Love Me More Side Story 3
Even while running up the hill, Si-yul didn’t forget the deodorizer. He sprayed it generously from head to toe, making Woo Hyun-se’s scent disappear like melting snow. Though he regretted losing the scent, it was better than being mocked by Kwon Yuwon. He had an excuse ready: he was sweaty from running.
Panting, he grabbed the wall of the inn. Checking his phone, it was exactly 11:57 PM. He was safe by a hair’s breadth. He stood on his tiptoes to look over the gate, checking if Kwon Yuwon had arrived first. The lights were off.
“Huh?”
Could he not have arrived yet? Grinning at the thought of winning after less than a week, he opened the gate. Just as he was about to cross the threshold, he heard heavy breathing from the alley below, followed by rapid footsteps.
It was Kwon Yuwon. With disheveled hair and a flushed face, he arrived in front of Si-yul in one breath. Clutching his knees and panting, he checked the time just as Si-yul had done. It was just turning from 11:59 PM to midnight.
“Sa… huff… safe.”
Since it was before midnight, he hadn’t broken the promise. Si-yul blinked, looking down at Kwon Yuwon who was bent over, catching his breath. Aside from his characteristic orange scent, an unfamiliar body odor emanated from him. The scent was so strong it was as if he had been doused with a large basin of it.
They both knew who the culprit was. Si-yul wrinkled his nose and rubbed under it.
“When we go in, you shower first.”
Seeing Si-yul’s awkward expression, Kwon Yuwon seemed to realize as he pulled at his collar and sniffed. Smelling the scent of another person on himself, he cursed, “Ah, shit!” and hurriedly ran inside.
Si-yul followed slowly, smirking. It seemed the day of his victory was not far off.
* * *
Kwon Yuwon endured surprisingly well. After the first day’s close call, he came home much earlier than Si-yul and would scold him for slacking off. He’d also threaten that victory was already his, so Si-yul should be prepared.
Si-yul also did his best to keep the curfew. With living with Woo Hyun-se at stake, he absolutely couldn’t lose this bet.
“Three iced Americanos are ready.”
Si-yul placed three cups on a tray with a friendly smile. The student who had been staring blankly at Si-yul for a while exclaimed, “Hot!” and quickly took the tray. He ran to his companions, glancing towards the counter and giggling.
Wondering if he had done something wrong, Si-yul watched with concerned eyes. His coworker rested an elbow on Si-yul’s shoulder.
“Wow, the reaction is definitely different for handsome people.”
“Am I handsome?”
“Yeah. They were smiling at you. Because you’re handsome.”
While he had been called cute quite often, being called handsome was rare. “No way,” he said modestly, waving his hand. It must be for some other reason.
The conversation was cut short as a customer approached. Unlike the previous café where he worked, this place had many coming and going customers. With many offices nearby, the saying “no time to breathe” during lunch hours was not just an idiom but reality here.
Still, with his experience, Si-yul was adapting well to the new café. He used to think he wasn’t good at work, but it seemed experience wasn’t for nothing as he quickly got the hang of things.
And above all…
As the door opened, his coworker nudged Si-yul’s side with an elbow. Following the chin gesture, he turned his head to see a face all too familiar to him. Whether due to his height towering above others or his handsome features, everyone in the café glanced at Woo Hyun-se at least once.
This place was close to Woo Hyun-se’s office. While the primary reason for choosing it was to learn at a place that roasted their own beans, there was also an expectation of seeing Woo Hyun-se often.
Like now.
Si-yul stood at the counter, trying to suppress the smile that kept rising to his lips. Though he wanted to pretend not to know Woo Hyun-se, he couldn’t hide his grin and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes.
“May I take your order?”
“Two iced Americanos, please.”
“For here or to go?”
“To go, please.”
Si-yul found it amusing to converse as if they were complete strangers. Even though he tried to speak solemnly on purpose, he couldn’t help the laughter in his voice. Afraid he might laugh out loud if their eyes met, he deliberately fixed his gaze on the POS machine.
“Please add an extra shot to one of them.”
A voice suddenly interjected between them. It was Park Hae-jung. Unlike Woo Hyun-se’s bright demeanor, Park Hae-jung’s complexion wasn’t good. With dark circles under his eyes and a haggard look, he seemed to have suffered from several days of overtime work.
“Didn’t you say your stomach was upset?”
Woo Hyun-se asked nonchalantly. Park Hae-jung stared at Woo Hyun-se with disrespectful eyes. The desire to hit him was clear in his gaze. Woo Hyun-se calmly brushed off the hostility that even a three-year-old could sense.
