The fact that he hadn’t even wanted to write an IOU meant that in reality, he had no intention of getting it back. Of course, he wasn’t someone who would spend money carelessly, so it must have been sincere that he gave it because he judged Ki Taeseong’s business to be worth trying.
However, Yiyoung still found it threatening that he could make a decision to hand over 50 million won on the spot. Especially since it seemed clear that Ki Taeseong had taken a liking to Chahyun in that moment.
Yiyoung opened his text message conversation with Chahyun with an expressionless face. The message he’d been diligently composing before meeting Ki Taeseong remained there. Yiyoung deleted what he’d written so far and sent a completely different message.
[Taeseong hyung just came by
I heard about what you did for Taeseong hyung
Thank you]
12:36 PM
Chahyun checked the message right away. Yiyoung sent a follow-up “But” with urgent fingers, but Chahyun called him. Even though Yiyoung thought what he was going to say next would be more comfortable via text than a call, he answered the phone.
Before he could offer any greeting, Chahyun suddenly boasted:
— As expected, good deeds can’t be hidden.
“……Ugh.”
For some reason at a loss for words, Yiyoung’s mouth closed of its own accord.
Yiyoung had expected Chahyun to accept his thanks with his nose high in the air. To the point where it felt strange that he’d wanted to keep it secret—Chahyun was never someone who would miss an opportunity to show off. The reason Yiyoung flinched wasn’t because of his swaggering attitude, but the expression he’d used.
‘Good deeds?’
Since it was true that he’d received an indescribably great favor, it wasn’t wrong at all. But he didn’t know why what he’d tried to say to Chahyun via text was being forgotten so completely. As he hesitated to answer, Chahyun continued:
— But that’s not something for Bae Yiyoung-ssi to thank me for. I don’t know how much you heard, but I lent it because I really thought it was a decent business too. And I thought it was admirable that he’s trying hard to make a living.
“Taeseong hyung is four years older than us, and you’re calling him admirable……”
Yiyoung muttered sullenly. Not that he was newly dissatisfied with Chahyun’s rude manner of speaking. Even if Chahyun patted Ki Taeseong’s head and praised him, Yiyoung would be flustered but not shocked.
However, something continued to feel off. Anyway, now was the time to say thank you.
“Still, it’s money you lent because of me. 50 million won isn’t a small amount even for you, Chahyun-ssi. Thank you so much.”
— To me, it is a small amount though.
Unconsciously, his grip on the phone tightened. Even as Yiyoung felt an unfamiliar emotion, he continued the conversation.
“Even if by some chance Taeseong hyung can’t pay it back, I’ll definitely return it to you.”
Yiyoung shook his head lightly from side to side, focusing on the conversation as he brought up the main point he’d tried to make after the “But” text message.
“But, Chahyun-ssi, don’t do that from now on. You say it’s an investment, but it’s really because it’s my business that you helped, right? What if you can’t get it back?”
Yiyoung didn’t want to remain as an ex-boyfriend who owed Chahyun 50 million won. Even though to Chahyun it might be an amount that didn’t matter at all whether he got it back or not, Yiyoung was different.
Yiyoung added flatly:
“It might be a small amount to you, Chahyun-ssi, but it’s burdensome to me.”
Then Chahyun’s low voice came through the phone.
— Bae Yiyoung-ssi.
It sounded like he was struggling to suppress his anger, so even without understanding why, Yiyoung froze in shock. After letting out a long, heavy sigh, Chahyun complained:
— I don’t want to hear things like “thank you” and “I’ll definitely pay you back” from Yiyoung-ssi over a mere 50 million won.
Huh? At the complaint that even felt somewhat absurd, Yiyoung tilted his head.
If he’d received this much help, he should naturally be grateful. Even Chahyun, who had originally wanted to keep his “good deed” a secret, would naturally expect at least a minimal show of sincerity now that Yiyoung knew.
But Chahyun really did sound annoyed. As Yiyoung stammered in confusion, Chahyun continued:
— This is why I didn’t want to tell Bae Yiyoung-ssi. Do I have to be cautious about spending a mere 50 million won on the person I’m dating? Why should I feel like a loan shark over something like this? So if I said I’d accept it, could Bae Yiyoung-ssi actually pay it back?
