Chapter 36
With a cheerful notification sound, the dryer stopped moving. Yuwon, who had been sitting on the sofa, went to the utility room and took out the blankets and pillowcases from the dryer, holding them in his arms. He spread out the well-dried sheets on the bed with a snap, and put pillowcases on both pillows. The fresh scent from the white fabric naturally lifted his mood.
After the particularly cold late frost had passed, the weather had finally become worthy of being called spring. Today he organized the clothes he had worn all winter and took the opportunity to wash the bedding as well. It was the minimum preparation for welcoming a new season.
After finishing organizing the bedroom, Yuwon headed back to the living room. It was to close the window he had left open for ventilation.
Now, even with the window open, it was only a bit chilly, not cold. Yuwon grabbed the window frame and deliberately took a deep breath, savoring the outside air. Looking down, he could see new buds sprouting on the bare tree branches, and people wearing stylish outerwear instead of thick coats. Just watching the lively scenery made his whole body feel restless.
Ah, I’m bored.
After looking out the window for a while, Yuwon muttered quietly.
Lately, his relationship with Jeonghyeok couldn’t be better. Every day they spent together felt like a date, and they never had even small fights.
The problem was after Jeonghyeok left for work. No matter how diligently he did housework, it was at most a house for two people. By morning, the housework was finished, and after taking care of lunch, it was entirely time alone.
Watching TV and using his phone was fine for a day or two, but now it was boring. Perhaps because he had lived moving around actively, the life of being cooped up at home didn’t suit his personality.
How much must he have wanted it to even consider raising a cat, something he’d never wanted in his life? Although he had brought it up drowsily last night, it was a topic he had seriously considered.
‘Taking care of pets isn’t ordinary work. Let’s talk about it again later.’
Just in case, he had asked Jeonghyeok once more as he left for work, but the reaction was lukewarm. Well, what more could he ask for when he was living off someone else’s generosity? When ajeossi said no, it was right to give up cleanly.
Yuwon, who had let out a deep sigh, lay face down on the sofa and took out his phone.
On SNS, which he hadn’t even glanced at before but had been accessing occasionally lately, updates from distant friends poured out. They were people he had been quite close with before, but hadn’t contacted in so long that it was ambiguous to call them acquaintances.
While scrolling down without much interest, Sohyeon’s post caught his eye. It seemed to be a photo taken at a cafe. Her appearance, smiling innocently against a large monstera plant, was unmistakably that of a college student.
College student. If I had been born into an ordinary family and grown up ordinarily, would I have become a college student too? Since I studied well even without any private tutoring, if I had worked hard, I might have gone to a university in Seoul.
At the depressing hypothetical that suddenly occurred to him, Yuwon widened his eyes and snapped back to reality.
There was nothing more foolish than feeling sad while thinking about things that had already passed. Since college was never an option in his life to begin with, it was right not to even have regrets about it.
Yuwon deliberately moved his fingers to send a message to Sohyeon. It was a half-impulsive action.
[Noona!! How are you? How’s school?]
Since she was such a capable person, she was probably doing well in school life too. After sending the message, Yuwon entered Sohyeon’s account and looked at her posts. Most were photos taken with friends somewhere fun. Then, a reply came from Sohyeon.
[Whoa Yuwon! I’m doing well of course.]
[School is the same as always lol How about you? Are you doing well?]
Happy to hear from her, he quickly typed that he was doing well too. The read receipt appeared immediately and a reply flew back.
[Did you find a new part-time job? I want to visit you at work]
Come to think of it, when Cheolpan-jip closed down, he had promised Sohyeon that they should definitely meet sometime. Several months had already passed since then.
[I’m not working and taking a break for a bit~ I have plenty of time so let’s meet when you have time, noona!]
After sending the message, this time a call came. Wondering why she was suddenly calling, Yuwon answered Sohyeon’s call with wide eyes.
“Noona?”
—What’s this, Kim Yuwon. You have so much time but why are you only contacting me now? I thought you were super busy so I couldn’t even contact you.
The content was reproach, but her voice was full of playfulness. Yuwon smiled softly and said he was sorry. Then Sohyeon made an unexpected suggestion.
—Can you meet right now then?
“Right now?”
—Yeah. I’ll arrive at the station in about 20 minutes. Let me see your face for the first time in a while before going home. Is it too sudden?
