By Zephyria 
As expected, Yi-tae looked as if the world had collapsed. His eyes were shaking violently, and his lips gradually parted.
“Why, why? I’m really okay.”
He seemed very desperate. This reaction must have stemmed from the fact that you placed the meaning of your existence in me. That you valued me more than yourself. That you loved me so much that you would dedicate your life to me. But that was a misguided love.
I didn’t want to continue the wrong cycle. I was willing to do as you wished as much as possible, but I couldn’t condone you sacrificing yourself.
He hurriedly took his hand off my wrist and gripped the hem of my clothes tightly. The fabric was severely wrinkled from the trembling. The vibration traveled up my arm. That’s how nervous he was. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, but I couldn’t back down.
I said as kindly as possible.
“I’m not saying you can never do it.”
If we were in a normal relationship, these would be just annoying tasks that we would want to pass on to each other.
I covered his hand with my own. It felt particularly cold.
I suddenly found it funny that we were doing this at the crack of dawn, but even I didn’t know where the ship carrying us was going. We were just letting the wind carry us. To move on to a better place.
Yi-tae gripped the hem of my clothes even tighter, his face subtly brightening. The tables had completely turned from before. Now he was clinging to me.
“…What can I do? This is the only way I can be useful to you.”
“Why is that the only way you can be useful? You’re valuable enough as a handsome work of art.”
In fact, it was a face I was already used to. Of course, he still looked pretty good, but the time to be moved by that face… hadn’t passed, but still, looks weren’t that important. Rather, it was more meaningful that he filled the void in this house.
But I couldn’t think of any other way to stimulate him. No matter how much I explained, he wouldn’t be able to take my words as they were now.
“I think I’m almost done cooking. Let’s sleep more and go to work together. I need to sleep more too.”
“Okay…”
I suddenly felt exhausted. I wasn’t completely sober, and drowsiness was welling up in my eyes. I yawned and turned around.
Yi-tae was moving busily again, as if he was trying to clean up. Even if I told him to sleep quickly, he wouldn’t listen. It wouldn’t be easy to fall asleep again once he was awake, but even if he didn’t sleep, it would be better for his health to lie down for a little longer.
I blurted out something that suddenly came to mind.
“Oh, right. Yi-tae, you kissed me when you were drunk.”
The sound of the cutting board falling to the floor was loud. I turned around and saw him hopping around, having hit his foot.
Hmph. Try to remember what happened then. You never know. It might appear in your dreams.
He was looking at me desperately with tears in his eyes, clutching his instep. It was obvious that he wanted to know if I was joking. But I wasn’t going to tell him the truth. It would be good to fix his habit of drinking so much that he blacks out.
So, all that was left was for him to remember it himself.
“Good night. Sweet dreams.”
Hiding the twitching corners of my mouth, I went into my room.
It was satisfying. For some reason, as soon as I lay down on the bed, I felt like a fairy was sprinkling sleeping powder, and I was falling asleep. I entrusted myself to the drowsiness and slowly headed to dreamland.
∗ ∗ ∗
The project was already halfway through. The optimized app was about to be distributed for free, and flyers for the conference were being distributed. People interested in the stock price were posting news articles about it everywhere.
Yi-tae’s role in the work was temporarily non-existent, so he seemed to be practicing going to work and leaving on time these days.
He even reported that he was sleeping more than 5 hours these days, as if he had been prescribed a sleep aid. This was a remarkable development. As his skin cleared up and his complexion recovered, his beauty began to shine. Thanks to that, people occasionally asked for his number.
Among the many changes, the most obvious change was that Yi-tae hid his lips whenever he looked at me.
He would either bite his lips to hide them or wipe his mouth with his hand when our eyes met, making it obvious that he was conscious of it. Every time he did that, I felt like I had become a pervert. When you think about it, Yi-tae was the one who did it, so why was I being treated like this?
So, he didn’t remember what happened that day at all.
Just now, he brought me a document and kept chewing on his lips. Why doesn’t he know that it makes me look at them more? I deliberately examined the documents slowly.
