I trudged into my room, holding the green juice. I made sure to leave the door half-open.
Looking utterly miserable, I sat on the bed as always. Unable to ignore Seo Jaehoon's gaze from beyond the door, watching my every move, I took a sip of the strange-smelling green juice and savored the taste.
"Hmm...?"
It wasn't as awful as it looked. I brought the cup back to my lips and gulped down a few more sips.
Without thinking, I emptied about half of the green juice. It had a strange taste, with bitterness, astringency, and sweetness all mixed in. The aftertaste was sweet, so I figured Jaehoon had put in a ton of apples, just like he said. The color was so awful... but the taste wasn't too bad, so I slurped down the rest and placed the empty glass on the bedside table.
Ah, I was supposed to ask Seo Jaehoon about the homework Mo Taehee told me to find out when we were alone... I only remembered it now. If Seo Jaehoon could understand and explain it right away, it probably wasn't that difficult. It would be easier to ask Seo Jaehoon than those other guys, I thought, smacking my lips.
I focused on Seo Jaehoon's voice coming from outside. I'd try to go out again when the timing was right. He was struggling alone, cleaning up the kitchen he had messed up. Muttering curses so clearly I could hear every word.
Usually, the sounds coming from his mouth were like:
"Why are there so many peels, shit. Ugh, what is this, shit."
That kind of thing.
The commotion woke up Nam Kangwoo. With his usual relaxed gait, he crossed the living room, making sure to check on my room, and went straight into the kitchen. Their voices mixed together and flowed into my room.
Seo Jaehoon told him to try the green juice he had painstakingly made, but Nam Kangwoo refused. They started nicely, but soon they were yelling and cursing at each other.
"Ah. Just try it, you idiot!"
"I'm not gonna. You crazy bastard, seriously. You drink it."
The noise outside poured through the crack in my open door. Seo Jaehoon was probably the only one who could turn Nam Kangwoo, who was usually so indifferent, into a little kid in an instant. To be able to fight like that even while holding onto Nam Kangwoo. Seo Jaehoon was amazing, in a way.
Listening to their conversation, I could understand why people said, "Stop fighting already." Really... stop fighting already.
I patted my belly, full from the green juice, and flopped onto the bed, using the noise as background music. Seo Jaehoon might be right, breakfast might be too much for me. Satisfied with the moderate fullness, I blinked slowly. Very slowly.
The time between closing and opening my eyes gradually lengthened. The view through my eyelids also narrowed. Just as I was opening my eyes for a fleeting moment, I noticed someone walking into the room with heavy footsteps and lifted my eyelids again.
There were moments when having to leave the door open was particularly annoying, like this. Anyone could enter my room without a sound, regardless of my wishes.
The guy who came into my room closed the half-open door with a thud. I barely managed to lift my heavy eyelids, and the bedsprings creaked slightly. He came in quickly. I moved my blurry eyes to see who was sitting on the bed.
"Did you drink that?"
It was Nam Kangwoo.
His annoyed gaze briefly scanned the empty glass on the bedside table.
"...Yeah."
"Tell me if you feel sick."
His voice sounded like he wanted me to be sick. Nam Kangwoo reached out his hand, straight and without bulging knuckles. His beautiful hand naturally landed on my face, wandering around. So delicately it tickled.
I chuckled, shrinking my neck slightly. Muttering things like, "It tickles, stop it." The more I did, the more tenderly Nam Kangwoo caressed me. He brushed against my exposed neck and rubbed the line connecting my ear and neck intensely. My laughter gradually stopped, and goosebumps rose.
Ah, this is a bit... not right... I buried my face in the pillow, feeling like I was getting a fever.
"Sleepy... I didn't... I didn't sleep well."
It was a signal to leave me alone to sleep. But Nam Kangwoo either didn't understand or pretended not to, and a casual question came back.
"Why?"
"...Mo Taehee gave me some... homework? Or... a riddle? Anyway, something like that."
"And."
Nam Kangwoo replied with a voice laced with laughter. As if telling me to continue.
"He told me to choose someone, who's the best. Why I have to choose... but I need to know who's who... I'm stuck from the beginning. He told me to find out by the time we go out tomorrow..."
"..."
"So... do you... maybe know? Is it some kind of game character?"
