episode_0082

Actually, I wanted to stop by my place briefly.

I hadn’t even considered that we’d be going out for dinner today, so I came to work wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and even slippers.

So, when I said I’d just pop home for a bit, Jung Ye-sol gave my ultra-casual attire a quick once-over.

“Let’s just go. The weather’s hot, so it’s nice and cool.”

She said it was fine as is and urged me to leave quickly. Looking at her face, she really didn’t seem to care.

Of course, the problem was that I was more concerned than Jung Ye-sol. Jung Ye-sol was dressed up so prettily, while I was in such baggy clothes.

But Ye-sol started walking ahead as if even this time was precious, so I had no choice but to follow.

And so, we…

Ended up sitting across from each other at a pasta restaurant famous for its *pane*, or bread bowl pasta.

***

I didn’t know there was a place like this nearby, a pasta restaurant about a leisurely 15-minute walk from the dojo.

The beginning was awkward.

The moment I stepped outside the dojo, my confidence in dealing with women plummeted by about half.

Plus, the other customers I could see were all women or couples… I was more nervous because I wasn’t used to this kind of space.

-Gulp, gulp…

Thanks to that, my throat was parched, and I kept gulping down water.

But it wasn’t like I had no experience with women like I used to, and as much as it was me, I was 99% sure that this was it─ so,

“Come to think of it, the exams aren’t all over yet, right? How’s that going for you?”

As if we were drinking Americanos and talking in the dojo office, I started with a casual topic to break the ice.

Fortunately, Jung Ye-sol seemed to have been waiting for that, and she responded immediately.

“Yes. It’s just liberal arts, so no problem. I’m confident, and also, Oppa gave me vitamins today, so already… That’s right. I already feel so much better.”

As she said that, she gently stroked her lower abdomen, and for a moment, I was going crazy with lust.

I continued the conversation, aware of the presence of the small glass bottle in my pocket that I had brought just in case.

“Good luck on the remaining exams too. I’ll be cheering for you.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, here… Well, looking at it, the prices are pretty high, so let me pay. As a way to celebrate that you did well on the exam.”

“It’s because I did well on the exam that I’m even more grateful. I’m definitely paying here.”

“Then I’ll buy you a drink or something next time. Is that okay? I want to buy you something even to commemorate us becoming closer like this.”

“…That sounds good. I’ll enjoy it, Oppa.”

“I’ll enjoy the meal too. Thank you, Ye-sol.”

“……”

Ye-sol’s cheeks flushed at my calling her Ye-sol─.

Looking at this crazy cuteness where I could feel the contrast, I wanted to insist on paying for everything myself, but having been coached intermittently by Jae-min for years, I knew that was definitely not the answer.

In relationships with women, I’ve developed the ability to not pick the wrong answer, even if I don’t know the right one.

Anyway, the slightly awkward atmosphere was resolved with that, and as we were chatting amicably, the food came out.

The *pane* I wanted to eat and Ye-sol’s pick, seafood risotto, plus a small Margherita pizza.

I’ve been eating greasy food a little more often recently, but now that was actually welcome.

‘It seems like my body’s getting too good because of the treadmill. I need to get some grease in me.’

Forget cheat days, if I just got one or two more decent exercise machines, including a treadmill, I could probably eat this kind of stuff three meals a day and still live healthily. Without losing muscle either.

I took a small piece of the bread from the *pane* I was looking forward to and dipped it in the cream sauce inside for a taste.

And I was surprised.

“……!! What is this? It’s really good?”

“Hehe… I told you. This place is famous for its *pane*.”

“Still, I didn’t expect it to be this good. To think there’s a place like this near my house… I could come every week?”

“Can you eat this kind of thing every week? I heard that people who exercise control their diet a lot.”

“I’m not really an athlete, so it’s okay for me. Of course, I’ll have to exercise harder as much as I eat, but it literally just means I’ll exercise. You have to eat delicious things to live.”

It was much more delicious than I thought. Not just saying it, but to the point where I really thought it was worth coming every week.

What I said next was also genuine.

Even if I didn’t have the dojo system and those cheat-level exercise machines, if I knew this kind of taste, I would have exercised more and eaten it often.

The texture of the bread with the remaining warmth was the best, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the cream was just the right amount of rich and delicious.

And the pasta noodles were no joke either…

“But can you come alone? This is a popular spot for couples. I heard you can’t eat alone in places like this.”

“…I wonder if they deliver?”

“I don’t think they do here. And pasta, especially *pane*, tastes better when you eat it here.”

“That’s true… If you get this delivered at home, it’s really not good…”

That was a shame. As I chewed on the chewy pasta noodles that delighted my mouth, I felt even more regret. The noodles were also delicious.

There’s a reason why famous and expensive places are like that─ it made me realize, well, not all of them, but this was a real gem.

Thanks to me openly expressing my regret, Ye-sol said lightly as if passing by.

“Contact me when you want to eat it. I’ll come with you.”

She, who wasn’t even touching the risotto placed in front of her even though she said she was hungry, was only looking at me with a smile, resting her chin on one hand.

Telling me to call her anytime.

“…Would that be okay?”

“Yes. It’s okay.”

“……”

“……”

I met Ye-sol’s gaze.

Her face, which was smiling gently as if she was happy and pleased to see me eating pasta, caught my eye.

Even that delicious *pane* quickly faded from my interest.

One step forward…

No, it wasn’t just that.

I could be sure.

Our dating had already begun.

***

It was definitely a great restaurant in itself.

I finished the meal without knowing what the *pane* tasted like from the middle onwards, or whether I was even full.

And then, as I was about to stop by a nearby cafe as we had discussed earlier.