“Whose fault is that?”
“Is that my fault?”
The following conversation was drowned out by the sound of grinding coffee beans. Si-yul made the coffee with utmost sincerity. He placed the coffee, made with more care than usual, on the pickup counter.
“Two iced Americanos, one with an extra shot, are ready.”
The tips of Woo Hyun-se’s fingers touched Si-yul’s as he handed over the coffee. Though they parted in an instant, the warmth remained. Si-yul clenched his hand, secretly grinning.
Unfortunately, due to Woo Hyun-se’s busy schedule, they couldn’t meet even after work. Since they had always met for at least 5 minutes after work, the disappointment was immeasurable. Having been driven home by Woo Hyun-se every day until now, the scenery from the bus felt unfamiliar.
[I’m on the bus now]
The reply came after about two stops. It was a message saying he would stop by Si-yul’s place for a moment late at night when he had time. Si-yul brightened up at first, but then slumped his shoulders remembering Kwon Yuwon, who had been strictly observing the curfew lately as if possessed. Kwon Yuwon had been sitting guarding the inn’s gate as if ready to declare victory if Si-yul was even a second late.
[It’s difficult today. Yuwon’s been crazy lately]
[Then it can’t be helped.]
Even so. Seeing Woo Hyun-se’s indifferent message made him feel needlessly disappointed. Si-yul sent only an emoticon and looked away from his phone.
When the bus stopped at a red light, the phone in his hand vibrated. Si-yul read the arrived message with his eyes.
[I’m not the only one working overtime]
[Park Hae-jung’s been at it for 2 weeks]
“Wow,” Si-yul clicked his tongue. Even though he had never worked in a company, he knew how tough overtime was. To make someone do it for 2 weeks straight. Last weekend, Kwon Yuwon didn’t go out at all, staying cooped up in the inn. He kept holding his phone, sighing, cursing Woo Hyun-se, then gritting his teeth and standing up abruptly.
There’s no other devil like him. Yet, Si-yul couldn’t hate Woo Hyun-se. Wasn’t he playing the villain role for Si-yul’s sake?
[Kwon Yuwon should decide quickly. Before Park Hae-jung dies]
Shouldn’t it be ‘before killing’ Park Hae-jung? Judging by his haggard appearance at the café, he might really die from overwork soon. Si-yul hesitated before carefully typing on the keyboard.
[Don’t torment him too much. He looked exhausted]
[Don’t worry about others. Just worry about me]
[I always worry about you, hyung]
A call came immediately. Seeing Woo Hyun-se’s name on the screen, he quickly pressed the answer button. Unable to talk loudly on the bus, he plugged in his earphones and lowered his voice.
“You say you always worry about me?”
His abrupt way of asking hadn’t changed from the beginning until now. “Yes,” Si-yul answered timidly, looking out the window. A long sigh came through the receiver.
“I can’t come see you right now. If I escape today, Park Hae-jung might shoot me in the head.”
“That wouldn’t be good.”
Si-yul giggled quietly. Having no choice, they ended the call promising to meet next time.
As expected, Kwon Yuwon was sitting guard-like at the inn’s gate today too. With his legs spread wide and arms resting on his knees folded like mountains, his posture was quite unruly. If he had been chewing on a cigarette, he could have passed for a local thug. He had his head tilted at an angle, but as soon as he saw Si-yul, he dusted off his bottom and led the way into the room.
Munching on jellies bought from the convenience store, his expression while watching TV wasn’t good. He glared at it as if his mortal enemy had appeared in the drama. Wondering if he had encountered a difficult customer at work, Si-yul glanced at him cautiously.
“Did something happen? Why do you look like you’re ready to kill someone? It’s scary.”
Kwon Yuwon looked at Si-yul and let out a heavy sigh that could have sunk the ground. As if that wasn’t enough to relieve his frustration, he took out a beer from the bag and drank it coolly. Si-yul sat down next to him and picked up a can of beer. As he was about to take a sip, the scent that brushed his nose wasn’t the sharp smell of alcohol, but a stronger than usual orange scent.
“Huh?” Si-yul looked at Kwon Yuwon. Instead of his usual snacks, he was stuffing jellies into his mouth. It was the suppressant-laced jelly he had once given to Si-yul.
“There is someone I want to kill.”
“Who?”
“Woo Hyun-se.”
There was no hesitation in his answer. While laughing it off with a “What’s that about?”, Si-yul partly understood why he had such a terrifying thought. The exhausted Park Hae-jung he saw today was evidence of that.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
