Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Lady's Determination
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What the hell? Did I hear that wrong?
Or... did I say something wrong?
“Uh, um… excuse me.”
What should I even say?
If I say something like, “Did I perhaps explain things poorly?” it’d make me sound like some snide villainess extra mocking the young lady.
“...?”
The young lady tilts her head with a question mark practically floating over it, oblivious to why I’m even flustered in the first place. No, even when she took a sip of the mix coffee I handed her and tilted her head back then.
The moment she stepped into the room.
And when she casually handed me her cashmere coat like I was her servant.
“......”
They say you shouldn’t judge people by their first impressions or appearances. But even so, it’s inevitable that those impressions and little actions reveal a person’s character or potential.
Truth be told, living together in a one-room apartment was no easy feat.
A one-room with no partitions. Sure, it’s 11 pyeong, but that’s not exactly spacious, so naturally, we had to sleep with the blankets pushed together. Even with just Oh Hana and me, we slept like that. Adding one more person would mean dividing that already cramped space into thirds.
‘No matter how I think about it, this lady couldn’t handle it...’
Honestly, Oh Hana was fine living with a guy like it was nothing. But with the girl in front of me, no amount of imagination painted a bright future.
“A-as I mentioned earlier. There’s already me and another girl living here.”
“Yes, I heard. And you’re aware of that.”
“If you move in, you’d be living under the same roof, in the same room, with both of us. Is that really okay with you?”
“Yes. I don’t see why not.”
That’s exactly why I keep pressing her—if she thought it was impossible, she wouldn’t be so insistent. And it’s not like there’s a formal contract or anything. Contracts are with the landlord; I’m just trying to save on rent by finding a roommate.
Honestly, I’m terrified of what’ll happen if the landlord finds out later. Should I just confess preemptively?
Damn it.
Who’d have thought trying to sneak a smoke after a nap would leave my head spinning like this.
“Um… this isn’t sexual harassment or anything, so please hear me out seriously.”
“Okay.”
“Living together means sharing everything—the bathroom and all that. Obviously...”
“Do we shower together?”
“No, no, no.”
Where the hell is this going, you crazy girl?
If I’m being honest about my relationship with Oh Hana right now, showering together wouldn’t be entirely impossible. But the place is too cold. And the bathroom’s too cramped anyway.
...Still, showering together? That wouldn’t be so bad, would it?
‘No, this isn’t the time to let blood rush downstairs with thoughts like that.’
I said,
“We’d be sharing a lot of things in general, so I’m worried it might not work out. For example, Oh Hana, who lives here now, comes out in her underwear after washing up. And honestly, I do the same. Could you handle that? Or if I came out in my underwear, would that really be okay with you?”
“Why? Can’t you just change inside and come out? Are you a pervert?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Her point wasn’t entirely wrong, to be fair.
“The bathroom’s really small.”
“No separate shower room, huh?”
“Does any one-room have that?”
This girl’s so out of touch with the real world. Did she grow up in some mega-rich mansion? Even then, doesn’t she know bathrooms double as showers in Korea?
“So, changing clothes in there isn’t easy at all. You could even get hurt.”
“Hmm.”
As she pondered quietly, I couldn’t help but pile on more reasons, though I don’t know why.
“And look, it’s cold in here, right?”
“Yeah. Why is it so cold?”
“We don’t turn on the boiler. Gas bills and all that add up a ton.”
“That much?”
“It’s a one-room, so not insanely high, but still. We’re poor enough that multiple people are bunking here to split costs. Do you have money to burn or something?”
“Well...”
She started to argue back strongly but then shut her mouth and shook her head.
This should be enough, right?
She seemed dead set on living here, but some things just wouldn’t work. In my eyes, she wasn’t cut out for this place at all.
‘I get that desperate audition vibe now—wanting it so bad, but the judges see the lack of skill and have to reject you harshly.’
I muttered that inwardly as I looked straight at her.
Damn, she’s stunning.
If Oh Hana was like a vibrant spring flower full of life, this girl felt like a winter bloom—chilly yet radiating a noble aura.
No, anyone could see she was a proper lady. Hell, exaggerating a bit, her family home might even have butlers or maids.
“A-and the food’s... nothing special either. Convenience store discards, or at best frozen fried rice with an egg cracked in. That’s how I get through most meals in a week. Takeout? Never even crosses my mind.”
Listing all these downsides casually laid bare my life, hidden behind the happiness of living with Oh Hana.
I’d forgotten for a moment, but I was still an unemployed loser slinging part-time at a convenience store.
