Can Love Be Transferred Too? 57

#57

Jin Woohyeon’s existence is exactly like magic. When I listen to his words, it feels like everything will work out well, as if there are no problems that can’t be solved.

How could he not be magic when he suggests things I’ve never even imagined and readily smiles, saying I deserve to enjoy all of it?

However, if there was one problem, it was that there was a process I absolutely had to go through to reach the dazzling future Jin Woohyeon suggested. And I was in that process…

Crisis also came to me as I diligently walked toward Jin Woohyeon. Just like right now.

“What to do.”

A smugly teasing voice settled in my ear.

“You avoided me because you hated talking to me that much, but it became meaningless, didn’t it?”

“…”

“What, are you trying to run away even now?”

I stared quietly at Lee Chan in front of me.

He pretends to tease me, but in reality, Lee Chan himself is the one who’s irritated. Even if others couldn’t tell, I could see it all.

Lee Chan always wanted himself to be at the center of the world, so he terribly hated having his initiative taken away.

‘That’s why he dated me for so long.’

Because I wasn’t someone who would damage any of the things he wanted to protect. Troublesome pride battles and meaningless emotional tug-of-wars always became useless in front of me, who was always consistent.

Lee Chan liked that stability, so no matter how much he looked elsewhere, he had no choice but to eventually return to my side.

However, I chose change. I began to slowly tear down the Yoo Sanho who desperately clung to Lee Chan with my own hands.

That fact must have considerably upset Lee Chan. The X who desperately clung to him disappeared, and he also grew distant from the longtime friend who naturally accepted his complaints. Even his image management was in trouble as his relationship with some residents became strained due to fighting with me.

Not only did things not go his way, but he was full of worrying matters, so it would be a situation where he couldn’t help but be dissatisfied.

‘It’s not my concern anymore, whatever.’

So.

“Don’t take your anger out on me, Chan.”

I said in a calm voice.

“Are you angry that I said I didn’t want to talk to you? Why are you angry? Isn’t it possible to dislike something…”

I was about to ask if I should have obediently followed whenever he said he wanted to talk, but I stopped. The Yoo Sanho that Lee Chan knew was always like that, so for him, not doing so was stranger.

Right, who can I blame? I’m also responsible for spoiling your habits.

“…Anyway, it can’t be helped, so let’s finish this quickly.”

“Why? Now you don’t even want to look at my face?”

“Well…”

Wouldn’t it not be entirely pleasant? Only then did I finally understand why the past me who persistently contacted and tried to meet him would block him. When you need distance but the other person doesn’t allow it, it’s more suffocating than expected.

Actually, I didn’t dislike it that much. After all, he was someone I liked my whole life, so how could I hate him overnight?

That’s why I avoid him even more. In case my heart becomes weak. In case my desire to change wavers and I try to mark time without progress again.

Because I hate being fooled by familiarity and returning to being that foolish Yoo Sanho who bustles around saying he’ll take care of you instead of himself again.

“If you don’t like me avoiding you, there’s a way to act less hatefully toward me.”

I sighed deeply and said.

“But you can’t do that. No, you won’t do that.”

If that were possible, he wouldn’t be Lee Chan.

“That’s why I’m avoiding you, so Chan, you should also stop caring about me and live your life.”

You even have An Lei, who you’re doing so well with that you’re secretly dating, so what’s an X who said she wouldn’t give you any room?

‘It’s not like you suddenly feel sorry…’

When I quietly pouted, Lee Chan smiled coldly and asked.

“Yoo Sanho has grown up a lot? Even showing me you dislike me.”

“…”

“But isn’t this not the right timing to sulk? If you want to go on a good date, you need to make a good impression on me.”

I eventually sighed again, and Lee Chan’s expression became triumphant.

How did I end up facing this guy like this… It was naturally because of the production team.

‘Heart-to-Heart Date’.

The first event of week 3 of <Can Love Be Transferred Too?> was a date with someone chosen by your X. So participants had to tell their X who they had in mind and persuade them to nominate that person.

