WANL Ch 5

[Hyung, will you be free the day after tomorrow?I have something I want to talk about.]

Hyunjae’s one and only counselor, his high school senior Seongwoo, received a text from Hyunjae not long ago.

[I’m always free. What’s going on?]

The junior, who rarely shared his troubles, was suggesting it would be better to meet and talk in person.

Seongwoo furrowed his brows, feeling it probably wasn’t good news. He was the only one who knew about Hyunjae’s harsh reality. Unlike Seongwoo, who had entered university, Hyunjae had to jump into the workforce. He knew the reasons behind that.

Suddenly, Seongwoo recalled Hyunjae from high school. Hyunjae had always been surrounded by rumors in those days. The rumor that he was a trainee preparing to debut with some entertainment agency.

Seongwoo only realized that the rumor was completely unfounded when he became president of the school club.

Jung Hyunjae, despite being listed as a member, was hardly ever involved in the club. He frequently skipped after-school debates and rarely attended weekend meetings—he missed almost every one.

‘So what if he’s a trainee at an agency? That’s something that even goes in the school record, but you can’t just act like this.’

Determined to fix this bad habit, Seongwoo had been waiting for the arrogant junior, who dreamed of becoming an entertainer, to come to him. As expected, after checking the after-school meeting notice, Hyunjae came to Seongwoo and said he would skip again.

Seongwoo gave him a sharp scolding.

‘Even if you don’t need a high school diploma, you still have to put in some effort. Everyone else is trying hard, and what about you? Don’t create a sense of discomfort by being the odd one out.’

‘A life where you don’t need a diploma.’ 

That was what Seongwoo had said to reprimand the irresponsible junior who wanted to be an entertainer. Hyunjae, who seemed a little taken aback by those words, nodded silently and left without saying anything.

Then, on the day of the meeting, Seongwoo saw Hyunjae, who had rarely attended, showing up. The brief sense of satisfaction from thinking he had guided the junior in the right direction soon faded as Hyunjae hesitated to speak when Seongwoo told him to keep attending from now on.

‘Hyung, the truth is…’

Hyunjae explained that he couldn’t attend the meetings because he had to support himself with part-time jobs. If he kept changing his hours, he might lose his job. Seongwoo was left speechless.

‘Weren’t you a trainee for an entertainment agency?’

‘What?’

Hyunjae asked, as though hearing it for the first time.

Oops, the widely spread rumor at school was completely false. Hyunjae even explained that he had swapped shifts at the convenience store to attend the club meeting. After a night shift, Hyunjae came to the meeting, exhausted and looking like a sick chicken. Seongwoo felt a sharp pang in his heart.

Hyunjae had given up on university despite having good grades. Seongwoo couldn’t imagine how Hyunjae must have felt when he was lectured with the words ‘a life without the need for a diploma.’

‘But I didn’t force myself into this. I like reading books.’

As he said, when Hyunjae immersed himself in books, he seemed to forget about his harsh reality.

Seongwoo, who had felt guilty for pushing Hyunjae too hard, became completely on Hyunjae’s side from then on. However, no matter how much he cared, it was impossible to pay for Hyunjae’s college tuition, living expenses, or his parents’ medical bills. The best Seongwoo could do was promise to buy him a meal if he reached out when things got tough.

Even so, Hyunjae still rarely spoke about his problems.

About a year ago, he had muttered that he hoped he could get some support as a caregiver. He mentioned his struggle of having to take his mother, who needed dialysis three times a week, to the hospital, which prevented him from securing a regular job. Hyunjae calmly said that if that situation was resolved, he could work in a factory, and his earnings would be better than now. It seemed like he viewed that as the only possible good thing to happen in his life.

Most of Hyunjae’s struggles had been like this—tragic but impossible to solve just with good intentions…

“Hyunjae! Over here.”

Just then, the café door opened, and the person Seongwoo had been waiting for appeared. Seongwoo raised his hand enthusiastically. As Hyunjae’s eyes, which had been scanning the area, turned in his direction, a hint of a smile appeared. Even in the short distance from the café door to the table, people’s attention was drawn to him. He was that rare a handsome man.

As soon as Hyunjae sat in front of him, Seongwoo felt his shoulders instinctively lift.

“It’s pretty hot today. So I ordered coffee first. Iced?”

