Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Realization
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Men are truly foolish creatures.
Just from a slight brush of skin. Just from hearing a playful joke. To suddenly harbor strange feelings toward someone who'd never stirred the heart before.
It was utterly ridiculous.
A week had passed since the night Si-eun got drunk and acted out of character.
She'd been worried about what she might have done, but after hearing my reassurance, she let it go. Still, I began to feel an awkward distance from her.
Especially after that weekend without her. Those feelings only grew stronger.
If she was in the living room or kitchen, I'd turn my head and hurry past.
In the lecture hall, I'd avoid even glancing back at her occasional looks.
Even if we bumped into each other at the cafeteria and she waved hello, I'd ignore it.
At home, avoiding meals together was impossible.
"How's the food? Is it good?"
"...Yeah."
But I'd give short replies to keep the conversation from continuing.
I didn't think I liked Si-eun...
It was just that I'd started seeing her as a woman—someone I'd never viewed that way before.
I'd told her to be careful since she was living with a guy. But I'd clearly lacked the awareness that I was living with a woman.
Si-eun was a woman—a very pretty one with a great figure. It was no wonder guys flocked to her. I'd only just come to truly understand that.
Even if it wasn't full-blown liking, the problem remained.
A man living under the same roof as a woman couldn't afford such thoughts.
I had to nip it in the bud before it caused issues. Like keeping the wind from fanning a spark, I had to bury it deep.
So, I decided to put distance between us.
But of course.
Si-eun wasn't one to cooperate.
That night, as I stared at my computer like always, there was a knock. Knock knock.
I'd been expecting it. She dropped by with snacks every three days or so. Sometimes two, sometimes four, but that was the rhythm.
Looks like the day had arrived.
But it was 11:50 p.m. A bit late, wasn't it?
I turned my chair. "Come in."
The door creaked open at my voice, revealing Si-eun standing there.
I glanced at her sidelong.
In a T-shirt and long jeans, she wasn't holding a plate. No, her hands were behind her back entirely.
Not snacks, then?
"What're you here for?"
"Just."
She gave that curt reply and plopped down on my bed.
It was just like her first time barging into my room. She still acted however she pleased.
"What're you doing?"
"Sitting."
"I can see that. No snacks today?"
"You don't even like snacks anyway. And eating them late at night makes you gain weight."
"Well, yeah..."
I didn't love snacks, and I knew late-night munching packed on pounds. But then why was she here?
I wondered, but since she'd already come in and sat down, asking wouldn't help. She wouldn't leave nicely, so I ignored her and turned back to my monitor.
"Whatcha doing?"
Her voice came from close by. I turned to see her leaning from the bed toward my desk.
Was it because she was so near? Her scent wafted over— not perfume or shampoo, but her scent.
I leaned away. "Studying economics."
"Oh? Lotsa squiggly letters."
"Not squiggles. Greek variables."
We were both in engineering—how'd she not know? Well, Computer Science didn't use equations or integrals much. Not knowing wasn't weird.
With her head stuck out like that, I couldn't get back to my spot. It was awkward, but I tilted my body and kept working.
Then she huffed, "Hmph," and retreated, crossing her legs.
As her prickly aura prickled my back, she spoke.
"Why've you been acting so weird lately?"
The question I'd dreaded most.
What to say? 'Cause I'm seeing you as a girl now?' I'd get slapped. Or kicked.
I couldn't be straight with her, whatever the hit.
"Thinking of going back to my old 'can't talk much' concept."
"You don't have a concept. You just can't talk."
"Fair enough."
"Quit joking. Why the sudden distance?"
"Uh, well..."
I fumbled, and she sighed in frustration.
"Just to check."
"Yeah?"
"That night we drank... nothing really happened, right?"
She asked softly, brow furrowed with a hint of certainty.
Was this woman's intuition? Nah. My weird behavior started right after. A little thought would reveal it.
Should I come clean now? As I hesitated, she ran fingers through her hair.
"If—if I said something, somehow."
She looked down.
"It was all drunk nonsense. Not sincere at all. Forget it. All of it."
"..."
Hmm.
That cleared the stuffiness in my chest.
Maybe some truth was mixed in? I'd secretly hoped—not hoped—for that.
But no way. A girl like Si-eun could aim way higher than me.
"Got it."
I replied shortly and sank into thought.
I couldn't have weird feelings for Si-eun.
She was here purely as a housekeeper. Our bond was just money. We shared a roof, but not a life.
Misunderstandings would hurt me—and eventually her.
So, I...
Then, a cheap beep echoed in the room.
My electronic wristwatch, shoved somewhere (probably behind the bookshelf), signaling midnight.
I didn't know when it snuck in there, but it chimed every midnight. Too lazy to toss it— I was always up anyway.
At the sound, Si-eun sighed deeply and ruffled her hair wildly.
"Haa, seriously."
"Wh-what?"
I stammered, flustered. She looked up at me with puppy eyes.
Then rummaged in the bedding and pulled something out.
"Here."
Take it?
My gaze shifted to her hand. She held out a clear bag.
Inside: chocolates of various shapes.
"...Snacks today are chocolate? You said it'd make you fat at night."
"What? No."
She snorted in disbelief and turned away.
"It's a gift. Happy birthday."
Birthday? Oh, right—mine was tomorrow. No, past midnight, so today.
Hmm.
Si-eun had prepared a birthday present for me.
Twirling her hair, she said,
"Dunno if you like chocolate since you eat anything... But figured your picky kid taste might go for it, so I made some."
"Not that kid-level picky."
I was choosy sometimes, but not a picky eater. Probably not kid-level. Maybe.
Wait, more importantly.
"Made some? You made them?"
"Yeah."
Up close, the shapes were uneven. Handmade from molds, not factory-perfect.
"Snuck out to buy stuff and tools without you noticing. Good thing you holed up in here."
"I see."
Lucky break.
I grinned. "So, you made these for me, huh?"
"...No."
"No?"
"Yeah. Made 'em for someone else, had extras, so I made more."
"Says 'Happy Birthday' right here."
"You think tons of people share your birthday?"
Dunno. Among people you know? Probably not many.
Handing over chocolate so boldly, then getting shy late? It was comical—I let out an involuntary chuckle.
"Why're you laughing?"
"Nothing."
I took the chocolate gratefully.
"Thanks."
No one but family and my one friend had ever celebrated my birthday. For her to prepare a gift like this... Pure gratitude welled up.
"Guess I'll go."
I wanted to say more thanks, but she hopped off the bed toward the door.
"Already?"
"Want me to stay longer?"
"No, not that. You came just to give me this?"
She paused, turned.
"Figure it out yourself, dummy."
She stuck out her tongue and left.
The door clicked shut. Silence returned.
I opened the bag.
Stars, cars, clouds, hearts—all mixed. Even with her cooking skills, first-time chocolate showed: shapes were bumpy. But made with care, clearly.
One in my mouth—sweetness flooded.
Unlike her thought, I didn't love chocolate. Yet this tasted good. Good enough to eat them all tonight, weight be damned.
Her lingering scent.
Chocolate aroma on my tongue.
Savoring them, I thought.
Feeling joy from someone's care...
An emotion I'd never known before.
If this feeling had a name...
It'd surely be...
Love.
And so, belatedly, I realized it.
I had fallen for Si-eun.