PIA 161

The restaurant was quiet with the closing time just around the corner. Including Ji-an and Jeong Hee-seo, there were only two tables of guests having a very late dinner.

The hairtail fish that filled the extremely long plate completely was like a boundary line between Jeong Hee-seo and Ji-an. Though it looked very delicious. Thanks to the staff who had removed all the bones, Jeong Hee-seo cut a piece of the white fish meat with a clean spoon and placed it on top of Ji-an’s rice.

Ji-an’s throat tightened unexpectedly at his habitual kindness. Did he even realize he was being so good to him? This wasn’t a land where the scenario was in effect, so why was he doing this?

Ji-an frowned in deep thought. Fortunately, from the outside, it just looked like he was frowning because the food was delicious.

“Is that really it? You’ve finished all your business in Jeju Island?”

Jeong Hee-seo asked Ji-an again if there was anything else he wanted to do. It wasn’t because he thought the trip to Jeju was a waste, but he seemed to want to find Ji-an’s another goal.

“It’s all done. This life was a grand gift from that guy, so I need to sort out my feelings now.”

Ji-an scooped rice into his mouth enthusiastically, aware of Jeong Hee-seo’s gaze.

“I thought I might try living a smooth life for once. A self-directed life without a predetermined scenario, how nice is that? Who knows? I might be able to live ordinarily and die of old age in this life.”

At these words that made him sound like an old soul, Jeong Hee-seo furrowed his handsome forehead. Before a dissatisfied retort could escape his lips, Ji-an added a speech.

“You don’t understand because you’re a good person and only have good people around you. Your life is smooth, so you can’t understand. And good people only attract other good people. Do you know what an incredible stroke of luck that is? It’s called the law of like-attracts-like…”

“What’s that?”

“Hey? Don’t laugh. This is science.”

Jeong Hee-seo briefly laughed while covering his mouth with his fist, then drank some water. After swallowing what was in his mouth and wiping his lips with a handkerchief, he stared at Ji-an.

“Then you must be a good person too.”

It wasn’t that Ji-an didn’t understand the meaning, but it didn’t immediately register, and his hand holding the spoon stopped abruptly. When he sent Jeong Hee-seo a look demanding an explanation, he chuckled again.

“You’re by my side right now.”

Now that he thought about it, the man laughed quite easily. When Ji-an frowned, Jeong Hee-seo added,

“You just said I’m a good person, and mentioned like-attracts-like. Isn’t that right? Or are you changing your words in a moment?”

Ha, Ji-an was dumbfounded and put down his spoon. He drank water and wiped his mouth, just like Jeong Hee-seo did.

“I didn’t know this side of you. You’re a complete criminal who bewitches people as easily as breathing.”

“You’re being cheeky.”

Ji-an laughed emptily. Looking back, it was true. Throughout all those numerous tragedies he had lived through, Jeong Hee-seo had consistently been a good person. Even in the suicide ending that was the first and the catalyst for the regression, it was his emotions at their peak that made him turn the steering wheel, and Jeong Hee-seo had tried to persuade him until the end.

In the countless loops afterward, he continuously ruined Jeong Hee-seo’s perfect life. Even when he tried not to, he always reached the same result, so Ji-an couldn’t agree with his words. Me, a good person…

As the intense meal was nearing its end, Ji-an blurted out a warning to Jeong Hee-seo,

“Don’t let your guard down. I’m the worst ill-fated connection in your life. A masive ill-fated connection enough to destroy your entire life.”

“Ah, so because of you, I died multiple times.”

Jeong Hee-seo uttered these eerie words without inflection as he stood up.

“It’s funny to ask this now, but do you actually believe what I’m saying?”

Since it was the first time he had directly mentioned the scenario, Ji-an followed him as he was leaving the restaurant and asked again.

“Honesty, I didn’t really believe it until I saw that other you who was the same yet different.” 

“You didn’t believe it, but you helped me with so many things.”

“That’s what I wonder too. Why did I do that?”

“See? I told you we’re ill-fated. When a person gets bewitched and does things they wouldn’t normally do, that’s what an ill-fated connection is.”

Bewitched, was it.

Jeong Hee-seo, who was reaching out to open the door, stopped abruptly at those words. Then Ji-an mischievously slipped under his arm like he was cutting in line. The scent of Ji-an, who had briefly entered and left his space, was excessively sweet. Jeong Hee-seo stared blankly for a moment as if watching the trajectory of his fragrance.

Ji-an, who had gone three or four steps ahead, twirled around and waved his hands playfully.

Perhaps those words were right.

Jeong Hee-seo, who finally took a large step forward to follow Ji-an after being unable to resist his urging, didn’t even realize he was smiling.

On the other hand, while looking at his smiling face, Ji-an recalled scenes from the past. He, who was set up as a character whose life was ruined by him, never smiled at him willingly. After being entangled with him, Jeong Hee-seo had lost all of his characteristic composure, and was sharp, depressed, and always immersed in sadness.