I slowly lifted my face, which had been buried in the pillow, and met Nam Kangwoo's eyes.
"Do you know?" I asked again. If he knew, I wanted him to tell me.
"Are you curious?"
"Huh? O-of course..."
I shuddered, remembering how Mo Taehee had looked at me, as if he would do something to me if I didn't find the answer right away. Scary bastard...
"It's not a game. Look for it somewhere close."
"Somewhere close?"
Nam Kangwoo moved his hand, which had been caressing my earlobe, and gently stroked my hair. Why was this cold bastard acting like this...
"It's very close. The someone you have to choose. You know them, and I know them very well."
"...Close...?"
Nam Kangwoo met my eyes for a moment, then moved his gaze to the door. Just for a moment. Then he looked down at himself and met my eyes again.
"You shouldn't not know at this point."
"..."
"Do your homework well."
Nam Kangwoo lightly flicked my forehead, where my hair was swept to one side, then got up and said, "Sleep more," before slowly leaving my room.
Somewhere close. Somewhere close...
I was overcome with anxiety, wondering if it was too close. Because the place where that bastard's gaze had landed was too close. The someone you know and I know felt like those scary guys living in this house.
I stared blankly at Nam Kangwoo's receding figure. I had a glimmer of hope that he would close the door, but it quickly faded. My roommate 1 left my door a little more than half-open as always and went out to the living room to bicker with Seo Jaehoon as if nothing had happened.
It was as if they had a schedule, never coming to see me together. As if one person at a time was the rule, they wouldn't come in if someone was already with me. I slowly recalled those subtle behaviors and pieced together the clues Nam Kangwoo had given me.
Hah... I just don't want to choose anyone.
Despair deepened. None of them seemed normal. Why were they doing this to me? Choosing any of those bastards would be a bomb. Not choosing anyone or choosing someone, both were bombs.
With only half of the answer to Mo Taehee's homework found, I pulled the blanket over my head and closed my eyes. I knew who it was, but I still didn't know which one to choose and why.
***
I spent another sleepless night. I was worried I might collapse from overwork.
I knew my body well. This pathetic body was so weak it could collapse from just this much. I blinked several times in my hazy mind, trying to come to my senses.
I grabbed the blanket I had pulled over my head and lowered it slightly, peeking outside through the crack in the door that had been open all night. I could hear sounds of movement, as if they were busy preparing to leave. I could also hear faint sounds of water.
It was time for me to get up too. Before any of the three came in. Especially before Mo Taehee came in.
I slowly lowered the blanket, which had only revealed my eyes, and raised my upper body. The moment I got up from lying down, my vision spun. It was like this even without putting my feet on the floor now.
I pressed my eyes hard with my palms, sitting still while my head spun, then slowly put my feet on the floor. And just then.
"Yeoul."
I heard Mo Taehee's voice, the one I especially didn't want to meet. What a damn timing.
I took my hands off my eyes and slowly raised my head. Mo Taehee in front of me looked different from my just-awakened self, as if he had already finished getting ready.
Mo Taehee walked towards me leisurely.
"I was going to wake you up."
His voice sounded like it could melt you, but I still flinched. It was a relief I was awake. Unable to look up at Mo Taehee, I smiled awkwardly and replied, "Yeah." As if he didn't like my behavior, his large, warm hand pulled up my chin and met my eyes.
"Why can't you look me in the eye?"
"...H-huh? No...?"
Sharp bastard. I rolled my eyes. Mo Taehee's hand held my chin and slowly moved it from side to side. Even the voice asking, "Didn't you sleep well?" was sweet.
Oh well, whatever. I just opened my eyes wide and met Mo Taehee's eyes.
"I'm a little tired."
I muttered softly. Because it was true.
I had met Mo Taehee's gaze with full of spirit, but I blinked a few times and quickly lowered my gaze. It was a little... well, a little... like that to keep looking straight at him. Even just looking at him felt somewhat suggestive.
"I... I'm going to take a shower now..."
"Shall I help you, Yeoul-ah?"
"No! No, no. I'll, I'll do it myself—"
"You said you were dizzy."
Mo Taehee personally lifted me up. No, this wasn't it.
I was dragged into the bathroom, held by his huge body and half-lifted. There was no better way to describe it. I couldn't walk on my own and dragged my pitiful toes across the floor.
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