Phew.”
Rubbing one shoulder, Winston looked at Yujin, who quickly wiped his smile away and asked seriously.
“Are you very tired?”
Winston had been constantly overworked. Days he left work on time were few and far between. Seeing Winston’s worried expression, Yujin smiled and shook his head.
“No, this much is okay. Sorry, I guess I woke you up.”
