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In this empty house, where even the chill could be felt, Steve spent a long time alone.
He did not spend most of his teenage years with his parents. Due to frequent business trips, they paid little attention to him. They often told him that he was useless and only a hindrance. Steve believed they were right. He thought he was hearing these words because he had done something wrong, and that he was being punished because he had not done well.
Steve got out of the BMW wearing sunglasses. The weather outside was quite hot, perhaps because the sun was high in the sky and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky. Along with his sunglasses, he was wearing a long turtleneck and kimbap.
Dustin, who had come out after hearing the sound of Steve's car, looked at him and asked.
"Steve, aren't you hot?"
"Nope, I'm not."
Although Steve said that, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.
They gathered at Joyce's house. Joyce hosted gatherings at her home every weekend. Steve wondered if he deserved to be there, but that thought vanished when Joyce saw him and greeted him.
“Steve, aren’t you taking off your sunglasses?”
Max asked.
“Ah, I should.”
Steve answered Max and placed his hand on the sunglasses, but hesitated to take them off. Unable to stand it any longer, Dustin ran over to Steve and snatched the sunglasses away. As the darkness of the sunglasses lifted and the bright ceiling light suddenly appeared, Steve closed his eyes.
“Dustin! What are you suddenly doing—”
Steve glared at Dustin, squinting. However, he soon realized that everyone looking at him was giving him disapproving looks. Steve hurriedly snatched the sunglasses from Dustin’s hand and put them back on his eyes.
“Steve, did you get into a fight? What’s wrong with your eyes? Who is it?”
Steve remained frozen, saying nothing.
“I thought you’d stopped being King Steve,”
Mike said to Steve in a slightly worried voice.
“It’s not like that, it’s just something.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
Max challenged Steve in a sharp voice.
“Is it Billy? Did Billy—”
“Max! It’s not like that. You don’t have to worry.”
As Steve answered their questions, he felt a tightness in his neck. He pulled at the turtleneck wrapped around his neck with one hand. It was an unconscious action, but he didn’t realize what that gesture was showing them.
“Wait,”
Jonathan's hand grabbed Steve's arm. Jonathan looked closely at Steve's neck. Only then did Steve realize what he had shown them, and he hurriedly wrapped one hand around his neck and pushed the arm Jonathan was holding down.
“Your neck...”
“No, you saw it wrong.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
Steve glanced at the door behind him.
“Mrs. Byers, I’m so sorry. Something urgent came up, so I have to leave. I’m sorry.”
Steve said in a trembling voice. He hurried out. Ignoring the voices calling him from behind, he started the car.
Steve saw the black car parked in the garage in front of the house. He felt a queasy sensation in his stomach. He parked his car next to the black one and walked toward the front door. He found the key and inserted it into the keyhole. He felt his hand tremble slightly.
“Steven.”
A low, deep voice reached his ears.
“Father, you’re… you’re here?”
Richard Harrington grabbed Steve’s chin. Steve squeezed his eyes shut, as if this whole situation were all too familiar.
“I told you not to stutter; it makes you look dumber.”
“S-sorry—”
Steve mumbled in a low voice. Then, a heavy impact struck the side of his face. Steve’s legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed.
“Steven, the dust is still in the house. Are you even cleaning? We’ve supported you with everything, so you should give back.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll do it now.”
As he spoke, Steve tasted blood in his mouth.
“I just came to retrieve something I left behind. If you’re still like this when you return, we’ll have to reconsider our opinion of you.”
Richard picked up the jacket Harrington had left hanging by the front door and went outside. As the sound of the car engine gradually faded, Steve regained his composure and moved his body.
“He definitely got into a fight with someone! I have to follow him right now!”
Dustin shouted. Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard.
“Why is it so noisy? It’s loud enough to be heard all the way outside...”
“Hopper, don’t take off your coat. We have somewhere to go.”
Joyce said.
Steve tried to clean the entire house, starting with the dusty TV and dining table. It was something he naturally had to do, and he had planned to do it when he got back. He hadn't expected his parents to stop by in the middle of the day like this.
