From the beginning, his parents hadn’t been very pleased that Sungjin entered the architecture department.
They hoped that their son, who had grown up fiddling with miniature furniture and props all day since he was young, would quickly get a job at a decent company they could brag about to others. They wished that their unsatisfactory son would enter a company whose name everyone knew as quickly as possible and establish himself. The path to becoming an architect was narrow and narrow, and when starting out, the pay was meager and there weren’t even many positions.
Do you really have to do that? It costs a lot of money later when you open an office, and these days even established people are twiddling their thumbs because construction has decreased…
The reality that came before the dream he had secretly wanted to achieve was cold. His parents brought up stories of famous architects who were born into wealthy families in the first place, saying that such things were jobs done only in homes with the capital to build buildings like that. Without even paying attention to Sungjin’s graduation exhibition, they persuaded him that he didn’t have the skills to be selected for competitions that only appeared once every few years like those geniuses.
It wasn’t wrong. It would have been nice if he had the overwhelming ability to be selected for large projects costing hundreds of billions of won in construction costs, beating out masters with decades of experience, but unfortunately, Sungjin didn’t have that much talent, and rather than creating large buildings that would leave a mark on human history himself, he wanted to design homes where people would actually live. Homes where someone would live happily, breathing, and spending their lifetime.
He didn’t have the confidence to go down a path his parents didn’t want for such a modest dream. Moreover, he couldn’t marry and show them grandchildren as his parents wanted.
So instead of going against their wishes, he obediently submitted his resume to every company he could apply to. YUCAN was just the place that sent him an acceptance notice the fastest.
He knew it was an excuse. It wasn’t like there were any great circumstances, and he wasn’t the head of household who had to take responsibility for the family. It was a dream he could have challenged if he had just rebelled against his parents once, but Sungjin had simply chosen a safe and comfortable path without struggling even once. Because he didn’t want to jump into a thorny path.
So his insignificant life would probably seem trivial in the eyes of someone like Suyeong who had overcome various difficulties and achieved success… But as someone who didn’t have the courage to go against even one of his parents’ wishes and ended up standing in a suitable position rather than the position he desired, this was something he sincerely wanted to say.
“……”
Without giving any answer, Suyeong put down the glass she was drinking from and looked at Sungjin. There was no hostility in that direct gaze, but Sungjin somehow felt embarrassed and ashamed and smiled bitterly.
“I’m sorry. I guess I really said something presumptuous. You’ve done well so far, so I think you’ll do well in the future too, whatever decision you make.”
When Sungjin quickly lowered his tail, Suyeong answered lightly.
“No, it’s not like you said anything strange.”
Fortunately, the conversation naturally moved on to another topic. By the time the meal ended, the sunset had completely set and it was already dark around them.
“I had a good time today thanks to you.”
“Me too. I hope there’s another good opportunity next time. You worked hard.”
“Yes, you should go in and rest too, Suyeong.”
After the second date ended and he returned to the resort, Sungjin finally felt like he could breathe.
Suyeong, whom he had talked to one-on-one, was a much easier person to deal with than he had prepared for, but he still didn’t feel at ease. Unlike his assumption of the worst-case scenario, Suyeong seemed to have simply asked him on a date out of gratitude, and both the conversation and meal were enjoyable. It felt like he had eaten while making small talk with a colleague at an appropriate distance.
Should I stop by the bathroom first and then go to the meeting room?
There was going to be a night assembly soon, so there was no time to rest leisurely, but there was enough time to briefly go to his room to get something or stop by the bathroom. Since there was nothing he needed to leave in his room, just as he was about to obediently go to the bathroom, what Sungjin saw when he raised his head was Yuwon sitting on a bench near the resort entrance, glaring at him with a terrifying face.
“Huk…!”
Sungjin was so surprised for a moment that he made a sound with his mouth. Now he couldn’t even pretend not to see him. Why is he angry again? Because of what? As Sungjin looked at him while suppressing the feeling of his heart sinking, Yuwon spoke first.
