#12. One-Sided Love Red Flag (6)
The feelings Na Jihan gives me are like seawater. Cool and clear and sweet, making it seem like I could quench my long thirst if I just gulped it down.
But when I come to my senses at some point, I find myself suffering from an even greater thirst than before.
Still, it’s fine. Even if I have to suffer from the drought called Na Jihan for the rest of my life, I like you so much for keeping me closest to you so naturally. I don’t think I’ll ever even wonder about ways to not like someone like you.
After finishing our meal in the lively atmosphere, it was time to head back. Hapil said it was a shame to part ways like this and suggested we just share a room together. Of course, I declined again, saying I didn’t want to be a burden.
“You only have to wait a few days. I’ll move in once the construction is done and the room is all organized. It takes some time to adjust when you change sleeping arrangements.”
“Ah, that type. Then there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s a bit disappointing, but hyung’s condition comes first. Then will Jihan hyung take you home? The night streets are dangerous.”
Na Jihan stood up and grabbed both our coats.
“I was going to do that anyway. Let’s go.”
“Are the night streets only dangerous for me?”
Hapil replied cheekily.
“It’s not exactly safe for everyone, but still, there are people among us who are particularly worrying, right?”
“That’s me?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Why wouldn’t it be… I answered while slipping my arms into the coat Na Jihan held out for me.
“You and I are similar. We’re both grown men.”
At those words, Hapil burst out laughing.
“Does our new main vocal not look in mirrors at all?”
Na Jihan chimed in while pulling a hat down over my head.
“I agree.”
“What are you saying…”
Just because my face is a little decent, the ones making a fuss and trying to cling to that are the ones being excessive. Of course, Hapil and Na Jihan pretended not to hear.
“Just walk me to where I can catch a taxi.”
“What are you talking about? I have to see you go inside.”
After a brief argument, Na Jihan won. Actually, I really didn’t want to go together, but while I was hesitating, thinking that refusing further might seem more suspicious, he had already slipped into the taxi.
While Na Jihan was paying the fare, I got out of the taxi first and kept looking around. Fortunately, the people who had thrown raw eggs at me and said nasty things in the morning were nowhere to be seen, and it was as quiet as usual.
“Right. This is how it should be.”
I was letting out a sigh of relief when Na Jihan suddenly asked.
“What’s right?”
“Huh? No, nothing.”
I said it was nothing, but apparently I couldn’t fool my expression completely. I could tell from the way Na Jihan was looking at me with eyes full of distrust.
“Yoon Seowoo.”
He grabbed me as I was about to go inside.
“Don’t forget you said you’d give me a day.”
“…”
“If it were up to me, I’d want to hold you back right now and interrogate you again about what’s going on… but you hate that kind of thing.”
“At least you know that.”
“So you should know too. That I get anxious when you don’t talk. That I don’t get annoyed just because you say something.”
Even if I do get a little annoyed, Na Jihan added.
“Being a little annoyed is a hundred times better than not knowing something about you. You should know that too.”
I know. I know all too well. That you pour your whole heart into my matters as if they were your own, that you fear and dislike my silence more than anyone else.
“I’m not ten years old anymore, so depend on me a little.”
At Na Jihan’s playful voice, the voice of a young boy I had heard once overlapped.
‘Yoon Seowoo. Seowoo, you, really how…’
‘…’
‘How can you not say anything. How can you try to solve this by avoiding me… After your aunt passed away and the adults bullied you, after they took everything except the house… why didn’t you tell me…’
‘What would change if I told you?’
‘Hey.’
‘I didn’t want to be a burden to you.’
‘I…’
‘…’
‘If I’m not ten years old anymore, will you depend on me a little?’
Na Jihan. You’re like the first and greatest stroke of luck arranged in my life. Like you were prepared in advance so that misfortune couldn’t devour me.
As you said, you’re not ten years old anymore, so there must be more things you can do for me, whom you cherish.
“What time is practice tomorrow morning?”
At the question thrown out of nowhere, he looked puzzled but answered anyway.
“8:30.”
It takes about 30 minutes by bus from here to the company building. It’s faster by car.
“What are you doing at 8 tomorrow?”
Having quickly grasped the meaning of my question, he answered with a bright smile.
“Me? I’m going to pick up Yoon Seowoo.”
“That works out well.”
It would be safer to be with Na Jihan than to go around alone. And tomorrow morning, when we’re together, I planned to gather courage and tell Na Jihan first. Why I asked him to come pick me up.
“I was hoping you’d honestly spill what you’ve been worried about all day, but you’re acting cute instead.”
“…”
“Well, this isn’t bad either.”
Na Jihan’s gentle touch ruffled my hair.
“Sleep well.”
I smiled back at my stroke of luck and answered.
“See you tomorrow.”
* * *
The next morning, as soon as I finished getting ready, I looked out the window. In case the diligent Na Jihan had come early and was waiting.
But there was no one in the alley in front of the gate. It was right on time.
“That’s unusual.”
Well, it’s not like he doesn’t know the house password. If he had come early, he could have come in and waited. Maybe he just hasn’t arrived yet.
Actually, this worked out well. I should go out first and check if there are any strange people hiding around. I put on my hat and stealthily went outside the gate.
And then…
“Wah!”
“Ah!”
Someone appeared without warning and tapped my shoulder. I was truly startled out of my wits and screamed while covering my head with my hands.
But nothing came flying. What followed was just silence. I cautiously opened my tightly shut eyes.
When I raised my head, I saw a familiar face. It was Na Jihan.
“Hey, Na Jihan… You, what kind of prank you’ve never done before…”
“Yoon Seowoo. What’s with that reaction?”
Na Jihan, who had been hiding to play a prank, looked at me with a coldly hardened expression. I fidgeted and lowered the arms that had been protecting my head.
“Did someone harm you? Did they chase you all the way to your house?”
“Jihan. That’s…”
“Is that why you were looking around yesterday when you came, and why you got scared when I grabbed you?”
There was no point in saying no. I hadn’t even answered yet, but he had found the answer to his question just by looking at me once.
I pressed my deeply furrowed brow and swallowed my sighs and laments. Why are you only quick to catch on at times like this?
“What bastard was it?”
“…”
“I’m asking what bastard it was!”
I urgently covered his mouth with both hands. His voice, trying to say a few more words, seeped through my palm lines.
“Jihan, people will hear.”
“Is that the problem right now?”
“It is a problem!”
Why are you so fearless when you’re someone who makes a living off your image? I stretched his cheeks with my index finger and thumb.
“I hate it when you get in trouble because of me. That’s why I was worried about it. I was going to tell you anyway… I just needed time to think about how to express it.”
“…”
“Sasaengs came to my house. They were probably people who liked Maki. I only ran into them once. Nothing serious happened, but since it’s my first time with something like this, I was feeling unsettled.”
“Sasaengs? They chased you all the way here?”
“Yeah. They probably saw me coming and going from the company building and followed me.”
Na Jihan tilted his head back and let out a sigh.
“You’re moving into the dorm right now. Sleep in my room, and absolutely don’t go anywhere alone for a while. You know we have to tell the CEO about this, right?”
“My room’s construction isn’t done yet. There are two days left.”
“Sleep in my room.”
My dazed expression was clearly reflected in Na Jihan’s pitch-black eyes.
“You know this isn’t something to be stubborn about. Answer me, Yoon Seowoo.”
“…I know.”
“Then what should you do?”
In the end, no matter how much I avoided it, I ended up back where I started. Like fate.
“I’ll sleep in your room.”
It was a declaration of surrender.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
