We decided not to cross the line.

Episode 18. Pride

Only after reading the note did I begin to understand a little of his true feelings.

It wasn’t that he wanted to go to the places everyone else went,

but that he wanted to go together to a place with a special story.





But since I was already angry,

it felt awkward to go out right away and talk to him.





When should I go out?

What should I even say to him?

I kept pacing around, pointlessly watching his mood.





I pressed my ear against the door, trying to hear what he was doing outside.

[Knock. knock. knock]





"Ah! You startled me!"





I flinched and jumped away from the door.

'He must have heard me.





Ah... this is so embarrassing... '

"May I come in?"





Hunji asked.

 



"Why?"





It stung my pride






to tell him to come in so readily.

"No... I was wondering if you’d read that..."






"What?"





"I... slipped it under the door earlier...





Didn’t you see it?"

"What? The Tale of Teruel’s Lover?"






"You read it! Then why aren’t you coming out?"






"..."






"I’m coming in."






"...."






He opened the door and came inside.






I was standing defenseless right in front of the door.

"Ah~ so you were watching for when to go out, huh?"






"No, I wasn’t. I was just about to go out."





"Heh. So hearing about Teruel’s lover story





made you curious, huh? About what kind of place it is?"

"Well... a little..."






"Want me to show you some photos?






I think you’ll be sold once you see them."

"Then show me. Let me see..."





As I looked at the photos of Teruel that Hunji showed me,






I was completely captivated by its charm,

so different from Barcelona or here in Frigiliana.

"Wow... this place is like the Middle Ages.





It’s so cool. How did they preserve it so well?"

"Cool, right?"





"A lot!"





"You want to go, don’t you?"





"Yes! No... I mean, I’m just saying it looks nice..."





"See... what did I tell you?





I said you’d want to go see it.

So why are you being so stubborn?"

"It makes me really annoyed to hear you say I’m being stubborn,






but...
 
I wanted you to see some beautiful architecture too, so

I searched for it late into the night yesterday."

"Ah... so that’s why you snapped like that.






Okay. We can go to Barcelona too.

If you want to show me so badly,

then I really want to see it too."

Only then did I finally feel a little better.






Come to think of it, it really wasn’t a big deal...

Until Hunji said that last line,




I’d even felt sorry.

"But if someone heard you...






they’d think you built all those buildings, Junga. Heh."

"No!! Seriously...





I was touched just a moment ago... really..."

"Oh? Really? You were touched?





That’s just how I am~"

'Ugh... so annoying... '





I packed up my laptop and got ready to go to the café.





"Can I tag along today too?"





"To the café? I’m going there to work...





We agreed not to interrupt each other while working."

"I can just sit quietly next to you and read a book.





I’ll be quiet."

'You being next to me is the interruption... '





"Why don’t you go to another café and read there, Hunji?"


"No... why would I deliberately go to some other café?





That’s really hurtful to say..."

"Actually...





aside from when we’re working,

we’re together almost 24 hours a day.

I need some time to myself.

I need time to think things through and sort myself out."

Hunji looked pretty surprised.





"So being stuck with me 24 hours a day





means you feel suffocated and hate it now?

I came all the way here to be with Junga..."

"No, it’s not that I hate it...






it’s just a little suffocating.

I’ve always been someone who was alone,

and this is the first time I’ve been with someone for this long."

"But that someone is me, right?





Then how could it be suffocating and upsetting?"

"I’m telling you, it’s not that I hate it.





It’s just a little suffocating.

We eat together, sleep together...

being with someone all the time

makes me stay a little tense.

I’d like to have some time to relax alone."

"Then if you shut the door, I don’t come in."






"Even so, I know you’re right outside the door.





That’s not exactly relaxing."

"... I’m really shocked right now...





Don’t follow me."

He immediately turned around and went back outside.





"No...





after saying we shouldn’t leave when the other is angry..."

I thought he was just making a cute complaint.





I picked up my laptop and headed to the café.

"Are you sure you really love me?"