85.
When Chae Yoo-jeong asked for a chance to seduce me, it was ultimately just a process of me checking whether I could date a man as well.
In fact, from the moment I thought about and accepted that offer, I was no longer a perfect heterosexual. If I hadn’t had that dream, I would have rejected it right away.
I felt regret later, but the water had already spilled. Regardless of whether I regret it or not, since I had already accepted it, I also had to take responsibility for it.
But I didn’t intend to do anything special. Chae Yoo-jeong only asked for a ‘chance to seduce’ me, so I was only willing to give him a chance.
I wasn’t sure whether I would really want to date Chae Yoo-jeong, a man, or whether it would just end as physical curiosity.
‘Honestly, there’s a good chance he’ll fail....’
When it comes to dating someone, you can’t exclude skinship, and I’ve clearly only responded to women, not men, so no matter how close Chae Yoo-jeong was to my ideal type, it was still difficult.
…Of course, it was true that I was quite moved by the image of Chae Yoo-jeong underneath me that I saw in my dream, but I wasn’t sure that it would work in reality as well. Because it doesn’t make sense to ask Chae Yoo-jeong to lie down just to check.
Well, anyway, the one who proposed first was Chae Yoo-jeong, and the one who said it didn’t matter what the conditions were, so the rest was up to him.
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Hyung hyung]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: What are you doing this weekend?]
After that conversation yesterday, I took Chae Yoo-jeong and bought dinner for him, and he completely regained his energy. Moreover, the contact became more active than before, perhaps because ‘Hyung gave me the opportunity to flirt with him.’
It was okay up to that point. But the problem is......
[Yoo Ji-han: No]
[Yoo Ji-han: I won’t do it]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Why..?]
[Yoo Ji-han: Busy]
[Yoo Ji-han: I have to study and do my assignments]
It was none other than my schedule. From the pending assignments to the final exam starting next week, I had no time to meet anyone or do anything.
It had already been two weeks since I had been sleeping at school every night. After the assignment was over, the night’s homework was over, but instead I had to go to the library and study for the exam.
[Chae Yoo-jeong: When does the exam end?]
[Yoo Ji-han: probably take a week for two]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: ㅠ.ㅠ]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Then we can’t meet until then?]
[Yoo Ji-han: That seems likely]
The message I sent was immediately marked as read, but no reply came. As I looked at my phone and waited to see when I would receive a reply, I frowned and then, belatedly, the answer came.
[Chae Yoo-jeong: I understand...]
Chae Yoo-jeong’s disappointed expression was clearly visible through his text. For some reason, I thought of a retriever puppy who became sullen because he couldn’t go for a walk.
‘I’ve had this experience before.’
At that time, it was with Yoo Chae, not Chae Yoo-jeong. When you look at it like this, the two really look alike. It was no wonder that I misunderstood.
When I first met Chae Yoo-jeong and went to the PC room alone, I had no intention of becoming this close to Chae Yoo-jeong. I lost contact with Yoo Chae, whom I was so close with, in an instant, and I was dumbfounded by the reality of receiving a confession from Yoo-jeong.
[Yoo Ji-han: Wait a minute]
[Yoo Ji-han: I gave you a chance]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Yes..]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: Basically, the person who likes more loses]
[Chae Yoo-jeong: I’ll try to endure it]
[Yoo Ji-han: You have the ability to say the obvious without any hesitation]
I was laughing at the message from Chae Yoo-jeong, until my friend Eun Hae-seong came over and tapped me on the shoulder.
“What are you laughing at? Let’s go to the print shop, I’m done.”
“Uh-huh.”
As I stood up with my assignments in hand, I sent Chae Yoo-jeong my final message.
[Yoo Ji-han: I’m going to do my homework now]
[Yoo Ji-han: Enjoy your dinner]
“Let’s go.”
I put my cell phone away and was about to leave the classroom when Kim Dae-seok, who was sitting next to me with a drawing open and concentrating on his cell phone, looked up.
“Are you two going to the print shop now?”
“Uh-huh. Why, do you need anything?”
“No, that’s not it… will it take long?”
“About 30 minutes?”
