Seo Jae-ha, rarely thrown off, froze. What the hell did that mean? Third-person future tense? Sure, some people talked that way, but Ju Hae-hyun—now, in this situation?
Even if he tried to dismiss it, the words wouldn’t leave his head. Did he just draw a line with me? That indifferent attitude—that whether Jae-ha had a girlfriend or not had nothing to do with him—left him stunned.
When Jae-ha didn’t answer, Hae-hyun’s grip tightened. Through their joined hands, Jae-ha felt bones shift and muscles twitch. His own fingers, ready to slip free under the pressure, were suddenly caught and pulled back, Hae-hyun’s hold insistent, almost obsessive.
“Wait. Ju Hae-hyun.”
“It’s Hae-hyun.”
“Fine, Hae-hyun. What did you just say?”
At the blunt question, Hae-hyun’s body stiffened slightly. But those words—there was no way Jae-ha could accept them. He peeled himself away from the body that had been pressed so close, stepped back a couple of paces, and folded his arms.
“You want me to get a girlfriend?”
“…That’s for you to decide, sunbae.”
“Oh, so it’s my problem?”
The sarcasm hit sharp. His narrowed eyes locked on Hae-hyun’s back, still turned as if he were busy cooking.
“And you think it’s okay to turn your back on me while we’re talking?”
“You were hungry, so I…”
“Cut it. Thanks to you, I’ve lost my appetite. Now look at me.”
Hae-hyun stood rigid for a moment, trying to resist, but when Jae-ha refused to let it go, he finally turned reluctantly. Like a scolded child, his gaze dropped to the floor instead of meeting Jae-ha’s. Generously, Jae-ha let that slide.
“Were you serious? Telling me to go date?”
“I didn’t exactly put it like that…”
His voice shrank smaller and smaller, but the meaning was the same.
Unbelievable. Jae-ha could feel irritation boiling in his chest.
“Weren’t you the one who told me not to date your sister?”
“That’s… because you and noona really don’t match.”
“And with someone else, it’s fine?”
“…That’s not really my business, is it?”
Shockingly, he sounded completely serious. This wasn’t some push-and-pull game—he actually meant it?
You’re telling me to just date anyone?
“How is that none of your business?”
“Why are you getting mad? I just—”
The more they talked, the more frustration built, heavy in his chest like something he couldn’t digest. He tried to steady his breathing before speaking, but it barely helped.
“So I don’t matter to you at all?”
“Sunbae—”
How can you just draw that line with me?
“We live together, don’t we?”
“That’s… only because of the curse…”
How could he say that?
“So if it weren’t for the curse, none of this would’ve happened? That’s all it is to you?”
How could he?
“…It really couldn’t be helped. I asked for your understanding back then too. Sticking close was the most efficient way…”
Even now, Hae-hyun didn’t deny it, didn’t even try to clarify. He acted like there was nothing to explain.
The one unraveling was Jae-ha. He wanted to cut him off, to shut him up. That’s not it. You know that’s not it. His head buzzed, boiling with impatience and anger.
“It’s true. I really—”
And then it burst out. A mess of pride and stubbornness too bitter to swallow.
“You like me.”
Hae-hyun froze, eyes wide. A beat later, Jae-ha realized what he’d just said—and he froze too.
Silence. Absolute. Not even the sound of breathing.
Jae-ha forced his face smooth, fighting down the twist in his expression. This… isn’t what I meant to say. Regret poured in like floodwater, but the words were already out.
A confession, blurted out in anger. Humiliation didn’t even begin to cover it.
Why do I always end up like a kid in front of him… He wanted to bolt, but his eyes snagged instead on a kitchen knife lying haphazardly behind Hae-hyun. He stared at it blankly—when Hae-hyun suddenly flinched, snapping back.
“N-no, that’s not true!”
Even Seo Jae-ha couldn’t help looking up at that. His head whipped toward him, glare sharp. Hae-hyun, flustered, waved his hands frantically.
“Me? Like you, sunbae? No way! What are you even talking about?”
“……”
Jae-ha shut his mouth. Already rewriting his record of humiliations, and now to get denied like this? Shame clawed at him so deep he almost wished he’d pass out.
His vacant eyes bored into Hae-hyun, who only doubled down.
“I definitely don’t like you. Well—I mean, I do like you, but not in that way! Never once thought about it. I swear!”
Excuse me? That was going too far.
Even drowning in embarrassment, his pride reared its head. So that’s how it was—he’d never once thought of Jae-ha that way? Not even a little?
“…Really? You’ve never wanted to go out with me?”
“You think just because I don’t have a girlfriend, I was waiting for you? I just don’t have anyone I like right now, that’s all.”
“I see.”
Not noticing the gloom in Jae-ha’s tone, Hae-hyun hurried to plead his innocence, face earnest. Jae-ha blinked slowly, uncrossed his arms, and slipped a hand into his pocket, brushing against his phone.
“Guess I misunderstood. Sorry.”
“…Sunbae?”
“I’ll eat out. Just remembered I had plans.”
“Wait, sunbae—”
Ignoring him, Jae-ha headed for the door. His chest was bubbling over with unsaid words, but on the surface he kept calm.
A blatant escape.
***
“What’s this? You never call me out like this.”
At a barbecue joint not far from campus, Ji-hyang spotted him instantly. Jae-ha sat alone at a table, no bag, just a coat thrown over casual clothes. She plopped into the empty seat, the chair clattering lightly.
The sound pulled his head up. He turned slowly toward her, eyes dull, and she flinched.
“…What’s wrong with you? Something happen?”
“Just… wanted a drink.”
His voice was flat, but she didn’t buy it. Jae-ha never initiated meetups, let alone invited her out for alcohol. In all their years at university, this was a first.
“Alright. Then drink.”
He didn’t look ready to talk yet. She poured him a glass of soju. He tossed it back in one gulp, face blank, hand already extending the glass again. Clicking her tongue, she slid him a water cup.
“Drink water too, or you’ll wreck your stomach.”
He wordlessly downed the water as well. Yeah, this was serious. Ji-hyang already knew she wouldn’t be getting home early tonight.
It wasn’t until two bottles of soju later that Jae-ha finally spoke.
The meat, hardly touched, piled up in his dish, while hers was long gone from steadily eating as it grilled.
“I was… actually seeing someone.”
“……”
If things had gone well, he wouldn’t have dragged her here for a pity drink. She kept quiet, waiting. But he shoved her straight into it.
“But it fell apart.”
“…We’re out of soju. Hold on.”
She raised her hand to order more. He stared blankly at the half-scorched grill, still oddly neat despite how much he’d drunk. Not even a hint of alcohol clung to him, unlike everyone else in the restaurant.
Sometimes life really was unfair. She sighed, pouring him more water along with his drink. Soon their table was packed with bottles.
“So why? You said last time you didn’t get dumped.”
She’d teased him before, but she never thought he would be rejected. Not Seo Jae-ha. She’d never once seen that happen—and from what she’d observed, the other person clearly had feelings too.
Staring at the rim of his glass, he muttered flatly,
“They said they don’t like me.”
“…What?”
“Said it was all in my head.”
