Kwon Taehee glanced disinterestedly around the living room before heading straight into Seo Jeongwon’s bedroom.
The room held nothing but a small bed, just big enough for one person to lie down, and an old desk with a chair.
Surely he wasn’t still studying, yet the desk was stacked with workbooks.
When he pulled out the one on top and opened it, it was filled with signs of careful effort.
It was unclear how long he’d been working on it or when he stopped.
Then, among a pile of bills on one side, he found a worn notebook.
Leaning against the wobbly desk, Kwon Taehee turned the well-thumbed pages, checking the handwriting inside.
It wasn’t Seo Jeongwon’s handwriting.
It was completely different from what he’d seen on his signature.
Unlike the hastily scribbled phone numbers or payment due dates, the notes about plants were written in surprisingly detailed prose.
Maybe that’s why he hadn’t thrown it away.
A book that looked like a plant encyclopedia was also tucked into the desk.
He must have been pretty serious about the flower shop.
He was glad he’d delayed finding a transferee.
Kwon Taehee smiled and stopped by the bedside.
There was only a thin blanket and a pillow.
Though he couldn’t sit down in his outside clothes, he could still smell the scent coming from the bedding.
It was the same scent that came from the back of his pale neck, now emanating richly from the bed.
His soft brown eyes gleamed dangerously.
Just as he reached out to touch the blanket, Seo Jeongwon’s voice came from behind.
“The rice… it’s that instant kind. Is that okay?”
Kwon Taehee straightened his bent posture and smoothed out his expression.
Like a habit, he opened up his pheromones a bit more and turned around.
“It’s fine.”
“I’m almost done. The room’s a mess.”
“It’s clean. Just the desk is a bit cluttered.”
At his reply, Seo Jeongwon’s eyes flicked toward the desk.
There, disheveled, were the test prep books he’d started studying for the college entrance exam, but hadn’t touched for over half a year as things piled up.
The signs of effort were still visible.
He felt embarrassed.
Starting something but not finishing it—it looked just like the time he had promised to take responsibility for his brother but ended up giving up midway and going to him for help.
“Take your time… coming out.”
Seo Jeongwon turned first.
He took the bubbling stew from the stove and placed it on a small table, then microwaved two servings of instant rice.
He quickly filled in the rest of the table with freshly made rolled omelets, grilled ham, seaweed, and canned tuna.
The spread looked decent, and he felt a little proud.
The familiar, delicious smell eased his nerves just a bit.
After neatly placing the utensils, Kwon Taehee appeared.
Taking off his jacket, he asked if there was a place to hang it.
Seo Jeongwon quickly reached out.
“I’ll hang it up.”
“Thanks.”
“Please start eating.”
Seo Jeongwon went into the room adjacent to the bedroom.
He carefully hung the jacket he’d carried in, even spraying it with deodorizer, then rushed back out.
Kwon Taehee was sitting quietly at the table, waiting.
“Oh, you could’ve started already. Would you like some water?”
“No, it’s fine. Have a seat.”
His gentle voice flowed out as if he’d been waiting.
Seo Jeongwon sat across from him.
Despite the awkwardness, he picked up his spoon, but he hadn’t started eating yet, so he hesitated.
“What, do I have to wait for the grown-up to pick up their spoon before eating again today?”
Kwon Taehee stifled a laugh.
Seo Jeongwon, realizing he was teasing him, almost nodded before closing his mouth again.
His neat hand finally held the spoon.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“It’s not much, but please eat a lot.”
He never imagined he’d be the one saying something he’d only ever heard before.
And he definitely never expected to eat a meal with someone in this house.
The once-lonely space felt strangely full now.
As he picked up some side dishes, Seo Jeongwon glanced at Kwon Taehee.
He had perfect table manners.
His utensils made no noise against the dishes.
Was that the kind of thing you learned as a child?
He was curious.
Honestly, while preparing the food, he thought he might not eat much.
He worried he might act hesitant or unfamiliar and feel awkward.
But Kwon Taehee ate the instant rice, stew, and even the hastily prepared side dishes without a single complaint.
While Seo Jeongwon nervously nibbled here and there, Kwon Taehee finished his portion cleanly.
“That was delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
Seo Jeongwon scooped up a big bite of rice and chewed hastily, swallowing quickly.
As he scrambled to clean up, Kwon Taehee poured water and handed it to him.
“Eat slowly.”
“I-I’m done eating.”
He set down his spoon and drank the water.
Everything he did was rushed.
When he urged him again to drink slowly, he started coughing.
