CH 1

〈1〉 Junior Engaged in Retreat and Enlightenment

March, when spring began to bloom. The air touching the skin still felt chilly. 

The students coming and going on campus seemed lively as if they had forgotten about the cold. Their bright and cheerful voices and energetic movements excited Tae-ram’s heart. Although there were concerns about blending in immediately after being discharged from the military, it secretly put his mind at ease to see himself naturally blending in among them.

The fragrant scent of flowers wafted through the air, brushing past Tae-ram’s nose. Ah, such a pleasant fragrance. An unknown sense of anticipation brought a smile to Tae-ram’s lips involuntarily.

“I’m going to meet Min-ah after a long time,” mumbled Tae-ram, who had an unassuming appearance, unknowingly humming a tune. 

Min-ah, a friend who had a great rapport with Tae-ram and happened to be his cousin of the same age, had been with Tae-ram since their elementary, middle, and high school days. They even entered the same university together. Min-ah, who had achieved her childhood dream and became an intern at a relatively large publishing company, became an excellent advisor to Tae-ram, who had recently gained popularity as a budding writer.

If it weren’t for Min-ah, he probably wouldn’t have even started. 

A book that Tae-ram accidentally discovered in Min-ah’s room led him into the world of genre literature, specifically ‘BL (Boy’s Love)’. Thinking it was a new volume of a volleyball manga he enjoyed, he unfolded the book only to find the protagonists and rivals intricately entwined. Initially, he felt bewildered and embarrassed, but gradually, he became absorbed in the book.

Two individuals fiercely oppose each other with uncompromisable goals. As they began to understand each other exceptionally well, they eventually accept one another. There was an inexplicable attraction that developed throughout the process. Various crises arising from same-sex relationships were depicted, but above all, the intense emotions left a strong impression. 

Tae-ram read the book with more concentration than usual.

‘Hey! Why are you reading that?’

Min-ah, who noticed Tae-ram belatedly, approached in shock. Tae-ram, who had just finished reading the book, looked at Min-ah seriously and made a request.

‘Do you have the next volume of this?’

‘Oh? Um, wait a moment.’

As a result of this incident, the two individuals who were already close became soulful friends while enjoying BL together.

“Would you like to participate in a contest? It feels like a waste to only write fan fiction,” Min-ah suggested one day, presenting a laptop as a gift to Tae-ram. Tae-ram, who had developed a passion for writing, participated with a light-hearted attitude and achieved significant success. Now, he has become a well-selling author, contemplating a full-time career. Without Min-ah’s support and encouragement, it would have been impossible.

Is it their first time seeing each other in two years? After completing military service and working on the next project, they only communicated through phone calls and messaging, so it felt like they became online friends. He wants to see her face. Hurry. Tae-ram, realizing that his hands had grown cold, quickly tucked them into his pockets and picked up the pace even more.

Passing through the familiar gates that had been crossed several times in the past, Tae-ram entered the brownish building that exuded a sense of experience. He swiftly climbed the stairs and arrived at the classroom, where unfortunately, Min-ah, whom he had eagerly anticipated meeting, was nowhere to be seen.

Kim Min-ah, the traitor. I can understand skipping classes since it’s the beginning of the semester, but isn’t it too much not to contact me at all? You said let’s attend classes together, but it seems like you’re the one who disappeared…

Feeling as dejected as a hamster whose food had been taken away, Tae-ram looked around, hoping to spot someone familiar. However, there were no familiar faces, and everyone seemed to be sitting together in small groups, chatting away as if they had known each other for a long time.

Left alone and feeling desolate, Tae-ram couldn’t help but feel the weight of his situation. Yet, he didn’t dare to casually join any of those groups. As he wandered, the class began, and time seemed to pass endlessly.

Tae-ram wished he could shut the professor’s incessantly talking mouth. He would have preferred if the orientation was the only thing they had to endure, but of course, the professor for the course he had chosen happened to be a strict individual notorious for filling every minute of the first week of classes.

Half-dazed, he listened to the lecture, waiting for the much-needed break. After contemplating for a while, Tae-ram finally made up his mind and decided to skip the class, thinking that since attendance was already checked, there wouldn’t be any problem. Since he had come to school, he decided to visit the club room for the first time in a long while.

The club he had been a part of before enlisting in the military was the “Creative Writing Club.” Thanks to Min-ah’s recommendation, he joined this club, which sounded lively, but in reality, it was the den of genre novel enthusiasts. Strangely enough, only those who enjoyed BL seemed to be part of it. Tae-ram wondered how many of his fellow members were still around, and whether they still actively participated in fan events and so on. There were many things he was curious about.

