PAID

"Has Yohan ever done anything strange to you?"

"Something strange?"

"Never mind."

What exactly did he mean by something strange? I wanted to press him for details but held back.

"Still, it seems like being around a smart kid like you is having a positive influence on him."

Influence? What a strange choice of words.

"Let him stay for now, but send him back later. If anything happens, let me know immediately. Could you send me your number, just in case?"

"Oh. Yes, of course. I’ll text it to you."

"Alright."

I hesitated for a moment before saying something that would probably please Go Yohan’s father the most.

From the way he talked—using words like influence, burden, not all sons are the same, and even that kid to refer to his own son—it was obvious that he saw Yohan as abnormal.

If Yohan wasn’t normal, then what the hell was?

But for now, I played along.

"Sir, I’m not sure if I should say this, but… Yohan is actually a good kid. I don’t know what happened, but whatever it is, I’ll make sure to set things right—as his friend."@@novelbin@@

A small chuckle came through the receiver.

"I really like you."

And with that, the call ended.

It was such an abrupt ending that it left me feeling empty.

Go Yohan’s phone screen returned to the lock screen.

I turned it back on.

The fingerprint I had already registered easily unlocked it.

I hesitated, about to check his contacts, but then stopped.

If his father mentioned to him that he had gotten my number, Yohan might figure out that I had gone through his phone.

It would be better to ask for his permission later.

I was about to turn off the screen when my eyes drifted toward the bathroom door.

It was still shut tight.

Yohan’s absence.

The sound of water running.

And then, suddenly, a thought struck me.