I had no right to act superior in front of this girl.
“...I don’t get a lot of what you’re saying, honestly.”
“Yeah.”
“Still, I want to sign on here. No matter what, that other woman’s been living with you—the landlord—for almost a month, right?”
“Well... yeah. But I’m not the landlord. I’m just renting the place myself.”
“...?”
Come on, how do you not get basic common sense like that?
Lady or not, isn’t that a bit much?
“Sorry, but if it’s not too rude—could you tell me why you want to live here so badly?”
If she wasn’t backing down despite all my warnings, I figured I should at least hear her reasons for being so obsessed with this roommate setup.
If we ended up living together, I’d need to know that much anyway.
Co-living was a big deal; I didn’t want to rush into it carelessly.
“I’d rather not say. But it’s important to me.”
“That’s exactly what I want to hear. Like I said, compared to other places it’s spacious, but a one-room is still too cramped for sharing with strangers. If we’re going to rub elbows here long-term, shouldn’t we know each other better?”
“You’re right, but I’m not ready to share that yet.”
“......”
“One thing’s for sure—I want to live here. With three people... it’s 200,000 won, right?”
“Yeah. Rent’s 600,000, so 200,000 each.”
She carefully reached into her bag with a rustle. Then pulled out a white envelope like she’d prepared it in advance... wait, that’s some fancy envelope.
“...Here’s 200,000 won.”
Her coat, bag, even her vibe screamed luxury. Seeing her hand it over like it was precious made it all the more awkward.
But beyond her beauty,
her desperation hit me so hard I couldn’t keep refusing.
“For now... I’ll take it.”
I took the envelope from her and started to tuck it into my chest... then just set it on the computer desk instead. Damn, the computer takes up a lot of space.
“Maybe... I should ditch the computer.”
I hadn’t used it in ages anyway.
If I wasn’t gaming, a smartphone could handle most of what it did.
“Oh, um... I’d actually like to use the computer.”
“...Really?”
She must’ve overheard my muttering again.
She said it so earnestly. Needs the computer... she’s not planning to dig up my personal info and hack me, is she?
“......”
Again, again, again...
When Oh Hana first came here, I spun wild fantasies about her luring me into crime for blackmail. Now it’s a hacker?
Maybe I should’ve been a novelist. My imagination’s way too vivid.
“If we try living together a few days and it doesn’t work out, just let me know. I’ll return the money in the envelope anytime.”
“Okay, got it.”
Thanks a lot.
...I figured she’d say something like that, but she seemed stingier with gratitude than I expected.
“Oh, right—we haven’t even exchanged names. I’m Kim Hyunwoo.”
“I’m Han Aebom.”
Han Aebom, huh...
Her name struck me as just as unique as Oh Hana’s.
“If it’s not rude, your age...? I’m 29.”
“Oh, 29... I’m 24.”
Awkward as hell.
Was my first meeting with Oh Hana like this?
...Nah. It hit me how much Oh Hana’s friendliness had eased things for me.
“Uh, just call me whatever’s comfortable.”
Oppa or whatever.
Since she’s a lady, oraboni might work too.
“Okay, then... Hyunwoo-ssi it is.”
“......”
Was it an overreaction to feel disappointed? Well, Hyunwoo-ssi wasn’t wrong. Five years apart, it made sense.
Still, wouldn’t oppa have been nicer? More comfortable maybe?
Enough.
Stop obsessing over oppa. There’s already one person in this house calling me that.
“......”
My breath caught. The drowsiness from stubbing my toe earlier was creeping back in waves. The stiff atmosphere made it worse—like standing watch in an ammo depot with a senior I hated.
“Uh, um... what should I say. Anyway, I didn’t expect another roommate, so no extra bedding set.”
“Okay.”
“B-but here’s the thing. I work nights—10 p.m. to 8 a.m. If you’re sleepy, just crash on my bedding then. Order a set online and it’ll arrive tomorrow.”
“Got it.”
The issue? My bedding reeked of Oh Hana and me right now. We’d gone at it pretty intensely there today.
I could die of embarrassment.
No, more than that—would Oh Hana have lightened this awkward vibe? But why do I have this bad feeling she and Han Aebom would clash hard?
God, please let my gut be wrong.
“Um...”
“Yes?”
“About the bedding and stuff that costs money... could I pay you back once I get a job and some cash?”
Huh?
This feels like déjà vu from somewhere.
“Is that 200,000... all you’ve got?”
“......”
At my question, Han Aebom blushed faintly and nodded.