Chapter 84
That night. After returning home from hanging out with Ryu Jeong-ha as usual, I checked the notifications on my phone before going to bed. I deleted uninteresting messages and replied to texts and KakaoTalk messages that were awkward to ignore. Then I noticed a missed call from my brother.
I naturally recalled using my credit card a lot recently. Dating inevitably led to higher spending than usual. I wondered if he called to nag about that.
Feeling a bit nervous, I called my brother back.
—Hey.
“Hey.”
—Your credit card bills have been high lately.
So it was about that after all.
“Yeah, a bit.”
—You punk. What are you spending so much on?
“I spent it all on necessary things.”
I have to feed Ryu Jeong-ha. I need to buy him cute hats or bags when I see them. I need clothes to wear in front of Ryu Jeong-ha too. I only spent on essential things.
—I thought you were done with that “flexing” or whatever you were going on about last year. You’re still not over it?
My brother asked in an incredulous tone.
“I just had a lot of expenses while going to school. Did you call just to nag?”
—Yeah, you brat. If you want to earn your keep, come to Yongin and help out at the factory.
“Ah, why!”
Damn it. I knew this was coming. My face scrunched up as soon as I heard the word “factory.”
—You have a lot of free time during the break, right? It’s not like you’re working part-time. Come see Dad’s face too, son.
“Just because it’s a break doesn’t mean everyone’s free. I’m busy too.”
—You? What are you so busy with?
“I have things.”
I’m busy dating Ryu Jeong-ha.
“Anyway. I can’t this break. Just hire someone else.”
I have my own reasons that I can’t tell my brother about.
—I would if I could find someone. But the order volume is crazy right now, and even our current staff might leave. Come help out a bit.
“Ah, come on.”
—If you keep refusing, I’ll tell Dad to take away your card.
My brother knew my weakness too well. Shit. That absolutely can’t happen. I need to guarantee at least the basic expenses to hang out with Ryu Jeong-ha.
—I’m not just saying this, we really are short-staffed.
Unusually, my brother’s voice was firm, showing no intention of letting up. At any other time it might not matter, but right now, losing my card would be like losing everything. I haven’t even been to half the date locations I planned with Ryu Jeong-ha.
So I had no choice but to give in. Dad would let me do whatever if I made excuses about school, and my brother’s heart would soften quickly if I pretended to work hard for a few days and tell me to go rest. So I’d probably only need to sacrifice about two days.
The only thing that didn’t sit right was having to leave Ryu Jeong-ha alone while I helped at the factory in Yongin. Who will make his breakfast in the morning? What if that unpleasant manager bullies him?
I should have taken that office assistant part-time job instead of the one selling accessories or whatever. Then I could have prepared his lunch, worked in air conditioning, and not had to deal with difficult customers.
I had already asked around and found positions, but Ryu Jeong-ha stubbornly refused until the end, so I had to give the spots to other guys. He’s always so stubborn about things you wouldn’t expect.
And I like that stubbornness.
Shit. Am I a pervert?
‘I… like it here. With a four-day work week and six-hour shifts, I can spend the rest of the time with you. Of course, you’ll be busy too… but still, um.’
‘I don’t want to work long part-time hours because it reduces the time I can see you. So what if the manager’s gaze is a bit strange? The most important thing for me is securing time to hang out with you, Kwon-oh, during the break…’
What can I do when Ryu Jeong-ha says he wants to work part-time because he likes me?
No. From the beginning, he should have just stayed at my place, used my money, and leisurely drew pictures instead of working part-time.
After hanging up, I pondered when to tell Ryu Jeong-ha about going to Yongin.
The day after I reluctantly agreed to help with the factory work due to my brother’s pressure.
I was in a down mood all day at the thought of having to leave Seoul tonight.
On top of that, Ryu Jeong-ha looked incredibly pretty in his changed apron, which annoyed me.
I didn’t like how he smiled too nicely at customers either. It’s not like the manager is always watching anyway. He should slack off a bit. I was irritated that he worked so diligently without cutting corners – cleaning thoroughly, packaging carefully, and serving customers attentively.
I also don’t like how more female customers come when Ryu Jeong-ha is at the store.
What if they ask for his number? I can’t imagine how Ryu Jeong-ha would handle it. He probably wouldn’t be able to coldly reject them. He’d likely get flustered and make some excuse.
Now I understand what Ryu Jeong-ha meant before we started dating. He said he both liked and disliked how I was kind to girls. I didn’t get it then, but now that the positions are reversed, I totally agree.
Sigh. How can I go to Yongin leaving him behind? And if I’m helping at the factory, I won’t even be able to contact him often.
Should I call my brother now and say I can’t go? But Joo Kwon-young is so ruthless, he’d really freeze my card.
“Shit, that can’t happen.”
I need to show Ryu Jeong-ha only good things and feed him only good food. That’s impossible without my card. I can’t accept budget dating when it comes to Ryu Jeong-ha. So I had no choice but to go to Yongin.
Speak of the devil. Right as I was lost in thought, Dad called.
