The sight of the organization members under the living room lights was spectacular. The traces of having come from a fight were clear to anyone who could see.
Watching them walk around with a towel draped over themselves saying they needed to wash up while blood dripped down their backs, or roughly stopping the bleeding from a torn forehead with the top of a shirt, he seemed to understand why they’d been looking for a housekeeper with a nursing license earlier.
…Damn.
I won’t have to see this scene every day, will I…?
They started taking off their clothes one by one. The mixed smell of sweat, dust, and blood made him nauseous. Covering his mouth, Seongyeom slightly regretted not really running away earlier.
“Those bastards, didn’t it seem like they had more people than before?”
“No, why the hell were there even foreigners there?”
“Crazy. They’re really going global with their shit.”
Standing awkwardly at the entrance listening to the hyung-nims’ brutal conversation, Siwon, half-wearing his blood-soaked shirt, gestured to Seongyeom.
At the sight of him narrowing his brow and seriously beckoning with his hand, Seongyeom quickly ran through what he might have done wrong again and approached.
“That. Did you make it, Teacher?”
Ah, no way. Did I need permission to use the kitchen too?!
On the dining table sat the dinner spread Seongyeom had made, now cold and alone.
“The, meal… you mean?”
“…You went out earlier to buy groceries?”
Seongyeom nodded while reading his mood.
“…You should have said so then.”
You’re the one who just pushed me around without letting me speak!
Seongyeom pressed his lips into a straight line, feeling wronged. Soon the hyung-nims who approached the kitchen looked at the dining table and cheered in unison.
“Wow, what’s all that?!”
“What’s that smell?!”
“What kind of feast is this?”
Even though the food must have already gotten cold, they gathered around the table ready to grab and eat with their hands, saying how long it had been since they’d had a home-cooked meal.
“If you have external errands from now on, tell me. I’ll assign someone to you.”
“Yesss.”
Siwon said with a languid sigh. Seongyeom nodded, suppressing the urge to pout. A very late dinner continued.
“H-hey, wait! I’ll reheat it for you!”
At Seongyeom’s words, the organization members handed over their soup bowls like obedient children. There was even someone who brought out a case of soju from the veranda, saying stew goes with soju.
“Everyone’s hurt today, so drink moderately. It’s hard on Daerim.”
“Yes!”
A resounding answer that hurt the ears rang through the house. Seongyeom, still unable to adapt to this unfamiliar environment, raised his shoulders close to his ears and turned on the gas stove.
“Boss! Can I have a drink with the housekeeper teacher?!”
Housekeeper teacher. Seongyeom scratched the back of his neck at the strange title and looked at Siwon. As if this wasn’t the first or second time, Siwon waved his hand and turned around.
“Do as you please.”
“Yes! Come over here, Teacher! Have a drink!”
“Ah, no! I need to go home now…!”
As soon as Siwon’s permission dropped, seeing their nimble movements immediately taking out more glasses and utensils, Seongyeom hurriedly waved his hands. He’d planned to just reheat the soup and go home. At Seongyeom’s words, Siwon’s steps, just about to leave the kitchen, stopped dead.
The boisterous atmosphere rapidly froze. Siwon furrowed his brow and asked.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home to pack some things. It was decided so suddenly that I don’t have anything except books.”
Only then did Siwon’s expression soften considerably. Seeing that, Seongyeom thought it was fortunate he was someone somewhat reasonable.
With this, I can avoid the drinking party too!
“I see. But eat before you go. I’ll have you driven home.”
“Eh…?!”
At Siwon’s words, the organization members grinned again and slapped the empty seat.
“That’s right! Sit down now, Teacher! Was it Seongyeong?”
“Seon, gyeom!”
One of the hyung-nims asked his name, and he ended up missing the timing to refuse. Seongyeom sat down hesitantly. Wondering if Siwon would join them too, he looked where he was, but Siwon had already left the kitchen.
“Now. Does our housekeeper teacher like soju or beer?”
“I, I like beer…”
Seongyeom looked at the soju and beer filling up rapidly before his eyes and decided to just keep his mouth shut. The somaek mixed in golden ratio looked too appetizing to refuse.
“Wow, you drink well! One more! One more!”
“Whoa, shit. What?! Did we order delivery?”
Just as he emptied the somaek in one go, a familiar voice was heard. Seoldong, who’d just washed up and was shaking out his wet hair, sat across from Seongyeom. Next to him, Yi Cheong with a large piece of gauze on his left eyebrow pulled out a chair and sat down demurely.
“You, what happened to your face?!”
“I let my guard down.”
“That bastard Cheong got hit while showing off knowing a bit of boxing. Oh my!”
One of the hyung-nims clicked his tongue. Seongyeom also swallowed a pitiful sigh.
Where is there even a place to hit on that small face!
Cheong touched the gauze-covered area around his eye. Having one eyebrow covered looked really awkward. Seoldong, already stuffing his mouth full of meat and chewing, pulled Cheong’s shoulder toward his body and said.
“Hey. It’s okay, it’s okay! That’s why I gave that bastard a refreshing blow to the back of the head!”
“Let go.”
Cheong’s body swayed as Seoldong grabbed and shook his shoulder. Then, as if his patience ran out, he pinched the back of Seoldong’s hand hard.
“Ow!”
“Ah, fine. I got it!”
“Is our Cheong angwy?”
Wh-what? What was that just now?
