I don’t know how Lee Hyeonseok interpreted my attempts at aegyo and charm, but throughout the entire ride to the new house we were moving to, he made strange faces. He’d furrow his brow, then make the face of someone encountering something utterly incomprehensible—he was busy, anyway.
I felt needlessly embarrassed, but originally, the more I thought something like this was embarrassing, the more embarrassing it became. It was better to act shamelessly.
In the awkward silence, the car soon entered the underground parking lot located in the apartment complex. Before going underground, I caught a glimpse of the complex grounds, which had not just a playground and spacious park but even a garden with walking trails. And that wasn’t all—it seemed to have amenities and welfare facilities too, to the point where it wouldn’t be strange to call it a small city.
I’d once dreamed of living in a place like this someday, but I never dreamed it would come true in this way. What if, when I return to my original place, I keep thinking about my current life? I already tried to rein in my heart that was starting to feel reluctant.
“Oh…”
I’d thought it would be an expensive place since it was Lee Hyeonseok’s home, but who would’ve thought it’d be a penthouse? Lee Hyeonseok must be quite an important person—when entering the building, there was fingerprint verification, facial recognition, all sorts of checks, and even an entrance within the entrance. Security was extremely high.
“Wow…”
Since the situation just before coming here hadn’t been particularly good, I was tired enough to want to go straight into the guest room and rest. But the house was unprecedentedly spacious and splendid enough to make those feelings dissipate. As I looked around with pure admiration, Lee Hyeonseok smiled with satisfaction. I guess since he’s a rich bastard, he’s happy he can show off.
“…But is this how it originally was, or is this your taste?”
“What is?”
“No. The officetel from before was neat too, and this place seems similar.”
I couldn’t very well say to someone else’s house, ‘Your house is fucking bleak. To put it nicely, it’s neat and modern, but really, it’s so gloomy it looks like gangsters might live here,’ so I put it nicely. Besides, wasn’t this a matter of taste? Honestly, I was worried about getting scolded in the middle of speaking, but Lee Hyeonseok just furrowed his brow slightly without saying anything else, merely glancing around the house once.
“Then change it to your taste.”
“My taste? Why?”
Lee Hyeonseok too casually recommended I change the interior of his own house. His words were so light that for a moment I wondered if it was some high-level roundabout insult, but looking at his face, he seemed sincere. I was fucking dumbfounded by Lee Hyeonseok’s attitude. Why should I not only touch someone else’s house but change it to my taste?
“I said I didn’t like it.”
“Why would I dislike it? I just said it was neat, I didn’t say I disliked it.”
Unlike me, who could only feel puzzled, Lee Hyeonseok was too nonchalantly prioritizing my taste. I once thought he was a guy I knew but didn’t know, but now he was always a guy I didn’t know and would never know. Instead of asking Lee Hyeonseok ‘why are you leaving decorating your house to me,’ I politely declined.
“Right, you cursed the hell out of it with your eyes.”
Lee Hyeonseok snorted at my words and hit the nail on the head. I thought about lying and saying that wasn’t it, but remembering that Lee Hyeonseok had rarely been fooled by my lies, I quickly changed my words.
“My taste isn’t expensive taste. It’s just that the levels don’t match, so you should understand.”
“You’ll get used to it from now on.”
“Ahahaha.”
I don’t know how Lee Hyeonseok interpreted the laughter that burst out in disbelief, but he looked at me with a pleased face. No matter how handsome he was, if I kept looking, even if I didn’t curse, I felt like I’d end up asking if he was crazy. I just turned away from him, shaking my head slightly, and as I took steps toward a nearby room, I asked casually.
“Where should I stay?”
There seemed to be many rooms, and this time I secretly hoped he’d give me one far from Lee Hyeonseok’s room. When I asked as if it didn’t matter, Lee Hyeonseok grabbed the back of my neck and changed my course. I immediately realized this was him showing me the room where I’d be staying and obediently moved in the designated direction.
“Woah—”
The room Lee Hyeonseok guided me to was impressive and spacious. As soon as I entered, large windows perfect for enjoying the night view and a queen-size bed caught my eye. Seeing there was another door inside the room, it seemed this room also had a separate bathroom. With a wardrobe and bookshelf, even though the room I used at the officetel was spacious, this room was two or three times that size. No, it was so spacious I wondered if it might actually be the master bedroom.
“…It’s fucking huge?”
