Chapter 134
From now on, all cast members, please choose a partner for your last official date with your X. However, cast members cannot choose themselves as the partner for the official date.
Dates will only be successful if both parties choose each other. For example, if cast member A’s X chooses cast member B, and cast member B’s X also chooses cast member A, then A and B will have a successful date.
Cast members whose dates are not successful must remain in the New X House and spend their time there.
Most of the cast members visibly stiffened their expressions upon checking the mission card. It was understandable. Having to connect their X with someone else for a date with their own hands – it was quite a harsh situation for the cast members still caught in a whirlwind of emotions.
In the atmosphere that suddenly became heavy, no one could easily open their mouths. As the silence that descended upon the kitchen grew heavier, Yeo Ji-yoon spoke up.
“I think I need some time alone to think. Those who want to drink can start without me. I’ll join later if I feel like it.”
As Ji-yoon left the common area with those words, Soo-ho, who had been watching her with tears welling up in his eyes, also abruptly stood up.
“I, I’ll be back in a moment too.”
With a trembling voice, Soo-ho chased after Ji-yoon, who had already disappeared from his sight. “Noona! Ji-yoon noona!” Soo-ho’s shout echoed, followed immediately by the sound of the front door slamming shut.
With two people having left like that, the drinking session couldn’t continue right away. Min-wook, after assessing the situation by looking at the faces of the cast members, clapped his hands a couple of times to get their attention.
“Since we’ve received the mission card, shall we postpone the drinking for a bit later?”
The cast members quickly nodded at Min-wook’s suggestion, as if it was what they wanted too. And just like that, the gathering dispersed in an instant. Amidst the people getting up and moving, Seo-jung was still sitting in his seat, staring at his phone.
He read the mission card that had appeared on the screen once more. There were only 3 days left until the final choice. This meant that the choice he made today could affect not only Da-bin’s schedule the next day but also the final choice.
After pondering for a moment, Seo-jung soon got up from the sofa. What mattered most was Da-bin’s feelings. Instead of worrying alone, he decided to ask Da-bin directly. As Seo-jung made his decision and put his phone in his pocket, he looked up.
Looking around, Da-bin was nowhere to be seen, having already left the common area.
“Min-ha, where did Da-bin go?”
“She just went out with Song Joo-ah.”
Though the question was directed at Min-ha, it was Cha Yoon who unexpectedly answered. Reflexively meeting Cha Yoon’s eyes and frowning, Seo-jung saw him stretch his hand behind him as if to prove his innocence.
“Look over there. The two of them are walking towards the accommodations very earnestly.”
In an instant, Seo-jung’s personal space collapsed. He could suddenly feel Cha Yoon’s scent, his voice right next to his ear, and a subtle warmth all at once. Exposed to these stimuli without any preparation or warning, it was difficult to keep his composure.
Seo-jung ended up moving away to the side without even seeing where Cha Yoon was pointing. Creating a distance equal to his stride in an instant, Seo-jung avoided the gaze of Cha Yoon who was staring at him. Somehow, his throat felt dry.
“Thank you.”
Swallowing dryly, Seo-jung hastily left the common area after expressing his gratitude without properly making eye contact.
It was such an insignificant action. Compared to the countless skinship moments he had with Cha Yoon over seven years. No, it didn’t even need to go that far. Even recalling the incidents with the memory-lost Cha Yoon, it was the same.
So, it was strange that his heart was racing and he was flustered just because the distance had gotten a little closer. As he walked briskly, scolding his body for showing such an unreasonable reaction without even knowing why, he heard footsteps quickly approaching from behind.
Who could it be? The moment he turned his head in wonder, Seo-jung’s expression froze as he confirmed the face of the person walking towards him.
“You turned around without me even saying anything. Did it work?”
It was Cha Yoon who had quickly caught up with his long legs and spoke. After fleeing to avoid Cha Yoon, now they were completely alone. Seo-jung didn’t want to be alone with him. It just didn’t seem right.
“Let’s go together.”
But whether he knew Seo-jung’s feelings or not, Cha Yoon just kept saying things like this. Seo-jung hardened his expression even more to hide the trembling that hadn’t completely subsided yet. He didn’t want Cha Yoon to notice, and he shouldn’t notice.
“Why on earth did you come out?”
“I want to go where hyung is going too.”
“I don’t understand why you want to go with me when you don’t even know where I’m going.”
Seo-jung showed a prickly response that he had never properly shown to others before. It was his own way of putting up defenses. But Cha Yoon wasn’t one to back down from just that level of words. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and opened his mouth.
“You’re going to find Shin Da-bin sunbae because of the X designation date, right?”
Cha Yoon looked at him as if asking if he was wrong. When Seo-jung didn’t respond, he took it as affirmation and continued.
“I wanted to meet Song Joo-ah. I told you, she went out with Shin Da-bin sunbae.”
“……”
“Whatever it is, since I’ve come out here, I should do what I need to do.”
