By Zephyria 
As Seo Chi-young stood blankly in the doorway, a customer who had been eating gopchang inside with a few friends passed by, perhaps heading to the restroom. Trying to pass through the narrow door, the customer lightly brushed against Seo Chi-young.
“……..!!”
Seo Chi-young instinctively shrank back, swallowing a scream. The customer reflexively said, “Sorry,” while looking at him with a puzzled expression. Seo Chi-young quickly waved his hand, saying, “Oh, no, it’s okay.”
It was a look worth giving. It had only been a slight bump of the shoulder against Seo Chi-young’s back; there was no reason to flinch so exaggeratedly… under normal circumstances.
Seo Chi-young hunched his shoulders, trying to keep his clothes from touching his skin—specifically, to keep the front of his shirt from touching his chest—and let out a sigh.
He had injured a place he couldn’t tell anyone about.
He thought it was a light wound, but it seemed it had been rubbed quite raw; when he woke up in the morning, it was red, swollen, and oozing slightly. He had applied whatever ointment he could find before leaving, but whether the ointment wasn’t effective or the wound itself was severe, he found himself flinching every time the fabric of his clothes brushed against it all day.
He was usually good at enduring pain, but he couldn’t get used to this stinging sensation. He was starting to regret not just putting on a bandage.
“……..”
He thought about running to the pharmacy at the end of the alley. It would only take about three or four minutes; maybe he could slip away for a moment.
Seo Chi-young glanced at the customers sitting at one or two tables inside the shop. However, before he could decide whether to go or not, one of them shouted, “One Coke here, please!” and Seo Chi-young quickly hurried toward the refrigerator. As he did, his clothes brushed the wound again, and he muttered a soft “ow, ow” to himself, hunching his shoulders.
He recalled that the pharmacy usually closed around eleven, which meant it was almost time. If he wanted to go, he had to go now. But at this hour, the shop was usually busy, making it difficult to leave his post even for a few minutes.
I should have just gone during the day instead of trying to endure it, thinking it would get better, Seo Chi-young thought as he began stir-frying the gopchang ordered by new customers. Looking at the clock pointing to eleven, he gave up on the pharmacy. Since he would be closing the shop in about an hour anyway, it would be better to go home and look for a bandage.
Seo Chi-young let out a light, deep sigh.
Still, he was glad today was Saturday. Since tomorrow was a holiday after tonight, he could just spend the whole day at home without a shirt on and rest—then, remembering something, Seo Chi-young looked at the calendar.
On the following Monday, two days away, “Mother” was written in small blue pen. His mother’s birthday was already just around the corner.
In any other year, he would have finished by calling her and sending a bit of pocket money, but this year was her 60th birthday. Although he couldn’t send her on a trip like other children or host a meal with relatives, he had already bought a ticket to go down and see her in person. He had intended to make it a day trip, but since he wanted to see his father while he was there, he decided it would be better to have some breathing room and booked his ticket for Sunday afternoon. He would return Monday night.
Going down this time, he felt he could give her a bit more pocket money than he had originally planned. Since it was the end of the month, things were tight with the shop rent and interest, but the money he received for escorting the girls home from the establishment was quite helpful—furthermore, the money Kwon Kang-hee had given him, claiming it was for gopchang, was quite a significant amount.
When he tried to return it, saying it was too much, Kang-hee had looked momentarily annoyed and told him, “Then just think of it as a prepayment,” so he had hesitantly accepted it. This month’s finances were, in a small way, comfortable.
At this rate, if he saved a bit more and managed things well, he might be able to save enough to get a new shop—even a smaller one—nearby before he had to vacate the current shop at the end of the year.
Seo Chi-young looked at the clock as the closing time approached and counted the things he needed to do one by one.
When he closed the shop today, he would write “Closed this Monday only” on a piece of paper and stick it to the door. He had already told the manager he would take Monday off from the establishment, but he would go and confirm it once more today, and then… Ah. He had to tell Jang Ui-geon that he couldn’t go tomorrow. …Should he tell him?
