Chapter 20: Dinner and Disclosures

On the drive back, Ma Won-ho remained behind the wheel. Lee Dohwa had settled into the back seat first, occupying the same spot as their journey here. Despite the slight traffic, which coincided with rush hour, they arrived even faster than the navigation system had predicted.

After only two days, the mansion was already beginning to feel familiar.

“We’re here!”

“We’re back.”

Stepping out of the car and into the humid, hot air, then entering the cool embrace of the house felt like crossing into another world.

“Let’s rest a bit before dinner.”

Ma Won-ho placed the bags in front of the kitchen and then plopped down onto the living room sofa. Chaeyeon-woo immediately headed upstairs, but Lee Dohwa, too weary to climb the stairs just yet, also sank onto the sofa.

“Here, water.”

“Thank you.”

Kang Hae-il approached the two on the sofa, offering them two cups of water. It was a quiet gesture they had come to expect whenever their throats felt dry.

Spending two days together had made Lee Dohwa realize, in subtle ways, how much consideration they were receiving from everyone. It felt like they hadn’t spent this much continuous time with people even back in their student days.

Despite quenching their thirst with water, Lee Dohwa’s throat still felt oddly parched.

“I was so thirsty; I feel human again now.”

After receiving water from Kang Hae-il, Ma Won-ho stood up and went straight to the second floor. He was likely going to wash up and change into more comfortable clothes.

Lee Dohwa remained on the sofa, taking deep, measured breaths against the backdrop of faint ambient sounds.

“I’ll go change my clothes too.”

“Go ahead.”

Kang Hae-il reached out a hand to Lee Dohwa, picking up the water glass Ma Won-ho had left behind.

“Thanks.”

Handing over the cup, Lee Dohwa watched Kang Hae-il’s retreating back as they ascended the stairs and disappeared into the kitchen.

Having not been called, Lee Dohwa rested a little longer in their room before emerging late, only to find everyone gathered in the kitchen.

Ma Won-ho, apron-clad, was bustling about, his movements immediately catching Lee Dohwa’s eye. Jae-hyun and Chaeyeon-woo seemed to be assisting, but the overall impression was one of cheerful chaos.

Presumably, the other two were also milling about the kitchen, searching for tasks to contribute.

Everyone glanced at Lee Dohwa as they quietly entered, offering simple nods of greeting. Slipping into the familiar space, Lee Dohwa found themselves in the exact same spot as yesterday.

“Did you start the rice?”

“Yes, I’m about to make the soup.”

“Bulgogi… I’ll do the seasoning.”

Lee Dohwa took charge of the bulgogi, which had been left aside, and periodically handed Ma Won-ho any ingredients he seemed to need.

“Go on and sit down.”

At Ma Won-ho’s words, Woo Sori and Chaeyeon-woo, who had been standing by, retreated from the kitchen. As yesterday, Kang Hae-il was tasked with prepping ingredients, while Lee Dohwa checked the seasoning.

“This should be good, right?”

“Good.”

With a few side dishes already purchased, the bulgogi, soup, and egg rolls were quickly completed. All that remained was to transfer them to the table. Ma Won-ho, feeling the heat from the stove, wiped sweat from his forehead.

Meanwhile, Chaeyeon-woo, ladle and bowl in hand, eagerly lifted the lid of the soup pot.

“I’ll serve this now.”

“Oh, that’s still boiling hot, so…”

‘If you put it straight into a glass bowl like that, it’ll be incredibly hot.’

Before Lee Dohwa could finish their sentence, Chaeyeon-woo had already scooped a large ladleful of soup into the bowl.

Clang—

Having supported the bottom of the bowl with his hand, he abruptly dropped it, feeling the intense heat. The bowl clattered sharply against the island counter.

“What was that?”

Actions spoke faster than words, and thankfully, the bowl hadn’t shattered.

“Are you okay?”

Lee Dohwa quickly moved to Chaeyeon-woo, turning on the cold water and letting it run over his hand, all the way up to his wrist. Woo Sori, bewildered by the sudden commotion, approached to inquire about the situation.

“It doesn’t look like a burn, but does it sting?”

“It feels better now.”

Lee Dohwa checked Chaeyeon-woo’s hand under the running water, confirming he was fine. It seemed he had simply been startled by the extreme heat and dropped the bowl.

Jae-hyun took over serving the soup that Chaeyeon-woo had intended to do. Chaeyeon-woo, looking dejected, mumbled that he was fine and shuffled over to the dining table to sit down.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

Seeing his usually bright face fall, everyone took turns asking if he was alright.

After a series of minor mishaps, dinner was finally prepared, certainly at a more reasonable hour than yesterday.

Ma Won-ho, after a moment of consideration, rose from his seat and went to the refrigerator. He returned with something in hand.

“Would you like some traditional liquor?”

‘Ah, the alcohol we bought at the supermarket earlier.’

There were still a few bottles of wine left from yesterday, but they wouldn’t have paired well with the meal. Had he anticipated this and bought the liquor specifically?

