By Zephyria The stopped bus opened its doors. There were few passengers. Seo Jeong-won, perhaps unseen by the bus driver, bowed his head towards the driver’s seat before getting off.
“Really… life’s getting better.”
It was strange to be able to feel relaxed. He tilted his head, gazing at the darkening sky for a moment, before slowly moving.
He should stop by the flower shop to get fish food and pick out a potted plant as a gift for the caregiver. He stood before the vinyl door, thinking about what to eat for dinner.
“Maybe it’s from the long bus ride, but I’m tired.”
He leaned his forehead against the door, searching for the key. Even though his body was definitely less strained than it had been a few months ago, he was still tired.
It wasn’t a lack of sleep, and nothing hurt, but he would inexplicably get a fever at night. His eyelids felt heavy. Seo Jeong-won yawned softly.
After fumbling, the door opened. He staggered across the flower shop and plopped down on a chair.
The phone he habitually took out remained silent.
Did he not see the message? Or… is he still not off work? But it’s past 6, most companies let out at 6, don’t they? Is it different for construction companies?
Seo Jeong-won’s expression turned gloomy as he rubbed his eyes. He felt a surge of disappointment just from not receiving a reply. Then, he shuddered as he thought of Seo Gyu-won’s face.
“I don’t think I’m in my right mind. What on earth…”
He slumped on the table and closed his eyes. Seo Jeong-won wondered why he was feeling this way. He doubted Kwon Tae-hee even thought about him, so why was he thinking about Kwon Tae-hee all day, whenever he had a moment?
“This is weird, really.”
It was as if he was in a one-sided love. Thinking about him all day, wondering about him, waiting for his call.
“…I’m crazy.”
One-sided love? That’s absurd. Maybe it’s because he experienced so many firsts with him. Like very close contact. Maybe… it’s because of that skinship, that touching of flesh, that he’s feeling overly familiar.
Do other people feel this way too? Do they all fall in love after their first time…?
Seo Jeong-won tapped the silent phone screen, then straightened up as he heard the door open.
His hopes were quickly dashed, making him realize he had been waiting for Kwon Tae-hee.
“You’re done?”
Kang Da-hyun, who had been waiting for Seo Jeong-won’s call and had come back because he was frustrated, quickly approached Seo Jeong-won, who had gone from wide-eyed surprise to a deflated expression in an instant.
“You said you were going somewhere. You’re back soon? I was going to come later if you weren’t here.”
“Yeah, a little while ago. What’s up?”
“It’s better to drink before picking apples. I hate getting too drunk when I’m tired.”
“Ah, geez.”
Seo Jeong-won laughed as if he was dumbfounded. Kang Da-hyun ignored his muttering about not wanting to go far and stopped in front of the fish tank, bending down.
The fish swarmed as if he was feeding them. He tapped the tank with his calloused fingertips.
“Why are they swarming? Shouldn’t they be running away?”
“They think you’re going to feed them.”
“Why are they sticking to this side if you’re feeding them?”
“Because you drop it from above.”
His voice was devoid of energy. Kang Da-hyun tapped the tank a few more times, then turned around, losing interest.
He sat across from Seo Jeong-won and tapped him on the head. He gently stroked his fine hair, and took a deep breath in the air, as if checking something in the fragrant space where the hair fell.
“Where did you go?”
“Just, somewhere.”
“I mean, where?”
“So… where are we drinking? Isn’t it a hassle to go far? If it’s okay with you, let’s drink somewhere close.”
Seo Jeong-won changed the subject as if he didn’t want to talk about it. Kang Da-hyun was sure he would hear it from his own mouth once he had some alcohol, so he let it go.
“How about my place?”
“Too far.”
“Then should we eat here? For the first time in a while.”
Kang Da-hyun suggested with a sly smile. When Seo Jeong-won hesitated, he persuaded him by saying he would buy the alcohol himself.
“It’s been a while. Hasn’t it been more than half a year?”
“…”
“What should we have?”
He turned on a delivery app and rattled off the menu, making sure Seo Jeong-won couldn’t refuse any longer. Seo Jeong-won, who frowned slightly as if he was repulsed by the new menu he had never tried, sighed and opened his mouth.
“Let’s have chicken and soju.”
