I am not a Yandere EPILOGUE 5

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A few kisses later, the mix of excitement and awkwardness left the atmosphere in a curious haze.

Straightening his rumpled clothing, Yeongdeok looked at Jihoon and said,

“Seo Jihoon, there’s something I’d like to propose to you.”

“What is it?” Jihoon asked, tilting his head.

“Move back into the house next door.”

“What?” Jihoon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Who could ever refuse the idea of living next to their beloved?

He wanted to say yes immediately, but reason held him back.

Moving would be a hassle, and there were too many logistics to consider.

“I’d like to, but… moving all my furniture and stuff again would be a pain.”

“You don’t need to move anything. Everything you need is already there.”

“Huh?”

“All you have to do is bring yourself.”

Jihoon’s face softened at the dreamlike suggestion, but again, his rational mind stopped him.

“No, I can’t. I feel like I’d be imposing on you too much. I haven’t even paid back the money I borrowed yet.”

“You don’t need to pay it back. And I want you by my side.”

“…”

“Are you really going to turn me down after I’ve said this much?”

Jihoon’s lips trembled as if words were struggling to escape.

Eventually, he twisted his wrist, his entire body shaking.

Yeongdeok regarded his strange behavior with curiosity.

“What are you doing?”

“No, it’s just that I like you so much… I almost swore just now, but I managed to hold it in.”

“After all the swearing you’ve done already, that’s rich.”

“I’m really trying not to swear in front of you, though!” Jihoon protested, feeling wronged.

He insisted that Yeongdeok didn’t truly understand how much effort he put into behaving differently around him compared to his friends.

But Yeongdeok could imagine; it must be the same as when Jihoon first moved in.

“So, are you accepting my proposal?”

“Of course. But if you tell me to leave someday, I’ll leave right away.”

“Cute.”

Yeongdeok’s hand landed softly on Jihoon’s head, brushing his reddish-brown hair with gentle strokes.

Jihoon, who had been quietly enjoying the affectionate touch, suddenly wrapped his arms around Yeongdeok in a tight hug.

“I like you, hyung.”

“I know.”

How could he not, when Jihoon wore his heart so openly?

Watching Jihoon cling to him like an affectionate puppy, Yeongdeok couldn’t help but smile.

ꔚ

A few days later, Jihoon returned to the house next door, bringing only a few essential belongings.

“It hasn’t even been that long, but it feels like it’s been ages,” Jihoon said as he wandered through Yeongdeok’s house, which he used to live in.

It felt strange, as if it wasn’t his anymore.

Yet the walls, the floor, the furniture, everything felt just like before.

“What the heck? It’s just like when I lived here.”

“Of course. I recreated it to be similar.”

“You… seriously…”

Jihoon felt a swirl of emotions toward Yeongdeok, who always acted beyond the bounds of common sense.

But one thing was certain—he was deeply loved.

No, not just “deeply.” At this point, it was overwhelming.

“Hyung, how much do you like me?”

He didn’t expect an answer.

Yeongdeok wasn’t the type to give straightforward responses to questions like this.

He anticipated a sharp glare or a curt remark instead.

“You’re really testing me. Are your eyes just for decoration?”

Yeongdeok’s expression softened, his smile so warm it made his usual stoic demeanor seem like a distant memory.

Even without a direct response, Jihoon knew what he meant and couldn’t stop himself from hugging him again.

“You’re so bad at expressing yourself.”

“And yet the one who confessed first is standing right here.”

“Yeah, how did that even happen?” Jihoon muttered, lamenting his own life choices, yet he didn’t let go of Yeongdeok.

“I confessed first, but you’re the one who asked me to stay by your side. Even if you tell me to leave one day, I’ll never let go. Just so you know.”

“You worry about the strangest things.”

Yeongdeok had no intention of letting him go either.

That’s why he had given him the house next door.

But he kept his possessive thoughts carefully hidden, brushing a hand gently over Jihoon’s nape.