Seo Chi-young tilted his head ambiguously.
They had never actually promised to meet on Sundays.
And yet, as if they had an agreement, Jang Ui-geon would usually contact him around the time Seo Chi-young woke up late on Sunday mornings. Then, in the afternoon, either he would come to Seo Chi-young’s house, or Seo Chi-young would go to his, or they would head to the outskirts based on Jang Ui-geon’s sudden whims, like “I want to go to the arboretum” or “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the zoo.”
“……..”
Although they hadn’t promised to meet every Sunday, it would be better to let him know he had business tomorrow. No, but since there was no formal promise, it might be strange to contact him specifically to say, “I can’t see you tomorrow.” It would be better to just tell him when he calls tomorrow morning—that it was his mother’s 60th birthday and he was heading down in the afternoon.
A sudden sense of regret washed over him.
He was undoubtedly excited and happy to see his mother and father after a long time, but at the same time, it was true that he felt a sense of loss at not seeing Jang Ui-geon for just one Sunday.
They say children are useless once they’re grown, Seo Chi-young smiled bitterly.
Last week, he had gone to Jang Ui-geon’s house. The old house, which was now being used as a shop, had become crowded with people shortly after opening, but it was quiet on Sundays because it was a holiday.
“I feel like it’s somehow more desolate when there’s no sound in a place that’s usually full of people.”
When Seo Chi-young suddenly spoke while sitting in a room of the main house, looking at the guest house through the window, Jang Ui-geon, who had been sitting diagonally beside him looking up at the pitch-black night sky, turned his head and smiled at him.
“I suppose that feeling is stronger than in a house that’s always quiet. But I’ve always preferred quiet over bustle, so I actually like it when it feels a bit desolate.”
“How could anyone live in a place where people are bustling in and out all week? One should rest in a quiet place at least once a Sunday,” Jang Ui-geon added, sighing as if he were genuinely tired.
Perhaps that was why, despite the fact that Jang Ui-geon had certainly become much busier than before after opening the shop, he always made time on Sundays. Seeing as work-related calls often came through even while he was with Seo Chi-young on Sundays, it seemed he worked that much harder during the week just to rest on Sunday.
Seo Chi-young worried that he might be interfering with such a golden holiday, but whenever Sunday lunch approached, Jang Ui-geon always contacted him. Even while thinking that it would be a hindrance and that he should just rest, Seo Chi-young always met him without complaint, regretting the few hours they spent together.
Still, since it was impossible to keep every single Sunday perfectly clear, on this particular day, Jang Ui-geon had said he had business he absolutely had to attend to in the afternoon, so Seo Chi-young had gone to his house late in the evening.
“Come to think of it, this is the first time you’re staying over, isn’t it, Chi-young-ssi?”
Jang Ui-geon spoke as if it had just occurred to him while laying out the bedding.
Having decided to stay over after talking late into the night, Seo Chi-young nodded shyly, “Yes.”
The main house of this old estate, where he usually only stayed for a short while during the daylight hours, exuded a different atmosphere at night. When he opened the window, the cool night air blended with the scent of trees, the sound of late autumn insects, and the rustle of falling leaves, and he liked it very much.
Watching Seo Chi-young cling to the window, Jang Ui-geon chuckled.
“It’s time to sleep. You have to start another week tomorrow.”
“Eh… Is it okay to sleep with the window open?”
“I don’t mind, but it’ll be cold by dawn.”
“The air has gotten chilly at night lately,” Jang Ui-geon replied, but seeing Seo Chi-young’s disappointed face, he quickly added,
“But let’s sleep with it open. If it gets cold at dawn, we can close it then. I also like sleeping while breathing in the cool, fresh air.”
Seo Chi-young looked up at Jang Ui-geon somewhat awkwardly and bowed his head, saying, “Thank you.” Jang Ui-geon smiled, saying, “For what?” and turned off the room lights, leaving the yellow wooden lamp by the bedside on.
