Moon Domin spoke as if his younger brother needed a lover like this, but I couldn’t give a positive response to that.
When I just gave a subtle smile, Moon Domin nodded as if he understood and left the spot.
I stared blankly at his lonely-looking back as he walked away, then hurriedly sat down as I remembered the warning Yoo Joohwan had given me.
“Would you care to explain why I have to sit here listening to this?”
Kang Taeyun asked Yoo Joohwan, the smile gone from his face.
His gaze demanded an explanation for why he had to walk on eggshells while eating ice cream, and why he had to hear such things from Moon Domin.
Hoping that this meeting—which might be the last—wouldn’t feel so heavy, I carefully spoke up.
“Can we talk about that later? The ice cream is melting…”
I looked at Kang Taeyun cautiously, as if asking for his understanding.
It seemed his pride was quite hurt by the advice he had received from Moon Domin.
At my plea, Kang Taeyun withdrew his sharp gaze, acting as if he couldn’t help but give in.
“This looks really delicious. They say it’s the most popular menu item in the shop.”
To change the atmosphere, I spoke brightly on purpose, picked up a fork, and tore off a piece of the fluffy bread.
Unlike the exciting music playing in the cafe, the sunken atmosphere felt like it would give me indigestion, but I kept chewing busily and put on a happy face.
“If I knew a place like this existed, I would have brought you sooner.”
It was delicious enough that I’d want to come every day if my finances allowed it.
As I ate heartily, Yoo Joohwan, who had been watching me intently, took a bite of ice cream and replied.
“Everyone in Moon Dowon’s family is good at cooking.”
“No wonder… He was so skilled when he came to my house, too. Then what food is he best at?”
“Korean food.”
Moon Dowon answered as if he had been waiting for the question.
His voice sounded much more excited as he said he could make it for me every day if I liked Korean food.
He hinted that I should look forward to it once I moved, but I just nodded indifferently and focused on the dessert and ice cream.
By the time the plates were mostly empty, the phone in my pocket vibrated briefly.
There was only one person who would contact me while I was with these three.
I stood up using the excuse of going to the bathroom.
Moon Dowon tried to get up to guide me, but I stopped him and moved away before taking out my phone.
[We’re meeting at 1 tomorrow, right? I’m so fluttered to meet all your boyfriends at once (∗’ര ᎑ 그려 `∗)]
[I should dress coolly..]
[Pick out the clothes I should wear tomorrow › ᴗ ‹⋆]
[Photo]
[Photo]
[Photo]
[Yellow would be best, right? Since I’m cute. (˵⚈ε⚈˵)]
Kim Seunghyun loved using emoticons at the end of every sentence.
After seeing the messages that felt like an internet novel full of excitement, I felt strange.
The emotions that had been fine until a moment ago felt like they were sinking because of a single message from Kim Seunghyun.
[Do whatever is comfortable. You’ll look cool in anything.]
When I left that short reply, consecutive messages arrived quickly from Kim Seunghyun.
[Really?]
[For real?]
[I look cool in anything? ค(⸝⸝･0･⸝⸝)ค]
[Yeah, you’re cool.]
[ㅋㅋ I’m so happy. What if your boyfriends fall for me?]
Even though I knew he was joking, the text wasn’t pleasant.
Seeing Kim Seunghyun always made me feel uncomfortable, as if I had stolen the three men from him.
The message felt like a final confirmation, making me feel like a villain.
‘No…, I am the villain.’
I realized I could never be a good friend to Kim Seunghyun, no matter what.
[What! Why are you leaving me on read!]
[Don’t worry, if your boyfriends fall for me, then that’s just how it is. If you’re still worried, I’ll dump them for you •̀ㅅ•́]
[Let’s just be happy among ourselves ( ᴗ ̫ ᴗ ) ♡]
[Messenger heart emoticon]
It seemed like he was trying to comfort me in his own way.
I told him I understood and that I’d see him tomorrow, then put the phone in my pocket.
Feeling frustrated, I went to the sink and turned the lever toward the cold water.
