MUL - Chapter 55

Just as I was thinking, 'wouldn't your curiosity be solved if you just asked who I was with?'

"He was with me."

At the answer that came from beside me, Seo Jaehoon let out a shallow sigh. His handsome face crumpled before slowly smoothing out again. I have no idea why they're all acting like this.

I was holding a spoon, and thinking it would be more awkward not to move, I finally managed to lift my hand. I wasn't really hungry, so I couldn't tell if the food was heading for my mouth or my nose. A few times, it really did hit my chin before finding its way to my mouth.

My mouth felt dry and gritty, and I put down my spoon before I could even finish half of my meal. Then, Seo Jaehoon, sitting across from me, slammed his own spoon down with a thud.

Crazy bastard...! You scared me. I flinched and glanced up at Seo Jaehoon. His gaze had been fixed on me the entire time, and it still was.

His stare was so fierce I couldn't tell if he wanted to devour me or kill me, or both.

Staring intently at me, Seo Jaehoon stood up and walked to the refrigerator. I wondered what he was doing, but then I heard the sound of liquid being poured into a glass and could guess his intention.

The fridge door slammed shut, and a hand reached out from behind me, placing a glass of green liquid in front of me. It seemed like Seo Jaehoon had gotten into the habit of blending vegetables, regardless of whether I was there or not.

I should’ve gotten rid of that juicer ages ago.

"Drink."

"...Okay."

"Go wait in the living room."

The guy who was always grinning looked even scarier without a smile. I barely managed to squeeze out a "but I'm tired..." which was promptly ignored. You jerks...

Glass in hand, I plopped down in my designated seat, the best spot on the living room sofa, not forgetting to sip the green juice from time to time. Annoyingly, the juice going down my throat tasted better than the dinner I’d just had. Seo Jaehoon’s skills were improving day by day.

I sat there blankly, sipping the green juice, presumably waiting for my housemates to file in and sit down. As I slowly blinked, just as expected, my housemates sat down one by one.

Each of them drank tea according to their own preference. I... wanted to drink coffee instead of green juice, as was my preference.

As I blinked, consoling myself with the green liquid in my hand, Mo Taehee spoke up.

"I think we need to set some guidelines."

"I think so too."

"Set them."

As if they had been waiting for it, Nam Kangwoo and Seo Jaehoon both agreed with Mo Taehee's words. What guidelines are they setting? I tilted my head, not understanding the conversation that was centered around me, yet I was the only one who couldn't follow.

"Anyone who's with Yeoul has to report it."

"To what extent?"

"The destination and time, probably."

The other two nodded in agreement with Mo Taehee's proposal. What is this all about...

"Where he is, and whether he's coming home or not. And it's not good for one person to monopolize him. Let's keep it moderate."

Seo Jaehoon, as if seizing the opportunity, spoke with an indifferent face.

"You didn't come home last week when you were with Ha Yeoul, so what's 'not good'? Or are you suggesting we set up a rotation?"

"That would be even better, now that it's come to this."

"...You crazy bastards..."

Ah, shit. I had meant to only think it, but the words slipped out. The three of them turned to look at me. I think I had a rather dazed expression on my face... but still, a rotation? Isn't that going too far, you crazy fools...

"Yeoul."

"Ha Yeoul."

"Hey."

As if they'd planned it, they all called my name at the same time. Holding the green juice, I flinched in surprise before coming to my senses and meeting the gazes of the three men staring at me.

"Ah... no... what's with the..."

"Right, setting a rotation is a bit much. Right, Yeoul?"

It's more than just a 'bit much,' you bastard. I wanted to spit out the unfiltered words at Mo Taehee, who was asking me gently, but as always, I held back and just nodded. A rotation... you crazy bastards...

"Fine. Then just report the destination and whether you're coming home or not."

Seo Jaehoon replied, his expression more relaxed than before. I looked at my housemates who had found this strange, strange point of compromise and sighed without realizing it. I shouldn't have gotten used to them being like this...

As I was blaming myself for being swayed by these guys with a foolish expression mixed with shame, I flinched again at the words that came from Seo Jaehoon's lips.

“Then I’m the only one left, right?”

"..."

"I held back and held back again to treasure Ha Yeoul, but those bastards didn't."

Seo Jaehoon met my eyes with that smile I sometimes found myself staring at, captivated. The voice that asked, "Right?" was as playful as ever.

I couldn't answer and just met his gaze until heat flared up in my cheeks, and I quickly ducked my head.

"What do you mean only you held back, Jaehoon? You have no idea how much I've held back with Yeoul."

“I didn’t even give Yeoul any alcohol.”

Crazy bastards... My face was burning. I was the center of every word coming out of their mouths... and the annoying part was that in all of their "consideration," my own opinion wasn't reflected at all.

As Mo Taehee and Nam Kangwoo spoke one after the other, Seo Jaehoon scoffed. I couldn't listen anymore, so I picked up Sally, who was sitting quietly by my feet, and stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"...To my room... to sleep."

