Chapter 97

After being enlightened, Na-Yool thought she would get a little better.

However, time and Si-Jin diligently moved like one single body, while Na-Yool drowned in awkwardness, rather than further grasp a sense of reality.

Time stealthily ran its course regardless of whether she felt awkward or whether she walked on eggshells, and Si-Jin ‌naturally treated her like a regular guest of his house. To the point where Na-Yool often forgot about the awful awkwardness. But then, she would come to her senses, only to get twice more self-conscious. From wondering if it was really alright to go on like this, to such the practical detail of whether her hair and clothes were not too messy.

The other person did not even care, and she herself did not want to look like the type to put a lot of effort into her appearance even at home, but she also refused to show an unkempt look.

Beyond her reluctance to appear like a mess, Na-Yool also wanted to look natural. When this thought dawned on her, it was often followed by a Then why am I paying so much attention to these things?, and she would then question everything. Such as, Why am I here in the first place? or Is this really okay?, like reconsidering her very presence here.

Thoughts crossed her minds non-stop. Lost at what to do, Na-Yool was feeling edgy. It even self-mockingly occurred to her that one might think it was her first time dating someone!

…Well, it is a first, after all.

Let alone Si-Jin, she never once had a close relationship with any of her ex-boyfriends so deep that they would frequently hang out at each other’s house. Of course, the current situation was due to some circumstances, although they were not totally unavoidable either…

Her friend Su-Jeong had nailed it down with a “It’s possible even if you’re not very close”, but to Na-Yool, her home was a space solely for herself. Be it letting someone in or entering someone’s personal space, both were similarly difficult. She thought it was possible only when both parties shared a deep trust. That must have been why such matter always felt distant, like one that had nothing to do with her current self.

It was like something that would not happen right now. For only one reason ‒ there had never been a single man she trusted to this degree. Although Sang-Hoon had used this very same reason to criticize her for playing hard to get, that is.

But if you were to ask if she trusted Si-Jin…

“Coffee?”

“…… Ah, I am going to cut down on coffee from now. I’m good.”

The meal was over while she was contemplating. Si-Jin did not seem to know of the thousand thoughts flashing across her face, and neither did he seem to want to probe into it. He just indifferently cleaned up the empty plate in front of Na-Yool and added:

“There’s decaffeinated coffee too.”

As expected from Si-Jin, the man who took care of his body by eating healthy everyday even when swamped with work. It would be weird if there was none.

“I will have some, then.” Na-Yool replied as she half stood to tidy up the rest of the dishes together.

“Watch TV.”

“I will—”

“I’ll bring it to you.”

Si-Jin took the small bowl and fork from her hands, turned, and walked to the sink without waiting for Na-Yool’s reaction. This man, sensitive or indifferent ‒ she never knew which he was. When she found him touchingly caring, he would put on a hateful face, and when she was upset at his apathy, he would suddenly handle all her troubles.

“Since you did the cooking, Mr. President, I will wash—”

“No need.”

“I will feel uncomfortable then.”

“I’m not refusing to make you feel comfortable. I just can’t trust you.”

“……”

The unexpected, straightforward reason that came back left Na-Yool at a loss for words.

“…I wash the dishes quite often, too!”

Pricked as though her poor housework skills had been found out by Si-Jin, Na-Yool roared furiously one beat late at the back of his head, only to get ignored. The sight of him turning on the sink water without a care was infuriating. This, it clearly was what people call ‘To have one’s good deeds get dissed’!

Just like how the hotel-worthy breakfast had been prepared without her lifting a finger, Na-Yool could leave the table she was sitting at without having to do a thing. However, she was still suspicious of Si-Jin.

Indeed, even when he made sure to not let her hands touch one single drop of water, Na-Yool could only doubt if he was the same man who confessed to her yesterday as she glared at his unfriendly back.

She trudged to the living room and turned on the TV. It had not even been plugged in until yesterday.

Si-Jin had said that he had not turned it on even once in the year he had moved to this house, leaving Na-Yool in shock. She was so surprised she had even wondered inwardly, What the hell does he do at home then? It then hit her that he had no time to do anything at home to begin with, and she accepted the fact.

Yesterday, and today. For her sake, he had sacrificed in 2 days the little free time he could enjoy over about 3.5 weeks. This workaholic, he did not even once check work on his phone. At least, not in front of her. She could not tell if it was out of concern or a sign of his commitment to their relationship, but one thing she knew for sure was that he certainly was not indifferent.

Na-Yool put on a cooking program she had never seen and absent-mindedly watched. No, this man is not indifferent. If he was, he would not look after me so thoughtfully like this. At this point, she was not confused about it. What really was confusing was…

‒Cut the scallions in large chunks and put them in, then since we’ll start with the broth, cut the carrots and onion into quarters… [T/N: It’s the TV lol]

“Didn’t you say you’re full?”

“…What?”

Startled by the voice suddenly coming right next to her, Na-Yool turned her head. Before she knew it, Si-Jin was sitting beside her.

“…The sofa is so wide, do you have to sit here…”

In fact, he was sitting at an appropriate distance, but even that was too close for Na-Yool. Ten years ago, when she had her first boyfriend, even her high schooler self would not have acted so sheepishly… Who knows how Si-Jin interpreted it, but he widened the distance between them with an “Ah” of apologetic consciousness. He seemed to assume he had triggered in her something like a trauma about Sang-Hoon.

Such trauma already only existed in Si-Jin’s imagination, but Na-Yool dazed out too much to correct him. Now you’re too far… She did not know what she wanted.

She wished he would not sit too close, lest she become nervous. But not too far, because… This, she could not even think of the reason. She vaguely knew, but she refused to face it up.

“Should we have this for dinner?”

“…You can even cook something like this?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t tried.” Both his proposition and acknowledgement were said so confidently, it sounded like he had cooked that dish many times despite his inexperience. “But it looks easy.”

Just as Na-Yool internally grumbled as usual that everything came so easily to this man, his words echoed in her memory.

“You’re such a hard nut to crack.”

Her face flushed up in grievance. What was so hard about her?! With how stupid she was… While Na-Yool suppressed her confusion with self-deprecation, Si-Jin casually took the remote control from her hand. As though he had noticed she was not exactly focused on the cooking.