Chapter 97
Cha Yoon was right. Seo-jung didn’t eat tangerines often because of the texture of the pulp. There was a way to eat them without the pulp, but Seo-jung wasn’t particularly interested in food to begin with. He didn’t feel like going through that much trouble to eat them.
Around the time they had been dating for almost a year, Cha Yoon learned about this quirk of Seo-jung’s. From that day on, he started peeling tangerines that Seo-jung wouldn’t even eat. Knowing how bothersome it was, Seo-jung tried to stop him several times, but the response was always similar.
“Why? I like it when Ki Seo-jung eats from my hand.”
“What?”
“I could peel a thousand of these for you. It’s not bothersome at all. So from now on, only eat the ones I peel for you.”
“Got it?” Cha Yoon said as if making sure, and then put a slice of tangerine in Seo-jung’s mouth. With his fingertips stained yellow from the tangerine juice.
“What are you doing?”
Feeling a tap on the back of his hand, Seo-jung snapped out of his reverie as if waking from a dream. Looking straight ahead, he saw Cha Yoon staring at him with a slightly sulky expression. He seemed displeased that Seo-jung was thinking about something else while in front of him.
Seo-jung wanted to ask how Cha Yoon knew about that, but he kept his mouth shut. It seemed that Cha Yoon, who had brought up the topic of tangerine pulp, didn’t even realize what he had said. It felt like he was attaching meaning to small details all by himself. Seo-jung shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
“It’s nothing. I’ll peel and eat mine myself.”
“What do you mean it’s nothing? You can’t even do this well.”
A small sigh escaped between Cha Yoon’s lips. He had hoped Seo-jung would take it himself, but that seemed to be out of the question now.
Cha Yoon grabbed Seo-jung’s wrist, which was resting quietly on the table. Seo-jung flinched at the warmth enveloping his wrist. Cha Yoon spread Seo-jung’s fingers and placed the tangerine he was holding in the other hand on them. Then, as if making sure Seo-jung was holding the tangerine properly, he gently grasped Seo-jung’s hand. It was mixed with Cha Yoon’s personal desire to touch Seo-jung.
While Cha Yoon was indulging in his own desires, Seo-jung couldn’t take his eyes off Cha Yoon’s hand. More precisely, off the tips of Cha Yoon’s fingers. Perhaps because of his fair skin, Cha Yoon’s fingers had quickly turned yellow from the tangerine juice. It was the same color as Cha Yoon’s fingertips in his memory.
Of the two lost in their own thoughts, Cha Yoon was the first to come to his senses. If he could, he would have held on forever, but too much of a good thing can be bad. Honestly, he was worried about what he might do himself.
You can’t get full on the first spoonful, so let’s be content with this for today. Cha Yoon slowly let go of Seo-jung’s hand, savoring the feeling of his soft skin.
“They say it’s delicious. I haven’t tried it myself though.”
So you should eat it quickly too. I’ll peel more if it’s not enough. Cha Yoon said as he tidied up the tangerine pulp that had fallen in front of him. Soo-ho, who had been listening from the side, poked Cha Yoon.
“Yoon hyung, can’t you peel one for me too?”
“What do you think I’m going to say?”
“Um, that I can’t?”
“You know well.”
Perhaps because he had touched Seo-jung, Cha Yoon was in a generous mood and even chuckled as he replied. A playful whine was heard in response to his words. Amid the exchanging voices, Seo-jung silently stared at the tangerine in his hand.
“Oh, they’re calling me down for an interview. Joo-ah unnie, let’s continue our talk later.”
Hearing the noise of a chair being pulled back, Seo-jung looked over to see Min-ha standing up. Seeing how he kept falling into unnecessary sentimentality, it seemed like a good idea for him to leave as well. Seo-jung stood up.
“I’ll go up first. I want to rest a bit.”
Immediately, he felt a gaze following him from the front, but Seo-jung ignored it and left the kitchen. He still held the tangerine Cha Yoon had given him in one hand.
***
! Please move to the Talking Room right now.
Contrary to his worry that Cha Yoon might follow him into the room, Seo-jung was left alone until he received a message from the production team. He felt puzzled, but quickly dismissed the thought. It was ridiculous to think about Cha Yoon even in a space where he wasn’t present, after having left to stop thinking about him.