Seo Chi-young carefully slid into the spot next to where Jang Ui-geon had already lain down. Even though the bedding was spacious enough for three people, perhaps because they were under the same blanket, he felt a warmth emanating even without touching.
“I’m sorry, there’s only one blanket. Is it too cramped?”
Looking up at the dim ceiling where the yellowish lamp cast flickering shadows, Seo Chi-young replied softly to the apologetic Jang Ui-geon, “Oh, no. It’s plenty wide.”
“My mother told me to bring another blanket for guests, but since I rarely bring people home, I didn’t want to increase my luggage, so I just came as I am. The only people who would come and stay are Jun-young or Kang-hee, but the days of those guys staying over are long gone…”
Beside him, with about a hand’s breadth of space between them, he heard Jang Ui-geon sigh. Seo Chi-young stole a glance at him. His face, cast in sharp shadows by the dim light, looked languid and comfortable, contrary to the sigh. Seo Chi-young relaxed a little.
After a moment of silence, Jang Ui-geon spoke slowly.
“Come to think of it, Chi-young-ssi, you said the place you go to work at night is near where Jun-young lives. Jun-young mentioned he met you recently.”
“Uh… yes.”
Seo Chi-young answered ambiguously. Well, even if he doesn’t say it explicitly, he doesn’t look upon these kinds of establishments very favorably—which is only natural—so there’s no need to specifically mention that you work as a driver here, Yoon Jun-young had said casually. Because those words stuck with him, he hadn’t told Jang Ui-geon the details. Jang Ui-geon hadn’t asked much either.
“Do you see Jun-young often?”
At Jang Ui-geon’s question, Seo Chi-young hesitated for a moment and tilted his head.
“Just occasionally… only when Jun-young-ssi has time.”
“Hmm,” Jang Ui-geon remained silent as if lost in thought, then let out a short laugh.
“That guy hardly contacts me, but I guess he contacts Chi-young-ssi.”
Uh, Seo Chi-young paused. The voice was ordinary and unremarkable, but Seo Chi-young stopped moving for a moment and just blinked.
Could he be upset? It didn’t seem like he was upset with Seo Chi-young specifically, but he didn’t know if Jang Ui-geon disliked the fact that Yoon Jun-young contacted him. Thinking about it, it was possible for someone to feel that way when the person they liked contacted someone else.
“I-I don’t see him often. Just occasionally… he’ll say I must be tired from working at night, and since he’s passing by, he’ll just give me some chocolate or coffee, things like that.”
“Jun-young buys you things like that?”
“…….I-It’s not that there’s any other meaning, he’s just a kind person by nature.”
Jang Ui-geon remained silent for a while before muttering, “Yes, he is a good guy.” That voice, which sounded subtly unsettled, continued after a brief pause. His gaze also drifted toward Seo Chi-young.
“Now that I think about it, Jun-young and Chi-young-ssi were on pretty good terms.”
The flow of the conversation was becoming strange. I have absolutely no intention of becoming Ui-geon-ssi’s rival—no, rather, I’d be Kwon Kang-hee-ssi’s rival—but I absolutely have no such intention. However, feeling that saying such things would make it even weirder, Seo Chi-young just broke into a cold sweat.
“Was I… we weren’t that close…”
“You are. He’s secretly affectionate, but he’s not the type to contact someone he’s not close with and give them things.”
“Is that so,” Seo Chi-young nodded. But, unfortunately, he suddenly felt happy. He swore there was no other meaning, but he was happy that Yoon Jun-young—someone—regarded him as a close friend more than he had thought.
Seo Chi-young blinked and looked at the ceiling. Perhaps sensing Seo Chi-young’s mood as he kept his mouth tightly shut, Jang Ui-geon looked at him curiously. To Jang Ui-geon, who asked “What’s wrong?” Seo Chi-young unconsciously muttered, “No, I’m just somehow a bit happy…” and then quickly shut his mouth. When he stole a glance at Jang Ui-geon, the other had a strange look on his face.
“No, but we’re not that close… or… not really. …Probably.”