I found Kim Dae-seok’s unusual attitude of asking questions different from strange, so I narrowed my eyes and the guy grinned.
“Okay. Come back quickly.”
“What is it, you crazy person? It’s uncomfortable.”
“Why are you swearing like that? So scary.”
Anyway, that idiot aside... I left the room with Eun Hae-seong, who was waiting with a puzzled expression and clicking his tongue.
The printing shop was in the basement of the next building, so I had to walk for about 10 minutes. As I was walking through the dark campus, Eun Hae-seong called me.
“Yoo Ji-han.”
“What is it?”
“Are you not dating these days?”
I turned around at the sudden question. Eun Hae-seong, who had recently bleached his hair yesterday and turned blonde, looked really curious.
“Why would I? I’m so busy, how can I have a relationship?”
“I’m so stressed these days because everyone I meet asks me if you have a girlfriend.”
“I was even stressed because so many people asked....”
“Even when I go to the club, I asked the friend I came with the other day what he’s doing these days, and then he turned on Instagram, and showed me that someone asked him in DM about it. It’s not a joke, really.”
Eun Hae-seong, who seemed serious, was quite funny. When I just smiled and didn’t give any answer, Eun Hae-seong asked again.
“So? Are you going to start dating right after the exam? With Yoon Sol-ji?”
Sol-ji was that first-year junior who asked me to eat together, right? I guess her last name is Yoon.
“If I can afford it and have someone worth doing it with, I’ll do it. But not with a junior from the same department.”
Why do you do such troublesome things as CC? When I answered firmly, Eun Hae-seong lightly shrugged his shoulders and said.
“When you start dating, you have to let me know right away. As soon as you start dating, I’m going to post it on my Instagram.”
“Do whatever you feel like.”
I didn’t care whether to post it or not. I don’t even use social media anyway because it’s a hassle.
When I heard the word ‘love,’ I couldn’t help but think of Chae Yoo-jeong’s face. How will he react if I ignore him and start dating a woman?
The last time he revealed his feelings to me, he was almost in tears... I wonder if he’s going to burst into tears then? With a lot of blushes on the cheeks and around the eyes.
‘...Are you nuts?’
I don’t know why I feel better when I think of Chae Yoo-jeong’s crying face. I sighed at my own inability to understand.
***
After finishing my errands at the printing shop, Chae Yoo-jeong called me in the hallway on my way back to the classroom.
I guess he had a reason for calling and not a message. I sent Eun Hae-seong first and I answered the phone in the hallway.
-Hello? Hyung?
“Uh-huh, yes, it’s your Hyung. Why?”
When I answered slyly, the voice of Chae Yu-jeong, who seemed to be surprised and coughed briefly, came from beyond his cell phone.
-Are you busy now?
“It’s okay to talk on the phone for a while. Why, is there something?”
If he calls you unexpectedly and asks if you’re busy, I’ll get curious no matter how uninterested I may be. Chae Yoo-jeong, who hesitated for a moment at my question, continued.
-You know, Hyung.
“Say it.”
-Can you come out to the entrance of the building now?
“What?”
I was surprised by the unexpected words and asked back, and Chae Yoo-jeong explained with great nervousness.
-Hyung is working on assignments at school until late at night, and I wanted to help in any way I can... so I bought some drinks and snacks. I’m waiting right now, and I was wondering if you could come down.
I quickly dropped the cell phone from my ear and checked the time. 8:46 p.m. You came to school at this hour with something to eat?
It was cold today too. When I imagined Chae Yoo-jeong standing alone and shivering in the cold in front of the entrance to the building, I felt nervous for some reason.
“Wait. I’ll be there right away.”
-Yes, Hyung.
After giving a calm answer, I hung up the phone and went straight to the stairs, but then changed my mind and went into my room. Then I took the scarf I had stuffed in my bag and ran down to the first floor.
“Hyung!”
As I passed through the hall, opened the glass door, and went out, Chae Yoo-jeong, who was standing nearby, spotted me, and approached me.
“How did you find out about this place?”
So far, all the times I met Chae Yoo-jeong were in front of the school’s main gate. The campus is so large and there are so many buildings that it would have been difficult to find where I was.
