Chapter 51
Cha Yoon, having finished his workout earlier than usual, sat on the first-floor sofa. He held his car keys in one hand.
The reason he was sitting there, even changing his routine, was simple. To have the conversation he couldn’t have with Ki Seo-jung earlier that morning.
Although his appearance suggested he didn’t feel he had more than enough time, time itself was relative. In other words, for Cha Yoon, last night had felt incredibly long.
Today, no matter what, I have to talk to him. Determined, Cha Yoon didn’t take his eyes off the stairs.
Before long, Ki Seo-jung came down the stairs. He was startled to find the large Cha Yoon sitting on the sofa, just as he had been in the early morning. Cha Yoon, who had been staring at him intently, stretched out his long legs and stood up, like a loyal dog waiting only for Ki Seo-jung.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes.”
Cha Yoon twirled his fingers, making sure the car keys were visible. Seo-jung’s face showed confusion as he stared at Cha Yoon’s flashy hand movements.
“I’ll take you.”
“What?”
“Let’s go. Together.”
As Cha Yoon nodded towards the entrance, Seo-jung frowned. From his perspective, it was a bewildering proposal.
Is he trying to make things difficult for me even on my way to work now? All sorts of thoughts ran through his mind. He had thought last night had passed without incident, but seeing Cha Yoon’s damp bangs, it seemed he had already finished his morning workout and had been waiting.
What on earth does he want to say…? Seeing him act so enthusiastically made Seo-jung’s head throb.
“No, thanks.”
“What do you mean, ‘no thanks’?”
Ah… Momentarily flustered, Seo-jung rubbed his face. He had intended to decline gently. But contrary to his intention, his voice came out abruptly. It was a mix of bewilderment and slight anxiety.
“I mean, you don’t have to take me. It’s fine.”
“I’m not fine with it. We have things to talk about, don’t we?”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“How can you have nothing to say?”
“What am I supposed to talk about with you, Cha Yoon?”
At Seo-jung’s words, Cha Yoon’s expression twisted in disbelief. What do you mean, what are we supposed to talk about? We have so much to discuss. He let out a hollow laugh and gripped his car keys tightly.
“I have a lot to say. Do you really have nothing to say to me, Ki Seo-jung?”
“I told you, I don’t.”
A light argument ensued. They kept their voices down, worried about waking others. Cha Yoon moved a step closer to Ki Seo-jung. His plan was to get him outside first. He grabbed Seo-jung’s wrist.
“Let’s go out first. We’ll talk on the way.”
“Why are you doing this? I told you, I don’t…”
“Oh, you two are up?”
At that moment, Shin Da-bin came out of her room with the sound of a door opening. Ki Seo-jung looked at Shin Da-bin as if she were a savior. As soon as Seo-jung’s face lit up at the sight of Da-bin, Cha Yoon frowned. Ignoring the contrasting expressions of the two, Da-bin approached with a smile.
“Are you heading to work?”
“Yes, I’m about to leave.”
“I’m heading out too. You’re going to the airport, right? Let’s go together. I’ll give you a ride.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
Seo-jung nodded at Da-bin’s words. This scenario wasn’t in Cha Yoon’s plan. He quickly interjected between the two.
“What are you talking about? Shin Da-bin, aren’t you on a break from work? You’re not going all the way to Incheon, are you?”
Even if she had some business to attend to, it felt like she was interfering with his time with Seo-jung without being able to take full responsibility for him. Da-bin smiled at Cha Yoon, who was on edge.
“As it happens, I have a quick errand at the airport. I thought we could carpool.”
In other words, Cha Yoon’s concern was unnecessary. He gritted his teeth at the word ‘carpool’ that came out of Shin Da-bin’s mouth.
“What carpool? Besides, Ki Seo-jung already promised to go with me. Right?”
“…”
“Isn’t that right? You’re carpooling with me, aren’t you?”
He hated losing the initiative more than anything. Today, Seo-jung’s commute should have been his. Cha Yoon looked down at Ki Seo-jung with blazing eyes, as if demanding him to agree right away.