* * *

As Tae-ram opened the door to the club room, he found six people gathered together, engaging in a lively drinking session. 

There was a fresh-faced freshman, a fellow member whose face he vaguely remembered, a senior who seemed like a relic from the past, and others whose reasons for still being in school remained a mystery. They were already sprawled on the floor as if they were scattered pieces of laundry, intoxicated to the point of being completely wasted.

As Tae-ram looked around, he realized that the survivors were none other than Min-ah, whom he had been desperately searching for, and his distant junior, Se-ho, with whom he had a strained relationship. The initial joy of seeing Min-ah was short-lived as Tae-ram felt a distinct cold gaze coming from Se-ho, which greatly dampened his mood. Deliberately ignoring Se-ho, Tae-ram approached Min-ah.

“Hey, Kim Min-ah. If you’re going to drink after class, you should’ve called me too.”

“Were you lonely without me? Our Tae-ram is cute.”

“You like it, huh? Your birthday is later than mine.”

“I’m ahead of you in grade. I’m a fourth-year, and you’re a third-year.”

“Yeah, yeah. Senior. How much have you been drinking? Your eyes are completely glazed over.”

“I don’t know. I can’t remember. Just sit down if you came!”

Tae-ram hesitated momentarily, sensing the strong scent of alcohol in Min-ah’s words, but he obediently sat down next to her. As soon as he took his seat, he popped a snack into his mouth. Knowing that Min-ah wouldn’t let him off the hook until he was drunk as well, Tae-ram decided to fill his stomach beforehand for safety.

“Let’s start with a drink, no exceptions!”

As expected, a glass of alcohol was immediately pushed toward him. Tae-ram wasn’t particularly fond of drinking, but after such a long time, he felt a bit tempted. Just a little sip. Tae-ram received the soju that Min-ah poured for him, and he downed it smoothly.

One glass, two glasses, three glasses…

The soju bottles kept piling up on the table. Tae-ram felt his vision spinning. Ugh… dizzy. The floor is swaying. In his hazy state of intoxication, he absentmindedly lifted his head and caught sight of Se-ho sitting across from him. 

Se-ho, silently drinking his alcohol, had a perfectly chiseled face. Though he lacked double eyelids, his large and deep black eyes were captivating. His high nose bridge and sharp jawline added to his overall strong and straight allure. Se-ho was undeniably a handsome man. Tae-ram couldn’t help but think so, and unknowingly, he found himself gazing at Se-ho with a dazed expression.

“Damn, he’s so good-looking. It’s annoying. I don’t even want to look at his face… Yet, I keep staring at him. You, troublesome junior. …No, it’s not his fault for having a good face. Yeah. Your face is innocent. Guilty as charged. It’s a life sentence….”

Drunk and lost in his thoughts, Tae-ram mumbled his inner thoughts while slowly savoring Se-ho’s attractiveness.

“But he reminds me of someone….”

Suddenly, Tae-ram recalled his manuscript for the novel he submitted last week, titled “Raising a Dormant Supernova with My Own Hands.”

“You! This guy… He’s a completely dormant supernova.”

It was true. Se-ho’s slightly raised, cold gaze perfectly embodied the dormant supernova in Tae-ram’s novel. In Tae-ram’s imagination, Se-ho appeared wearing a hotel gown, elegantly sipping champagne.

“Champagne is expensive… Should I offer a 3D water instead…?”

Tae-ram’s rambling continued incoherently. Finally, Se-ho turned his gaze towards Tae-ram. Their eyes met, and in the next moment, a low voice resonated in Tae-ram’s ear.

“Senior Han Tae-ram, please stop staring. It’s unpleasant.”

Tae-ram felt as if the alcohol suddenly sobered him up. Memories of the days when he had a heated rivalry with Se-ho before enlisting came flooding back, causing his expression to involuntarily darken.

* * *

The rift between the two individuals dates back to three years ago. On that day, Tae-ram and Min-ah were discussing new members in the club room.

“How do you think the new juniors are in terms of skills?”

“I really like that person.”

“Who?”

“You know. The most handsome one among the first-year students.”

“You mean Lee Se-ho?”

“I don’t know his name exactly. But considering his standout appearance, it’s probably him, right?”

“You’re still obsessed with looks without any substance. Did you only focus on his face and not even bother to learn his name?”

Tae-ram felt a slight sting for a moment but managed to casually continue the conversation.

