OMLM | Chapter 28

“No, it’s not that, just a bit…”

Ha, haha…

Cha Hyuk looked at him as if to ask if he was okay.

Yebon finally stopped fiddling with his fluttering knit and calmed down. Even he thought it was strange.

Yet the car didn’t start, so Yebon finally looked at Cha Hyuk. Cha Hyuk made an ambiguous face and then suddenly chuckled. Then, he leaned toward Yebon.

“Hyung…?”

Yebon, flustered, pressed himself back against the seat as Cha Hyuk reached out to grab the seatbelt. Ah.

“Why are you so tense? Relax, nothing’s going to happen.”

After fastening the seatbelt, Cha Hyuk casually ruffled Yebon’s hair.

The car started moving. Yebon’s heart thumped wildly as he muttered inwardly, I wish something would happen.

“You look tired.”

At that comment, Yebon looked at his reflection in the side mirror of the window.

His eyes were a bit puffy, but he rubbed around them, wondering if it was that noticeable.

“I stayed up a bit late on my phone. It’s fine.”

“It’s a bit of a drive, you should try to get some sleep.”

“It’s okay.”

How long could it possibly take? Besides, he wasn’t in the mood to sleep.

Yet Cha Hyuk’s earlier words about nothing happening started to bother him.

‘Do people usually say that when inviting someone of the same gender over to their house…?’

Yebon stole a glance at Cha Hyuk. Surely, he hadn’t caught on already? Impossible. He had only realized it himself yesterday!

Cha Hyuk just drove with his usual expression.

“You look like you have something to say.”

“No, not at all!”

As if he had committed a great crime, Yebon jerked and turned his face completely towards the window.

The cityscape swiftly passed by. The car was always filled with a heavy, sweet scent from Cha Hyuk. As Yebon stared blankly outside, the car naturally fell silent.

Quiet space, a pleasant smell, soft seats. Yebon’s eyes slowly started to close.

Only after meeting Cha Hyuk could Yebon escape from the thoughts that had tormented him all night. It was strange.

Waking to the sensation of someone tapping on his chest, Yebon opened his eyes.

The car had stopped, and instead of the city, a tranquil scenery of country homes filled the view outside the window.

“Where are we?”

“We’re here, let’s get out.”

Still half asleep, Yebon nodded and got out of the car.

As soon as he stepped out, a brisk cold wind made him shiver slightly. The air felt as fresh as the scenery.

“This is your place, hyung?”

Yebon followed closely beside Cha Hyuk, looking around.

He had imagined Cha Hyuk living in a fancy high-rise apartment or a penthouse in the city, but this place had a more natural vibe. It almost felt like a village in the countryside with its occasional modest houses.

“Yeah, this is my home.”

Cha Hyuk pointed to a cottage just ahead. A stone stairway led up to a wooden gate, resembling a large cabin.

Yebon’s eyes widened. It was nothing like the home he had imagined for Cha Hyuk.

Curious, Yebon quickly climbed the steps first.

“Ahjusshi, your place is really natural and nice! It’s a surprise.”

“What kind of house did you think I lived in?”

As Cha Hyuk opened the gate, he looked down at Yebon, whose eyes sparkled with excitement.

Yebon, like a puppy on its first walk, couldn’t focus on one spot and looked everywhere.

“I thought maybe a place with a Han River view, or like those high-rise buildings where only chaebols live.”

Understanding how Yebon viewed him, Cha Hyuk burst out in an incredulous laugh.

“I’m not that rich.”

Once inside, Yebon gaped in awe, constantly marveling at everything.

The yard wasn’t huge, but it was cozy enough for a dog to run around, enclosed like a fence.

“It feels a bit like a foreign vibe.”

Earlier tension seemed ridiculous now as Yebon followed Cha Hyuk around, having forgotten the cold long ago.

“One day, when I earn a lot of money, I want to live in a place like this too. Originally, I wanted to live in a top-floor studio with a view of the Han River, but this place seems nice too.”

He was so quiet in the car, but now he was chatting nonstop without needing prompting.