Steve went into the bathroom to wipe off the dust that had accumulated on his body. He looked at his reflection in the mirror. A bruise on his eye and a fresh red mark on his cheek—he thought that the bruise would heal over time. He could understand why the children had been so shocked. Even to Steve himself, those wounds looked terrible. Still, Steve thought it was a relief that they hadn't seen the injuries on his body.
Just as Steve finished wiping off the water dripping from his body, he heard thumping sounds from outside. He hurriedly changed into a stretched-out white T-shirt and comfortable pants and came out. Joyce and Hopper were standing outside the door, at the window. Steve tried to go upstairs pretending he wasn't home, but he made eye contact with Hopper, and resignedly, he opened the door.
“Hello, Chief, Mrs. Byers.”
Steve smiled nonchalantly and met her eyes.
“Steve, are you okay?”
“Yes, of course. What could possibly be wrong?”
Steve looked into Joyce’s eyes. With a look that seemed to say he had done nothing wrong. Joyce’s gaze shifted from Steve’s eyes, to his cheeks, to the bruises visible through his clothes, and back to his eyes. Conscious of her gaze, Steve opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, I left in such a rush—”
“Steve, where are your parents?”
Hopper asked. Steve replied habitually, as if accustomed to it.
“They’re on a business trip. They’re very busy.”
“On a business trip? Where?”
“I’m not sure either—”
“When will they be back?”
“That, too—”
Steve stopped answering, realizing that he would clearly be at Hopper’s mercy if things continued this way. Hopper looked at Steve, and Steve took a step back, feeling uncomfortable under that gaze.
“Steve, where did you get that scar?”
“I just got into a fight with a friend, you know.”
“You know you don’t get into fights anymore, who is it?”
Hopper narrowed his eyes and glared at Steve. Steve was inexplicably afraid of Hopper. He was big and had a heavy voice. It felt like a punch could fly at any moment. Of course, Steve knew Hopper wasn’t that kind of person. But instinctively, Steve distanced himself from him.
“I told you it’s nothing,”
“You—”
“I-.”
Steve paused briefly in the middle of speaking and took a deep breath. He felt his head ringing.
“You should have helped me sooner… When I went to the police station before, you just sent me away saying I had run away.”
Hopper and Joyce were so startled by Steve’s sudden remark that they couldn’t close their mouths.
“I’m fine, so please go back now. I’m sorry.”
Steve closed the door, leaving them behind as they watched him. He watched them through the window for quite a while after closing the door, then staggered up to his room.
Steve stepped outside dressed just as he had been during the day. A short-sleeved shirt and shorts felt a bit chilly for enjoying the dark night after sunset. He headed toward the quarry, following the road illuminated by the headlights of cars.
The quarry was a good place to clear his mind. The scenery was wide open and pleasant to look at. He sat perched on the edge of the cliff at the quarry.
Just then, the sound of a car engine was heard from behind.
“Harrington?”
Steve knew who the owner of that voice was.
“Hargrove.”
Billy leaned against the front of his car and looked at Steve. Billy was barely visible, obscured by the dark shadows.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t know King Steve would come all the way to a corner like this.”
“Just resting. And what brings you here?”
Billy emerged from the dark shadows without answering. They looked at each other in the moonlight.
“You look like a mess. Who did you pick a fight with?”
“And what about you?”
Billy looked at Steve as he spoke, but he was in no good shape himself. His lips were split open and stained with dried blood, as if someone had slapped them, and his usually styled hair was disheveled.
“Hargrove, you know you look worse than me, right?”
Steve stepped aside slightly, as if offering Billy a seat next to him. Billy, sensing Steve’s intention, sat down a little further away.
“So, who did that to you?”
Billy paused for a moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“I’m angry because you didn’t bring Max, so I’m on my way to find him. Who do you think it is?”
For some reason, Steve felt like he knew. As he realized that Billy was in a similar situation to himself, Steve felt his feelings toward Billy soften.
“And what about you?”