“Anyway, he’s really good at writing.”

“Yeah, the professors also seem to like his work.”

Tae-ram found Se-ho’s writing, which was solid and weighty compared to his light-hearted writing, impressive. It had a tightly woven web-like structure, a unique atmosphere infused with strong individuality, and realistic and multidimensional characters. Tae-ram envied Se-ho’s ability to write such stories.

That’s why he felt more disappointed. In Tae-ram’s perception, Se-ho stubbornly focused on grim and serious subjects, which lacked popularity and mass appeal.

“The subject matter is excessively limited, and the target audience is ambiguous. If you don’t elevate the level or intensity, there’s a risk of appearing dull. And he mentioned that he keeps failing in competitions. I heard he aspires to be a writer, but it’s difficult to succeed like this.”

“Still, I like Se-ho’s writing.”

“I’m not saying it’s bad. It would be better if he were more strategic.”

“It’s the first time you’ve shown concern for a junior like this.”

“Well, he has many strengths that I don’t have. I hope he succeeds even more.”

“Is that really the only reason? You can be honest with me.”

Tae-ram was startled by Min-ah’s sticky gaze and ominous expression, warning her not to use him as a model for her novel.

“Stop with your unfounded delusions.”

“…I wasn’t even thinking about it?”

“Look into my eyes and say that.”

“Guarantee my creative rights.”

“You better think about my human rights too.”

“You like Se-ho, don’t you?”

“If someone overhears, they’ll misunderstand. It’s just the main character style I prefer.”

“You used to say you were interested in men.”

“That… Well, I’ve written a few BL novels… What if I actually try it? I can consider it. But it doesn’t mean I belong to that side. And it would be disrespectful to Se-ho too.”

“I’ll reflect on that. But Taeram, you know that over 80% of the world’s population identifies as bisexual, right?”

“I can’t say anything in front of you.”

Seemingly struck by a sudden thought, Min-ah quickly grabbed her bag.

“What should I do? I had an assignment to submit to the professor today. Sorry, but I have to go first.”

“Alright. See you tomorrow.”

“I’m really sorry. Take care of the paragraph discussion for me.”

“It’s okay. I’m also leaving soon anyway.”

After seeing Min-ah off, Tae-ram casually picked up visible trash, emptied the wastebasket, and closed the partially open window. Just as he was about to turn off the lights and leave the club room, someone unexpectedly appeared in front of him.

It was Se-ho.

“Ah, geez! You startled me. Lee Se-ho?”

“It’s Lee Se-ho. Did you have to say something like that without even knowing my name?”

“No, it’s just that…”

“Don’t speak casually about me like that. It’s unpleasant.”

Tae-ram was taken aback. Not only was he surprised by Se-ho suddenly appearing, but Se-ho’s expression was filled with discontent. Although it was true that Tae-ram was in the wrong for speaking without knowing the person’s name, he hadn’t used any offensive language, so he didn’t feel good about Se-ho’s hostile reaction. He felt unfairly treated, but he still decided to apologize.

“If it made you upset, I apologize. I’m sorry.”

Se-ho glanced at Tae-ram silently for a moment and then turned away without saying anything. Even though Tae-ram didn’t think he had made a big mistake, his annoyance surged as his apology was ignored. 

He grabbed Se-ho, who was about to leave and coldly confronted him.

“I don’t expect you to accept the apology, but is it necessary to ignore it completely? At least acknowledge it. It’s basic human courtesy.”

Se-ho continued to glare at Tae-ram in silence. Tae-ram felt intimidated by Se-ho, who was taller and more muscular than him, but he pretended to be unaffected.

“Cat got your tongue? Why no response?”

Seeing Tae-ram’s behavior, Se-ho scoffed as if mocking him, then flicked his tongue and lightly slapped Tae-ram’s shoulder as he walked past. Caught off guard, Tae-ram staggered backward, letting out a small groan from the sharp pain that surged through his shoulder. Despite clearly hearing the sound, Se-ho coldly turned his back.

That time, Tae-ram didn’t attempt to grab Se-ho. He just rubbed his throbbing shoulder and tried to comfort himself.

After that incident, Tae-ram constantly picked fights with Se-ho, while Se-ho remained consistent in ignoring him. 

The conflict escalated as they clashed with each other.

They were truly opposites. Tae-ram, with his intense emotions and volatile nature, would easily flare up but quickly cool down. He believed that he had given Se-ho a taste of his own medicine a few times and let go of any lingering feelings. On the other hand, Se-ho, who was stoic and cautious by nature, didn’t easily get provoked, but once he ignited, it was hard to extinguish. He kept a mental record of Tae-ram’s actions and persistently tormented him.

