Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Sleeping In
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The next morning.
“Mm...”
When I woke up, my eyes felt brighter than usual.
For some reason, the curtains were slightly open.
I was sure I'd drawn them before bed. I didn't hate sunlight or anything, but I wanted to sleep soundly. Open curtains were a hindrance to sleeping in.
Turning my head, I saw the door was also slightly ajar. I clearly remembered closing it before going to sleep.
Had Si-eun come to wake me?
With bleary eyes, I checked my phone screen. It read 11:45.
On weekends, my schedule was to wake up around 2 or 3 p.m.
But today, the bubbling sounds, the clatter of knife on cutting board, and the appetite-stirring aroma of doenjang stew had pried my eyes open.
I got out of bed and headed to the kitchen.
As expected, Si-eun was cooking there.
Wearing a floral-print dress. She usually showed off her stylish style, but this simple outfit suited her just as well. Clothes really do depend on the wearer, huh.
Sensing my presence, she glanced over.
“You're finally up.”
“I originally like sleeping in.”
“That's because you stay up late.”
She turned to me without stopping her chopping. She really was skilled at cooking. If it were me, I'd have sliced off a few fingers right away.
But.
“Hm?”
Something felt off. It seemed different from her usual self somehow. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
After pondering for a moment, I figured it out.
“Didn't sleep well?”
“What?”
As she tossed the chopped vegetables into the pot, Si-eun tilted her head.
“You look tired.”
It was just a feeling. No dark circles or glazed eyes, but she somehow looked weary.
She knew I'd gone to bed late, which was odd to begin with. If she'd gone to sleep early, there was no way she could've known I'd been up late.
Hearing me, Si-eun froze for a moment.
“You're only perceptive about stuff like this... Or do you observe me all the time?”
She gave an utterly absurd response.
“I don't observe you all the time. I usually don't care about other people.”
“Hmm, really?”
She responded in a disinterested tone. Guess she didn't care about me much either.
I opened the fridge, pulled out a water bottle, and asked,
“So? Couldn't sleep?”
“Persistent. You said you don't care about others.”
“Gotta look after employee welfare.”
“You talk a good game.”
Si-eun muttered sarcastically under her breath as she turned off the gas.
“Just not used to it. Trying to sleep in this room is different from the past few days.”
“Sorry. I'll order a bed soon.”
“No, that's not what I meant. My old room was super cramped. Suddenly sleeping in a nice spacious one like this—it's hard to adjust, that's all.”
That was her point.
How cramped had her room been all this time? She could've cut back on clothes or makeup to afford a better place... But for her, that was a kind of investment.
Si-eun snorted.
“You noticed pretty quick.”
“Just happened to.”
With that, I uncapped the water bottle and chugged it straight without using a glass.
In the corner of my vision, Si-eun—who was ladling stew into a bowl—turned toward me.
“Wait! That's water we both drink! Pour it into a cup!”
What?
I set the bottle down and replied,
“Too bothersome.”
“Bothersome or not, use a cup. Don't we have to mind those things when living together?”
“Yes...”
I shrank back immediately. The courage from yesterday—when I'd landed a counterpunch on the teasing Si-eun—had long vanished.
But she was right.
Si-eun was just sharing living space and handling the chores I found annoying. At least, that was the idea. But even from yesterday, it hadn't quite worked out that way.
When living under one roof, entanglements were inevitable. There was no helping that. It was only natural that I'd have to start paying attention to certain things.
Si-eun let out a shallow sigh.
“You're really unknowable sometimes.”
She grumbled curtly as she set the stew on the table.
Am I? Truth be told, I don't know myself either...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ During the day, Si-eun finished cleaning and laundry before retreating to her room. She prepared dinner, then holed up again.
Did she not go out much on weekends? Well, she had said she needed to save money. Maybe she just avoided unnecessary outings.
I wondered what she'd do without a TV or books, but then again, she was in Computer Science like me. She probably had a laptop.
And that night.
As I stared at the monitor, immersed in coding, a yawn escaped me on its own.
Glancing at the bottom right corner, it was still 3 a.m.
I usually fell asleep as dawn broke, but I'd woken up early today. It was only natural for sleepiness to hit.
Time to wash up and crash.
With that thought, I opened my door and stepped into the living room.
“...Going to sleep now?”
Si-eun was resting her chin on her hand at the table, looking at me.
“Yeah. I woke up earlier than usual today... But why aren't you sleeping?”
“I woke up.”
Si-eun replied with a stretch.
She'd said adjusting was hard again today. If this kept up, fatigue would build. She might even slice a finger while chopping absentmindedly.
I looked her straight in the eye and said,
“I ordered a bed, so just hold out until it arrives.”
Oh, and I ordered the maid outfit too. I picked a size with some room based on her visible build. No way I knew her three sizes, and asking would've gotten me slapped.
But Si-eun shook her head.
“I told you no. There was no bed in my old room either, so it's not that.”
“Really?”
I scratched my head and asked back. She averted her gaze, then slowly opened her mouth.
“Well... Actually.”
“Yeah.”
“I'm... tense, I guess.”
She murmured like it was to herself, her face faintly flushed.
It was a puzzling reaction. What kind of tension?
“Tense?”
At my question, Si-eun furrowed her brow and looked up at me.
“Living in the same house as a guy.”
She answered hesitantly.
“Didn't you say it was fine?”
“I thought it would be.”
“But?”
“Actually living it, we end up running into each other unavoidably. Can't be helped.”
Aha. So that's what she meant.
Seems she'd had the exact same thought as me at lunch today. Living together under one roof inevitably created points of entanglement.
“It kept happening, and I realized I'm really living with another man.”
“Don't worry. I have no plans for anything weird.”
“I know. You don't even seem like you have the courage for that.”
Is that so?
“Since you know that, it's fine while we're talking... But when I'm alone in my room or you're asleep, I get anxious for some reason.”
“Hmm, yeah?”
“Yeah. Sounds stupid even to me.”
Her eyes were cast down as she said it.
I couldn't fully empathize with Si-eun's feelings. But I understood. Living with the opposite sex carried that kind of weight.
I wasn't tense myself, inwardly. But that was just me being abnormal. Most people would react like her.
So, what I needed to do was.
“Hey.”
I parted my lips with a serious expression.
“Why?”
She looked at me, her face still tinged with red.
To her, I voiced the thought that popped into my head.
“Want me to sing you a lullaby?”
“You're crazy?”
“Sorry.”
I was shot down in 0.1 seconds with a fierce glare.
But Si-eun gradually lifted the corners of her mouth and soon started chuckling.
“You're so random.”
“A compliment?”
“Not an insult, if we're splitting hairs.”
“Then I'll take it as one.”
“Do whatever.”
Letting out a laugh that could have been mocking or amused, Si-eun stood up.
“Sleepy. Night.”
“Yeah. And, y'know, sleep in if you want. Wake up whenever. No need to get up early.”
“Won't messing up your sleep on weekends make weekdays rough?”
“I can sleep in class.”
“That's not something to brag about.”
With that, Si-eun smiled once more.
“Anyway, thanks.”
She left those words and returned to her room.
The next day, the two of us sleeping in amicably and making do with toast for a late lunch was probably thanks to that.