Seongyeom frowned. It was aegyo as shocking as a traffic accident. Making baby talk with that huge build. Seoldong even leaned his head on Cheong’s shoulder and blinked his eyes rapidly while looking up at Cheong.
“Eat this and cheer up, okway?”
Cheong said without even looking at Seoldong.
“Head off.”
“Yep.”
Seongyeom bit his chopsticks and became certain of their relationship.
Choi Seoldong definitely likes Kwon Yi Cheong. Otherwise, with that build and that face, he couldn’t possibly act so cutesy to Kwon Yi Cheong who resembles his hyung with his icy beauty.
To calm his churning stomach from Seoldong’s aegyo, Seongyeom turned his gaze to the japchae. When his chopsticks couldn’t reach it in the middle of the table, Daerim sitting next to him scooped some onto Seongyeom’s plate directly.
“Ah, thank you.”
“Thanks for what? We should be thanking you for preparing everything, Teacher.”
“Teacher cooked this? All of it?”
Yi Cheong looked at Seongyeom with wide eyes as if he couldn’t believe it. There was also a hint of admiration, so Seongyeom smiled contentedly.
“I may not look it, but I’m the son of a 24-hour snack bar.”
When Seoldong took a spoonful of the stew, tasted it, opened his eyes wide and gave a thumbs up, Seongyeom’s shoulders filled with pride.
“Wow, Teacher. You cook well!”
“Thanks, eat a lot.”
How nice would it be if he focused on class with those eyes during study time? Seongyeom, who let out a small laugh, asked Cheong.
“Why aren’t you eating? Is there nothing you can eat?”
He was bothered by the sight of him continuously looking blankly at the table with a sullen expression. Even when spoken to, he only shook his head and still didn’t pick up his utensils. The side dishes Seoldong put on his rice bowl remained untouched. Just as he was worried it might be because there was no food he liked, Daerim, who’d briefly gone up to the second floor, approached with medicine.
“Cheong.”
At Daerim’s call, Seoldong turned around sharply with his mouth full of food. Daerim approached behind Cheong and said while opening the familiar packaging of capsule-type painkillers.
“Ah.”
Seongyeom saw it. At those words, Seoldong’s eyes widened hugely. Like a greedy muscle squirrel, he puffed up both cheeks and trembled with his hands. Seongyeom quietly watched the intriguing situation.
“Ah…”
Yi Cheong, who obediently opened his mouth, squinted one eye as if the injured area was uncomfortable. The tender flesh inside his mouth was dyed bright red with blood as if it had all burst. Somehow it felt like he too could taste that fishy flavor, so his brow furrowed along with him. Daerim suddenly pressed down on Cheong’s lower lip with his thumb, which had opened to receive the medicine.
“Hyung?”
His jaw held and mouth opened, calling Daerim. However, Daerim didn’t respond and examined the dark inside of his mouth thoroughly with a serious face.
“The inside is torn. No teeth are loose or anything?”
Nod nod.
Unable to hide his reddened face, Cheong looked up at Daerim blankly and nodded. Why did that sight give such a dangerous feeling? Seongyeom stared blankly at the two, forgetting he was holding chopsticks.
“Aigoo, Daerim! It’s nothing and you’re making a fuss! Kids always grow up getting beaten up!”
“Leave him. Is Daerim doing this for just a day or two?”
The hyung-nims with rising alcohol spirits each raised their voices. It was really fortunate this house was built in a remote place. Otherwise, the neighbors upstairs or downstairs would have already filed complaints and then some.
“Tell me if it hurts.”
After examining the inside of his mouth for a while, Daerim finally said while handing over the pills and water glass. Cheong covered his mouth with his arm while red up to his ears. Moisture glistened in his eyes.
Don’t tell me Kwon Yi Cheong likes Daerim ahjussi…?!
What, a love triangle?!
Seongyeom somehow craved savory popcorn. Just then, Seoldong pushed his chair back and stood up abruptly.
“That’s enough! If Cheong’s hurt, I can take him to the hospital!”
Seoldong approached behind Yi Cheong and snatched the water glass Daerim handed over. Then he filled both cheeks full of water and stuck his lips out toward Yi Cheong.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
“If it hurts, you can’t drink water. I’ll feed you.”
That kind of nonsense.
Choi Seoldong is definitely a blockhead.
“You stupid bastard!”
Yi Cheong glared fiercely. With both hands spread flat, he slapped down on Seoldong’s puffy cheeks.
“Pwuup!”
“Ah! This crazy… You bastard!”
Startled, Seoldong spat out the water. Yi Cheong, having been drenched with all the water held in his mouth, grabbed Seoldong’s wet hair with a thoroughly pissed face.
“Ow ow ow! Yi Cheong, it hurts!”
“It hurts? You know it hurts?!”
The hyung-nims watching the two high schoolers’ shenanigans burst into roaring laughter. The sight of the two childishly bickering was a scene no less than any variety show. Seongyeom, who’d been laughing with them, suddenly noticed Daerim. He was alone with a humorless face, staring persistently at Cheong.
Why is he looking like that? Don’t tell me ahjussi also likes Cheong?!
***
“Pfuhoo…”
After readily accepting the drinks the hyung-nims offered one or two at a time, his tension had loosened before he knew it. It was more comfortable to move with rhythm than to stay still. He’d really considered running away during the day, but he was proud of himself for enduring one day in the end.
