That Face Is the Problem - Chapter 22.1
“I… do not like you…”
Jae-gyeong’s voice wavered slightly at the end, but he said it clearly. I do not like you. Because the person in front of him was not Seo Da-in, but Seo Da-sol. Now it was time for his heart, as well as his mind, to fully realize it. This person was not Da-in.
“There was… a woman I liked. After being rejected by her, I decided I would not love anyone again. The reason I acted foolishly…”
It was because you were the blood relative of that woman and looked so much like her.
“It is just that I am this kind of person… It takes me a long time to adapt, and if I think someone dislikes me, I tend to make even more mistakes…”
He could not tell the truth. If he did, Da-in would hear about it. Da-sol would also feel bad in his own way.
Da-sol’s expression softened slightly after hearing Jae-gyeong’s confession. But he did not fully believe him.
“You don’t seem to be lying… I have enough experience to be sick of it. Clearly, your eyes are messy too.”
Da-sol chugged his beer and extended the half-full can toward Jae-gyeong.
“But at least now I know. Let’s see how it goes for a week.”
Jae-gyeong slowly raised his can and clinked it lightly against Da-sol’s.
They drank and talked a lot. They had sincere and deep conversations, learned more about each other, resolved misunderstandings, and decided to speak informally to each other… It would have been perfect if that had been the outcome. But after the toast, Da-sol drank the remaining beer in one gulp and stood up.
“Good night.”
He left a brief farewell, disposed of his can for recycling, and went to his room.
Jae-gyeong checked the clock on the wall. It was still 6:20 p.m. Not exactly bedtime for an elementary school student.
“….”
He does not want to talk to me anymore. What kind of person is that? Jae-gyeong let out a helpless laugh. Yet at that moment, he felt a sense of liberation.
If this had been Da-in, the woman he liked, she would have stayed until the end, drinking and asking questions, trying to know him as much as possible, and sharing a lot about herself. She was kind and considerate. He had heard several times that she never skipped company dinners. Her sociability made her popular on any team.
But Da-sol… was socially lacking in a completely different way. While there were reasons for it, his personality was rough, and he was highly wary of people. It even seemed like he had no curiosity about others.
Sleep well. It is only 6:30 p.m., and he says sleep well.
‘They really are completely different people.’
Finally, Jae-gyeong’s heart seemed to accept that fact. He stared at the beer can in his hand, then drank deeply, feeling the cold, refreshing liquid spread through his chest.
“Ahh…”
The cooling sensation spread like it was tearing his throat, leaving a smile on his lips. For the next week, he did not feel like things would be difficult anymore. And even after that, there would be no more confusion or suffering.
“Haha…”
He laughed softly. It felt as if the ticklish, irritating web that had wrapped around his face and body had finally been removed.
***
Jae-gyeong had even started to enjoy discovering Da-sol’s ‘different’ side, namely his rude and prickly side. The more he experienced it, the more he could be certain that this person was not Da-in.
He almost wished Da-sol would act even more severely. Snoring loudly behind a closed door, blasting rock music from the speakers at maximum volume at dawn, making him do all the household chores…
But Da-sol was simply cautious and blunt. He was not a person without manners or common sense. (Well, maybe not completely.)
Living with Da-sol turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. With three bathrooms, there was no need to fight over usage. Da-sol regularly visited the guild’s gym and pool, so he did not stay in the dorm much.
Moreover, Jae-gyeong took charge of cooking, and whenever he prepared a meal, Da-sol would always say “I will eat well” or “Thank you” and finish his bowl cleanly.
Yet he was not an ideal housemate.
Whenever Jae-gyeong tried to speak to him, Da-sol would blur his gaze and reply with “Oh, really?” cutting off the flow of conversation.
On the night of the third day of the stay, Jae-gyeong met him at the kitchen while getting water and asked, “How was your day today…?” Da-sol answered with, “Good,” and went straight into his room.
“You are not drinking water…?”
When Jae-gyeong asked again behind Da-sol, he simply said, “Yes,” and closed the door.
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