TWELVE 25

“Ugh, geez, wow… what is this? Where am I!”

While my mind was still hazy, I fumbled around the surroundings and realized that the place where I had woken up was not my house. I jumped out of the large, white bed. Was it a hotel? No, wait. It looked familiar. I had only been here a few times, but there was no room for doubt. It was Gi Seoin’s house.

“What happened, what happened. Think… remember…”

Come on, Woo Seungkyung. What kind of mess did you cause yesterday?

I was wearing nothing but my underwear.

Pressing my back against the wall, I looked around the bedroom and tried with all my might to remember yesterday. Despairingly, the scene of me drinking with Yoon Kijun was the end of it. There had to be more. Unless the world ended while I was downing beers.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out by what route I, who had been at a pub with Yoon Kijun, had drifted all the way to Gi Seoin’s house. My anxiety intensified.

I gnawed on my innocent fingernails and then entered the bathroom attached to the bedroom. It felt as if alcohol was oozing out of every pore in my body. A shower was desperate. Waking up at Gi Seoin’s house was a misfortune, but fortunately, the owner of the house wasn’t the type to get angry about someone using the bathroom freely.

There was also a fluffy bathrobe in the bathroom. Since I had no clothes to change into, I decided to borrow it regardless of my pride.

This house smelled fresh—from the towels, from the bathrobe, and even in the bathroom and bedroom. Even if the owner used the same shampoo and body wash as me, he smelled much more fragrant than I did. Does he cast a spell? Or is it because he only eats healthy food…

I was lost in thought when my eyes met Gi Seoin’s as he entered the bedroom without a sound.

“…”

Ha, it seems I’ve been cursed since yesterday.

I was currently burying my nose in Gi Seoin’s bathrobe and sniffing it.

“…Oh, Bachelor Seoin.”

I lowered my arms naturally, but I’m sure it didn’t look natural at all.

“You’re here?”

“Yes, Mister.”

Oh, look at that. It was trivial, but the guy actually played along with my roleplay…

“I brought you here because you were lying on the street yesterday; did you sleep comfortably?”

“…Is that true?”

“What do you think?”

I think it’s true. And that’s why I’m losing my mind. It was enough to make me go absolutely crazy. The back of my neck felt hot. I rubbed my face vigorously. When I lowered my palms, there was a mug in front of my eyes.

“Drink.”

“What is this?”

“Pear juice.”

Besides being parched, I had a headache, so I couldn’t not drink it.

“Thanks. Pear juice is good for your health!”

“You saw it on The Secrets of Life, Aging, Sickness, and Death.”

“Oh, right, it was on there. You saw it too?”

Leaning one shoulder against the wall with his arms crossed, Gi Seoin only gave a gentle shake of his head. Does that mean he saw it, or he didn’t? Well, for me, it was a program I watched religiously with my grandmother, but he was someone who tended to neglect TV altogether.

Then did I mention it before? Anyway… the pear juice was so sweet and delicious it made my tongue tingle, as if it were mixed with plenty of honey.

“It’s really delicious. My hangover is clearing right up. Ah. And I used this bathrobe of yours for a bit.”

“Why don’t you just report that you used the shampoo, body wash, and water too.”

“I mean, I did use them. Why! Is it not allowed?”

“It’s not allowed, not without the homeowner’s permission.”

“Erai, how stingy.”

I made a gesture of kicking at him. But then, snap, Gi Seoin snatched my ankle. How embarrassing.

“Ah, let go.”

“Are you going to kick me if I let go?”

“I won’t kick you, let go.”

“…”

“Handsome gentleman, would you please let go?”

Gi Seoin gave a low chuckle. He must have found this amusing. He didn’t let go of my ankle and stroked right up. His large palm traveled up my calf, caught on my knee, and then up to my thigh…

“Hey, hey. Cut it out.”

I slapped that hand away. Only then did Gi Seoin withdraw his hand from me. Leaning down toward me, he snatched the mug I was holding right out of my hand.

Ah, I was really startled. His hand almost touched my… precious part. Even if you’re playing a prank, how can you do it like that? Just as a quiet person’s anger is scarier, a prank from someone who never pranks is much more baffling.

It feels like every place Gi Seoin’s hand touched is burning. I stood up awkwardly from the bed and followed him out to the living room.

The light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling window was so strong it made me squint. The living room I looked around at after lifting my eyelids was terrifyingly identical to my memory.

“Gi Seoin. Give me some clothes.”

“Go to the dressing room and take some out to wear.”

Gi Seoin, who was washing the cup that had held the pear juice, gestured with his chin toward the left.

“The very first room on the right in the hallway.”

“Can I wear anything?”

“Should I pick for you?”

“I’ll wear anything.”

I grabbed the belt of the robe and quickly found the dressing room.

I had only briefly looked around the dressing room once during the housewarming party. Clothes, bags, watches—every item was organized with precision in rows and columns. It was quite fun to look around as it revealed Gi Seoin’s tastes.

