Chapter 96

As they left the building, Si-Jin then quietly asked Na-Yool if she had no objection, and she silently nodded. The conversation ended there. After that, they talked no more about dating and moving out. Na-Yool could not tell if it was because they could not bring themselves to speak up, or because they simply could not come up with a suitable topic.

Anyway, Friday apparently ended on the lukewarm conclusion to do it like this for now. And now it was Saturday.

…’Objection’, what a choice of word.

Between two people, it was a farce to make her pick between ‘object’ and ‘agree’ like some sort of unanimous vote. Clearly, one was asking, and the other one was simply left with answering yes/no.

Surprisingly, they kept up with this farce quite seriously…… It was astonishing how the mood today and the mood of yesterday felt poles apart. Na-Yool was sitting alone on the terrace, sipping coffee, amazed that the incident with Sang-Hoon had happened only yesterday morning. Shockingly, it indeed weighed little on her mind already.

When she thought of it, the timing was peculiar. When Sang-Hoon acted out, Kwon Si-Jin was there. And when he acted out again, Kwon Si-Jin also was there. Oddly enough, it kept repeating. Like, right after she broke up with Sang-Hoon. Also, every day when Sang-Hoon bombarded her with messages and waited in front of the office. And right after yesterday’s incident too…

How fascinating was it? When one was giving her a hard time to the point of exhaustion, the other one was blowing her mind away ‒ along with her grievance. So much that no room was even left for Na-Yool to torment herself by foolishly ruminating things over. She put down the empty coffee cup and let out a smile.

Around that time yesterday, she was sitting at the police station as she endured an interrogation akin to torture. But what about now, 24 hours later? Now, she was sitting by herself on a high-rise terrace overlooking the Han River, leisurely sipping coffee. Her head was only filled with yesterday afternoon’s events, not its awful morning.

Luckily, Si-Jin was not there when she woke up. Perhaps because of the incident, he had carefully avoided having sex, and did not even touch a single of her hair. Which is to say that Na-Yool’s mind would not get distracted by anything other than his presence itself. But of all times, it was right after he asked her out. Consequently, their daytime, evening, and night were all as awkward as it comes. At least for Na-Yool, as Si-Jin seldom panicked and seemed unperturbed about it.

No work, no sex, just the two of them together in one same space. Has it always been so awkward breathing through one’s day?

The last time Na-Yool came to this house, they had spent several days rolling around in bed whenever they made eye contact. She did not even have a second to spare having weird thoughts back then.

… So it would be stranger if I didn’t feel awkward being here.

Now, as there was no more going straight to bed at each eye contact, thoughts of Si-Jin consequently flooded her mind. Na-Yool chased them away with a guilty shake of her head. She felt somewhat at a loss.

Maybe she should go to the real estate agency right now, after all…

“So that’s where you were hiding.”

“……”

Si-Jin casually commented, as if he had already taken one look around the house for her. Surprised by him just as she got up while holding her empty cup, Na-Yool halted abruptly and absently sat back. For her mind was already filled with him, it truly was a ‘speak of the devil’ case. Truly, whenever he appeared, Si-Jin could surprise this person who constantly had only him on her mind.

How big was his house that he had to literally look around for her? Baffled, Na-Yool was staring at his face despite herself with round eyes. She did not dare greet him with a cliché “Where have you been since morning?”. Meanwhile, Si-Jin approached the table she was sitting at and handed her a small shopping bag.

“…What is it?”

“Open it.”

Reaching out into the unlabeled craft paper bag, she grabbed a small box. When Na-Yool did not pull her hand out and threw a questioning glance at him, Si-Jin pointed at it with his chin, gesturing to take it out. She obediently complied for the time being.

“It’s not been used, so you can use your current SIM card.”

“This…”

Puzzlingly holding the thing in her hand, Na-Yool stumbled on her words. His explanation was certainly kind, but overly simplistic.

It can’t be that he went out this morning to buy it?

“…How much do I owe you?”

