The bus that had come to a stop opened its doors.
There weren’t many passengers.
Whether the driver could see or not, Seo Jeong-won gave a polite bow toward the driver’s seat before getting off.
“Seriously… life’s become bearable.”
It felt strange to be able to sense leisure.
He lifted his head and quietly looked up at the darkening sky for a moment before slowly moving on.
He needed to stop by the flower shop, feed the fish first, and pick out a potted plant to gift to the caregiver.
As he stood in front of the vinyl-covered door, he thought about what to have for dinner and similar things.
“Maybe it’s because of the long ride… I’m tired.”
He leaned his forehead against the door and looked for his keys.
Even though hisr body wasn’t particularly strained compared to a few months ago, he felt tired.
It wasn’t due to a lack of sleep, and nothing hurt, but at night, he would sometimes feel a fever rise for no reason.
His eyelids were heavy.
Seo Jeong-won let out a small yawn.
After some fumbling, the door opened. He trudged across the flower shop and flopped onto a chair.
His phone, which he habitually took out, remained silent.
Maybe he didn’t see the message.
Or… maybe he hadn’t gotten off work yet.
But it was past six—don’t most companies finish at six?
Or is it different for construction companies?
Seo Jeong-won’s expression darkened as he rubbed his eyes.
The mere fact that he hadn’t received a reply filled him with a wave of disappointment.
Then he remembered Seo Gyu-won’s face and shivered as if revolted.
“I must be out of my mind. What the hell am I…”
He laid his head on the table and closed his eyes.
Seo Jeong-won thought about why he was feeling this way.
That person probably wasn’t even thinking about him, so why was he, all day long, whenever he had a moment, thinking about Kwon Tae-hee?
“This is weird. Seriously.”
Wasn’t he acting like someone with a crush?
Thinking about him all day, being curious, waiting for a message…
“This is crazy.”
A crush?
That’s ridiculous.
Maybe it was just because he had experienced so many firsts with him.
For example, very intimate contact. Maybe… it was the physical closeness, skin against skin, that had created an exaggerated sense of intimacy.
Do other people feel this way too?
If it’s their first time… do they all fall in love?
Seo Jeong-won tapped on the still-silent phone screen, then straightened up at the sound of the door opening.
He was disappointed so quickly, it made the faint hope he had seem ridiculous.
At that moment, Seo Jeong-won realized that he had been waiting for Kwon Tae-hee.
“You’re done?”
Kang Da-hyun, eyes wide with surprise, quickly approached the crestfallen Seo Jeong-won.
He had come back, unable to stand the frustration of waiting for his message.
“You said you were going out. That was fast. If you hadn’t come back, I was going to drop by later.”
“Yeah, just got back. What’s up?”
“It’s better to eat before picking apples, right? Drinking when you’re tired gets you too drunk, and I hate that.”
“Ugh, come on.”
Seo Jeong-won laughed as if taken aback. Ignoring his muttering about how going far was a hassle, Kang Da-hyun bent down in front of the fish tank.
The fish swarmed just like when it was feeding time.
He tapped the tank with his callused fingers.
“Why are they swarming? Shouldn’t they run away?”
“They think you’re feeding them.”
“Then why are they coming to this side?”
“Because that’s where the food drops from.”
His voice had no energy.
After tapping the tank a few more times, Kang Da-hyun lost interest and turned around.
He sat across from Seo Jeong-won and lightly tapped his head resting on the table.
He gently stroked his soft hair and inhaled deeply as if trying to confirm something in the air that carried a subtle scent as his hair fell softly.
“Where did you go?”
“Just… somewhere.”
“That’s not an answer. Where?”
“…Where are we drinking? Isn’t it a hassle to go far? If you’re okay with it, let’s drink nearby.”
Changing the subject as if he didn’t want to talk about it, Seo Jeong-won deflected.
Kang Da-hyun, sure that he’d spill everything once he had a drink, let it slide.
“How about my place?”
“Too far.”
“Then how about here? It’s been a while.”
Kang Da-hyun suggested with a cheeky smile.
Seeing Seo Jeong-won hesitate, he persuaded him by saying he’d buy the drinks.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Over half a year, right?”
“What snacks?”
To make it hard for him to refuse, he opened a delivery app and started listing off menu items.
Seo Jeong-won, frowning slightly at unfamiliar foods, sighed and spoke.
“Let’s just have chicken and soju.”
“Still the same, Seo Jeong-won.”
“Beer makes you too full.”
