PAO 30

“I called ahead because I thought you might be surprised.”

As Junghoo spoke, gently shaking his phone, I regretted not checking the vibration when it rang.

“Why… did you call?”

Thinking he might mention what happened yesterday, Seowon watched him with tense eyes. Nothing was sorted out in my head yet. So I didn’t want to have a conversation right now, but that was only possible if Junghoo went along with it.

“I’m going out.”

“Ah… Why report every little thing like that.”

It wasn’t what I had been thinking, so Seowon’s tension completely dissipated. He sometimes asked where I was going when I went out, but basically, we had no obligation to inform each other of such things. Seowon ruffled his hair and answered nonchalantly, then shut his mouth, wondering if he had been too blunt.

“Seowon… are you not going anywhere?”

“I’m going out too.”

It was when Seowon quickly retorted and was about to pass Junghoo to go to the bathroom.

“By any chance…”

At Junghoo’s catching voice, Seowon stopped in his tracks instead of turning back to him.

“Don’t hold what happened yesterday to heart.”

Seowon flinched but did not turn around to look at Junghoo.

“I know I pushed you too hard. It’s also true that I couldn’t say anything to you for a trivial reason. I’ll tell you everything if you ask now. So…”

“Junghoo.”

Seowon raised his hand, stroking his smooth cheek, then placed his fingertips on his lips as if stamping them, and Junghoo’s gaze wavered.

“Junghoo.”

Seowon called his name again.

“Yes.”

To his light tone telling me to forget the uncomfortable conversation we had yesterday, Seowon spoke in a calm tone.

“I’m not done thinking yet. I’ll be the one to judge whether it’s a trivial reason or not. But, don’t tell me right now.”

Seeing Junghoo’s eyebrows curve and his pupils harden, Seowon looked at him indifferently and turned away.

“Because right now, I don’t think I can understand any reason.”

As it turned out, it wasn’t that my head wasn’t sorted out, but that my emotions hadn’t subsided. The reason I cut Junghoo off was that I felt a surge of irritation at his words saying he would tell me even now.