Chapter 48

In the dim evening, two shadows were holding hands on the sidewalk lined with streetlights.

The two, who had decided to go home together for the first time in a while, decided to walk, enjoying the cool breeze.

“These days, bread is selling well, so I’m worried. The margin isn’t great if I keep getting it from the same supplier.”

“Really?”

“Yes, so I’m thinking of finding another supplier. I also have to prepare for moving, so I think it’ll be hectic.”

As the topic of moving came up, Seojin’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Just enough that Haji wouldn’t notice.

“Still, shouldn’t you fill the immediate shortage?”

“Right? There’s indeed a shortage of bread, and I can’t just stop selling it.”

Haji nodded, deciding to think more about the future of the café.

Seojin, who subtly coaxed her to prioritize work, looked intently at Haji’s face. He wasn’t happy about her leaving his house, after all.

“You can take your time with the move. It’s not too late to do it after the café is settled.”

“I want to do it before the café is settled.”

Their intertwined hands, which were swaying in the air, suddenly stopped.

“I want to grow the café well. With my own strength. But I’m afraid I’ll become weak if I’m next to you,, Sunbae.”

“Isn’t it okay to be weak? You’ve grown up well like this.”

Seojin bent down to meet her eye level. Their foreheads lightly bumped. Then their noses brushed, and their eyes met.

“You talk as if you’ve been watching over me since I was young? We’re only two years apart?”

“It would have been better if I had. You wouldn’t have had to feel lonely.”

“…Sunbae, sometimes you talk as if you know everything.”

Even though she never mentioned her loneliness, he knew. As if he had seen right through her heart back then.

“I might know everything. I was quite interested in you.”

“In high school? We only went to school together for a year.”

“Well.”

Haji, watching Seojin give an ambiguous answer, recalled the brief childhood she had spent with him.

A freshman who had just entered school and a senior about to graduate.

She thought he was too distant. The titles attached to him felt burdensome, and he seemed like a precious existence she couldn’t approach.

“What are you thinking, Haji?”

“I was thinking about high school Ki Seojin.”

“What was I like back then?”

“Hmm…”

Pretending to ponder, Haji propped her chin with her fingers and tilted her head.

“Prince complex?”

“No way.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because I’m well aware of the rumors surrounding me.”

He was saying he knew he was impressive. Her intention to tease him fizzled out. After all, she couldn’t be unaware of his rumors.

And most of them were things she also found plausible.

“I had no idea you were interested in me, Sunbae.”

“Neither did I.”

“What?”

“I didn’t know back then either.”

That I would have these feelings for you.

I thought it was just curiosity.

Seojin’s gaze fell on the delicate hand overlapping his.

***

Jingle jingle, the streets were adorned with dazzling red Christmas trees, announcing Christmas Eve.

For some, it might be a joyful day spent with lovers or family.

Seojin, too, was tied up at home because of his parents and siblings who insisted he should be with family on such a day.

‘Haji got kicked out of her house!’

Until he heard those words.

He thought the year would end peacefully. Or maybe he was waiting for her to join as a new student soon.

Because he certainly heard you got accepted into the university he attended and were coming to the same department.

“Huff, huff.”

He couldn’t remember the last time he ran like that, but he dashed through the streets with a single-minded determination to find her. Foolishly, no other method came to mind back then.

Even after finding her, that foolishness didn’t go away.

He still thinks it might have been the dumbest moment of his life.

“Ahn Haji.”

When he found her, he thought his heart would leap out of his mouth.

The relief that she appeared safely before him and the joy of meeting her again.

Trudge, trudge, trudge.

All he could do was follow her lonely footsteps, detached from others’ happiness, and guard behind her.

For a girl on the brink of turning twenty, the burden on her back seemed too heavy.

Whether it was because of the oversized padding or the worn scarf covering half her face, her slender body seemed even smaller that day.

Even when she paused, holding back tears and clenching her small fists, he could do nothing.

Even when she steps halted in front of a small study village, he couldn’t stop her.

It was then he first realized he was an insignificant person. He never wanted to feel such helplessness again.

And he set a goal.

To become her home.

***

“Is it a resort again this time?”

“No, a housing complex.”

Haji, nestled in Seojin’s arms on the sofa, looked up.

“Until when?”

“Two weeks. I’ll come sooner if I can.”

Though it was actually a longer project, he changed his plans seeing Haji’s expression.

The recently approved youth housing complex was planned to be a large-scale development. They intended to build an entire block of the district as a housing complex.