In the end, Tae-ram became heated once again, and the disputes continued until Tae-ram enlisted in the military. Fortunately, thanks to Min-ah’s mediation, the fights never escalated into major conflicts.

* * *

While Min-ah was busy drinking without care, Tae-ram and Se-ho were engaged in a full-fledged verbal battle.

“What? Unpleasant? You haven’t changed a bit.”

“And you, senior, haven’t changed at all either.”

“Writing those sticky and gloomy novels of yours.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“No, I haven’t said everything yet. Wasn’t the title of your recent work ‘Shattered Fragments’? Sounds like some sort of surreal literature.”

“It’s better than juvenile one-liner titles. And speaking of titles, wasn’t your recent work titled ‘Raising a Dormant Supernova with My Own Hands.’? I thought it was a Japanese light novel. I wonder how long it’ll get in the future.”

“It reflects the needs of readers who want to grasp the keywords and atmosphere at a glance!”

“Don’t shout because it hurts my ears.”

Se-ho rubbed his throbbing forehead.

The argument between Tae-ram and Se-ho continued, filled with sarcasm and jabs at each other’s writing styles and titles. The tension between them seemed to be mounting, with no sign of resolution in sight.

At first, Se-ho thought of Tae-ram as a charming senior. 

His pink, curly hair looked soft and fluffy like cotton candy. Combined with his small and cute facial features, thick eyebrows, and large amber eyes, his slightly droopy eyes made him even more gentle and approachable. Honestly, he was his type in terms of appearance.

In middle school, he became aware of his homosexuality. When his friend’s hand lightly brushed against him while they were playing, Se-ho’s fingertips tingled, and his heart raced. Looking back now, it was his first love. He was confused and vaguely scared, so he kept everything tightly hidden. He gradually became more silent.

When he entered university and met senior Min-ah, thanks to her, he discovered BL novels. Se-ho enjoyed writing. Writing was always a secret outlet where he could subtly express the sexual preferences that he had kept hidden. It also served as a mirror reflecting who he was. Since he had never experienced sex and was sexually inexperienced, he naturally couldn’t escalate the intensity. He couldn’t have a happy ending. It wasn’t realistic.

Then, by chance, he discovered that Tae-ram was a skilled writer of genre novels. He was even more drawn to him. He enjoyed Tae-ram’s writing, which had a different charm from his. His writing had a rhythmic and lively style that was easy to read. His ability to skillfully combine popular themes and unexpected plot twists made him want to learn everything from him.

Se-ho regretted going up to the club room that day. Although he couldn’t hear the entire conversation flowing from behind the door, Tae-ram had belittled his writing, calling it dull. At first, Se-ho felt bewildered and a little sad. But later, he became angry. After all, his writing contained a part of himself.

Since that day, Se-ho had put in every effort to surpass Tae-ram. He used wounded pride, feelings of humiliation and shame, and even the jealousy he had been unwilling to admit. He wanted to return the raw emotions he had become aware of back to him.

However, the reality was not so smooth. While Tae-ram became a successful and popular writer, Se-ho’s writing career remained average. To Se-ho, Tae-ram had become nothing more than a tiresome senior to deal with.

“Hey, are you listening to me?”

Se-ho, lost in his thoughts, snapped back to reality at Tae-ram’s nagging voice.

“Enough. I’m tired of dealing with you.”

“Just shut up if you don’t want to hear what I have to say.”

“I never said anything to that extent. It’s not like I have some persecution complex…”

“You really know how to annoy people.”

As the argument between the two heated up, Min-ah, who had sobered up, intervened to pour cold water into the situation.

“Are you two fighting again? Whatever. If you have any good recommendations for books, let me know. I’m too busy with work to find decent ones myself.”

As Min-ah intervened, the heated atmosphere subsided, and the conversation shifted elsewhere. Tae-ram, who had been pondering for a moment, spoke with a twinkle in his eyes.

“What about ‘I’m Broke’? It’s a classic. It’s guaranteed to be entertaining.”

“It sounds familiar. Have I heard of it before?”

“It’s super famous! It’s my lifework! I think it was in the club room… I’ll find it for you!”

Tae-ram rummaged through the bookshelf in the corner of the club room and pulled out a novel with a vibrant cover featuring a charming young boy.

“The cover is cute. It looks lively.”

“‘I’m Broke’ starts with the protagonist being sold into the slave market due to betrayal by a close friend.”