Saying this, Seongwoo handed over the drink he had ordered in advance. Long ago, whenever the club seniors and juniors gathered, Hyunjae often refrained from attending, worried about the few tens of thousands of won for his share of the group expenses. Thinking Hyunjae might hesitate over the price of coffee, Seongwoo had ordered in advance. Seeing this, Hyunjae simply bowed his head in gratitude.

“How long has it been? You brat… You never show up even when I offer to buy you a drink, always saying you’re busy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You know I’m not really mad, right?”

Seongwoo looked into Hyunjae’s face.

Though he often acted like the senior, Seongwoo sometimes thought Hyunjae was much more of an adult than he was. While most of their high school friends went on to college, still under their parents’ care and enjoying a deferred adolescent life, Hyunjae had already been supporting himself. His youthful cheeks were still smooth, but the weight of reality cast over that youth was plainly visible.

Today, however, something was different. There was a lively energy in Hyunjae’s usually gentle eyes. Assuming there was something good happening lately, Seongwoo asked, “What’s up? You look happy.”

“Yeah, actually…”

After wetting his throat with some coffee and hesitating several times, Hyunjae revealed something unexpected: he needed “relationship advice.”

“I’m seeing someone. It’s been about three months.”

“Wait, didn’t you say you didn’t even have time to date? You even turned down all the blind dates.”

Hyunjae lowered his head with an awkward smile.

Female classmates who happened to see Seongwoo’s social media often pointed at Hyunjae and asked, “Is this guy your friend?” Even in casually snapped photos, his face stood out, so it was no wonder. Seongwoo received countless requests to set up blind dates with Hyunjae, and despite their knowledge that he wasn’t a university student, the responses were always positive. However, Hyunjae himself rejected them all, claiming he had “no time for relationships.”

From Seongwoo’s perspective, it was absurd. Hyunjae, aware of this, muttered, “Yeah, so it happened.”

He lowered his gaze again, looking almost shy.

“Unbelievable…”

When Seongwoo asked the usual question about how they met, Hyunjae briefly recounted their story.

The other person had approached him while drunk, insisting on meeting. Initially, Hyunjae had no feelings for them. When he said relationships felt burdensome, they had promised not to get emotionally involved. But over time, their meetings became more frequent, and Hyunjae admitted he had started to like them a little.

The story felt full of gaps, but Seongwoo pieced it together using his imagination.

“Well, the start might’ve been unconventional, but things seem to be going well. So what’s the problem?”

“The thing is… they’re ten years older than me.”

Ten years? Seongwoo’s jaw dropped. The image of a peer-aged woman in a fresh relationship was replaced by that of a mature office worker.

“My issue is… they haven’t said we’re dating. Should I say it first?”

“Wait, you’re not officially dating yet?”

“We just meet.”

“What does that even mean? Hey, don’t tell me…”

Noticing Hyunjae’s hesitation, Seongwoo deduced the implication and was appalled. The wholesome story of emotions developing through mutual discovery collapsed in an instant.

“Are you guys just friends with benefits?”

“Senior! Quiet down.”

Startled by the term “friends with benefits,” Hyunjae looked around and lowered his voice.

“That’s how it started, but things are changing. It’s just… I can’t make up my mind.”

“Ugh, really…”

“They’re wealthy and seem so composed. I don’t know why they’re drawn to me, but they don’t seem to lack anything.”

“Are you sure you’re not overthinking this? Do they actually like you? Have they said so?”

“They’ve said they like me before.”

Hyunjae frowned. Though he was certain, he wasn’t entirely confident.

In truth, Nanyeong had approached Hyunjae at the outset saying he “wanted to sleep with him,” not confessing any feelings. But there was one time—during sex—when he had said it: “I like you.”

Although he was drunk at the time…

But does someone have to say they like you for you to know? There were so many hints. When he first spoke to me, Nanyeong said he had been watching me for a long time and finally mustered the courage. And those eyes—tender, like someone gazing at their unrequited love.

Anyone would know just by looking into those eyes.

“Hyunjae, can I be blunt? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“If you don’t get it, think about it with the genders reversed. A much older man only having sex with a woman just barely in her twenties while avoiding any talk of a relationship. In that situation, saying ‘I like you’ is just sweet-talking to make sex easier.”

