That Man's Daily Life (2)
I got home, sorted out the stuff I'd bought, and was folding the laundry from the dryer when my phone rang—Lee Yoon-ju calling. No way, was she still horny after that offline teasing earlier? If that's why she's calling, I'm seriously gonna let her have it.
"Yeah. What's up."
"Hey hey hey! You free tonight? Mom says come over for dinner."
"Auntie?"
"Yeah. She saw you at the mart earlier and wants to see your face since it's been a while. You coming?"
Whew, guess it wasn't about more online teasing. Good thing—she's not that shameless.
"Sure, whatever. What time should I head over?"
"Uh~ hold on! Mooommm—!!!!"
Shit, my eardrums! Her screaming through the phone made me jump, and I yanked it away from my ear. A bit later, I heard it was fine by 7.
"Okay. I'll grab some fruit or dessert on the way."
"Do whatever. See ya later."
"Later."
Alright, finish up the rest of the chores first.
-2-
"Oh my, Jae-hyun! Come on in!"
Lee Yoon-ju's mother—Auntie—greeted me warmly as she opened the door. Spotting the hefty watermelon in my hands, her eyes went wide, and she quickly snatched it away.
"What'd you go and buy something like this for? If you were bringing stuff, you should've called Yoon-ju. How'd a guy like you carry something this heavy?"
"I grabbed it right around the corner. And the weights I lift at the gym are several times heavier. Don't worry."
"Goodness. Such a well-mannered boy."
Auntie beamed at me with a delighted smile. Dinner wasn't quite ready yet, so she told me to hang out a bit. I nodded and knocked on Lee Yoon-ju's door.
This punk—people are here, and she hasn't even come out?
"Yeeah~!"
A super half-assed response to my knock. What the hell? Is she gaming or something?
"I'm coming in—"
I announced myself just in case and opened the door a beat later. There she was, rolling around on her bed, glued to her phone.
"Hey. Get out here. What're you doing?"
"Huh? Oh, you're here. Hi."
She barely glanced over before diving back into her phone. Curious, I peeked—yep, KakaoTalk chat. Her mouth was twitching like she had a tic, grinning hard. Must be her girlfriend.
Damn it...
"That good, huh."
"Yeah? Oh, yeah~ Totally! Fucking awesome."
Yoon-ju's smirking face was seriously annoying. But part of me was a little jealous of how bright and happy she looked.
Dating...Dating, huh... A word I'd had zero luck with in my past life, and even reborn handsome in this reverse world, it still felt out of reach.
"Fuck, it shows."
"Kekeke. Jealous? Go date someone! Honestly, you're still single 'cause your standards are sky-high—you kick every girl to the curb."
"It's not like anyone gives us time to actually get to know each other—they just come at me!"
"If it doesn't work out, dump 'em. That's how dating goes."
This romance freak cackled at me. Fine, yeah—I know my views on love are kinda unique in this world. But I have zero interest in changing them to fit in.
Women outnumber men by multiples here compared to my past life. Surely there's someone out there for me.
...Right?
"Wanna try ordering a girl at least? I could ask my girlfriend if she knows anyone good."
"Pass."
Watching Yoon-ju's lovey-dovey crap made me envious and pissed, but that was it. Honestly, as long as she doesn't tease me to my face, dating doesn't even cross my mind. And now I've got someone else to hang with besides her.
Speaking of, I wonder what Seo Ji-ah noona's up to right now?
"...What? You got a girl?"
"Huh? Where'd that come from?"
"Nah, your face just had that look."
What look? Whether I looked lovesick or not, Yoon-ju sat up straight, eyes sparkling with curiosity as she grilled me.
She knows damn well I've never even flirted—pure single forever—and here she is yapping about girls. New torture method?
"Something's definitely up."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Hmm~"
"Well... I have gotten close to someone lately."
"No way, for real?!"
She asks, then acts shocked? Come on.
"Cafe regular. We just kinda hit it off."
"Whaaat?! Yoon Jae-hyuun~! Finally gonna date?!"
"Bullshit. It's not like that."
We'd barely exchanged names and numbers after months of just seeing each other—hardly dating material. But Yoon-ju was already thrilled I'd befriended another woman.
Hm. Fair enough—that is kinda surprising.
"She hot?"
"Prettiest woman I've ever seen."
Her looks and aura could pass for an actress or idol, no question. Though she's got this slight ditzy charm. That gap moe vibe is probably a bonus for fans.
"Ooh? How old?"
"Mm. 27."
"Whoa?!"
Even in my past life, a 7-year gap wasn't nothing. Hell, when I was born, noona was starting kindergarten. But in this reverse world, it apparently feels like 1.5 to 2 times the difference—Yoon-ju's excited grin dropped to dead serious instantly.
