UR Chapter 81
by BrieChapter 81
Before he knew it, Jin-sang’s serious voice was echoing in his head. Words like, “What’s the big deal about responsibility?” I-bom stopped in the middle of the frozen, empty field. He couldn’t even bring himself to say hello, or ask how the other had been.
—Did you sleep well? Have a nice dream?
“Yes, yes… Did you… sleep well too, sir?”
—Yes. Oh, I didn’t wake you up, did I?
“…Ah, I always get up early.”
—Must be because you’re diligent by nature. I was worried I’d woken you.
“Yes…”
And all he could manage was “Yes.” There were so many things he wanted to say. Starting with “Have you been well?” to little things like “What did you do yesterday?” and “What time did you get up today?” Even a silly joke would have been nice, but everything felt lame and clumsy. He wanted to say he missed him, but the courage just wouldn’t come.
Blaming himself for not speaking up, I-bom tapped the tops of his shoes with the tip of his foot. Dust clung thickly to the backs of his shoes.
After hesitating, I-bom spoke quietly.
“…But, how did you get my number?”
—Hmm. Well…
Suddenly, the long distance between them, the tone in the phone filling that gap, felt enormous. It sounded like he was drawing it out because he had something to hide. Then, with a hesitant voice as if admitting fault, he said,
—If I told you I asked someone else… would you be mad?
“Depends.”
A faint hiss of air escaped between I-bom’s slightly parted lips. The conversation flowed so naturally, it was almost funny compared to the stiff way he’d answered the call at first.
—Actually… it wasn’t like I did a background check. I asked Somi. Your coworker, right?
“Yes.”
I-bom nodded seriously as he held the phone. He remembered the last expression he saw on Somi’s face that day, the corners of her mouth slowly lifting as if she’d witnessed something amusing.
—Come to think of it, we didn’t even exchange numbers. Asking you out on a date without even doing that… Definitely my fault. Honestly, I wanted to follow you that day and ask, but it felt rude to chase after you so late at night just to get your number.
“…So?”
—On my way back after giving you the bouquet, I ran into Somi.
“……”
—So I asked her. Sounds like an excuse, but… it’s my first time too, so I’m clumsy.
First time.
Kang I-bom recalled the man he’d seen that day. A voice with a pleasant resonance, soft enough to tickle the ear. It felt like drifting weightlessly in an unreal dream.
—Feels strange to be making excuses first thing in the morning. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. You might not like it, but… give me a chance to make up for it.
“It’s… it’s not that I don’t like it…”
I-bom quickly cut in.
He really didn’t know what to say because he was flustered, but it was different from not speaking because he disliked it. Blinking, he pressed his lips together and glanced around warily before speaking softly, afraid someone might overhear.
“…It’s just, I wasn’t expecting it, so I was surprised to get a call from you this early. That’s all.”
Between his casual words, I-bom could hear the man’s quiet breathing. For some reason, his nape prickled with heat. Or maybe just hearing that voice made his skin tingle in a strange way.
I-bom pulled the phone slightly away from his ear. What if the pounding of his heart was thudding so loud it carried over the line, spreading like static the other man could hear?
—That’s a relief.
The man laughed lightly. The low resonance of his voice was pleasant to hear, easing I-bom’s tension. What was the right, cool thing to say here? But aside from saying he was glad, he couldn’t think of anything.
—I was worried you’d forget you agreed to go on a date with me. I’m glad to hear it’s not that you don’t want to.
“…Oh, there’s no way I wouldn’t want to.”
I-bom murmured. It could have been awkward, but the conversation with the man felt surprisingly familiar and comfortable. This was a different kind of fluttering from the uneasy tension he felt around people who made him uncomfortable.
—I worried a lot you might not like me. You even said you didn’t remember kissing me. I was serious, so I kept wondering what I’d do if you rejected me.
“You… you’re lying, right?”
—Lying?
