Chapter 44: The Monster in the Room

“A community gym? What are you talking about? We first met at a practice match.”

“No. It was the gym.”

“It was not. I remember it clearly. Back then, your coach asked who you wanted to beat, and you pointed right at me.”

“Well, you’re the one who flipped me off.”

• ㅋㅋㅋㅋ The two of them were something else from the start.

• They must have been enemies in a past life.

• Stop fighting, you guys.

• They’re fighting on a live stream too… stop it…

• Isn’t it exhausting to fight like that?

It was a repetition of the same pattern after that.

When asked who was better at volleyball, they both said themselves and fought again; when asked if there was a memorable match, they fought again while talking about matches they had won.

• So they’re having a lovers’ quarrel right now, right?

• They say people who love each other fight often.

• They look like a couple who’s been married for 10 years.

Fortunately, the reaction was good.

And Woo-joo was also having fun.

Reflecting on the past with Ji-tae, reminiscing about the days they sweated and played volleyball together, felt like an adrenaline rush.

It felt just like when they played matches together.

• Ji-tae oppa, why did you quit volleyball?

Just then, one comment caught Woo-joo’s eye.

Fortunately, since the chat was moving so fast, it seemed Ji-tae hadn’t seen it.

There were only about three minutes left until the end, so he thought for a moment it was a relief, but that wasn’t the end of it.

• Ji-tae oppa, why did you quit volleyball?

• Ji-tae oppa, why did you quit volleyball?

• Ji-tae oppa, why did you quit volleyball?

The person who sent that chat kept posting it repeatedly as if they were determined to get an answer.

The question eventually caught Ji-tae’s eye as well.

Even Seon-hyeok’s brow furrowed slightly as he watched the tablet screen.

“Volleyball is…….”

Ji-tae’s lips parted.

He was still smiling, but Woo-joo saw it.

He saw that his smile had frozen in place.

“What kind of question is that?”

Woo-joo clenched his fist once and pressed himself right next to Ji-tae.

Pretending to look at the chat on the tablet, Woo-joo intentionally pressed a different button.

Suddenly, ridiculous cat ears appeared over both of their heads on the screen.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Ji-tae blinked his eyes as he looked at the awkwardly flustered Woo-joo.

• Ah, so cute ㅠㅠㅠ

• I think he pressed a filter!

• Baby cats ㅠㅠㅠ

• Captured it, hehe

The topic of the chat changed in an instant.

The question Ji-tae was about to answer had long since disappeared far up the screen.

“Ah, I must have pressed the wrong thing. Sorry.”

Woo-joo scratched his head sheepishly.

Ji-tae’s gaze wouldn’t leave him.

***

“I’ll drive.”

After filming ended, Ji-tae approached Woo-joo, who was holding the car keys.

Woo-joo gave Ji-tae a quick glance and climbed into the driver’s seat anyway.

“It’s fine. You drove on the way here. Try to get some sleep while we go.”

Ji-tae’s face looked a bit tired.

Even after that, questions asking why he quit volleyball continued to appear in the chat until the live stream ended.

It seemed everyone was curious, but fortunately, there wasn’t much time left, so they didn’t read any more questions.

This was because Seon-hyeok had given the signal to wrap up the closing remarks at the perfect time.

“I’m not tired. You even had training yesterday before coming.”

“Won Ji-tae, wouldn’t I have better stamina than you?”

Woo-joo waved his hand for them to start quickly.

Ji-tae eventually nodded and got into the passenger seat.

The car departed shortly after, and Ji-tae, who had claimed not to be tired, fell asleep in just ten minutes.

Woo-joo naturally turned off the radio.

The car happened to get caught at a red light.

Woo-joo’s head naturally turned toward the passenger seat.

He could see Won Ji-tae sleeping quietly.

Perhaps because he always slept lightly, his large body tossed and turned uncomfortably, and he furrowed his brow out of habit.

“…….”

Ji-tae’s expression when he saw the comments persistently asking why he quit volleyball came to mind.

He had been smiling awkwardly, but the momentary look of distress was clearly visible to Woo-joo.

Seeing the veins bulging on the hand he had lowered under the table, Woo-joo felt in that moment that he had to change the subject somehow.

Woo-joo let out a deep sigh and pulled up the jacket Ji-tae was using as a blanket.

As soon as they arrived, the two of them finished their interviews and went inside the house.

Ji-tae followed closely behind Woo-joo, who was yawning and stretching.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Should I… make you some coffee?”

“We just drank some earlier.”

“Ah, right.”

“If you want to drink some, go ahead.”

Then Ji-tae shook his head, saying he was fine too.

Then why on earth did he ask?

Come to think of it, he had been oddly walking on eggshells around Woo-joo since they left the campsite.