Lee Dohwa simply sat, staring intently at Ma Won-ho.

“Here.”

“Huh?”

‘My gaze didn’t mean I wanted a drink, though.’

As Lee Dohwa unwittingly accepted a glass, Chaeyeon-woo, seated beside them, cautiously raised his hand.

“I want to try some too.”

“Me too!”

Curiously, their seating arrangement was exactly the same as yesterday. And in the end, a glass of alcohol was placed before every single person.

They were drinking for the second night in a row.

One fact Lee Dohwa had overlooked was that Ma Won-ho was seated directly opposite them.

As they ate their meal with gusto, their drinking pace matched their eating pace. Glasses clinked together as a group, and then individually.

Lee Dohwa didn’t know the alcohol content, but it tasted much stronger than the wine they’d had yesterday.

‘I should have changed seats.’

‘This isn’t a designated spot, is it?’

“Won-ho, you’re quite a good cook. Do you usually make your own meals?”

“My father only eats Korean food, so I just know enough to get by,” Ma Won-ho replied casually, almost deflectively, to Woo Sori’s question.

“What kind of food does everyone usually prefer?”

Light conversation flowed across the table for a while, and the atmosphere began to relax further. Just then,

*Jingle-jingle—*

A faint bell sound chimed through the chatter.

“I think I just heard a bell.”

“Now?”

“I’ll go get it.”

Some hadn’t heard it, and Chaeyeon-woo’s eyes widened in surprise as he paused his meal. Feeling full and a little warm, Lee Dohwa stood up to escape the table and headed towards the front door.

Having never had to retrieve anything before, they couldn’t immediately find it, but then belatedly spotted an envelope hanging on the doorknob.

“Why did it take you so long to get it—”

“I didn’t know it was hanging on the door.”

“I told you yesterday!”

‘Did he?’

Unfortunately, Lee Dohwa had no recollection of Chaeyeon-woo’s words.

Truth be told, a strong urge to open it immediately had struck them on the way over, but they had resisted. With restless hands, Lee Dohwa showed everyone what they had brought back, then tore open the envelope.

“Let’s see.”

Lee Dohwa quickly scanned the single line of text and was slightly surprised.

“It says, ‘Please reveal your occupations to each other right now…’

Turning the paper over to show everyone, they all confirmed the written message.

They had talked, spent time, and played together for two days, yet they knew almost nothing about each other. The realization that they didn’t even know each other’s professions truly hit home.

‘But is it really that important?’

Remembering how they had read the same book as Ma Won-ho last night, Lee Dohwa suddenly felt a bit embarrassed to reveal their profession as a writer. There was also a lack of confidence.

“Who should go first?”

“Usually, for these things, you start from the youngest…”

Kang Hae-il’s words trailed off.

At the same moment, his head, along with Chaeyeon-woo’s, turned, and their eyes met.

“When’s your birthday?”

“November.”

“Oooh, I’m the youngest by a hair. My birthday is in December.”

He pouted for a moment, then winked with one eye, laughed, and turned his head forward. Chaeyeon-woo was always active, always stepping forward to try something new. His bright, bubbly personality made his earlier dejected mood feel incredibly unfamiliar.

They were the same age, yet they felt so incredibly different.

“My job is… what do you think it is?”

He kept teasing, pretending to speak, then holding back. After playing around for a bit, he chuckled and then spoke in a serious tone.

“I work as an influencer, and I’m currently modeling alongside that. Also, I absolutely love taking photos!”

Seeing him gesture as if taking a photo, turning his body this way and that, everyone clapped. ‘It suits him well,’ Lee Dohwa thought.

Next was Lee Dohwa’s turn. Chaeyeon-woo had already set a lively mood, but Lee Dohwa knew they couldn’t be as witty. With the intention of getting it over with quickly, they spoke calmly.

“My name is Lee Dohwa, I’m twenty-five. I’m a freelance writer. Since writing is my profession, I enjoy reading books.”

“May I ask your pen name?”

“…It’s just Dohwa, without my family name.”

“I’ll have to read something.”

Lee Dohwa replied to Jae-hyun’s comment, unable to lift their head, and simply stared at the innocent glass of liquor.

‘I wish it would hurry and move to the next person.’

As if sensing or not sensing Lee Dohwa’s thoughts, the three twenty-seven-year-olds began by asking each other’s birthdays.

“I’m the latest.”

Kang Hae-il was born in January, Ma Won-ho in May, and finally, Woo Sori in October. Woo Sori rested his chin in his hand, casually surveyed his surroundings, and then smiled brightly.

“You know it’s no fun if we just tell you right away.”

Woo Sori, who had been playfully toying with the atmosphere while Lee Dohwa listened in silence, was about to open their mouth to ask him to reveal his profession when he spoke.

“I run a shopping mall brand. I might not look it, but I’m the CEO, you know? And by the way, all the clothes I’m wearing are from my company.”

While drawing everyone’s attention with his words, he poured himself a drink.

Then, he downed it in one shot.