I got up from my seat, gathering my things. Eun Haejin, who had picked up my bag first, looked at the state of the laptop for a moment and asked.
“Don’t tell me they spilled coffee on the laptop too?”
“The graduation thesis is safe, isn’t that fortunate?”
Eun Haejin looked at me for a moment as if dumbfounded, then silently took my bag and left the café. I also hurriedly returned the tray and followed Eun Haejin.
“Let’s go to my place.”
“Why?”
Eun Haejin’s house and my house were about a 15-minute walk apart. Eun Haejin’s house was closer from here, but we’d have to take the bus to get there anyway, so it wasn’t a significantly meaningful difference. Of course, Eun Haejin’s house was right near the bus stop and my place required walking 15 minutes from there.
“Because my place is closer.”
“Oh. Really?”
“I don’t want to wander around everywhere looking like that, so just obediently follow me.”
“Yep.”
Eun Haejin and I hurriedly got on the bus that arrived just then.
After going seven stops and getting off, Eun Haejin and I headed to Eun Haejin’s house.
“It feels like it’s been a while since I came here?”
Actually it was my first time, but I spoke first to chase away some awkwardness. Lee Hyun apparently went to Eun Haejin’s house often.
“You ignored my calls like crazy.”
A subtle irritation was evident in Eun Haejin’s answer. He’s not mad, is he? I quickly put my arm around Eun Haejin’s shoulders and spoke soothingly.
“Ah, when our future J Company talent Employee Eun Haejin was preparing for an interview, how could this humble one contact you and disturb you?”
“Your way of speaking has been seriously weird lately. Did you decide on some concept or something?”
“Just accept that this is me now. Can I take a shower?”
I hurriedly changed the subject in case Eun Haejin kept looking at me strangely. Eun Haejin nodded and took out clothes from the closet and handed them to me. Since Eun Haejin and I were roughly the same height, our clothing sizes were the same too. My frame was relatively smaller, but it was roughly compatible enough.
“Underwear?”
“Are you crazy?”
At Eun Haejin’s reaction, I hurriedly entered the bathroom in case I’d get hit. Getting warm water in the bathroom definitely felt good. I didn’t realize it, but since I showered in iced coffee and then got hit by air conditioning, my body seemed to have gotten pretty cold.
I quickly finished showering and put on the shorts Eun Haejin gave me. I was pondering for a moment what to do with the hoodie covered in coffee when I heard Eun Haejin’s voice from outside.
“Hey! Should I just wash that hoodie?”
“I’d be grateful if you did.”
Without hesitation, I put the t-shirt over my head and immediately came out of the bathroom.
“Ah… Shit. Come out with your clothes on.”
“Eeeh.”
I roughly brushed it off with cuteness and quickly put my arms through, and Eun Haejin’s disgusted expression came into view.
“Why? Too sexy?”
“Just fuck off.”
At Eun Haejin’s cold words, I quickly approached and roughly rubbed my head against his shoulder.
“Hyung-a will buy chicken. Hurry up and tell me about the interview.”
“It’s fine. I already ordered.”
“What did you order?”
“Chicken.”
“Should I go buy beer?”
“Start the washing machine and let’s go together.”
I nodded at Eun Haejin’s words. Come to think of it, I haven’t had a single sip of alcohol since coming here. As soon as I thought that, I suddenly started craving beer intensely.
“Hey. Let’s go.”
“I’ll buy the beer.”
“I said it’s fine.”
“Ah please.”
Ignoring my whining, Eun Haejin immediately opened the door and went out. After hesitating, I put on Eun Haejin’s slippers and followed behind. It was a unique feeling to be wearing someone else’s clothes from head to toe. Plus, Eun Haejin’s clothing taste was completely different from Lee Hyun’s.
Lee Hyun seemed to like dressing up, so his closet was full of nothing but uncomfortable clothes. Because of that, I was living rotating between the exactly two hoodies and two sweatpants that Lee Hyun had. But Eun Haejin’s clothes were generally comfortable and the style was similar to the clothes I originally wore. I should borrow them often.
A scent that couldn’t possibly come from my clothes tickled the tip of my nose slightly. What fabric softener does he use?
***
“What do you want to drink?”
“Same as you.”