Was he worried about those comments?

“Hey, Won Ji-tae.”

Ji-tae, who was just climbing the stairs to go to his room, turned his head.

Woo-joo scratched his face and spoke.

“About the live broadcast earlier.”

“…Yes.”

Ji-tae nodded with a face that said he was expecting what was coming.

“You were really good at it.”

His eyes gradually widened as if it wasn’t the response he expected.

“When the connection cut out because of all the people, you said something and everyone moved on nicely… and even when I wasn’t speaking well, you answered appropriately. Anyway, thanks. Actually, I’m not used to it, so it was a bit tough for me.”

The intention behind speaking was different, but everything he said was the truth.

Although the broadcast had ended successfully without any issues, it was bound to be difficult and awkward for Woo-joo, who was unfamiliar with it.

He felt grateful for the parts where Ji-tae stepped in whenever things stuttered or the atmosphere became awkward.

“Well, that’s just how it is.”

Woo-joo looked up at Ji-tae standing on the stairs.

And Ji-tae stared down at Woo-joo.

Their gazes crossed in midair.

Won Ji-tae was still expressionless, but the corners of his mouth had relaxed slightly.

“Then, sleep well.”

He didn’t look as tired as he had earlier.

“You too.”

Ji-tae, with a slightly improved expression, went up to his room.

Woo-joo was equally tired.

He lay down on the bed as soon as he entered.

Having spent the whole day setting up a tent, cooking food, and cleaning up the messes Won Ji-tae made, his body felt heavy as lead.

Truthfully, it was true that he had been curious about how Won Ji-tae would answer.

The reason he quit volleyball still remained an unsolved task within Woo-joo.

If it had been a few days ago, he might have waited for Ji-tae to speak, regardless of whether the topic changed or not.

But earlier, only Won Ji-tae’s pained-looking face was visible to his eyes.

For now, seeing that expression was harder than satisfying his curiosity.

‘Even if I ask again, he’ll never tell me.’

Woo-joo let out a deep sigh and was about to get out of bed to change his clothes.

Bang, bang!

He was startled by a sound of pounding on the door that sounded like it might break.

“Kang Woo-joo…….”

A familiar voice was heard from outside.

Springing off the bed like a coil, Woo-joo quickly pulled the door open.

“What? You’re going to break the door.”

“…Roach.”

“What?”

Ji-tae was hanging his head low and trembling, leaving Woo-joo wondering what on earth was going on.

What was this? Was he sick?

“A cockroach appeared… in my room…….”

Ji-tae grabbed Woo-joo’s shoulders.

The face that looked so solemn was actually terrified now that he looked closer, and the trembling was from fear, not illness.

“A cockroach? You can just catch it.”

“What?”

Woo-joo’s expression and voice were perfectly calm, as if saying, ‘If you’re hungry, then just eat.’

Ji-tae crumpled his face as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

On top of that, he was looking at Woo-joo as if he were a different species entirely.

“I can’t do it…….”

“You’re even afraid of bugs?”

“A-A cockroach is technically not a bug. It’s a monster…….”

Looking at the guy whose face had turned pale, laughter inexplicably bubbled up.

He couldn’t watch horror movies, and he couldn’t catch bugs.

He was huge, but he was a total child.

“So you came to me to ask me to catch it?”

Ji-tae nodded slowly.

Perhaps his heart hadn’t settled yet, as he reached out and held onto the hem of Woo-joo’s t-shirt tightly.

He was like a child holding his mother’s hand so as not to get lost.

“Then try asking for a favor.”

The bridge of Ji-tae’s nose wrinkled.

Woo-joo crossed his arms triumphantly and tilted his head.

His expression, urging him to say it quickly, was incredibly arrogant.

Since Woo-joo didn’t want a cockroach roaming around this house either, he had intended to catch it no matter what, but he still wanted to hear at least one word of ‘please’ from Won Ji-tae’s mouth.

“…Please.”

“What? I can’t hear you?”

Woo-joo cupped his hand to his ear with an exaggerated gesture as if teasing him.

“Ah, I said please!”

“Ah, jeez, what’s with all the yelling?”

His ears rang because Ji-tae had suddenly screamed.

Woo-joo clicked his tongue while covering his ears.

Then he strode out of the room and went up the stairs.

Ji-tae, following behind, was still holding onto Woo-joo’s clothes.

“Hey, let go. If you’re so scared, just stay downstairs.”

Arriving in front of the room in question, Woo-joo brushed off Ji-tae’s hand as if it were a nuisance.

Then he slowly opened the door and went inside.

At that moment, he locked eyes with the monster clinging to the wall.

Its long antennae twitched and moved from side to side.

The way it moved quickly on its multiple legs was indeed gross.

“Hey, Won Ji…….”