That Face Is the Problem - Chapter 28.1
“I… I am the same age as Da-sol… I know that you cry a lot too….”
Jae-gyeong replied quietly, his voice low and gloomy. Da-sol ran his hand through his hair and pointed at his chest with his fingers.
“All right, then just look.”
Jae-gyeong cautiously looked at Da-sol. Freshly out of the shower, Da-sol looked more beautiful than ever. His wet hair was wavy, his skin glowed clearer than usual, and even from a little distance, the scent of soap floated in the air.
Jae-gyeong was staring, lost in thought, when Da-sol suddenly furrowed his brows.
“Eyes.”
“Ah, yes, sorry….”
“Look at the t-shirt, the t-shirt.”
Da-sol tapped his chest with his palm again. Only then did Jae-gyeong notice that Da-sol was wearing a plain white t-shirt. At the very bottom was a small brand logo tag. It was the BalenciBaby shirt he had just gifted.
“Uh…!”
“Okay?”
Then Da-sol left Jae-gyeong’s room without looking back. Left alone, Jae-gyeong felt his cheeks and ears heat up.
‘Why is it so hot…?’
He fanned himself with his hands and then flopped face-up on the bed. The guilt and regret that had been bothering him earlier were completely gone. It felt strangely refreshing.
***
That night, Jae-gyeong made a large pot of braised short ribs with meat from the freezer. He prepared plenty of side dishes and cooked fresh rice. The sounds of him bustling in the kitchen and the delicious smells wafted all the way to Da-sol’s room.
‘This is really stressful….’
Da-sol rested his elbows on his desk and pressed his fists together as if in prayer. He laid his forehead on his knuckles and let out a frustrated sigh.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything. Damn it….’
But he could not help it. Seeing Jae-gyeong looking so pitiful and blaming himself even after doing the right thing annoyed him. Every time Jae-gyeong ran to his room like a child and dove onto the bed, the sound of his body hitting the mattress was loud enough that Da-sol could not ignore it. It also irritated him that Jae-gyeong tried to hold back his sobs, pretending not to cry.
He had never seen someone so weak and gentle. Of course, Jin Jeong-eon, whom Da-sol had liked from the start, was also kind, but his determination was strong. He had long been used to hiding his emotions, never showing tears or facial expressions.
Jae-gyeong, however, wore his heart on his face. When he was happy, his eyes sparkled. When uncertain, he acted like a puppy who could not control itself. When hurt, his eyes filled with tears first, and when disappointed, his whole face, even his body, drooped. Being tall and well-built made it even more obvious when he shrank his shoulders or lowered his head.
After saying harsh words to Jae-gyeong, Da-sol’s conscience pricked him, as if he had done something he should not. Even Da-sol, who usually did not feel sorry for others, was affected this way.
In the past, Da-sol would have assumed Jae-gyeong had entered intentionally to see him undress and might have even thrown a punch. But now he knew Jae-gyeong was not that type. That was why he had simply told him to leave.
However, the solution set by Hyeon Hee-ro and Jin Jeong-eon had worked. Even after only a few days of living together, Da-sol realized that Jae-gyeong was not the scheming, creepy, perverted guy he had imagined.
Still, that did not mean he liked Jae-gyeong. Da-sol never easily gave his favor to anyone. Sensitive by nature and hurt by people’s affections in the past, he had always been resistant to the idea of love. Even with Jin Jeong-eon, whom he considered a friend, he had never said a warm word.
‘Then why did he show the t-shirt…’
This was what Da-sol regretted.
Showing the t-shirt was fine. He stood at Jae-gyeong’s door as a gesture, signaling that he was not bothered and that Jae-gyeong need not feel guilty. As expected, when Jae-gyeong saw the shirt he had gifted, he immediately brightened. The gloom that had surrounded him disappeared instantly.
The problem came after that. Jae-gyeong’s mood improved. He had probably concluded that Da-sol had completely opened his heart. That was why he was so cheerful, setting out an eight-dish meal with such enthusiasm.
‘This is really annoying….’
Da-sol sighed deeply once more.
He planned to survive the week assigned by Hyeon Hee-ro and Jin Jeong-eon, maintaining a reasonable distance from Jae-gyeong as a fellow team member. He now knew that Jae-gyeong was not a crazy pervert (even though he had said it multiple times out loud, he realized it was not true). There was no need to create conflict.
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