episode_0041

“Are you leaving already? Stay for just one more day.”

“I think I’ll be less tired for work tomorrow if I go back today. I also have some things to prepare.”

“I can’t stop you from going… but still, it’s a bit disappointing. I wanted to see your face a little longer.”

“If I have time, I’ll come down often. I’m not sure if I’ll have the time though.”

Three days of holiday spent eating, sleeping, and lazing around in repetition.

Despite feeling like I needed more time to properly relax after a long while, tempted by my mother’s words to stay one more day at the family home, I decided against it.

Rather than rushing back after a three-day break and hurriedly preparing, taking it easy and preparing leisurely after resting for three days seemed more appealing. So, I purposely left a day early from the family home to return to my studio apartment.

Due to departing quite late, I arrived at my studio apartment around midnight.

As I entered after inputting the door lock password, I caught sight of Jaehyuk drinking beer alone at the table, engrossed in his phone, perhaps watching an interesting video, unaware of my return.

Confirming this, I transformed into a bat and stealthily approached him.

“Squeak!”

“Eek?!”

I let out a loud screech, startling him.

Seemingly quite startled, Jaehyuk tumbled over, groaning in pain.

Feeling satisfied with catching him off guard after a long time, I chuckled as I looked down at him from the table.

“So lame ♡ Scared by a bat ♡ Acting all surprised… Hahaahhh!!!”

Of course, that laughter didn’t last long.

As he knocked over the rice container in shock, I had to painfully pick up all the spilled rice.

“Seven thousand five hundred forty-three grains… sniff… seven thousand five hundred fifty-five… Yoon Jaehyuk, you’re such a jerk…”

“Who scared whom? And what’s this about being lame? Let’s see who’s lamer, huh?”

“Um, can we talk after you put down the rice you’re holding? I haven’t finished counting it yet…?”

Not all… but still a lot of rice grains remaining.

Pointing to the disastrous kitchen floor, indicating the dire consequences of spilling them all, I declared defeat, and only then did he smile contentedly and place the rice container back in its place.

…That’s too much, how can I let this slide just once, seriously.

I even tried to guilt-trip him with tearful eyes, but he seemed unfazed, picking up the rice container again as if to say, “What are you looking at?”

I had no choice but to quietly count the rice grains scattered on the floor once more.

About 30 minutes passed like that.

After transferring all the rice grains back into the container, I shouted in triumph at my accomplishment.

“Seven thousand six hundred forty-two… Phew, I’ve counted them all! I won!”

“…Did you really win? Looks like nothing but a few scratches.”

“Quiet down, it’s not about boasting when you win, it’s about being quiet!”

“Well… no.”

Nodding apologetically, he soon made me a Blue Hawaii cocktail, acknowledging my efforts.

Taking the glass, I sat opposite him and playfully asked, “By the way, what did you do during those three days without me? Weren’t you bored?”

“I just stayed cooped up at home. Wasn’t really bored, felt comfortable. Maybe because I didn’t have to watch my back for a change?”

“You’re quite something, just like me. How can you spend three days without stepping out even once?”

“When I go out, all there is to it is exhaustion. Just lying in bed and catching up on sleep is the best.”

“I agree with that too…”

But still, taking a few days off for vacation and doing nothing at all, isn’t that a bit off?

The bartender gets only a few days off in a year.

Depending on the boss’s mood, but these golden holidays don’t come often.

It feels regretful even for a homebody like me when the vacation ends, so I proposed to him as I emptied my glass.

“Let’s go out tomorrow.”

“What?”

“You need to refresh yourself once in a while. Go out, feel the breeze! Loosen up a bit! Not everything gets sorted by just staying cooped up at home.”

“Hmm…”

Perhaps the suggestion didn’t sound too bad, as Jaehyuk started tapping the table with his fingers.

Soon enough, he made a mischievous remark with a sly expression.

“Can I consider this as a date invitation?”

A completely unexpected attack.

Thinking I misheard, I blinked my eyes, then countered with a smile.

“Well, could it be?”

