DI Ch 102

“Why are you being so cheerful?”

It was good but it felt a little forced. However, the atmosphere was difficult to set. I understand that he might not want to do it right now because he was in pain, but his lack of response was so awkward that I wondered if he didn’t want to do it with me anymore.

“…Can I take a look around the house?”

“After the check-up.”

Is he referring to going to the hospital? A familiar attending doctor was standing nearby when I stepped out of his arms and raised my upper body. I hadn’t expected to see anyone, so I quickly ducked in surprise.

“What? What is it? When did you call?”

I tried to play it off, but he just laughed in response. He’s really good at making fun of me. I raised my embarrassed face again.

“Oh, hello.”

“Yes. Hello. …Can I examine now?”

He approached and examined me. After a short conversation, the doctor raised his head towards Tae Seong-je with teary eyes. It meant that I was healthy today too. Not only the doctor but also others found his face frightening, so I discreetly moved away from him.

“More detailed examination and research… ”

I felt embarrassed since I couldn’t stop him from unexpectedly catching the doctor, but even if I tried to stop him, it would only make him feel more upset. It was better to just stay still. Before the one-sided interrogation ended, I took a step forward to look around the house.

I liked the high ceiling that couldn’t be compared to a studio apartment. If I had to say, the house felt refreshingly cool. I could see a luxurious kitchen and stairs, but the outside of the house was more noticeable than the inside. Stepping onto the grass with my bare feet, I wiggled my toes on the soft and smooth grass.

“The house is nice.”

And there are so many flowers. I walked towards the flower bed, feeling the sunlight. I gently held a white flower bud, but when I saw bloodstains on my hand, I quickly retreated. As I turned around, a beautiful mansion that looked like it came out of an interior magazine caught my eye.

2nd floor, or was it the 3rd floor? It was very high. There was another building on the opposite side. It’s a bit lower than this one, but it looked equally beautiful externally. How much would a house like this cost? It seems like it would cost a few hundred billion… No way, it wouldn’t be that expensive, would it?

Since this was in a book, I had to remind myself that it didn’t feel realistic to spend that kind of money. However, regardless of reality, this place is amazing.

I saw him staring at me across the living room. I slowly waved my hand at him. A line was drawn on his expressionless face.

I looked at the house one more time after seeing him slightly waving his hand after me. It was somewhat eerie to stand in the middle of a picturesque house covered in blood.

The house was too nice for me to readily agree to live with it. It’s large and cool, but the more I look at it, the more detailed the security becomes.

Like the CCTV installed in every corner and the solid front door with no gaps. Ironically, rather than feeling safe, I had the thought that I wouldn’t be able to satisfy this person more than the idea of safety.

Could I truly take responsibility for someone who could afford such a house, and even prepare for the future… The thought of his wealth, which was beyond my expectations, left me speechless.

“I should buy a lottery ticket.”

I strolled across the yard, swinging my feet. Suddenly, I saw a doghouse. Do we have a dog too? Forgetting all the thoughts I just had, I ran towards it in one step. Feeling my heart pounding, I bent down and looked inside.

“…”

There’s none. When I stood up and turned around in a daze, I saw him gesturing towards me. I walked on legs that were weaker than before, and he gently rubbed my chin.

“Let’s do one more check-up before the semester starts. It won’t hurt.”

I frowned as I was about to ask when we were going to raise a dog. Again? I felt like sighing at the tiresome thought, but I held it in and nodded. I didn’t want to worry him.

I looked back as I walked into the house with him. Seeing the bright sunlight, Woo Ji-min came to mind. I wondered if they had really met and how it went if they did.

I couldn’t bring myself to mention his name since I’d need to ask Tae Seong-je permission to meet, which would require me to talk about Woo Ji-min. I’m afraid that just saying his name might stir up dust.

***

The second semester, which seemed like it would never come, has begun, and the course registration deadline has ended. I took the certification exam as well as the TOEIC. It was easier than I thought, so I regretted not taking the TOEIC right after graduating from high school when I passed the Korean history exam. I was relieved that my life was still going strong. I was fortunate to live my life hard and not give up because it was someone else’s life. They said that doing something consistently would help, and it turned out as they said.

The house that didn’t seem to suit me became a bit more familiar, and I unpacked all my belongings from the studio apartment. Now, the problem was how to tell Seo Seung-won’s parents. I couldn’t stay silent. Even if they didn’t show up, they provided side dishes and occasionally called the landlord. If I said I was going to move out, of course there would be talk. However, leaving the room unoccupied was a waste, so it was a problem one way or another.