Adding a sentence that sounded like an excuse even to his own ears, Seo Chi-young felt awkward and slowly burrowed into the blanket. He felt Jang Ui-geon’s gaze staring at him, but he pretended not to notice and gradually crawled further into the blanket, covering half of his face.
He thought he heard a light sigh. Fortunately, Jang Ui-geon didn’t seem to intend to bring up the topic further, and he asked, looking back and forth between the open window and Seo Chi-young burrowed in the blanket,
“Are you cold?”
“Huh? Uh… the air is a bit chilly. Since autumn is almost over… but since the window is open, I can hear the insects and smell the trees… ……Uh, i-if you’re cold, Ui-geon-ssi, I can close the window. No, I’ll close it.”
Come to think of it, unlike Seo Chi-young who was wearing simple clothes, Jang Ui-geon had taken off his shirt, saying he hated discomfort while sleeping. The cold air hitting him directly would surely be chilly.
As Seo Chi-young quickly got up to close the window, Jang Ui-geon grabbed his arm.
“It’s okay. I told you, I like sleeping with the window open as long as it’s not mid-winter. As long as you’re okay, Chi-young-ssi.”
“Uh, but… I think you’ll be cold.”
“I said it’s okay,” Jang Ui-geon replied, and since he didn’t seem cold at all while exposing his body, Seo Chi-young looked at him awkwardly. Jang Ui-geon stared back at him silently, then suddenly chuckled as if a thought had occurred to him.
“Then come here.”
Lying back down after having partially raised his body to hold Seo Chi-young, Jang Ui-geon lifted the blanket. Seo Chi-young, who was lying there awkwardly as if about to get up, looked at him bewilderedly, and then he pulled Seo Chi-young’s arm. Seo Chi-young momentarily lost his balance and stumbled, and Jang Ui-geon caught him with an “Oops,” pulling him into his embrace. Only then did Seo Chi-young realize he was held tightly in Jang Ui-geon’s arms and froze with an “Uh.”
“Thinking about it, I’ve been wanting a human heater. Like Chi-young-ssi’s grandmother.”
“…., What?”
“Ah, you’re really warm. I can see why your grandmother would hold you like a heater. I think your body temperature is a bit high… ……You’re not sick, are you?”
“Huh? N-no, I’m not. I’m not sick…”
Heat rushed to his face. Not just his face, but his body felt hot because of his racing heart. It would be stranger if his temperature weren’t higher than usual.
“Haha, is your temperature always this high? You’re just like a child.”
“No, it’s not… …….Ugh, come to think of it, I have been told I’m warmer than other people…”
As Seo Chi-young muttered as if talking to himself, Jang Ui-geon fell silent. It felt as if the arm hugging Seo Chi-young tightened slightly.
“Who told you that?”
“Uh, a nurse. It was a long time ago… I used to get annual check-ups at the factory where I worked. It was just a simple health check, and that’s when they said it. That my basal temperature was slightly higher than other people’s.”
“So that’s why I might be a bit warm,” Seo Chi-young nodded as if convinced. Jang Ui-geon, looking down at him silently, spoke in a low voice.
“Chi-young-ssi, have you ever been anyone’s heater other than your grandmother?”
“Yes, no. …….Last winter, the boiler broke, so I slept hugging a hot water bottle…”
Seo Chi-young shook his head obediently. Jang Ui-geon’s quiet breath touched his forehead. When Seo Chi-young looked up, Jang Ui-geon rested his chin on Seo Chi-young’s forehead as if pressing down that gaze.
“Why the boiler?”
‘Oh, it happens sometimes. The house is quite old… It’s fine in the summer, but it’s a struggle when it breaks down in the winter.’
Seo Chi-young whispered with an awkward smile. Jang Ui-geon frowned, murmuring, “Breaks down in the winter…” After saying, “Just hearing that makes me cold,” Jang Ui-geon hugged Seo Chi-young a bit tighter. Chi-young’s cheek brushed against Jang Ui-geon’s chest. Feeling that his chest was also hot, Chi-young breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the heat of his own cheek wouldn’t be noticed. However, not knowing what to do about the way his body instinctively recoiled, he blinked awkwardly. At that, Jang Ui-geon laughed and said, “Your eyelashes are tickling me.”