“The premise sounds intriguing. What kind of character is the protagonist?”

“A millionaire loan shark wins the protagonist for 1.2 billion won and sexually exploits her, paying 3 million won each time.”

“It sounds like a light-hearted read.”

“If you prefer something a bit more serious, ‘Cry and Writhe Underneath Me’ is also interesting.”

“What’s that one about?”

“The protagonist is a loan shark with a sadistic nature who runs a flower shop and acquires the main character’s failing store. He sexually exploits the main character, paying 1 million won each time.”

“There seems to be a lot of loan sharks involved.”

“But that’s not the important part! As their past unfolds, they become remorseful, and that part is incredibly poignant.”

“A remorseful loan shark, huh? Quite an intriguing setup. Is that one also in the club room?”

“It’s at my place. I’ll lend it to you next time. For now, start with ‘I’m Broke.'”

Just as Tae-ram was about to hand the novel to Min-ah, Se-ho intercepted and took it. Tae-ram’s brow furrowed in frustration.

“Hey, what’s up with you?”

“Senior Min-ah might enjoy this one more.”

The novel Se-ho handed to Min-ah had a depiction of a bloodied man on the cover. “The Blood of the Defeated Dog,” a novel with a large hidden fan base, takes place in a crime-ridden city where a protagonist falsely accused of murder enters a life-or-death fighting game. It garnered attention for its intense themes, including graphic violence.

It was a novel that Tae-ram once attempted to read but gave up on. It had unnecessarily detailed descriptions, a suffocating and heavy atmosphere, and a tormented and anguished relationship that seemed unbearable. Nothing seemed to align.

“I’m not really into complex setups like that. I heard it’s cruel and has a tragic ending. It can be mentally draining.”

“Don’t subtly spoil it for me.”

“But Min-ah won’t read it anyway, right?”

“Why are you assuming that, senior?”

“Isn’t it unnecessary to recommend gory books to someone already struggling with work? Something light like ‘I’m Broke’ would be better, something you can easily read during your commute.”

“Light works like ‘I’m Broke’ aren’t necessarily understandable to everyone.”

Se-ho’s arrogant remark reignited Tae-ram’s anger.

“You’re disregarding ‘I’m Broke’? It outsold ‘The Blood of the Defeated Dog’ by a mile, even without all the bloodshed!”

“Is it just about sales? Don’t compare cheap works that are good for mindless reading with something deeper and superior.”

“Don’t insult ‘I’m Broke,’ which contains my life’s story.”

“Senior insulted ‘The Blood of the Defeated Dog’ first.”

“It’s just a matter of taste.”

Min-ah intervened as the two became increasingly heated.

“Stop it! I’ll read them all, so stop fighting.”

“It was the senior who started the argument.”

“When did I do that?”

“Both of you, quiet down and sit.”

Min-ah forcibly made Tae-ram and Se-ho sit down. The two turned their backs on each other, completely ignoring one another. Seeing them like that, Min-ah couldn’t help but sigh. She couldn’t understand why their relationship was so strained. It was only she who felt awkward being caught in the middle. She wished the two of them would become closer… Ah! There was a way.

Ignoring the awkwardly seated pair behind her, Min-ah stood up and opened an old cabinet with a locked drawer.

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to…”

As Tae-ram realized Min-ah’s intention, he fell into contemplation. Inside the cabinet were the published works of the club members.

“I found it! ‘This Regression Was a Failure’ by Han Tae-ram. The protagonist here was really cute. After repeated regressions, they eventually gave up and returned to their hometown, right? Probably.”

“Kim Min-ah, stop it…”

“I miss this one too. ‘The Harem Construction of the Money-Obsessed Omega.’ It received rave reviews for injecting soda into the Omega-verse.”

Tae-ram felt like he was being stripped naked in the middle of the city. He was just so embarrassed. Min-ah didn’t stop showcasing his embarrassing past despite seeing Tae-ram’s face turn red as if he was about to explode.

“N-No, you can’t. Don’t bring that out!”

“Don’t you like it? I found ‘Delicious Man.'”

“Have some humanity and keep that to yourself.”

‘Delicious Man’ was the first novel Tae-ram wrote. It was the most poorly written among his works.

“Well, our club members have all read it anyway.”

Min-ah’s bombshell statement made Tae-ram wish he could disappear. Did that jerk see it too?

“I remember it being hard to read, just a pathetic work following the popular keywords.”

Se-ho smirked at Tae-ram, whose face turned red as he glared at him.

