TGMND 59

Thoughts of chicken and beer lingered in his mind all day long. After leaving his game character soaking in the EXP hot spring, Yeo-woon started vacuuming around the house as he always did. Going through the chores he had been putting off one by one, he realized he was out of tissues and only had one bottle of water left.

“Sigh, guess I have no choice.”

Water is a necessity. If he didn’t buy some now, he might die tomorrow. Humans die without water, after all. Yes, that’s right…

Having no choice, Yeo-woon decided to go to the store to buy tissues, water, and, while he was at it, some snacks and beer. All of these were essential household items. Thinking about filling his empty fridge with alcohol, he changed his clothes. After checking if it was raining outside and confirming there was no need for an umbrella, he opened the front door.

“Huh?”

“…”

At the same time, Yoon Ji-gu from the next apartment came out in slippers, holding a large garbage bag. He flinched upon seeing Yeo-woon right in front of him.

“Going to take out the trash?”

“That, and I need to buy something.”

Yeo-woon nodded vaguely at Yoon Ji-gu’s answer and pressed the elevator button. He heard the sound of the elevator coming up from the first floor as the red numbers increased.

“And you… where are you going at this hour?”

“Me?”

How unusual for him to ask first. Yeo-woon glanced at Yoon Ji-gu in surprise. The elevator doors opened just in time.

“The grocery store, I’m out of water.”

“You could use a water purifier.”

“I prefer to buy and drink bottled water.”

“That must be heavy.”

“That’s why I’m going to have it delivered.”

Ding. The elevator doors opened at the first floor. Yeo-woon followed Yoon Ji-gu out of the elevator. Yoon Ji-gu went outside, tossed the garbage bag into the general trash bin, and then turned around.

“…?”

“…”

Their eyes met. Yoon Ji-gu, standing firmly in place, stared intently at Yeo-woon before turning his body and slowly walking in the direction Yeo-woon was headed. Yeo-woon tilted his head as he watched Yoon Ji-gu’s broad back. He had said he needed to buy something, so it seemed he was going to do that. Is he going the same way as me? Yeo-woon caught up and walked alongside Yoon Ji-gu.

“Where are you going, Ji-gu-ssi? What are you buying?”

“I’m… getting shampoo.”

Yoon Ji-gu mumbled his response.

“Shampoo does run out quickly! Are you going to the mart then?”

“Well, they do sell it there too.”

“Perfect! Let’s go together.”

“Sure…”

“…?”

What’s wrong with him, did he eat something wrong? Yeo-woon had expected him to flatly refuse, but why was he being so compliant today? An inexplicable sense of discomfort arose.

The sounds of their footsteps echoed on the bluish evening streets. Even the flickering streetlights seemed languid. It was a familiar neighborhood. Just the other time, Yeo-woon had been walking in the opposite direction after picking up the lemon Yoon Ji-gu dropped on the road.

“You’re not running away today?”

“…”

Yoon Ji-gu’s lips twitched at the sudden question. It seemed that he was still hesitating whether to run away or not. Why is this person as shy as a wild animal…? Not wanting to burden the flustered Yoon Ji-gu further, Yeo-woon averted his gaze. The more he looked at him, the funnier he was. His intimidating first impression was already fading from Yeo-woon’s memory.

“Ji-gu-ssi.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

“What. Don’t call me that then.”

Yoon Ji-gu snorted. Usually he wouldn’t even spare Yeo-woon a glance when he spoke. Unconsciously walking ahead, Yoon Ji-gu suddenly stopped and turned back, adjusting his pace to match Yeo-woon’s. It felt strange to walk together in sync on the empty street.

‘Why are you looking? Why are you staring?’

Strangely…their eyes kept meeting.

***

“Do you have a hundred won?”

“What?”

“Do you have some change?”

“…”

Yoon Ji-gu blinked dazedly, then rummaged through his pockets and handed a silver coin to Yeo-woon’s outstretched palm. The coin was warm from his body heat. Yeo-woon pulled out a shopping cart and brushed past Yoon Ji-gu, heading into the mart first. As Ji-gu followed behind, he muttered under his breath about being extorted.

“Hurry up.”

“…Are we really shopping together?”

“Wow, watermelon is cheap.”

Could he finish eating one that big? Yeo-woon picked up a watermelon the size of his head and put it in the cart. Ji-gu’s eyebrows twitched as his question was ignored.

“Side dish clearance sale! 10,000 won for six packs!”

“Wow!”

A five-pack of side dishes also made it into the cart.

“Buy one, get one free.”

Some crackers he often bought also went into the cart. If you buy one, they give you another for free, so it’d be silly not to. After circling three aisles, the bottom of the shopping cart was no longer visible. And beer…. Yeo-woon placed boxes of canned beer into the cart and looked around.

Yoon Ji-gu, who had been silently trailing beside him, asked indirectly.

“Um, you’re really buying all this?”

Only then did Yeo-woon peek into the cart and blink. He didn’t realize how much he had loaded up.

“…Oh, the cookies you gave me yesterday were delicious.”

“Changing the subject?”

“Did Yeong have fun when she left?”

“While saying that, you keep putting more stuff in…”

“…Just go and get your shampoo.”

Yeo-woon pointed his chin towards the ‘Home/Health’ section. Ji-gu glanced suspiciously at Yeo-woon before reluctantly heading off.