Chae Yoo-jeong glanced at me at that question and opened his mouth.
“I asked someone else.”
“Who else?”
“...Hyung’s friend.”
You asked my friend?
“Could it be Kim Dae-seok?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you exchange numbers with Kim Dae-seok?”
“Yeah.”
I was so shocked that I burst out laughing. Chae Yoo-jeong handed me a paper bag filled with something while I was still in my dumbfounded state.
“I didn’t know what would be good, so I bought everything that looked good. There’s bread, cookies, snacks… drinks and coffee.”
The bag I inadvertently accepted was quite large and heavy.
When I opened the bag and looked inside, I saw bread and drinks with brand logos that I had never seen before. Even without looking into it, I could tell at a glance that it wasn’t food worth buying at a convenience store.
I looked down at it and then raised my head. Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes, sparkling and shining with anticipation, especially caught the eye.
A variety of emotions were mixed at the unexpected gift. I felt similar to when Chae Yoo-jeong held me and begged me to give him just one chance.
I wondered why he cared so much about me, why he liked me so much, and what on earth was he going to do if he didn’t get anything in return from me? My mind was a mess, but even in the midst of all that, what I felt for sure was gratitude.
“Thank you.”
So I spoke honestly.
“I’m grateful for you taking care of me like this.”
When I thanked him with sincerity, Chae Yoo-jeong looked surprised, but then the corners of his eyes curled, and he smiled brightly.
“I was really worried that Hyung would be burdened... It’s a relief.”
“Next time, at least call me in advance.”
“Yes. You said you had a lot of friends and juniors in your class. Take it and eat it together. The coffee with the red sticker on it is the most expensive, so make sure that Hyung drinks it.”
The act of even providing the most expensive coffee to me made me smile.
“Lean down a little.”
“Yes?”
I meticulously wrapped the scarf I had brought around Chae Yoo-jeong’s neck as he slightly tilted his upper body downwards. The light beige neckerchief and Chae Yoo-jeong’s skin tone went really well together.
“I’ll give you that, so take it and go. It’s cold.”
“Y-you’re giving it to me? I brought my car so it’s okay…”
“So you don’t like it?”
“No, no!”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who was fumbling with the scarf around his neck with an incredulous expression on his face, soon turned red. Then he whispered, his voice thick with happiness.
“I like it... It’s really great. Thank you.”
I never thought he would like it this much. When I think about it, this was the first time I gave something to Chae Yoo-jeong. If I hadn’t taken my scarf with me, he would have been in big trouble.
“Hyung, aren’t you busy? I’ll go now.”
“Okay. Drive carefully.”
“Yes, I will contact you.”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who waved his hand at me with a relaxed expression, turned his back and left. After waiting until the guy’s back was out of sight, Kim Dae-seok welcomed me back to the classroom.
“Wow, awesome! Dang, That big bag? Yoo-jeong came and went, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
As I placed the bag on the desk, zombies who were exhausted from their assignments gathered one by one and started snooping around.
“Everyone, take their own food and eat it.”
I took out my share of coffee that Chae Yoo-jeong told me about and handed out the bags to the people in my department. While everyone was thanking me and welcoming the foods, I pulled Kim Dae-seok’s hair, who shamelessly picked up the largest bread.
“Ouch! Come on!”
“That’s what I’m going to say. If a child says he wants to buy something like this, you should stop him, but you’re encouraging it? And making him come here at this dangerous time of night on top of that?”
“The kid is so big, he’s only one year younger than me. And since he said he had already bought it and was coming to the school, I only told him the location of the building.”
“Um, didn’t you buy this?”
A junior who listened to the conversation between me and Kim Dae-seok next to me asked a question. Everyone’s eyes were focused on me, as if they were curious about who it was that provided snacks in such a desperate and tiring situation.
“You see... no.”
I was about to say that a friend of mine bought it for me, but I changed my mind and answered.
“My close Dongsaeng bought me this as a gift to cheer me up.”
---
Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor: Meimei
Support on Kofi:
HM: He has fallen in love. It’s confirmed…..
GX: Finally, my heart can rest just a little bit easier now.
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