Hyunjae didn’t reply. He couldn’t deny it outright, but it felt like something someone who didn’t know Nanyeong could say.

“A relationship? That sly fox is just playing with you.”

Clicking his tongue, Seongwoo tapped the table with his fingers before asking.

“Do you like her? Is she the only one for you? Is she more important than your reality?”

“Not to that extent… not yet.”

Hyunjae answered calmly.

“Good, then. Just keep things as they are. Satisfy your needs without overthinking. You don’t always have to complete every feeling, right? Just keep it ambiguous. You’ll probably get tired of it eventually.”

At that moment, Hyunjae’s brow twitched. Seeing that, Seongwoo clicked his tongue internally.

Judging by his reaction, Hyunjae didn’t seem happy with how the conversation was concluding. There must have been something specific he wanted to hear—something like, “From what I can tell, it seems like she’s interested in you, so try bringing it up subtly.”

Seongwoo sighed. Based on what he’d heard, it sounded like the other person was the one pursuing Hyunjae, but in reality, it seemed Hyunjae was the one falling. If that were the case, it was a pity.

No matter how mature Hyunjae might seem for his age, the gap between 21 and 31 was vast. For that woman, Hyunjae’s thoughts and emotions were probably as transparent as glass. How easy must it be for her? Playing with a naïve youngster however she pleased.

In the end, the conversation wrapped up without any resolution. Both of them left with their frustrations unspoken, walking toward the station. Hyunjae mentioned he had a part-time job in the afternoon, so they didn’t even have a drink, something that bothered Seongwoo.

Before going down the subway stairs, Seongwoo spoke.

“Hyunjae, listen. Everything’s fine, but don’t ever show your feelings first.”

“Why?”

Hyunjae looked up. His dark eyes, full of innocent curiosity, were heartbreaking.

“Because that’s all you’ve got right now.”

“…”

“You said she’s well-off and composed, right? There’s no need to risk getting hurt by expressing your feelings. I don’t know the girl, so I can’t say for sure, but maybe she’s better than I think. Whatever. Forget it. I’m heading out.”

With that, Seongwoo trudged down the subway stairs.

The words “all you’ve got is your feelings” lingered in Hyunjae’s mind. They seemed to starkly and painfully reveal the balance of the relationship.

As he walked back alone, lost in thought, Hyunjae reflected.

Seongwoo seemed convinced that Hyunjae was utterly smitten with Nanyeong.

Hyunjae denied it. His feelings only started moving because Nanyeong had left room for them to. Was he in love? Was he serious? Hyunjae was never the type to agonize over relationships. This time, it was just that the other person was too complicated and belonged to a completely different world.

“If I were truly head over heels, I’d have already confessed and asked to be in a relationship.”

But he hadn’t felt that kind of certainty yet.

He did have a thought, though—a part of him was waiting for Nanyeong to take the lead so he could go along.

Hyunjae also rejected Seongwoo’s last remark. Seongwoo seemed certain that if Hyunjae showed his sincerity first, he’d end up being abandoned.

No. He wouldn’t do that.

Despite his feelings, Hyunjae was certain about this one thing: Nanyeong needed him.

No one else knew. They didn’t know the emotions exchanged between them, the trivial whispers, or the accumulated hours of nights spent together. They couldn’t understand how electrifying a light brush of their noses or a fleeting kiss could feel. Or how, when they held each other in silence, it felt like the world only consisted of the two of them.

Hyunjae was convinced Nanyeong felt the same.

Ꮺ

A few days later, Hyunjae was waiting for Nanyeong as usual, staring at his reflection in the stainless steel pillar of a shopping complex. His hair seemed unusually flat today, so he kept fussing with it—this way, then that. But his plain hair stubbornly returned to its original state no matter what he did.

A light honk sounded from behind. Startled, Hyunjae spun around.

“Was I a bit late?”

As always, Nanyeong spoke as he rolled down the car window. Hyunjae answered, “Not at all,” and got into the passenger seat.

“But today, you’re…”

Something seemed different, and sure enough, Nanyeong wasn’t wearing his usual suit but a black hoodie instead.

“You kept your promise,” Hyunjae said with a bright smile.