Seems like he intended to tease if I got flustered, but I couldn’t fall for such a petty joke.

I gave a knowing smile to the embarrassed guy and spoke gently.

“Since spending time alone with a man and a woman is right… it might qualify as a date, yeah.”

“…”

Was the counterattack successful?

Jaehyuk grumbled as if his plan failed, then quickly left with a forced cough.

Seeing him flustered made me want to tease him, but that would lead to another disaster like before.

Suppressing my disappointment, I just chuckled lightly.

“Such a cute kid.”

Even showing such a weak side to me, what will happen if he meets another girl later and acts like that?

After tidying up the table where he sat briefly,

I went into the room and savored the joy of victory.

—–

“…This is driving me crazy.”

The living room where Jiwoo had disappeared.

Unable to bear the stuffy air under the blanket any longer, I kicked it off and sent it flying far away.

Thump thump –

My heart still racing despite Jiwoo hiding his presence.

Was it because of my reddened face? I hurried to the bathroom and splashed cold water on my face.

“Phew…”

No matter how many times I splashed water, it didn’t help, so I turned on the shower, letting the water run over my head until the heat subsided.

Simultaneously, my heartbeat gradually slowed down.

Realizing I had finally returned to normal, I leaned against the bathroom wall and muttered under my breath.

“…Damn.”

It was clearly a joke.

He was just joking back at my teasing question.

Having been friends for almost 10 years, I could tell from his expression alone.

Although he was smiling as if he knew nothing, his eyes seemed to mock me, suggesting it was all a joke.

If I laughed it off, there wouldn’t have been any issue.

Or, as usual, I could have grumbled and let it slide.

But.

Why.

Did I, like a coward, flee as soon as I heard those words?

“…Strange, something’s wrong.”

About ten days ago, until I saw him dressed in women’s clothes, I wasn’t like this.

I simply thought it was just a liking.

Why, isn’t there that kind of warmth you can feel between friends?

I remember having a crush on someone and suffering silently, so I can assert.

That feeling was definitely far from love.

If I were to explain… it’s somewhat akin to how an owner looks at their pet?

“I shouldn’t be feeling fluttery.”

Despite my somewhat quirky personality, I am just a normal libido.

It might sound a bit perverted to say this…

Loving a woman with ample bosoms, a gentle hip line, and a compassionate personality.

Literally, it means being a person with truly ordinary tastes.

Wouldn’t one not like a man who has undergone sex change, or rather, been transformed?

…That’s what I thought.

The firm sexual identity I had maintained for 24 years was now wavering.

“Seriously, why does this bother me?”

Covering my face with my hands, I began to imagine the appearance of that guy in my mind.

Listening to the complaints of guests at a tranquil bar.

Shaking a shaker with a faint smile, the figure of a silver-haired vampire.

[You seem quite troubled. Hmm, I’d like to recommend a refreshing cocktail for you. Would you like to try a ?]

[Just want to get drunk without any thoughts? The next day might be tough; are you really okay with that…]

[Try finding pleasure in tragedy with . Please seek light amidst the gloomy clouds.]

Compassion that bestows warmth upon a guest who came to complain about their arduous life.

Despite being dressed in a suit, the unmistakable contours of the body, emitting a dizzying yet alluring atmosphere.

Only after looking at it objectively could I realize why my heart was pounding like crazy.

Except for those moments of convulsions and grumbling.

Honestly.

Isn’t he the closest to my ideal type right now?

With a well-built body, accommodating without complaining, and adding a flawless personality on top of that.

“…”

I let out a silent sigh.

Should I just forget that he was a man?

There are many crossbreeds now, and there must be at least one hypnotist.

If I go and erase only the memory that he was a man…!

“…I think I’m really becoming strange.”

After washing my face with cold water once more, regaining my composure.

I headed straight to his room with the narrow rice bucket in hand.

Even if it’s a pathetic sight.

It might help alleviate this fluttering heart.

“W-why do you suddenly have a narrow rice bucket… Y-you crazy bastard…!”

Ah, I feel a bit better now.