IPSTDS Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Yoon Noah decided to keep Park Sangcheol pacified until Seo Dowoong returned to school. So even though he hated it, he forced himself to spend time with Park Sangcheol.

Park Sangcheol was quite pleased to have someone like Yoon Noah—a friend who felt like a trophy.

Yoon Noah was even Seo Dowoong’s closest friend, the very person Park Sangcheol so desperately wanted to crush. How could he not be thrilled when that very friend seemed to betray Seo Dowoong and trash-talk him alongside Park Sangcheol?

Even while cursing him endlessly on the inside, Yoon Noah kept up the act for Park Sangcheol’s sake.

“Noah, don’t you think Seo Dowoong’s seriously annoying?”

“Yeah, Sangcheol. Being too handsome and too perfect is just plain irritating.”

But there was something Yoon Noah had failed to consider.

It was the attention from those around him.

Everyone at school believed Yoon Noah had genuinely betrayed Seo Dowoong.

Then, the trouble began when Seo Dowoong finally came back to school after a long absence.

Some boys who had always hoped to get close to Seo Dowoong and had envied Yoon Noah’s position took full advantage of the opportunity.

They wasted no time reporting that Yoon Noah had betrayed Seo Dowoong, that he spent all day badmouthing him with Park Sangcheol.

“…Yoon Noah? That’s gotta be a mistake. There’s no way he’d do that.”

But right at that moment, Yoon Noah—walking arm in arm with Park Sangcheol—ran into Seo Dowoong face-to-face.

“Noah?”

Seo Dowoong called his name, but Yoon Noah turned away. It was because Park Sangcheol was watching his reaction right beside him.

‘If I act friendly with Seo Dowoong now, it’ll waste everything I’ve built up. Park Sangcheol might pull another suicide stunt. I should ignore him for now.’

Yoon Noah planned to message Seo Dowoong later to clear up the misunderstanding.

They had been friends for so long—he figured Seo Dowoong would understand once he explained. After all, this was for Seo Dowoong’s sake.

But in that moment, he saw Seo Dowoong’s face twist slightly, as if he’d been genuinely hurt. He didn’t take being ignored lightly.

And that’s where the dream ended.

The scowling face of Seo Dowoong, Park Sangcheol’s smirking face, the glances from the boys watching—it all dissolved.

Darkness returned once more. Nahyuk wondered how much longer he’d remain in this pitch-black space before he could return to reality.

Soon, a beam of light leaked in from somewhere. From within that light, a familiar voice spoke.

“…Yoon Noah.”

It sounded like Seo Dowoong’s voice from the dream—but a little deeper now.

Nahyuk felt the light and voice wash over him. His heavy eyelids slowly began to lift.

Blink, blink.

After blinking a few times, his surroundings came into focus. A ceiling with mismatched star stickers on clean wallpaper. His own room.

“You’re awake?”

The same voice he’d heard in the dream spoke again. Nahyuk turned his head to find the source.

It was, surprisingly, Seo Dowoong.

He was still dressed the same as the night before, as if he’d stayed up all night looking after him.

And his face looked… genuinely worried.

Nahyuk clearly remembered the first day he met Seo Dowoong after possessing Yoon Noah’s body—how he looked at him as if he were some disgusting insect, the most revolting thing in the world.

The man now sitting beside him felt like a completely different person. It was almost shocking how much someone’s gaze could change in just a few days.

“Hold on.”

Even his voice was unexpectedly gentle.

That unfamiliar kindness left Nahyuk stunned, and before he could react, Seo Dowoong had already left the room.

He soon returned with Dr. Kim, who gave Nahyuk a quick checkup before leaving the room.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any major issues. What had caused him to collapse last night was his chronic illness.

Nahyuk gently touched the area near his heart.

Even after taking a deep breath in and out, there was no pain. But he wondered when those occasional sharp aches would stop.

Still, as long as his heart didn’t fail, he figured he could endure it. Even if the pain sometimes grew intense.

His thoughts were interrupted by Seo Dowoong’s voice, now free of its usual sharp edge.

“Don’t read too much into this. I only stayed because it felt like you collapsed because of me.”

“…Right. Then you can go now. Cough, cough.”

Instead of leaving, Seo Dowoong handed him a glass of water from the nightstand.

“You’re coughing. Drink some water.”

Nahyuk obediently drank the water and listened.