One glance was enough for anyone to wonder how much the object was. Because clearly, it was not something you could get for free.

Si-Jin replied with a very unhappy face.

“If I wanted you to pay me back, I would at least ask your opinion.”

“Yes, you should have asked. But you already bought it… and I need one anyway.”

The silver apple logo on the top of the box overwhelmingly glistened under the sunlight. [T/N: In case you didn’t get it, he bought her an iPhone] Si-Jin had the obvious look of someone who never came close to asking for a support fund, or mortgage. Hence it was evident that he would give the best, most expensive gift, but…

It was an unexpected expense, but remembering the shattered screen of her phone, Na-Yool really had no need for it anymore. It could not be fixed, and she did not want to anyway as it felt like misfortune had already been cursed upon by Sang-Hoon.

“You don’t have to pay for things I bought on my own.” Si-Jin looked a bit upset.

Still, it did not sound right. Na-Yool shook her head in disapproval.

“It is mine, and I will be the one using it.”

“It’s not even the model you wanted.”

“I wanted to buy it someday when I have some money to burn. So, it is the model I wanted.”

I didn’t want it to that extent, but oh well.

“I don’t think you will have any money to burn though.”

“……”

“Take it. Unlike you, I’ve got so much money it’s rotting in my bank account.”

“…That much?”

“If this phone is the standard.”

Si-Jin indifferently shrugged his shoulders. Seriously distracted by his boast of wealth, Na-Yool belatedly took hold of her soul which she almost sold.

“Still, I cannot accept such an expensive gift.”

“Whatever the price, it makes no difference to me.”

“But to me, it does. So can’t you just accept my repayment…”

Before she could even blink, Si-Jin bent down, and their lips grazed. He then straightened back up, the sight filling Na-Yool’s vision as she snapped out of it.

“……”

“Keep talking, and see if I don’t bully you more.”

“……”

But despite his threat, Si-Jin went inside with seemingly no intention to hear anything more coming from her.

Even calling it a kiss was embarrassing. They had seen each other’s most shameful parts, so what was a peck on the lips to them… Na-Yool suddenly burned up and flustered, afraid that her flushed cheeks would be seen by Si-Jin who was not even present anymore. She gazed into space to come to her senses, but it was already beyond control.

Clearly, I should go out.

Go out as soon as possible. Either go to the real estate or meet with friends, and get out of this house, get away from this dangerous man a little bit, to think things over calmly and properly…

“You didn’t have breakfast yet, right?”

The terrace’s door swung open at once, followed by a change of subject. Coming back as if the breakfast issue had just crossed his mind, Si-Jin showed no apparent interest in making fun of Na-Yool’s bright red cheeks.

Once again, one thought was enough to summon him. Was he really some evil spirit or was she simply thinking too much about him?

Na-Yool nodded stiffly, clutching the cellphone box like a lifeline.

“Rice? Bread? What do you want?”

“…An- anything.”

“Choose.”

“…Bread…”

As Na-Yool reluctantly made her choice, Si-Jin nodded contentedly. Just when she thought he was leaving, the terrace door opened again after barely getting half-closed.

“Ah, and I advise you to change your phone number.”

“I will. I was thinking of changing it today while visiting the houses, before coming back.”

“Houses?”

“I should look for one. I have to move out, too.”

“Do it next week.”

“I can do it alone. I won’t bother you with—”

“It’s fine. I’m just telling you to rest.”

Na-Yool acquiesced with a doubtful look, and the terrace door closed. This time, for good.

She swept her hair suddenly blown in a mess by a gust of wind, and alternately observed her surroundings. The terrace door from which he had entered. The meticulously packed cellphone box. Then, the stunning view beyond the terrace.

Nothing was familiar, and nothing was for granted. It was all so foreign that it instead rather felt coherent.

Along with an intoxicating matter-of-fact feeling.

… So…

We are really dating, aren’t we…

Exactly after a full 24-hour day passed, reality finally hit Na-Yool like waking her up from a dream.

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