“Well…”

Nanyeong trailed off, glancing at the opposite car window. Maybe it was just his imagination, but it seemed as though Nanyeong was embarrassed, avoiding eye contact. That he remembered and acted on such a small suggestion from Hyunjae lifted Hyunjae’s spirits.

And yet, trying not to let it show—that shy demeanor.

Hyunjae glanced at the nape of Nanyeong’s neck. The loose design of the hoodie revealed a white neckline that was always neatly covered by a collared shirt. The sternocleidomastoid muscle, running from his ear to his collarbone, was suddenly so noticeable it caught Hyunjae’s attention.

Was a hoodie always this provocative?

Suppressing the urge to kiss his neck, Hyunjae said, “You look like a college student today.”

“Do you think that’s a compliment?” Nanyeong teased, his tone light with a hint of laughter.

“Not particularly happy about it. I was an actual student not too long ago, you know.”

“Really?”

Surprised by the unexpected comment, Hyunjae’s eyes widened.

“I was in school for a long time.”

For a master’s degree. At the brief explanation, Hyunjae simply nodded, imagining Nanyeong as a university student. Hyunjae, too, wanted to go to college someday when his life became more stable.

“Which school did you attend?”

“My bachelor’s was at XX University.”

A fairly prestigious school. Back in high school, Hyunjae had pretty good grades. The school Nanyeong graduated from was one he might have been able to get into, given his grades. It was just a thought, but he couldn’t help wondering how things might have been if he’d attended school like a normal kid with his parents’ support.

If they had met as university seniors and juniors, maybe the gap between him and Nanyeong would feel a bit smaller…

“And my master’s was abroad…”

Nanyeong stopped there, glancing at Hyunjae before closing his mouth. He rarely talked about himself unless prompted, but Hyunjae understood this as a sign of Nanyeong’s consideration. Nanyeong hardly ever said things that might poke at Hyunjae’s insecurities.

It was a wise approach, but the fact that Nanyeong could clearly see all of Hyunjae’s shortcomings sometimes made him feel self-conscious.

Perhaps it started from the moment Hyunjae wanted to know more about Nanyeong.

“Did you ever date men abroad?”

“Hm?”

Nanyeong raised an eyebrow at the sudden question.

“Being overseas, no one watching… must’ve been pretty freeing.”

“Hey. What kind of person do you think I am?”

“I don’t know. You do things when you’re drunk that you wouldn’t normally do.”

Despite the sarcastic jab at how they first met, Nanyeong’s expression remained unchanged.

“You must’ve dated someone at least, right?”

Nanyeong didn’t answer.

The silence felt like an unspoken yes, and Hyunjae felt a sharp pang in his chest. It was undeniably jealousy. He hated this petty side of himself, but… Nanyeong seemed like the kind of person who could treat sex as lightly as a feather, so he couldn’t imagine him spending his twenties as a monk, suppressing his desires.

Would he have shown a different side of himself to someone he promised to date?

What would Nanyeong be like, expressing his love freely?

If there was a specific reason that led him to decide not to share emotions, only a physical relationship…

As his thoughts spiraled, words slipped out of Hyunjae’s mouth without him realizing.

“Has there been a guy who treated you the way you treated me?”

“The way I treated you?”

“Someone who begged, saying they’d die happy if they could sleep with you just once.”

“There was.”

Nanyeong answered immediately.

“What?”

Hyunjae turned to him in surprise at the unexpected response.

“More than just one or two—probably too many to count…”

Hyunjae stared at Nanyeong with wide eyes, shocked. While keeping his gaze on the road, Nanyeong let out a small chuckle.

“You believe that?”

“….”

“There wasn’t.”

Nanyeong cut him off sharply, his lips quirking into a slight, crooked smile.

Hyunjae felt a sense of déjà vu, like they’d had a similar conversation before.

Either way, the way Nanyeong’s words swung between extremes was bewildering. On top of that, he spoke so lightly it was hard to discern what was true.

But one thing was certain: Hyunjae’s emotions were rising and falling with Nanyeong’s words. Feeling like he was being toyed with, Hyunjae sighed and leaned back against the seat.

“I think I get what kind of image of me you have in your head.”

“….”

“Believe whatever you want to believe.”

But Nanyeong responded with an indifferent tone, as though he didn’t care. That attitude only made Hyunjae feel more unsettled. When he’d asked something similar before, Nanyeong had at least shown a hint of irritation.

