Chapter 44: Chapter 44.

Chapter 44.

Jihoon Kang asked Woojin, “You don’t feel like eating? No appetite?”

“…”

“Assistant Manager Choi…”

“…”

“Woojin?”

“I’m eating, aren’t I?”

Woojin took a spoonful of egg custard and replied coldly. The restaurant was well heated to a point of being hot. Woojin took off his cardigan and folded it neatly on the chair next to his.

On the grill in front of him, bite-sized pork belly pieces were cooking deliciously. Jihoon picked out the ones that were cooked well and placed them on Woojin’s plate. He said to Woojin, “You need to eat more meat.”

“…”

“Is your mother doing well? Healthy I hope?”

“…”

Woojin looked up at Jihoon before putting a piece of meat in his mouth. He was taught to eat and chew food if he was asked a question he didn’t want to answer during a meal. He was told to chew slowly and for a long time to escape answering. Woojin remembered these tips very well.

Jihoon continued with his questions, “How was Germany? Good I hope?”

“…”

“It has been like 3 years since we last ate dinner together, right, Woojin?”

“It was you who said we shouldn’t look too close at work.”

“Is that why you are mad at me?”

Jihoon was acting strangely today, making Woojin feel uncomfortable. Woojin kept chewing his food without swallowing. If Jihoon wasn’t so insistent, he could have had dinner with Shin Kim. And if he did, Woojin wouldn’t have been forced to meet that pretty man.

Woojin felt like he was suffering indigestion, even though he had barely eaten. He rubbed the right side of his chest and rang for a server. Jihoon looked up and asked, “Is there another dish you want?”

Ignoring Jihoon, Woojin said to the server, “Please get me a bottle of Solsongju (Traditional Korean rice wine).”

Jihoon asked him, “You are going to drink today?”

“…”

Immediately, a white porcelain bottle was brought to them. Along with it, a plate of honeyed yams came for Woojin. The yams were sliced very thin, and looking down at it, Woojin smiled.

Next time he saw Shin, Woojin thought he should tell him that he liked honeyed yam.

Jihoon looked confused, “Did you just smile?”

“…”

“You… seem different lately.”

Without replying, Woojin took a piece of yam and placed it on his plate. It looked clear and sticky. The sweet yet bland taste… What Woojin liked the most about it was its texture.

This was the first time Woojin realized this. He remembered Shin asking him what kind of food he liked.

My Shin Kim.

Thinking about him made Woojin’s heart ache.

Jihoon asked, “Do you want me to pour you a glass?”

“It’s fine. I can do it myself.”

Woojin took the bottle away from Jihoon’s hand and poured himself a glass. Woojin made sure not to make any slurping noise as he drank it. Woojin learned to drink not from his mother, but from Jihoon Kang.

Woojin could smell the pine tree from the drink. Similar to Shin’s scent.

His neck… His fingers… And his chest.

A strong neat scent.

Jihoon asked, “What did you do during the weekend?”

“…”

“Did you watch a movie?”

“I know you dropped by my place.”

“…”

It wasn’t a coincidence that Jihoon and Woojin worked in the same office.

Woojin said to him, “You have some too.” He placed a glass in front of Jihoon, who asked, “How will we get home?”

“I will find a way, and you will find your way yourself as well.”

“…”

“I’m not a child.”

Ever since they were children, Jihoon treated Woojin like a little brother. They were about the same age, but Jihoon always seemed to feel the need to take care of him. He had to make sure he ate, dressed warmly, and remained alive.

Jihoon exclaimed, “Wow, Woojin Choi has changed a lot.”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t?”

When he asked Shin to date just for a month, Woojin was certain he would be rejected. Woojin was just being greedy. For the first time in his life, Woojin decided to be selfish and do what he wanted. Whether he got it or not didn’t matter. Just saying it out loud was going to be enough.

The feelings he had for so long… That night was the first time Woojin let it out. There was actually much more he wanted to let out. To let Shin know that…

When Woojin saw Shin looking at him for the first time.

How long Woojin wanted to see him.

How long… So long…

Woojin thought that if they saw each other secretly, it would be ok. If only Shin and he knew about it…

For the longest time, he wanted to show Shin how he felt.

“Jihoon.”

“Yes?”

“Please pretend you don’t know.”

“What?”

“Just for a month. That’s all.”

“…”

“Just turn a blind eye for a month.”

“…”

“Keep your ears shut for a month too.”

“Woojin…”

“I am making a deal with you.”

“…”

“You know, it’s what your mother and my grandfather are good at, right?”

“…”

“It’s also what my family is terrible at.”

Woojin formed his lips into a smile. It wasn’t the same smile like the one he showed to Shin, but Woojin suspected Jihoon wouldn’t know the difference. Jihoon had never seen Woojin smile before, so he wouldn’t know at all.

Woojin continued, “Just for a month, Jihoon. And after that, I won’t even talk about him. I will never mention him again.”

***

Shin murmured, “It’s so freezing out.”

He parted with Siwoo and was on his way back home. He got off the subway and walked up the stairs. He must’ve murmured louder than he intended because two girls passing by giggled at him.

The wind blew angrily. Winter was coming.

“…”

Shin thought of Woojin Choi again. It was becoming an obsession now. Woojin seemed to hate the cold as well. Even when he slept, Woojin kept getting closer to Shin, making it impossible for Shin to sleep. But Shin didn’t dislike it. It was strange how he actually enjoyed it. It was such a huge surprise that Woojin could be this adorable. The assistant manager always seemed so cold and unapproachable.

When Shin pulled him closer, Woojin seemed to feel comfortable. His lips turned up into a faint smile, and Shin thought he looked so lovely. Shin liked everything about Woojin.

“…”

He only ate dinner with Siwoo, but it was already 9 PM. Shin couldn’t wait to get home and take a hot shower. Then, he was going to call Woojin. Shin was about to enter his condo when Shin suddenly noticed him.

“…”

The man who was waiting in front slowly pushed back his hoodie hat. Shin never expected him to see here. He took a step forward toward the man in shock.

“Huh…?”

Red cheeks, beautiful eyes, pale face.

Woojin murmured, “I forgot to text you.”

Slowly, Woojin walked into Shin’s arms.