34
Jihwan knocked on Taehyun’s dormitory window early in the morning. After persistent knocking, the window was roughly opened.
“Hey! You again…”
Taehyun appeared with an annoyed face but trailed off when he saw Jihwan’s expression. Does my appearance look that strange? Jihwan wondered.
“Are you angry?”
“…Me?”
Jihwan asked back. He had just urgently come to ask Taehyun something important. How does my face look right now? Jihwan had stayed up all night. So he was a bit dazed.
“You look… weird.”
Taehyun said.
“You’re right. It’s weird.”
Jihwan agreed. Something was weird. No matter how much he thought about yesterday’s situation, he couldn’t understand it.
What are you talking about. Grumbling, Taehyun looked at Jihwan’s somewhat blank face and stepped aside.
“Come in, for now.”
Jihwan stuck his head through the window. Then he hit his forehead on the window frame. Ah. Jihwan groaned.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Taehyun looked at Jihwan with an incredulous expression. Jihwan stretched out his arms to grab the window frame and stepped into Taehyun’s room.
“Did you even come barefoot?”
“I flew here from my room.”
Jihwan blinked. Taehyun grabbed Jihwan, who was floating in the air, and pulled him down to land on the floor. What was I going to say? Jihwan thought.
“Hyung, do you know about the relationship between Director Choi Wooseok and Senior Minjae?”
“Those two? Well… Director Choi Wooseok is Director Woo Minjae’s dedicated guide. They seem close.”
“…Really?”
Jihwan knew that Minjae often sought out Director Wooseok, but it still seemed strange. Are they really just close friends?
“I heard they grew up together at the Center since they were young, so they’re super close. They say that guide director really takes care of Director Woo Minjae.”
“That’s impossible.”
Jihwan muttered vacantly at Taehyun’s words.
“It’s not that impossible. On the other hand, I’ve also heard rumors that Director Woo Minjae would do anything Director Choi Wooseok says. Probably because he’s his guide. That’s why there were also rumors they were dating.”
He says whatever he wants to me and gets angry too, but he’s submissive to Wooseok? Jihwan’s head felt dizzy. Is it because he’s a dedicated guide, so he uses guiding as an excuse to boss him around?
The image of Wooseok talking about sick people as if they were faking their illness kept overlapping in his mind. Come to think of it, his expression seemed a bit cold when speaking to Jihwan.
Jihwan recalled Minjae’s face when he said he had never ridden a cable car. And when he talked about roller coasters. It was a face filled with indescribable bitterness.
Jihwan was angry. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what he was angry about, but the heat rising within him was unbearable.
“But did you knock on my window now just to ask about that?”
Taehyun asked.
“Yeah. I’m leaving now.”
Jihwan answered boldly and then launched himself out the window. He could hear Taehyun calling after him, but he didn’t look back.
***
As soon as Minjae opened his eyes, he smelled flowers. Turning his head, he saw tulips and roses.
What’s with this dazzling visual? Minjae closed and opened his eyes. But nothing changed. Who brought those here? Minjae looked around and realized he was in the medical ward.
Ah, I must have collapsed. Minjae lifted his wrist to check. His guiding levels were within the stable range. I was feeling a bit tired, but I didn’t expect to have a sudden attack. Minjae had a good idea who might have brought the flowers.
“You’re awake?”
Wooseok came in looking exhausted.
“Yeah. You’ve had a rough time.”
Minjae greeted him. Wooseok sat on the edge of Minjae’s bed and sighed.
“Have you been pushing yourself too hard lately?”
Wooseok sometimes looked at him as if he were looking at thin glass. Minjae held his palm up in front of Wooseok’s face.
“…That face is forbidden.”
“Don’t ‘forbidden’ me. Do I look like that little brat who follows you around?”
Wooseok pulled Minjae’s hand down.
“Don’t go on that undercover mission.”
Wooseok added.
“What? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Minjae irritably rubbed his face with his hands.
“Then I’ll go with you.”