“You’re… well, you’re really… handsome. Tall, stylish… How could you possibly be worried I wouldn’t like you…?”
—Ha ha.
The man’s refreshing laugh rang out.
—So, in your eyes, I’m handsome?
It was I-bom whose heart was fluttering, but the man’s voice sounded excited too.
—I guess I should thank my parents for giving me this face. I was worried about being turned down, but I’m relieved you gave my looks a passing grade.
“…Stop teasing me.”
I-bom lowered his gaze and fidgeted with his eyelids, pressing lightly to cool the heat rising in them.
—Hmm, if you start getting ready now, how long will it take?
“Uh… I was about to feed the stray cats. After that… wash up, do a bit of housework… maybe about an hour?”
His fingertips tingled as he touched his eyelids.
—Alright. Then how about we meet at the village entrance in an hour? And like last time, no splitting the bill or you insisting on paying. I’ll say this now so you don’t worry about it. Today, don’t even bring your wallet. Just bring yourself. Got it?
“But…”
I-bom’s voice trailed off with unease. They’d only agreed to a date, nothing more. If he let himself expect too much, he was afraid the disappointment would be worse.
“It’s just… I feel bad, so I should at least buy you a meal.”
So he added that one last thing. He didn’t have much money, but he felt like he should scrape something together to offer.
—I’m not shameless enough to let a twenty-one-year-old buy me a meal. If anything, I’d feel guilty enough to break into a sweat. I’m already very grateful you’re going on a date with me at all. So, see you in a bit.
The man’s soft breathing tickled his ear.
…Why does he talk to me so sweetly? Even after the call ended, I-bom lingered on the man’s words for a long while.
* * *
Baaang—
A simple black SUV came to a smooth stop at the village entrance with a short honk. The driver’s side window slid down without a sound, revealing the man’s eyes crinkled in a wide smile. Startled, I-bom quickly bowed in greeting.
“Ah, hello.”
“Hi.”
“……”
He ended the greeting with a smile out of awkwardness, but there was something peculiar about the man’s gaze. Without even blinking, he was staring straight at him.
‘Do I look strange…?’
Touching the back of his neck, I-bom glanced sideways at his reflection in the bluish car window. Unlike when they met for the blind date, his bangs were simply combed neatly today. He was wearing the cleanest clothes he owned — a light blue hoodie and beige cotton pants.
Back when he wore a belt with flashy studs, worn-out pants, and a checkered shirt, the man hadn’t said much. But the way he was staring at him now, as if bewitched, made I-bom’s face heat up. He checked his clothes carefully, wondering if there was a hole or a stain somewhere.
After a few moments of silence, I-bom opened his mouth in embarrassment — at the same time, the man spoke too.
“Um…”
“Uh…”
“You first.”
When I-bom gestured for him to go ahead, the man quickly opened the passenger door. Pressing his fingers lightly to the bridge of his nose, he muttered,
“Ah, sorry. You look different from that day… It surprised me. I should have seated you first. Anyway, let’s get in the car.”
“It’s fine.”
The man kept a smile on his lips, but his face was faintly trembling. The rapid flutter of his eyelashes, the restless tug of his fingers at the seat belt — he looked almost nervous.
Click.
After fumbling three times, the man finally managed to fasten I-bom’s seatbelt. While taking in the stiff leather scent of the SUV’s interior, I-bom glanced sideways at him.
“So, where are we going today?”
“It’s a secret.”
“…A secret?”
I-bom repeated the word, eyes wide. The man’s gaze softened into a curve. Whether it was because of his naturally lowered bangs, the change in setting, or the fact that he kept smiling — he seemed lighter, more relaxed than when they’d first met. Tapping the steering wheel lightly with his fingertips, he spoke.
“I was thinking about what you might enjoy. Sure, sitting in a restaurant and eating steak is nice, but… you’re still young, so I figured you might like somewhere more fun.”
As he spoke, the corners of his eyes folded with his smile, and his face looked so very gentle.