His heart flinched at the word “dating.” It was such a ticklish word just thinking about it. Seojun swallowed dryly, pretending not to notice, and continued the conversation.
“He said he’s happy because there’s someone he’s interested in. But the other person is…”
“Is the other person acting all high and mighty? Something like that actually happens to Shinwoo-ssi…?”
If they were acting high and mighty, it would be easier! But that’s not the problem! He wanted to shout that out loud. But hypnotizing himself that this wasn’t about him after all, Seojun continued speaking.
“It’s not like that. More like… hyung is too good for them? Something like that. But even so, hyung can’t seem to give up. He said first of all, their appearance is totally his type and he really likes them.”
“Really? Then shouldn’t he just push forward?”
“Should he? But that hyung seems to have some childish aspects.”
“Childish?”
He was embarrassed that he’d brought up the word “childish” himself. Which means Seojun knew that his own behavior was utterly immature, the kind of thing only a child would do!
“So, you know, that person he likes keeps appearing in front of him, so he tries to talk to them but ends up acting irritable for no reason. And then when they show a little opening, he treats them well again. Anyway, so… you know.”
“You’re saying he’s being hot and cold right now?”
“Right. The other person said they find it burdensome. But even so, hyung keeps having feelings…”
“Really? They didn’t say they dislike it, just that it’s burdensome? Then doesn’t that mean they have some feelings too?”
It was the most welcome thing he’d heard recently. A subtle smile bloomed on Seojun’s face. So that means Soohyun-ssi doesn’t have absolutely no feelings for me…?
“Yeah, well, that’s true. Otherwise… there’d be no reason to keep appearing in front of them. And they haven’t drawn a clear line either, right?”
“Huh? Yeah, that’s right. And their attitude isn’t cold either…. Hyung also said his heart keeps wavering. And he gets bothered by people hanging around that person too.”
“He must really like them.”
“What?”
“How else could it be like that? If it bothers him?”
“Huh? Yeah. He said it annoys him when that person seems close with other people.”
“What is this, some kid? If you have feelings, you should make them clear. And the other person doesn’t dislike it either, right? Then what is there to hesitate about? That person didn’t seem like that kind of person, but they’re a frustrating type.”
Jinwoo continued the conversation very seriously, not thinking for a moment that this might be Seojun’s story. Meanwhile, Seojun’s voice grew quieter and quieter. Do I really like Soohyun-ssi that much? I thought I was just interested. Does this mean it’s more than that?
“And you’re saying he acts irritable? What kind of childish behavior is that? If you’re going to treat them well, you should treat them well from the start. Even if you treat them well, it’s questionable whether they’ll come around or not. Right?”
“Huh? Hyung, but that’s…”
The words “I don’t even know why I’m like this either” lingered on the tip of his tongue. All that remained after carelessly speaking to Soohyun was always regret. Why did I do that? Moreover, Soohyun said he was sick. I shouldn’t have done that to someone who’s sick….
“But why does the person he likes dislike Shinwoo-ssi? Still, someone of his caliber doesn’t seem like they’d be rejected anywhere.”
“That person… seems to be a bit sick.”
“Sick? Ugh, and he even acted irritable toward someone who’s sick? I didn’t think Shinwoo-ssi was like that, but that’s too much.”
It was a clear criticism directed at him. Seojun forcibly twisted his stiffening facial muscles.
“If they’re sick, there must be circumstances. If it’s sincere, he should treat them even better. Think about dramas, Seojun-ah, you played those roles a lot, didn’t you? The pure romantic who only knows love!”
“I guess… so? Since they’re sick… even if they have feelings, they might not be able to express them.”
“Right. I don’t know what’s wrong with them, but… if he really likes them, he should start by caring for them. If that’s difficult, well… he should meet someone who isn’t sick.”
At this extremely realistic advice, Seojun’s mind, which had been like tangled thread, cleared up. He still felt like he was wandering in the fog that was Lee Soohyun, but at least he could reach his own conclusion about what he should do now.
* * *
“It looks almost done. Let’s leave the kitchen for later and rest a bit first.”
After finishing cleaning the room, living room, and bathroom in the morning, Soohyun sat down on a dining chair. Usually during break time, he would eat his packed lunch and then sleep a little, but today there was something he absolutely had to do.
“Hello. Is this the real estate office?”
While doing physical work, he had temporarily forgotten about the house matter, but the moment he saw the landlady’s text message on his phone, the urgent matter came to mind.