Cha Hyuk nodded, enjoying the cheerful babble, as he unlocked the front door.

“Excuse me.”

Yebon took off his shoes and stepped inside. The interior was as spacious and nice as the exterior, and the abundance of wooden furniture gave it a warm feeling.

“Are you hungry? Let’s eat first.”

Naturally heading to the kitchen, Yebon checked his phone.

It was already past noon. The place really did take a while to reach. Since he had only had a light breakfast, Yebon nodded emphatically.

Cha Hyuk chuckled as he gestured for Yebon to sit at the island table. Yebon pulled out a chair to sit directly opposite him.

“But it’s a bit of a distance. It must be tiring to commute to school.”

“I mostly sleep at the office. I only come home on weekends.”

Ah, Yebon trailed off as he looked around the house.

It felt somewhat empty, and indeed there were only a few pieces of furniture inside.

The house was large, and with so few furnishings, it felt empty. But perhaps because it was Cha Hyuk’s place, his scent subtly filled the air, oddly comforting.

Unlike the outside where there were a few trees, there wasn’t even a single succulent plant inside.

‘There’s hardly any furniture, so there could be plants too.’

Besides, Yebon thought Cha Hyuk would be good at nurturing something. In Yebon’s mind, that was his image.

“Do you sleep at the office because you’re busy?”

Casually asking, Yebon turned to find Cha Hyuk putting a frying pan on the stove and turning on a pot beside it.

Was he going to cook for him? Yebon’s heart fluttered.

“Yeah, there’s a lot to deal with these days.”

“Then, maybe when you’re less busy, you could even keep a dog here.”

Yebon had always liked dogs since he was young. He had wanted one but couldn’t dream of it until high school because of his sensitive father, and after his father passed away, the thought of having a dog naturally faded.

Cha Hyuk took out a bag of frozen vegetable mix from the freezer and poured it into the frying pan. After a few clatters, Cha Hyuk softly said,

“…I don’t really like dogs.”

The voice that reached him seemed somehow sad.

Yebon glanced at Cha Hyuk’s broad back for a moment, then quickly changed the topic. It felt wrong to ask why.

“So, are you cooking something?”

Before he knew it, Cha Hyuk had grabbed a plate and was scooping something onto it, approaching Yebon. In his hands was a plate full of fried rice.

“I can only make simple things like this, hope it’s okay.”

The fried rice, with its unevenly chopped ham, looked quite appetizing.

“Of course. I’m really grateful just for you making it.”

Yebon smiled as he set down spoons and chopsticks on both sides of the table.

Cha Hyuk smiled as if relieved, then went back to the sink to fetch soup. It was egg soup. Cha Hyuk also took a seat opposite him.

“Bon appétit.”

“Yeah, enjoy your meal.”

Not feeling very hungry just moments before, the savory smell now whet his appetite immensely.

Taking a spoonful, the well-seasoned mix of flavors and the buttery aroma were delightful.

It had been a day full of surprises, and Yebon was inwardly pleased to have learned a bit more about Cha Hyuk.

In the car, Yebon had been somber, but now he was all smiles, enjoying the fried rice. Watching him, Cha Hyuk asked,

“It looks delicious. You seem happy.”

With his cheeks bulging with rice, Yebon swallowed before responding.

“It’s delicious, yes. And I’m happy because I feel closer to you today. I didn’t know much about you before.”

He wouldn’t have known Cha Hyuk lived in such a house, often slept at the office due to work, or that he didn’t particularly like dogs if they hadn’t become closer.

His spoon paused in mid-air as he listened to Cha Hyuk’s soft murmur.

“…I see.”

Cha Hyuk stared at the table, his fingers lightly covering below his nose.

His eyes weren’t focused, but they faintly curved. The tips of his lips seen between his fingers were also lazily curled up.

That face, how could it be the expression of someone who didn’t like him?

Feeling his face heat up, Yebon hurriedly turned his head and guzzled down some water.

Could it really be that Cha Hyuk didn’t like him?