“Oppa. Instead of a cafe, do you want to drink alcohol? I’ll pay half.”

Ye-sol made a new suggestion.

I was pathetic for not bringing that up first, but right now, rather than feeling self-loathing about that, I was just excited.

“Alcohol sounds good. I’ll buy.”

“No…”

“I want to buy it for you. Let’s go.”

-Firmly…

“…Yes.”

I naturally took Ye-sol’s hand.

I don’t know where this courage came from. But somehow it felt like I should, and Ye-sol didn’t refuse.

She just walked a little closer to my side, with a gentle curve drawn on her lips.

And so, we went around looking for a bar to go into, holding hands.

However.

“I’m sorry! We don’t have any seats right now…”

“I’m sorry. We’re full, so if you leave your number, we’ll help you with a reservation…”

“You’ll have to wait two hours!”

Maybe it was because it was Saturday night, but there were no seats.

We didn’t discuss it beforehand, but we obviously weren’t looking for places like barbecue restaurants.

We were looking for a more atmospheric and emotional place that dating men and women or couples would go into, but they were all full.

“I expected it to be like this on the weekend… But there are even fewer seats than I thought.”

“Haven’t you been there often?”

“We don’t really go to places like that for department gatherings. Otherwise, I don’t really like alcohol that much anyway… Ah.”

“You don’t like alcohol.”

“…I don’t hate it. It’s just, it’s okay.”

Ye-sol hurriedly tried to take back her words. But well, it wasn’t really an important part.

I also knew that she wasn’t saying let’s drink because she wanted to drink alcohol, but because she wanted to spend more time with me using that as an excuse.

Although I found out for the first time that she was on the level of not liking alcohol.

I need to remember that.

Anyway, what’s important now was that we lost our place to go.

But a barbecue restaurant is really not it… Ah!

“Ye-sol. Aren’t there any good places near your house? Should we just go over there and drink?”

“That’s too far. Let’s just eat around here.”

“It’s better because it’s farther. I’m also worried about you going back after drinking. If you don’t usually drink a lot, your stomach won’t feel good when you take a taxi. Let’s go drink there and I’ll walk you home.”

Personally, I thought it was a perfect plan. There would be more seats in bars than in the college district, and it was also considerate of Ye-sol.

“……”

However, Ye-sol seemed reluctant to my suggestion, and after being lost in thought for a moment, she opened her mouth.

“Instead of that, it’s better to wait for a reservation at the place we were originally going to go to…”

Ye-sol, who seemed like she didn’t want to get out of this neighborhood and said let’s just wait a bit at the place we first visited, suddenly stopped talking.

Did something come to mind, her eyes widened a bit.

Her cheeks and ears became a little redder.

In that state, she brought up a new topic.

“…Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

“There are no seats anyway, so can we just drink at Oppa’s house?”

“…Huh?”

“Buy alcohol at the convenience store… How about it? If it’s not a nuisance.”

“………I’m… Okay with it…?”

“Let’s go then.”

Huh?

***

“…Payment complete. Thank… Thud… You. Good bye.”

“Yep. Have a good one.”

“……”

I bought alcohol and snacks at the convenience store in front of my house.

I did my best to ignore the convenience store male part-timer, whose face I was familiar with because I went there often, looking at me with eyes full of betrayal.

On the one hand, I was proud.

‘Buy the alcohol that Oppa likes. Also snacks that Oppa likes. I like anything.’ The existence of Ye-sol, who was right next to me saying that, and the part-timer’s gaze envying that.

After that, on the way home from the convenience store.

“Oppa, just a moment. I forgot something so I’ll go buy it.”

“What is it? Let’s go together.”

“No. I’ll be right back by myself.”

“Okay. I’ll be waiting.”

Ye-sol went back into the convenience store and bought something.

“Let’s go now.”

I didn’t ask what it was. It could be embarrassing women’s products.

I immediately headed home.

-Beep, beep, beep, beep… Ddriring!

“Come in.”

“Excuse me… for intruding.”

Hoping that I wouldn’t run into Yu-na, I brought the nervous Ye-sol into the house.

I was worried that there might be something strange from a woman’s point of view, or that it might look dirty.

“It’s… A lot cleaner than I thought.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Did you do a big clean?”

“Not really, it’s probably just because I like cleaning and organizing so it looks like that. I also don’t keep a lot of things at home.”

“Heung…”

I was relieved to see Ye-sol’s surprised face.

I had never been so proud of my personality, which likes organizing and cleaning, as I was at this moment.

“Can I use the bathroom? I want to wash my hands.”

“Make yourself at home.”

A little later, I sat Ye-sol, who came out of the bathroom, next to the low table, and then I went into the bathroom as well.

“…It doesn’t feel like my house’s bathroom.”

For some reason, it already felt like Ye-sol’s scent was filling the house.

With a sentimental heart, I quickly brushed my teeth. I’ll probably be eating something again anyway, but to make sure nothing weird is visible on the outside for now.

Then, I quickly gargled once and came out of the bathroom.

“……”

When I came out, Ye-sol was sitting demurely and looking around the house. It was a little embarrassing, but I didn’t dislike the feeling.

I brought plates, spoons, and cups and sat across from Ye-sol.

And then, as I was setting up the things I bought on the table.

“……”

Ye-sol got up from her seat without a word and moved to sit next to me.

Close enough that our arms were touching.

“It’s easier for me to talk like this.”

“…Actually, same here.”

In a situation where we were practically dating, one might think that it was frustrating to subtly test the waters like this.

But for me, I just liked these moments so much.

Experiencing what it’s like to date for the first time at the age of 27, endlessly drunk on that feeling.

I, with Jung Ye-sol, at my house.

Started our drinking session with just the two of us.