It was better to go to sleep than to watch their meaningless bickering. Those psychos... If I stayed here any longer, they would just continue their pointless wordplay.

"...I'm tired... so I'm going to sleep. Good night..."

I really had no energy, and it was so obvious in my voice. They stopped their teasing and, upon hearing my weak voice, naturally glared at Nam Kangwoo. Nam Kangwoo just shrugged with a "what can I do" expression.

Right. It was my fault for having such terrible stamina, and a little bit his fault too. It wasn't like Nam Kangwoo was entirely blameless.

***

I rested for two more consecutive days before I could go to school.

Seated in a lecture hall chair, held by Mo Taehee's hand, I felt a hand patting my head and mumbled, "See you." Ah, I also didn't forget to say, "See you later." It seemed like today was my day to spend with Mo Taehee.

These guys seemed quite pleased with the guidelines they had set. They hadn't decided on a rotation, but it seemed there was a tacit agreement that whoever gave me a ride in the morning got to spend the day with me. I waved a couple of times at Mo Taehee and put down my bag, and Park Chanmin naturally took the seat next to me.

"Hyung, were you sick?"

At Park Chanmin's concerned voice, I replied, "No."

"Something came up."

"Ah—"

The end of his voice cracked. At my response, which was clearly an excuse, Park Chanmin feigned ignorance and nodded. Looking at him now, it seems he's not entirely clueless.

I stared at Park Chanmin a little more intently. He smiled awkwardly under my gaze, then quickly blushed and cleared his throat with a "hmm."

"Why, why are you looking at me like that, hyung? It makes my heart pound."

"You..."

"Yes."

At my voice, Park Chanmin put on a serious face and leaned his ear closer. It wasn't really anything important...

"You... seem to be observant, but you're not. And you seem to be clueless, but you're not..."

At Park Chanmin's overly serious expression, I felt awkward and rubbed the spot under my nose. It wasn't something he needed to listen to so intently. As I smiled awkwardly, the tips of Park Chanmin's ears turned red.

"I, I'm... I'm, uh, I'm told I'm observant."

Park Chanmin stuttered as if making an excuse, but when the words didn't come out as intended, he let out a small sigh, "Ah—"

Still wearing an awkward smile, I reached out and patted his slumped shoulder. Sometimes words don't come out right, that's just how it is. I know that feeling all too well. I patted Park Chanmin's shoulder with a lot of meaning behind it and opened my textbook.

Throughout the lecture, Park Chanmin couldn't focus; he was either shaking his leg restlessly or spinning his pen. Then he'd drop the pen, stare blankly as it rolled away, and then go back to shaking his leg. It was to the point where I wondered what was wrong with him.

I saw Park Chanmin's gaze fixed on empty space and tapped the back of his arm. His head turned slowly, and I mouthed, "Are you okay?" Park Chanmin stared at my moving lips and then nodded. After that, he went back to shaking his leg like crazy. It was distracting.

The moment the professor left the classroom, Park Chanmin shot up from his seat.

"Chanmin. Are you okay? Are you sick?"

I grabbed the hem of Park Chanmin's jumper and looked up at him. The tips of his ears had been red throughout the class, and they were still red now. It was to the point where I wondered if he had a fever. Park Chanmin nodded a few times at my question.

"I'm fine."

"Is it because of what I said? About being observant? I'm sorry, I..."

"Hyung, it's not because of that."

"Then why... you can't even make eye contact..."

I felt unnecessarily sorry. I wondered if I had misspoken. Maybe he was hurt by me saying he was clueless, since the usually easy-going guy couldn't even meet my eyes or speak properly.

At my reaction, Park Chanmin let out a long sigh. "It's not like that," he mumbled, then plopped back down in his seat.

"Weren't you about to go somewhere?"

"...No."

Park Chanmin waited for me to pack my things and then naturally slung my bag over his own shoulder.

"What are you doing? I can carry it."

"It's fine. I'll do it."

Park Chanmin smiled with a slightly hollow look. As we walked slowly, he kept opening and closing his mouth as if he had something to say, but then would shut it again.

"Hyung, for lunch—"

He seemed about to ask what I was doing for lunch when a voice suddenly called out "Oppa!" from behind us. Startled, both Park Chanmin and I turned around. Jin Nari, who I had thought resembled a forsythia, was standing there smiling with a flower-like face.

Jin Nari was very friendly and slipped in to walk between Park Chanmin and me. It was amazing how she chattered nonstop. That she had so much energy to talk. I was always so drained.

The two of us walked where Jin Nari led. When I came to my senses, we were at the cafeteria. We found a sunny spot and sat down, and as we decided on drinks, Park Chanmin stood up as if it were a matter of course. Jin Nari laughed, hurrying him along with "Quickly, quickly." Then, her eyes, tinged with worry, met mine.

"Oppa, were you sick?"

Do I look that sick? At the same question as Park Chanmin's, I stared blankly into space for a moment.

Jin Nari naturally sat down next to me and reached out a hand. The fingertips that touched my cheek were cold, and I instinctively pulled my head back.​