Epilogue 4.
I quickly left the house, putting my arms into my black hooded zip-up. As I ran out of the alley and onto the main road, there was a taxi passing by, so I caught it.
After I told the driver Chae Yoo-jeong’s home address he had sent in the message, the taxi drove down the road on Saturday night. As I looked at the road passing by through the car window, I felt strangely good.
“Haa………………”
I sighed as my heart beat rapidly and washed my face dry. I was really unfamiliar with my appearance as I got into the taxi at this late hour, wearing only my coat, with only the thought of wanting to see him.
‘It will take 40 minutes to get there at the earliest.’
It was then that I checked the time on the cell phone screen.
Tok-todok. When I lifted my head at the sound of a light tapping on the car window, I saw raindrops falling from the night sky filled with dark clouds. I was so busy coming out that I only now realized that the weather was cloudy.
The rain became thicker at a rapid pace. By the time the taxi arrived at its destination, rain was pouring down so hard as if there was a hole in the sky.
I barely had his coat on, so I couldn’t have taken an umbrella. I clicked my tongue and put my hooded zip-up over my head. Even though it was a sudden meeting due to my greed, I later realized that it wouldn’t be cool to go out in the rain.
Even if I don’t, he’s the guy who compliments me and says I’m cool no matter what I do. This time, the bean pods came off properly.
Because it was an apartment complex with tight security, it was not possible to take a taxi into the complex. When I got out of the taxi that stopped in front of the main entrance, rain poured down on my head as if it had been waiting.
There was no point in wearing a hat, so I tried to run to the front of the building to get a little less wet. An umbrella popped out from the side, blocking the rain.
“Chae Yoo-jeong?”
Of course, Chae Yoo-jeong, who I thought was playing Zenoris, was standing in front. The guy who made eye contact with me, who was surprised, smiled shyly.
“It rained a lot, so I waited.”
“Thank you, but how long did you wait?”
I took a taxi, but it would have taken a while. When I lightly held Chae Yoo-jeong’s hand holding the umbrella, I felt a cold touch.
I knew it would be like this. No matter how warm the day was, the air was very cold due to the spring rain falling in the middle of the night.
“Let’s go in quickly.”
What should I do if he catches a cold? It’s game season, so even if he’s sick, he won’t be able to rest well.
Instead, I took the umbrella that Chae Yoo-jeong was holding and grabbed his empty hand. My hands, which had been in the taxi the whole way, were much warmer than those of Chae Yoo-jeong, who was standing outside.
While holding his hand, I went into the house with Chae Yoo-jeong. Even though I used the umbrella right away when I got out of the taxi, the shoulder and hat areas of my hooded zip-up were damp.
Chae Yoo-jeong, who casually took off the hooded zip-up, asked.
“Sit down. I’ll bring you a warm drink.”
When I was about to refuse, I remembered Chae Yoo-jeong’s cold hand that I had been holding the entire way, and I nodded. If you bring it to me, I’ll pretend to drink it and feed Chae Yoo-jeong.
While Chae Yoo-jeong was in the kitchen, I sat on the sofa and looked around the house. I felt a little sad because the interior of the house had not changed much since the last time I visited. Of course, the period of time he stayed at home wasn’t long because he was living in a dorm, but even taking that into account, not much had changed.
It seems that it is still difficult to attach affection to the house. Perhaps, for Chae Yoo-jeong, living in an accommodation with other people would be a more comfortable place than a bleak house.
“I’m sorry, Hyung.”
Chae Yoo-jeong returned from the kitchen and put the glass down on the table in front of the sofa. What was in the glass was warm water.
Chae Yoo-jeong, sitting next to me, said with a shy expression.
“I thought there was something there, but the lady who came to clean it seems to have cleaned it all up.”
“It’s alright. I like water.”
Since the conversation was already going to be long, it was better to have water. After moistening my dry mouth with water, I handed the glass to Chae Yoo-jeong. Chae Yoo-jeong took it without thinking and blinked while holding the hot cup in both hands.
“Chae Yoo-jeong.”
“Yes?”
“First…… I’m sorry for coming to you so suddenly.”
After hearing the apology, Chae Yoo-jeong looked at me blankly for a moment, then smiled brightly, like snow melting on a spring day.
“No. I’m glad Hyung came. Even if it’s late, I can see your face... really good. It’s true.”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who stuttered slightly, had the tips of his ears immediately dyed red. When I saw that, my throat became dry reflexively.