Still half-laying on the table, he peeked his face out and smiled shyly.
He still had that boyish charm.
Kang Da-hyun, who had been looking at his beautifully curved eyes and lips, suddenly stood up awkwardly.
“I’ll go get the drinks. Wanna come?”
“No, you go. Get ice cream too.”
“Uh, okay…”
“But hey—have you ever had eel?”
As he was getting up, Kang Da-hyun scrunched his face like, “What are you even talking about?”
Could you even order eel?
He recalled the app he had just browsed and asked, “You want to eat eel?”
“No, I’m asking if you’ve had it before…”
“Who hasn’t? Unless you hate it. I eat it every season. When it’s really hot, when it’s cold, when I crave it. It’s also good to take your parents out for on their birthdays or special occasions.”
Seo Jeong-won was a little surprised by Kang Da-hyun’s explanation.
He was shocked that it was something people ate so often.
“Why are you asking all of a sudden? Don’t tell me—you’ve never had it?”
Kang Da-hyun asked, certain that couldn’t be the case.
He thought, We’re not kids—how could he have never tried it?
Even if he’d been raised as an orphan…
“I had it for the first time a few days ago. It was good. Kind of a weird taste. I didn’t know people… ate it that often.”
Seo Jeong-won nodded.
When he said he’d tried it for the first time, it was probably that reaction—faint surprise—like what Kang Da-hyun was showing now.
He’d never seen his aunt or uncle eat it either.
Whenever he saw it on TV or restaurant signs, they’d say it was too expensive to eat.
So he had thought it wasn’t a common food… but maybe it was more ordinary than he realized.
“Uh… I mean, what the…”
Flustered, Kang Da-hyun started rambling and took a few steps back.
He said even his younger cousin probably hadn’t eaten it before either.
Seo Jeong-won smiled.
Kang Da-hyun’s younger cousin is nine years old.
Without even saying he was leaving, he dashed out of the flower shop as if running away.
Seo Jeong-won regretted saying something unnecessary after seeing the look in Kang Da-hyun’s eyes—so clearly filled with pity for him.
He’s more sensitive than he looks.
It was something that could’ve been laughed off as a joke, but seeing him look so apologetic made him feel uncomfortable.
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
Scratching his cheek, Seo Jeong-won got up and began to slowly tidy up the flower shop.
He swept the already-clean aisle once more and checked a few flower pots, pressing the soil in each to see if any were dry.
He wished some customers would come, but once again, no one showed up while the door was open today.
It was probably because, until a few months ago, loan sharks often loitered around, and many people had witnessed flower pots being smashed.
But those loan sharks won’t come anymore.
He felt sorry for Kang Da-hyun, but he thought he should explain things to people once he started working on his farm.
Since many people from the neighborhood would come, maybe he could try a promotion: “Buy one plant, get one free.”
Just for about a week as a one-time event.
He wasn’t sure if it would help, but he decided he’d talk it over with Kang Da-hyun.
He swept the floor thoroughly and laid newspapers on the table.
After preparing water and cups in advance and waiting a little while, Kang Da-hyun walked in carrying a convenience store bag with liquor and fried chicken.
“I ran into someone in front. The smell is crazy.”
Smirking, Kang Da-hyun quickly came over.
He placed the chicken on the table he had prepared and set the bottles down on the floor.
“Want to take a hangover remedy in advance?”
“How much are you planning to drink?”
“It’s been a while, so I should drink a lot. Once the apple-picking starts, I won’t be able to.”
He spoke like a proper farmer.
He said this would be his last drink for a while and lifted the soju bottle.
He shook it noisily and then opened the cap.
“Ah! I forgot to buy ice cream.”
“It’s fine.”
“You’re telling me to drink soju out of this? A paper cup?”
“They didn’t have any smaller ones. Just sip it carefully.”
Though Kang Da-hyun seemed dumbfounded, he filled the paper cup to the brim.
Despite his innocent and delicate appearance, his way of speaking was blunt.
It didn’t seem like he even considered the idea of watching his words.
Well, if he suddenly started doing that, it might actually feel disappointing.
They’d been through so much together.
It was better that he showed his emotions honestly, at least in front of him.
Though lately, he’d started hiding things more and more—as if he’d grown up.
“Bottoms up for the first shot.”
Seo Jeong-won thought that Kang Da-hyun had come with something on his mind.
His demeanor made it clear—today, he was determined to hear him out no matter what.
Holding in a sigh, he began organizing his thoughts, wondering what he should say first.
“Want to drink till we die?”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”