To repay the debt he owed Ganghyuk, he’d need to fill hundreds of piggy banks, but the fun of saving money was satisfying. That’s why, even knowing it was hard, he hadn’t thought about reducing the day off or operating hours.
‘How much is labor cost these days.’
He took off his vinyl gloves and pulled out his phone to search for the minimum hourly wage. Even if he hired a part-timer for just six hours a day, the amount was quite substantial.
Since the price of soup wasn’t on the high side, in fact there wasn’t much margin left. The food ingredients cost a lot because he chose good ones at the market, and he gave customers generous portions without being stingy. Sometimes he even gave them out for free, so in fact the net profit was cute compared to the sales.
It seemed better to put hiring a part-timer on hold and designate a day off as Soyeon said. At this rate, his stamina might run out and he might end up hospitalized. He had to prevent a situation where the remedy cost more than the illness.
“Ian-ah, drink your coffee.”
“Thank you.”
Soyeon returned carrying two mugs. A sweet smell came from inside the cups with steam rising from them.
While blowing on and drinking the hot coffee, Ian thought about wanting to spend his day off with Ganghyuk.
After Ganghyuk returned having bought a bunch of sweet desserts, the two of them had been maintaining a strangely tense relationship, as if they might or might not cross the line.
Ian had confessed once to Ganghyuk. Though he hadn’t hoped for an answer, Ganghyuk hadn’t said anything to Ian after that about what his own feelings were.
I like you. I dislike you. I don’t know my own feelings. He was curious which direction Ganghyuk’s heart was facing among these.
On the other hand, if they weren’t of the same mind, he didn’t want to hear Ganghyuk’s true feelings either. Unrequited love made a person’s heart extremely soft, and the more it did, the more deeply hurt one became even by the other person’s small words and actions.
But one thing was certain—Ian liked Ganghyuk. He liked him more now than the moment he’d first become aware of his feelings. Every time he faced his blunt yet affectionate side, a corner of his heart helplessly crumbled.
‘What on earth should I do to make him fall for me.’
Since he’d never liked anyone or thought about wanting to seduce someone in his life, dealing with Ganghyuk was only difficult.
Still, he did have one secret weapon. Ian hadn’t shown Ganghyuk the photo he’d found in the photo album yet.
Though he did come home to get off work dutifully, because Ganghyuk left for work at dawn every day and returned close to midnight, there hadn’t been time to have a proper conversation.
If he got a day off, that day would be practically free, so if Ganghyuk was busy, couldn’t he just move himself? Of course, Ganghyuk would have to allow him to hover around his side.
“You’re thinking about that person, aren’t you?”
“Wh-what?”
At the question that flew from across the table, Ian startled and gripped his mug as if to shatter it. Soyeon, who’d already finished her coffee, was making a flower holder with her face and grinning while looking at Ian.
“I’m really good at relationship counseling, so why won’t you believe me.”
At the look that said to tell her anything, Ian coughed and slurped the coffee that had cooled appropriately. Though it was pretty much like Soyeon had already figured it all out, it was still too embarrassing to talk candidly about Ganghyuk.
“I’m going to rest one day a week. I think I’ll make Monday the day off.”
When he subtly changed the subject, Soyeon shrugged her shoulders lightly and put the vinyl gloves back on her hands.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea. You need a day off to go on dates and stuff.”
Denying it was only a thing once or twice. Ian silently followed Soyeon’s lead and trimmed the remaining chives.
Whether it was because of the chives’ spicy scent or not, his face was hot.
ლ
“Ahem.”
Coming out of the bathroom after washing, Ganghyuk’s eyes caught Ian tensely on edge. When he gave him attention while shaking his wet hair with a towel, Ian covered his mouth with his clenched fist and coughed, then approached hesitantly.
“Would you like to have a drink with me?”
What is this, not even a pick-up line from the eighties.
Looking at the face gazing up at him earnestly with a completely flushed face, Ganghyuk covered his twisted lips with the wet towel.