‘…Let’s calm down.’
Maybe at other times, but now I’m here to have a serious conversation. After clearing his throat for a moment, he opened his mouth.
“The reason I suddenly asked to meet you was because I wanted to talk.”
“A talk?”
“Yeah. Not just doing it but looking at your face like this. Because…………….”
I paused for a moment and looked at the face of Chae Yoo-jeong, who was sitting next to me. The gentle expression on his face that says he will follow whatever I say... To be honest, I was very satisfied.
I never thought I would end up like this. I feel satisfied with someone who only looks at me. Did my quality really degrade?
Determined to control it so it wouldn’t get worse, I raised my hand and carefully touched Chae Yoo-jeong’s pale cheek.
Chae Yoo-jeong slightly tilted my head in response to my touch and lowered his long eyelashes.
“That way, unnecessary misunderstandings won’t arise.”
“Misunderstanding………………”
“But it’s not a very serious talk.”
Afraid that Chae Yoo-jeong might be worried, he jokingly added and laughed bitterly.
“Chae Yoo-jeong.”
“Yes.”
“We played Zenoris together today… Are you really okay?”
Chae Yoo-jeong opened his eyes slightly in surprise and then responded meekly.
“Yes. It was really okay. It was fun.”
“But you didn’t feel at ease, did you?”
This time there was no reply from him. There was an embarrassing light in Chae Yoo-jeong’s eyes as his lips closed.
“Ah.”
“Those People… came where we are and asked us to raid together.”
I thought for a long time about how to resolve the rigid atmosphere that remained between Chae Yoo-jeong and me. I found the answer to his concerns while playing Zenoris with Chae Yoo-jeong.
“I made that offer…I thought you would say no.”
Why didn’t I notice it earlier? It was painful to realize that I didn’t know much about Chae Yoo-jeong.
“If it were like before, you would have declined because you wanted to play games with me. I actually would be okay with that.”
“…….”
“You didn’t notice me this much back then. There was no feeling of guilt for deceiving me. So you were able to express it honestly.”
I realized this while playing Zenoris. Why is the ‘Yoo Chae’ I played with in the past so different from the ‘Yoo Chae’ I played with now?
At that time, I didn’t know who ‘Yoo Chae’ was. Chae Yoo-jeong was just ‘Yoo Chae’ and happily played the game next to me. He must have been the most honest and comfortable person I’ve ever met.
I vividly remember him complaining or begging me to marry him when something disappointing happened to me, and him honestly asking me if I could go on a raid with him.
‘That… That must be Chae Yoo-jeong’s true appearance.’
He must have been happier back then than now when he is suppressing his emotions because of me.
“I’m not comparing it to what you used to be. It’s not like I’m forcing it. What I want to say to you is...”
“I know.”
Chae Yoo-jeong placed his own hand on top of my hand. His body temperature, which had suddenly become warmer than mine, spread to the back of his hand.
“I’m saying this because I’m worried. I hope you feel at least a little more comfortable.”
Afraid that Chae Yoo-jeong might be hurt, I swallowed what I wanted to add and nodded my head. Then the guy rolled his eyes and smiled brightly.
Chae Yoo-jeong, bending over with his large body, came towards me. I liked his body temperature filling my arms, so I opened my arms and hugged him.
Chae Yoo-jeong opened his mouth as he hugged me with all his might.
“Then, Hyung, please tell me honestly.”
Chae Yoo-jeong made eye contact with me from a distance so close that his breath could touch me.
“If there’s something you want to do, say so. I want to do the same.”
When I heard that, a hot and tearful feeling rose up to the very tip of my throat.
Me asking you to tell me what you don’t like, and Chae Yoo-jeong asking me to tell me what I like. We are similar yet different.
“……Okay.”
I answered, barely able to swallow my emotions that came over in waves.
“I will.”
Chae Yoo-jeong, who had been patiently waiting for my answer, slowly kissed me. I also happily accepted Chae Yoo-jeong’s kiss.
There were times when I wasn’t sure whether Chae Yoo-jeong and I could work out. I was afraid that we might end up hurting each other over and over again like we did before.
But now I know. We can do it well.
I am by Chae Yoo-jeong’s side, and Chae Yoo-jeong is by my side. Let’s move forward together, slowly, little by little.
That guy is that guy. Completed.
HM: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh! I’m screaming internally…….
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Credits:
Translator: Hoshi Miya
Editor/Proofreader: Meimei, Ghostx
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