‘……… Do you want to come here? Leave the house with the broken boiler behind.’
Suddenly, Jang Ui-geon spoke, his laughter trailing off. His voice sounded like a joke due to the light tone, so Seo Chi-young simply laughed. Perhaps it was a joke for Jang Ui-geon as well, as he remained silent for a moment afterward.
‘A long time ago, my mother flew into a rage, asking what kind of woman would ever live with someone with a temperament like mine. ……Haha, I guess it’s a parent’s heart to insist on a woman even when they know my inclinations. Anyway, she was that furious… and I told her she was right.’
Seo Chi-young’s eyes widened at Jang Ui-geon’s words. Although Jang Ui-geon’s chest blocked his view, he blinked in bewilderment.
‘What do you mean… what’s wrong with you, Ui-geon-ssi?’
‘Haha, I get along well with people and don’t find anyone particularly difficult, but I still have some jagged edges to my personality.’
‘Oh… no, that’s not true.’
When he said, “You have a great personality, Ui-geon-ssi,” Jang Ui-geon smiled and replied, “Thank you.”
‘I don’t really show it, so people don’t know, and I don’t usually feel it myself, but sometimes the thought occurs to me. Like when I want to rest, if someone is next to me—whether it’s family or anyone else—it gets on my nerves.’
Listening to Jang Ui-geon’s calm words, Seo Chi-young fell silent. I really should refrain from visiting every Sunday… he thought. Meanwhile, Jang Ui-geon, who was holding him, began to slowly pat Seo Chi-young’s back. Slowly, as if soothing a child.
‘But you’re comfortable, Chi-young-ssi. Being with you. How should I put it…’
Jang Ui-geon trailed off, as if the right words didn’t immediately come to mind. Suddenly, the hand patting Seo Chi-young’s back stopped. With a slight hesitation, the arms hugging Seo Chi-young seemed to tighten faintly.
‘……, …….I mean it. If your boiler breaks, you can stay here.’
At the words spoken with a light, joke-like laugh, Seo Chi-young shrunk his neck and murmured, “Thank you.”
The conversation ceased. Jang Ui-geon didn’t seem to be asleep, but he said nothing as if lost in thought, and Seo Chi-young remained silent, trapped in Jang Ui-geon’s arms. He didn’t feel suffocated or hot, or anything of the sort.
Though he didn’t know what to do with his burning face, he wasn’t uncomfortable. It was as if that spot had been the right place for Seo Chi-young from the very beginning. How wonderful would it be if this were my place. He found himself thinking such a thing without realizing it.
“………”
Seo Chi-young smiled bitterly. See, I’m starting to hope and be greedy again.
Even though he told himself he wouldn’t.
It was because, as they continued to cross paths, the heart he had kept tied down was sprouting, bit by bit.
Seo Chi-young sighed. He slowly shook his head, clearing the complicated thoughts from his mind. Regardless, he wouldn’t be able to see Jang Ui-geon this coming Sunday. It felt futile, but he decided he would try to manage his feelings, even if it meant skipping a week.
“Oh, excuse me, I’m just passing through.”
A customer who had bumped into Seo Chi-young earlier, perhaps having gone to the restroom, spoke cautiously and passed behind him, making sure not to touch him. It was because they remembered how Seo Chi-young had flinched—or more accurately, seemed in pain—when they had accidentally bumped into him a moment ago.
“I’m sorry,” Seo Chi-young said, quickly stepping aside, but in doing so, his chest rubbed against his clothes, causing a stinging sensation that made him hunch his shoulders. Ouch… I should have run out and bought a bandage.
Seo Chi-young sighed, looking at the clock, which indicated the pharmacy would already be closed. Just then, the customers sitting at the tables stood up to leave. Once they left, the shop would be empty.