“Did you have fun?”
“What? Ah…”
Sungjin deliberately avoided his gaze and answered.
“Yes, well…”
He couldn’t boast in front of Yuwon that he had come back from such a fun and enjoyable time. It hadn’t been that happy a time anyway.
When Sungjin answered evasively, Yuwon pressed him sharply again.
“Looks like you had a good time, with Suyeong.”
Yuwon, who had returned to evil spirit mode, was glaring at Sungjin with even more terrifying eyes. Having suddenly become a rat in a trap with no time to breathe, Sungjin squeezed his eyes shut and tried to guess why Yuwon was angry.
Speculation 1. He’s upset that I had fun playing with someone else? Speculation 2. Because I dare to pretend to be hetero and fool around with a woman when he knows I’m gay, deceiving everyone?
I don’t know. Both were just guesses, and he couldn’t rule out the possibility of both, so he just wanted to run away from this spot.
But did I do it because I wanted to? You two both didn’t give up on me and deliberately chose me, so this is how it turned out. Sungjin swallowed a scream inside.
“Well…”
What excuse should I make? In a studio that was open on all sides with cameras rolling without a single blind spot, there weren’t many things Sungjin could say. Just as he was hesitating because nothing came to mind immediately about what to say,
“Filming will start soon! Everyone please gather at the outdoor meeting room.”
By great fortune, the staff’s voice was heard. To Sungjin, it was no different from a savior. He desperately showed a bright smile and said.
“Oh…! It’s already time. Let’s hurry and go!”
When he moved first with a groveling smile as if dealing with an annoyingly fussy client executive, Yuwon followed Sungjin without saying much. Then, when Sungjin tried to sit in a single seat while reading the room, he blocked him like a knife.
“Not there.”
“……”
“There are plenty of seats here, so why are you trying to sit there alone? Come over here.”
“…Haha.”
Why should I do that? Sungjin raised the question in his head but could never say it out loud. Shedding tears inside, when he sat next to Yuwon, soon other people also sat in their respective seats. A moment later, an announcement flowed from the speaker.
[The moment to confirm sincerity has arrived again today. How did everyone spend the day?]
At the speaker’s question, Yunchae answered with a brightly smiling face.
“It was good! The facilities are so nice that even just swimming was fun.”
“Right.”
Yunchae was stuck right next to Juhoon, who had been her pair in the first round during the day. They seemed to have become much closer through the first round. Since it was already the second day, it was about time for combinations becoming fixed couples to emerge.
[Good. I’m in a good mood too since everyone seems to be enjoying life on the island. Then shall we check right away whose heart is pointing in which direction today?]
The results of the second heart delivery ceremony that began like that could be confirmed immediately.
“……!”
A notification message was sent to each person’s watch on their wrist, informing them how many hearts they had received. Unlike his expectation that no one would choose him today just like yesterday, Sungjin’s watch also flashed brightly.
[The number of participants who sent you a heart is <1>.]
“……!”
Who is it? As surprised Sungjin looked around, his eyes met Yuwon’s. Yuwon’s watch on his wrist was also lit up. When Sungjin looked at Yuwon with rabbit eyes, Yuwon suddenly narrowed his eyes and made a displeased face again.
Why again?
Sungjin was confused at the same time. The person he expected to have sent him a heart…
Sungjin was at a loss for words even inside for a moment.
Could it be Suyeong?
Even on the way back after finishing the date, the atmosphere with Suyeong hadn’t been bad. To be honest, in the sense of friendship, it seemed quite good. He didn’t know what Yuwon was thinking, but it seemed clear that at least he hadn’t given him a heart, and if so, the only remaining candidate was Suyeong.
This is driving me crazy…
She’s not genuinely interested in me, is she? Sungjin’s mouth went completely dry. A wonderful woman like Suyeong liking him was something that had never happened until now, and it was truly grateful and also miraculous.
However, the problem was that no matter how hard he tried, he was someone who couldn’t feel that way toward women.
