84.
“Whoa.”
Kim Dae-seok, who saw me entering the classroom, whistled, and asked.
“I guess you had a hard time yesterday?”
“What?”
“Did it hurt that much?”
When I heard that I had a tough time from his mouth, I frowned, but came to my senses right after.
“No, I took the medicine and went to sleep right away. It’s okay now.”
“But why does it look worse than yesterday?”
“What do you mean?”
“You look like you have a nasty temper.”
I slapped Kim Dae-seok on the shoulder and sat down next to him. I had three lectures scheduled today and had to submit my assignment by 5 o’clock, so I was busy without a break.
“What?”
“What else?”
Kim Dae-seok, who was rubbing his shoulder with a frown as if the area where I hit him had become sore, lowered his voice, and opened his mouth.
“You’re fine, but why do you look more sensitive than yesterday?”
“Would you please stop paying attention to me?”
“Did you get in the car with Chae Yoo-jeong and have a second match?”
“……”
This bastard is stabbing me in a strangely painful spot today. Of course, I didn’t mean it that way.
Thanks to the professor coming into the classroom at the right time, I was able to focus on the book without having to answer. However, no matter how hard I stared at the open book, the white thing was just paper, and the black thing was writing, and no content came into my mind.
-If it’s okay with you...
Chae Yoo-jeong’s voice, which I actually heard, and his face, which I saw in my dream, naturally came together. My hand holding the ballpoint pen naturally gained strength.
‘I’m going crazy.....’
I’ve never had a dream like that, even with a woman. If I wasn’t crazy before, I definitely am crazy now.
-If I have to tell Hyung someday, I will confess seriously in a place with a good atmosphere...
Chae Yoo-jeong’s crying voice lingered in my ears. When that innocent remark came to mind again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Honestly, that was kind of cute. He’s not a middle or high school student who’s dating for the first time, but he’s 23 years older and is trying to get in the mood, so I couldn’t help but find it cute.
‘Has he ever tried dating?’
Suddenly, I became curious about Chae Yoo-jeong’s dating history. He has that face, he’s tall, he’s a famous professional athlete, so there’s no way he hasn’t been in a relationship...
Considering the way he behaved toward me, it didn’t seem like he had much dating experience. I think maybe he did date two or three times.
When I thought about it that way, I felt a little sorry for Chae Yoo-jeong. As expected, I may have been too harsh yesterday. Chae Yoo-jeong’s expression, looking at me pitifully with his eyebrows lowered, pierced my heart painfully.
I asked him if he wanted to see me date someone else, and I even cruelly rejected him... I wonder how much it hurt Chae Yoo-jeong’s pure heart. Even after I refused, I held my forehead and exhaled as the sense of self-destruction washed over me like a wave.
‘I... I won’t contact him.’
From the time I opened my eyes in the morning until the moment I arrived at the classroom, there was no communication from Chae Yoo-jeong.
Well, Chae Yoo-jeong would surely be in a complicated mood. I advised him not to make a hasty decision and to think about it, so I’m sure he will make a good choice.
Even if Chae Yoo-jeong contacted me again, it was obvious that it would take at least a week. So, it was better to deal with the exams and assignments that were right around the corner first. I forced my thoughts away and concentrated on the lecture.
***
A few days passed like that. With the urgent assignments somewhat over and preparations for the exam ahead, I went out the front door to have dinner with Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Just eat whatever you want.”
“Spicy pork belly rice bowl? Army stew? Or hot soup?”
“Soju with Army stew?”
“I have to study after dinner, but soju sounds really good.”
Standing in front of the main gate, there was a discussion about which restaurant to go to. As I was watching the debate between Kim Dae-seok, who said he would eat soju with army stew even if he died soon, and Eun Hae-seong, who said he wanted hot soup today, a group of juniors who had just finished their lecture spotted us.
“Senior, are you going to eat?”
“I have some leftover discount coupons for the restaurant. Would you like to go with me?”
These were three juniors I often saw while working late at night. One of them in the middle was quite familiar. What was her name? I think Kim Dae-seok told me about it last time.
“If Sol-ji asks you to go, you have to go. Are you going, Yoo Ji-han?”
Kim Dae-seok, who quickly gave up on soju with army stew, placed his arm on my shoulder and teasingly added. Oh, that’s right. He said she was Sol-ji.
Three women huddled in front looked up at me with expectant eyes. How do you say no in this situation? I smiled and nodded, as was my habit.
“Okay, let’s go.”
It didn’t matter since I hadn’t decided what to eat anyway. When the menu was naturally decided to be Western, Eun Hae-seong grumbled in an offended tone.
“In weather like this, I need to eat warm soup.”
“Eat a lot by yourself tomorrow, man.”
“Senior, are you okay with the food?”
The junior named Sol-ji asked me a question, excluding Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong. I answered appropriately with a smile on her attitude, which clearly showed her affection for me.
“Of course it’s okay. I like western food.”
I should go and eat some steak.
With good timing, the crosswalk signal also changed to blue. I quickly crossed the street and ran to the building, leaving my phone on.