Normally, there was about an hour left before closing time, but he felt like closing up early and heading home once they were gone.
After completing the payments, he thanked the customers who were leaving with “Thank you for eating here, please come again,” and let out a light breath, straightening his body—though he still kept his shoulders slightly hunched to prevent his clothes from touching his chest.
Before starting the cleaning, although it was still early, he gathered and stacked the chairs that had been lined up in front of the outdoor counter to signal that business for the day was over, and then lowered one side of the shutter. After locking the rusted shutter, which descended with a loud clatter, Seo Chi-young stood up and heard a familiar voice call out a short “Oh” from behind.
“Are you closing already? It’s not even twelve yet. I might have missed you if I’d come any later.”
I’m glad I declined the Director’s request to stay longer and came here, Seo Chi-young thought, looking pleased as he saw the man entering the shop.
“Oh… Ui-geon-ssi. Welcome.”
Jang Ui-geon looked around the counter where the chairs had been cleared and went inside to sit down.
“I was meeting some people until a little while ago. Just some barley tea… …….Anyway, it’s less than a five-minute drive from here to my house, don’t you think it’s okay to just have a beer?”
He seemed to have brought his car since he was coming straight from outside. When he had a car, he inevitably drank water or tea, but otherwise, Jang Ui-geon always preferred beer over water. Seo Chi-young smiled silently and brought him some barley tea. Jang Ui-geon gave a small chuckle and obediently took the cup.
“It looks like you were working even though it’s Saturday.”
Seo Chi-young sat in the seat opposite Jang Ui-geon, who was dressed in a neat suit. Since opening the shop, Jang Ui-geon had always been busy, but that didn’t mean he was always at the shop. Rather, he often went out, as if meeting people was his primary job.
“Yes, calling this a shop is one thing, but ultimately it’s about business, and it’s not something that can be done just by dealing with customers. ……Phew. It’s honestly exhausting. I just want to play and eat…”
After draining the cup in one go, Jang Ui-geon shook his head and let out a long, exaggerated sigh. Seo Chi-young smiled as he refilled the empty cup with barley tea.
“I heard you got scolded by your father; have you still not given up on your dream of being a jobless loafer?”
“Thank you,” Jang Ui-geon said, but he paused as he brought the cup back to his lips. He looked at Seo Chi-young with a strange expression and then frowned.
“Did Jun-young say that?…. That guy… this won’t do. Chi-young-ssi, don’t hang out with Jun-young. Isn’t he going around saying weird things?”
Watching Jang Ui-geon drink the barley tea with a scowl, Seo Chi-young couldn’t help but laugh.
“He doesn’t. Jun-young-ssi likes you too, Ui-geon-ssi. He says many good things about you.”
“Hmm… like what, for example?”
“Pardon? Oh, that you’re… a good person, or…”
Seo Chi-young was at a loss for words. Come to think of it, he could feel from Yoon Jun-young’s subtle manner of speaking and attitude that he regarded Jang Ui-geon as a very close friend, but he rarely expressed it explicitly in words.
Jang Ui-geon watched Seo Chi-young stammering “Oh, well…” with an amused look and eventually burst out laughing. He waved his hand lightly, as if he could easily guess the answer.
“When did he ever say such things?”
“Pardon? Oh… it was when he came to the shop before… Uh, Ui-geon-ssi was there too. Ah, did we talk about it before you arrived…?”
Seo Chi-young quickly explained as if making an excuse. Jang Ui-geon merely murmured “Hmm,” with a subtle, somewhat distorted smile.
Just then, as if on cue, the mobile phone resting on the table beeped. The screen flashed, indicating a message had arrived. The sender was Yoon Jun-young.
“……..”
“……..”
It seemed he wouldn’t be a gentleman. Feeling Jang Ui-geon’s silent gaze, Seo Chi-young hesitantly checked the message. He didn’t intentionally look, but the gaze staring intently at the phone from across the table felt piercing.
‘Why aren’t you answering. We’re still meeting today, right?’