“Ah, it’s just… it’s my fault. You know what I mean?”
Billy scowled as if uncomfortable with Steve’s words, stood up, and walked to his car. Without a word, Billy started the engine and disappeared. By the time the sound of the engine faded, Steve also stood up and walked to his car.
Steve arrived at school just as lunchtime was beginning. Unable to fall asleep easily due to the throbbing pain in his head, he ended up oversleeping, something he rarely did. He parked his car and entered the cafeteria.
The first thing he saw upon entering was Nancy and Jonathan, staring at each other with serious expressions. They seemed oblivious to his presence. Next, he saw Billy, who was sitting with his old friends.
Billy stared intently at Steve, who had just appeared at school. Billy realized that Steve was not in good condition. Of course, given the injury he had seen yesterday, it was only natural that something was amiss. He was bothered by what Steve had said yesterday. He stood up from his seat and approached Steve.
“Hey, Harrington.”
As Billy approached Steve and spoke to him, Nancy and Jonathan, who were sitting on the opposite side, reacted as if they had been waiting for this moment and came over to them.
“Billy, don’t come near Steve.”
“What?”
Billy was flustered by the sudden appearance of the figure, and Steve was just as flustered. Steve was confused by the fact that Billy had approached him like this at school, and by the friends trying to stop him.
“Guys, what’s wrong?”
“I heard Billy did those wounds.”
“What? Who said that?”
Nancy and Jonathan paused for a moment, their eyes meeting. Then Jonathan spoke.
“Dustin said you got beaten up by Billy.”
“Dustin?”
As soon as Steve heard that name, he understood the situation. Dustin must have suspected that Billy was responsible for the wounds he had seen on him yesterday. Steve found it amusing.
“It’s not like that, it’s a different matter. Just… you don’t need to worry about it.”
Steve said this. That last remark of his made the listener uncomfortable. Steve turned his head to look at Billy. Billy, too, bore the scars from yesterday. He thought it was enough to make people misunderstand. A battle between a fallen king and a new king—it was certainly a topic worthy of being talked about. The dining hall quickly filled with the whispers of the students.
“Guys? I think we should get back to our seats now.”
Steve pushed Nancy and Jonathan in the back. Then, before following them, he looked at Billy.
“Just call me Steve from now on. And, if anything happens, you can come to my place.”
Billy opened his mouth to answer, but Steve vanished in an instant.
“Apologize to her.”
Neil Hargrove grabbed Billy by the hair and spoke. There were red handprints and fresh cuts on Billy’s cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Susan.”
Billy's voice was small and trembling.
“Again!”
Neil shook Billy’s head mercilessly.
“Sorry!”
Neil pushed Billy against the wall and grabbed his neck with great force.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Be nice to her.”
Billy felt the intense pressure on his face, as if it were about to explode. Billy’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Susan and I are going to the dining room. Take good care of your sister. If she disappears like last time and doesn't come back, then... understand?”
Billy nodded silently. He pressed himself against the wall and waited without making a sound until Neil vanished. As soon as Neil left, he let out a sigh of relief. Although the violence was less severe than usual, Billy's heart, already festering to the core, could no longer bear it.
Billy remembered what Steve had told him.
“Come to me if anything happens...”
He whispered Steve’s words softly. He looked toward Max’s room. The door was firmly shut. Billy kicked it open and said.
“Come out. We’re leaving too.”
Startled by the sudden bang, Max sprang out of bed.
“Billy? You can leave me behind. I won’t say anything.”
Her round eyes narrowed, fixing her gaze on Billy. Max felt sorry for Billy.
“Billy—”
“I’m going to your arrogant babysitter.”
“What—why Steve? Billy!”
Billy ignored Max, grabbed his car keys, and stepped outside. Max hurriedly caught up with him.
“Why are you going to Steve? Are you the one who fought with Steve?”
“Stop! Just stop it, just sit down and follow me.”
