# Chapter 4
After finishing his part-time job at the PC bang, Yeomin went grocery shopping at the supermarket on his way home. He bought ramen, rice, seaweed, and a few side dishes that would keep for a while.
“Can I buy this?”
Despite being completely broke now, Jiho was choosing a grapefruit juice that cost 7,800 won per liter.
Yeomin had “Absolutely not” on the tip of his tongue but reluctantly nodded.
‘Right. Let’s treat him well while he’s here… It’s not like he’s going to be estranged from his parents forever just because he left home.’
Anyway, if he sells the watch he got from Jiho, he could buy several truckloads of this grapefruit juice.
“You can get more if there’s anything else you want.”
“Wow. Hyung, you’re so cool.”
With those words, Jiho excitedly started picking out various items.
If he’s going to choose, he should at least pick something filling and substantial. Choosing snacks with neither taste nor nutrition made him look like an elementary school kid.
‘Does he have a child’s taste…?’
Yeomin clicked his tongue and put Vienna sausages in the shopping basket.
The two walked through the student neighborhood with ice cream in their mouths, looking quite friendly.
Jiho carried the grocery bags. He said he should at least earn his keep. The kid might lack awareness, but he seemed to have some sense of propriety.
“So, how long are you planning to stay here?”
When Yeomin finally asked what he’d been holding back all day, Jiho made a hurt expression.
“…It’s inconvenient, right, hyung? I’ve been annoying you all day, preventing you from doing your work.”
Looking at him now, this seemed to be his specialty. Playing the victim.
“Well, I won’t deny that feeling… But I was just curious how long you’re planning to stay. Were you completely kicked out of your home?”
“Yes…”
“What did you do wrong? Did you cause some trouble?”
Surely he wasn’t permanently disowned? That would be troublesome. Jiho needs to go back home so he can repay Yeomin for his kindness.
“No one at home likes me anyway.”
When he spoke with such sad eyes, it seemed like there must be some backstory. A secret about his birth, a painful childhood… something like that.
“Still, as a grown adult, you should have a plan even if you get kicked out. How could you lie drunk on the street like that?”
“But you picked me up, hyung.”
“I didn’t exactly pick you up,”
I brought you along to destroy evidence, but…
“You clung to me.”
“That’s mean.”
The way he lightly hit Yeomin’s shoulder was embarrassingly intimate. Yeomin felt like the back of his neck was itchy.
“Anyway, let me know in advance when you leave.”
“Why? Will you miss me?”
“No.”
‘I’m afraid you might take the watch back, so I want to hide it beforehand.’
Yeomin concealed his dark thoughts.
Just then, Jiho suddenly reached out and fixed Yeomin’s messy bangs.
“By the way, did you get a perm, hyung?”
Yeomin was slightly taken aback but naturally turned his head away.
“I naturally have wavy hair.”
“I see. It suits you well.”
“Do you always touch people so freely?”
Come to think of it, the kid seemed to have no concept of personal space. He’s good at staring at people too. He has no hesitation about suddenly touching or poking others.
Earlier at the PC bang, he had touched Yeomin’s nape playfully, which made Yeomin feel strange.
Joo Yeomin was a conservative man who was stingy with physical contact.
“If that’s how you feel, then yes. I guess I like skinship.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“What type are you, hyung? Did you do skinship with your girlfriend?”
Shouldn’t you first ask if I’ve ever had a girlfriend? Yeomin felt offended.
In his harsh youth, romance was a luxury. It wasn’t shameful that he remained single at his age, but it was a painful wound.
And despite never having kissed a girl, he ended up kissing Seol Jiho. That suddenly made him angry.
“Why are you curious about that?”
“You asked me too, hyung.”
“That wasn’t asking, it was being sarcastic.”
But Jiho’s eyes were already filled with curiosity.
“I’m curious. What type are you, hyung? Did you hold hands with your girlfriend? Don’t tell me, have you ever brought a girlfriend to your place?”
“Are you crazy? How could I bring someone there? To that miserable place?”
At that moment, Yeomin felt very uncomfortable seeing Jiho’s relieved expression.
“What about others? Has anyone else been there?”
“Some department friends, and my work manager…”
“Manager? The manager has been there too? Are you that close with the manager?”
“If you ask me one more question from now on, I’m kicking you out.”
“Hmm…”
Though it was an empty threat, Yeomin felt a sense of catharsis seeing Jiho shut his mouth.
“So anything but questions is okay, right?”
That’s not what I meant! I meant shut up!
“Hyung is just like that. A hedgehog. So small but covered in spikes.”
Did he just insult me? And I’m not that small, you know?
Yeomin shot back.
“You’re just like that.”
“Like what?”
‘The type who absolutely never shuts up.’ That’s what he was about to answer, but Jiho was looking at him with such expectant eyes that he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“What am I like? Hm?”
As Yeomin tried to ignore Jiho, something caught his eye. He could recognize it from 10 meters away.
The cup holder he’d been looking for every day! He was searching for that cup holder on the day he picked up Jiho too.
Yeomin rushed past Jiho and quickly picked up the cup holder.
“Yes!”
