Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Cohabitation Clash
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Everyone's mouths hung open for several seconds upon learning that Oh Hana and I were living together. Or maybe they were unconsciously picturing it in their heads.
Men are helpless creatures like that. Just like how I'd end up brainstorming baby names over something trivial.
Exaggerated fantasies of daily life with Oh Hana were undoubtedly playing out in their minds right now. I'd gaped at those Shorts videos myself—the ones from the POV of a famous idol's boyfriend.
"Haa."
A faint sigh, laced with regret and a touch of jealousy, slipped from their lips. No matter how much they imagined, the reality was that I was the one by Oh Hana's side.
Watching them, I couldn't help feeling a smug sense of superiority today—no matter how much I swore to myself not to strut around like an idiot under hypnosis.
I guess I was never cut out to be some noble, upright guy. If anything, I was pettier and more underhanded than most.
'Still, it's nice enough that I can at least keep my expression in check.'
Choi Do-hyung must've been losing his mind. For real.
His smug, laid-back expression had completely crumbled under Oh Hana's counterattack. It was so vividly realistic that it felt like soda fizzing refreshingly in my brain.
I finally got why drama writers always shoved in those infuriating, frustrating characters. The cathartic payoff afterward was this delicious.
Maybe he'd overplayed it in front of everyone. Or maybe he just wanted to stand out. Either way, Choi Do-hyung looked flustered and worked up, completely thrown off his rhythm.
"Wow, living together can't be easy."
"Not at all. It was a breeze. Maybe because I like you so much, oppa? Because I like my oppa too much?"
"……."
The real Oh Hana—the one who rarely surfaced—was peeking out. She clearly didn't like Choi Do-hyung one bit, did she?
It reminded me of her early spats with Han Ae-bom.
"What kind of place? Two-room? Or like, apartment monthly rent?"
"One-room! We spread blankets on the floor. Hugging tight in our sleep feels amazing! Like attachment dolls."
At that moment, a few guys nearby covered their mouths with one hand, smacked their lips, and let out soft gasps. You guys pictured it too, huh? Oh Hana hugging you tight and drifting off together.
And honestly? It really is killer.
'Though in reality, it's just that we have no choice but to stick together like magnets.'
Still, glance left to see Han Ae-bom, right to Oh Hana or Yoon Su-ah? Sleeping attached is no big deal. Hell, I could handle stacking.
"Not cramped? I've never lived in a one-room."
"Not even a little? I loved it. So cozy and sweet. Isn't it way more thrilling to start small and level up? It's all experience—experience. That's where true love really blooms."
I was starting to wonder if I was the one getting married today instead of Bon-gyu hyung. Oh Hana was putting on a perfect 100-point bride performance.
By now, anyone would've felt sorry for Choi Do-hyung. Not me. Watching him get utterly demolished by Oh Hana, I half-wondered if he'd been my natural predator in a past life. No need for stress relief anytime soon—this scene alone would do the trick.
I'd just save it to my brain's hard drive and replay as needed.
"Still…."
Right then, a guy and a girl cut in from the side.
Neither looked happy.
"Hey, Choi Do-hyung. Cut it out already? You're getting way too cocky. This isn't curiosity—it's just you picking a fight."
"Yeah, stop. It's embarrassing to watch."
Fair point. Choi Do-hyung probably hadn't planned to go this far from the start. But Oh Hana had hit back hard, and it must've gotten under his skin.
Spilled water can't be poured back, though.
"No, I was just… Hah. Whatever. If they're happy, what more can I say?"
They didn't seem all that malicious. But damn, that stubborn streak. What a thick-headed asshole.
"Man, now I'm the bad guy here. Sorry about that, buddy. I was just genuinely curious. As long as you're happy in that tiny one-room, right?"
He patted my shoulder—tap tap—and it gave me full-body chills, like a bug crawling on me.
Then, right on cue, the elevator doors opened. He hopped in all casual-like. But I was right there in front and caught it: crammed in the corner by the floor buttons, hand aggressively shoved in his pocket, his face twisted like he'd just chewed shit.
"What the hell's his deal?"
The others shot him even more incredulous looks as they piled into the elevator, tossing comments my way.
"You two look like you're doing great. Killer couple. Good stuff."
"Your girl's a keeper, man. Hang on tight. If you ever slip up, hit me up. Heh heh."
"What a psycho. Dude, even joking about that ain't cool."
"Great seeing you after so long. Take it easy. Don't forget that married-couple sushi spot."
"Hope you land that job. Fighting! Sis heading up first."
Ding, the doors slid shut as the "1" switched to "2" and "3."
Clack. Oh Hana hooked her right fist over her left arm like a victory pose and yelled.
"Aja! Victory!"
"……."
This girl….
"Fucking punk. Daring to get cheeky in front of me? I'm Oh Hana! You wanna get wrecked?"
"The kids should've seen that."
"What're you talking about? You always put on the perfect act in front of others. Like newlyweds faking perfection for guests."
"Fair. It was impressive."
"Right? Oh, who was that guy again? Choi Do-ragi?"
Pfft.
