CMYEHDS Episode 6

 

On the first day of moving in, the meal preparation was conducted under the guidance of Song

Joo-ah and Jeong Soo-ho. Seojung, who had no talent for cooking, was assigned the task of

preparing the ingredients.

 

He peeled and sliced the potatoes. With each movement of the knife, the sound of the cutting

board echoed steadily. Seojung hoped that along with that sound, his long thoughts about Cha

Yoon would also be cut off.

 

However, just like how telling someone not to think of an elephant only makes them think of it more, the thoughts followed him endlessly the more he tried to cut them off.

 

In his mind, the argument from earlier in the room replayed once again. He tightened his grip on

the knife.

 

What should he do? Having gone through denial and anger, Seojung reached the acceptance

stage and focused on finding a ‘method.’ His feelings about Cha Yoon’s disastrous behavior had

long been pushed aside.

 

There was only one goal. To finish the filming without any problems and leave safely. To achieve

that, Seojung had to deal with Cha Yoon. Not just any Cha Yoon, but the Cha Yoon from that

chaotic time.

 

The best method would be to avoid Cha Yoon altogether. But living in the same house and being

roommates made that impossible. Seojung had to think of a second-best option.

 

“After all…”

 

Is ignoring the answer? Seojung muttered as he recalled a video he had seen once titled ‘Puppy

Excited to See Dad Back from a Business Trip!’ It was indeed strange to hope that a puppy would

calm down while he was jumping around excitedly. Cha Yoon had quickly devolved from a

disaster to just a ‘dog.’

 

Just because Cha Yoon turned twenty-two didn’t mean he could act like he was twenty-four. Yes, let’s ignore him. Like an adult. Seojung made a decision that he thought was the second-best option.

 

“Ki Seo-jeong.”

 

As he moved his hands with a more relaxed mind, someone spoke to him. It was Song Joo-ah.

 

“Could you cut this for me too?”

 

Joo-ah placed a carrot on the table. The person who had been Cha Yoon’s ex-lover. Knowing that

fact made it even more awkward to face Song Joo-ah. But he couldn’t show it.

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

Seojung answered while slightly averting his gaze. As usual, a smile was on his lips. He lowered

his head as if trying to focus on the task at hand again. The sound of the cutting board continued.

 

But as always, things didn’t go as planned. Song Joo-ah stayed by his side until he finished

cutting the last potato.

 

Did she still have something to do? Seojung, who could no longer ignore her, lifted his head.

Joo-ah’s gaze was directed at Seojung. There was a hint of curiosity in her eyes, which had

seemed indifferent until now.

 

“It’s pretty.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“The ring on your necklace.”

 

Song Joo-ah reached out her finger. Seojung’s gaze followed her finger. He saw the engagement

ring that Cha Yoon had given him.

 

Ah, Seojung opened his mouth. Only then did he realize why she had been sitting next to him.

Along with that, he understood the meaning behind the gaze Cha Yoon had sent him a few hours

earlier.

 

What flooded in was shame. It felt as if she was asking if he still couldn’t forget Cha Yoon. So, did

he really come all the way here wearing that?

 

“It must be a meaningful ring if you’re wearing it as a pendant.”

 

“No. It’s just pretty, so I wear it.”

 

“Ah, just because it’s pretty…”

 

Seojung spoke nonchalantly, though he knew it sounded ridiculous. Who would wear a ring with

no meaning as a necklace?

 

However, contrary to his worries, Joo-ah didn’t ask further or press him.

 

“I see.”

 

…..”

 

“That’s understandable.” Everyone is different. Joo-ah nodded as if in agreement, and her face returned to its usual demeanor.

 

“Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Joo-ah quickly wrapped up the conversation. The tension that had been stiffening Seojung’s

shoulders eased. Just as Seojung turned to see Joo-ah off, he couldn’t help but freeze at the large

figure standing behind him.

 

“…..”

 

There stood Cha Yoon, who had arrived he didn’t know when. Joo-ah seemed to have noticed Cha

Yoon as well, raising an eyebrow. Just as she seemed to scan Cha Yoon, she spoke.

“Are you here to use the sink? I’ll move aside.”

Cha Yoon didn’t respond to the words directed at him. He just kept looking. At Ki Seo-jeong, who

was standing behind him.

 

It was a clear act of ignoring Joo-ah’s words, but she left without showing any sign of discomfort.

Once Song Joo-ah disappeared, only silence remained between the two. Seojung swallowed

hard.

 

Did he hear everything? Did he know that he still had feelings left? Seojung’s mind raced.

The first to move was Cha Yoon. He placed the bowl he had brought down into the sink. The loud

noise of the bowls clashing was painfully loud. For a moment, Seojung’s gaze was drawn to the

sink. Cha Yoon washed the dishes without a care. His movements were rough, as if he might

break the dishes.

 

Not only did he hear everything, but he also understood it all. Seojung realized that all his

questions had positive answers. There was no way he wouldn’t know when he was making his

discomfort so obvious.

 

Seojung bit his lip and picked up a carrot. It was already done. Regretting it wouldn’t change

anything, and there was nothing he could do.

 

Let’s just get back to work. Seojung steadied his mind and began chopping again. 

How much time passed like that? From the sink, the sound of dishes being thrown could be heard. He wanted to shout for Cha Yoon to take it easy, but Seojung held back.

 

Ignore him. 

 

Ignoring is the answer.

 

***

 

The participants who finished preparing dinner gathered in front of the dining table. Seojung

placed the salad down and scanned the seats. 

