X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the Server“Why can’t I say that? What’s wrong with it?”
“Then tell me why you thought it would be fine.”
“We were just joking around.”
“Didn’t you consider that the other person might misunderstand that joke?”
“Oh, come on, is Seo Gi-hyeon really the type to care about something like that?”
“Normally, no. But when it concerns me, it’s a different story.”
As I pressed him relentlessly, Park Jun-sung narrowed the space between his brows, having caught on to something.
“Wait, was Seo Gi-hyeon acting strangely these past few days because of that?”
“You caught on so quickly, I almost want to applaud you.”
“…No, that can’t be it. Anyone else, maybe, but Seo Gi-hyeon wouldn’t suddenly act like that because of something so trivial.”
“You just said he’d suddenly act like this if it concerned me. If Gi-hyeon knew I suggested we switch rooms, he’d probably be thrilled.”
Suddenly, a sigh escaped me. While Park Jun-sung was the instigator, I was, in a way, also to blame.
Discussions about Seo Gi-hyeon’s lifestyle often arose, so Park Jun-sung and Jang Gi-jae criticizing him wasn’t usually something he’d take offense to.
However, if I were the one to bring it up, the situation became entirely different. Seo Gi-hyeon already took my jokes seriously, so what if he found out that I, his roommate, had spoken about him in such a way?
He would undoubtedly be shocked. It wasn’t because I had badmouthed him behind his back.
When we first started living together, I had tried to talk to him about it a few times. But I soon realized it was too difficult for him, so we found a compromise.
I would prepare breakfast, and in return, Seo Gi-hyeon would buy groceries whenever he met his uncle. On normal days, I would tidy up, and Seo Gi-hyeon would vacuum and take out the trash.
We had lived like that for over a year.
If he were to suddenly learn that I, after all this time, had approached someone else first and suggested changing roommates, he would surely take it seriously.
Even if it was a joke to me, it wouldn’t be to Seo Gi-hyeon.
“I swear, I was just saying it to be funny.”
“Right. But the other person didn’t find it funny.”
“No, I bet he laughed?”
I glared at Park Jun-sung, my expression stern.
“……I was just trying to tell you to treat me better, and that’s how the conversation came up.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
I couldn’t entirely blame Park Jun-sung, as our conversation had indeed been the kind of casual banter close friends would share. More than half of what friends say to each other can be insults, so this was just a light, passing exchange.
In that sense, Seo Gi-hyeon’s sudden change in behavior after hearing those words was definitely extreme.
However, I couldn’t continue to ignore Seo Gi-hyeon’s misunderstanding.
“Park Jun-sung.”
“Yeah.”
“Tell me exactly what you said back then. Don’t leave anything out.”
As I stared at him with wide eyes, he vigorously nodded his head.
****
Park Jun-sung returned to his room immediately after finishing his story. It was a relief that he wasn’t so clueless as to remain there after seeing my expression.
I carefully replayed the conversation we’d had. All the worry I’d harbored felt hollow and futile.
‘Oh, right. We also talked about clubs.’
‘Clubs?’
‘Yeah. I asked you why you hadn’t joined any.’
‘What exactly did you say?’
‘What do you mean, what did I say? I asked you, and you said it was a hassle, and that you’d rather study in that time.’
‘You must have also mentioned what I found bothersome. Whether it was club activities or Seo Gi-hyeon himself.’
‘Huh? Oh. Hey, you said both were a hassle back then!’
‘I definitely didn’t answer. You just assumed that on your own.’
‘……Wow. That’s unfair.’
‘Is this really the time for you to complain about unfairness?’
Why was this guy, who usually brushed things off, so meticulous only in this situation? Park Jun-sung had recounted everything to Seo Gi-hyeon as if he’d memorized a script—every single word of our conversation.
Consequently, I had become the person who found Seo Gi-hyeon more bothersome than anyone else.
But the misunderstanding didn’t end there.
‘And… that, you… you said you seemed to be struggling a bit.’
‘Struggling with what?’
‘Uh… taking the same classes as Seo Gi-hyeon.’
Ah.
Another forgotten detail suddenly surfaced.
‘You try taking classes with Gi-hyeon.’
Why did I say something so foolish?
It wasn’t meant to imply that being with Seo Gi-hyeon was difficult, but it had been conveyed with a completely different meaning. I had simply meant that the classes themselves were hard.
