By Zephyria 
― Yes, hello.
“Hey. Are you off work?”
― Yeah. I just left school.
The light turned green, and Yoon Tae-hee was crossing the crosswalk, getting closer and closer. The Yoon Tae-hee on the phone had an expression as soft as his tender voice. Seeing his face made Jae-gyeom’s heart flutter for some reason.
For now, he decided to play it cool and pretend he was at home.
“Are you coming straight home without stopping anywhere?”
― Yeah. I’m heading to the parking lot now.
“Really?”
― Is there anything you want to eat? I’ll buy some on my way.
“Hmm, then just fry up a whole chicken and bring it.”
― Fried chicken?
It was just something he said on a whim, but the way Tae-hee tilted his head and asked, “What kind of chicken?” was cute. Jae-gyeom fought the urge to smile and continued his act with a flat tone.
“Any kind is fine.”
― Okay, I’ll look for a shop.
“Right, hurry up so the chicken doesn’t get cold.”
At those words, Yoon Tae-hee lowered his head and laughed, touching the corner of one eye. He looked completely helpless in his laughter. It was silly and cute how he laughed like that over something so trivial.
― I understand.
“And straighten your back when you walk.”
― My back?
“Square your shoulders. Lift your head. Yeah. Just like that.”
It was just as Yoon Tae-hee looked bewildered.
“Look to your right.”
At Jae-gyeom’s words, Yoon Tae-hee, who happened to be passing in front of a shop window, blinked. With the phone still pressed to his ear, he whipped his head to the right and locked eyes with Jae-gyeom, who was staring out from behind the glass pane.
― …….
“…….”
Yoon Tae-hee’s eyes widened, and he froze on the spot. He seemed completely unexpected that Jae-gyeom would be here. Seeing Tae-hee’s shocked face gave Jae-gyeom a sudden sense of pride.
Jae-gyeom spoke as if it were nothing.
“How long are you going to stand there? Hurry up and come in.”
Then, he abruptly hung up.
However, despite being told to come in, Yoon Tae-hee remained frozen. As if a pause button had been pressed, he didn’t even blink. For a while, Tae-hee just stared intently at Jae-gyeom through the glass, the phone still held to his ear.
What are you doing, you dummy.
Jae-gyeom, who had been pretending to be expressionless, stopped acting and grinned, mouthing the words. When he gestured for him to come in, Yoon Tae-hee slowly lowered the arm holding the phone.
“…….”
At some point, Jae-gyeom paused and his eyes widened.
He saw tears welling up in Yoon Tae-hee’s eyes.
…Is it really that surprising?
Jae-gyeom mouthed, Why are you crying? In response, Yoon Tae-hee seemed to pout playfully, then brought his fist to his eye and pretended to sob like a child.
Jae-gyeom gestured again.
It meant to just come inside for now. With the chime of a bell, Yoon Tae-hee entered the cafe, lightly wiping the inner and outer corners of his eyes with his fingertips. Jae-gyeom’s gaze followed Tae-hee’s every step as he walked in. With their eyes fixed solely on each other, Yoon Tae-hee strode toward Jae-gyeom.
Finally, Yoon Tae-hee stopped in front of the table. The lingering scent of perfume, mixed with the smell of the outside air, wafted over Jae-gyeom’s nose. The two gazed deeply into each other’s faces.
“…….”
“…….”
Suddenly, the quiet silence felt sweet.
Yoon Tae-hee stared at Jae-gyeom as if he couldn’t believe he was right there, his gaze intense enough to pierce through him. Standing blankly in front of the table where Jae-gyeom sat, Tae-hee just smiled quietly for a while before lowering his eyelashes, touching his eye, and murmuring.
“You startled me…….”
Pulling out the opposite chair to sit down, Yoon Tae-hee continued.
“Since when have you been here?”
“Hmm, maybe an hour and a half.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Who else would I be waiting for but you?”
At those words, Yoon Tae-hee raised his hand again and pressed and released the corner of his eye. Jae-gyeom hesitated before speaking with feigned nonchalance.
“Why are you crying?”
“I wonder.”
Wiping away the rest of the tears with a smile, Yoon Tae-hee looked down and spoke softly, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed about showing tears.
“Lately, I cry when I’m happy.”
“Were you always this tearful?”
“I wonder. Was I always this tearful….”
For a while after Jae-gyeom woke up, Yoon Tae-hee had been shedding tears quite often. It happened even when nothing special was going on, just by making eye contact.
Whenever Jae-gyeom felt a gaze and looked back without avoiding it, Tae-hee’s eyes would turn red in an instant, and moisture would gather as if a layer of glass had been placed over them.
“What are you going to do with all those tears?”
“I wonder. What should I do with them?”
“Cry when we run out of salt at home.”
Jae-gyeom responded with a joke, sipping his now-cold latte. Yoon Tae-hee let out a small laugh.
