LA0S | Chapter 28

Lee Jinha let out a sigh, grabbing Kim Chayoung’s arm to pull him away, but the guy wouldn’t budge an inch. After several futile tugs, he dropped his hand.

“Enough already. Just go.”

“What, I’m supposed to come and go as you say?”

“That’s not what I meant. You’re too worked up right now.”

“Am I the weird one? You’re not thinking about what you did, just calling me weird?”

Communication was fruitless. Kim Chayoung’s face had turned a shade of red.

“…Kim Chayoung. Should we rethink our collaboration?”

“Lee Jinha!”

A shout that almost sounded like a roar filled the cafe.

Jung Woochae fidgeting and the chef poking his head out from the kitchen to assess the situation were all too visible.

“Let’s talk outside.”

After catching the chef’s eye for permission, Lee Jinha was the first to turn around. As expected, the other followed him out meekly. They stopped in a dimly lit alley between buildings.

“Hey. You’re really terrible. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve this treatment from you.”

Whatever had happened in the past, he hadn’t wronged him in the present. It was just Lee Jinha who couldn’t let go of the past, making things awkward.

After these words, the two stood in silence for a while. Lee Jinha, who had quit smoking years ago, felt a desperate urge for a cigarette but instead breathed in the air, facing the man before him.

His smooth cheek muscles tensed visibly. Rough breaths, holding back lingering anger, continued for some time.

“I’ll go now. If we talk more, I might really start to get angry, and I don’t want that.”

“…”

“Go straight to bed when you get home. You look really unwell.”

With those heavy, sigh-laden words, Kim Chayoung started walking away. Lee Jinha couldn’t leave until he had disappeared from sight.

“Hyung! Are you okay? You didn’t get hit, did you?”

As soon as he returned to the cafe, Jung Woochae rushed over to him. Considering even the usually teasing Jung Woochae was this concerned, the atmosphere must have been quite serious.

“Your face looks fine. Or did you throw the first punch, hyung?”

Jung Woochae clenched his fist as if ready to fight.

“Neither.”

“I really thought you guys were going to fight. Why was your friend so mad? Anyone would think you stole his girlfriend or something.”

“It’s my fault. Hey, the tables are empty. Let’s start closing up.”

As Lee Jinha began clearing the empty dishes, Jung Woochae grabbed a cloth and started wiping the tables.

After closing, Lee Jinha checked the time. It was 11:40 PM. In just 20 more minutes, it would be Friday.

Hands in his jacket pockets, Lee Jinha started walking. His already aching head felt like it was cracking.

Just go home, take a shower, and go to bed.

As he walked naturally towards home, he suddenly realized he had no ‘place to return to.’ His rapid steps abruptly stopped.

What now? Where should I go?

He pulled out his cellphone and scrolled through the contacts—mom, younger sibling, Yoon Sejin, Jung Woochae, part-time job boss, tutor’s mom… Kim Chayoung.

The headache turned into chills. His body was boiling with fever, yet he felt bitterly cold. He put the phone back and zipped his jacket up to his neck.

Changing direction, he headed towards the university. He wanted to get a proper sleep tonight, but things never seemed to go as planned. Tomorrow, he’d need to talk to the boss about getting an advance.

Today, the hill to the library seemed unusually steep and tall. He stopped several times to catch his breath as he walked.

When he finally made his way towards the building,

“Lee Jinha.”

His name echoed quietly in the darkness. Lee Jinha stopped dead.

It was an unlikely time to meet anyone at this late hour at the university. The headache was so severe, was he hearing things? He’d reached his limit. Shaking his head slightly, he was about to move on when he stopped again.

“Stop right there.”

A figure suddenly stood up from the darkness. The yellow light from a streetlamp poured down, illuminating his face.

“Kim Chayoung?”

Lee Jinha was a bit stunned to see Kim Chayoung here and called out to him in a daze. Why was he here? They had just had a huge fight and parted as if they’d never see each other again.

“Why are you here? Didn’t you storm off saying you didn’t want to get angry?”

“And what about you?”

Kim Chayoung deflected with a question of his own, effectively silencing Lee Jinha.

“I came to study. Finals are coming up, aren’t they?”

“Studying, at this hour, in your condition?”

He had laid out the most plausible excuse, but Kim Chayoung was not fooled.

“I don’t know what you think my ‘condition’ is, but if you’re here to start something, just go. I really can’t deal with you today.”

Already feeling heavy, Lee Jinha had no energy for a second round with Kim Chayoung. It was he who had said he’d get really angry if they talked more. Maybe the anger hadn’t subsided and he wanted to fight? But now, it was a firm no from him.

Thud. Kim Chayoung took a step closer, facing Lee Jinha squarely, close enough to see his own reflection in his eyes. Kim Chayoung wore an unfamiliar expression.

“What ‘condition’ indeed.”

A large hand unexpectedly touched his face. The warm palm enveloped Lee Jinha’s chin while the fingers gently stroked his cheek. Frozen like a frog in front of a snake, Lee Jinha didn’t think to push him away.