I answered roughly to Eun Haejin’s question and focused on picking up snacks in the snack section. I was the type who liked snacks so much that I thought snacks were my staple food, and that was because when I actually got assigned a project, I didn’t have time to eat meals. Since I originally ate a lot, to handle the calories, I had to stuff snacks in my mouth so I could at least avoid dying of hunger.
“Are you done picking?”
“Haejin.”
“What.”
“Should I eat shrimp chips or potato chips?”
“Buy both.”
“That’s good.”
Following Eun Haejin’s words, I put both shrimp chips and potato chips in the basket.
“…What?”
“What?”
“Weren’t you agonizing between shrimp and potato?”
Eun Haejin pointed with his chin at the full basket I was holding.
“Right?”
“No, fuck. I thought you were agonizing between the two. Are you going to open a snack shop?”
“I can eat it all.”
“Ah, don’t bullshit.”
“If there’s leftovers, I’ll leave them at your place and eat them whenever I come over to hang out.”
“…Fuck, you’re dead if you spill everything on my floor.”
“Yeeees.”
Eun Haejin put four cans of beer in the basket I was holding. When I made a “heuk” sound at the suddenly heavy basket, Eun Haejin looked at me pathetically and then took the basket instead.
“Hey, I’ll carry it.”
“You don’t even have strength.”
“Oh…”
“What?”
“That’s totally a line a male lead in a drama would say.”
“Seriously, stop bullshitting.”
The disgusted expression had become so familiar it even looked cute now. I deliberately made my voice more cheerful and clung disgustingly to Eun Haejin.
“Yes! Senior! Can I buy ice cream?”
“Ha…. What are you going to buy?”
“Don’t know. I’ll look. But are we only buying four cans of beer?”
“If you want to buy more, you bring it.”
“Aren’t we drinking soju?”
“If you’re going to drink it, you bring it.”
“Yep.”
I sauntered back to the alcohol section and brought two bottles of soju. In the meantime, Eun Haejin was rummaging through the ice cream freezer and grabbing ice cream indiscriminately.
“Hey! Pick the ones inside! They’ll all melt!”
“Whatever…”
Eun Haejin rummaged inside and added a couple more ice creams before heading to the checkout counter.
Maybe because I put in so many snacks, the price was considerable.
“How many chickens did you order?”
“Two.”
“I think it’s more expensive than the chicken.”
“I’m paying anyway, so what does it matter.”
Before Eun Haejin could take out his wallet, I quickly inserted my card.
“Ah, I said I’m paying.”
“Don’t make a show at the convenience store and buy me a meal later when you get in.”
“Ah…”
After finishing payment, Eun Haejin and I walked home carrying one bag each side by side. But a familiar figure caught my eye in the distance.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“No… Owner-nim?”
Cha Hyunwoo was jogging with earphones in. When our eyes met with good timing, Cha Hyunwoo took out his earphones and walked toward me.
“Hyun-ssi?”
“Wow…. Do you exercise every day?”
“What were you doing here?”
The questions overlapped, creating a brief silence. I quickly shook the convenience store bag and answered.
“My friend had an interview today, so we’re having a drink while listening to the story. Do you jog at night?”
“Ah…. I usually go to the gym, but the weather was nice today.”
“As expected, this body doesn’t just come naturally.”
Cha Hyunwoo was in simple workout clothes, and even though the clothes were slightly loose, it was obvious at a glance that he had a good body. I thought he had a good body when he wore the uniform at the café too, but seeing him like this, his body was even better than I’d guessed from above the uniform.
Cha Hyunwoo came close himself, but when I actually approached him, he stepped back hesitantly.
“Why do you keep backing away?”
“Well… I was running, so I’m a bit sweaty….”
“You don’t smell though?”
When I deliberately approached closer and pretended to smell him in case he’d be embarrassed, Cha Hyunwoo backed away even more. Eun Haejin grabbed my clothes firmly and pulled me back.
“Are you a dog?”
At Eun Haejin’s voice, I obediently lowered my head.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay! Then enjoy your meal with your friend… and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes. You should head inside quickly too, owner-nim.”
“Don’t drink too much.”
“Yep. I’ll make sure it doesn’t affect work tomorrow.”