Jae-gyeom knew he wasn’t crying because he was sad. In fact, that was the problem. If he were crying out of sadness, he could at least comfort him, but when he asked why he was crying and the answer was “Just because I’m happy,” he truly didn’t know what to do.
“But how did you get here without saying anything? It must still be a bit uncomfortable for you to move…….”
“It’s fine. I took the bus anyway.”
Jae-gyeom shrugged.
“I’ll come pick you up again.”
“You will?”
“So don’t cry next time.”
“Okay.”
As Jae-gyeom smiled, the softly smiling Yoon Tae-hee snatched the mug in front of Jae-gyeom and took a sip.
“What is this? It’s delicious.”
“They say it’s a five-grain latte. Get yourself something to drink too.”
At Jae-gyeom’s words, Yoon Tae-hee nodded and stood up. After ordering at the counter, Yoon Tae-hee returned to the seat with a buzzer and a receipt in his hand.
“What did you order?”
Yoon Tae-hee folded the receipt two or three times, and as if handing it to Jae-gyeom’s hand on the table, he entwined their fingers once before answering.
“Earl Grey milk tea.”
He caressed Jae-gyeom’s hand so naturally, then immediately took his hand back and rested his chin on it as if nothing had happened. Jae-gyeom knew that Yoon Tae-hee had held his hand on purpose. Without showing any particular reaction, Jae-gyeom spoke.
“Nothing happened at school today?”
“Nope. I was a bit busy in the afternoon because they told me to plan some reading program event.”
When the buzzer rang, Yoon Tae-hee brought back the drinks on a tray. Jae-gyeom thought he had only ordered drinks, but there was also a palm-sized cookie on the tray. One of the things he had learned while living together for several months was that Yoon Tae-hee liked snacks much more than expected.
“What is Jeong-ju doing?”
“He seemed busy studying his script. And knitting.”
“Knitting?”
“Yeah. He said he’s making something like clothes to put on a flowerpot.”
The two shared a cookie, breaking it in half, and chatted about this and that. Since their daily lives were so closely intertwined, the flow of conversation was natural. There was much to share since they lived together.
“Did you study a lot today?”
“I tried solving some problems earlier, and I barely broke 30 points.”
“You’ve only been studying for a few days; 30 points is actually good.”
While they were talking, Yoon Tae-hee’s phone rang. Jae-gyeom gestured with his eyes, meaning for him to take the call elsewhere. However, Yoon Tae-hee checked the caller ID and answered right there.
“Yes, Jeong-ju.”
Jae-gyeom stopped drinking his tea and looked at Yoon Tae-hee.
“Yes, I’m at a cafe with Jae-gyeom right now. No, we’ll head back soon. Yes. Yes….”
Jeong-ju’s voice could be heard over the phone, conveying some business. As soon as the short call ended, Jae-gyeom immediately asked Yoon Tae-hee.
“Why? What did Jeong-ju say?”
“He asked when we’re coming. He said it’s fine if the two of us have dinner before coming back.”
“And?”
“I told him we’d be back soon.”
Jae-gyeom felt a strange sensation.
Since Jeong-ju knew he and Yoon Tae-hee were together, in the past, he would have called Jae-gyeom in this situation, but now he calls Yoon Tae-hee. It meant that Yoon Tae-hee had become that much more comfortable with him.
Seeing Jae-gyeom’s expression, Yoon Tae-hee asked.
“Why?”
“Nothing, it’s just surprising that you two get along so well.”
While Jae-gyeom was asleep, Yoon Tae-hee and Jeong-ju had grown significantly closer. Living together had naturally made them close.
Jeong-ju was fundamentally a warm person, but while he had previously treated Yoon Tae-hee with the attitude of someone dealing with a guest, he now seemed much more casual. Of course, that didn’t mean they spoke informally or acted like family or close friends. They still maintained a certain level of politeness.
Wait, but what does he mean by ‘have dinner and come back’?
“…….”
Jae-gyeom’s expression hardened as he chewed over Jeong-ju’s message. Suddenly lost in thought, Jae-gyeom spoke urgently to Yoon Tae-hee.
“Jeong-ju hasn’t noticed, has he?”
“Noticed what?”
After hesitating for a moment, Jae-gyeom said.
“That you and I… are like that.”
Understanding the question, Yoon Tae-hee blinked silently.
“…….”
The expression Yoon Tae-hee wore while looking at him was somewhat peculiar.
“Why that face?”
“Jeong-ju probably knows.”
“What?”
In that moment, Jae-gyeom’s mouth dropped open involuntarily. He felt like he finally understood what it meant for the sky to turn yellow.
“No, how? How does he know that?”
Agitated, Jae-gyeom accidentally raised his voice, then belatedly checked his surroundings and lowered it. On the other hand, Yoon Tae-hee looked perfectly calm and composed. Taking a sip of his tea, Yoon Tae-hee said.
“Because I told him.”