“You know what? When you’re scary, you can be really scary.”

For some reason, Ji-an found it difficult to meet his gaze and awkwardly lowered his head.

The man hadn’t changed, this was his original self, but Jia-an’s heart ached painfully at his consistently good nature. It takes only an instant to get used to good things, and he reflexively thought that he would miss him when he left.

“…!”

The next moment, Ji-an was startled and hunched his shoulders. It was because Jeong Hee-seo had narrowed the distance between them and placed his hand on top of his head. Ji-an was more nervous than ever at the sensation of the tips of his five fingers lightly stroking his hair. The cool pheromone scent flowed subtly from the end of his sleeve, which was right in front of his nose.

“I’m human too. I’m quite greedy and hate losing what’s mine.”

What’s mine.

Ji-an grasped Jeong Hee-seo’s wrist with both hands. When he carefully pushed it away, he let go willingly. But after that, it felt awkward to release his hand.

“…”

“…”

In the end, he held his hand. Just as he was about to awkwardly let go of the hand resting on his wrist, Jeong Hee-seo interlocked his fingers with Ji-an’s in the blink of an eye. His large hand tightly gripped Ji-an’s, then held it comfortably. The warm body temperature tingled up to his elbow, and Ji-an flustered, not knowing where to look.

“Shall we go?”

He just nodded at his words. The snowflakes that had been falling lightly were now falling more heavily, and the outside garden was already covered in white patches. It seemed they had spent more time at dinner than expected.

Yellow garden lights dotted the large garden of the restaurant on the hill, guiding the way. It was quite a distance to the parking lot, requiring them to cross the garden and go down the stairs, but it felt very short, though he couldn’t remember how they had managed it.

When the two reached the parking lot, Jeong Hee-seo held out his hand. Not knowing what he wanted, Ji-an reflexively offered his other hand. This made Jeong Hee-seo burst into laughter.

He gently pinched Ji-an’s flushed cheek and then reached into his coat pocket himself to retrieve the car keys.

Then, before opening the driver’s seat door and getting in, he said as if urging him.

“Stop talking about your multi-dimensional story now. It makes you look like a boring weirdo.”

Let’s go for a drive. The beach road here is pretty. He could barely hear his next words. Ji-an sat in the passenger seat with his lips slightly pouted and fastened his seatbelt.

Jeong Hee-seo drove along the coastal road with the night sea on their right. Several large wind turbines lined up over the sea caught Ji-an’s attention through the window. Forgetting that it was midwinter, he opened the window wide, and the scattered snowflakes flew in, landing on his face.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’m fine.”

“So stubborn.”

Ji-an rested his arm on the windowsill and just turned his head to look at Jeong Hee-seo.

“You’re the one who’s cold, right?”

“Yes, I’m cold. Close it.”

Ji-an pressed the button to close it halfway, then stopped, and Jeong Hee-seo operated the button from the driver’s seat and closed it completely. Ji-an chuckled and then suddenly turned his head completely towards the man.

The dimly lit car was quiet, and Jeong Hee-seo’s pheromone scent wafted subtly. He was truly well-matched with the cool scent reminiscent of a lush forest wet with dawn rain. Jeong Hee-seo, who was driving with one hand, resting one arm on the door trim and propped his chin, felt somewhat unreal.

“What?”

Jeong Hee-seo asked, feeling his gaze as Ji-an stared at him endlessly. When Ji-an still didn’t answer, Jeong Hee-seo let out an awkward chuckle.

“Say something.”

“You said not to talk about multi-dimensional stories. Said it was boring.”

Only then did Jeong Hee-seo turn his head from looking forward to Ji-an. Was it because the car was dark? Ji-an swallowed, seeing his silhouette reflected distinctly in his black eyes.

“Tell me about yourself then.”

“What, is this interest?”

When the slightly surprised Ji-an shot back with whatever came to mind, Jeong Hee-seo burst into hearty laughter.

“I was just looking at you because you seem really handsome now that I’m seeing you free from the constraints of the scenario. It’s understandable why that guy would stay with you. I also thought you’re someone worth falling for, worth liking.”

“…”

Perhaps it was because he brought up the multi-dimensional story he had told him not to mention. Jeong Hee-seo just gave Ji-an another glance without answering.

As he smiled an indecipherable smile with just the corner of his mouth raised, Ji-an somehow felt his mouth go dry. When he turned his head back toward the window, using the scenery as an excuse, an awkward silence settled in the car. The car simply cut through the darkness, heading toward its destination.

* * *

After driving almost halfway around Jeju Island, Jeong Hee-seo stopped at JM Hotel on the coast. The man who had handed over the car keys at the airport greeted the two as if he had been waiting for them.

But there was only one room key that he handed over.

“…”

When Ji-an looked at him like he was staring at an animal, with one corner of his mouth raised crookedly, Jeong Hee-seo raised his eyebrow slightly.