Chapter 97: The Shape of Absence

After meeting Hyunjin, Woojoo didn’t go straight home but headed to a large supermarket nearby.

He had been away for a month because of filming, so his empty fridge needed restocking.

Pushing a cart, he first went to the meat section.

While thinking about what to cook, he picked out a few things when he heard voices next to him.

“No, oppa. Even if we buy all this, we won’t be able to eat it.”

“But… if we keep it, we’ll finish it eventually, right?”

“What if it goes bad? That’s just wasting money.”

A young couple was lightly arguing over buying more meat.

Watching them, Woojoo couldn’t help but smile—

It reminded him of the first day he had gone grocery shopping with Jitae.

“Milk… ah, here it is.”

After finishing with the meat, Woojoo grabbed his usual brand of milk.

Then, naturally, his hand reached for the chocolate milk below.

“…Ah.”

He didn’t need that anymore.

Whenever they went grocery shopping, every time Woojoo picked up milk, Jitae would always sneak a chocolate milk into the cart.

Even while nagging him about liking sweets too much, Woojoo eventually started putting it in himself.

“Habits really are scary.”

He put the sweet drink back and continued shopping.

After picking up vegetables, eggs, and other ingredients, he headed toward the checkout—

But stopped when he saw the snack aisle.

Since he didn’t know when he’d shop again, he decided to grab a few snacks.

But suddenly, someone dropped something into his cart.

Startled, he looked over—

A young boy had put a snack into his cart.

And not just any snack—his favorite rice crackers.

“Hyung! You like this, right?”

“Huh?”

Woojoo let out an awkward laugh.

The boy, who seemed to recognize him, beamed brightly.

“You have grandma taste! I watched the show!”

Come to think of it, Jitae had said the exact same thing when Woojoo picked those snacks.

Thanks to that, viewers had jokingly reacted as if Jitae had insulted all “grandma taste” food lovers nationwide.

“Oh my, what are you doing!”

The boy’s mother hurried over, scolding him.

“I’m so sorry. He’s very mischievous… Oh—wait, are you…?”

As she realized who Woojoo was, she covered her mouth.

Seeing him smile without denying it, she became certain and clapped excitedly.

In the end, Woojoo took a photo with the child and even gave him an autograph.

“Hyung, I like these crackers too.”

“You’ve got good taste.”

Woojoo smiled and patted the boy’s head.

The child, apparently a volleyball fan, said he’d look forward to the next season before being dragged away by his mother.

Woojoo stared at the rice crackers left in his cart.

Jitae’s exaggerated expression when being forced to eat them came to mind.

And his teasing voice—asking how something like this could even taste good.

Because of that, his grocery trip took twice as long as usual.

After checking everything carefully against his list, he returned home.

It had been almost a month since the show ended.

Yet the silence of his home still felt unfamiliar.

Maybe because when he lived with Jitae, no matter when he returned, Jitae would always ask if he was back.

Without realizing it, Woojoo spent his time organizing groceries while thinking of only one person.

Recently, he had developed a habit of constantly checking his phone.

And seeing an empty message box, then turning the screen off with a hollow feeling—had become routine.

After showering, Woojoo started preparing dinner.

He took out the meat, vegetables, and sauce he had bought and began cooking.

Soon, he finished making a simple, reliable dish—spicy stir-fried pork.

Sitting down, he picked up a piece of meat.

But something felt… off.

Only after taking another bite did he realize why.

“Why is it so sweet?”

The sound of his chopsticks hitting the table echoed loudly.

The silence in the house felt especially heavy today.

His gaze fell on the dish.

It wasn’t as red as usual—and had a sweeter taste.

It was perfectly tailored to Jitae’s preferences.

When they lived together, Woojoo always thought about what Jitae could eat comfortably—

Making less spicy, sweeter food for him.

Even dishes that were slightly spicy were adjusted so Jitae could eat them.

But now—

Jitae wasn’t here.

They didn’t even live together anymore.

Yet Woojoo sat alone, eating food made for him.

As he stared blankly at the dish, memories began rising like clouds.

On the first day, not knowing Jitae couldn’t handle spice, he had made food to his own taste—

Leaving Jitae’s lips swollen.

Later, trying to make up for it, he cooked the same dish again.

But Jitae had glared at him suspiciously before even sitting down.

Only after being forced to take a bite did his suspicion fade.

That day, Jitae had completely emptied his bowl.

Remembering that expression, Woojoo let out a small laugh.

“What’s so good about something this sweet?”

He put another bite into his mouth.

And with every bite, memories surfaced one after another.

It was strange.

They had only lived together for a month.

Not a long time at all.

Yet Woojoo couldn’t even remember how he used to season his food before that.

The emptiness left by someone’s absence felt… bigger than expected.

Emotions he hadn’t felt right after the show ended now began creeping in.

He had lived alone for years.

Unlike others, he had never really felt lonely—except during his time abroad.

But now…

He thought he might finally understand that feeling.

In the end, he couldn’t even finish one bowl of rice.

It just didn’t taste good.

After cleaning up, Woojoo collapsed onto his bed.

He grabbed his tablet and opened a streaming site, selecting episode 1 of Living as Two.

At the beginning, their first meeting appeared.

Hearing their voices asking, “Why are you here?” so clearly—

He burst into laughter.

“Wait… then was all of that acting too?”

Jitae had said it himself—that their appearance on the show wasn’t a coincidence.

That he had personally requested it.

Which meant—

That surprised, frozen expression back then…

Was all an act.

“Using your skills for this, huh.”

Then that meant Sunhyeok must have known too.

Since the casting had been handled directly by Producer Kwon.

So Jitae had asked him—and he had agreed.

Was their relationship closer than Woojoo thought?

That night, it took Woojoo two full hours to finish watching an episode that was just over one hour long.

Because he kept replaying Jitae’s scenes.

Eventually, he fell asleep after just one episode.

And he didn’t know—

That thinking about Won Jitae dozens of times that day…

Would follow him even into his dreams.

Sometimes, while dreaming, there are moments when you realize—this is a dream.

A lucid dream.

When Woojoo opened his eyes, he immediately knew.

Because he was lying in a completely white room, on a completely white bed.

Clearly not his own room.

As he wondered how the dream could feel so vivid—

“You’re awake?”

A familiar voice came from beside him.

Startled, he turned his head—

And saw Jitae.

Not just that—

He had been lying on what he thought was a pillow, but it was actually Jitae’s arm.

They were extremely close.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say he had been sleeping in Jitae’s arms.

And what made it worse—

Jitae was shirtless.

“…Why are you not wearing anything?”

“What’s wrong? Why are you acting like it’s new?”

New?

Not at all.

As Woojoo blinked in confusion, Jitae leaned down and lightly kissed his forehead.

Startled, Woojoo pushed him away—

Only to feel firm muscle under his hand.

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