I was beyond shocked by Park Min-ah's bombshell. Lately, these bastards had definitely been acting a little strange. As Ha Yeoul changed, the three of them also subtly shifted, especially in how they treated Ha Yeoul.
These guys kept trying to stick close to me, and Mo Taehee especially wanted to do more with me. It was a little annoying that all three of them were touching me all the time, but still, their main interest was clearly Park Min-ah. Probably... definitely.
These crazy bastards' interest definitely had to be Park Min-ah. That was the only thing that made sense.
"Wh-What nonsense are you talking about? They're probably losing sleep worrying about you, not me."
"Lately, when we meet, their eyes are all on you."
I tried to smile nonchalantly at Park Min-ah's sulky voice.
"...They're just crazy."
"Leave Nam Kangwoo out of it."
"...Okay, let's say that bastard's less crazy."
I figured Park Min-ah's heart, which had been wavering between the three guys until the middle of the story, had turned towards Nam Kangwoo. Rather than watch a love square turn into a messy affair, I decided I'd rather push the two of them together for sure.
"Why don't you two go on a date—cough, cough!"
The damn cough came out like a consumptive patient, all the time. I felt like my chest was going to explode. Sweat broke out, and I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, then gave Park Min-ah an apologetic smile. I wiped around my lips with my hand and met Park Min-ah's eyes with what must have been a pale face.
"Mina...?"
But why was Park Min-ah's face turning red too?
"N-No, it's just that you're coughing so..."
"Ah, sorry. I've been coughing a lot lately. It's worse because it's the change of seasons."
I smiled apologetically. I was worried that I might have splattered her pretty face with spit since I coughed right in front of her. I fussed over Park Min-ah for no reason.
"Ha Yeoul, you know."
"Huh?"
"How should I put it... that..."
Park Min-ah repeated "what was it" a few times, as if she couldn't think of the right word.
"You've changed a bit. Subtly... abstinent...? Would you call it ascetic, something like that?"
"What...?"
"Were you always this sexy?"
"What are you..."
I coughed again at the words that came out of Park Min-ah's mouth. I shook all over, coughing, and wiped the cold sweat that had soaked my forehead with the back of my hand again. I could understand the crazy bastards, but why was Park Min-ah acting like this too?
"No, why are you wiping your sweat so sexily? It's really embarrassing. Why are you lifting your chin, why are you biting your lip?"
Park Min-ah's cheeks were flushed, and she chuckled softly. She seemed to be at a loss herself, and she kept tucking the hair that had fallen onto her cheek behind her ear.
"You, you too... what... what's so sexy about coughing..."
"I know, right? But Ha Yeoul, something's really changed. You used to not even be able to look me in the eye, and when I came to visit, you'd go into your room and not come out. I was already wondering why you contacted me to meet up."
Park Min-ah shrugged. It had only been a few weeks since "before."
I realized that there was a problem with my behavior. After exchanging a few words with Park Min-ah, it seemed that my actions were very different from the old Ha Yeoul.
"I... before..."
"When did you get so close to them? You used to not even be interested in each other. I wondered how you could live in the same house even though you hung out together but weren't that close. Kangwoo said that lately, all their interests are in you."
Park Min-ah said with a strangely jealous voice. How unfriendly were my housemates and I...? My fingertips trembled with anxiety.
"That's... that's not it. Kangwoo was joking. There's no way..."
"I know, right? That's what I thought too. But lately, I'm confused about whether they like me or you. Yesterday, I was out late with my friends. So I called Taehee and asked if he could give me a ride home, but he cut me off, saying he couldn't."
Park Min-ah's voice, tinged with resentment towards Mo Taehee, sounded hurt. Very much so.
Yesterday, so last night... because I didn't open the door, all those guys were gathered in the living room until late. I met Park Min-ah's gaze and then looked away first.
I turned my gaze towards my three housemates, who were visible behind the small figure. Just in time, all three of their gazes were directed at us. Or, to be exact, at me.
I suddenly felt suffocated by the way the three of them were looking at me, as if they were licking me. Even though I was breathing.
I moved my coldly chilled hand and wrapped it around my neck. I was frozen, not even knowing what my face looked like.