Because the gaze was so piercing, Seo Chi-young was about to read the message aloud, but he stopped with his mouth open. What should I do? If I just read it, it feels like a sentence that would cause more misunderstanding. Feeling awkward about looking at Jang Ui-geon, Seo Chi-young stared intently at the screen and scratched his head. Seeing this, Jang Ui-geon quietly reached out.
“What is it? Did he tell you not to hang out with the jobless loafer?”
Smiling, Jang Ui-geon calmly took the phone from Seo Chi-young’s hand. Seo Chi-young flinched and tried to hold on, but Jang Ui-geon took the phone effortlessly and checked the message. He glanced up at Seo Chi-young.
“Did you plan to meet Jun-young today?”
“Pardon? Oh… it’s not that I’m meeting him on purpose. Just, his workplace is nearby, so I said I’d see him for a bit… Ah, gopchang. He’s coming to eat gopchang. We occasionally eat stir-fried gopchang there.”
As if recalling something he’d heard before, Jang Ui-geon nodded “Ah,” stared at the message for a moment, and then returned the phone to Seo Chi-young.
However, contrary to Seo Chi-young’s worries, he showed no particular sign of distress and smiled as usual. He asked jokingly while drinking the barley tea.
“It sounds like a text couple would exchange. Are you dating Jun-young?”
The tone, laced with a playful smile, clearly indicated it was a joke, but Seo Chi-young shook his head in bewilderment. Watching Seo Chi-young’s wide eyes and flustered state, Jang Ui-geon gave a mischievous, crooked smile.
“It would be a disaster if Kang-hee found out… It was a while ago, but some idiot messed with a girl that guy was dating. I think he paid quite a bit in hospital bills. Even though she was a woman he only met maybe two or three times a month, that’s how it ended, so if it’s Jun-young…”
Jang Ui-geon shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly, as if the mere thought was horrific. Seo Chi-young—though he had absolutely no intention of dating Yoon Jun-young or earning Kwon Kang-hee’s hatred—followed along with the thought and shuddered.
“That’s a predicament,” Jang Ui-geon sighed, his voice tinged with a hint of a joke.
“Come to think of it, I believe I promised that if you ever found someone you liked, Chi-young-ssi, I’d take your side… That’s a predicament. I’d rather not fight with Kang-hee if possible.”
“Pardon?” Seo Chi-young looked up. Seeing Jang Ui-geon smiling as their eyes met, he finally remembered the words spoken before. To Seo Chi-young, who had said he would take Jang Ui-geon’s side, Jang Ui-geon had also said he would help Seo Chi-young later. Since it had been said in passing, he hadn’t kept it particularly deep in his memory.
“Pick someone else. Jun-young is too much to handle.”
At Jang Ui-geon’s laughter-filled words, Seo Chi-young lowered his head and murmured, “Yes.”
No way. Even if he did like Yoon Jun-young, he wasn’t brazen enough to ask Jang Ui-geon for help with that.
“Try to like someone who’s easier to help. …. I’ll help as much as I can.”
Jang Ui-geon’s voice sank softly. The sincerity was clearly conveyed. Seo Chi-young murmured “Thank you” with his head bowed.
Thank you. But he wasn’t happy at all.
The offer to help him get along with someone else was the one thing he didn’t want to hear from Jang Ui-geon’s mouth. His heart contracted sharply with a throb.
If I like you. If I say I still like you, would you still help me?
A faint, spiteful feeling stirred, but Seo Chi-young silently pressed it down beneath his chest.
He didn’t want to put Jang Ui-geon in a difficult position, nor did he want to hear another rejection.
Yes. Someone. I hope that after some time passes and I meet someone else, I can look at Jang Ui-geon and smile with a heart that no longer hurts.
Seo Chi-young lifted his head. His eyes met Jang Ui-geon’s, who had been gazing at him. Looking into those kind eyes, Seo Chi-young gave a weak smile.
“Thank you. ….. I’ll count on you later.”