While Yoon Ji-gu wasn’t watching, Yeo-woon turned his attention to the snack aisle. He put spicy stir-fried chicken feet into the cart, then covered it with a bag of chips he had grabbed earlier to hide that he had added another item. When Yoon Ji-gu returned with a large shampoo bottle cradled in his arms, he scrutinized the inside of the cart. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he noticed.

“Why do you buy so much alcohol?”

“Oh, I was originally going to have some friends over for drinks tonight…”

“Friends?”

“Haven’t you seen them before? When I was moving in.”

“…Ah, those s1aves…”

“Right, them. …I guess since I called them suddenly, they couldn’t make it today.”

“…”

Yoon Ji-gu took two steps away from Yeo-woon. Yeo-woon didn’t even notice and lamented the fact that he had to drink alone. Come to think of it, he needed to return the plate the cookies came on yesterday. It felt weird to return it empty, so he should probably put something in it.

Even if not food, some kind of gift as a thank you…

“…!”

Then something caught Yeo-woon’s eye. The moment he saw it, he thought ‘This is it.’

“…What is this!”

“The gray one looks better.”

Yeo-woon muttered to himself, comparing two bathrobes under Ji-gu’s face, and put the white one back on the shelf. Since Ji-gu was wearing a gray T-shirt, the gray bathrobe matched better. Without any further thought, Yeo-woon added the dark gray bathrobe to the shopping cart, thinking Ji-gu wouldn’t guess it was for him. He planned to give it to Ji-gu when returning the plate!

Yoon Ji-gu’s shoulders shook as he watched Yeo-woon walk with light steps toward the cash register.

***

“You really didn’t have to carry all this.”

“You already let me carry everything, now you say that?”

Ji-gu looked exasperated as he set down Yeo-woon’s impulsive purchases at his front door with a look of disbelief on his face.While the bottled water would be delivered the next morning, they had to carry everything else back today. They had to split the items into two boxes, and Ji-gu, without hesitation, carried the heavier one containing the watermelon and a box of beer cans. Though he grumbled to himself all the way, it seemed like this was the reason Yeo-woon wanted to go together.

“Thank you, Ji-gu-ssi.”

“…Whatever.”

“Oh, right, I have something for you, just give me a minute.”

Yeo-woon swiftly went inside and retrieved Yoon Ji-gu’s plate that he had washed and dried earlier. Placing the plate on top of the bath robe bought earlier, he handed it to Yoon Ji-gu who was patiently waiting outside the door.

“Here.”

“…”

“Surprised? It’s a gift. Wear it at the swimming pool!”

It would be a great gift for Yoon Ji-gu, who still swims in his swimsuit and washes his hair.

“…Wear a bath robe…at the swimming pool?”

“Yes.”

“…Are you in your right mind…?”

“Is there a problem?”

“…”

“You don’t like it? You can put it on when you get out of the shower… I noticed you always bring a towel from home instead of using the pool towels…”

Yoon Ji-gu’s eyes darted around restlessly.

“I bought it thinking of you, Ji-gu-ssi.”

“…Thinking of me?”

He didn’t seem particularly thrilled, but it didn’t matter. The moment Yeo-woon saw it, he thought he had to gift it. Yoon Ji-gu would surely come to appreciate his eye for gifts once he started using it.

“I’ll…accept this.”

“Alright.”

After some hesitation, Ji-gu accepted the bathrobe and spoke cautiously.

“But this is as far as it goes.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m telling you clearly. Whatever you like, whatever your preferences are, I don’t care. …Seriously. It’s your private life, and as long as it doesn’t bother me, it’s fine.”

“Okay…”

“But, nothing beyond this. Do you understand?”

It was a small but firm voice stating his intentions. So he has that side too. More than the content of what Yoon Ji-gu said, Yeo-woon was impressed that he could speak rather articulately, nodding in admiration.

“Let’s… be friends.”

“…?”

“Just friends. Let’s settle it at that.”

Yeo Woon’s eyes widened at the words, and he was taken aback. It wasn’t anyone else but Ji-gu—shy, prickly Ji-gu, who usually snapped at him. Yet here he was, nervously extending a hand of friendship. Was he dreaming? Yeo-woon pinched the back of his hand lightly, but it wasn’t a dream.

It was strange. Whenever Yeo-woon tried to talk to him to become closer, Ji-gu only showed annoyance. He wondered what had changed.

“Ji-gu-ssi…”

He was deeply moved that Ji-gu suggested friendship first, no matter how awkward it sounded.

“Why?”

“To celebrate becoming friends, how about a drink at my place?”

You can put the shampoo and plate back home.

“You just need to bring yourself.”

Yeo-woon glanced over Ji-gu’s body lightly, causing him to shudder and step back, frowning.

“Hey!”

“You said we’re friends. My name’s not ‘hey’….”

“No, no way! I don’t drink!”

Back to his usual self, Ji-gu yelled and quickly tapped in his door lock code, running into his house.

“Well… water would have been fine, too.”

Yeo-woon stared blankly at the closed door before struggling to carry his impulse purchases inside. He spent the next 30 minutes arranging everything on the shelves and in the fridge.

After heating up some snacks and opening a can of beer, Yeo-woon sat down at his computer to find his character abandoned in the middle of a snowy field, the hot spring entry pass time expired.

[Guild] neutaaaa: Cat, why aren’t you sleeping?

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: Oh Neutaaa, done being afk?

[Guild] neutaaaa: You’ve been up all night all weekend, aren’t you sleep deprived?

[Guild] CatMeowMeowMeow: It’s fine, fine. I’ll sleep at school, lol

[Guild] Ji9moon: Woah, naughty cat