IPSTDS Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The moment Nahyuk thought of Kim Daon, he appeared right before his eyes.

Nahyuk figured that since they lived close by, running into each other like this wasn’t all that unlikely.

“I was out grocery shopping and saw you through the café window,” Daon said.

He sat naturally across from Nahyuk, as if they’d agreed to meet here all along.

“Are you going to stay surprised like that? Don’t tell me you were badmouthing me and that’s why you’re so startled?”

“N-No! I wasn’t badmouthing you, I was just thinking about what to get you for your birthday.”

Oops. I was planning to keep it a surprise, but I blurted it out without thinking.

Nahyuk gave an awkward smile.

“A birthday gift? Wow, now I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Don’t get your hopes up. Honestly, I’m kind of broke.”

Daon burst out laughing at Nahyuk’s sudden declaration of empty pockets. It seemed hilarious to him that Yoon Noah, who used to flaunt his wealth, was now calling himself a pauper.

“But I don’t think it’ll be that easy to satisfy me.”

“Do you like expensive things?”

“No. Gifts are about the heart, not the money.”

True. The Kim Daon from ‘A Flower Blooms Even in Ruins’ wasn’t materialistic either. That made it even harder to decide on a birthday present.

Daon rested his chin on his arm on the table, tilting his head slightly to the right. Then he asked something rather provocative, out of nowhere.

“Hyung, how far are you willing to go?”

His tone was unmistakably gentle, but there was a strange heat behind it. Nahyuk ended up stammering before he could respond.

“H-How far?”

He quickly tried to recall what Yoon Noah had to offer.

The car in the garage, the nice house… that was about it. But it didn’t seem like Daon wanted those things.

“Daon… I really don’t have anything to give you. All I’ve got is this sick body of mine…”

“…”

“W-Would you want… my body, maybe?”

Of course, he knew Daon wouldn’t want that. Still, he gathered the courage to ask.

The answer was a smile. Daon laughed so hard he teared up, then shook his head.

“I’m just kidding. You don’t have to get me anything. I don’t need anything.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Just sincerely wish me a happy birthday. That’s enough.”

Daon’s still-smiling face was a sight to behold. That bright, beautiful smile almost seemed to radiate a halo behind him.

But Daon… celebrating your birthday is a given. I want to give you something memorable.

As he gazed at that beautiful face, Nahyuk kept thinking about what Daon might truly need.

“Oh right, hyung. Did you meet Seo Dowoong?”

The beautiful, peaceful mood shattered instantly with just the mention of Seo Dowoong’s name.

Daon’s smile faded. His expression looked a bit troubled.

“Yeah. I met him yesterday. Did he contact you?”

“He did. He said he thought he might’ve misunderstood and wanted to apologize. He also said we should make up…”

“And?”

Daon didn’t sound like someone who was eager to reconcile with Seo Dowoong.

“Why don’t I feel like making up with him?”

So my guess was right after all, Nahyuk thought. He was curious about what was weighing on Daon’s mind.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“Hmm. You know, I used to think it didn’t matter how someone treated others, as long as they treated me well?”

“Yeah.”

“But then I saw this suddenly kinder, more fragile version of you getting belittled by Seo Dowoong… and it didn’t sit well with me. I think that’s what’s bothering me.”

“…”

“Dowoong’s overly forceful nature has started to make me uncomfortable.”

So it was basically because of me that Daon didn’t want to make up with Seo Dowoong. Nahyuk didn’t know what kind of expression to make.

He couldn’t exactly be happy, nor did it feel right to confront him.

“Back then, you seemed so strong, like you wouldn’t lose to anyone. That’s why I didn’t really mind when Seo Dowoong said stuff to you.”

“Did I?”

“It’s a little late, but I’m sorry. I should’ve stepped in and said something. Even if you were pretending to be strong, it must’ve still hurt.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Really?”

“Maybe it did hurt a little, but it’s in the past. As long as I don’t get hurt again, it’s okay.”

And unlike the real Yoon Noah, Nahyuk didn’t like Seo Dowoong. So there was no way he’d get hurt over him again.

Nahyuk didn’t want to pine after someone who didn’t even look his way, not like Noah did. He didn’t want to fall for a love that was bound to hurt him.

Getting hurt by love and neglected by people—that was more than enough for one lifetime.

Somewhere in this fictional world, there had to be someone who would truly love him, Nahyuk believed.

“Hyung. You know you look better now than you did before, right?”

“That’s not just because I gave up on being your rival, is it?”

