#110
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Park Gyuhyeon grumbled with a tired face.
“This neighborhood seems to be out too. Sigh… how many days have we been doing this?”
“I’m sorry. Want to grab something to eat before heading back?”
“No thanks. I need to leave soon anyway, so what’s the point?”
Nam Seonwoo checked the time. It was about time for Kang Jihan to finish his exam. As Park Gyuhyeon said, today’s property hunt should probably end here.
“You’re not even denying it, you jerk… Anyway, Nam Seonwoo. Is it conscientious to make someone who’s finished their semester suffer like this?”
And you were whining to borrow a car from someone in the middle of finals, Nam Seonwoo thought, swallowing the words that rose to his throat and smiling awkwardly. He knew Park Gyuhyeon had been helping him for several days.
Being able to feel “togetherness” every day. Making Kang Jihan feel certain through that. Nam Seonwoo’s conclusion about this was simple.
It meant literally spending every day together. Starting the day together, returning to each other after finishing their daily routines, and ending the day together. There was no more certain method than that. So he planned to tell Kang Jihan—let’s live together.
Of course, he had proposed living together in his previous life too. But then and now were clearly different. Back then, it was simply out of a desire to “be together,” but now it came from a determination to “stay together.” Since the meaning and weight were different, he wanted to show it. That this wasn’t just empty talk.
“Hey. As your friend, I’m telling you to reconsider. What house are you talking about? Who would be happy if some guy who hasn’t even been to the military suddenly asks to live together? They’d just think you’re crazy.”
Nam Seonwoo silently stared at his friend. He wasn’t sure when he should mention that the other person was also a man, but it wasn’t the right time now. Solving Kang Jihan’s insomnia was more urgent.
But the current Nam Seonwoo was just a college student who would struggle even to get a loan, and the only resource he could immediately draw upon was the memory of his past life.
The year he turned thirty, his parents had handed him a bank account. The account in his name contained money his parents had diligently deposited every month for 30 years. They said they’d planned to give it to him when he got married, but since they probably wouldn’t see their son’s wedding, they wanted him and Jihan to use it for something nice—though the amount was quite substantial for just that.
So when he first brought up the account, his parents were surprised. But as always, they readily agreed. They said since it was his money, he could withdraw as much as he needed. Little did they know that “as much as needed” meant the entire amount.
“…Anyway, it is money they said I should use with Jihan.”
Perhaps because he’d regressed to age twenty-one, his thinking seemed less mature, but there was no helping it. He could pay them back double later for the guilt he felt now.
“Nam Seonwoo, this bastard is ignoring me again.”
Park Gyuhyeon now had a face full of concern.
“Listen to hyung. What if they don’t like the place we’ve found?”
“I think they’ll like it.”
“…Fine, I give up. Just don’t forget your promise. If they refuse, I really get to move into that place, right?”
Hearing the voice tinged with subtle anticipation, Nam Seonwoo secretly swallowed a sneer. Sorry, but there was no way Park Gyuhyeon would end up living with him. And right now, the priority wasn’t worrying about whether Kang Jihan would refuse, but finding a property first.
Being near the university district, all the good villas were already taken. There were one or two places he liked, but they were only available for move-in a few months later, so he had to exclude them. For Nam Seonwoo, the most important condition was the move-in date.
In two days, his mother would return from her business trip, and then he couldn’t keep staying at Kang Jihan’s place like this. He could already imagine Kang Jihan’s reaction. Even today, Kang Jihan didn’t want to take his final exam because he hated being apart for even that short time, so the sooner they could move in, the better.
But he never expected there would be so few available properties. Nam Seonwoo exhaled heavily. He wondered if he should have Kang Jihan come to his officetel for now, but that was the place he had run away from Kang Jihan. He didn’t want to suggest living together in a place with such meaning. It was also too small for living with Kang Jihan.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
[Kangji]
It seemed the exam was already over. When he glanced at Park Gyuhyeon, the latter nodded understandingly. He seemed to remember the promise to keep this a secret from Kang Jihan. Nam Seonwoo answered the phone in the most casual voice possible.
“Oh, are you done?”
“Where are you?” came the voice on the other end.
These calls that immediately asked for his location were now familiar. That’s why he had already left a message with the location. Though he hadn’t mentioned what they were doing.
“I’m still with Bakgyu. Want to come over here?”
Deliberately speaking confidently, he received a much softer voice in return.
“I’ll come.”
Park Gyuhyeon, who had been eavesdropping, started grumbling as soon as the call ended.
“What does Jihan like about this guy that he lets him ride that expensive car all the time?”
“Speaking of which, stop borrowing his car. Did you think we wouldn’t notice the scratch you left on the side last time?”
“J-Jihan didn’t say anything, so why are you complaining? Unbelievable. Hey, you should be nice to me. Honestly, didn’t I play a huge role in reconciling you and Jihan?”
“Jihan’s already being nice to you.”
“Jihaaaaan? Huh, when did you start talking like that… Forget it, just treat me to a meal. Somewhere really expensive.”