“Do you have someone else you’re seeing besides me?”

“No, I don’t.”

What had changed since then?

“If you get tired of me, will you look for another guy?”

This time, Nanyeong clicked his tongue, as if in disbelief, and retorted.

“Why are you saying things like that all of a sudden?”

“I just think it wouldn’t feel great if it happened to me. If you let me know when you’ll get bored, at least I can mentally prepare.”

“You’re so blunt. That’s what I like about you.”

Nanyeong gave an unrelated answer. Hyunjae stared at his unreadable reaction.

“Well, I guess it’d be hard.”

That comment was puzzling.

“Your answers are always so vague…”

Hyunjae mumbled, and Nanyeong let out a laugh before murmuring.

“I tend to be very particular about looks.”

“….”

“It’d be hard to find another face like this, wouldn’t it?”

As he spoke, Nanyeong stretched out his right hand and lightly brushed the back of it against Hyunjae’s cheek. The touch was fleeting, almost like a gentle tap. His other hand remained on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed straight ahead. The casual remark sent Hyunjae’s heart racing for no reason.

There were more questions Hyunjae wanted to ask, but those words alone seemed to dissolve his earlier tension. The brief quarrel, the self-doubt that had arisen in between, and the foolish feelings that had made him want to hurt Nanyeong out of jealousy—all of it…

So, instead of saying anything else, Hyunjae leaned over and kissed Nanyeong’s cheek. Startled, Nanyeong let out a short “Ah!” but, with both hands on the steering wheel, he couldn’t push Hyunjae away.

“Looks like I’m completely your type.”

“Yeah, one hundred percent.”

For once, Nanyeong gave a straightforward answer. Even though it was such a simple reply, it made Hyunjae’s heart flutter as if he’d just received a confession.

“But what’s up with you these days? You’ve been acting so jealous.”

Nanyeong asked. While Hyunjae stayed silent, the car arrived at the parking lot of the officetel. As Nanyeong turned off the engine and prepared to get out, Hyunjae grabbed his wrist gently and said softly,

“Sorry about earlier.”

“What?”

“About asking about your past. It’s not that I didn’t trust you. It’s just that you seem so perfect. For a moment…”

“….”

“I thought maybe the only thing missing was dating guys. Honestly, you probably could date any guy you wanted, but that’s not really what I mean… and I’m dating a guy too, so…”

As Hyunjae spoke with almost foolish honesty, Nanyeong sighed as if exasperated. At the same time, Hyunjae felt his head tilt back—Nanyeong had pushed his forehead with a finger.

“You think of the strangest things.”

“….”

“And it doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me.”

Nanyeong answered lightly.

It doesn’t matter if I don’t trust you? Why not?

“It didn’t bother me much, so don’t worry about it.”

All the electronic signals in the car shut off. In the now even quieter car, Hyunjae blurted out something he wasn’t prepared to say.

“Do you not want to date?”

If I asked you to go out with me.

Maybe if Nanyeong had shown even the slightest positive reaction, he might have asked that. What if I asked you to go out with me? However, as soon as the word “date” was mentioned, Nanyeong’s hand, which had been fiddling with the car key, froze.

“You’re not gay, though.”

Nanyeong asked, sounding genuinely curious, as if the idea of dating Hyunjae had never even crossed his mind. The slight, tingly excitement in the air vanished in an instant.

Realizing what he’d said, Hyunjae knew he’d crossed a line he wasn’t supposed to—one that would ensure he didn’t come across as emotionally clingy.

Faced with the unexpected reaction, it was Hyunjae who backed down.

“No, I mean… I wasn’t saying we should date. It just seemed odd. You seem like you’ve got everything, so why don’t you date?”

“Oh… that’s what you meant.”

Nanyeong lowered his gaze in acknowledgment. As always, he didn’t press for further clarification and accepted the awkwardly covered-up words as they were.

“I don’t like emotional exhaustion.”

“….”

“I don’t like relationships where you have to prioritize each other and keep promises. I’m an irresponsible person.”

Hyunjae nodded for now. It wasn’t that he agreed or fully understood, but it was the only reaction he could show at that moment.

