W. 5pm
29
As they exited the alley, the air felt dramatically different. The dampness that had lingered inside the house was replaced by the night air, deep in their lungs. Seokjin naturally took a step towards Yeoju. Matching their strides felt so natural that she momentarily didn't even realize it. Once they reached the car, Seokjin opened the passenger door first. Only after confirming Yeoju was seated did he return to the driver's seat. The door closed, and the car fell silent, save for the low hum of the engine. Seokjin started the car, immediately turned on the heater, and draped his jacket over Yeoju's lap.
“Thank you so much today, Seokjin, and I’m sorry for staying up so late.”
“Just be thankful”
“Okay, but the cost… is really mine.”
“If you bring that up again, your article fee will triple.”
Only then did the heroine smile with a face that showed she had completely lost.
“Is this a threat now?”
“A realistic proposal.”
“Tch..then is it okay to just be thankful?”
"huh."
“Can’t I say sorry?”
"no."
“Isn’t this a very unfair rule?”
Seokjin laughed briefly. It was so quiet that it was almost inaudible.
"The unfair situation is over. Now, all you have to do is choose."
“Choice?”
“Where are you going to sleep?”
Yeoju looked out the window. The alley in front of her house was growing darker. The sound of water from inside the house was replaced by the noise of passing cars. Her mind cleared a little.
“Maybe a jjimjilbang..? I don’t really think so. I think I’ll go to a friend’s house nearby.”
“No steam rooms.”
"yes?"
"It's dangerous"
“.....”
“Think about something else.”
“....Then your friend’s house?”
Seokjin paused at Yeoju's question. That brief silence spoke volumes. Only then did Yeoju instinctively grasp where this conversation was headed. Seokjin spoke in a low, sullen tone.
“I am here.”
30
Yeoju didn't respond immediately upon hearing that. Instead, she slowly turned her head to look at Seokjin. He was sitting in the driver's seat, watching her, but his gaze wavered ever so slightly. He didn't even try to hide the fact that it wasn't a joke. Silence fell for a moment in the car. Only the hum of the engine and the heater remained.
"that...."
The heroine opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her face seemed to be choosing the order in which she would speak.
“Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“It’s not a hook.”
Seokjin turned his head slightly. Their eyes met. He wasn't smiling, but his expression was gentle.
“I was speaking logically.”
“Logic?”
"It's late now. The house is flooded. I don't even have a change of clothes. I have to explain to my friends."
“Um... I don’t like explaining.”
“Besides, given your personality, you’ll probably be worried again at dawn.”
The heroine pressed her lips together to suppress her laughter.
“I think I’m a very well-read person.”
"many."
“You should feel bad.”
“.....”
“It’s not that bad.”
The corners of Seokjin's mouth rose just a little. The change was so subtle that the female protagonist almost missed it.
"so."
He continued speaking.
“Why go to your friend’s house when I’m here?”
The heroine grabbed his outer garment, which lay on her lap, and fiddled with it. The warmth lingering on the coat was more palpable than she'd expected.
“Seokjin’s house.”
"huh."
“Isn’t that too safe a choice?”
“You don’t like being safe?”
“No. I’m afraid I’ll become too comfortable.”
“It’s already too late.”
“What is it?”
“That worry.”
The heroine smiled briefly, then shook her head and said.
“Only for today.”
"huh."
“I’ll just sleep today and go.”
"Kim Namjoon is going to be sleeping somewhere else for a while. He'll be staying there until the house is renovated. I'd rather he stay longer."
Yeoju didn't respond immediately upon hearing that. Even though she'd said "just today," she seemed unsure of herself. The air inside the car flowed slowly for a moment. The heater's blast warmed her toes, and Seokjin's outerwear, resting on her lap, still held his body heat. Yeoju squeezed the hem of the garment, then released it. Finally, she turned her head to look at Seokjin.
"then."
“......”
“I owe you a favor.”
As soon as those words left her mouth, Yeoju bit her lip, almost feeling like she was about to burst into laughter. The words were so plain, they sounded even more sincere. Seokjin didn't react immediately upon hearing those words. Instead, he started the car and headed straight for Seokjin's house.
“Welcome.”
“It sounds like a hotel just by hearing it.”
“There is no breakfast.”
"it's a shame."
"instead."
Seokjin started the car again. This time, the direction was clear.
“I’ll make you coffee in the morning.”
The heroine smiled as she looked out the window. Her heart felt strangely calm. It was a night when she should have been anxious, but she wasn't.
“If this continues, it’s really going to happen.”