“Because it’s the master bedroom.”
“The master bedroom is… why…”
As I muttered to myself while wrapped in an ominous feeling, Lee Hyeonseok answered nonchalantly. That answer gave me a headache. I pressed my brow firmly with one hand and tried hard to speak as nonchalantly as Lee Hyeonseok, but I couldn’t help my voice trembling slightly.
“Any complaints?”
“Uhhh… No… No…”
Not knowing my heart that wanted to cry, Lee Hyeonseok instead asked me with a face wondering what was wrong. Right. At twenty, it’s an age full of vigor. Still, at the officetel he at least gave me personal space. Seeing that even that was gone now, he seemed to find pretenses bothersome.
Fine, you bastard. Let’s stick together until you’re sick of it. Anyway, in your twenties, there are plenty of places to go and people to meet. Lee Hyeonseok was especially in that position. Once he becomes a bit more stable, he’ll cut me off on his own—harboring this hope, I smiled hard with a tired face and mumbled.
“Huh? Haha, the view is amazing.”
Wanting to avoid Lee Hyeonseok’s burdensome gaze, I moved toward the open view, pretending to be fascinated. Though it was pretense, on the other hand, it really was fascinating and amazing. Seeing both forest and city at a glance made me think money really is the best. I even looked forward to it slightly, thinking it would be worth seeing at night in its own way.
“You seem to like it?”
“Huh…? Oh, yeah. Hey, the house is really nice. It’s killer. I’ve always wanted to live in a place like this at least once.”
For some reason, Lee Hyeonseok asked with satisfaction. Yeah, good for you being rich. Expressing both ridicule and satisfaction simultaneously was quite a talent if it was a talent. I also thought, what’s so important about whether I like it, but originally that’s what showing off is. Understanding the desire to show off, I decided to act like someone who envies him and fulfill his sense of satisfaction.
“……”
Instead of continuing to be sarcastic or show off, Lee Hyeonseok just watched me silently before turning his head. I guess my intentions were too transparent. Worried I’d be criticized again, I moved toward the large bed occupying the center of the room to avoid Lee Hyeonseok. Actually, it was one of the things that had caught my attention along with the view.
“Oh… It’s so fucking soft and fluffy.”
Then I sat on the bed and pressed down on the mattress repeatedly. As befitting an expensive-looking bed, the cushioning was soft and the elasticity was excellent. Not stopping at admiration, I impulsively lay down on the bed directly. A comfort that made me fear I wouldn’t be able to lie on cheap beds anymore enveloped me. I slowly closed my eyes and mulled over not just the bed but the house I hadn’t even fully toured yet. Even though it was a house I wouldn’t live in for life, if I got married in the future, I wanted this as a newlywed home—no, as my own home.
“……?”
When I opened my eyes at the presence I felt nearby and the shadow cast over my face, Lee Hyeonseok was looking down at me. With eyes glittering with desire, no less.
“…My bones are going to wear out.”
Because the heavy air and awkward atmosphere and Lee Hyeonseok’s eyes tinged with desire as if he’d devour me were already telling me it was too late to ask why or pretend not to know. When I asked with a heart grown weary of his desire, Lee Hyeonseok only took off his clothes without even a slight frown.
“I have a lot of money.”
“Lucky you…”
And then he showed off his money again. Had the ghost of someone who died unable to brag possessed him? Now, far from being envious, his attitude made me sigh. Too lazy to retort, I spoke soullessly. On the other hand, I threw it out with the feeling of ‘I dislike it but you’re taking off your clothes saying you like it, so I hope you’re at least a little hurt by my pettiness,’ but this time too, as expected, his face was unbothered.
“That’s right.”
“Huh.”
“Nice, right?”
He swallowed up my sarcasm as if it worked out well. An incredulous laugh escaped me, but regardless, Lee Hyeonseok stroked my hair while seeking agreement. Having lost my words, I kept my mouth firmly shut.
Lee Hyeonseok stared at me silently at my stubbornness. It seemed he would wait until I answered.
“Yeah, yeah… Lucky you, so lucky.”
When I agreed, wanting to quickly end this nutritionless conversation, only then did Lee Hyeonseok take off my top with a satisfied face. We were clearly in the same space, in the same situation, but why it felt like we were on completely different pages—this was always, constantly unknowable.
“It’s enough that you know.”
Fucking hell, this life…
