108.
Unfortunately, there was nothing wrong with what Kwon Do-hyeon said.
Chae Yoo-jeong liked Yoo Ji-han. He was his first and unrequited love without a doubt. He was an absolute scumbag in the world who deceived the person he loved like that.
He had to be honest with Yoo Ji-han. No matter how much he didn’t think much about ‘Yoo Chae’, he couldn’t keep lying like this. Just the thought of Yoo Ji-han being angry at him sent shivers down his spine, but he couldn’t help it.
Still... if I sincerely apologize and ask for forgiveness, wouldn’t he just forgive me this once and move on? It’s okay if he didn’t vent his anger right away. Since it was his fault, he was confident that he would wait forever for his anger to subside.
Chae Yoo-jeong, who met Yoo Ji-han on Friday and visited the Korean restaurant, repeated what he had to say in his head over and over again throughout his meal. He couldn’t tell whether his food was going into his mouth or his nose because he was watching Yoo Ji-han’s face and figuring out his thoughts.
‘How should I bring this up...?’
When they eat, he brings up a bad conversation for no reason and Yoo Ji-han inevitably gets mad? It’s even with his favorite beef...…………….
Chae Yoo-jeong, who was in a cold sweat and struggling for a long time, ended up finishing his meal without even mentioning what he said about Yoo Chae. Chae Yoo-jeong, who regretted beating his heart at his own patheticness, changed his plans to talk to him on his way home.
Before Chae Yoo-jeong, who was holding the steering wheel and feeling his heart pounding wildly, could even open his mouth, Yoo Ji-han’s expression became grim.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Something happened. I’m sorry, but can I call someone for a moment?”
“Sure. Take it easy.”
Something happened? Chae Yoo-jeong started the car in an atmosphere that looked serious at first glance. Yoo Ji-han sat in the passenger seat and started talking on the phone with Seo Tae-young.
“Did you call me by any chance about something related to Kim Eui-chan?”
As Yoo Ji-han spoke to Seo Tae-young, Chae Yoo-jeong also remembered his face.
If it’s Kim Eui-chan, it’s clear... he was a professional player who played in lower-level teams. He was an original dealer who participated in a tournament with Yoo Ji-han on the same team when he was 19 years old. He occasionally appeared with Yoo Ji-han on Seo Tae-young’s broadcasts. At some point, he stopped appearing.
-It would be better to block him right away, as you said. Don’t pay any more attention. got it?
“I know. Don’t worry.”
-Yes, yes. Hang up.
Yoo Ji-han continued to feel bad after finishing the phone call with Seo Tae-young. In this situation, it was obvious that if he brought up the topic of ‘Yoo Chae’ for no reason, it would be like pouring oil into a burning house.
Chae Yoo-jeong, who quickly thought about what to do, suggested to Yoo Ji-han to make a new appointment.
“Hyung, if it’s okay… would you like to come over to my house next week?”
I thought it would be better inside the house, where I could have a quiet and comfortable conversation, rather than outside. I didn’t have much luggage to move to the accommodation, but I made up an excuse that I was in a hurry.
As expected, Yoo Ji-han felt quite burdened upon receiving Chae Yoo-jeong’s invitation, but he gave a hopeful answer saying that he would think about it. Even if he refused this time, he still had time until the end of the year, so he could still take advantage of the opportunity after that.
After splitting up with Yoo Ji-han, Chae Yoo-jeong was traveling in a car and stopped briefly on the side of the road nearby to pick up his cell phone and make a call.
-Hello?
“Hyung.”
-Why are you calling me?
Seo Tae-young teased and then immediately asked.
-What is it again this time?
Seo Tae-young also knew very well that Chae Yoo-jeong only contacted him when there was business. As if living up to those expectations, Chae Yoo-jeong skipped over all of the greetings and went straight to the main topic.
“You’re the one who spoke to Ji-han on the phone earlier, right?”
-Uh? How do you know that?
“We had dinner together. Now, I’m on my way back after dropping off Hyung at his house.”
Seo Tae-young, who heard Chae Yoo-jeong’s story, reacted in a very unexpected way.
-You two had dinner together? It looks like you two have become really close.
Chae Yoo-jeong’s brow furrowed slightly. He was strangely annoyed by the attitude that it was amazing that a guy who could never become friends with Yoo Ji-han became friends.
“That’s enough. That’s not what’s important.”
-What?
“Kim Eui-chan... I heard that this person contacted Ji-han again. He looked like he was not in a good mood.”
-Ah, did Ji-han explain it to you too?
“Uh. I want to comfort him, but I don’t know what to do.”
Chae Yoo-jeong doesn’t know how to comfort him.
Seo Tae-young, perhaps understanding Chae Yoo-jeong’s words that he didn’t know how to comfort him, sighed and started spouting out what Kim Eui-chan had done.
-Kim Eui-chan, this bastard, didn’t just stab him in the back once or twice, but he shamelessly contacted him again, so he deserves to feel bad.
“…… That’s bullshit. “
-That’s still not enough with his bullshit! There’s no end to that bastard’s shit. Starting with contract fraud, he introduces him some women arbitrarily... I felt bad after just hearing about it, but I wonder how Ji-han felt when he was the one directly involved. And that too, by a friend he trusted.
“…….”
-Because of Kim Eui-chan, Ji-han absolutely hates people who lie. From my understanding, it’s at a level where it’s not surprising even if he starts distrusting people. Ugh, since I said I blocked him, I can’t really say anything more...
Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyelids fluttered as he absentmindedly listened to Seo Tae-young while holding his cell phone. Something hot was compressing the opening of his throat, making it impossible for him to breathe properly.
-Anyway… you asked how to comfort him? It looks like he’s done with him after blocking him, so if you can, don’t bring up Kim Eui-chan’s name again to Ji-han. That would be better. I feel like if you go out of my way to comfort him, you’ll end up upsetting him further.
“…… Uh, okay. I……………….”
The blurry eyes shook mercilessly. Chae Yoo-jeong bit his lip and swallowed down the emotions rising to the top of his throat, and finally continued speaking.
“I... will try to comfort him.”
-Yes, yes. It’s amazing that the two of you were able to become close friends, but it’s also nice at times like this. Since you two are only one year apart in age, you two will get along better.
“…….”
-I have to hang up now. There’s nothing more you want to ask, right?
“Uh, I’ll hang up.”
Chae Yoo-jeong slowly lowered the cell phone that had been turned off from his ear and lowered his head with a stern expression.
‘I hate it...…………….’
Seo Tae-young’s voice and Yoo Ji-han’s expression after receiving a call from Kim Eui-chan came to mind.
Before he knew it, Kim Eui-chan in his mind had been substituted as Chae Yoo-jeong himself and had become someone that Yoo Ji-han reacted with disgust upon receiving contact.
An intense pain spread through his head, as if an awl were being stabbed. Chae Yoo-jeong was pale, and cold sweat was running down his temples as he touched his forehead. Chae Yoo-jeong smiled bitterly in the car in the thick darkness.
***
“I cleaned once before Hyung came.”
“………Did you clean it in advance? Then what did you call me for?”
“Hyung, you just need to pack up a few things. This is my room.”
Chae Yoo-jeong watched Yoo Ji-han from behind with a faint smile as he looked around the room. Unlike the peaceful and happy times, Chae Yoo-jeong’s heart fell endlessly.
Disgust and guilt hit him like a tidal wave, and he swelled like a bubble. Chae Yoo-jeong could never bring up the topic of ‘Yoo Chae’ to Yoo Ji-han.
Even if Yoo Ji-han has no special feelings for Yoo Chae, he will be disappointed and angry at the lie itself. Rather than disappoint him, make him angry, and ultimately end their relationship, it would have been better to sort out ‘Yoo Chae’ as quickly as possible.
Of course, there is a possibility that Yoo Ji-han will surprisingly not pay much attention and just overlook it. But he wouldn’t take such a gamble against Yoo Ji-han... He could never do it.
‘I have to tell him that starting today, I’ll lower the rate of log in of Yoo Chae account and close it in about 10 days.’
In any case, Yoo Ji-han’s wondering if he and ‘Yoo Chae’ were the same person ended long ago.
Now, he thought of himself and ‘Yoo Chae’ as completely different people and seemed to have no interest in him. So even if he quit being ‘Yoo Chae,’ he won’t worry too much.
He tried his best to ignore the growing nervousness and packed up his luggage with Yoo Ji-han. He expected an unexpected incident to occur in the middle, which would almost cause a big disaster, but time passed smoothly without any problems.
“I don’t care. It’s your house. Why are you looking at me?”
“Still. There’s still some time left before the delivery arrives. Would you like to play a game? In addition to computers, there’s also PS and Xbox. Or you can install the game...…………….”
Yoo Ji-han, who was quietly listening to Chae Yoo-jeong’s words, vibrated briefly. Yoo Ji-han lifted his phone and checked the screen with an indifferent expression, his face hardening to the point where it was clearly visible.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“...Nothing.”
The atmosphere surrounding Chae Yoo-jeong and Yoo Ji-han changed in an instant. Even when Chae Yoo-jeong felt this and asked Yoo Ji-han, he shook his head and never spoke honestly.
What happened to Yoo Ji-han? Chae Yoo-jeong’s doubts were answered in an unexpected place.
When Chae Yoo-jeong returned to the dorm after dropping off Yoo Ji-han and went up to the practice room, Kwon Do-hyeon, who had just finished washing up, opened his mouth.
“Hey, he contacted me via messenger, so you have to send him a brief reply.”
“What?”
“That Hyung person contacted you and you have to talk to him.”
Chae Yoo-jeong hurriedly ran to his seat and checked his monitor. Before going home with Yoo Ji-han, the computer that he deliberately left on had messages for Zenoris and ‘Yoo Chae’ account turned on.
[Ji-han: (Connects voice call.)]
[Ji-han: (Cancels voice call.)]
[Yoo Chae: Hyung?]
The exact time Yoo Ji-han made the voice call was when he was at his house. When Kwon Do-hyeon saw that, he sent the simplest and most plausible answer, ‘Hyung.’
Only then did Chae Yoo-jeong realize why Yoo Ji-han reacted that way. Ever since Yoo Ji-han met him at the wedding, he has been doubting whether ‘Chae Yoo-jeong’ and ‘Yoo Chae’ are the same person.
Chae Yoo-jeong’s face turned pale when he realized this.
HM: I can relate to YC…. how do u say… u get extremely worried when u realize ur feelings…. I have been through it… haa…. It was fun to watch this…. I wonder what I would do if I was in the same situation as YC…. Please don’t let me reincarnate into YC tho, author-ssi. TwT It’ll be hilarious if that happened in real life.
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx
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