“Hey, what happens if all the Center directors are absent? And you seem to think I’m weak, but I could lift you up with one hand and spin you around right now.”
Although he didn’t particularly enjoy exerting physical strength, being an esper, Minjae naturally had a physical advantage over Wooseok. In reality, Minjae could carry out what he just said without much effort.
You used to cry when you couldn’t win at arm wrestling when we were kids. Wooseok must be getting old, as he kept forgetting that Minjae was an esper.
“Because you keep collapsing!”
Wooseok snapped. Do I not look like someone to worry about? You never listen when I tell you to come to me regularly. Or at least carry your medication properly. Wooseok started nagging in earnest, and Minjae covered his ears.
“What are those flowers?”
Minjae asked, trying to change the subject. Wooseok looked at the flowers beside Minjae and repeatedly rubbed his face with dry hands.
“Hah… I was really about to—”
“…Why?”
“That Park Jihwan kid came to me crying and making a fuss, asking why you keep collapsing. I made up some excuse that it wasn’t anything serious.”
Come to think of it, I did collapse in front of him a few times. Since Minjae had always avoided regularly being around anyone except Eunjeong and Wooseok, he hadn’t considered this aspect.
Could that guy be starting to have doubts about my abilities? Minjae raised his upper body slightly.
“Yeah. But.”
Minjae prompted Wooseok to continue.
“He looked at me like I was trash…”
“…What?”
“He came with flowers every few hours and glared at me. I was scared to death.”
Wooseok seemed quite upset about Jihwan’s attitude, speaking sarcastically. Glared at him? That kid? Minjae had only seen Jihwan at worst pouting or looking dejected, so he thought Wooseok was exaggerating.
“It can’t be that scary.”
“Hey, I’m a popular sunbae among the juniors. He’s the first one to openly glare at me like that. It hurts.”
“…What excuse did you give him?”
“That you have anemia and you’re a hypochondriac.”
I have anemia, but why is he glaring at Wooseok? Minjae felt he could guess what thoughts were floating around in Jihwan’s head, but he didn’t want to know.
“I thought it would be better than having suspicion directed at you, so I just let it slide. But you should think about what to do from now on.”
Minjae nodded. However, he couldn’t predict when the side effects would start, let alone control them. Damn you, Kim Jinsung. Damn, pairing me up and causing all this trouble. Shit.
Minjae recalled Jihwan who had been following him like a stalker lately. It would probably be best to avoid him a bit. Minjae looked at the flowers with a troubled mind.
***
Ojun crouched in front of a potted plant, staring at the slightly withered leaf tips. Why is this happening? I water it often. Is that the problem? He had bought the table palm because it was supposed to be easy to grow, but it was more difficult than expected.
-Enjoy your lunch.
Ojun checked the message from Wooseok. For several days, he had been consistently sending messages saying “enjoy your meal” rather than “let’s eat together.”
He really knows how to subtly get under someone’s skin. Ojun couldn’t tell if he was the only one who found this situation frustrating.
Am I misunderstanding something? Did I cause a misunderstanding? Wasn’t he the one who kept pushing, saying we needed to talk and that he couldn’t give me much time? And now he suddenly changes his attitude and acts like nothing happened without having that important conversation? Ojun sighed.
-I’m going for sushi. Sounds delicious, right?
Bull. Aaagh! Ojun glared at the coffee mug on his desk instead of Wooseok.
For the past few days, whenever Ojun arrived at work, there would be coffee that Wooseok had brought for him. It felt awkward to drink it but also awkward to throw it away, so he had to keep the coffee like that all day.
Is he trying to torture me to death? Though he had been putting it off, this was an issue that needed to be resolved soon. Right. Let’s end this. What’s the point of dragging it out? Are we going to end up dating for real? Ojun typed out a message.
-Let’s meet after work today.
-Suddenly?
-If today doesn’t work, let me know when does.
-Today works. See you then.
Then just say it works from the beginning. Ojun replied with an “okay.”
“Have you had dinner?”
