Chapter 60
Not only is he good-looking. He’s a hard worker who climbed from level 7 to level 1, has good manners, and is kind. Though Ji-won didn’t know much about it, his family seemed extremely wealthy too. Summing it up, he had the kind of specs that couldn’t help but be popular. Since he wouldn’t be rejected at group blind dates, maybe trying to date once…
“…Why me?”
Ji-won expected Kwon-ju to say he would, or at least that he’d think about it. But surprisingly, Kwon-ju countered with a hardened expression. This reaction wasn’t part of the plan… Did I make a mistake? Ji-won was momentarily speechless at the unexpectedly cold tone he’d never heard before.
“I don’t do that kind of thing.”
“Oh… really? I just thought you might be lonely.”
“Do I look lonely to you, hyung?”
“No, that’s not exactly what I meant.”
Why does he seem angry? Ji-won stopped mid-excuse and closed his mouth. …If you’re not lonely, why did you suddenly kiss someone you didn’t even know when you were drunk? Ji-won barely suppressed the words that rose to his throat and calmly reorganized his thoughts.
Although the reaction was incomprehensible, there could be individual differences. He might dislike artificial meetings like group blind dates, or he might find the suggestion itself offensive… right? In any case, Ji-won immediately apologized for what seemed like a mistake that upset Kwon-ju.
“Sorry, I was overstepping. I’ll head out first.”
Kwon-ju watched Ji-won’s retreating back as he waved lightly and walked away. Only after quite some time did he snap back to reality with a start. It seemed he had unconsciously failed to manage his expression when his unrequited love unexpectedly suggested he try dating someone. Wasn’t my tone just now incredibly rude? And I didn’t even respond to his apology.
Shit. Rubbing his face, which was rapidly turning pale, Kwon-ju forced himself to regain composure as he picked up his phone. First, I should apologize by text at least… No, that’s too insincere.
While Kwon-ju was desperately racking his brain, Ji-won arrived at the lecture hall and collapsed into an empty chair with his back to Kwon-ju. Despite not knowing anyone in the class, he found it particularly hard to concentrate. It felt as if his ears were forcibly deflecting every word from the professor’s mouth, and he just kept clutching and releasing his pen until before he knew it, two hours had passed.
Feeling he couldn’t shake this stifling mood if he went straight home, Ji-won headed to the campus café for the first time in a while. Even though they hadn’t planned to meet in advance and he’d suddenly asked to meet, Suhyeon had willingly come out, saying she happened to have free time. She looked Ji-won over.
She’d wondered why he suddenly called her out, but he was unusually quiet and not making eye contact. She’d heard his cold was completely gone, but seeing how different he was from usual, Suhyeon instinctively sensed something serious had happened. Just a few days ago, she’d listened to a freshman’s concerns right here… Somehow her monthly horoscope had predicted she’d have many opportunities to help others.
“What’s wrong? Talk to me. Have some cookies too.”
Thinking he needed something sweet to help him open up, Suhyeon cut a cookie in half and forcefully stuffed it into Ji-won’s mouth, then nodded as if telling him to speak. Her somehow trustworthy appearance made Ji-won explain what had happened that morning as if entranced. He left out Kwon-ju’s name, saying he’d offered to set up a junior with a group blind date, but the junior’s expression hadn’t been good.
“I’m wondering if I was being too nosy.”
“If someone doesn’t have a partner and you offer them a blind date, that’s a total win, isn’t it? Usually people just say ‘I’m in!’ when you ask if they want to go. It doesn’t seem like something to get upset about?”
Suhyeon, who had arranged group blind dates routinely until just last year, took Ji-won’s side, saying she couldn’t understand either. Normally when you ask single guys if they want to go on a blind date, they immediately bow down first, asking how you knew they were lonely. Or they just quietly decline.
“That’s what I thought too, but he seemed angry.”
Although it didn’t seem like a big deal no matter how she looked at it, Ji-won appeared strangely serious, making Suhyeon frown as she thought deeply. If he doesn’t want to date, he could just say no, but why get upset? Is it because “I’m not unable to date, I’m choosing not to date, so how dare you judge me as lonely and try to send me to a group blind date?” The image of a pitiful face formed in her mind.
“Really? Who is it? Do I know him?”
