MTLNOVEL Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Perhaps due to the aftermath of the confrontation with Cha Yoon, despite having slept deeply the previous night, he once again failed to get proper sleep. He tossed and turned trying to catch a bit more rest, but it was futile. Seo-jung finally got up.
“……”
As he rose from the bed, he turned his head. As expected, Cha Yoon’s bed was empty. Looks like he went out again today. Seo-jung muttered softly.
Contrary to his unpredictable personality, Cha Yoon led a regulated life. Getting up at dawn to exercise was one of his long-standing routines.
Since their conversation the day before, the two had been maintaining a cold war. This was better than clashing headache-inducingly. Seo-jung turned his gaze away from Cha Yoon’s made bed and headed to the bathroom.
Even after showering, his condition showed no signs of improvement. The headache from lack of sleep and stress played a part. It seemed better to take sleeping pills on days off. Seo-jung rubbed his temples while briefly looking at the bag containing the sleeping pills.
With his condition dragging along the floor, he had no appetite. He wanted to just stay in the room until it was time to go to work. But because of the rule that “You must eat at least one meal a day with one or more residents,” he couldn’t do that.
Seo-jung reluctantly left the room. As he descended the stairs and approached the kitchen, he could hear the voices of cast members who were already up. Seo-jung forcefully pulled up the corners of his mouth that had been set in a straight line.
As he neared the dining table, Min-ha sensed his presence and turned around. Upon seeing Seo-jung, Min-ha’s face lit up with delight.
“Oh, Seo-jung, you haven’t gone to work yet? Did you oversleep?”
“No, I have night duty today, so I’m going in late.”
“I see. Oh! If you haven’t had breakfast yet, would you like to join us?”
“I’d be grateful if you’d have me.”
When Seo-jung spoke in a playful voice, Min-ha even pulled out a chair for him, urging him to sit down quickly. The breakfast menu was toast and fried eggs. Seo-jung accepted the plate passed to him.
“So you won’t be coming home today?”
“No, I’m working until 9:30 AM tomorrow morning.”
“You’re staying up all night then. Oh no. You must be so tired.”
“Yeah. Being an air traffic controller really isn’t for just anyone.”
“Seo-jung, you’re really amazing.” Min-ha’s words were echoed by Min-wook. After that, more compliments for Seo-jung followed. Seo-jung deflected with a smile and changed the subject.
Breakfast proceeded with cheerful conversation. It was around the time Seo-jung had finished the plate he’d been given.
A shadow fell over Seo-jung’s head. Seo-jung, who had been in direct sunlight, raised his head at the suddenly darkened view. There stood Cha Yoon, his hair wet as if he had just finished washing.
“Why are you here?”
As soon as their eyes met, Cha Yoon asked with a frown. It was a confrontation right from the start.
“I’m eating breakfast.”
He touched his bowl as if to say, ‘Can’t you see this with your own eyes?’ Of course, he understood the implied meaning of Cha Yoon’s question. It probably meant, ‘Why are you still here making me look at your unpleasant face when you usually leave for work around this time?’ Knowing this well, Seo-jung deliberately feigned ignorance in his response.
“No, damn… That’s not what I meant.”
Cha Yoon’s face scrunched up even more as if frustrated. It was while Seo-jung was expressionlessly observing him that a clattering sound arose. Seo-jung reflexively looked to the side and saw Min-ha glancing between him and Cha Yoon, gauging the situation.
Suddenly, all his energy drained away. It was a situation with multiple people present, not just the two of them. He couldn’t make the atmosphere hostile by acting the same as Cha Yoon just because he was in a bad mood. Right, let’s stop here. Seo-jung stood up, turning his back on Cha Yoon.
“Well then, I’ll be going now. Thank you for the meal, Min-ha.”
“You’re leaving already? You must be tired…”
“It’s okay. I have some errands to run today anyway.”
Seeing Min-ha’s worried expression, Seo-jung invented non-existent errands. He didn’t forget to give a gentle smile as if everything was fine.
As the conversation flowed in a friendly atmosphere, Cha Yoon’s expression soured more and more. It was because Ki Seo-jung, who had been talking to him, instantly turned his attention to Min-ha. Not only was the flow of conversation shifting to Seo Min-ha and Ki Seo-jung, which was infuriating enough, but Seo-jung was even showing his back to him.
