Chapter 7: The Strategy

“Ajusshi. How do you know when you’ve become close with someone?”

“Suddenly? Why do you ask…?”

Whatever kind of worry he’d been expecting me to share, the ajusshi seemed briefly flustered by my serious question, then looked visibly less interested as he asked back. He’s the one who asked first, and now he’s picking his ear? Bad manners, this ajusshi.

“No, I just mean—how do you know for sure that you and someone are close? What’s the sign that makes you certain?”

Still, since I’d already drawn the sword, I figured I might as well cut something—so I pressed on. The ajusshi frowned for a moment, then threw a question back at me.

“Have you seen the bastard’s balls?”

“…Excuse me?”

What kind of nonsensical question is this? I doubted my ears and carefully asked back, but the ajusshi who had his arm around my shoulder answered instead—seems like there’s some unspoken understanding between these old-timers.

“Men are close once they’ve seen each other’s balls in the bathhouse. That’s the rule.”

“You’re insane…. Ajusshi, you don’t have any friends, do you?”

What a novel and ridiculous standard.

“This kid says one thing and it’s still bullshit. Hey, cut the jokes and let’s go eat.”

I’m an idiot for trusting these ajusshis with my worries. Even someone as clueless as me knows that’s not how it works.

If that standard were real, then I’d be best friends with these ajusshis I occasionally go to the bathhouse with—and with Choi Taehyuk, whose balls I see every day while helping him wash, we’d at least be childhood friends. Does that make any sense?

“Hey, you little shit. Still thinking about that?”

I’d wolfed down my food and was sipping a can of coffee, lost in thought, when someone suddenly smacked the back of my head. It was that ajusshi from earlier.

“Ah, leave me alone for a bit! This is a serious matter to me!”

“Hey, why are you messing with the kid? What’s going on—you yelling like that?”

“Oh! Jo ajusshi! So he asked if I had worries, and when I told him, this guy just said weird stuff and nagged me.”

Still annoyed from getting smacked on the head, I ratted him out like I was complaining to Jo ajusshi, who’d just shown up. With the most field experience, Jo ajusshi was secretly treated as the leader among the older workers. He scolded Lee ajusshi, then sat down beside me and pulled out a cigarette.

“What’s your worry? Tell me.”

Ah, this ajusshi was also a meddler. Thinking why won’t they just let me space out in peace, I shot a glare at Lee ajusshi, who was snickering beside me.

“Huff…. Well, there’s someone I really need to get close to, so I’ve been treating them well for a while. Ah, don’t give me that look—it’s a hyung, a hyung. Anyway, I’ve been trying to make a good impression, but this hyung is so stoic and unreadable—I can’t tell if we’re actually getting closer or if he’s just tolerating me because I’m sucking up.”

“Hey, that’s what the sauna—”

“Lee ajusshi already mentioned the balls thing.”

“…Really? Ahem. That’s not what I was going to say. It’s, uh… Ah! That’s it! You’re a guy, right? This. Introduce this.”

Flustered by my coldly firm response, the ajusshi suddenly held up his pinky finger and wiggled it left and right.

What’s that. Why is he wiggling his pinky… Ah, wait—is that what I think it is? I’d heard that back in the day, unsavory types used the slang word “kkal” to refer to their girlfriends and made that hand gesture. Wow, how outdated is that slang, seriously.

Jo ajusshi, completely oblivious to my horrified expression, was proudly making a gesture that kids these days wouldn’t even recognize.

“Ugh, ajusshi! If you do that somewhere else, people will really call you a creepy old man.”

“It’s better than saying it outright. Anyway, men are all the same, aren’t they? If you know any women, introduce them. You can be the middleman, share info about her, have some drinks and chat! If it works out, you’ll be solidified as her savior! And even if it doesn’t—as long as they don’t break up in the worst way—you can comfort him with a drink. Then it’s game over, right?”

That… actually makes sense? At first I thought what the hell kind of advice is this, but after hearing it out, it sounded plausible. More importantly, it was far more convincing than that miraculous ‘sauna balls theory.’ I guess collective intelligence is real. Watching the ajusshi brag about his romantic history while eating, I decided to go with this strategy.

The problem was finding someone to introduce… I don’t have any female friends. And Choi Taehyuk’s background and looks were no joke—there’s no way any ordinary woman would even catch his eye.

Hah… So this won’t work either. What kind of introduction can a guy with no friends even make? The only friend I have is Chae Yeryeong… Ah. Chae Yeryeong! Right, I’m Chae Yeryeong’s friend, aren’t I? Forget pretty or whatever—Choi Taehyuk already likes him, and he’s my friend!

I know Chae Yeryeong inside out, so I can provide all the information. And since he’s already someone he likes, that bastard won’t refuse.

As for Chae Yeryeong’s opinion… Well, I’m not forcing him to date anyone—I’m just passing along some info. What harm could that do? And in the past life, he ended up getting closer to those hyungs than anyone else on his own anyway. If he’s not interested, he’ll know how to let them down gently without hurting their feelings. He’s always been good at that.

He’s kind, but he’s got a stubborn and self-centered side. So I knew that no matter what anyone did, he’d follow his own will anyway—so I didn’t feel worried or guilty. The bottom line is, it’s between the two of them, and I just need to plant the image in Choi Taehyuk’s mind that I’m a ‘useful guy’ in the process.

Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

I’ll show Choi Taehyuk that I’m making an effort to connect him with Chae Yeryeong, and when the other four bastards show up, I’ll use the same strategy. Whichever one of the five he ends up with isn’t my concern—I just need to get in and get out smoothly. As long as I make those five feel grateful enough, I can cash in on that favor later.

“I don’t know if this will work, but thanks anyway, ajusshi!”

Compared to all their meddling, the actual help was about a drop’s worth—but still, thank you. Ajusshi!

“…What?”

“Starting today, Yeryeong will come in the evenings to help out.”

At my answer, Choi Taehyuk’s brow furrowed even deeper. Yeah, I can see how this seems absurd. He’d refused so firmly when Chae Yeryeong offered to help before, and now I’m suddenly changing my mind.

“Why?”

Because back then, I was so anxious that if he butted in before I’d gotten even a little closer to you, all my efforts would go to waste—so I refused. But now that we seem a bit closer, I want to take it to the next level by helping you get closer to Chae Yeryeong and scoring some credit.

“Oh, no particular reason…”

But since I couldn’t tell him that, I just gave an awkward smile, trying to smooth things over as his expression grew even more murderous.

“No.”

Smile strategy failed. My plan started falling apart from the very beginning. Originally, my perfect plan was this:

Instead of bluntly asking ‘You like Yeryeong, don’t you?’—which would create an insanely awkward atmosphere—I’d naturally create opportunities for the two of them to spend time together. Then, after seeing that, I’d teasingly poke at it and officially step in as the bridge.

I’d gotten as far as entrusting Choi Taehyuk’s dinner to Chae Yeryeong to create that natural first meeting—but it got shot down immediately. It wasn’t entirely unexpected. Considering his reaction last time, he didn’t seem particularly thrilled about Chae Yeryeong coming to help then either. I’d thought ‘why is he acting like that’ at the time, but let it slide.

So now I’m asking. No, is this really something to frown murderously about? Why? Why! You can be with the person you like—why is your reaction like this?!

“Why… don’t you like it?”

But frustratingly, Choi Taehyuk didn’t answer my question and just turned his head away. When will I ever be able to have a proper conversation with this guy? When someone asks you something, don’t just frown—answer, damn it!

I suppressed my irritation and drew the character for ‘patience’ in my mind. You’re not getting any side dishes today. I know it’s childish, but this is the only revenge I can take, so I’m doing it.

Look, I’ve been trying to get closer to you—someone so frustratingly stoic—that I even went so far as to listen to crazy theories like the ‘sauna balls’ thing. And you’re going to make all that effort pointless with just one word—’No’?

“Hyung, you were close with Yeryeong back in college, weren’t you? You must be more comfortable with him than with me…”

“……”

I leaned in toward the direction he’d turned his head and spoke soothingly, but he stayed frozen in that position without moving a muscle.

“Well, it’s not just that. I was thinking of starting to study in the evenings to prepare for job hunting…”

Eventually giving up on making eye contact, I pulled out the excuse I’d prepared in advance just in case he refused. Only then did he turn his head toward me. With a deeply furrowed brow, of course. What are you going to do by glaring like that? It’s an excuse, sure, but it’s not a complete lie.

“Study?”

“Huh? Ah… yes. I can’t keep doing day labor forever…”

In my past life, I was so busy just going with the flow that I had no motivation or will to do anything. So for a whole year after graduation, I hadn’t done a single thing properly—let alone get a job. But this time, I’d decided to change my mindset. Since I’m already doting on someone this devotedly just to survive, I might as well try to live a better life than before.

“Study what?”

“Uh, Engli…?”

No, if I’m studying, I’m studying—why are you interrogating me like a murderer? Even I could hear how pathetic my answer sounded. I cleared my throat awkwardly, but the tension didn’t dissipate.

“I’ll help.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll help you. With your studying.”

Are you crazy? Even just talking to you makes me so tense I can barely breathe—what do you mean, help me study?

“No, I was planning to go to a cram school and a study café. I’ve already registered and everything…”

I tried desperately to make excuses, but Choi Taehyuk seemed lost in his own thoughts.

Are you even listening to me…? Even in the middle of this, I caught myself thinking that the famous ‘Thinker’ statue—whatever that sculptor’s name was—probably looked less like a sculpture than this bastard. I wanted to kill myself for that thought.

Fortunately, Choi Taehyuk seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded at me. I guess that means okay. I don’t know what he didn’t like, but if he thinks about it, there’s absolutely nothing bad for him in this—so he should just accept it. What a fussy bastard.

The process was rough, but I got the result I wanted. I nodded and picked up my phone. Since it’s settled, I should tell Yeryeong to start coming tomorrow. As I was sending a message to Chae Yeryeong, a large hand suddenly entered my field of vision. Huh? Before I could react, Choi Taehyuk grabbed my chin and lifted it to meet my eyes.

“No study café. Come straight here after cram school.”

What’s that supposed to mean.

“No, the study café is for my part-time—… I mean, it’s not. I’ll tell them I’m sorry and cancel. I’m sure they’ll understand. Hahahaha…”

Again, again! I really need to tape that frown of his one of these days—I can’t live like this, I’m genuinely scared.

Cowed by his gaze, I awkwardly laughed and said I understood. Then I made a small act of rebellion by rubbing my fingers over his brow to smooth out the frown. Of course, he didn’t seem to care at all.

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