# Chapter 72
All this trouble for a stupid family register…
“I’ve finished the budget proposal, Yeomin hyung!”
“Yeah? Let me see. I’ll check it.”
Festival Preparation Committee. I was told I’d just be supporting the president, but why am I the one handling everything?
Moreover, all the students Yeomin had to lead on the Festival Preparation Committee seemed to have nothing but flowers in their heads.
Yeomin examined the budget proposal with eagle eyes and turned serious.
“You wrote one million won instead of a hundred thousand, Sangcheol.”
“Oh! I must have added an extra zero.”
“I’ll fix… no, just send me the file. I’ll do it myself.”
“Yes, sir!”
Seeing the kid grinning so innocently, he couldn’t scold him further.
As a result, Yeomin ended up doing everything alone. He was modifying the budget proposal on his old laptop.
It was essentially the same as creating a new file from scratch. Yeomin’s eyes and hands moved busily.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Jiho hyung!”
Amidst everyone being busy, the person who appeared leisurely was none other than Jiho.
“Wow, did you buy this for us to eat?”
“Yeah. You distribute them.”
Jiho handed a shopping bag to the junior. It contained cookies, sandwiches, and drinks.
“Wow, aren’t these really expensive? They’re super trendy right now!”
The juniors got excited after checking the brand on the shopping bag. Yeomin heard this and pounded on the keyboard vigorously.
And a few seconds later. A coffee topped with plenty of whipped cream was placed in front of him.
“What’s so serious? You’ll get wrinkles between your eyebrows.”
It was Jiho, rubbing Yeomin’s forehead with his index finger and smiling.
Yeomin hadn’t called Jiho because he didn’t think he’d have anything to do, but Jiho had come on his own after finding out Yeomin was here.
Yeomin, who had been looking only at numbers, was momentarily entranced when he saw Jiho’s face.
‘Annoyingly handsome…’
This was the department room at school, and juniors were swarming around. Yeomin reminded himself inwardly and quickly regained his composure.
Although he had previously played the role of Jiho’s fake same-sex partner and now they were real partners… regardless of whether it was a same-sex or opposite-sex relationship, he didn’t want to flaunt their relationship at school like an attention-seeker.
Yeomin deliberately assigned Jiho some work in a stern manner.
“Since you’re here, check the list of rental items. The kids organized it, but see if anything’s missing.”
“Alright. Is this the list…?”
Jiho casually flipped through some papers lying around. He clearly looked like he didn’t understand anything.
“Sunbae, that’s…!” Just then, a junior approached and kindly explained the list to Jiho item by item.
While pretending to fix the budget, Yeomin’s attention was completely focused there. Jiho was nodding along to the concise and precise explanations from the junior.
“This seems too expensive to do. We have alternatives, but time is tight…”
“I’ll handle that.”
Jiho immediately made a call to someone. Yeomin could easily guess who it was.
“Director, I need a favor.”
Who else could it be but Director Ahn?
“I’ll send you a list, please take a look at it.”
Jiho said what he needed to and hung up in just 10 seconds. The freshmen looking at Jiho had completely fallen for him.
Yeomin pressed the Enter key as if he might rip it off.
“Wow, sunbae! You’re so cool. Such a capable person!”
“Thanks for at least you guys appreciating me.”
Said Seol Jiho, looking in Yeomin’s direction.
‘You, you, fox-like bastard…’
Yeomin could no longer focus on the numbers on the screen. It was even more annoying that Jiho was looking at him as if asking for praise.
“Working on a lot? Should I help you, hyung?”
“No. There’s nothing for you to help with, just stay like that. Stay still.”
Yeomin wished Jiho would just not do anything and remain still—just still. Because whatever he did only distracted him.
Not having realized how annoying it would be to have such an outstanding boyfriend, Yeomin belatedly regretted letting Jiho join the executive committee.
Jiho seemed to have gone quiet, sulking at Yeomin’s words. While fixing an incorrect Excel formula, Yeomin’s phone rang.
[BewareOfDog: I came to see you but you won’t even look at my face]
[BewareOfDog: Do you like work that much?]
…As if that’s the case. Yeomin sighed.
‘I can’t focus on work if I look at your face.’
Who told you to come looking so handsome today?
* * *
The president, Hyungsik, who showed up late, was more interested in the after-meeting dinner than the meeting agenda.
