By Zephyria 
4 Months Later
Eden leaned against the wall by the front door, his eyebrows twitching. Even with his arms crossed and a thoroughly displeased expression, Ha-jin didn’t spare him a glance. More precisely, he was too busy fussing over Mi-so, who was moving out today, to notice Eden’s fierce glare.
Winter and spring had passed, and early summer was upon them once more. Since dawn, Ha-jin had been trailing after Mi-so, personally packing her moving boxes. Even though she was only moving to the Separate residence a mere three minutes away, he was as restless as a puppy unwilling to leave its mother’s side.
That was precisely what Eden disliked. He understood that it was natural for two people, who were not only each other’s only hometown friend but also business partners, to care for each other deeply. However, there was always a difference between knowing something in your head and how your heart reacted.
Seeing Mi-so and Ha-jin holding hands affectionately right in front of him, irritation welled up without him even realizing it. Eden swallowed down the absurd possessiveness and monopolistic desires he himself found ridiculous, and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Mi-so carefully zipped up the duffel bag she had borrowed from Eden and straightened her back. Placing her laptop bag on top of the small suitcase completed her modest moving load.
“Are you sure you don’t want the shower balls? I have a few more new ones, should I bring them over?”
Ha-jin, standing in front of the door, asked as he reopened Mi-so’s duffel bag.
“Leave it, I packed everything.”
“Do you have enough towels?”
“More than enough.”
“Did you check the room one last time? What about your phone charger?”
As the questions continued, Mi-so covered her ears in protest. The luggage consisted of only a laptop, a suitcase, and a duffel bag, and all the necessary daily necessities were already prepared in the Separate residence, yet Ha-jin’s nagging was incessant.
“You packed your portable charger, right?”
“We’re only three minutes away. It’s next door, you idiot. Just stop it.”
“I saw the notebook still in the Office room earlier, are you leaving it there on purpose?”
“Ugh…”
Mi-so, with a weary look, glanced at Ha-jin, who was still nagging despite her complaints, and turned to Eden, who was leaning against the wall by the front door.
“Jeong Tae-geon? If you’re not busy, could you stop your boyfriend?”
“Why? It’s nice to see them being so affectionate.”
Eden’s response was perfunctory, and his demeanor was unsettling. Sensing his displeasure, Mi-so massaged her forehead and swallowed a curse.
‘…Damn it. This is why I’m moving out.’
The various hardships and adversities, such as coming out to drink water in the middle of the night and hearing suppressed groans, or enduring Eden’s piercing gaze filled with jealousy, flashed through her mind like a panorama.
A rather boisterous knock came from beyond the front door. Knock, knock, knock. Opening the door in haste, Jeffrey, his face flushed red from the heat, suddenly poked his head in.
[Good morning!]
Having caught his breath, he looked back and forth between the three people standing by the door and the modest luggage.
[What? Is the move already over?]
Mi-so handed Jeffrey a duffel bag and said.
“This is all the luggage. I’ll pull the suitcase.”
[Is this all the moving stuff? I rushed over for nothing.]
Eden chided him as if he had been waiting for the opportunity.
[I told you not to come, but you insisted on helping. Did you forget?]
Mi-so poked Jeffrey in the side, who was pouting his lips.
“I appreciate you coming, but why did you really come?”
“I don’t know. I’m hungry.”
“Aha, so you came to get a meal?”
Instead of answering, Jeffrey’s tanned cheeks flushed red. Ha-jin, feeling as if he had witnessed a scene he shouldn’t have, swallowed an awkward cough.
“Do Ha-jin, I’m leaving! Get some rest today!”
“Okay, call me if you need any help.”
A heavy arm was placed on Ha-jin’s shoulder as he watched the two people walk away.
“Let’s go back inside.”
Eden immediately led Ha-jin back into the living room. You might not notice when someone is there, but you’ll definitely notice when they’re gone; the already spacious house seemed even emptier now that one person was missing.
Ha-jin, who turned on the TV out of habit, turned to Eden and asked.
“But Jeffrey, don’t you think he’s been acting strange lately?”
“Jeffrey has always been strange.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…”
Ha-jin started to say something but couldn’t bring himself to finish. Eden, who had been watching him hesitate, put down the coffee cup in his hand.
“Why? Does Jeffrey’s gaze seem unusual?”
“Jeong Tae-geon, you noticed it too?”
“He’s making it so obvious, how could I not?”
“Is there really something going on between Jeffrey and Mi-so?”