“You just wait and see, you jerk! No, hand over your works too, Se-ho.”

“Sure. The ones written by the second-year students are here.”

“Min-ah, Senior! No, you can’t.”

Se-ho, who had maintained a calm demeanor all this time, now looked flustered.

“Give me that.”

Tae-ram reached out his hand to Min-ah. Yeah, he can’t be the only one exposed. Just as Tae-ram was about to grab the book, Se-ho stopped him.

“Absolutely not.”

“You’ve seen mine too!”

“I saw it, but not because I wanted to. I just averted my eyes.”

“What’s so impressive about yours that you’re being like this? Just let me take a look!”

Tae-ram protested vigorously, but due to the difference in physique, Se-ho was an unyielding opponent.

“Move aside! It’s not all about size!”

“Being small isn’t something to be proud of.”

“You really annoy me!”

“It’s mutual.”

While watching the bickering between the two, Min-ah handed Se-ho’s book to Tae-ram.

“I’m not taking sides, but let’s criticize Se-ho’s work fairly too.”

“Do as you please.”

Se-ho seemed resigned as he let go of Tae-ram. Tae-ram, feeling a sense of satisfaction, opened the book.

“Pen name selfish? Are you in your second adolescence? It’s tacky. Cringe-worthy. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“Coming from someone whose pen name is ‘Chaljin Namja’ (Sweet-Talking Man), it’s not something you should be saying.”

Whether Se-ho grumbled or not, Tae-ram examined his work one by one.

“Let’s see. ‘Saliva and Affection.’ The cover alone is grotesque. Someone dies in the first chapter! It’s scary. Pass! The next book is ‘Thirst.’ The relationships are too heavy. Next! The last one is ‘Curves.’ Three stalkers? They fight and then each one gets their limbs cut off harmoniously? Ugh… I can’t bear to read it.”

“How is it? Se-ho’s writing has a naturally flowing emotional trajectory, which is really cool.”

Min-ah looked at Tae-ram with great anticipation. Even in Tae-ram’s opinion, Se-ho had a distinct writing ability. There were hardly any typos or grammatical errors, and the style was elegant. Tae-ram had often read Se-ho’s writings during class and admired them.

But it wasn’t a novel. Se-ho’s choice of subjects and emotional development were worlds apart from Tae-ram’s taste. Honestly, another fight would break out, wouldn’t it? Exhausted, Tae-ram mechanically responded.

“Yeah, it seems well-written. It’s interesting.”

In response to Tae-ram’s perfunctory reply, Se-ho glared at him with fiery eyes. Tae-ram immediately picked up on that gaze.

“Even if you praise me, it’s bullshit.”

“I know it’s empty words, but I’m not happy at all.”

“Why do you keep picking a fight?”

In this back-and-forth, Min-ah finally got angry.

“If you’re going to fight, both of you just go home! I’ll clean up by myself.”

Tae-ram, who was about to continue provoking Se-ho, caught Min-ah’s hint and went to clear the table. Se-ho took care of the scattered books and followed suit.

* * *

After everything was settled, Tae-ram and Min-ah were waiting for the bus side by side.

“Se-ho is a good guy.”

“You don’t know. That Se-ho guy, when I first met him, he ignored everything I said, brushed past me, and all that.”

“There must have been a misunderstanding. Try to resolve it later.”

“I don’t know.”

Tae-ram pressed his lips tightly, expressing his discontent. Min-ah gently stroked his head and tried to console him.

“You’re both rare guys in our club. Get along well.”

“But we really don’t get along…”

“Your tastes are completely opposite. You’re light, and Se-ho is heavy. Anyway, you’ll continue to see each other, so try to get along.”

“I don’t want to…”

“Rejection is rejection. Read all of these by tomorrow and get familiar with Se-ho’s writing too.”

“…Fine.”

Tae-ram reluctantly replied.

“Oh, about ‘Delicious Man.’ Can I take it home and read it?”

“I already brought it with me. Why are you asking?”

“Did you give me permission?”

“Do as you please.”

Tae-ram gathered all the novels written by Se-ho and returned home.

As Tae-ram thought about Se-ho, he still felt a surge of anger, but he decided to make an effort, even if it was just for Min-ah’s sake. Before going to sleep, he unfolded Se-ho’s work.

“The content is so harsh. Does this guy have dissatisfaction with life? Why is everything like this? I won’t read it! It annoys me.”

Grumbling while holding the book, Tae-ram eventually closed it and fell into a deep sleep. Little did he know what chaos awaited him when he woke up.