His back heaved as if something had gone down the wrong way.
Kwon Taehee moved closer and gently patted his back.
“I-I’m fine. Really. Cough, I’m really fine.”
With tears welling up in his eyes, he insisted he was okay.
Kwon Taehee, still patting his back, wiped the damp corners of his mouth.
“Why are you uncomfortable?”
“Ah… you’re not uncomfortable…?”
“I like it. The dinner was delicious, everything’s clean and cozy, and Seo Jeongwon’s here too. Am I the only one who feels comfortable in someone else’s home?”
Seo Jeongwon couldn’t answer the soft-spoken question.
It seemed strange to say he was uncomfortable when the guest said they felt at ease.
“It’s just… it’s been a long time since anyone came over. That’s all.”
“I see.”
“I never thought this house was small, but with you here… it kind of feels small. Or should I say cramped.”
“Well, I can’t exactly shrink myself. I’d like to come more often.”
His sincere response finally made Seo Jeongwon smile.
The coughing fit even stopped.
Once he confirmed that Seo Jeongwon’s breathing had stabilized, Kwon Taehee leaned back.
He had intended to help clean the table, but when he firmly declined, he stayed seated quietly.
“I’ve got instant coffee… but I guess you don’t like that?”
“It’s fine. I’ll drink it if you offer.”
“Want some ice in it?”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Seo Jeongwon pursed his lips at the overly polite tone.
He was clearly being teased.
Kwon Taehee’s lips curled upward.
With a flushed face, Seo Jeongwon took the empty dishes to the sink and filled the kettle with water.
His eyes kept drifting toward Kwon Taehee.
He couldn’t even tell what was okay or not, and just kept wondering if he was really fine.
Kwon Taehee leaned against a cushion placed by the wall and looked up at the low ceiling.
Seo Jeongwon watched his every move carefully.
He unbuttoned his neatly cuffed shirt and rolled up the sleeves, then turned toward him with a slightly flushed face, making direct eye contact as if he already knew everything.
Seo Jeongwon flinched in surprise.
“It’s okay. You can relax.”
“No, I, uh, I mean… not that…”
“Please fill it with ice.”
There was a trace of laughter in his voice.
Seo Jeongwon quickly avoided eye contact and pondered over the teacup.
Between the paper cup and the mug with the coffee brand logo, which one would look less ridiculous?
Things that never used to matter suddenly became a huge concern.
Neither seemed right, so Seo Jeongwon searched through the cupboard again.
There should be a tall glass somewhere…
He reached out to take something that was rarely used and stored deep in the cupboard, but accidentally hit a ceramic dish.
“Ugh—!”
By the time he thought it was going to break, it was already too late.
With a dull and heavy sound unique to ceramic, the dish fell to the floor and shattered with a crack.
His face, already slightly flushed, turned pale.
Seeing his overly flustered expression, Kwon Taehee moved from his seat.
He rushed over and stopped right in front of him.
“Are you hurt?”
“Ah, no. I’m not hurt. I’m fine, really. Let me do it. Your hand… you might get hurt.”
Seo Jeongwon quickly crouched down to gather the large pieces.
He hoped he would move aside, but Kwon Taehee’s feet didn’t budge.
“There are shards of glass under your feet. Please be careful. If you could just move a little—”
As he spoke, Seo Jeongwon paused when he saw Kwon Taehee suddenly crouch down in front of him.
You’ll get hurt. You will.
His worried voice sounded deflated.
“I think you’re the one who might get hurt. You’re completely distracted because of me.”
“No, it’s just— Wait, that piece is too…!”
It was the moment his long, slender fingers picked up a small shard.
The sharp and pointed edge sliced into Kwon Taehee’s finger.
“Ow.” His soft voice was followed by his light brown eyes turning toward Seo Jeongwon. Bright red blood quickly ran down his pretty finger.
“I told you you’d get hurt… That’s why I said I’d do it.”
Flustered, Seo Jeongwon brought over some kitchen towels.
He tore off a large amount—far too much for the size of the wound—and wrapped his finger.
“It hurts.”
“Exactly. Why did you…”
There was even a hint of faint resentment in his voice.
Seo Jeongwon focused all his attention on applying pressure to stop the bleeding.
He worried—what if it was a deep cut?
Do they have any band-aids?
Disinfectant?
Ointment?
As he tried to recall, he slowly eased the grip on his finger.
“I don’t think it’s a deep cut. Does it hurt?”
“Yes, it does hurt.”
“We should move over there. There are too many shards here.”