“Haa… ”

No matter how much I tried to find my own path in life, that action crossed the line. My head hurt because I felt like they would faint once they found out the whole story. What should I do now? I left the convenience store after carefully stowing the just-purchased lottery ticket in my pocket. The campus, which had been quiet during the vacation, was once again bustling with students, making it noisy and lively.

“Are you photosynthesizing?”

“Hello, Sunbae… What’s wrong with the area under your eyes?”

Although I had stopped taking my morning medicine, I was still the one taking it, yet Woo Ji-min appeared to be more in pain than me. The area around his eyes turned reddish in just one day. Not only that, but his face had lost its color.

Since he and I usually stayed around the lecture halls or the library, there was no need to set up a meeting. The library back, terrace, convenience store…

So, I wasn’t really surprised by the sudden encounter as it was a regular occurrence last semester. However, his distressing appearance was more shocking than the day before the exam.

“Where does it hurt?”

“No. I just couldn’t sleep. I slept in the PC room.”

“Why did you sleep there?”

I asked reflexively, but I sensed something terrible in the bleak atmosphere and frantic voice that I wanted to avoid at all costs.

“What did that senior do again?”

“Do you think I’m living a hard life just because of that person? It’s tough even without him.”

My intuition never seems to hit the mark. He massaged his tired eyes and stood up when I touched my cheek in embarrassment. He went into a convenience store, so I chased after him and he already paid for plastic cups, drinks, and alcohol.

My eyes lit up as I watched him make a cocktail on the spot. I quietly held out the plastic cup to him as he poured it into his glass. My mouth watered at the slightest hint of soju.

“I actually decided to move out after fighting with the landlord last month, but I don’t have a proper place to stay, so I’m holding out. I tried sleeping in the PC room to make up for the days I almost ran into him, but it’s not something a person should do.”

I gazed around while carefully holding the drink he had made. Tae Seong-je’s subordinates were waiting at the main gate. My heart was pounding because I knew I could pull off the perfect crime as long as Woo Ji-min kept his mouth shut. Even though I knew that I would be gagged if I got caught, my hands and mouth did not stop. I was craving alcohol after suffering from a severe headache the previous time. Since I only took the medication in the evening, it didn’t significantly affect my daily life the next day, which was good, but the aftereffects started again, which was a problem.

“Sunbae, it’s really delicious… ”

“You really like alcohol.”

Woo Ji-min slightly stuck out his tongue, seemingly disgusted. I couldn’t deny that I liked it. In the beginning, I only drank a little because I was bothered by migraines that were interfering with my studies. However, it had already escalated to the point where I secretly wanted to drink. I just hoped for nothing more than to avoid falling into the trap of the easy path leading to alcohol.

“Ah, but you said you’re taking medicine. Can you drink?”

“What kind of alcohol is this? It’s like a soft drink.”

As I said, it was more like a cocktail than alcohol. It tasted sweet and I couldn’t really taste the alcohol. However, now was not the time to distinguish between hot and cold water, so I held on to the cup with all my might. Although it was only a small amount, when alcohol entered my body for the first time in a long time, my hands began to shake as if I had tremors.

“Ha. But why did you fight?”

“There are reasons for adults… Oh, I should have endured a bit more. The rent there was the cheapest.”

Still, he might have a hard time because it was far from campus.  It would be better to use this opportunity to find a place close to the campus. However, the budget seemed to be an issue. A dormitory would be the best option, but since the deadline had gone and he also stated that he didn’t like it, it felt like the last option.

“Sunbae, do you want to use my studio?”

“What?”

I almost exclaimed when I said it. Was it really a coincidence that I had to vacate my studio and Woo Ji-min urgently looking for a place at the same time? Although I couldn’t recall the detailed development, this was undoubtedly a predetermined fate. Of course, I didn’t end up emptying my room by going to my lover’s house.

I didn’t want to follow the book, but it seemed practical to make the best use of it. I explained the situation in detail to Woo Ji-min to alleviate the guilt lingering in my heart. Contrary to my expectation that he would readily nod in agreement, he slapped me on the back with a shocked look on his face.

“You must be crazy. Hey, come to your senses. Living together? Since when did you, or rather, him, meet?”

“Ouch. March?”

Then Woo Ji-min casually grabbed the soju bottle and poured it into his glass. He massaged the corners of his puffy eyes and ran his fingers through his hair as he cleared his throat.

“I’ll skip class today.”

“What? Why? Because of me? Is that okay?”

“At least you know. Yeah. Because of you, my head is going to explode. How am I supposed to attend class with this state of mind? Oh, it won’t work. Let’s skip.”