Seo Chi-young bowed his head. After a short pause, a calm response came back: “Sure, be sure to tell me.”
For some reason, it was hard to form a proper smile, so Seo Chi-young looked at the clock for no reason. “Oh, I should start getting ready to close,” he murmured to himself. At that, Jang Ui-geon also looked at the clock.
“Are you going to work today too?”
“Yes, every day except Sunday…”
“Ah, right, you said you were meeting Jun-young,” Jang Ui-geon murmured, quietly stroking his chin before suddenly asking in a subtly slow tone.
“Have you… not made any close friends? Among the people you work with, anyone you’re particularly close to…?”
“Pardon? Oh, everyone is just nice to me. They’re kind…”
Seo Chi-young murmured, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.
It was then.
“I see, that’s good,” Jang Ui-geon replied somewhat absentmindedly while drinking barley tea, then suddenly paused as if he had seen something. After staring intently at one spot for a while, he eventually raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Seo Chi-young, who had brought a new water bottle after seeing the one with barley tea was nearly empty, looked puzzled seeing Jang Ui-geon laugh.
“Anyone seeing this would misunderstand and think you’ve got a lover, Chi-young-ssi.”
Seo Chi-young blinked at Jang Ui-geon’s sudden remark. As Seo Chi-young tilted his head in confusion, Jang Ui-geon casually gestured with his eyes toward the back of Seo Chi-young’s neck and tapped his own neck with his fingertip.
“A bug bit you in a very exquisite spot. It must have been a strong bite. It’s very red. Doesn’t it itch?”
“Oh… it doesn’t really itch…”
When was I bitten? Seo Chi-young tilted his head and felt the area Jang Ui-geon pointed to. He fumbled at the back of his neck, but his hand felt nothing. It didn’t itch either.
“Still, put some ointment on it. Late autumn mosquitoes are vicious. …..Haha, but the size and location really are misleading. I almost misunderstood too.”
Seo Chi-young, who had been nodding simply at Jang Ui-geon’s words, suddenly froze.
It was because a memory surfaced regarding the very spot his hand was touching—the place where Jang Ui-geon said there was a bug bite.
Last night. When Seo Chi-young had tried to take the cigarette from her hand, she had suddenly pulled him close, and the first place she had bitten was right around here.
“……….”
The smile slowly vanished from Seo Chi-young’s face. “Oh…” he murmured, sounding flustered as he fumbled at the back of his neck. Jang Ui-geon, who was pouring barley tea into a glass, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“What’s wrong, Chi-young-ssi?”
The moment he heard Jang Ui-geon’s nonchalant voice, Seo Chi-young instinctively flinched and grabbed the collar of his clothes. Reflexively, he pulled the collar tight to cover his exposed neck. His face had stiffened, and he could only blink his bewildered eyes, cast down toward the table.
Jang Ui-geon, who had been looking at Seo Chi-young as if he were strange, suddenly frowned slightly as if a thought had occurred to him. With a suspicious look, as if wondering if it were possible, Jang Ui-geon looked at Seo Chi-young, who was clearly at a loss, only blinking. Then, he slowly wiped his expression clean.
“…….. Do you actually have a lover?”
The expression he wore while asking back was somewhat strange. A subtle surprise was etched into his stiff voice, as if he hadn’t expected it at all, or as if it were unbelievable.
“Ah, no. This is just a joke… no, a bug… no, a joke…”
Flustered, Seo Chi-young tightened his collar and shrunk his body. Even if he did have a lover, there was no reason to be this flustered, yet Seo Chi-young felt an unnecessary sense of panic and instinctively backed away slightly.
No, maybe not. Maybe a bug or something really did bite me without me knowing, leaving that mark.
Despite that, Jang Ui-geon stared at Seo Chi-young, who was clutching his neck and unable to move, without even blinking. Slowly averting his gaze from the man who was staring at him with an expressionless face, Seo Chi-young lowered his head.
Then, realizing the reason why he felt so flustered, he clicked his tongue inwardly.