“Last night, I must have…”

“…?”

“…been really drunk.”

Good thing he knew.

Unbidden, Nahyuk recalled how Seo Dowoong had slurred like a drunken mess the night before.

‘What about my birthday?’

‘What?’

‘You really must’ve hardened your heart this time. Even ignored my birthday on purpose.’

He had sounded genuinely sulky, like he was upset Nahyuk hadn’t celebrated his birthday.

‘What nonsense. Last time, you treated Yoon Noah’s expensive gift like trash.’

The memory of that gift—and the mountain of credit card debt that followed—prompted Nahyuk to drink even more water. His throat was parched.

And now, after all that, he wanted a birthday celebration?

Nahyuk found it ridiculous.

“Okay, I get it, so just leave already. Don’t you have work?”

“I told them I’d be late today.”

“Even so, you should go.”

Nahyuk wanted to be alone and rest.

Having spent all of yesterday outside, he felt exhausted. He was yawning nonstop, and today, he just wanted to do nothing.

But Seo Dowoong replied,

“Do you want me gone that badly?”

He almost sounded… disappointed.

…Nahyuk knew that was probably a stretch, but he gave Seo Dowoong a suspicious glance anyway.

“You reek of alcohol. My head’s hurting from the smell.”

“….”

Seo Dowoong sheepishly brushed back his hair.

Honestly, he didn’t smell bad at all. If anything, he carried a faint trace of his usual cologne. It was surprising, considering how strongly he’d reeked of alcohol the night before.

‘Is this just main character body chemistry?’

It wasn’t something Nahyuk felt like analyzing. He just wanted to rest.

“So you’re not leaving?”

The answer came from Seo Dowoong’s stomach.

Growl.

Maybe feeding him would make him go home.

Nahyuk realized he was a little hungry too.

“If I give you breakfast, will you leave after that?”

But Seo Dowoong took it a step further.

“I want to wash up first.”

He didn’t even seem embarrassed by his stomach growling. His attitude was like, Of course I’m hungry, I haven’t eaten.

In the end, Nahyuk backed down.

He was too drained to argue with Seo Dowoong.

Still, he felt like he had to say something.

“Let me just warn you. If you try to kiss me or pull anything like last time, I’m calling the cops.”

“If you’re just trying to play hard to get, then go ahead.”

“…You’re still hopeless, huh.”

Seo Dowoong brushed off the warning and turned away, casually opening the wardrobe and picking out the largest clothes he could find.

He even walked into the en suite bathroom without a hint of awkwardness.

‘Wait… Has he been here a lot before?’

If he used to visit often when his relationship with Yoon Noah was good, maybe he really was that familiar with the house…

Nahyuk suddenly remembered the last image of Seo Dowoong he saw in the dream. The way he looked at him with that strangely cold stare.

* * *

Seo Dowoong came down to the first-floor dining room wearing a white T-shirt that clung a little tightly to his body and gray sweatpants that looked noticeably snug around the thighs.

It seemed he had chosen the largest clothes among Yoon Noah’s wardrobe, and yet they were still far too small on him.

Those gray sweatpants, in particular, were so eye-catching that it felt impossible to let his gaze drift downward. He always looked like someone who just sat around working, but when had he built a body like that?

Strangely enough, even though the clothes clearly didn’t fit, Seo Dowoong didn’t look ridiculous at all.

On the contrary, his presence somehow made the modest home dining room feel like a hotel restaurant. There was a natural elegance to him that couldn’t be hidden.

It seemed everyone else was thinking the same thing, as the house staff kept sneaking glances at him. Not wanting to be lumped in with them, Nahyuk spoke bluntly to cover it up.

“Hey, sit.”

“Sure.”

And just like that, the two of them sat facing each other at the table.

Soon, a spread that was a bit much for a simple breakfast began to fill the table. Seo Dowoong exchanged warm greetings with Chief Song, who had come to set the meal.

“Chief Song, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Oh my, Young Master Dowoong. It really has been a long time. I’ve been doing well—how about you?”

“I’ve been well too.”

It was clear they already knew each other.

“Why haven’t you visited lately? Young Master Noah’s been saying he misses you.”

At those words, Seo Dowoong’s gaze shifted to Nahyuk.

It was the kind of look that seemed to say, “See? You were playing hard to get, weren’t you?”