"Do you want to sleep in my room?" Do-Jin muttered slowly, walking behind Hyun-So as he took off his jacket and walked into his own room.
He paused and looked back. "Already? We confessed today. I thought we were taking this slow."
If Do-Jin wasn't blushing before, he definitely was now.
He swayed his hands around as no, like a child. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, if you want to hang out."
Hyun-So laughed a little, then nodded. "Alright, let me take a shower, and go take one yourself too; you are a mess."
Hyun-So left. Do-Jin was standing there as he went in the bathroom. After a while, Do-Jin got his senses back and left to his own room.
After both of them were done, they found themselves lying on the bed staring at the ceiling; maybe it wasn't a good idea. Do-Jin told him that they could hang out in Hyun-So's room before; maybe he should have taken that offer. Not like it had changed anything.
Both awkward as hell and not sure how to proceed.
"Well, this was us hanging out?" Hyun-So finally broke the silence.
Do-Jin let out a deep breath.
"I know why you wanted us to sleep in the same room." He looked to his right, staring back at Do-Jin. "You were worried that I will overthink again."
That was a great guess indeed, and once again, Do-Jin was left speechless.
Hyun-So looked back at the ceiling and said, "I am fine now. It was… just sudden, everything, and I couldn't take it all in. I am sorry."
He smiled, one hand supporting his head up and the other reaching for Hyun-So's face. "There is nothing you should apologize for." He rubbed his thumb over Hyun-So's cheek.
They stayed like that for a moment, then Do-Jin's hand brushed against Hyun-So's earlobe. He pinched it, making Hyun-So shiver a little. He smirked, but then he felt something.
"Your ears are pierced?" He reached for the other one without waiting for an answer, making sure he got the term right.
Hyun-So smacked his hand away. "Yeah, I was in a band, right?"
Do-Jin smiled. "Right," he took a pause, then said again. "Do you have more than two?"
Hyun-So shuffled, putting his back against Do-Jin as he closed his eyes; he was pretty annoyed. "Just go to sleep."
- - -
Jin-Woo left the very next morning, right after Da-Eun went to the company for work.
He just couldn't bear to stay in the house.
It was eating him up.
This time he booked a really fancy hotel room in place of visiting a bar.
He spent—he doesn't even remember how many—days here. Spent money on more drinks, room service, and so on.
He sprawled there on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and then out through the window. Today, the curtains were left open—something rare for him.
The sun is setting far in the corner of it or maybe rising. He can't tell.
In the end no one checked upon him.
Apart from the million calls and messages from Da-Eun.
The so-called friends and the people he had hooked up with—none of them looked for him.
And they come running when he is throwing a party.
Not that he wasn't expecting it. Those assholes were all after the money he offered.
He should be used to it by now. Still, he just can't stop thinking about it.
He gets up, picking up another bottle of booze and glugging it down.
His head is spinning, and he hasn't taken a shower in a long time now. He should eat something too. But he can't get himself to do all that. He is just too tired.
- - -
Da-Eun spent all her days ignoring her visits to the chairman's office after that fight.
She could normally contain herself, too, to the point of not showing any emotions. But she let it all out that day, not that there was a lot to be said. The words were few but heavy.
She drove far today, to the end of the road; the beach is in front of her, empty.
She took a puff out of her cigarette; she doesn't smoke normally. But sometimes it helps her relieve her stress. Or that's what she tells herself. Not addicted, she doesn't smoke every day, but she still smokes.
She couldn't believe she drove so far in the name of a lunch break. It was getting dark, more like a dinner break then.
For how long will this go on again?
Why can't she just take a break for once, one longer than a few hours?
She let out a smoky breath. Letting the cigarette butt fall to the ground, she rubbed it with her foot.
Time to go back.
- - -
"The steak is burning." Kang Min-Ah yelled out, rushing to turn off the stove.
Byung heard her, but he was far too late, busy preparing the dressings for salad. "Sorry," he tilted his head to the side with a guilty smile.
Min-Ah laughed it off. "Don't worry, I got this."
After all their troubles, the kitchen was a mess, but at the very least the dinner was prepared.
Their dream of a romantic candlelit dinner at home was finally coming true.
Not the best food ever, as they both know nothing of cooking.
They were already dressed up in their best outfits, ready to enjoy a night together.
Min-Ah was in a long red off-shoulder dress. Her hair is up in a messy bun that obviously took more time than her makeup. The bangs and curls covered her face just the right amount. With a simple pendant and earrings, she was glowing.
Byung-chul did his best too, wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and black slacks. He had even attempted to style his hair, though it still looked slightly disheveled.
Min-Ah took a bite out of her steak; despite it being a little off, it was still edible. "Perfect," she muttered through her chewing.
"Really, you're not saying that to make me feel better?" Byung said, cutting down his steak and taking a bite too.
It was indeed not that bad, but maybe the pasta would do better.
He tasted it, and the cream was too heavy for his liking. Not that he could complain; he was in charge of these too.
Min-Ah didn't complain; she was enjoying her food. Beautifully at that. And here he was judging himself. It all reminds him of how he fell in love with this woman. She had a way of making even the simplest meals taste exquisite. Making him feel like he was something special, just by sitting across from her at the table.
Coco meowed him back to reality.
"I guess he wants the steak too." Min-Ah took a piece, offering it to the cat under the table.
Coco purred in approval, rubbing against Min-Ah's leg as she fed him the steak.
"I thought he had high standards, living with Do-Jin." Byung laughed, shaking his head.
They finished their meal and soon dessert. Byung could swear it was the best thing of their entire dinner, or maybe it was because it was made by Min-Ah.
Min-Ah smacked his shoulders as they picked up the dishes.
"You need to stop flirting. We have a guest over." She pointed at Coco licking himself on the table.
Byung smiled. "Coco? I don't think he minds us one bit."
Their laughter could be heard outside through an open window of the living room.