We decided not to cross the line.

Episode 96. Stubborn as a bull

After finishing the dinner dishes,

I calculated what time it was in Korea.




It was already time for Manager Kim to have gone to work.

I sneaked out without Hoonji's knowledge and made a call.





"Hello?"




"Taehyung. It's me."




"Oh, by any chance, did you meet Hoonji?

Did he get there safely?"





"Hoonji got there safely.

You don't need to worry about that.

But please do something about Hoonji.

He's way too stubborn.

Why did you give him a whole year of leave?"





"That wasn't my decision...

I'm not such a terrible boss.

He said he needed some time to recharge too, and

the only thing is that the place is right next to you.

I thought it wasn't a bad choice...

It would help with emotional acting too.

I respect Hoonji's decision."





"Ah...what?

Is there no one who can help me right now?

Do Hoonji's parents know about this too?"





"Well...I think they just know he left because he needed some time to recharge?"

"Really? Got it!





Then I'll have to talk with Hoonji about it one more time."

"Don't waste your energy for nothing... Junga.





Once Hoonji makes up his mind, no one can stop him."

"Ha...this is really so hopeless..."





As soon as I hung up,




I covered my face with both hands and let out a deep sigh.

When I went back inside,




Hoonji was fast asleep in my bed.

I quietly closed the door and went out to sit on the sofa.





I wondered how I could keep him safest,





and

what the best choice for us would be too.

Even just this time yesterday,





I never could have imagined

that I'd be worrying about something like this.

After spending a whole night thinking it over,





I finally came up with a compromise of sorts.

While I waited for him to wake up,




I got an early start on the translation work I had to do today.

It was almost lunchtime before




the door opened and he came out.

"Did you sleep well?"





"I slept well...but where did you sleep, Junga?




You didn't sleep next to me, did you?

Did you sleep on the sofa by any chance?"

"No. I didn't get a wink of sleep.





Hoonji threw a huge problem at me."

"Ah...you worried about it all night?





Seriously, why are you like that...

Sometimes it's okay to just think simply."

"How can I think so easily about something this big?"





"I'm hungry right now...

 



Let's eat breakfast first,

and then can we worry about it together?"

"Wash your face and come out.





How about omurice for breakfast today?"

"If it's made by you, I like anything!"





'He's so adorable at times like that...





but when he gets stubborn, he's a bull through and through.'
 
We ate a late breakfast





and sat back down at the negotiation table.

"But...I want to take a walk around this neighborhood first...





While I was out yesterday looking for the cafe,

the village was so beautiful?"

"Ah...right!





You still haven't told me how you found Miguel Cafe."

"Hmm...before I came, I looked up all the cafes in this neighborhood.





So I thought I'd go into each one one by one.

I already knew the name Miguel, so

I thought I could find it."

"All the cafes in this neighborhood?"






"I checked online, and there weren't that many.






Even if it took a while, I figured I could find it in two days."

"Hoonji... you're so..."





"Ignorant?"






"No...you're just so... touching."





"No...





Stop looking at me with those soulful eyes since yesterday.

I'm getting goosebumps, it's killing me."

He mimed rubbing his own arms.





"Then what am I supposed to do.





It's just too touching..."

"Even if it's that touching, do you still not want to live with me?"





"It's not that I don't want to.





I stayed up all night yesterday thinking it over and came to a conclusion.

Do you want to talk about it now?

Or do you want to go for your walk first, Hoonji?"

"Let's go out.





Let's take it slow.

I, uh, yesterday—no, wait...

Actually, I arrived the day before yesterday.

The cafes I went into on the first day were all a waste of time."

The moment I heard that,





I hugged him tightly.

"Let's become neighbors!"