“Your lips…”
I could immediately feel him flinch.
“Are very chapped. Put on some lip balm.”
I continued the sentence calmly and turned the page. I could feel his gaze pouring down on me, but I held back my laughter. Then Ian turned his chair and said to Yi-tae.
“Do you want me to recommend a product? I know a good one.”
The sight of the two of them getting so close so quickly was very unfamiliar. Ian took Yi-tae somewhere for lunch, and they started talking comfortably from the time they came back.
The letters in the document were blurred and faint. My eyes felt dry. Or maybe it was because I was curious about their relationship. I wanted to ask how they became friends so badly, but I held back because it seemed like too personal of a question.
“No, it’s okay.”
To be exact, they were talking comfortably, but they didn’t seem close at all. Ian’s smiling face was quite fierce. I subtly put down the documents and watched their conversation.
“I’m worried because you’re not taking care of yourself properly.”
“I’m taking care of myself.”
“I can’t stand seeing our precious talent focusing on you.”
It seemed like that talent was referring to me, but I was completely excluded from their conversation. Was that concern or criticism? In any case, it was a positive direction that the two of them were getting along well.
At that moment, a loud clearing of the throat echoed through the office. Most of the staff were busy preparing for the conference, but they were just having this worthless conversation. Other teams would be annoyed if they saw this. It seemed like they were giving us a look.
Of course, we had been working too hard until recently, so it wasn’t like we were just playing around. There was some unfairness.
After a long silence, Yi-tae said.
“…I’m not focusing.”
He lost. That’s exactly how it felt.
But rather, it was Ian who looked upset at those words. We couldn’t help but get dirty looks if we stayed here like this. Just looking at Martyrs glaring at us from over there with a box, it was clear that we were being hated.
Well, if they’re busy, even small talk would be annoying.
“Sirius.”
“Huh?”
His head immediately turned towards me. Ian’s gaze followed mine.
“I’ve looked at it well. Find two more similar documents.”
I deliberately sent him away. In fact, this was enough, and furthermore, there was no need to find out more at this point, but it seemed like their conversation would get longer if I didn’t make an excuse.
It was also important to cut it off appropriately. It wasn’t like I was jealous that they were talking only to each other and leaving me out.
Yi-tae dutifully left his seat right away. His reliable face was a bonus. Thanks to that, only Ian, who must have been bored, was gaping.
“Why, do you want me to give you some work too?”
“No. Isn’t that already finished?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Ian didn’t try to hold back his laughter, but cleared his throat a couple of times, as if this answer was enough.
Ian tore off a piece of memo paper placed on the computer stand and started scribbling something on it. I also took my eyes off it and meaninglessly scrolled the mouse wheel down.
Our team was scheduled to get busy after this conference. We had to enjoy the current leisure time to the fullest. Of course, my head was cluttered with those two people.
I haven’t given Ian an answer to his confession yet. The answer was already decided in the first place, but Ian was postponing hearing it.
Ian slyly stuck a memo on my desk.
It was written, ‘Marry me,’ along with an ugly heart. There were already more than 10 of these memos. As I was about to draw an X and pass it on, Ian hurriedly grabbed my wrist.
Then, he stuck another memo on the back of my hand holding the pen.
Don’t you need a man who gives you a green card?
When I shook my head slightly, Ian stuck another new notepad on top of it, as if he had prepared it.
Good at cooking. Rich. Handsome. Tall. Capable. Soon to be promoted. Only loves you!
He had listed only his strengths like a resume. It wasn’t wrong, but it was my first time receiving a confession like this, so I let out a hollow laugh. He even drew a star in the last phrase. His actions were very cute.
Don’t forget the exhibition tomorrow! Sirius is prohibited from accompanying. I heard about the cohabitation!!
He pressed a memo with several exclamation marks on the back of my hand. It was a gesture with a bit of emotion. I lifted the back of my hand and looked at the contents.
“Did Sirius tell you himself?”
“Yeah. He said if that’s the case, he’d live with me. He said my house is bigger, but he doesn’t like it.”
Ian said, making a face that he hated it even more.