The fingers that had been caressing one cheek slowly moved down the jaw to lightly touch the back of the neck.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re dripping with cold sweat from your face and neck. Clearly, you’re not okay.”

Kim Chayoung responded nonchalantly after withdrawing his hand.

“I sweated because I walked here, it’s hot.”

“You want me to show you a mirror? Your face is completely pale.”

Kim Chayoung fumbled in his pocket pretending to look for a mirror he didn’t carry.

Everyone else says I look the same, why does Kim Chayoung think differently? Lee Jinha bit his lip.

“So I’m sweating, what about it? Mind your own business.”

“I am minding it.”

Doing this in front of the library is your business? As Lee Jinha gazed at him, Kim Chayoung ruffled his own hair.

“If you’re not taking the national exam tomorrow, forget studying and go home quietly.”

“What if I don’t have a home to go to?”

Lee Jinha blurted out, then quickly shut his mouth.

“…Pretend you didn’t hear that. Thanks for worrying, it means a lot, now I’ll handle it on my own.”

“How can I pretend I didn’t hear it? Is there a problem with your place?”

“It’s nothing. I’m going.”

As Lee Jinha turned to leave, Kim Chayoung grabbed his shoulder with a force that throbbed through his entire arm.

“Tell me. Is this related to you staying overnight at school these past few days?”

How he knew about the overnight stays at school, Lee Jinha wasn’t sure, but Kim Chayoung seemed certain.

“There was a problem, yes. But it’s one that’ll be resolved soon. And from tomorrow, I’ll have a place to stay.”

“Where will you stay?”

Even in the dark, Kim Chayoung’s eyes shone. His expression was such that he wouldn’t back down without a proper answer.

“Yoon Sejin’s house.”

Lee Jinha threw out the easiest name he could think of. That should be a sufficient answer. Surely Kim Chayoung wouldn’t actually check with Yoon Sejin. His main goal was to get away from this spot quickly.

“Yoon Sejin? The guy who was slinging his arm around your shoulders? You’re going to stay at his house?”

The word “arm around your shoulders” was oddly emphasized. ‘That’ Yoon Sejin—it sounded as if there was something more to it.

“It’s only for a few days. Are you satisfied now? I’ve answered, so please, just leave.”

“No.”

Kim Chayoung didn’t let go of his hand, nor did his expression soften. Instead, he furrowed his brows and muttered, “Yoon Sejin, Yoon Sejin.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?”

“Don’t you know? Living with a friend is a guaranteed recipe for conflict. Especially since you two are close… well, in the same department, and if you clash at home, friction is inevitable.”

Kim Chayoung hesitated, unable to admit openly that Lee Jinha and Yoon Sejin were close.

A look of incredulity flickered across Lee Jinha’s eyes. This must sound absurd to him, too. But Kim Chayoung wasn’t backing down, nor did he intend to.

“What does it matter to you if Yoon Sejin and I are fine with it? And maybe clashing isn’t a bad thing; it could bring us closer.”

“You said it well. What business is it of mine? Naturally, I’m deeply involved. What if you guys fight and it affects your condition? That could impact our contest entry.”

Kim Chayoung was extrapolating a future issue that hadn’t even occurred. Lee Jinha almost countered, but decided it wasn’t worth prolonging the already pointless argument. He was tired of it all.

“So what do you want me to do about it?”

“If there’s someone you don’t often clash with, who isn’t in your department, wouldn’t that be much better?”

“There isn’t anyone, which is why I’m imposing on Yoon Sejin.”

“There is someone.”

Where? Lee Jinha’s eyes asked.

“…My studio.”

The words came with a delay, and at first, Lee Jinha didn’t catch on. But when he did, he frowned.

“No.”

The idea of living in the same space as Kim Chayoung was hardly appealing.

“I’m hardly there. I sleep at my main house, so it’ll be more comfortable than Yoon Sejin’s. Besides, we need to speed up our contest work. Being together saves time and allows for immediate feedback.”

Ignoring the previous content, the contest part did make some sense. If anyone but Kim Chayoung had offered, Lee Jinha would have jumped at it. In other words, it was precisely because it was Kim Chayoung that he was reluctant.

“You said living together guarantees a fight.”

“We’re not friends, are we?”

“…”

Friends. No, they weren’t. It was a valid point, but hearing it from Kim Chayoung was irritating.

“We don’t have to go far to grab each other by the collar, you know. Want to experience that?”

“Lee Jinha. You think you’re the only busy one? I’m swamped too. We probably won’t even run into each other. Think about what’s best for you.”

Kim Chayoung’s studio.

Though he had bravely said he’d stay at Yoon Sejin’s, the truth was he had no fixed place to go. But to be unilaterally dependent on Kim Chayoung…

“Or, I could clean the studio and prepare meals for you too. That way, it’s a win-win.”

As Lee Jinha hesitated, the condition Kim Chayoung threw out shook his firm resolve. Staying at the studio in exchange for cleaning and cooking didn’t sound like a one-sided imposition. He knew that, but still.

Kim Chayoung’s gaze lingered on Lee Jinha’s lips. His hand was still holding onto him. Kim Chayoung knew he had to be vigilant, or Lee Jinha might slip away.