Like me and Lee Chan occupying the first-floor living room, other X couples would also be gathered throughout the dorm for partner selection meetings. Hwang Yeonwoo and Kim Sehyeong would be in the garden, Han Jiwon and Bae Taeseong in the third-floor laundry room.

Then probably An Lei would be in one of two places – either the rooftop or the second floor. And his X…

“What’s your relationship with Jin Woohyeon?”

As soon as I thought of those three syllables in my head, Lee Chan opened his mouth. Feeling a bit guilty, I said a beat late.

“…Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“It’s not like it’s a question I can’t ask, so what’s the big deal?”

Lee Chan shrugged.

“It’s fascinating because he’s not usually the type you’d get along with, yet you’re acquaintances. You’re going to ask me to nominate Jin Woohyeon, right?”

That was correct. If I had to choose one person to go on a date with, Jin Woohyeon came to mind first right now. The benefit date with him was enjoyable, and I was looking forward to getting to know more about him in the future.

“Do you really like him?”

It was a strange question. Not just the content, but the nuance was even more so. Wasn’t he asking as if liking him was strange and excessive?

“Is it wrong to like him?”

Jin Woohyeon was a kind person. Of course, even if the attraction he had toward me made up the biggest part of the reason, I often saw him getting along well with others while bickering.

“I think he’s a good person, and I’m curious about him too.”

At Lee Chan’s reproachful gaze, I frowned slightly.

“That’s allowed. That’s what this program was made for.”

“It would be allowed. That’s what this program was made for, that’s also right. But you didn’t come here for that.”

“…”

“Since when did you become someone who purely engages with the program’s purpose, is what I’m asking.”

My heart was helplessly pierced by the sharp dissatisfaction that rose like thorns from Lee Chan’s words.

What really hurt wasn’t that he blamed me for going beyond his expected range. It was because the cause of his twisted mood couldn’t be jealousy, a sense of loss, or even guilt.

You’re not disappointed, you’re frustrated. You think my changing hurts your pride. Even though you wouldn’t make room for me even if I desperately clung to you like usual.

Because I won’t quietly let myself be used as evidence of your charm here.

“…Lee Chan.”

I, who once said I liked even that heartless side because it was clever and realistic, only now realize how blind, meaningless, and even stupid that was.

When I realized that what I had left as if it were my own eyes my whole life was actually incredible infatuation, this moment even felt futile.

“You really…”

Are a bastard. I put those words on the tip of my tongue and rolled them around gently, then swallowed them. Something bitter and astringent passed through my throat and settled unpleasantly around my solar plexus.

Still, this was better. Whatever it was, pouring it out on Lee Chan felt like a waste.

“You’re right. I came to catch you. Just imagining that you might do well with someone else made me so unpleasantly crazy, but still, I could see your face. That was so desperate for me… so I followed you here pathetically until the end.”

A thread-like possibility. Why was that vain thing so heartbreaking and regrettable?

“I wanted to get a last chance too, and I also wanted to truly realize it wouldn’t work and be convinced… whatever it was, I wanted to give up cleanly. I thought even someone like me would give up if the possibility was 0 percent.”

“…”

“But now it’s enough.”

Whether the possibility left for me was 0 percent, 10 percent, or 99 percent. That was no longer important. No, it became meaningless. Because I was no longer curious or regretful.

“I’m going to stop.”

“…”

“If you don’t want to nominate Woohyeon, you can nominate anyone else, I don’t care. I won’t resent you even if the matching doesn’t work out once.”

I didn’t have the enthusiasm to hate him, and it was after I had regained my reason to foolishly hope it might be because he didn’t want to lose me.

“You’re going to ask me to nominate Lei, right? I’ll take care of that for you.”

“…Hey, Yoo Sanho.”

“Do you really like Jin Woohyeon?”

“…”

“That’s right. I like him. I’m attracted to him. He’s a much better person than you.”

Because of the weight of the time we spent together. Because of that damn inertia, even though a corner of my heart still stings when I look at you.

“So I want to try to do well with him.”

Still, you’ve now become a process rather than my goal.