episode_0179

The phone rang softly.

“Mmm… who is it…”

Yiseo Kang, not fully awake, slowly fumbled around on the bed. Only after finally finding her phone and sliding the screen did the loud ringtone stop.

“Hello…”

“Yiseo! Were you sleeping?”

“…Sehui? Yeah. I just woke up…”

“Right, you’d be sleeping at this time. Sorry.”

“No… what’s up?”

“You didn’t forget we’re leaving tomorrow, did you?”

Yiseo Kang was currently on a leave of absence from school for her broadcasts, but her best friends were still attending. With the vacation period nearing its end, they were planning a trip together.

“Mmm… I know. Did you call because of that…?”

“Yeah. You know, back then you mistook the date and thought we were leaving the day after, so you were late. You can’t be late this time, okay?”

“Do you think I’m an idiot and would do that again…? Don’t worry. *Yawn*…”

“Hey. By the way, it’s been a really long time since we went on a 2-night, 3-day trip instead of a day trip, hasn’t it? It’s the first time since before we started college. I’m so excited!”

“I guess so…”

“You’re really sleepy, aren’t you? Anyway, don’t be late tomorrow! Seriously!”

“Mmm. Got it…”

Click.

The call ended with that final instruction. Yiseo Kang put down her phone, closed her heavy eyelids, and tried to fall back asleep.

===

“…Ah.”

After sleeping soundly, my eyes naturally opened. Perhaps it was because I had slept so deeply after my passionate night with Chaerin-ssi, but my eyelids didn’t feel as heavy as I expected. As expected, I was in Chaerin-ssi’s bedroom, but the owner of the room was nowhere to be seen.

‘It’s Sunday, so she wouldn’t have gone to the office… Huh?’

As soon as I got out of bed and opened the door, I heard a clattering sound. At the same time, a delicious scent wafted in. Following it to the kitchen, I saw Chaerin-ssi’s back as she stood in front of the induction cooktop.

“Chaerin-ssi?”

“Ah, Jihoon-ssi. You’re awake?”

As she turned, an apron was tied around her waist and a ladle was in her hand. It was the first time I’d seen her like this, but it suited her surprisingly well.

“Are you cooking?”

“Yes. I was just about to wake you up, and you woke up just in time. It’s almost ready, so go wash your face.”

Following her words, I fully woke up with a cold water wash and returned to the kitchen. By then, a steaming kimchi stew and a rolled omelet were laid out on the table.

“Ohh. It looks incredibly delicious. And it smells good too.”

“Really? That’s a relief. Last time, Jihoon-ssi made me fried rice, didn’t you? I tried to make this in return. Let’s eat.”

The fact that there was no green onion mixed into the rolled omelet, and the large chunks of pork in the stew, were exactly to my liking. As I tasted the meat and kimchi with the stew broth, an exclamation of admiration naturally escaped my lips.

“It’s absolutely delicious! You said you couldn’t make anything other than ramen.”

“I found something that looked simple on You-Tube and followed the instructions exactly. It took a lot of effort since I’m not used to it, but it was more manageable than I thought.”

“You-Tube is indeed great. …Mm. Wow, the rolled omelet is perfectly seasoned too. It’s delicious.”

“Really? Eat a lot, I’ll make more if it’s not enough. I should try it too.”

After finishing our meal with various conversations, I offered to do the dishes as a gesture of gratitude. However, perhaps feeling bad about me doing it alone, Chaerin-ssi didn’t leave and stayed to talk with me.

“Jihoon-ssi always wears rubber gloves, huh? I usually can’t be bothered and just do it bare-handed.”

“Bare-handed? You shouldn’t do that. You’ll get eczema.”

“I don’t really get it, though.”

“Isn’t it because you don’t cook much at home? Anyway, always wear rubber gloves when washing dishes.”

“Okay, I got it.”

“Whew, I’m done.”

After taking off the gloves, I lightly washed my hands and turned towards Chaerin-ssi. For some reason, her face was complicated with many thoughts.

“Somehow… I really like this.”

“Like what?”

“Just having someone to do these small things with. Before, I lived tightly wound, thinking I had to overcome this harsh world by myself, no matter what. But now, my mind is much more at ease.”

“Ever since we started dating, I’ve kept feeling this, but you’re a much more human person than I thought. At the company, you seemed like someone without blood or tears.”

“I-It’s because of you, Jihoon-ssi, that I’ve become like this! I wasn’t like this originally, you know?”

“Ahaha, really?”

This sudden outburst born of embarrassment was also something I only came to know after we became closer as a couple.

Not long after, I returned from Chaerin-ssi’s house to my own. Both Chaerin-ssi and I wanted to spend more time together, but it couldn’t be helped as she had work to do.

However, my time alone didn’t last long. I received a message from Yiseo Noona asking if she and Yuna could stop by my place. Less than an hour after I replied “Okay,” the two of them arrived, each carrying a shopping bag.

“Oppa!”

“Oh, Yuna! *Gasp!*”

Yuna ran towards me and hugged me as soon as she entered through the front door. The force was so fierce that I was momentarily breathless, but thanks to the soft comfort that pressed against my chest, I felt the greatness of women.

“Did you two go out together?”