At Cha Yoon’s words, Seo-jung finally recalled what he had heard from him earlier in the common area. He had thought Cha Yoon was just following him, but hearing the explanation, it was his own misunderstanding. Aside from feeling embarrassed, there was no reason to tell him not to come along in this situation.
So there was only one option left. To hurry his steps and leave as fast as possible. Seo-jung silently started moving his legs that had been stopped.
Despite walking quickly, unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to shake off Cha Yoon. After just a few steps, he caught up and walked alongside Seo-jung. Seeing Cha Yoon’s side profile as he walked next to him, Seo-jung finally gave up on everything. When Seo-jung returned to his normal pace, Cha Yoon wore a satisfied expression as if he had won some prize.
How long had they walked like that? Cha Yoon broke the silence that had settled between them.
“You went on a lot of dates during these three days, right?”
“……”
“What was the most fun?”
“……”
“I heard you saw the sea, climbed Oreum, went to a workshop and made candles.”
Cha Yoon asked, bringing up each of Seo-jung’s date activities he had heard about over the three days. What kind of answer did he want to hear? Even as Seo-jung kept his mouth shut and ignored him, he recalled in his mind the dates Cha Yoon had mentioned. As expected, no answer came.
It was natural, since he had been too preoccupied thinking about Cha Yoon who remained at home to properly focus on the dates. It was an unusual occurrence for Seo-jung, who always focused on the person in front of him. No, could this even be called unusual? Looking back on the seven years, it was also familiar. Cha Yoon had always been the exception for Seo-jung.
“Maybe seeing the sea was the best. Hyung, you like looking at the sea, don’t you?”
Even though there was no reaction from Seo-jung, Cha Yoon continued talking without stopping. As if he hadn’t forgotten a single thing Seo-jung liked, very naturally.
“But it was more fun with me, right?”
And then he said something like this. Seo-jung bristled as if he had been caught out.
“When did I ever go see the sea with you, Cha Yoon-ssi?”
“A few days ago, we walked together from in front of the interview room to the accommodation, didn’t we?”
“How is that seeing the sea?”
“There was a beach right next to us as we walked along the path, so that counts as sightseeing too.”
Is seeing the sea such a big deal? Cha Yoon sought agreement with his eyes, but Seo-jung ignored him without even blinking. Still, Cha Yoon didn’t back down.
“If you won’t count that as sightseeing, why don’t we go for real then?”
At his casually thrown words, Seo-jung was at a loss for words. It was clearly just an insignificant remark. After all, Seo-jung had gone for a walk just last night to counsel Soo-ho, and he had also walked to a cafe with Min-wook to buy coffee.
But when the person became Cha Yoon, it felt completely different. His heart raced as if he had received a date proposal. It was all a problem of his own heart.
As he was opening and closing his mouth without being able to say anything, Shin Da-bin and Song Joo-ah appeared in the distance like saviors. Though he couldn’t hear what they were saying, their expressions were quite serious as if they were discussing something important.
“Da-bin.”
Seo-jung waved his hand towards Da-bin. His voice even sounded urgent. Seeing this, Cha Yoon shrugged his shoulders as if he had expected such a reaction from Seo-jung and called out Joo-ah’s name as well.
After exchanging silent glances upon noticing Seo-jung and Cha Yoon, the two slowly approached.
“Seo-jung, what brings you all the way here?”
“I wanted to talk with you about how we should handle the date, Da-bin.”
“Cha Yoon, did you come for the date too?”
“That’s what I’m planning to do, for now.”
“What are you talking about, again.”
Joo-ah frowned at Cha Yoon and then addressed Da-bin again.
“Da-bin unnie, please think about what I asked in the best possible way. I’ll do as I said earlier.”
“Okay, I’ll talk with Seo-jung a bit first.”
What are they talking about? It clearly seemed related to him, but it was hard to understand. Cha Yoon seemed to feel the same way, as he was seen frowning. He looked displeased that Seo-jung’s name had come up.
‘Hey, what are you talking about?’, ‘What?’, ‘What did you just say about Seo-jung hyung?’, ‘It’s nothing.’, ‘Then what’s that nothing you’re talking about?’ As he was unintentionally listening to their conversation, he felt Da-bin’s hand tapping his shoulder.
“Ki Seo-jung, shall we go over there and talk?”
“Sure, let’s do that.”
As Seo-jung was about to turn around, Cha Yoon, who seemed to have noticed him trying to leave even in the midst of the conversation, called out to Seo-jung once more.
“Seo-jung hyung.”
Reflexively turning his head at those words, Cha Yoon met his eyes as if he had been waiting.
“Think carefully about what I said earlier.”
Cha Yoon pointed towards the entrance of the X House with his chin. The entrance of the X House was also the only way out to the sea.
Guessing that he was referring to the conversation about going to see the sea they had just before, Seo-jung slightly frowned and moved his halted steps. His heart raced again, as fast as his hurriedly moving legs.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