Meeting Wooseok in an alley near the Center after work, Ojun realized he had set the wrong meeting time. He didn’t particularly want to sit across from Wooseok and eat right now.
But it would also be strange to suggest meeting separately after eating when they worked at the same place.
“…No.”
Ojun answered. Wooseok looked at Ojun for a moment and then smiled faintly. What? Why are you smiling? Ojun worried that his expressions might be too transparent.
“Do you like Korean food?”
Wooseok asked. Ojun nodded.
“You have a car?”
Ojun asked with slight surprise as Wooseok naturally escorted him to a car.
Yes, I do. Wooseok answered Ojun’s strange question normally. Thinking about it, whenever they met outside of work, they had both been drunk. Ojun felt a little embarrassed.
“I thought it might be inconvenient for you if people saw us together near the Center.”
Wooseok said in a low voice. It was somewhat surprising that he would consider such things. Ojun silently looked out the window.
Wooseok took Ojun to a small traditional Korean restaurant on the outskirts of the city.
“…You know places like this?”
At Ojun’s question, Wooseok chuckled.
“Yes. Surprising, isn’t it?”
Wooseok agreed with a slightly smug tone. Ahem. Ojun cleared his throat and quickly entered the restaurant.
The restaurant had only one menu item: a set meal. When they sat down, neat side dishes made with seasonal ingredients and rice were brought out without them even ordering.
“I couldn’t eat what you’d call home cooking growing up. I found this place a few years ago and come occasionally. I guess this is what home cooking might be like?”
Wooseok said in a calm voice. Ojun became somewhat solemn. Having a home-cooked meal was quite a distant memory for Ojun too.
“Only a young master from a very good family would eat this kind of food as home cooking.”
Ojun tried to be contradictory. There were more than ten side dishes on the table. Wooseok smiled softly.
“Then what kind of home cooking did you usually eat?”
Wooseok asked with curiosity. Ojun tried to recall the home-cooked meals he often ate when his mother was healthy. They were modest, simple things.
“I think we often ate things like fried eggs… or stir-fried potatoes at our house. Nothing special.”
“I see.”
Wooseok nodded and then picked up some stir-fried potatoes from among the side dishes and placed them on top of Ojun’s rice bowl.
“…What are you doing?”
“Should I ask them to fry an egg too?”
Wooseok responded brazenly to Ojun’s question. Ojun quickly looked around to see if there were any restaurant staff nearby.
“Be quiet.”
Ojun warned through gritted teeth, and Wooseok didn’t say anything more, just smiled. Ojun hesitated for a moment, then used his spoon to eat the stir-fried potatoes placed on top of his rice. Wooseok quietly watched Ojun.
When the meal was finished, omija tea with floating ice cubes was served. The table was cleared.
“You can say what you wanted to say now.”
Wooseok said. Now that the stage was set, Ojun found it difficult to speak. After thinking for a bit, he opened his mouth.
“Let’s pretend that night never happened, shall we?”
Wooseok merely blinked once, as if he had been expecting this.
“You seem like a good person, Director. No, I can see now that you are a good person. But I’m not. So… I think it would be nice if we could just be decently good colleagues.”
Ojun rapidly spat out the words. And immediately regretted it. Why am I regretting this? Ojun felt confused.
“No.”
Compared to Ojun, Wooseok’s answer was concise and simple.
“What did you say?”
“I want to date you, Secretary Yoon.”
Wooseok’s expression was serene. How can it be so easy for him? Ojun felt foolish for having worried for days.
“I don’t want to, either.”
Ojun refused. Wooseok didn’t show any particular reaction and just stared at Ojun. They faced off with expressionless faces for a while. Then Wooseok’s phone rang.
“I need to return to the Center. I’ll drive you back.”
“No…”
“Please.”
Wooseok, who had asked to be allowed to drive Ojun back, let out a small sigh.
Ojun didn’t have the energy left to be even more unkind to someone he had just rejected. Ojun swallowed a sigh and nodded.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