Among them, something caught my eye. It was a shopping bag placed in a corner of the floor, printed with a luxury brand logo that anyone would recognize. However, the reason it piqued my interest wasn’t the logo, but the fact that the perfectionist Gi Seoin had left it lying haphazardly on the floor.

I glanced toward the door and then lightly pushed the opening of the shopping bag with my fingertip to look inside. Inside was a box with the ribbon still tied and…

A letter?

I knew I shouldn’t, but I lifted the card that was folded in half. Holding my breath, I opened the card. Then I hurriedly closed it and threw it back into the shopping bag.

[Mr. Seoin. I look forward to our time together. —Cha Minyoung]

The neat handwriting floated before my eyes. I waved my hand as if chasing away a fly, then quickly picked out some clothes to wear and left the dressing room.

Cha Minyoung. That was probably the name of the woman I saw on the street.

“Aren’t the clothes too big?”

“Huh?”

At Gi Seoin’s voice, I was startled like a person caught stealing. It wasn’t exactly stealing, but I had committed a similar wrong. This is why a person shouldn’t live while committing sins. I am being punished. The sin of peeking at someone else’s belongings, the sin of crossing the line…

“I asked if the clothes were too big.”

“Oh, yeah. I tied the elastic waist tight.”

“‘Tied it tight’?”

“I fastened it… It’s because I live with my grandmother.”

Haha. My laughter sounded awkward even to my own ears.

“Um, where are the clothes I was wearing?”

“Wait a second.”

Suddenly holding up his phone, Gi Seoin looked at me once and then went out onto the terrace. I stared at him through the glass.

Did he get a call from Ms. Cha Minyoung?

Had she been to this house too?

On Gi Seoin’s bed, too…

This won’t do. I feel like I’ll lose my mind if I stay here any longer. I stood up and ran toward the entrance. I think Gi Seoin called my name.

I burst out of the front door and pressed the elevator button. It seemed it would take a while. I ran to the emergency stairs. It wasn’t a delusion. Gi Seoin was calling my name and following me down. I went faster, even, even faster…

Then I misplaced my foot. The wall and the stairs tilted. I closed my eyes.

A firm arm caught me.

It would be nice if I could just faint like this, as if I had blacked out from drinking. When I forced my eyes open, Gi Seoin was looking down at me with an angry face. I grabbed the railing and pulled away from him.

“…I’m going home.”

“Woo Seungkyung, what’s wrong with you?”

“I’m going home.”

“No, suddenly…”

“I said I’m going home!”

My shout flew in all directions and echoed.

“Don’t hold onto me.”

“I won’t.”

Gi Seoin grabbed my wrist. I could tell instantly. I couldn’t escape from this grip with my strength.

“Just why are you being like this?”

“I just want to go home.”

“Let’s go back and talk first.”

He pulled me. It felt like my wrist was going to pop out.

“It hurts.”

“…”

“Gi Seoin, I said it hurts! My wrist…”

I tried to pull my wrist away while he hesitated, but I failed miserably. I had felt it many times, but I could not win against Gi Seoin’s strength. My pride collapsed over the feeling of being the first to pour out and tumble. Pride—it was merely surprising that I had such a thing.

“Please let go…”

“Where are you going like this?”

Only then did I realize I was barefoot. I had left my phone behind as well. I couldn’t even go home like this.

It’s pathetic. To think I can’t even run away. Is there even anything I can do properly? When I can’t even understand my friend dating…

“Tell me.”

Gi Seoin, who had finally succeeded in dragging me back home and making me sit down, asked.

“Why did you suddenly act like that?”

I can never tell him. If I have to talk, I have to lie. I simply kept my mouth shut. Gi Seoin let out a long sigh as if frustrated and wiped his forehead.

After trying to persuade me a few more times, he stood up as if giving up. He soon returned holding a shopping bag.

“Your clothes and phone are in here.”

“…”

When I took it obediently and looked at him, he spoke.

“Even if I hold onto you, you’ll just run away again in that state anyway.”

“…”

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

“I’ll go alone…”

“I’m holding back right now, too.”

It stung, as if someone had pricked my mind with a needle.

Right, if you look at it, he was in a more absurd position than me. He brought his drunk friend over and let him sleep, only for him to suddenly run out barefoot, and instead of telling him why, he just kept his mouth shut… It must be frustrating. Just by the fact that he wasn’t getting any angrier, I could tell how much Gi Seoin was holding back.

I followed Gi Seoin obediently and got into his car. Neither he nor I spoke a word the entire way to my house. This time felt like a nightmare unfolding like a silent movie.

Thanks for the ride. I had to say those words, but I just couldn’t open my mouth. After hesitating, I chose to turn my back. It was a cowardly act. And as I was about to open the door while feeling Gi Seoin standing behind me with all my senses…

“You changed the passcode.”

I dropped my hand that was about to press the door lock and turned back to him.

One minute? Or five minutes? Or maybe it was less than ten seconds. Gi Seoin, who had just been staring at me intently, got back into his car and disappeared. I slumped down in front of the door and cried.

Even though I didn’t have the right to cry, and even though I didn’t know exactly why the tears were flowing.