“Uh…”
Yuwon bolted upright from his lying position. Then the sky outside the window came into view as if it would pour down. It was such good weather that it felt unfair to just lie here like this.
Should I go out and get some fresh air for the first time in a while? There was still time before Jeonghyeok would come, and he wanted to see Sohyeon too. Having endured oppression together under Boss Park, there was a certain affectionate feeling with Sohyeon. He was also very grateful to her for taking care of him like a real younger brother since they were the same age.
After thinking that far, his bright voice came out, making his previous hesitation seem pointless.
“I have time. I was actually super bored anyway.”
—Wow, the great Kim Yuwon is bored? That’s unusual?
Sohyeon made an exaggerated voice as if it was unbelievable. Hearing Sohyeon’s lively voice for the first time in a while made him feel happy. Yuwon grinned and got up from the sofa.
“Noona, do you know the new cafe in front of the station?”
—Oh, I know it. You mean the two-story one, right?
“Yes. How about meeting there?”
—If it’s close to the station, that’s good for me. Let’s meet there then.
After hanging up, Yuwon hurriedly started preparing to go out. After roughly fixing his hair and finding clothes to wear, a little over 10 minutes had passed. Since Sohyeon said it would take about 20 minutes to reach the station, if he left now, the timing would be perfect.
Then, the phone he had put in his pocket rang. It was Jeonghyeok. Yuwon answered the phone immediately, feeling like “oops.” He had been excited about the sudden appointment and forgotten to inform Jeonghyeok.
“Ajeossi.”
When he called Jeonghyeok cheerfully, a voice mixed with laughter came from the other side.
—Your voice sounds good.
“Does it?”
—Very much. What delicious thing did you eat for lunch to sound like that? Did you eat snacks again?
The way he slightly raised his tone at the end showed a clear intention to tease. Jeonghyeok scolded Yuwon for sometimes substituting meals with snacks instead of proper food. He was just probing to see if that was the case today too.
“No. What do you think I am, some little kid?”
As if Yuwon’s indignation was amusing, more chuckling sounds came from the other side. Yuwon adjusted his grip on the phone and went to the entrance.
“I was actually going to contact ajeossi anyway, so this worked out well.”
—Why.
“You know Sohyeon noona, right? The noona who helped me a lot when I worked at Cheolpan-jip.”
Yuwon continued while forcing his feet into his frequently worn sneakers.
“I contacted her for the first time in a while, and she happened to have time today, so we decided to meet at the cafe in front of the house.”
—Now?
“Yes. I’m about to leave now.”
After checking if his shoelaces were tied properly, he was just reaching for the door handle when the phone seemed too quiet. Yuwon called out to Jeonghyeok, who wasn’t answering.
“Ajeossi?”
—Yeah.
“Didn’t you hear me?”
With a beep, the door opened along with the sound of the door lock being released. At the same time, Jeonghyeok said.
—I heard. When are you coming home?
His voice seemed to have sunk lower than before, but Yuwon didn’t pay much attention to it. Pressing the elevator button firmly, he answered Jeonghyeok’s question.
“Um… I don’t think it’ll take long. I’ll just have a cup of coffee and come back.”
—I’ll get off work early, so don’t come back late.
“Yes. I will.”
The call ended shortly after Yuwon’s answer. Yuwon looked down at the disconnected phone and pouted his lips. His face was clearly reflected in the darkly flickering screen.
He’s so cold anyway.
Even after completely opening his heart, Jeonghyeok still retained his cold aspects. No matter how much it was his personality, at times like this, it seemed like nothing had changed from before.
Could it be that ajeossi hasn’t given me his whole heart yet? I’ve already given everything and have nothing left.
“……”
He wanted to say that he missed ajeossi, that he was too lonely alone and hoped evening would come soon. While considering whether to leave even one message with his feelings, Yuwon put his phone back in his pocket.
It’s not like I’m advertising that I’m dying of love alone. They say everyone becomes a fool in front of love, but he didn’t want to become that much of a fool.
Let’s not think too deeply. Yuwon resolved and got off the elevator. When he left the building, the refreshing wind penetrated deep into his lungs.
It was just going to a nearby cafe, but he felt inexplicably excited. It was his first outing in a long time.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
