Episode 39
“How’s the seasoning?”
With his mouth full, Si-yul couldn’t speak, so he gave a thumbs up instead. After finishing everything, including the sauce, he rolled up his sleeves, saying he’d do the dishes. However, he was outmatched by the dishwasher. Even though Woo Hyun-se said he’d take care of it, Si-yul insisted on keeping the dishes. After a quick pre-wash, all he had to do was put them in the machine. Surely he could manage that simple task.
“I can do it.”
“If you say so.”
He boldly took on the challenge, but being different from the model used at the store, he struggled for a while. Woo Hyun-se, unable to watch any longer, came over and gently pushed him away, saying that sitting quietly would be more helpful.
Sitting on a high chair, swinging his legs as if playing in a stream, Si-yul waited for the task to be finished. After tidying up, Woo Hyun-se took out a drink from the refrigerator. Recognizing the familiar packaging, Si-yul burst into bright laughter. He couldn’t help but laugh.
“When did you prepare this?”
“I didn’t know when Kwon Si-yul would come, so…”
Si-yul hadn’t expected to see this drink here. The smile wouldn’t leave his face. Whether at the table in front of the convenience store, in the car, or even at home, Woo Hyun-se always had bait to lure Si-yul.
“Did you treat others this well too?”
Suddenly, he was curious. Was Woo Hyun-se always this caring? Si-yul still remembered their first meeting. Woo Hyun-se was good at threatening and fighting. He had even slapped Si-yul. It wasn’t hard enough to send him flying, but it was enough to scare him.
Feeling as if that slapped cheek was stinging again, he absently rubbed it. Si-yul still didn’t know which was Woo Hyun-se’s true self.
“Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Well, I don’t remember.”
“You’re lying.”
“Does Kwon Si-yul remember in detail how he treated people from the past?”
You’d have to have people in your past to know that. Woo Hyun-se was his first, but there was no need to reveal that. In fact, despite his words, he didn’t seem to care much about Si-yul’s past.
“I don’t remember much either. But I still want to know. If you were originally a kind person.”
“I’ve never been called kind. I rarely cooked for others either. Usually, others did it for me.”
He said few people had tasted his cooking like this. Si-yul couldn’t help but laugh. He felt pleased. At the same time, he felt a tiny bit of jealousy. Towards those few who had tasted Woo Hyun-se’s cooking. Towards everyone who had seen Woo Hyun-se’s back in the kitchen and eaten the food he prepared.
“Next time, I’ll cook for you. Though I can only make ramen. Do you like ramen?”
“If Kwon Si-yul makes it, I’ll eat it.”
That meant he didn’t like it. Si-yul slid his head onto his arm as if drunk. His mouth curved into an uncontrollable grin. If he had been a person with a secondary gender, wouldn’t he be exuding pheromones right now?
He had heard from Kwon Yuwon. Alphas and Omegas leak pheromones when they’re very happy or very upset, regardless of their intentions. When emotions run high, it’s hard to control, he had said.
How was Woo Hyun-se feeling now?
“Mr. CEO, about pheromones… how is it now? Yuwon said that if you have a secondary gender, you can express your feelings through pheromones.”
He gathered the courage to ask. Woo Hyun-se took a sip of coffee and rested his chin on his hand, humming thoughtfully.
“What do you think?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
“I’m not going to answer.”
“Wow… Mr. CEO, you really have a bad personality.”
“You just realized? You’re quite slow.”
Si-yul wanted to beg him to tell. He wanted to smell that scent directly. He wanted to know what emotions Woo Hyun-se was feeling without him having to say. Just as he was about to open his mouth, an alarm sounded from afar, indicating that the laundry was done. As Woo Hyun-se got up, Si-yul pressed his parted lips together.
Woo Hyun-se said he was going to start the dryer, leaving Si-yul alone at the table. Si-yul fiddled with his cup before getting up and turning in the direction Woo Hyun-se had gone. Even for a very short while, the house was too big to be alone in.
Even after arriving in the neighborhood, Si-yul stayed in the car for a long time. Woo Hyun-se didn’t send him away, and Si-yul didn’t want to part so quickly either. But when Kwon Yuwon called around 2 AM, he couldn’t delay any longer.
After bickering about who should leave first, they finally decided with rock-paper-scissors. Although Woo Hyun-se’s forehead clearly showed his distaste for such childish behavior at his age, Si-yul didn’t mind. It was far better than putting off going home, spending the night in the car, and getting an earful from Kwon Yuwon.
“I’ve done all sorts of things since meeting Kwon Si-yul.”