"That dude was such a clown. Clearly gunning to embarrass you, oppa—no, straight-up belittle you. Desperate to flex that he's better. Ugh, I hate guys like that. Grosses me out. Makes Ae-bom unnie look even more amazing. Guess that's what being genuinely superior gets you—no need to flaunt it."
"Heh heh."
I laughed in agreement.
Oh Hana was still fired up, unleashing a full rant on Choi Do-hyung right there.
"His speech was so goddamn grating. Voice was total nope too. The second he opened his mouth, my blood was boiling! Look at that smug face—bet he was babied rotten in some rich family. Big deal. Got developed by me. Umhat!"
Where'd a girl like this even drop from? A total standout, oozing charm.
I grinned at Oh Hana, laughing triumphantly like some battlefield general, and said,
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Just… so grateful. Can't think of anything else to say. Thanks."
"Ohonghong, feel free to thank me more! Honestly? I went extra hard 'cause it was for you, oppa."
Eh?
"If it'd been me? I'd brush it off like stepping in shit. Or just high-kick his face. That do-ragi asshole specifically targeted you."
What was this? Green light?
My heart was tingling.
"One punch wouldn't cut it. No real damage. So I wrecked him verbally. Guys like that—living off their superiority complex—can't handle having their ego challenged. Stubborn as hell."
"You know your stuff."
"Duh. You think I've only run into one or two of those online? I'm the guardian of my Genesis oppas. Guardian. Never lost a word war."
Aha.
It clicked instantly. Yeah, she'd never backed down from fellow fans during her stan days. Guess they couldn't take it and escalated physically.
"Ha, what would've I done without you?"
Her face stiffened for a split second at my words. Hallucination? It was so brief. Before I knew it, she was back to normal, jabbing my side with her elbow. Did I imagine it?
"Psh, if I hadn't come, none of this would've happened. They only swarmed 'cause I was glued to your side. If anything, I'm sorry. Feels like I caused a hassle."
I let out a dry chuckle.
"Funny talk. Even so, I like this way better. Imagine being alone in this huge hall, no one chatting you up. Just earbuds in, fake-humming like you're fine."
"Wow. No comment. I almost dropped an F-bomb."
「Ding!」
「First floor.」
The elevator from the 10th floor arrived back at the 1st. Wheelchair users exited first, and we boarded the now emptier car.
Not totally alone, so I took a quiet deep breath inside.
About 20 minutes until the ceremony started—which meant everything that just went down had crammed into those 20 minutes.
'Is this what a mental training chamber feels like?'
The elevator paused at 5 and 8 before hitting the 10th.
The crowd poured out, splitting left and right.
Weddings ran simultaneously in both halls—I'd seen it before.
[Father: Yoon In-woo]
[Mother: Shim Hee-woo] (Groom) Yoon Bon-gyu
[Father: Lee Dong-wook]
[Mother: Lim Ga-sil] (Bride) Lee Ju-ri
Bon-gyu hyung's was in the left hall. Why did something so simple hit me right in the feels?
Like suddenly empathizing with parents sending off their kid to marry. Kinda funny, though.
'Meanwhile, our parents' son doesn't even have a girlfriend.'
Made sense why they'd been over the moon at the slightest hint of me dating when I visited home. A 29-year-old bachelor dropping that bomb? I'd leap too.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
I wondered if my parents would cry at my wedding.
Lost in that thought, Oh Hana spoke up.
"The envelope's over there. How much you putting in?"
"Hmm. Beenng. Stillng even here. I'm a total indecisive mess."
Glancing left, someone who looked like Bon-gyu hyung's older brother was collecting envelopes and handing out meal tickets.
The guys from earlier—including my old classmates—were among those paying up.
Choi Do-hyung's envelope looked thick.
"10,000-won bills."
"You know?"
"I can tell."
How the hell?
Whatever— even at 10k notes, that thickness added up. Must be loaded.
"Sigh."
I smacked my lips while scribbling my name on the envelope.
[Congrats on the wedding]
[Hope you're Happy]
[Kim Hyunwoo]
Did everyone agonize like this? Or just me?
"What matters is your heart, oppa."
"Easy to say. But slap 'money' on it, and suddenly you're overthinking everything."
Some said 100k for close sunbaes/juniors. True pals go 200k. Over 100k? Stick to 100k increments.
Web advice swirled in my head.
I ecided to settle on 100k. A one-room part-timer dropping 200k would just burden hyung. Housewarming gift later could work.
'But two meal tickets for me and Hana… 100k feels cheap?'
I had a last-second waver in my decisions. I reopened the envelope, added another 100k for 200k total. Bit much, but I'd quit smoking—call it my savings. Wasn't like I hit weddings left and right.
"Anyone'd think you were betting your life savings on a horse race. So, how much?"
"Just a decent amount of money."
"Whatever—as long as you're happy with it. How much did you spill?"
"It's a secret."
"Ugh! Ughhh! Now I'm dying to know!"
I dodged her sneaky grab for the envelope and headed to pay it. That's when I spotted someone in my sights—and urgently ducked behind Oh Hana.
"Hello. I'm representing the lab."
No way he'd show too. Damn it.