“Mmm. Yuna and I went around looking for some autumn clothes. Mom wanted to come too, but she said she had plans with a friend.”

“Oppa! Look at me!”

Calling out to me, Yuna spun around, as if showing off.

“That’s a new outfit. Did you buy it today?”

“Yes! How is it?”

“It’s really pretty! It suits you well. It’s totally my style.”

“Right?! I picked it because I thought Oppa would like it! How about Yiseo Unnie’s clothes? She said she was just going to pack it, but I told her to wear it so you could see!”

No wonder Yiseo Noona was wearing an outfit I hadn’t seen before; it must have been newly bought.

“N-No, it’s not that, I just liked it and wore it right away…”

“Huh? Unnie, you also picked it saying Oppa would like it, didn’t you?”

“Yuna, don’t say that…!”

Yiseo Noona’s face turned as red as an apple from embarrassment. I wanted to see her shy expression more. But there was no need to force out compliments. Because Noona’s new clothes were so perfectly my style that they naturally elicited admiration.

“Noona, you’re really pretty too. Please wear this when we meet outside next time.”

“R-Really? Well, it’s not difficult, so I can do that much…”

“Oh! Oppa, look at this too!”

Yuna didn’t give me a moment to leisurely watch Yiseo Noona, who was trying hard to keep a poker face, and instead handed me something. Being with Yuna often led to such chaotic moments, but I had long grown accustomed to it.

“What is it? Is it for me?”

“Yep! Unnie and I bought it together because we thought it would suit you well! We came here to give you this, but I almost forgot. Hehe.”

The clothing she gave me was a charcoal windbreaker. The design was good and it looked comfortable to wear, it seemed perfect for the upcoming summer.

“Thanks, I’ll wear it well. I can wear it in the second semester. You’re both staying longer, right? What should we do?”

“Ah, Oppa. I have to go right away. My broadcast time is coming up soon.”

“Oh, I see. Okay.”

“I’m going to use the bathroom before I go, Oppa!”

Yuna disappeared like the wind to use the bathroom, leaving only Yiseo Noona and me in the living room.

“What about you, Noona?”

“I also have an advertisement broadcast today, so I think I should go back early and prepare.”

“Ah, I see. Then I guess I’ll go to the gym. Come to think of it, Noona, you’re going on a trip with your friends tomorrow, aren’t you? Was it 2 nights and 3 days?”

“That’s right. Monday and Tuesday are my broadcast days off, so I’m planning to go Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then broadcast right away on the day I return.”

“Perfect. Have a good trip.”

“Yeah. …Um, Jihoon-ah.”

Following her answer, Noona called my name and asked, glancing cautiously towards the bathroom where Yuna still was.

“Do you happen to have any clothes that haven’t been washed yet?”

To an ordinary person, it would sound like a strange question, but I understood her intention exactly. Noona was thoroughly addicted to my body odor, so she was asking for my worn clothes to use when she was away from me. She had asked for such things multiple times before, wanting to smell my scent at her own house.

“Ah, do you need it? Just a moment.”

“No. I’m fine now, but just in case, I wanted to pick some up before I leave for the trip…”

So she wants to take my clothes because she’ll be away for three days. I recalled a time when Noona had been like a wreck in her room because she couldn’t smell me. Noona probably wanted to prevent something like that from happening again. The reason she wasn’t taking it now was probably because my body odor would fade from the clothes over time.

“Before you leave? Okay.”

“Thanks. I’ll stop by tomorrow morning.”

“Then I guess I should keep wearing the T-shirt I have on now at home.”

A remark that would make anyone who heard it frown and be horrified. However, Yiseo Noona’s reaction, as expected, was different from ordinary people’s.

“Ah… please do.”

===

After Yiseo Noona and Yuna, who had stopped by my place, left, the next day dawned. The current time was 8 AM. She had said she would come to get the clothes steeped in my scent, so I had woken up earlier than usual and waited, but for some reason, there was no news from Noona.

‘What is it? It seems like it’s about time she arrived.’

Buzz!

While I was wondering, my phone vibrated. The caller was none other than Yiseo Noona.

“Oh, Noona. Are you on your way?”

“Sorry, Jihoon-ah. I’m currently taking a taxi to meet the others.”

“Oh? To your friends?”

“I overslept, so if I stop by your place, I’ll be late. I’ve been late before, so I really can’t be late this time. I’m sorry for making you wait.”

Noona wasn’t usually late for appointments, but it seems she made a mistake today of all days. Seeing that she couldn’t even stop by my place, which was relatively close, it must truly be a close call. As for me, it wasn’t a big deal since I could just go back to sleep anyway.

“It’s okay. Don’t rush too much, and travel safely. Contact me if anything happens.”

“Got it, Jihoon-ah. I’m really sorry.”

After ending the call, I took out the T-shirt I had sealed in a Ziploc bag and put it in the washing machine. It would probably be a sight that would make Noona’s jaw drop in regret if she saw it herself.

‘…Nothing bad will happen for three days, right?’

It was only three days, not a week, and Noona’s withdrawal symptoms had stabilized a lot compared to the early days, so it would probably be fine. Dismissing it as nothing significant, I let the T-shirt in the washing machine spin clean with the other clothes.