Switch rooms, switch classes. Even if it was a joke, I shouldn’t have said such things.
‘I have to admit what’s true. I was a bit selfish.’
‘I never said that to you.’
‘Right. You never said that to me. Im Jeong-woo is too kind to ever say something like that.’
Though I hadn’t said it directly, I was the one who made Seo Gi-hyeon feel that way about himself.
‘I really didn’t deserve to be a roommate. And even now, I don’t seem to.’
Seo Gi-hyeon, who had never once been intimidated in front of anyone, including myself, had said that.
Damn it.
My heart ached. The thought of him, who was now subtly watching me not just in the dorm but even at school, tormented me.
[Where are you?]
Within seconds of pressing the send button, a reply came as if he had been waiting.
Seo Gi-hyeon: [Jason’s room]
[Who’s that?]
Seo Gi-hyeon: [David’s cousin]
It seemed Seo Gi-hyeon had made a new friend in the meantime.
Seo Gi-hyeon: [But why?]
[Just wondering when you’d be back.]
Seo Gi-hyeon: [I’ll be there in a bit.]
[When is ‘in a bit’]
Seo Gi-hyeon: [Maybe 30 minutes?]
However, 30 minutes passed, then an hour, but Seo Gi-hyeon didn’t return.
[Where are you?]
No reply came.
As dinnertime approached, I called him, but he didn’t answer immediately. On the third call, after several rings, someone finally picked up. It wasn’t Seo Gi-hyeon, though.
– Hello?
The clumsy Korean I heard over the receiver clearly belonged to someone else.
“Is Gi-hyeon there?”
– Uh… Gi-hyeon is sleeping right now.
After that, the person began speaking in English. Through our brief conversation, I learned that he was Jason, David’s cousin, and his Korean was limited to basic greetings. I also found out he was the same age as us and lived on the floor directly below ours.
[Won’t he wake up?]
– At this rate, he wouldn’t wake up even if there was an earthquake.
[Then, what about forcing him awake?]
– It feels a bit like kicking him out, and I don’t know him well enough.
‘Is it okay for someone you don’t know well to be sleeping in your room?’
– I can wait until he wakes up. As long as he doesn’t sleep until tomorrow.
It was a considerate offer, but if I left him, he would likely wake up in the middle of the night.
[I’ll come over right now.]
– Oh, really? Are you sure?
[You said you felt bad waking him up. I know him well, so I should be the one to do it. I’ll come down and knock on your door.]
As soon as I hung up, I threw on a hoodie and headed downstairs.
Jason, in person, greeted me warmly. Of course, I replied with a smile, but in truth, it wasn’t a welcome situation at all.
[Come in.]
Jason gestured towards a corner of the living room.
[Maybe I should have just woken him up after all. I feel bad, like I deliberately made you come.]
[You’re not the one who should feel bad.]
Seo Gi-hyeon, deep in slumber, was sleeping on someone else’s sofa. He had apparently been in this state for over an hour. When I sighed, the room’s owner playfully asked,
[How are you going to wake him up? A flick on the forehead, tickling, or do you need some ice?]
None of those.
As I approached, I saw Seo Gi-hyeon sleeping with his arms crossed. The face I saw every day somehow felt new and welcome. At this point, I truly had a problem.
“Wake up.”
The long eyelashes on his tightly closed eyes twitched.
“Let’s go back to our room.”
His usually unruly hair, which he often complained about, had grown quite a bit. Pushing back his bangs, which had fallen to one side, revealed his smooth forehead. His excessively youthful face was, as always, unchanging.
“Aren’t you coming?”
After I nudged his shoulder a couple of times, his closed eyelids slowly opened, revealing clear eyes. Seo Gi-hyeon, upon seeing me, ran a palm across his face. Anyone could tell he was still half-asleep.
“…I’m coming.”
I picked up Seo Gi-hyeon’s phone and card key from the table. I tapped his back, and he slowly rose from his seat.
Jason, who had been watching us all this time, remarked,
[Hmm, it seems the princess needed her prince after all.]
I knew it was a joke, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh.
Loving this chapter? You'll be hooked on I Just Wanted An Ordinary Life This Time! Click to explore more!
Read : I Just Wanted An Ordinary Life This Time
