Chapter 10: A Familiar Proximity

“I appreciate the thought, but our main focus is women’s apparel.”

“You don’t have any men’s clothes at all?”

“We have a few unisex items, but I doubt any would fit you.”

“How rude! A malicious business discriminating against customers based on their physique. I didn’t take you for that type.”

“Neighbors! We have a pest over here!”

They bickered playfully, a childish verbal spar, as they roughly finished organizing the clothes. Jung-hyun’s help was needed elsewhere as well.

Despite ‘DIY’ being boldly printed on the box, Yoon Tae-jeong had apparently bought the clothes rack thinking it was pre-assembled. Jung-hyun helped her put it together and even volunteered to mop.

He had arrived, boasting of his help, only to almost leave after merely touring the house. Thanks to his contributions, he managed to save face.

Brushing his hands together, Jung-hyun returned to the living room, where Yoon Tae-jeong greeted him with a welcome remark.

“I think it’s time for lunch. Delivery would be best, right?”

“Yep.”

“Chinese food?”

“Absolutely!”

Having skipped breakfast again today, the mere mention of Chinese food made his mouth water. He rubbed his rumbling stomach, scrolling through his phone, when the doorbell finally chimed.

Since their new dining table had yet to be delivered, the three of them settled on the living room floor. As they busily stirred their jajangmyeon, an unfamiliar voice suddenly emanated from somewhere.

Yoon Tae-jeong had turned on the TV with the remote control.

Jung-hyun’s eyes, drawn inadvertently to the screen, sparkled. A popular reality dating show, which he occasionally enjoyed and which garnered immense popularity every season, was on.

He hadn’t been able to watch the latest episodes due to his busy schedule, so Jung-hyun kept his eyes fixed on the TV screen even while eating. Yoon Tae-jeong also joined him for a short break.

“Is that an actor? I’ve never seen that face before, but they’re handsome.”

The reply came from Jung-hyun.

“Haven’t you seen this show before?”

“Oh. Is it famous?”

“It’s a dating show where ordinary people get matched up, and it’s surprisingly watchable. See that guy in the black shirt? He’s incredibly charming.”

The tip of his chopsticks pointed to a man on the screen. Truth be told, for an Alpha, he was rather reserved and not very talkative, so his presence wasn’t overwhelming. Yet, in Jung-hyun’s heart, he was the undisputed top pick.

His preference for mature individuals wasn’t mere lip service.

While he might be drawn to the so-called ‘bad boy’ type, the people who made him feel comfortable and reliable were these steadfast, honest types. …Though, he hadn’t lasted long with them, either.

“Is that your type of face?”

“It’s more about his personality seeming good, rather than his face.”

“Right. Personality is important too.”

Yoon Tae-jeong, who had been nodding in agreement, suddenly looked at Jung-hyun with a thoughtful expression. She swallowed the food in her mouth and immediately began to speak.

“Are you perhaps interested in a marriage agency?”

“A marriage agency?”

“Yeah. Actually, my fiancé works for one. I’m completely clueless about that field, but from what I hear, quite a lot of people end up getting married through agencies.”

“I have a friend who did.”

“Really?”

Yoon Tae-jeong, her face lighting up, asked again before adding a few sincere words.

“I just meant that such cases exist, nothing else. They say he’s doing well on his own merits and getting a lot of incentives. Anyway, you know how I feel, right, sis?”

“Of course.”

Having seen her in the past, Jung-hyun didn’t need words to understand her meaning. He smiled brightly, assuring her he wouldn’t misunderstand, then shifted his gaze back to the TV. Yet, in his mind, he replayed the words he had just heard.

‘A marriage agency, huh?’

He had often seen advertisements for them and heard vivid stories from his friends, but he hadn’t been particularly interested. While his relationships tended to be short-lived, meeting people itself wasn’t difficult for him.

If he put his mind to it, he could easily meet people at clubs or bars, and his acquaintances often offered to set him up on blind dates.

‘Still, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to sign up while I’m at it.’

The reason wasn’t anything else. It was because Yoon Tae-jeong’s future spouse worked for a marriage agency. Hoping to be of some help, he called out to Yoon Tae-jeong.

“Sis.”

“Hmm?”

“I’d like to sign up too. What’s the agency’s name?”

Yoon Tae-jeong, who had been slurping down her jjamppong noodles, hastily broke the strands and wiped her mouth with a tissue. She immediately waved her hand, continuing her thought.

“You don’t have to do it just for me. Oh, I shouldn’t have even mentioned it.”

“No, it’s fine. Hearing about it piqued my interest, and it’s been a long time since I’ve dated, so I want to meet some people.”

The former was a white lie, but the latter was the truth. Somehow, he had been living a glamorous yet lonely single life for over a year now.