“That’s……”
Since he’d only thought he should, but didn’t actually have an immediate method, Yiyoung couldn’t continue readily. Since 50 million won was never pocket change to him, his sense of money must have been paralyzed for a moment after receiving it too easily, and he’d unintentionally bragged. So embarrassed by this, Yiyoung’s face burned hot.
— Couldn’t you have just pretended not to know, considering my position?
“……”
After hearing this much, he had nothing more to say.
Yiyoung was confused about whether he should apologize to Chahyun or thank him again. Shamelessly, it seemed he couldn’t speak sincerely whichever way he went, so his lips wouldn’t part easily. Then Chahyun continued:
— While we’re at it, let me say one more thing.
It seemed there was more scolding left. Yiyoung automatically shrank, his body curling up.
— At least while we’re seeing each other, don’t act like you’re burdened by me. I’m already compromising a lot because I know you’ll be like that, so Yiyoung-ssi should accommodate me a little too.
Shocked by Chahyun’s words, Yiyoung’s eyes widened.
“……Have you been forcing yourself to accommodate me all this time?”
— Isn’t that obvious?
Chahyun spoke as if Yiyoung was asking something obvious that they both knew.
For a moment, tears welled up in Yiyoung’s eyes.
Thinking about it carefully, even before, Chahyun had been considerate, matching his every move to Yiyoung. He dressed and acted like an ordinary man who’d simply grown up in a well-off family and gotten a decent job, so that Yiyoung couldn’t even guess he was from a chaebol family. Even with just that, Yiyoung hadn’t known what to do with himself over the date expenses Chahyun covered or his expensive gifts.
Looking at the current Chahyun, he could tell how frustrated he must have been. That made him feel terrible.
A droplet that had pooled in his eyes plopped onto the table. Nevertheless, Yiyoung answered in a flat tone no different from usual.
“I guess you really were. I didn’t think that far.”
Seeming relieved that Yiyoung hadn’t gotten angry or argued back, Chahyun let out a light sigh and asked in a much softened voice:
— You’re not hurt that I said this, are you?
“Hurt? I’m more sorry.”
Surprisingly, it was sincere. Yiyoung felt sorry about his own shabby situation where their levels couldn’t match no matter how hard Chahyun tried. More precisely, he felt awkward about Bae Yiyoung as a person in his entirety.
Chahyun threw out the next topic in a much lighter voice:
— What should we do on Sunday?
Come to think of it, they’d agreed to meet on Sunday. Even as Yiyoung shed thick teardrops, he spoke brightly, trying to make his voice sound as excited and happy as possible.
“Anything. Let’s do everything you’ve wanted to do with me.”
— Really? Then…….
Chahyun showed signs of starting to chat in earnest. However, feeling his throat begin to sting, Yiyoung hurriedly cut him off.
“Chahyun-ssi, but I’m in the middle of eating right now.”
— Then finish eating and call me. I’ll come over there right now and take you to a whiskey bar…….
At Chahyun speaking as if he was about to leave for his house right then, Yiyoung panicked and stammered out an excuse.
“N-no. I’m out with a friend. I can go straight from here.”
— Really?
Chahyun asked back in a noticeably disappointed and sulky voice. But fortunately, he gave up quickly.
— Okay. I’ll call you later.
The call ended. Only then did Yiyoung squeeze his eyes shut, shaking off the large droplets pooled thickly on his eyelashes. Even though he wasn’t a child, he felt absurd and embarrassed that the faucet had turned on just because he’d heard some unpleasant words.
Yiyoung covered his face with his palm and held his breath to stop crying.
Phew, after skillfully suppressing his indignation, he raised his face with a long sigh. Before his eyes was the cold lunch table, just as it had been. His appetite had dropped even more than before.
It was upsetting, but since they were going to break up in two months anyway, he didn’t want to waste time fighting over differences of opinion that were hard to narrow. Resolving to gladly accept kindness from now on, if only for Chahyun’s feelings, Yiyoung deliberately picked up his spoon and chopsticks spiritedly.
He couldn’t shake off the regret that it would have been much better if he could have just sent Chahyun the photo of the rolled omelet and kimchi jjigae as he’d originally intended, without all this.