“What the heck.”
“If I become too dependent on you.”
"that."
Seokjin paused for a beat.
“My responsibility.”
31
The car stopped in front of a mansion in central Seoul. As the engine died down, the surroundings became much quieter. Yeoju unbuckled her seatbelt and casually glanced out the window. Beyond the fence was a gleaming two-story house. A few lit windows were visible, and the yard, though small, showed signs of being well-maintained. The first thought that struck her was Seokjin. And, after all, a chaebol is a chaebol. Yeoju, having left home, had a decent family, but Seokjin was on a different level.
As I passed through the front door and entered the house, the air felt dramatically different. There was no scent at first. Instead of the artificial scent of air freshener, a very faint scent of wood and fabric lingered in the air. Yeoju took off her shoes and stepped inside. The floor wasn't shiny, but it was spotless and tidy. There were no striking decorations. The walls were a light gray, and the furniture had simple lines. There weren't many colors.
“It’s more realistic than I thought.”
At the female protagonist's words, Seokjin took off his coat and tilted his head slightly.
“What did you expect?”
"Because it's a chaebol's house. I thought I'd get lost the moment I walked in."
“At that rate, I’d be wandering around the house too.”
Yeoju smiled faintly and took a few more steps into the living room. The sofa was low, and the table was simple. There was only one painting on the wall. It felt like the space hadn't been filled intentionally. Yeoju paused for a moment, her words falling silent for no reason. Seokjin glanced at her and poured her a glass of water. Yeoju accepted the glass and continued speaking slowly.
“Your tastes are more specific than I thought.”
“It sounds like you have an obsession with organizing.”
"No. I think he's well-managed. He's well-managed and clean."
Seokjin gave a brief laugh at that. His expression was neither negative nor positive.
“I’ll show you the room you’ll be staying in.”
The stairs were attached to one side of the living room. The structure was simple and unobtrusive. Seokjin went up first, and Yeoju followed a half beat later. The only sound was the sound of footsteps as they ascended the stairs. It was a strangely tense silence. The second-floor hallway was even more tidy. There were several doors, and Seokjin opened one.
“Write it here.”
Yeoju stopped entering the room and looked around once more. There was a bed, a desk, a closet. It wasn't empty like a hotel, nor was there any excessive trace of anyone. It was a good place to stay for a while. Seokjin observed Yeoju's reaction and then spoke.
“The room next door is mine. Come here if you’re scared.”
As Seokjin finished speaking, the air in the room shifted for a moment. Even though the suggestion to come to her if she was scared was thrown out as a joke, Yeoju couldn't ignore it. She stood beside the bed, fingertips brushing against the edge of the blanket, then raised her head.
“I feel a little sad that there is a condition that says, ‘If you’re scared.’”
"then."
Seokjin leaned against the doorframe and looked down at Yeoju. His gaze was lightly smiling.
“Should I change it to sleepy cotton?”
“That seems like a riskier option.”
“It’s your choice.”
The heroine smiled slightly and placed her bag next to the bed. Her gaze relaxed slightly as she looked around the room once more. Despite being in an unfamiliar house, she felt strangely comfortable.
“It’s a lot better than I thought.”
“.....”
“It’s a nice room to live in.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Because it doesn’t feel like an empty room.”
“It was never empty. It was your room from the beginning.”
Seokjin's playful reply was short. Yeoju seemed to understand what he meant without needing to explain. She smiled and nodded.
"then."
Seokjin said this while placing his hand on the doorknob without closing the door completely.
“Just wait a minute.”
"yes."
Seokjin crossed the hallway and entered the next room. Yeoju sat on the edge of the bed and pressed her palm against the mattress. It was just the right amount of firmness. A moment later, Seokjin returned. In his hands were a folded short-sleeved shirt and a thin hoodie. The color was neutral and there were no logos. It wasn't new, but it was neatly organized.
"this."
Seokjin handed it to Yeoju.
“It’s too small for me, so I’ve never worn it.”
The heroine took the clothes and looked at them briefly. Unfolding the sleeves, she saw they were certainly roomy by her standards.
“Wear it only today.”
"yes"
“Let’s stop by the house tomorrow and grab what we need.”
“You plan very naturally.”
“Is this situation too good?”
The heroine folded the hood once more and placed it on the bed.
“I feel like I can’t escape.”
“Were you thinking of running away?”
"no."
“Then there’s no problem.”
Only then did Seokjin open the door a little more and speak.
“Go wash up. There’s a towel in the bathroom.”
“Seokjin too.”
"huh"