Billy shouted, slamming his hands on the steering wheel. His breathing was ragged. Startled by his intensity, Max couldn't say a word. Billy started the car and drove off. They didn't speak a word during the drive to Steve's house. On the dark road, only the sound of the car's engine could be heard.
Steve looked at the man standing in front of him. A man sitting on a fancy sofa, holding a glass of wine in his hand.
“Steven, I clearly told you to keep the house clean.”
“I’m sorry.”
Richard emptied the glass he was holding and tossed it toward Steve. The glass dodged Steve, hit the wall behind him, and shattered glass shards scattered in all directions. Some of the glass flew right up to Steve and wounded him.
Richard approached Steve and struck his shin with the toe cap of his shoe. Steve groaned in pain and slumped to the ground.
“Sorry.”
Steve could not meet Richard’s gaze. He stared blankly at the floor.
“Steven, I think we need to change our minds about you.”
“But Father—”
Steve lifted his head, but he could not dodge the hand flying toward his face. He staggered toward the scattered glass shards and felt his palms and knees burning.
“Get up.”
Ignoring the pain in his knee, Steve rose weakly and faced his father. Richard was already drunk and looked disheveled. Even his usually neat shirt was a mess today. Steve thought that today was just one of his father's bad days.
But that thought was fleeting; Steve couldn't understand why he was there. For the first time today, Steve felt the urge to resist his father's violence. He clenched his fist tightly, but his hand was still trembling.
“I don’t know why someone like you is a Harrington...”
Richard muttered. To Steve, these words were like a daily routine, but he didn't know why, today, he felt as though he were on the verge of tears.
A large hand struck Steve's cheek. Steve staggered but regained his balance. He looked at his father with blurry eyes. However, Richard was not looking at Steve.
Just then, the door burst open with a bang.
The moment his father's hand stopped, Steve turned around to see what had happened. Billy was standing outside the door. He appeared with the same disheveled hair and scarred face he had seen at the quarry. But this time, it was Max. Max looked at Steve with a shocked expression.
Billy seized the moment Richard was still dazed and ran toward him. He ran at high speed and pushed Richard with his weight. Losing their balance, they both fell over.
“You told me to come to your house if anything happened. What do you intend to do now that you’re acting like this?”
Billy punched Richard hard and spoke with a laugh. Unlike how he had cornered Steve just moments before, Richard was knocked unconscious by Billy’s single punch and did not wake up.
“Billy, you didn’t have to go that far— but, thanks.”
Billy approached Steve. Steve watched Billy approaching him. He found it a little amusing to see Billy striding toward him with an angry expression.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Just... it’s funny.”
The two looked at each other.
“So, why did you come here?”
“You told me to come if anything happened.”
“Bringing Max along?”
Billy raised one corner of his mouth and shrugged.
The two exchanged subtle glances. They took a step closer.
“Hmm... guys? I hear a siren.”
Max said, looking at them with a look of exasperation. Steve noticed Max, gently nudged Billy’s chest, and looked out the window. Just as Max had said, a police car was approaching Steve’s house outside, its siren blaring. Steve could roughly guess who was in the police car.
Hopper got out of the police car and adjusted his hat. He walked past the yard to the front door, but saw that it was already open.
“Steve?”
“Hello, Chief, um...”
Hopper had been caught off guard by a noise report. Since he already knew the address, he rushed over, wondering if something had happened to Steve. However, Steve, Max, and Billy were there. Max was fine, but Steve and Billy were a mess. Hopper thought to himself that the two had indeed been fighting.
“You guys—”
“It’s not like that, we didn’t fight.”
But Hopper’s thoughts couldn’t continue further than Steve’s words.
Hopper headed to the police station to ask for an explanation, and after finishing the conversation, he was enraged and arrested Richard and Neil.
Steve and Billy are sitting side by side in the quarry where they have come to know each other better.
“Billy, how are you feeling?”
Steve asked Billy.
“How am I feeling? Of course I’m the best! It’s a shame I couldn’t land a punch on my father, though...”
“Thanks for helping me.”
Steve looked at Billy.
Billy looked at Steve as well.
They stared at each other in silence.