He spotted Cha Yoon sitting at the far right. He turned his body to the left, away from Seojung’s back. Cha Yoon’s eyebrows twitched as he looked at Seojung.

 

“Thank you for the meal.”

 

“Enjoy your meal!”

 

With a simple greeting, dinner began. 

 

The curry is really delicious.  The meat melts in your mouth. The salad decoration is amazing. I could sell this as it is! Compliments mixed in with the sounds of spoons and chopsticks clinking against the bowls. The participants’ shoulders lifted in pride.

 

“I think the dressing choice was really good.”

 

“It seems to suit your taste. Eat a lot.”

 

Seojung saw Min Ha reaching for the salad bowl from a distance. He pulled the salad bowl closer

and moved it in front of Min Ha.

 

“Oh, thank you.”

 

Min Ha smiled shyly and began to eat with her fork. Song Joo-ah watched the two of them closely.

 

“Seojung, you seem really kind and attentive.”

 

“Ah, I agree. I was surprised to see you helping Soo-ho move his stuff earlier. I thought you were an angel.”

 

“You must have been really popular in school.”

 

He’s totally the type of boyfriend that girls would love. At Song Joo-ah’s comment, Minwook and

Min Ha, who were nearby, vigorously shook their heads in agreement.

 

There was nothing wrong with what they said. Ki Seo-jeong easily won the favor of anyone,

regardless of gender or age. It was all thanks to his good looks and the kindness that seemed ingrained in him.

 

Taking care of those around him was one of the long-standing habits Seojung had developed

from living in an orphanage since birth. As he grew, Seojung had to contribute in some way at the

orphanage and prove his worth.

 

The things he did to survive left traces that made up Seojung, and he became Seojung himself.

Perhaps that’s why. Even with the compliments directed at him, Seojung didn’t feel particularly happy. He simply thought that he would have to try a little harder to meet these people’s

standards and not disappoint them-that was all.

 

Just as Seojung was quietly sipping water with a smile, Cha Yoon abruptly interrupted the

compliment relay that felt like a Möbius strip.

 

“By the way, who sliced the carrots?”

 

“Wasn’t the vegetable duty Seojung’s? You really worked hard…”

 

“It’s Ki Seo-jeong’s work. I was wondering if it was sliced with a foot because it looked so artistic.”

Cha Yoon cut off Min Ha’s response and held up a carrot. 

 

The shape of the carrot, covered in yellow curry, was indeed a bit perplexing, just as Cha Yoon had  said. But whose fault was that? It was because of Cha Yoon, who had been protesting beside him. Yet, Cha Yoon was only blaming Seojung, which was absurd.

 

“These days, guys who can’t cook aren’t popular with girls, right?”

 

Living in the past seven years ago, Cha Yoon was talking about the present. With that one

remark, the pleasant dinner atmosphere froze instantly.

 

“Isn’t that right, Min…Ha?”

 

Cha Yoon even recalled the name of Min Ha, whom he barely remembered, and pointedly asked.

 

In the end, he even omitted two strokes from her name, but no one seemed to notice. Not even

Min Ha herself.

 

The surroundings fell silent as if a mouse had died. The other participants, who were not directly

involved, were busy rolling their eyes again. 

 

Normally, Min Ha would have joined them, but for the sole reason that she caught Cha Yoon’s attention, she was now part of the main event.

 

Min Ha stammered, “Huh? Ah, um, that…” Seojung, sitting right next to her, watched as the color

drained from Min Ha’s face in seconds. Seeing Min Ha turn pale as a sacrificial lamb, Seojung felt

compelled to speak up.

 

“Cha….”

 

‘Cha Yoon, please stop.“

 

 The doorbell rang just in time to prevent Seojung from completely ruining the atmosphere. Min Ha jumped up from her seat. Her face read, ‘Wow, I’m saved.”

 

“I’ll! I’ll go check it out!”

 

Before anyone could stop her, Min Ha dashed away from the dining table. Watching her hurried

departure, Seojung felt twice as uncomfortable. He shifted his gaze. He saw Cha Yoon placing the carrot back down as if it had lost its steam. The contrasting appearances of the two made his

eyes narrow.

 

As he glanced at Cha Yoon’s round head, Cha Yoon suddenly looked up while rolling the carrot

with his chopsticks.

 

The two locked eyes in the air. Among the people who had turned to look at the entrance, only

Cha Yoon and Ki Seo-jeong were looking at each other. In the slightly chaotic atmosphere, it felt

as if the two were cut off from the rest.

 

The eye contact lingered, but neither of them turned away first. Seojung swallowed hard. The moment that felt both fleeting and eternal was broken by Cha Yoon. He propped his chin up and

slowly moved his lips.

 

‘What are you looking at?’

 

Of course. As Seojung focused on reading his lips, he felt all the strength leave his body. 

What was he even expecting? Seojung turned his gaze toward the entrance.

 

As Seojung’s gaze left, Cha Yoon suddenly felt as if he had been left alone. 

What a disgusting feeling this was. Cha Yoon frowned and dropped his chopsticks as if throwing them away.

 

In the meantime, Min Ha’s voice echoed down the hallway toward the entrance.

 

“Everyone, come out here!”

 

“I wonder what’s come?”

 

At Min Ha’s shout, the participants began to stand up one by one and head toward the entrance.

Waiting at the door were boxes of various sizes. Min Ha waved her hands excitedly.

 

“A delivery has arrived!”

 

A delivery from the X courier had arrived at the accommodation.