He lightly shrugged his shoulders at Ha-jin, who had an incredulous expression on his face.
“Rather than something being between them, I think it’s more like Jeffrey’s one-sided crush. It doesn’t seem very promising, so I’m just leaving it be. Who would like a guy who doesn’t even wash his hands properly?”
“……”
“I don’t think you need to take it too seriously.”
Even between close friends, it seemed that his unique, cold, and objective judgment couldn’t be avoided. Ha-jin looked at his lover, who was making an exceptionally harsh assessment, and swallowed a meaningless laugh.
“You’re as cold as ever.”
“Isn’t it better than being nice to everyone?”
“That’s true, but…”
“…”
“By any chance, were you targeting me with that last remark?”
“Looks like you have something to feel guilty about.”
Eden rested his arm on his knee and narrowed his eyes at Ha-jin as if rebuking him. Ha-jin, who had been gently stroking Pie’s wet nose, slumped back against the sofa.
“Even so, aren’t you being a bit much by being jealous of Mi-so?”
“If you don’t want to be misunderstood, cut down on the unnecessary touching.”
“Wow.”
“I’m not kidding, take it seriously.”
He poked Ha-jin near his heart with his index finger and then got up. While the same old news flashes played on TV, Eden went to the room and brought out Pie’s Walking bag and snacks.
It was 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. It was time to take Pie for a walk in the nearby park.
“Uncles! You have to come out faster!”
Opening the front door, Byeol, who had been waiting in front, put his hands on his hips with a fierce look. Despite the repeated routine, Ha-jin just grinned and stretched Byeol’s soft cheeks.
“Uncles came out exactly at 10 o’clock, Princess?”
“Ew, I’m not a princess.”
Just last year, he would have been thrilled at being called a princess, but now that he had grown up a bit, a curt reply came from the child’s mouth. Ha-jin, ignoring it, lifted Byeol up in his arms.
Eden, who was holding Pie’s leash, sighed and glared at Byeol.
“Jeong Byeol, get down.”
“No.”
“Are you a baby? Why do you keep trying to be carried?”
“I didn’t ask to be carried, Ha-jin Uncle hugged me first!”
Ha-jin did his best to ignore the stinging in his ears and strode across the yard. While enduring Byeol’s weight, which was a little heavier than before, the two people’s childish bickering continued. Feeling like his ears would really start bleeding soon, Ha-jin hurriedly joined the conversation and changed the subject.
“Byeol, should we have lunch together? Uncle will make you Vegetable fried rice.”
At those words, Byeol, who had been gesturing at Eden and chattering incessantly, quickly shut his mouth. Ha-jin made eye contact with the silent child and urged him to answer.
“I’ve prepared all the ingredients, so I can make it quickly. Do you want to eat together?”
For some reason, Byeol avoided answering and rolled his big eyes around. After a long time of pretending not to notice, the child whispered softly.
“Wh, what kind of fried rice?”
“Vegetable fried rice, but there’s also beef, so I’ll grill it together.”
“…That fried rice from then?”
“Ah, you remember? That’s right, Vegetable fried rice. Should I put an egg on top and make it into an omelet?”
This time, sweat dripped down Byeol’s temples. Like someone facing the challenge of a lifetime, he couldn’t answer easily and dragged out his words, and Eden, who had been watching silently, let out a bitter chuckle.
“Jeong Byeol.”
“Uh-huh?”
“Uncle can eat the omelet that Ha-jin Uncle makes a hundred times over.”
At those words, which were no different from a declaration of war, Byeol bit his lip as if he was upset. No matter how blinded by love he was, he didn’t seem confident in savoring Ha-jin’s worst dish on earth again, and his breathing became rough.
Ha-jin, who had been listening to the two people’s meaningful conversation, tilted his head.
“Byeol, or should Uncle make you something else? Is there any food you want to eat?”
After much deliberation, Byeol finally admitted his bitter defeat and lowered his head.
“…N, no, I’ll just eat Mom’s food. Mom said she wanted to eat with Byeol.”
Byeol, who had carefully gotten down from Ha-jin’s arms, walked down the path with a dejected face.
Ha-jin pointed to the child walking with Pie, his shoulders slumped, and whispered to Eden.
“That’s strange. Doesn’t Byeol seem a little down today?”
“Who knows. He’s such a fickle fellow.”
Eden smiled leisurely and gently ruffled Byeol’s hair as he walked ahead.