Chapter 28

“What is it, why are you staring like that?”

“What’s your ideal type?”

“Gah, cough…!”

Naru, who had mimicked the woman’s words exactly, looked bewildered. Startled by the sudden noise, Gyu-yeon choked and coughed. Naru pushed the water toward Gyu-yeon. His expression that he had no idea why Gyu-yeon was coughing was ridiculous.

After drinking and finally calming down, Gyu-yeon brushed his chest and breathed in and out. Looking at Naru’s face belatedly, he seemed not to know what “ideal type” meant.

“You asked knowing what an ideal type is, right? Huh?”

“I didn’t know, so I asked…”

Yeah, of course.

Gyu-yeon, changing his posture and crossing his other leg, calmed himself. He couldn’t get annoyed at a kid who didn’t know, so he just had to explain properly.

As Gyu-yeon began to explain, Naru pulled his chair closer as if to listen intently. With his upper body leaning forward and his ears perked up, he looked ridiculously cute. Gyu-yeon tried hard not to look at him, desperately averting his gaze for fear the word “cute” would slip out.

“An ideal type is the appearance, personality, or hobbies you prefer.”

“I prefer?”

“So, like, how you’d want your future partner to be. For example, you’d like them to be gentle in personality, or rather handsome in looks, that kind of thing.”

Finally understanding, Naru slowly nodded. After hearing the explanation, another question arose: Gyu-yeon’s ideal type. Naru, who dreamed of being Gyu-yeon’s partner, thought he’d try to become exactly that.

Propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin in his palm, Naru asked again. His bright, sparkling eyes were striking.

“Then what’s your ideal type, Gyu-yeon?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“B-because I’m curious.”

Naru, terrified his inner feelings might be discovered, used polite speech out of habit. Gyu-yeon answered casually.

“Someone who doesn’t hit on you too much and doesn’t bother you.”

“Ah…”

Popular in many ways, Gyu-yeon hated people who bothered him the most. Especially people who came on to him at first meeting were even more off-putting. Still, in the past when asked about his ideal type he’d answer about looks, but as he grew up he’d started answering like this mechanically.

This time, giving his habitual answer, Gyu-yeon glanced at Naru. He stuck his lips out as if disappointed, looking woeful and cute. His eyebrows drooped like a sad puppy.

Gyu-yeon unintentionally added something. It was a new answer in years.

“…Someone cute.”

“Huh?”

“Someone cute is also an ideal type.”

What the hell am I babbling right now. Stop it, fuck. Yu Gyu-yeon! Shut your mouth!

It was too late for regret. The words had already been spoken, and Naru’s ears were wide open. “Someone cute”—Naru almost misinterpreted it. Gyu-yeon had said it while staring at him, and it made him feel strange.

Awkwardly chewing his straw, Naru idly stirred the ice in his cup. As the clinking sound filled the space between them, Gyu-yeon reversed the question.

“What’s your ideal type? Ah, you probably don’t have one.”

“I do.”

“…Huh?”

“My ideal type is Gyu-yeon.”

Does this kid have no pride? Why is he always so pure?

Gyu-yeon, who had been smiling, forced a laugh as if pretending not to care. He seemed secretly pleased. Naru, who had said something embarrassing without a second thought, was crunching the ice.

Gyu-yeon watched Naru quietly, timing his moment. It was time to ask more. Why did he suddenly feel so curious about the ideal type? His pride was hurt, but he really wanted to ask.

“Well, there must be some traits, right?”

“Hmm…”

Naru, rolling his eyes in deep thought, suddenly opened them wide as if he’d remembered something. Gyu-yeon swallowed nervously for no reason.

“Kind, nice, angelic, someone who listens to me well, someone reassuring…”

Kind? Nice? Angelic? All those words fit Gyu-yeon. But Gyu-yeon was thoroughly mistaken. He was reasonably kind and nice to Naru. The fact that he put up with Naru, who spread bad rumors about him, made him practically an angel.

Yeah, who’s as nice as me? He lets things slide even when people talk behind his back, even gives his house. Look now, he even bought desserts for that kid. Reassuring person? That’s me—tall and steady.

Ah, Song Naru. That charming brat. I asked about his ideal type and he’s talking about me.

“That’s all about me.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Why are you trailing off at the end?”

“He doesn’t exactly listen well to people…”

Naru, who had stopped mid-sentence, looked off into the distance. It was ridiculous how he’d said everything and then acted like nothing happened.

“What? Say it again.”