“Hurry up.”
Urged on, Woo Hyun-se reluctantly held out his hand. The first round was a tie, and in the second, Woo Hyun-se showed scissors while Si-yul showed rock. As Si-yul cheered, Woo Hyun-se rested his cheek on his fist, elbow propped on the window frame. He looked thoroughly sulky.
“Are you that happy?”
“It’s nice to win. Go on now. I’ll go in after I see you leave.”
“I won’t lose next time.”
“Yes, yes.”
Si-yul got out of the car. Before he did, Woo Hyun-se grabbed his collar and rubbed his lips until they were red, as a parting gift.
After the car had completely disappeared, Si-yul turned around. Although they had met for lunch and parted the next dawn, it didn’t feel like they had spent that much time together. Si-yul absurdly suspected that the clock had run about three times faster than usual without his knowledge.
Even though they had just parted, he wanted to see him again. Si-yul took a few steps and then looked back at where Woo Hyun-se’s car had been parked. It was empty now, with only the streetlight illuminating the vacant spot.
He had sent Woo Hyun-se away saying he should go quickly, but here he was, standing in place. The cheeks that had been warmly heated in the car were cooling down, but Si-yul couldn’t easily take a step.
He had wanted to spend the night together.
“…”
Instead of dwelling on his regret, Si-yul raised his arm and pulled up his sleeve, taking a long, deep breath. Although the pheromones would be gone due to the deodorizer, the faint scent of fabric softener that had lingered on Woo Hyun-se’s clothes was now wafting from his own clothes.
Si-yul pulled up both sleeves to cover his hands completely and buried his face in them.
With his face hidden, he grinned. Perhaps because the fabric softener smelled similar to flowers, despite it being the beginning of winter, he felt as if he were standing in the middle of a flower field in full bloom on a spring day.
* * *
The hand wiping the table gradually slowed and then stopped. Si-yul sighed blankly, his palms resting on the table. The text message he had seen this morning kept flashing before his eyes, making it difficult to concentrate on work.
[I’m going on a short trip]
It was a message from Kwon Yuwon. Si-yul had called immediately upon seeing it, but there was no answer. He had searched the closet first. Some of Kwon Yuwon’s clothes and belongings were missing. The backpack he cherished was gone too. It was certain he had left of his own will.
[When will you be back?]
He sent this, and soon received a reply. Fortunately, it seemed Yuwon could text even if he couldn’t answer calls.
[In a month]
Such a long trip. Si-yul furiously typed on his phone with both hands. They had never been apart for so long except during military service. They had applied for joint enlistment, but due to their secondary gender differences, they were assigned to different units.
[Where are you going for so long?]
[I’m going to look around here and there before I get any older. And look for a place for us to live]
[You said before that you were okay with living in the countryside]
[It’s too expensive there, I don’t think we could afford a house even if we worked our whole lives]
The conversation they had while drinking at the convenience store suddenly flashed through his mind. The frustration they had vented, pounding the table and complaining about the ever-increasing deposit prices.
When they had left the orphanage, they had been determined to settle in this city no matter what, but the reality was that with their income, they could barely afford to rent, let alone buy a house. Kwon Yuwon, of all people, must have known this fact.
But Si-yul felt hurt that he had left without saying a word. He complained via text, asking why Yuwon had left without telling him. The night before, Yuwon hadn’t shown any signs of leaving. They had eaten dinner and gone to bed as usual.
Wondering if he had missed something Yuwon had said, Si-yul tried to recall their conversation as they lay side by side the night before. He had fallen asleep quickly due to exhaustion, and what little conversation they had was mostly in a half-asleep state.
‘…sorry.’
What was he sorry for? Worried that Yuwon might have accepted that delivery job offer from before, Si-yul asked about it first.
[No]
[I’m just going to travel and come back.]
Even when asked where, Yuwon only said he’d tell later. When asked if he was in debt or being chased by someone, he denied it.
[Don’t worry]
[I don’t lie to you]
[I just need a breather. I’ll be back in exactly a month]
Yuwon had been looking unwell recently. He often grumbled about work being tough. Sometimes he even had trouble sleeping. There were times when Si-yul would wake up to rustling in the middle of the night and find Yuwon sitting quietly against the wall, staring out the window.
[If anything happens, make sure to contact me]
Although it was unsettling that this was the first time Yuwon had disappeared without a word, Si-yul couldn’t say much since Yuwon said he needed a breather. It also upset him that he hadn’t noticed Yuwon’s feelings earlier, despite living so closely together.