After trying to calculate the probability of a healthy adult man getting upset at being offered a blind date and giving up, Suhyeon leaned in close and asked. She was curious about the person who had made Ji-won so troubled.
“…Kwon-ju.”
“Jang Kwon-ju? Why would he go on a blind date when he’s so devoted?”
Suhyeon raised her voice as if she finally understood. The situation came into focus in her mind.
“He’s been in unrequited love for four years. Since the person is two years older, I think they met in high school.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you two go to the same high school? I wondered if you might know who it is.”
Ji-won blinked with a dumbfounded expression. This was all news to him. That Kwon-ju had someone he was in unrequited love with, that he had liked them for as long as four years, and that they were two years older than him.
Since Kwon-ju had never once talked about romantic interests in front of him, Ji-won hadn’t even considered it. Although they mostly talked about the game, they weren’t limited to that. They’d chat about small things like eating bread in the morning, stopping by a convenience store before bed, or complaining about excessive assignments or exam material.
They saw each other at school, in the game, and even chatted on KakaoTalk personally, so Ji-won definitely thought they were quite close. Even closer than his original friends. It felt strange that this junior who stuck with him daily had told Suhyeon about a four-year unrequited love before telling him.
“Why would you recommend a blind date to someone who’s in unrequited love? Giving up has to be their own decision. Being pushed by others makes it harder.”
Suhyeon, who had been rambling away, belatedly noticed Ji-won frowning as if hearing this for the first time.
“Huh? He didn’t talk to you about it?”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“Really? I told him to talk to you about it. He even asked about what you like because he was going to ask you. I thought you knew and that’s why I was talking about it.”
Having unintentionally revealed all the details of the confidential consultation, Suhyeon awkwardly brushed back her long hair. Ji-won bit his lip as he stared at the tips of her hair falling softly onto the table. He was going to ask me but never did? What does she mean he asked what I like?
Ji-won couldn’t believe it, though Suhyeon wouldn’t lie about something like this. It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone with a crush…
“Why would someone with a crush always hang out with me?”
Ji-won stopped mid-sentence as he spoke, realizing something odd in his own words. There was a contradiction. The person Kwon-ju likes and me. They were clearly different words, but for some reason, they didn’t feel completely separate.
‘Then why did you drink it?’
‘Because I… like it.’
Why am I thinking of this now? A beat late, the information that just poured from Suhyeon’s mouth became puzzle pieces swirling chaotically in his mind.
Two years older. Four years meant since first year of high school. Ji-won remembered the seventeen-year-old Kwon-ju with bleached yellow hair whom he’d first met in the club room. When was that? May? They met almost daily until summer vacation, then Ji-won got busy studying… In the hallways, Kwon-ju wouldn’t make eye contact with Ji-won’s friends, only greeting Ji-won before briskly walking past. Sometimes he’d give Ji-won food and encouraging messages, making Ji-won think he was warm and nice, contrary to his first impression.
‘Your name tag… could you give it to me?’
A memory he’d completely forgotten while partying with friends to celebrate graduation surfaced. That flushed face looking up suddenly, awkwardly asking. Their names, exchanged without much thought. Even then, Ji-won had thought something was strange. They hadn’t arranged to meet after graduation, and he’d only spotted Kwon-ju by chance while passing by.
The Business Department at Sewon University that Kwon-ju said he ended up at because his college entrance exam scores matched. Kwon-ju had remembered Ji-won’s school and department, and didn’t seem to think it was a particularly strange coincidence that he became a junior three years below Ji-won. The game Ji-won had mentioned in passing that Kwon-ju remembered and started playing, and the coincidentally matching server. Even quitting the guild he’d been doing well in to move to Ji-won’s guild.
The puzzle pieces began finding their places one by one. Ji-won slowly raised his head as he realized where this odd feeling of discomfort came from. Having realized too late, his insides churned with the sudden rush of emotions he had no way to release.
This one fact provided the reason for everything that had happened until now. Even things Ji-won couldn’t understand became completely reasonable when considering Kwon-ju’s feelings. The excessive care, helping out with things that weren’t even his business to the point where Ji-won wondered how someone could be so kind.
“I know, right? It’s strange that he’s always hanging around with you when he should be chasing after the person he likes.”
Suhyeon’s voice, saying it was strange when she thought about it, no longer reached Ji-won’s ears.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
