Chapter 7 – Her Living Room
[Fuck, I’m jealous of Yasugak.]
It was a message from Wonwoo. That means.
“This station is Euljiro Entrance. This is Euljiro 1-ga Station. The station you will get off at is…”
Don’t ask?
It meant that he asked after careful consideration.
If you’re a fucking man, you should say it.
… Of course, it’s definitely not for an insidious purpose. The weather was very cold yesterday, so I’m going because I feel a moral responsibility for calling me here. To put it simply, I will take responsibility for ‘you caught a cold because you came out to see me.’
[Hey, buy a condom, don’t be a dick]
[That’s not what I’m going for, so don’t get caught]
[You don’t know, so do you have to do it just because you bought something?]
That is correct.
As soon as I got off at Hongik University Station, I headed straight to a nearby convenience store. At that moment, I ran out of cigarettes. So I went into the convenience store thinking I was going to buy cigarettes.
“Welcome.”
Even though it was a weekday morning, there was a female part-timer at the convenience store.
I’m worried.
“A pack of This Plus and that…”
She has bright yellow hair that looks like it has been bleached, tied up in a messy bun, and looks at me through round glasses with a serious look in her eyes. I was overwhelmed by the warning that I should quickly choose and get out of the way, so I ordered as if I was possessed by something.
“… Nose, please give me a condom.”
The part-timer tilted her head at those words for a moment, then pointed behind me and blurted out.
“Please choose, and we will pay for you.”
Ah…
Condoms are not bought by asking part-time workers like cigarettes.
I noticed that my part-time worker was trying desperately to hold back his laughter when he saw me turning towards the condom in a sloppy manner.
Sorry, I didn’t know. Because I never had anything to write about in my life.
“Hmm…”
Perhaps it goes without saying, but there were a huge variety of condoms. There were condoms with animals and fruits drawn on them, and surprisingly, there were also condoms with celebrities on them. Meanwhile, what caught my eye.
‘I can’t stand Mr. Shin Dong-yeop.’
I chose it because it felt incredibly trustworthy.
Surprisingly, condoms were not classified as adult products and were fully discounted and accumulated. After living as an idiot for 21 years, I am learning things today that I would not have known in my entire life.
“Where do we go from here…”
When I searched the address that author Hyeji sent me on her map app, I found that she had to walk a long way from the station. When I switched buses, the interval between buses was vague, and I had to walk quite a bit to get off, so it wasn’t much different from just walking.
Today, unlike last time, I am fully prepared and wearing long padding, so shall I take a walk?
As I was looking at the map and trying to find my way, I suddenly noticed people smoking in a corner.
Since I bought new cigarettes, I thought I’d smoke one and go.
‘… Just in case.’
I also decided not to smoke.
I’ll have to smoke a lot later.
###
“Phew.”
After walking for about 15 minutes, we arrived at a place where there were many faded red brick mansions. The author’s house was similar. Unlike the colorful and energetic streets of Hongdae, this alley has a calm atmosphere where many people seem to be sleeping somewhere.
Among the red mansions at the entrance of the alley, one that looked particularly old was the home of writer Hyeji.
‘Am I doing well right now?’
After all, the house is also small. My body trembled for a moment, worried that I might be dragged in like this and become a victim of organ trafficking.
‘He was just a pervert, but he was a good person.’
I decided to trust it and go in.
The sound of the door opening is very loud. Every time I go down the stairs, I am reminded of my semi-basement life.
“No. B02. No. B02…”
There are three in the basement alone in the house, but all the nameplates were gone, so it was a bit difficult to find them. After checking the B02 written in magic on the old front door, I rang the bell.
Ding.
Dong.
Ding while pressing.
Move while taking your hands off.
It was a real old-fashioned bell. There isn’t even a door lock.
At that time, I silently lamented that there were still a lot of houses like this in Seoul.
Clap, click.
With the sound of the front door opening, she greeted me with her dying voice from beyond her door.
“You really came… Thank you.”
“No, whatever.”
Put on your clothes and come out.
I scratched the bridge of my nose and slightly looked away. I was only wearing a t-shirt with a stretchy neck, but it was white, so it was completely transparent.
A person with a fever is wrapped up in fleece pajamas. Why is he wearing something that looks like dolphin pants, exposing his menacing thighs?
Really.
It’s really threatening…
“Come on in…”
She said that in a cracked voice and turned her back. I took off my shoes and followed her inside.
Artist Hyeji’s residence was an open studio where the kitchen was a studio, a clothing room, and even a bedroom. Still, I guess I’m greedy for equipment due to my lack of household skills, so I’ve made sure to provide a working space, including a graphic tablet and a standing desk.
Next to the desk, there is a small bookshelf that is tall only at the top and does not take up much space on the sides, and is filled with books that are helpful in drawing human body proportions and animation characters.
“You live really hard.”
“High-level illustrations, crunch! Because you will become an authority… Cough!”
Even though she was coughing, she steadily revealed her aspirations, and even though she looked cool, she didn’t faint.
I placed my hand on her forehead as she lay on the bed and groaned.
“I have quite a fever.”
“Sick… “I feel like my whole body has been hit.”
“Shall I get some fever reducer?”
“Yes, please.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Well, um…”
It seems like there is, but it looks like he can’t say anything because he’s being watched.
“It’s okay, so tell me.”
“Well, actually… I’ve been so groggy since last night that I couldn’t eat anything…”
I’m hungry. This is it. Why do you make it so difficult to say that?
“There was a convenience store on the way here. “I’ll pick up some oatmeal on the way.”
“No, ah, that’s um…” .”
Isn’t this it?
The request she made with difficulty in her quiet voice.
“Please give me some vegetable oatmeal…” .”
It was very unexpected.
“I can’t cook.”
“Still, I want to eat the food they make…”
“Or I’ll buy it from somewhere like Bonjuk. That would be much more delicious…”
“Hey…”
Is he crazy? Why is he like this?
It was ridiculous, but the sight of her snorting and fawning while not being able to control herself properly due to the heat brought a smile to her face, almost out of reflex.
To be honest, you look prettier because it hurts. It was a moment when I understood with my own skin why Moe, a sickly attribute, appeared.
But cute is cute.
“But I really can’t cook.”
“It’s okay.”
“Is there a reason why it has to be a dish prepared for you rather than something you buy?”
I would do it, but she wasn’t really confident in her cooking, so I asked her in a slightly brusque tone.
She answered, covering herself with a blanket and curling up because it was cold.
“It warms my heart…”
Hmm.
I fell silent for a moment at her words.
Even if there were various reasons, it would not have been easy for her to leave her quiet hometown and live in a crowded alley in Seoul.
I might have missed the human scent.
“… “I can’t take responsibility even if it doesn’t taste good.”
“Author Simikun also makes it. Let’s eat together.”
“It’s Lee Se-gwang.”
“Writer Se-gwang’s too… Sorry. “I can’t remember the name well.”
She sticks out her tongue and laughs, as if embarrassed.
It’s so cute and pretty.
It’s unofficial, but if you can comfort the loneliness of the most beautiful girl in Gangwon-do with a bowl of oatmeal, it can be considered a profitable business.
“Don’t feel pressured. I will memorize the name first. Writer Hyeji.”
At those words, she widened her eyes for a moment.
“Good to hear…”
She laughed like that again.
That innocent expression makes people excited, but even if you look down just a little, you can clearly see the cleavage of her slightly sweaty T-shirt, which makes Juji feel excited.
“Okay, then I’ll go out for a bit.”
I left her house, trying to calm down her furiously fluttering body and mind.