Fortunately, this topic had come up earlier when he was doing the dishes, so Yoon Tae-jeong seemed to readily accept it.

“Okay, I’ll send you the website address later. …I really didn’t mean to, but it feels like I stumbled backward and found some money.”

Her apt analogy made him laugh. Soon after, Yoon Tae-jeong made a slightly different request.

“By the way, can you change how you address me? I didn’t notice it before, but now it sounds like a gigolo calling a middle-aged madam.”

“Really? Then…”

Jung-hyun trailed off, wiggling one eyebrow mischievously, and spoke in an oily voice.

“Tae-jeong-ssi?”

His genuinely gigolo-like behavior made Yoon Tae-jeong burst into laughter. They chuckled, looking at each other, before amicably agreeing on ‘Noona’.

The pleasant time concluded when Yoon Tae-jeong stood up, stating she had another appointment and needed to leave. Jung-hyun accompanied her to the front door with the homeowner to see her off.

“It was really great seeing you today. Let’s see each other often, like in the old days.”

“Yep. It was great seeing you too, Noona.”

Hearing the changed honorific, Yoon Tae-jeong smiled with satisfaction.

“I’ll contact you later. I’m off, then?”

In response to the words directed at him, Yoon Tae-yeol merely gave an unenthusiastic nod. *Click*. The front door closed, leaving only the two men in the house.

“Are you going to eat more?”

“No.”

“Then we should clean up.”

If it were his own home, he would have taken his sweet time cleaning, but somehow, being at someone else’s house spurred him to diligence.

Jung-hyun hummed a tune, stacking the empty dishes. Generosity often stems from a full stomach, and with his belly satisfied, his mind felt much more at ease.

Meanwhile, Yoon Tae-yeol briefly left the room. Jung-hyun assumed he had gone to the bathroom and continued cleaning, but contrary to his expectation, Yoon Tae-yeol reappeared from the kitchen, holding a cup.

“Here, drink this.”

“What is it?”

“Iced coffee.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Jung-hyun gladly brought the cup directly to his lips. But soon, he made a disgruntled expression and requested something.

“No sugar or syrup?”

“No.”

Indeed, it wasn’t an item one would expect to find in the home of someone who had just moved in today. It was practically like he had moved in with nothing but the clothes on his back, rather than transferring existing belongings.

‘At least I’m getting coffee.’

Contenting himself with what he had, he sat on the sofa, deciding to have a quick coffee break. The TV, still on, continued to broadcast the dating show.

Jung-hyun quickly became engrossed in the situation unfolding on screen. The intense rivalry between two Alphas over one Omega contestant, which had generated significant buzz since the preview, was incredibly thrilling.

As he watched with rapt attention, Yoon Tae-yeol, also holding a coffee cup, belatedly plopped down next to him. Simultaneously, his leg lightly brushed against Jung-hyun’s, who had been sitting there first.

Jung-hyun’s expression, as he glanced down, became subtly strange. It wasn’t because of the contact itself.

Both were wearing shorts and sitting in similar postures, yet their forms were markedly different. Yoon Tae-yeol’s thighs were significantly thicker, and his knees protruded several centimeters further forward.

Even though neither was sprawling lazily and both had their backs pressed against the sofa, the difference was clear.

It was a scene he had often witnessed during his school days. When they chartered a bus for away games or training, Jung-hyun always sat next to Yoon Tae-yeol.

After a few months, when they had grown quite close, Jung-hyun heard him make a joke for the first time.

‘You’re lucky, senior.’

‘Lucky for what?’

‘Because you have plenty of space.’

‘What was that, you brat?’

He should have asserted his authority then. At the time, he was too busy trying to maintain his composure, let alone discipline him.

Even seeing him every day, he still wanted to see him, so he would steal glances. If he caught a faint smile, his own mood would brighten.

Sometimes, when the sleeping boy’s body would lean and touch him, he had to work tirelessly to calm his heart, which would thump like a broken machine.

Yoon Tae-yeol would probably never know, even if he died and came back to life.

Now, about ten years later, that very person was sitting next to him in the exact same situation as back then. A mischievous impulse seized Jung-hyun.

He set his empty coffee cup on the floor, shifted his hips slightly inward, and then casually rested both of his legs squarely on Yoon Tae-yeol’s thigh.

“Oh, I’m so tired.”

Then, he stretched out, leaning his head against the sofa’s armrest. His eyes returned to the TV screen.

He half-expected to be flung off, but thankfully, that didn’t happen. Instead, he felt another sensation. Something heavy touched his leg, and Jung-hyun merely rolled his eyes to look down. Yoon Tae-yeol’s arm was resting on his leg.