The more he looked, the more his actions were trivial yet cute. That’s why. Even knowing he should push him away, he just watched.
When he felt the subtle yet sweet omega pheromones, he did feel a bit troubled.
How strange. Other people’s pheromones were only disgusting, but this child’s pheromones were only sweet.
It wasn’t being released consciously. If he’d felt even the slightest sign of trying to seduce him, his heart wouldn’t be stirring this much. Pure goodwill and yearning. The only emotion readable in those round eyes was that.
“I have something to talk about.”
As the silence continued, the lips he bit anxiously were red. Suddenly reminded of that sensation, Ganghyuk let out a small sigh.
“I’ll come out after putting on clothes.”
If he had to pick the most inconvenient thing about living in one house with someone, it was having to always wear clothes. Usually when living alone, he didn’t wear anything on his upper body, so it was quite bothersome.
When he came out dressed, there was a clattering sound from the kitchen. When he went inside to look, the dining table was abundant. Starting with tofu kimchi, to pajeon and spicy whelk salad. There were three kinds of side dishes when one would have been enough.
“We’re drinking all this?”
More surprising than the side dishes was the number of bottles. Five bottles of soju and five bottles of beer.
It wasn’t that much for him, but in Ganghyuk’s eyes Ian was still a child, so the fact of drinking alcohol itself felt unfamiliar. Last time, it seemed like he got drunk after drinking a little over one bottle.
“I thought it’s better to have leftovers than not enough. Two bottles are enough for me, but Executive Director-nim has a high tolerance.”
Ian, who answered while turning his head, turned off the faucet and shook off the water from the cleanly washed cups. When he brought the cups next to the neatly placed utensils, Ganghyuk pulled out a chair and sat down.
Ian, who smiled slightly, also took a seat across from Ganghyuk. The foods he’d diligently made while Ganghyuk was washing were appetizing, but only Ganghyuk entered his eyes.
His slightly wet hair felt sexy, making him swallow his dry saliva. Worried that he might show he was too nervous, he opened the soju bottle cap first.
“I’ll pour you a glass first.”
Ganghyuk lifted his soju glass. The clear liquid rose into the glass that looked especially small, making a trickling sound.
Ganghyuk, who set down the full glass, took the bottle from Ian’s hand. Ian lifted both hands and received the alcohol in a respectful posture.
“Let’s toast.”
Ian held out the sloshing glass. When Ganghyuk roughly clinked glasses, the posture of turning his head to the side and gulping it down was no less than a heavy drinker’s.
“Keu……”
At the savory interjection, Ganghyuk covered his tilting lips with the soju glass. He bent his head and sent the bland liquid down his throat.
It was more drinkable than last time. Like that, giving and receiving, they emptied one bottle in an instant. Unlike Ganghyuk, who showed no signs of having drunk alcohol, both of Ian’s cheeks gradually heated up red like luscious apples.
“Have some side dishes too. I made them with Grandmother’s recipe, so they’ll be really delicious.”
A few days ago, after talking with Soyeon about the day off, Ian came to the conclusion that he couldn’t just meaninglessly let time pass by like this.
Tomorrow was Monday. It was the first regular holiday since Ian had reopened his grandfather’s soup restaurant.
Since Ganghyuk always worked busily regardless of weekday or weekend, he’d set today as the day. He’d set up the drinking table to create an atmosphere for talking naturally, and fortunately Ganghyuk had readily agreed.
Ian looked contentedly at Ganghyuk eating tofu and kimchi together, and also generously served food onto his small plate. The savory taste of tofu and the rich flavor of kimchi harmoniously blended, making the bitter taste of soju remaining in his mouth completely disappear.
“Should I mix you a glass of somaek too?”
“No. I’ll drink soju.”
Ian nodded his head and first poured soju into a beer glass, then poured beer in with a splash. When he stood up chopsticks and tapped the middle area with another chopstick, a small whirlpool formed.
