CH 80

If he was going to come down anyway, couldn’t he at least say it nicely?’ Yoonshin thought but then chuckled at himself for getting used to this irritable man.

“So bad-tempered. It’s because it’s me that I’m debating whether to pick you up or not. Just know that you’re lucky.” Yoonshin rapped his knuckles once on his screen, then he went up to the counter. His steps had a light spring to them. As he ordered a drink for Sehun, a grin blossomed on his face.

* * *

Sehun, in casual clothes, got off the elevator and checked his wristwatch.

He told the other to wait an hour, but he was the one who couldn’t sit still and got out of his house. After following the path that he frequented when he had a lot to think about, he saw Yoonshin sitting at the bar table along the window like last time. What was different from before was that instead of working, he looked deep in thought.

As he approached Yoonshin, the younger man jumped up and greeted Sehun, presumably sooner than he expected. When he saw that innocent smile, Sehun felt his insides twist.

Barely swallowing back his irritation, Sehun went around the building and entered the café. Yoonshin must have ordered Sehun’s drink in advance because he picked it up from the pick-up counter and waved at Sehun.

Yoonshin said, “Here you go. I put one more shot than my drink because you seem to like it bitter.”

Sehun stared at Yoonshin as the younger man placed the coffee on the table before taking the seat next to the younger man. Yoonshin, the one who invited Sehun, spoke first, “You came earlier than I expected.”

“You could wait if you like. Do you want to do that?”

As a loss for words, Yoonshin stared at Sehun, then he turned his torso away from Sehun. Then, he took a sip from his already cold drink.

The transparent window reflected the two men’s images. Yoonshin was in a neat suit while Sehun was in a thick cable-knit sweater—they contrasted each other. Another silence flowed between them before Yoonshin once again interrupted it. “You dressed so thinly for it being winter. You should have put on a coat.”

“Why should I when I’m in my neighborhood?”

“It would be nice if I just—bam!—took off my jacket for you all coolly.”

“That’s nice. Strip.”

“I didn’t bring a coat because I came by car, so I’m cold.”

“There it is—your superficial respect for me.”

“Is it that obvious?”

Sehun scoffed, and Yoonshin smiled along. Then, the younger man asked, “What were you doing?”

“Work.”

“At home? Today’s an off-day.”

“I work in my car, I work in my dreams, and naturally, I work at home.”

“Since you’re sitting here having coffee with me, that means you made time for me.”

Instead of denying it, the older man spun the facts slightly. “I’m doing pro bono work of sorts.”

“Can’t you be a bit more sincere about my matter then? Why aren’t you asking about the details? I met with a prospective marriage partner.”

“I’m not curious about a story with a defined ending. You said so yourself that unless there is some unforeseen event, you’d just go with the flow until marriage. I’m not interested in a rally where I can’t shift your paradigm.”

“Strictly speaking, you’re just afraid to cause the shift, or you’re just not interested enough to put up with the hassle,” Yoonshin retorted.

Sehun turned his head at that. He made such an irritated face, as if all his nerves were inflamed, and glowered at Yoonshin. Despite the glare, Yoonshin had no reason not to look back, so he locked eyes with the older man. The other’s pupils, deep as the bottom of the ocean, were filled with Yoonshin.