—--
In the alleyway between the buildings, which was a little dark due to the shadows, I saw a man with wide shoulders standing there with his back turned. The person on the other end of the line, who was looking at the screen of his phone with my name on it, hesitated, unable to answer the call.
I watched him in silence and opened my mouth just before he pressed the reject button.
“Why aren’t you picking up?”
“……!”
Only then did the other person notice my presence, shaking his shoulders and turning his head. Chae Yoo-jeong opened his eyes wide and was astonished.
“Hyu-hyung?”
“What are you doing here?”
When I hung up the phone and asked, Chae Yoo-jeong, who was pale and tired, hurriedly came up with an excuse.
“I-I was just passing by and stopped by for a moment. I didn’t come to see you, I just...”
“What do you mean? Did you come to see me? Or did you come to see Kim Dae-seok?”
“No, no.”
“Thank god.”
—--
Sol-ji was delighted with the positive response of liking Western food, her cheeks turning red. What was her last name again?
“I know the way, so I’ll guide you.”
Sol-ji, who I knew by given name but not her last name, walked ahead. I was trying to follow her, but I stopped in front of the building opposite when I noticed someone who was looking for this way quickly turn around.
The sight of the back disappearing into the alley between the buildings seemed particularly familiar. No way.......
“Yoo Ji-han?”
Kim Dae-seok called my name with a puzzled expression upon seeing me standing there blankly. I think the juniors next to me were also saying something, but I couldn’t hear them.
In a noticeably brief moment, my mind became tangled, and many thoughts passed through my mind. But in the end, I made up my mind, took out my cell phone, and called the other person.
“I’m sorry, but something suddenly came up and I can’t go.”
“What?”
“Really sorry. Eat with Kim Dae-seok and Eun Hae-seong. Hey, I’m leaving first.”
“Wait, what? Yoo Ji-han!”
—----
I couldn’t help but sigh as I looked at Chae Yoo-jeong, who was at a loss as if he had just encountered a ghost.
As I approached, Chae Yoo-jeong reflexively took a step back, his face turning red. Wow, he really seems to like me a lot.
“Didn’t I tell you to think about it? You came back before a week.”
“...Sorry.”
“I’m not asking you to apologize.”
I didn’t like Chae Yoo-jeong’s behavior of taking a step back when I took a step closer. Do I smell or something? Why are you creating such a distance?
“Stay still.”
In my frustration, I tightly held onto Chae Yoo-jeong’s arm, and Chae Yoo-jeong blinked a couple of times, blushing not only on his face but also on the back of his neck.
“Did you come to watch secretly from afar, or did you come to see me like before?”
“.......”
“How did you make the decision?”
“……”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who couldn’t make eye contact with me and was licking his lips, barely raised his head in response to my question. Two eyes filled with all kinds of emotions shined brightly.
“Hyung, I came to see you.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve been thinking about it.”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been running away, suddenly narrowed the distance. This time I was taken aback by the scent of Chae Yoo-jeong passing by the tip of my nose.
“Can’t you give me a chance too?”
“...Huh? What chance?”
I, slightly shaken by the scent I smelled in my dream, asked back a beat later.
“To me too...”
Chae Yoo-jeong lowered his long eyelashes as if hesitating and continued.
“Please give me a chance to seduce you too.”
“What?”
“An opportunity to seduce. Hyung said he likes women, but we don’t know yet if it’s possible for men too.”
What, a chance to flirt? Chae Yoo-jeong continued to persuade me as I was entranced by the unexpected words.
“I just can’t give up without trying anything. Sorry. But maybe Hyung will like me just like I like Hyung.”
“…….”
“So give me a chance to try. Just one month. No, even for a week is fine, so why not give it to me?”
Contrary to his free-flowing words, Chae Yoo-jeong’s face and neck were red as if they were about to explode, and the arm I was holding was shaking. Nevertheless, he looked straight at me and did not run away or avoid me.
When I felt it, my heart pounded in my chest as if I were motion sick. I slowly opened my mouth, barely able to swallow the nameless emotion that rose to the tip of my throat.
“Okay.”
“Of course, if you say you don’t like it… what? What?”
“Let’s do it. I said I wanted to do it.”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who looked at me blankly for a moment as if he never expected that I would give permission, suddenly grabbed my wrist with his opposite hand. Ouch.
“Now, wait a minute. Is it really okay for me to do this? Really? Are you sure you understood me correctly?”
“Am I you, talking nonsense? I understood correctly.”
If I leave it alone, my wrist will fall off. I replied harshly and removed the wrist from his grasp.
“Instead, don’t expect anything great. I’ll just make time to meet with you occasionally and get in touch with you. If I think that I really can’t do it, I’ll tell you to stop.”
“Yes yes.”
“And absolutely no skinship. Understand?”
“Yes!”
“……”
After getting my permission, Chae Yoo-jeong replied if he was out of his mind and that he would understand everything no matter what I said.
I can’t have a conversation in this state. I said, exhaling tiredly.
“...Let’s finish talking after eating.”
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor: Meimei
Support on Kofi:
HM: definitely not me thinking he was stalking MC.
GX: YC is slowly making his way over to red flag territory after toeing the line for so long.
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