Seo-jung looked at Cha Yoon and then pressed the corners of his eyes. While he didn’t want to talk with him, what was even more terrifying was the thought of Cha Yoon driving. It was Seo-jung’s trauma that would never heal. Slowly lowering his hand, Seo-jung spoke.
“Cha Yoon, I’ll go with Da-bin.”
“You heard her? She’s going with me… Wait, what did you say?”
“I said I’m going with Da-bin.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Da-bin, can I ask for a favor?”
Even when he asked in disbelief, Seo-jung’s answer didn’t change. Cha Yoon fell silent. He had thought Seo-jung would naturally agree to go with him. But his expectation was shattered mercilessly.
“Thanks for offering to take me. I appreciate the thought.”
Get some rest. Ki Seo-jung added before following Shin Da-bin. Cha Yoon, left staring at their retreating figures, roughly ran his hand through his hair. Shit. He felt absolutely awful.
Left alone, Cha Yoon stood there like a defeated soldier.
One hour from X House to Incheon Airport. What kind of time is an hour? It was more than enough time for two former lovers to break the ice with an awkward “How have you been?”, clear up old misunderstandings, reaffirm their feelings for each other, and for their relationship to enter a new phase.
In the brief moment it took to take a deep breath and exhale, forty-seven different reunion scenarios between Ki Seo-jung and Shin Da-bin flashed through Cha Yoon’s mind.
He couldn’t let that happen. He had to stop it by any means necessary. When Cha Yoon raised his head, his eyes were filled with determination.
Cha Yoon rushed straight to the entrance.
The bright sunlight assaulted Cha Yoon’s eyes, but he paid no attention. He moved his head left and right, activating his radar. He saw the two walking towards the main gate, past the yard. The two, walking in step, looked unbearably cozy.
Cha Yoon’s hands clenched. Walking faster than usual, he caught up with the two in long strides and blocked their path.
“Ah! You scared me…”
Da-bin put her hand on her chest as if clutching her heart. It would have been stranger not to be startled when someone they had just parted with suddenly appeared, glaring at them.
Seo-jung, who had stopped alongside her, checked on Da-bin. Are you okay, Da-bin? Yes, I was just a bit surprised. Cha Yoon’s eyebrows twitched at the friendly exchange between the two.
Damn it, what are they doing right now?
He took another step closer to steal Ki Seo-jung’s attention.
Cha Yoon was a man with a height approaching 190 cm and a sturdy body built through exercise. Even without intention, it was inevitable that he would appear threatening to those who didn’t know the situation.
Seo-jung frowned as he moved in front of Da-bin as if to protect her. He was ready to hear what Cha Yoon had chased them out here to say.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m coming with you.”
To think that all he had to say was that he wanted to come along. Seo-jung was dumbfounded. Ki Seo-jung stared at Cha Yoon with a blank expression. When no answer came from either of them, Cha Yoon spoke in an irritated voice.
“What? Can’t I? I have business at the airport too, so let’s go together.”
Seo-jung came to his senses at Cha Yoon’s urging. He swallowed a sigh. Why on earth did he suddenly have business at the airport… From Seo-jung’s perspective, it seemed like Cha Yoon was just being stubborn.
“We’ll go ahead, Cha Yoon.”
Ki Seo-jung firmly expressed his refusal. He didn’t want to unnecessarily tire out Shin Da-bin.
“Why are you saying you’ll go ahead when I’m asking to go together? It’s not even your car.”
“Look, Cha Yoon.”
“Shin Da-bin, it’s okay if I come along, right?”
His face showed his determination to accompany the two by any means. Cha Yoon asked Da-bin, who was standing behind Seo-jung. She blinked and tucked her hair behind her ear before answering.
“Well… Since we’re going the same way anyway, let’s go together then.”
Shin Da-bin had no particular reason to refuse when he asked to go together right to her face. Knowing this, Ki Seo-jung’s expression hardened with complexity.
The car owner, Shin Da-bin, had given permission. Seo-jung couldn’t block him any further in this situation. With a deep sigh, he walked towards where Da-bin’s car was parked.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