ꔚ

After regaining his peaceful life, Yeongdeok considered reopening his store, which had been forced to close thanks to PetitRolang losing his authorial powers.

Now, Jihoon, once just a part-time worker, had become his lover and moved back next door.

But before that…

“Seo Jihoon.”

“Yeah?” Jihoon, who had been hugging him from behind with his face buried in his shoulder, raised his head slightly.

“Your semester starts soon, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Time flies.”

“Before that, why don’t we go somewhere?”

“You mean like a trip?”

Jihoon, who had been clinging to him like glue, perked up, looking intrigued.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Yeongdeok had never traveled for leisure before.

Business trips were the closest thing he’d experienced.

“Don’t you have anywhere you want to see?”

“Not really. I haven’t been to many places.”

“Then how about the beach?”

“The beach?”

“You have to visit at least once during the summer.”

Yeongdeok recalled a photo Jihoon had sent him once, taken in front of the sea.

“Haven’t you already gone? It seems inefficient.”

“What, do you think there’s only one beach in the whole world?”

“But all beaches are pretty much the same, aren’t they?”

Yeongdeok’s comment made sense, and Jihoon found himself nodding.

Sand and water—that’s all a beach is.

But then he froze, realizing something.

Wait. Am I really agreeing with this?

He thought about how people say you start to resemble the person you like and wondered if his emotions had dried up after spending so much time with Yeongdeok.

“Hey… this would be our first trip together!”

“A change in company makes a difference?”

“Let’s go. We’ll see the ocean and eat some fresh seafood!”

Yeongdeok nodded, indifferent about the destination but wanting to fulfill Jihoon’s wish.

“Any suggestions?”

“Somewhere not too far, so we can come back easily.”

“Why would we come back so soon?”

“Aren’t we just going for the day? If we want to minimize travel time…” Jihoon trailed off, blinking at Yeongdeok’s puzzled expression.

“Why would it be a day trip?”

“Wait… are you saying we’d stay overnight?”

Jihoon, who hadn’t expected much from the two-day trip, froze at Yeongdeok’s words.

“Is it that you don’t have time?”

“No, I mean… if it’s an overnight trip, anywhere is fine.”

Struggling to regain his composure, Jihoon replied as calmly as he could.

He was mentally preparing for a trip that might stretch as far as Jeju Island or Busan, but then Yeongdeok mentioned a destination that went beyond Jihoon’s wildest imagination.

“I hear the view of the sea from Santorini is beautiful. Santorini sounds like a good option.”

The composure Jihoon had just regained cracked again.

Hearing about someone who flew all the way to Italy just because they wanted pasta had once made him think, ‘What kind of lunatic does that?’

But now he realized that Yeongdeok was one of those lunatics.

The kind of guy who might hop on a plane to China just to eat mala hot pot.

“Santorini? Are you out of your mind? I don’t have that kind of money.”

“With me around, why are you worried about money?”

“Didn’t you just say the ocean looks the same no matter where you see it?”

“Well, since it’d be the first ocean I see with you, I wanted it to be somewhere nice. Is that not okay?”

“…No, it’s fine!”

Jihoon, who had been trying to argue by quoting Yeongdeok’s earlier words, found himself agreeing in the face of such a sweet response.

‘How is that even fair?’

“Then it’s settled.”

“Still… I don’t want to put all the burden on you. Let’s save a trip like that for later.”

Yeongdeok didn’t feel burdened even if Jihoon brought along a few friends, but sensing Jihoon’s unease, he decided to respect his opinion.

“Understood. So, where do you think we should go?”

“Let’s look together. Sounds good?”

“Alright.”

“It’s easier to search on a laptop than a phone, so I’ll grab mine.”

Jihoon left briefly to fetch his laptop and returned shortly, sitting down beside Yeongdeok.

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TRANSLATOR: I will only release 5 chapters a week for the remaining because I will be busy translating a new novel!

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