Yeomin adamantly refused the dinner and escaped as soon as the meeting ended. Of course, like a needle following thread, Jiho was with him.
While traveling from school to home in Jiho’s car—a distance that would take barely a few minutes on foot—Yeomin grumbled.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to do this.”
“What?”
“Festival preparation. Too much work, annoying, too many things to worry about…”
‘Then just quit!’ He had expected such a response from Jiho, but the reaction was unexpected.
“Really? I find it more fun than I thought.”
Yeomin had expected Jiho to get bored quickly and quit, but Jiho had been attending meetings regularly and doing his part.
Yeomin, who had been concerned that Jiho might lack social skills since he always clung to him and pretended not to be capable of anything, was now… getting a proper reality check.
The unfortunate reality that Jiho wasn’t just rich, but also had adequate social skills and sociability, making him a powerful insider with “maximum likability.”
“To you, all this must seem like kids’ play.”
“The meetings are funny and enjoyable. But mostly, I like that I can be with you the whole time during preparation.”
“…”
That answer was a bit pleasing. Yeomin tried to suppress the corners of his mouth that were trying to curl up.
Jiho’s car quickly arrived in front of Yeomin’s house. Yeomin asked.
“Was your move this weekend?”
“Yes.”
“Should I help? I don’t have any part-time work this week.”
“What for? You should rest on the weekends, hyung.”
“…”
That answer was a bit disappointing. Shouldn’t you naturally help when the person you’re dating is moving?
‘He probably doesn’t really need help. The moving company will handle everything… maybe I’d just be in the way.’
Swallowing his bitterness, Yeomin slightly changed the topic.
“Tell me what you need for your house.”
“Don’t tell me you’re getting me a gift?”
“I should give a housewarming gift. It’s not right for me to always be on the receiving end.”
“Wow. I’m genuinely touched right now.”
Jiho’s sincere reaction made Yeomin feel pleased. It felt satisfying even before giving the gift.
With his shoulders raised by about 3cm, Yeomin spoke loudly.
“Tell me what you’d like. It’s better to give something you actually need.”
“Can I tell you what I really need?”
“Yeah. Just say it.”
Jiho smiles as if Yeomin showing off is cute. Then he whispers in Yeomin’s ear.
“Actually, the only thing my place is missing is condoms.”
…Of course.
“If we’re talking enough until the end of the year, would a hundred be enough? Ah, that’s probably not enough, right?”
“…”
Left speechless, Yeomin eventually burst out laughing. It was such a Seol Jiho-like answer.
Jiho, who seemed occasionally normal but mostly crazy, had recently been mostly normal with occasional bouts of craziness.
Either way, it meant he was still crazy.
Yeomin made it clear:
“You said a hundred. It’s exactly a hundred.”
“While you’re at it, buy more, hyung. Like a buy-one-get-one-free deal or something.”
“Don’t know. It’s the giver’s choice.”
Yeomin said primly and got out of the car. “Wait!” Jiho urgently grabbed Yeomin.
“You need to kiss me before you go.”
Such a kiss demon.
These days, Jiho would request kisses whenever possible, embarrassing Yeomin.
Not just in front of his house, but also in the school bathroom, department room, and hallways—surprise kisses had made him break out in cold sweat more than once.
Giving in repeatedly would spoil him, really…
“If you don’t, I’ll stay here all night.”
Knowing he wouldn’t leave until he got his kiss, instead of arguing, Yeomin invaded the driver’s seat and roughly pecked Jiho’s lips.
“…Satisfied?”
“Why are you giving in so easily? That’s not like you, hyung. Suspicious.”
“It’s the manual for dealing with difficult customers. Just give them what they ask for.”
“Wouldn’t that make them want to be more difficult? Wait. You haven’t done this for anyone else, have you?”
Jiho suddenly flared up even after getting his kiss. Sensing this could go on forever, Yeomin got out of the car first.
“Go quickly. You’ve been busy since morning too. Go home and rest.”
“Being beside you is resting for me…”
“Yeah~ Drive safely~”
Only after Yeomin waved his hand as if shooing him away did Jiho’s car start moving.
While walking down the steps to the semi-basement, Yeomin mumbled.
“Would a hundred be enough…?”
‘There are two months left until the end of the year, and if we use two a day… Hmm. Would that be enough?’
Yeomin was calculating more meticulously than when planning the festival budget.