“I need to save money now.”
“You son of a—”
As they were bickering, his phone vibrated again. Thinking it might be Kang Jihan, Nam Seonwoo immediately checked it and tilted his head at the caller’s name on the screen. Park Gyuhyeon, who peeked at the screen too, snickered.
“Looks like your mother sensed you’re trying to do something crazy. Mother! Seonwoo is about to blow all his savings!”
“Just try saying that for real.”
Park Gyuhyeon shrugged his shoulders, indicating that he should answer the call quickly. As soon as Nam Seonwoo accepted the call, a cheerful voice erupted from the phone.
“Son! We finally have our return date!”
Mocking Park Gyuhyeon’s disappointed expression, Nam Seonwoo replied:
“When is it?”
“Next month! Do you know how much your father has been making a fuss about wanting kimchi? Please order some kimchi for when we arrive.”
“Okay. Tell me the date later, I’ll come pick you up.”
“Oh? That’s nice. But how would someone without a license do that?”
Nam Seonwoo belatedly realized his mistake. He had let slip a memory from his previous life when he used to drive his parents to and from the airport. Unfortunately, it seemed he wasn’t the only one who noticed the oddity.
“But you… something’s suspicious? The way you said you’d pick us up came out so naturally? Oh wait a minute! Hey! Could it be, are you dating?!”
“…”
“Oh, it must be true. Oh my! Honey! Seonwoo has a girlfriend! We might finally get to see grandchildren!”
From beside him came a choking sound. Park Gyuhyeon, who had been smirking, was now coughing as if he’d choked on something. He looked flabbergasted. Well, it made sense. It was already absurd that his friend suddenly wanted to live with his partner, but now his friend’s parents were taking it a step further by thinking about grandchildren—Park Gyuhyeon’s reaction was understandable.
“When we come to Korea this time, can we meet your girlfriend? Oh, do young people these days find this kind of thing burdensome?”
The voice full of excitement clearly showed how much she wanted to meet them. Was it because of the familiar voice? Suddenly, he recalled a phone call he had received at the funeral parking lot. Nam Seonwoo, who was habitually about to deny it, closed his mouth. Then he said:
“No, they’ll like it.”
“When should I introduce them?”
He couldn’t help but smile, remembering someone who had said that the very next day after they started dating two years ago. Although he wouldn’t be able to show them the grandchild they so desired, he was sure his parents would like Kang Jihan. After all, they were the ones who called Kang Jihan “son” when they learned he had no family to contact.
“I’ll bring them this time.”
I’m going to get beaten to death again, Nam Seonwoo inwardly swallowed. But well, if he got beaten with Kang Jihan, the pain would be distributed, so it should be fine. If things got really bad, he could hide behind Kang Jihan.
“My… my goodness. What did I just hear—h-honey! Where did you go? Nam Cheolmin!”
The booming voice gradually faded away, and shortly after, the call abruptly ended. After a moment of silence, Park Gyuhyeon muttered:
“What a coincidence that your mother is such a nice person.”
“Thanks for the compliment. I’ll pass it on.”
“But when are you going to introduce me?”
Hearing the slightly hurt tone, Nam Seonwoo chuckled.
“Are you curious?”
“Damn right I’m curious. I need to see what kind of incredible beauty would make Nam Seonwoo do such a crazy thing.”
“It’s someone you know.”
“What? Wow, was it a middle school classmate? Who? Did you meet at Korea University?”
“…Korea University is correct.”
“But how would I know someone from Korea University… Wait a minute.”
Horror spread across Park Gyuhyeon’s face.
“You, you don’t mean that woman you mentioned before…”
“…”
In a way, that was correct. Responding with a silent smile, Nam Seonwoo saw Park Gyuhyeon’s mouth fall open. He could guess what he was thinking. Given how he had nagged about condoms before and was now glaring as if looking at trash, he probably thought they had gotten into trouble because they hadn’t used protection. It seemed some explanation was needed, but in the distance, he spotted a familiar car.
“I have to go now. Thanks for today. If you hear from your father, text me.”
Today’s search had failed too, but fortunately, Park Gyuhyeon’s father was in real estate. After shooting a piercing glare for a while, Park Gyuhyeon eventually let out a big sigh and muttered:
“I’m helping because at least it seems like you’re taking responsibility.”
“Bakgyu.”
Nam Seonwoo looked at him for a moment before speaking.
“Come visit once we find a place.”
“If I do, will you personally serve me a home-cooked meal?”
“Well, sure. My partner is a good cook.”
As a look of contempt poured down on him as if saying “you’re even making your partner do that,” Nam Seonwoo finally burst into laughter.
There was no need to worry about Park Gyuhyeon. In his previous life, when he came out, Park Gyuhyeon had been in shock for one hour, and when he mentioned his boyfriend was Kang Jihan, another hour—a total of about two hours in shock. But after those two hours, he had suddenly said, “Let’s go eat.”
“I’ll introduce you then. To that incredible beauty.”
Still, he was curious. How many hours would it take this time?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