Park Min-ah looked at me strangely, then wandered around the house, bored. Then she stopped in front of my room, confirmed that there was no door, and burst out laughing.
"Whose room is this that doesn't have a door? You guys are really having fun. Is it some kind of punishment?"
Her voice, full of laughter, was directed at the three of them.
"That's Ha Yeoul's room. Ha Yeoul's been acting a little strange lately. He's a person of interest. Plus, he's not feeling well, so we took the door off so we wouldn't miss it if something dangerous happened while he was in there."
Seo Jaehoon gave a plausible excuse and answered in a cheerful voice. Park Min-ah's face hardened a little, and she scolded them, saying how strange and unwell did he have to be for them to take the door off. Even in her scolding voice, there was affection for the three of them. And jealousy towards me.
Shit... I wasn't going to get caught up in a love triangle, was I?
Park Min-ah glanced at me and just accepted the three of them's actions as cute.
"Ha Yeoul, come over here. It's all ready. Let's eat now."
Mo Taehee took off the apron he was wearing and called me. In his usual gentle voice.
As always, my seat was next to Mo Taehee, and Park Min-ah was awkwardly standing around the table, unable to find a place to sit.
I slowly scanned the four of them. I noticed that the meal would be perfect if I left, and my expression hardened a little.
"I keep feeling dizzy, so I don't feel well. Sorry... I'm going to go to my room... I think it would be better for me to rest in my room... but there's no door."
I was a little hesitant. I looked at each of the three pairs of eyes that seemed to be devouring me, and then I suddenly remembered where Park Min-ah's heart was headed.
"Kangwoo, I'll be in your room... My room doesn't have a door, so it'll be a little uncomfortable... Is that okay?"
At least Park Min-ah wouldn't create a situation where it was just Nam Kangwoo and me, and Mo Taehee and Seo Jaehoon wouldn't recklessly open Nam Kangwoo's room and come in. Probably.
Actually, choosing anyone's room would be bad. But as the lesser of two evils, if I went into Nam Kangwoo's room, at least none of the three of them would be left alone with me until Park Min-ah left.
"Kangwoo...?"
"Go ahead."
Nam Kangwoo, who was the first to turn his gaze away from me, gave his permission.
I moved without hesitation towards Nam Kangwoo's room. Pretending not to notice the gazes of Seo Jaehoon and Mo Taehee, who were still looking at me.
"Yeoul-a, rest for a bit and then come back out. Let's all drink together!"
Park Min-ah said as she sat down next to Mo Taehee. I, who had said I was going in because I didn't feel well, gave an awkward smile instead of answering. And then.
"Rest for a bit and come out, Yeoul. It's been a while since we've all been together."
Mo Taehee, who never missed a beat, said in a low voice.
I leaned against the door that had closed behind me and stood there with a blank face for a long time. Drink?
What was my alcohol tolerance? Would I be able to drink well?
I thought about my alcohol tolerance for no reason. Ha Yeoul, who was as fragile as glass, probably couldn't drink well either. What should I do? It would be ridiculous to say I was going in because I didn't feel well and then come out to drink.
I couldn't find an answer to any of the mixed thoughts, and I scanned Nam Kangwoo's neatly organized room. These bastards, they left their doors intact and only took off my door. Jerks. I muttered curses at the sudden surge of anger.
I kept grumbling and then looked around Nam Kangwoo's room as if I had never been serious. The large desk in front of the window was clean without a speck of dust. I scanned the bookshelf that filled one wall and then ran my fingertips lightly over the desk.
But that action didn't last long. I quickly took my hand away. I had only left fingerprints on the desk for no reason.
I turned around from the desk and sat on the recliner in front of the window, then lay down because it was more comfortable than I thought. Yeah, this is better than lying down on someone else's bed.
I was sitting there, basking in the late afternoon sunlight, and then I fell asleep as is, with my eyes closed to the warmth of the sun. Without a care in the world.
I was sleeping soundly for a long time when I woke up because of a hand stroking my face, or rather, my lips.
"...Umm...?"
Nam Kangwoo's face, which I saw when I barely lifted my eyelids, was too close. I widened my eyes at the face that was right in front of me through my half-open eyelids.
"K-Kangwoo...?"
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