Suddenly, he remembered a conversation he’d had with Seongwoo. He wondered if Seongwoo’s ominous predictions, which often leaned toward the worst-case scenario, had been right. If Nanyeong wasn’t uninterested in dating but simply uninterested in him, Hyunjae wanted to know the reason. Was it because he was young, or because he was just a poor, unremarkable guy?

But he couldn’t voice any of it. Seongwoo’s advice to avoid expressing emotions carelessly came to mind.

“That’s all you’ve got, isn’t it?”

It was as they exited the car, took the elevator, and ascended to the officetel. As the sudden elevation change made his ears pop, Nanyeong quietly asked in a low voice.

“Hey, Hyunjae, are you saying all this suddenly because…”

“….”

“Because you’ve started to like me?”

The direct question hit him like a punch, making his heart drop.

“If I’m wrong, I’m sorry, but if you do have feelings for me, then I—”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

Hyunjae cut him off firmly, blocking whatever ominous reply might have followed. Nanyeong, who had been staring at him intently, nodded at the resolute response.

“Yeah. I was mistaken. Sorry.”

He agreed so easily it was almost laughable, pulling away as though nothing had happened. Even that reaction left Hyunjae feeling a little disoriented.

The elevator doors opened. A clean, quiet hallway came into view, and the two walked toward the apartment at the very end. Their footsteps—one in dress shoes, the other in sneakers—echoed in the still corridor.

“But what’s the deal with not dating at your age? Are you not planning to get married either?”

Beep— The sound of the door lock engaging was followed by Hyunjae’s words, causing Nanyeong to turn around. That’s when Hyunjae realized he’d spoken without thinking.

Marriage? To a gay man?

However, Nanyeong simply smiled faintly, offering no reply. It was hard to tell whether it was an affirmation or denial.

“So, you don’t want responsibility and just want the benefits, like squeezing the juice out and throwing the rest away…”

To diffuse the earlier tension, Hyunjae deliberately muttered this in a half-joking tone. At that, Nanyeong finally showed a genuine smile and replied softly.

“Then you can squeeze some juice out of me too.”

Leaning his back against the closed door, Nanyeong looked up at Hyunjae. Hyunjae, with a slightly sullen expression, looked back down at him.

“What do you even have that I could take?”

“With money… pretty much anything.”

“How far would you go?”

“Hmm. Let’s hear your imagination.”

“Then… a refrigerator.”

At Hyunjae’s response, Nanyeong burst into laughter.

“A refrigerator? How does that come to mind so fast?”

Hyunjae, stunned by Nanyeong’s laughter, thought, I was serious. The old refrigerator, which hadn’t been replaced since his childhood, was becoming less and less functional. But since he couldn’t afford to replace it suddenly, he had been struggling to make do with it.

“Oh, wow. I thought you’d say something like shoes or an iPad,” Nanyeong said, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.

“I’ll get you a refrigerator. Anything else? Not necessities—something you really want, like a luxury item.”

“A luxury item?”

“Something that might not be practical but makes you happy to have, like a watch or furniture.”

“…A trip.”

Without much thought, Hyunjae blurted it out.

“A trip?”

“Yes, a trip.”

It seemed to be an unexpected answer, as Nanyeong’s eyes widened slightly.

“I want to go to the sea. Maybe take a boat ride too.”

“A boat? Are you talking about renting a yacht? Even I’ve never done that.”

Nanyeong looked intrigued, as though the idea was tempting. Although Hyunjae hadn’t meant a yacht specifically, he didn’t deny it.

In truth, Hyunjae felt that just walking along the beach with Nanyeong would be enough. He wasn’t sure why that thought came to him suddenly, but he had a faint hope that going somewhere alone together might clarify their ambiguous relationship.

“When’s your birthday? I’ll give it to you as a gift,” Nanyeong said readily.

“Really?”

“Yeah. But will you even have time? You’re busy with work.”

“I’ll make time. I can adjust things.”

“Alright.”

Nanyeong answered casually.

“And also…”

Hyunjae glanced around as he continued.

“Hmm?”

“You’re only seeing me right now, aren’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then that’s enough.”

One person at a time—that wasn’t much different from a relationship, even if they hadn’t officially said they were dating. Hyunjae figured he could accept that.

As if observing him, Nanyeong remarked, “You’re a bit of a jealous type, aren’t you?”

“Doesn’t everyone hate being compared to someone else?”