"Dude, you sure that's okay?"
From her view: the girl who lost her only family less than a year ago, zero guy experience, just turned 20, suddenly cozy with some mid-20s-to-30s uncle-type dude, calling him "oppa" all sweet. A serious reaction made sense, but it threw me off too.
No, you idiot—it's not like that.
"Ji-ah noona's nice."
"Oh reaaally?"
"Hey, if she was weird, I'd have shut it down ages ago! Stop worrying. And it's not that deep between us. Don't get the wrong idea."
Yoon-ju squinted at me silently, then flopped back on the bed with a sigh.
"Fine, whatever. Smart Yoon Jae-hyun'll handle it. I know you're picky about people."
She said that, but her eyes still looked worried.
"So what's this Ji-ah unnie like?"
"Pretty. Nice. Kinda cute sometimes. That's it. No aggressive hitting on me like other girls, no trying to seduce me or whatever. Just easy to be around. Like you."
"Huh~ Fair. She'd have to have some morals not to get ideas about a 20-year-old guy. So you're not into her that way? Just real girl-friend vibes?"
"...Pretty much?"
Couldn't deny Ji-ah noona was great. Fun and comfy around her? Check. Miss her when she's not there after seeing her daily? Check. But romantically? Hard to say...
No dating experience past or present, and pinning a clear label on my feelings for her felt fuzzy.
"What’s with the vague answer? Wait, you into older women? That's why you've ignored everyone?!"
"Your bullshit’s next-level creative. No. And sorry, but you think I’ve never gotten hits from older girls?"
"Hm. True. But she's super hot, right? Maybe your standards are just that high."
"I said no! We're not like that, you psycho!"
This girl gets a girlfriend and turns into a dating monster. Her pushing it pissed me off, so I raised my voice a bit. She finally threw up her hands in surrender, grinning apologetically.
"Oops. Sorry sorry. Won't tease anymore."
Couldn't stay mad at her cheeky laugh—you can't spit on a smiling face, as they say.
God, this punk...
-3-
Yoon-ju kept slyly prying about Ji-ah noona after that. Not that there was much to tell—chatting about my recent life naturally brought her up now and then.
We were yakking away in her room when Auntie called us for dinner, wrapping up our gossip sesh.
"Whoa~ Mom, the table's gonna break. What's the occasion?"
"Occasion? Just wanted Jae-hyun to have a proper home-cooked meal for once!"
"...Mom, Jae-hyun's not your real son, right? At least put half this effort into your actual daughter's food!"
"What makes you so special, you brat."
Ah, the usual heartwarming Lee mother-daughter banter.
"Come on, Jae-hyun. Eat up. You're at that age where you need to chow down."
"Yes, thank you, Auntie. I'll dig in."
Like I was real family. We chatted away at the table—Auntie asking about my daily life, me giving short answers.
"No aches or pains lately?"
"Nah. Weather's gotten hot fast—take care of yourself too, Auntie."
"Heehee. Worrying about this old lady? Thanks~ Staying over tonight?"
"No, gotta hit the gym early and head to work tomorrow."
"No one to show off for—don't overdo it. Don't wanna get sick again."
"Hey! Don't jinx Jae-hyun like that. Ahem. Still, Yoon-ju's right—don't push too hard. Exercise is for health, not wrecking yourself."
The cozy family vibe kept my lips curved in a smile the whole meal. Dessert was the watermelon I'd brought, and as expected, Auntie packed me leftovers, nagging to eat well at home.
It was late, I had bags—couldn't send a guy off alone—so she prodded the stuffed, lazy Yoon-ju to play porter.
Yoon-ju grumbled about it but changed and grabbed my stuff anyway.
"Hey, next time let's treat your mom to a meal—all three of us. My treat."
"You don't have to go that far."
"Come on. The nursing last time, the side dishes you give—it's adding up."
She refused at first but shut up when I insisted she'd make time later.
Yoon-ju looked baffled, then chuckled and nodded.
"Always such a softie. How you gonna survive this harsh world being this nice?"
"Cut the crap."
I already lived a good life once in my past life, buddy.
She kept yapping about "noonas this, noonas that," which was ridiculous from my end, but damn, it felt solid having a friend who cared this much.
Not that I'd ever show it to Yoon-ju.
"Fine, get lost already. Weren't you meeting your girl?"
"Oh yeah. Later! Have fun!"
She jolted at "girlfriend," bolting out like a shot.
"Hah. Someday I'll meet someone great and tease right back."
Just you wait. I remember every bit of your lovey-dovey crap, friend.