Yeomin pocketed the holder. Jiho followed and looked at him curiously.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile so brightly, hyung. Is that thing so great?”
“If I collect twenty of these, I get a free coffee.”
“So you like coffee.”
“No. I like free stuff.”
Yeomin said bluntly and turned around. Now let’s really go home.
“But what am I like? You still haven’t told me.”
“I’m never going to tell you.”
You know what, you’re like a lottery ticket to me.
A damn unlucky one.
* * *
Only when they reached home did he realize he hadn’t bought eggs. They would have been much cheaper at the supermarket…
Yeomin tearfully headed to the nearby convenience store. When Jiho tried to follow, he sent him back.
“Go inside and organize the refrigerator. Don’t just leave everything as is.”
“I’ll wait, so come back quickly, hyung.”
That just sounded really creepy. It’s not like we’re newlyweds. This doesn’t seem right.
Yeomin ran to the convenience store without looking back.
As he paid for eggs that cost twice as much as at the supermarket, he noticed the wiggly jelly. It was the one Jiho had been fiddling with at the supermarket before putting it back.
Did I pressure him too much? It’s not like the kid is completely freeloading…
Especially after receiving such a valuable gift.
“I’ll take this too, please.”
After deliberating, Yeomin included the wiggly jelly in his purchase.
“If I give him this, he’ll definitely cling to me again saying ‘Hyuuung~ Thank you~’. I can see it coming.”
Yeomin’s steps halted in front of the villa as he walked, swinging the convenience store bag.
In front of Yeomin’s place, which was among the older buildings in the student neighborhood full of multi-family houses and studios, there was a car that didn’t fit in this alley at all.
‘Even in the professors’ parking lot, it’s rare to see such a car…’
Even more surprising was Jiho, standing next to the car, talking to someone through the back seat window.
Yeomin’s heart raced uncontrollably.
‘Seol Jiho must really be rich.’
There was even a chauffeur. Could they be here to pick up Seol Jiho? Does that mean he’s leaving today? Yeomin was extremely excited.
Just then, Jiho, who had been talking, seemed to sense the gaze and looked around.
Fearing his position would be discovered, Yeomin hid behind a utility pole.
‘But why am I hiding?’
Yeomin peeked out to look at the car again.
Jiho picked up a brick that had been placed on the road to prevent illegal parking. Then suddenly, he struck the back door of the car with the brick.
“Oh my god. That crazy bastard…”
Isn’t there someone inside? Just a moment ago, Yeomin’s heart was racing with excitement, but now it was racing with shock.
The expensive car door was crumpled pathetically. Jiho tossed the brick back to where it had been and entered the building as if nothing had happened.
Shortly after, the car with one side of the door dented drove out of the alley. Yeomin lingered outside for a while before going home.
“Why are you so late? Were there no eggs at the convenience store?”
Jiho greeted Yeomin brightly. Yeomin felt a chill.
“Uh…”
“I filled the refrigerator. Did I do well?”
Seol Jiho, who had organized the groceries in the refrigerator as instructed. And Seol Jiho, who had just destroyed a car door with a brick. It was hard to believe they were the same person.
Jiho checked the eggs and jelly in the convenience store bag and smiled brightly.
“Did you buy this jelly for me, hyung?”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“I’m touched. You really are my savior, hyung.”
Before Yeomin could even take off his shoes at the entrance, Jiho hugged him tightly.
“Hey… I told you not to do this kind of thing.”
He ended up being firmly embraced by the large Jiho. Why is he so strong too?
Yeomin, still in his embrace, wondered suspiciously.
‘What kind of person are you, Seol Jiho? Is it really okay to keep you in my home?’
He had only thought of him as an annoying presence who ate his food and bothered him.
But now he was getting an ominous feeling that he might have picked up something quite dangerous.
“Hey, Seol Jiho.”
Surely he wouldn’t hit me with a brick too, right? Instead of saying what was on the tip of his tongue, Yeomin asked Jiho:
“You said you were kicked out of your home, right?”
“Yes. I have nowhere to go.”
“No relatives, no friends, nothing?”
“Yes. I have no relatives or friends.”
Then what was that car just now? Why does it feel like you’re lying to me?
Yeomin stared at Jiho as if trying to assess him.
‘Even if you can’t rely on department friends because you’re uncomfortable revealing your situation, you’re telling me you don’t have a single friend you’ve known since childhood?’
It doesn’t make sense. If he just made a call, there would probably be a truckload of people willing to come running.
“But hyung, does that matter?”
“…”
“Why are you interrogating me?”
Seeing how you’re acting, I keep getting suspicious.
Yeomin glared at Jiho, refusing to be intimidated.
“I should at least know what kind of person is staying in my home. I don’t know what you’re up to. I’m feeding and sheltering you, so don’t I have the right to ask this much? Why, are you uncomfortable?”
“Not at all. I’m actually happy that you’re interested in me.”
“…”
“Hyung, let’s have a late-night snack. I’m hungry.”
He’s not answering my questions. This fox-like guy. He’s definitely not ordinary. No, maybe he’s even more dangerous than a fox.
Watching Jiho put the wiggly jelly in his mouth, Yeomin thought he really needed to stay alert from now on.