The feeling of being completely alienated from him. It was beyond irritating; it was fucking awful.
Cha Yoon’s mood plummeted further and further. Just as Cha Yoon, unable to hold back anymore, was about to demand why he was standing like that…
Whether he was perceptive or just lucky, Seo-jung finished his conversation and smoothly left the kitchen. Cha Yoon, watching Seo-jung’s retreating back, also moved.
It was after he had taken about two steps following Seo-jung. His footsteps faltered as he felt a hand grabbing his arm from behind.
“Cha Yoon, where are you going?”
The culprit was Song Joo-ah, who had been observing the entire situation from one side of the kitchen. Cha Yoon raised one eyebrow and opened his mouth.
“Let go.”
“Go eat. Min-ha’s toast is really delicious.”
“I said let go.”
“What will you do if I let go? Go and confront Seo-jung again?”
Hit right on the mark, Cha Yoon said nothing. Joo-ah wore an expression that said ‘I knew it’ and let out a small sigh.
“That’s why I grabbed you. I could see you were about to do something stupid.”
“……”
“Stop it and go eat some toast.”
Joo-ah clicked her tongue and pulled Cha Yoon’s arm towards the kitchen. But it was Joo-ah who was pulled instead. Forced to take a step back against her will, Joo-ah frowned and turned around. She saw Cha Yoon standing still like a statue.
Can’t you understand what I’m saying? Is it so hard to understand that I’m telling you not to make the situation worse and just go eat? How can you not accept help when it’s offered? Just as she was about to open her mouth to say something to her lacking friend, Joo-ah was beaten to the punch by Cha Yoon.
“What does it matter to you what I do to Ki Seo-jung?”
“……”
“Why is Song Joo-ah interested in our business?”
Joo-ah was at a loss for words. It was because she had seen the crazed expression on her friend’s face. Is he jealous of me right now? Of me, who only dates women? They say jealousy blinds you, and it’s true. Joo-ah was flabbergasted and could only open and close her mouth.
“Cha Yoon, you do know who I am, right?”
“Yes.”
Of course I do. The person who received a message from Ki Seo-jung that even I didn’t get, and the first date partner that Ki Seo-jung currently shows the most interest in at the X House. That’s exactly who Song Joo-ah was.
Cha Yoon, blinded by jealousy, defined his long-time friend in this way.
“Mind your own business about what I do to Ki Seo-jung.”
“……”
“Do it fair and square.”
Just as Cha Yoon was about to remove Joo-ah’s hand, insisting that she never interfere in his business again, there was a sound. Simultaneously, the front door closed with a click.
At that sound, Cha Yoon, who had been looking at Joo-ah, quickly turned his eyes. The hallway leading to the entrance was already empty. Hah, Cha Yoon sighed, shook off the arm that was holding him, and went upstairs.
Left alone in an instant, Song Joo-ah let out a hollow laugh. What? Do it fair and square…?
“Really, this crazy bastard…”
Joo-ah shook her head and headed to the kitchen.
***
Past 8 PM, delicious food smells were wafting from the kitchen on the first floor.
“Come on, everyone hurry and come eat dinner!”
Gong Min-wook’s voice, resonating throughout the first floor, further soured Cha Yoon’s already bad mood. Cha Yoon, who had been staring at the hallway towards the entrance, finally got up after repeated urging.
“…Fuck, isn’t this too much?”
Cha Yoon muttered to himself as he headed to the kitchen. With each step he took, a thumping noise arose. The loud footsteps seemed to represent Cha Yoon’s emotions.
The reason for Cha Yoon’s anger was simple. It was the fact that everyone in this house was treating Ki Seo-jung as if he didn’t exist, as if they had planned it.
Just yesterday, Ki Seo-jung had even bought macarons for them. But just because his work hours were a bit later than usual, how could they eat without him? After all Ki Seo-jung had done for them. They acted all friendly to his face, but when it mattered, not a single person cared about Ki Seo-jung.
Cha Yoon couldn’t help but be angry. He hated shameless people the most. That’s why he was angry. Really, that was all.
“Cha Yoon, come sit down quickly!”
As soon as he entered the kitchen, fuming, people cheerfully gestured for him to sit down. Their pretense made him snort.
“…This is ridiculous.”
“Huh? What did you say, Cha Yoon?”
“I said what you’re all doing right now is ridiculous.”