“The deposit is… I only have about 5 million won. Is there a decent room near xx-dong by any chance? The monthly rent is…”
To get to Seojun’s house, he couldn’t stray too far from where he currently lived. Even walking diligently, it was a two-hour round trip, and if it got any farther than that, Soohyun wouldn’t be able to continue working.
There was the option of working at a different house, but the conditions at Seojun’s house weren’t bad, and there was no guarantee he’d work somewhere closer, so Soohyun very much wanted to continue working here.
“Is that so. The monthly rent is indeed… I just need one room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Please contact me if a decent room becomes available. Yes, yes… thank you.”
After a brief call with the broker, Soohyun laid his forehead on the dining table. When the deposit was cheap, the monthly rent was expensive, and when the monthly rent seemed a bit affordable, the deposit was expensive. It wasn’t something he hadn’t expected, but Soohyun’s face darkened before the higher-than-expected wall of reality.
“First, let’s get back to work. I’ll have to look around real estate offices on the way home.”
Thanks to working diligently all morning, in the afternoon he just had to organize the kitchen and prepare food. Soohyun opened the refrigerator to check if there was anything to buy. Seeing the various seasonings, grains, and ingredients all neatly organized, he smiled faintly. The place that was a mess has become this clean. Even though it was nothing special, he felt happy.
“Where did I put the flour?”
Planning to fry zucchini and pollack for Seojun’s dinner side dishes, Soohyun began looking for the flour he had bought last time. Remembering that he had left it in the bag without putting it in a container, he rummaged through the upper cabinet and discovered a familiar paper bag, reaching for it.
“But why is it here?”
This isn’t where I put the flour…. Did Seojun use it in the meantime? Soohyun tilted his head as he took out the bag.
“Ah?!”
He definitely thought the opening was sealed well. The paper bag containing the flour tore helplessly as soon as it came out of the upper cabinet. Apparently the bottom seal was defective. Although Soohyun quickly grabbed it and prevented a major accident of flour scattering throughout the kitchen, he couldn’t avoid the flour pouring over his head.
“Oh my goodness…”
If he shook off the powder in that state, it was obvious that flour would pile up white all over the house he’d worked hard to clean. Soohyun threw the scattered flour bag into the sink and walked as carefully as possible to the bathroom.
“What should I do about this…”
The sight in the mirror was a mess. His hair, shirt, and even pants were covered in flour. Soohyun took off his clothes inside the bathroom. Fine powder particles had gotten into every corner of his body. Soohyun shook out his hair and body with his hands, then concluded it would be better to just rinse off with water.
“I need to wash quickly and go out to clean up.”
He never expected he’d end up showering at Seojun’s house while working, but at least this was fortunate. If he hadn’t caught the bursting flour, Soohyun might not have been able to go home today and would have had to clean instead.
“Luckily I have clothes to change into too.”
Soohyun dried his hair with a towel and came outside. He was naked, but since he was alone anyway, it seemed better to organize the kitchen before putting on clothes properly so he wouldn’t ruin them.
“Soo… Soohyun-ssi?”
“Choi Seojun-ssi?”
Soohyun, heading to the kitchen wearing only underwear, encountered Seojun, who he didn’t know when had come in. Seojun looked around at the sink and counter covered in flour, then turned his head in surprise at seeing the naked Soohyun.
“Wh… what happened here?”
“I’m sorry. The flour bag burst while I was organizing…”
Seojun couldn’t look directly at Soohyun. It was good that he had quickly finished his meeting and come home, but even though it was clearly time for Soohyun to be there, he was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, the kitchen was half-wrecked with flour. Just as he was secretly worried that something might have happened to Soohyun, he appeared before his eyes. Nearly naked at that.
“Soohyun-ssi. First, please put on some clothes…”
Only then did Soohyun check his own state and hurriedly went into the room. Seojun repeatedly ran his palm down his reddened face and sighed.
‘Why is he suddenly naked like that….’
Before he knew it, Soohyun had put on clothes and came into the kitchen to start wiping the floor. Seojun, who had been blankly watching Soohyun clean, also picked up a rag and scrubbed the floor.
“You don’t have to. I can do it…”
“It’s hard to do alone. I’ll help you. I want to help.”
He had seemed very displeased in the morning, but this kind version of him felt awkward again. However, cleaning up the flour scattered everywhere was quite difficult work, so much so that he wanted to borrow even a cat’s paws, so Soohyun didn’t stop him any further.