Seo-jung grabbed his phone and left the room. He was about to head to the stairs to go down to the first floor when he met eyes with Min-ha, who was just leaving the second-floor terrace. Seo-jung was about to just nod and pass by, but he had to stop. He had noticed Min-ha’s red, swollen eyes.
“Min-ha.”
“Ah, Seo-jung oppa…”
“Did something happen? Your eyes…”
“Oh, this… I was sitting outside and something got in my eye, so I rubbed it a bit. That must be why.”
Min-ha turned her body away and rubbed her eyes as if to prove her words. It was obvious to anyone that it was a lie, but Seo-jung didn’t point it out. Instead, he grabbed Min-ha’s arm to stop her from rubbing her eyes any further.
“I understand, so stop rubbing. You’ll damage your skin.”
“……”
“There should be ice in the freezer. Let’s put some of that on it at least. I’d bring it for you, but I got a notification for an interview.”
“Oh, you’re going for an interview too… Okay, I got it. I’m fine, so have a good interview.”
Min-ha hesitated at the mention of the interview, but soon nodded and waved her hand. Seo-jung reminded her once again not to forget to ice her eyes, then turned around.
After leaving the main gate and climbing the hill a bit, the Talking Room came into view. As he opened the door and entered, the writer in charge greeted Seo-jung warmly.
“Seo-jung, you’re here?”
“Yes, writer-nim.”
After a brief greeting, the writer got straight to the point.
“You see that door in front? Just open that door and go in.”
“Wasn’t I supposed to go to the interview room?”
“Just go in for now.”
Seo-jung questioned being told to enter a completely different space from where he was usually guided, but no particular explanation was given. Finally giving up on getting an answer, Seo-jung approached the door in front as the writer had said and pulled the handle.
The door opened silently, revealing a set surrounded by white on all sides. Blinking slowly, he stepped inside.
Seo-jung, who had entered the all-white space, slowly scanned the interior. On each side wall, there were doors labeled ‘N’ and ‘X’ respectively, and a small table was placed between the two doors. Seo-jung noticed something on the table and took a step forward.
What was placed on the table was a mission card envelope. Seo-jung took in the familiar pink envelope and then opened it to check the card.
From now on,
Residents can choose between the NEW Room and X Room, and open the corresponding space.
If you choose the NEW Room, you can check a space containing personal information about the person you’re most curious about.
Additionally, you will gain the right to have a 1:1 conversation with the person you chose for the NEW Room.
If you choose the X Room, you can check a space filled with memories of you and your X.
Additionally, you will get to see part of a pre-recorded interview video left by your X.
If you wish to open the NEW Room, please open the door with the alphabet ‘N’ written on it.
If you wish to open the X Room, please open the door with the alphabet ‘X’ written on it.
Seo-jung scanned the contents written on the card. When the last period caught his eye, what came to mind was Min-ha’s face he had seen on the second-floor terrace. Moreover, the sight of Min-ha’s back as she left first among the cast members after receiving the interview message. So it was all because of this. Seo-jung blinked slowly.
Unlike Min-ha who had shown tears, Seo-jung didn’t feel any particular emotion while looking at the card. For him, this was just something to be done according to his promise with Da-bin. He put down the card he was holding and walked to the door.
After taking in the alphabet ‘X’ written on the door once more, Seo-jung turned the doorknob. He stepped inside the opened door.
The room illuminated by calm lighting wasn’t very large, but it was quite well decorated considering the short three-month relationship he had with Da-bin. Among the letters and gifts exchanged during their meetings, what stood out most were the photos attached to the wall.
Seo-jung approached the wall with the photos. Even at a glance, there were unfamiliar photos mixed in among the familiar ones. They seemed to be photos that Da-bin had given to the production team.
Among the photos were some taken together during dates with Da-bin, but a large portion was of their club activities. Photos of them sitting side by side in the club room, preparing for events together, and taken at after-parties. Looking at the photos arranged in chronological order after a long time was quite entertaining.
Seo-jung examined the photos as if recalling the memories of that time. It felt like he had become a time traveler. Seo-jung moved slowly along the photos, wearing a smile.
It was certainly like that. Until he discovered an unexpected face in one of the photos.
Seo-jung stopped walking. The smile that had been on his face gradually faded and then completely disappeared. He moved a little closer to the photo than before.
Among the familiar faces in the photo, what had stopped Seo-jung in his tracks was none other than Cha Yoon.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