“What are you even saying. As for Dowoong and me… well…”

Daon trailed off with a bitter smile.

Of course, it probably wasn’t anything, but somehow he seemed to have a negative view of his relationship with Seo Dowoong.

‘Could the two of them really be drifting apart?’

It’s not like I wanted the real world to follow the original story exactly.

Nahyuk just worried that this divergence might end up hurting Daon.

“I’ll handle my own love life.”

“…Okay.”

“But instead, give me a chance to make it up to you.”

“Make it up?”

“Yeah.”

Daon nodded toward what he’d been carrying. The shopping basket under the table was full of groceries.

“I bought a lot of delicious stuff.”

“…”

“Wanna come over to my place for dinner tonight?”

Daon smiled again as he said that. A calm, carefree smile.

As Nahyuk gazed blankly at that smile, he suddenly realized—Daon’s fingertips were tapping gently on his own, resting on the table.

That cautious touch sent a faint thrill through him.

And then Daon delivered the decisive blow.

“Hyung. I’m really good at cooking. Don’t you want to try something I made?”

In the end, Nahyuk had no choice but to say yes.

“I want to try it…”

A complete defeat.

“The place isn’t as crazy big as your house, hyung.”

Kim Daon said playfully as he opened the front door.

“You… are you really going to keep teasing me about that? Now I’m embarrassed I ever bragged about my huge house.”

“But I can’t help thinking about it.”

Just how much had Yoon Noah bragged to Kim Daon about his home? Nahyuk sighed as he took off his shoes.

“My brothers will be home late today. They both said they had plans.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Daon placed the groceries in the kitchen and gave Nahyuk a little tour of the place.

It wasn’t as spacious as Yoon Noah’s home, but that didn’t mean it felt lacking in any way.

It was surprisingly tidy for a place shared by three men, and above all, it felt lived-in. Warm. A sharp contrast to Yoon Noah’s place, which felt cold and lifeless—sterile, devoid of any trace of human warmth.

Nahyuk hadn’t met Daon’s brothers yet, but he could already imagine.

‘The three of them must get along really well.’

He had a strong feeling they were a close-knit trio.

Nahyuk found himself envious of Kim Daon, who got along so well with his family.

Daon’s integrity, his kindness toward the vulnerable, his strength to call things out when they were wrong—it all seemed to come from having grown up in a good home.

People who are loved growing up, you can tell. There’s something in their demeanor that those who never knew love can never fake.

‘If I’d grown up in a warm household… would I have turned out different?’

Even if just one family member had understood me…

“Well, that’s the tour. Sit on the sofa for a bit, okay? I’ll start cooking.”

“Got it. If there’s anything I can help with, just say so.”

“You can’t cook, hyung…”

I guess that’s another thing Noah and I have in common, huh? Nahyuk gave an awkward laugh.

“Well, that’s true…”

“It’s fine. Besides, guests shouldn’t be working.”

And with that, Daon practically forced him to sit down on the sofa.

As if to keep him entertained, Daon even turned on the TV before hurrying off to the kitchen.

On the screen, some celebrities Nahyuk didn’t recognize were laughing and chatting away. It looked like a variety show, but since he rarely watched TV, he had no idea who was who.

More than that, watching Daon cooking in the kitchen was way more interesting.

With an apron tied around his waist, Daon looked serious and focused as he cooked.

In ‘A Flower Blooms Even in Ruins’, there had never been a scene of Daon cooking. It was a privilege unique to being inside the novel.

Judging by the smooth way he moved, he hadn’t lied about being good at it. Before long, delicious smells began wafting through the air.

The scent made Nahyuk feel strangely hungry, even though he hadn’t been before.

“Hyung, wanna come sit at the table now?”

At Daon’s call, Nahyuk stood up eagerly and took a seat at the table.

The table was lined with a neat, homey array of Korean dishes. For someone who looked like he’d prefer Western cuisine, Daon had put together a thoroughly savory spread—it was almost ironic.

“You can dig in.”

“Thanks, Daon. I’m gonna enjoy this!”

The food was delicious enough to make his eyes widen. Even someone like Nahyuk, who usually didn’t eat much, found himself scarfing it down.

If Daon ever quit being Seo Dowoong’s secretary, he could definitely run a restaurant.

Thanks to that, Nahyuk ended up overeating for the first time in a while. When he felt the food rising all the way up to his chest, he finally put down his chopsticks.

Daon, who seemed to have finished much earlier, just giggled watching him—as if finding it adorable that Nahyuk had eaten like someone who hadn’t had a proper meal in days.