“You’re not dead yet, Seo Jeong-won.”
“Beer makes me full.”
Seo Jeong-won, who had been lying down, peeked out with only his face showing and smiled bashfully. He still had a boyish charm.
Kang Da-hyun, who had been staring at his beautifully curved eyes and lips, got up in a fluster.
“I’ll go buy the alcohol? Want to come with me?”
“No, you go alone. Buy ice cream.”
“Okay, okay.”
“But have you ever eaten eel?”
Kang Da-hyun, who was getting up, frowned as if wondering what that sudden question was about. He recalled the app he had been browsing earlier and asked if he could order eel.
“Do you want to eat eel?”
“No, I’m asking if you’ve ever eaten it…”
“Are there people who haven’t eaten it? Unless they don’t like it. I eat it every season. When it’s too hot, when it’s cold, when I crave it, or when it’s my parents’ birthday or something, it’s good to take them out.”
Seo Jeong-won was a little surprised by Kang Da-hyun’s explanation. He was shocked that it was such a common food.
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you’ve never eaten it?”
Kang Da-hyun asked, assuming that couldn’t be the case. How could we be this old and not have eaten it even once, he thought. Even if he was raised as an orphan…
“I ate it for the first time a few days ago. It was delicious. It had a strange taste. So you eat it quite often…”
Seo Jeong-won nodded. The subtle reaction he had seen when he said he was eating it for the first time must have been surprise, like Kang Da-hyun’s now.
His aunt and uncle had never eaten it, and he had only heard that it was too expensive to eat when he saw it on TV or on restaurant signs, so he thought it wasn’t eaten often… He thought it was a more popular food than he thought.
“No, that, what is it. My…”
Kang Da-hyun, flustered, trailed off and stepped back. He said that even his cousin hadn’t eaten it.
Seo Jeong-won smiled. Kang Da-hyun’s eyes, which clearly showed that he felt sorry for him, made him regret saying it. He’s soft-hearted, unlike how he looks.
It was something he could have laughed off as a joke, but he felt uncomfortable seeing him feel sorry.
“…I shouldn’t have asked.”
Seo Jeong-won scratched his cheek and got up to slowly tidy up the flower shop. He swept the clean aisle once more and checked a few of the potted plants. He pressed down on the soil to see if any of it was dry.
It would be nice if some customers came, but no one came today while the door was open. It seemed to be because there were many days when loan sharks were stationed there until a few months ago, and many people had witnessed them breaking the flower pots.
The loan sharks won’t come anymore… He felt sorry for Kang Da-hyun, but he had to explain things to people when he worked at his farm.
Since many people from the neighborhood would come, maybe he should say that if they bought one plant, they would get one free. As a short-term event for about a week.
He didn’t know if it would help, but he should discuss it with Kang Da-hyun.
He swept the floor clean and laid newspapers on the table. He prepared water and cups in advance, and after waiting a while, Kang Da-hyun came in with a convenience store bag containing bottles of alcohol and chicken.
“I met them in front. The smell is crazy.”
Kang Da-hyun smiled and quickly approached. He placed the chicken on the table he had prepared in advance and put the bottles of alcohol on the floor.
“Do you want to drink a hangover cure in advance?”
“How much are you planning to drink?”
“It’s been a while, we have to drink a lot. You can’t drink once you start picking apples.”
He spoke quite like a farmer. He said that today was the last day to drink and lifted a bottle of soju. He shook it wildly and opened the lid.
“Ah! I didn’t buy ice cream.”
“It’s okay.”
“But you want me to drink soju in this? A paper cup?”
“They didn’t have small ones. Just fold it in half and drink.”
Kang Da-hyun was dumbfounded, but he filled the paper cup to the brim. Unlike his innocent and rather delicate appearance, he was blunt in his speech. He didn’t seem to think about being careful with his word choice.
Well, he would be disappointed if he did. How long have they known each other? It’s better for him to be honest about his feelings in front of him. He’s gotten older and hides more these days.
“First shot, bottoms up.”
Seo Jeong-won thought that Kang Da-hyun seemed to have made up his mind. He could see the determination in his attitude to hear it today no matter what. He swallowed a sigh and organized what to say first.
“…Are you trying to kill me with alcohol?”
“Don’t be a wimp.”