“Yeah.”
—Hey.
“What?”
—You’re coming to Yongin tonight, right?
“Yeah.”
—Okay. Let me know when you leave.
Having briefly stated his business, Dad hung up without saying goodbye.
I sighed, crumpling the printouts spread on the cafe table.
A cafe part-timer who knew my face from how often I hung around glanced at me as if they’d seen something strange as they passed by.
Late at night. Even after having dinner with Ryu Jeong-ha after his part-time job ended and fooling around at the playground for a while, I couldn’t bring myself to say I had to go to Yongin tonight. I didn’t want to ruin the good mood.
But when you think about it, there’s no need to feel so regretful. I was used to helping with Dad’s business before, and it was only going to be about two days apart.
When I return to Seoul, we can go eat delicious food again and spend time together as much as we want. Really, it was just two days.
But am I really crazy? Why do I feel so reluctant and sorry? I just can’t bring myself to say it.
“Oh right. I have three days off after working just two more days. What should we do then? Where should we go?”
Seeing Ryu Jeong-ha contemplating what to do on the holiday with such an expectant expression made me feel guilty.
To think I have to leave my peach behind. And on the day we received couple rings as gifts, of all days.
“Kwon-oh?”
“Ah. Actually, I need to go down to Yongin.”
I finally brought up the conversation I didn’t want to have while fiddling with the couple ring on my finger.
“When?”
“Tonight, after I drop you off.”
“T-tonight? Why so suddenly to your family home…”
“They say Dad’s factory is short-staffed. Looks like I need to go help urgently.”
Ryu Jeong-ha looked surprised, then nodded while hiding his disappointment. Then he spoke kindly as if it was okay.
“Then… it can’t be helped. Won’t it be very tiring to help at the factory?”
“Well. I’ll just go do some odd jobs and run errands. Carry materials if they tell me to, process things if they ask me to.”
Seeing that he was curious about what kind of work I mainly do at the factory, I explained various things. Focusing on processes that weren’t dangerous and were simple.
It was cute how he listened intently to the manufacturing processes I described, nodding occasionally with a serious expression, even though it must be an unfamiliar field. So I smiled a little inside despite feeling regretful.
Still unable to completely hide his disappointment, Ryu Jeong-ha cast his eyes down dejectedly. Watching the shadows of his long eyelashes fall on his white skin, I swallowed a sigh.
I have no choice if I want to feed you delicious things and buy you nice clothes.
To send Ryu Jeong-ha home first, I said goodbye at the apartment building.
“Alright, go inside now.”
“I want to see you get in a taxi on the main road before I go in.”
But the kid won’t listen. It’s late at night, but he says he wants to see me off until I get in a taxi.
What are you saying when we’re just a mouthful apart? Moreover, he’s so serious that I don’t know how to react.
“No. It’s too late.”
“It’s not even five minutes from here.”
“Just go in now.”
“No, I don’t want to.”
An expression that says he absolutely won’t back down. I can tell just by looking at his eyes now. Whether I can persuade him or not. Right now it’s the latter.
“Ah, what should I do with this stubborn kid.”
Maybe he’s not a water peach. Must be a hard peach.
We stood in silent confrontation for a while. I maintained the position that he should quickly go up to his room, while Ryu Jeong-ha insisted on seeing me get into the taxi to Yongin.
For me, it was incomprehensible why I should let Ryu Jeong-ha walk on the streets at this late hour.
Moreover, the girls I’ve dated before took it for granted that I would walk them home, so it’s surprising that this could even be a point of contention.
I’m living the high life having such a reliable boyfriend. I’ll live and see.
Anyway, one thing’s for sure – I can’t win against Ryu Jeong-ha.
“I give up. Let’s go to the main road. We’ll be up all night at this rate.”
“Yes!”
In the end, I was led to the main road by Ryu Jeong-ha. There were no people in the alleys due to the late hour. Thankfully, the streetlights were bright.
There were quite a few cars on the road. Seeing the taxi I called through an app coming from afar, Ryu Jeong-ha grabbed my collar and swallowed hard.
“Take care.”
“Okay. I’ll contact you tomorrow. It’ll be slower than usual.”
“That’s fine. You have to let me know when you arrive at your family home.”
“But it’ll be too late then.”
As the taxi stopped in front of us, Ryu Jeong-ha opened the car door for me and made me promise.
“I don’t mind, so call as soon as you arrive. Got it?”
Ah, so cute… no. So cool. That’s my boyfriend for you.
I fell for Ryu Jeong-ha all over again as I departed for Yongin.
A while later. When I arrived at my family home in the early morning, I immediately contacted Ryu Jeong-ha to let him know I arrived safely as I got out of the taxi.
As I unlocked the door to the family apartment I hadn’t visited in a while, Dad came out of the master bedroom with a drowsy expression, perhaps woken by the sound of my footsteps.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, go to sleep.”
“Okay.”
After greeting Dad, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, I went to my room. Then I lay down on the familiar bed, plugged my phone into the charger, and closed my eyes.