Just as Moon Domin had said, this relationship couldn’t last long.
A relationship that wasn’t equal and was tipped too far to one side was bound to see its end eventually.
“I’m going crazy, seriously…”
The reason I felt so troubled despite knowing this was because I still had feelings for the three of them.
It was just that I couldn’t take those feelings back once I let them out, so I had been ignoring them and staying silent.
Deciding not to think too deeply, I walked out of the bathroom to see the two of them finishing up.
Unlike Kang Taeyun, they were talking to Moon Domin and saying their goodbyes.
Seeing Yoo Joohwan and Moon Dowon looking uncomfortable, it seemed they had some kind of conversation with Kang Taeyun while I was gone.
As I approached them with a tired face, Yoo Joohwan spoke with a bright energy as if nothing had happened.
“Why did you come out so late? You were gone so long I thought I’d have to break in there.”
Even though he spoke that way, he seemed worried as he came forward to check on me.
I laughed awkwardly at Yoo Joohwan, who was being overprotective as if something had happened to me just from going to the bathroom.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“You’re moving tomorrow. You’ll have a lot of luggage to organize, so you should go home and rest.”
Seeing Yoo Joohwan say something I actually liked for once, I nodded with a bright face.
Then, Moon Dowon sent Moon Domin off and approached my side.
“It’s not like you’re moving early in the morning, is there a need to send you back so soon? Let’s all go to Seo Siho’s house, have dinner, and then part ways.”
He said he would prepare the food himself and told me not to feel pressured, but it seemed he felt jealous after seeing me enjoy the dessert Moon Domin made.
I shook my head slowly, feeling fatigued.
“Make it for me later. I have a lot to do since I’m moving tomorrow, and I think ordering delivery would be more comfortable.”
“If you say so. We have plenty of time.”
Knowing that I would be moving into his house anyway, Moon Dowon didn’t insist.
I thought we were going to part ways like this, but Kang Taeyun, who had been sitting quietly in his chair listening, suddenly asked.
“Since we’re out, should we take a photo?”
“A photo? What photo?”
Yoo Joohwan tilted his head and asked Kang Taeyun.
He looked at him with a gaze that mocked the idea of the two of them taking a photo together, but Kang Taeyun didn’t even flinch.
From Kang Taeyun’s staring eyes, I realized he was jealous of the photo I had taken with Kim Seunghyun.
Just as I was about to say something while looking at his glistening eyes, Yoo Joohwan playfully poked Kang Taeyun’s cheek.
“Why aren’t you answering? What kind of photo would we take? Don’t tell me… did you want to take a photo with me that badly?”
“Stop it.”
Kang Taeyun furrowed his brows as if he disliked the unexpected physical contact.
His tone was chillingly low, but Yoo Joohwan didn’t care and laughed brightly like a child.
“It’s been so long since we’ve known each other, but it’s true we don’t have any photos together, right? Except for group photos.”
“Juhwan. I said I want to take one with Siho, not you.”
“Yeah, I know. You mean you want to take one with me, Moon Dowon, and Seo Siho all together. You think I don’t know you?”
Ignoring Kang Taeyun’s distorting expression, Yoo Joohwan interpreted it however he wanted and slyly placed a hand on one of his shoulders.
As his hand stroked the shoulder as if lightly gripping it, Kang Taeyun frowned and pushed Yoo Joohwan away.
If they weren’t close friends, the atmosphere would have turned ugly.
People around them watching the two were reacting with things like, “Kya, what do I do! Amazing. Crazy.”
I had temporarily forgotten that this was a cafe. Exhausted by the surrounding reactions, Kang Taeyun let out a sigh and spoke.
“Let’s stop.”
“Alright. You’re so prickly. You know there’s a photo studio right in front of here, right? Should we take a heavy one like a family portrait and hang it in a big frame?”
“Juhwan, who takes photos like that these days? Let’s take ‘Life Four Cuts’.”
“Life Four Cuts? I’ve never taken those before. Have you? No, wait a minute. How do you know about Life Four Cuts? You, who can’t even have a cultural life because you’re so busy working.”