“Even though it’s in Seoul, you can’t come home?”

“Trying to finish it quickly.”

“Is it that urgent?”

Seojin pressed his lips to Haji’s head, holding her tightly.

“I’m the one who’s in a hurry.”

“Take it slow. You’ll get sick if you rush.”

Resting her head on Seojin’s chest, Haji smiled softly. At that expression, Seojin sighed and let his body fall.

“What should I do?”

“What?”

“I can’t take you with me.”

Haji giggled at his silly words, momentarily worried by Seojin’s serious expression.

“I’ll come by in the evening if I can.”

“Okay. You said you sleep at home, so come often.”

I miss you.

Haji murmured softly, clutching the hem of Seojin’s T-shirt.

“I guess I should. I can’t help it.”

“And I thought about it.”

Haji took a deep breath, leaning her upper body toward Seojin.

“I think I can move out in a month.”

“Why suddenly?”

Seojin’s expression hardened. Holding Haji’s chin lightly, he bent down, their breaths mingling.

“Hmm?”

“I think the cafe will be stable by then, and you’ll be home often.”

“If I’m often at home, shouldn’t you be too?”

Haji shook her head, slipping out of his grasp. Too easily.

“I can’t keep living with this misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding?”

“Everyone thinks we’re married.”

“…”

Seojin didn’t open his mouth hastily. He held back the words that he didn’t mind.

He had hinted at it several times and even said it outright, but Haji seemed to find that kind of relationship burdensome.

It was still a time to wait.

Until all the houses were complete and his abilities were proven.

It wouldn’t be too late by then.

“By then, you’ll be home, Sunbae, so you can help me move, right?”

“Sure.”

Maybe you won’t move by then.

Swallowing his true feelings, Seojin nodded obediently.

Facing such Seojin, Haji covered her mouth and yawned. Tears welled up, reddening her eyes.

“Are you sleepy?”

“A little.”

“Go in and sleep.”

Seojin got up from the sofa first and reached out to Haji. Haji hesitated, avoiding his eyes for some reason.

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you say you’d be busy starting tomorrow?”

“I did.”

As if she had something to say, Haji pursed her lips, then took Seojin’s hand with both of hers, shyly lowering her eyelids.

“Then stay with me.”

Surprised that she was the one to say such words first, Seojin didn’t respond immediately, so Haji continued.

“I think it’ll be regretful if I let you go like this.”

“Who are you to say that?”

Seojin, who briefly opened his mouth, bent his waist straight away. He slipped his hands between Haji’s back and legs and lifted her up.

“Ah! Where are we going?”

“To where the princess wants to go?”

“Great! Then I’ll go this way!”

As they passed, Haji’s laughter like a flower in bloom filled the path.

***

The gloomy atmosphere from the cloudy weather seeped into the café.

“Boss, aren’t you moving this weekend?”

“Yes, it’s tomorrow.”

“Time has flown by so fast.”

Sehee widened her eyes and nudged Woobae.

“Time sure flies.”

“Indeed.”

Having worked with Woobae for two months now, they had become informal in their speech. It was Woobae who first requested it.

She hadn’t thought it would create a sense of distance, but Woobae, feeling secretly upset, confessed his disappointment while drunk at a company dinner.

He turned out to be a tender-hearted friend.

“Boss, so we prepared something.”

“Hmm?”

Woobae went into the break room and came out holding a box.

“It’s an early housewarming gift!”

“When did you even prepare this?”

“I was itching to give it to you. Woobae and I bought it together.”

Sehee’s eyes sparkled, urging her to open it.

Carefully opening the box, Haji saw beautiful tableware.

“It’s so pretty.”

“It’s a couple’s dish set.”

“Couple…?”

Haji’s expression darkened for a moment. But she quickly returned to normal as if nothing was wrong.

“Don’t you need a lot of couple stuff when you live together?”

“Live together?”

“Aren’t you moving in to live together?”

Haji, Sehee, and Woobae all widened their eyes and looked at each other.

It seemed there was some misunderstanding. They didn’t seem to know that she was moving out after living together.

“That’s not it.”

“Oh! I’m sorry. I thought you two were moving in together…”

As Sehee showed an apologetic expression, Haji smiled softly.

“It’s okay. I’ll use it well.”

She smiled outwardly, but inside she felt bitter. It had already been two weeks since she hadn’t been in contact with the person she could use the couple’s dishware with.