At Gyu-yeon’s reply, Naru shook his head and quietly muttered something. Listening closely, he was muttering things like ‘so what’ and ‘crazy’ again. Gyu-yeon was dumbfounded by Naru’s ridiculous attitude.

Come to think of it, the seemingly gentle Naru had, at some point, started to lash out at Gyu-yeon. He’d picked up swearing and used it without hesitation, and sometimes he’d openly say things to Gyu-yeon.

Off-track, Gyu-yeon began to pick a fight for no reason.

“You just insulted me, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“What do you mean no? I heard it all. That’s a bad word, don’t use it.”

Gyu-yeon frowned, warning him like a parent scolding a child. Sitting and listening, Naru blinked his round eyes and then looked wronged.

He was annoyed at being the only one scolded for using swear words he’d learned from Gyu-yeon. Gyu-yeon swore often. When things didn’t go right or when Naru did something odd, he’d habitually curse. He could say it as he pleased but told me not to—no wonder Naru felt wronged.

“Why do you use them, Gyu-yeon?”

“Just don’t use them if I tell you not to.”

“No.”

“Hey, you only act like this with me, right? Huh?”

Gyu-yeon, exchanging light banter, asked with an exasperated tone. It was a question he often heard. Usually Naru would shake his head at such questions, but this time he didn’t answer and simply stared at Gyu-yeon.

Come to think of it, Naru really only acted this way toward Gyu-yeon—getting annoyed and doing as he pleased. He didn’t behave like this with others.

Staring intently at Gyu-yeon with clear eyes, Naru quietly nodded. For some reason his cheeks were reddened.

“Yeah, only with you.”

“…!”

Why did he say that with that look? For a moment Gyu-yeon felt his heart drop. It was like being on a roller coaster. After that his heart raced. The more he felt his heartbeat, the more scattered his thoughts became.

What’s wrong with you, Yu Gyu-yeon, since earlier? Get a grip. Ah, why is my heart like this. My stomach’s queasy.

Did he eat too many sweets and that’s why his stomach was upset? Gyu-yeon downed the remaining Americano and slammed the empty cup down. His already sharp look had turned particularly fierce.

Meanwhile, Naru was sinking into a deep misunderstanding. Maybe Gyu-yeon lost affection because I don’t act quiet. What would happen if Gyu-yeon stopped caring for me? As the misunderstanding deepened, his mood felt like it was digging a tunnel down.

Fidgeting his fingers under the table, Naru glanced at Gyu-yeon and asked. His usually bright voice sank and sounded sullen.

“Do you maybe want me to act like an idiot…?”

“…”

“If Gyu-yeon also wants me to be like that…”

In a few minutes, the deflated Naru teared up. He had thought Gyu-yeon was different from the Previous owner. If Gyu-yeon actually wanted him to be a quiet, foolish doll…

That would be really sad. Finally I can live as myself. If I have to live like I used to in the basement again, I’d rather die…

“What stupid nonsense are you talking about?”

Just as Naru was digging his tunnel, Gyu-yeon’s firm voice rang out. That single sentence pulled Naru back out into the world from the darkness he was crawling into.

He continued in a prickly tone. He was scolding Naru, but the content was warmer than any other words.

“Hey, in life you’ll lose out if you live like an idiot.”

“…”

“So even if you have to be rude, never let people see you as easy pickings.”

“…”

“Got it? Don’t live like an idiot.”

Gyu-yeon’s words hit Naru’s chest hard. Had he ever received advice like this in his life? Definitely not.

On the contrary, Naru had been forced to live like an idiot. The Previous owner arbitrarily suppressed his freedom of expression and demanded Naru’s absolute obedience. Under that coercion, Naru always shut up and repeated the same words like a parrot.

Even if he hated it he’d say it’s fine, he’d endure pain alone, and if someone treated him as easy and cursed at him he couldn’t retort.

After living such a stupid life until now, he was just starting to loosen up and run free, and Gyu-yeon freed him further, saying he could be even more free rather than repressing him.

So moved, the tears he’d held back fell. When Naru suddenly cried, a startled Gyu-yeon fumbled like a broken robot.

“Why are you suddenly crying like that? I didn’t even swear at you, so, don’t cry.”

“I’m not crying. I was just opening my eyes too wide, so tears came out.”

“Ah, I was worried for no reason. Why does your face look like that, it makes anyone who sees you feel sorry…”

Whenever he cried, Naru’s face looked mournful and pretty. It was the kind of face that tugged at anyone’s heart. Gyu-yeon casually handed him a napkin and watched Naru’s actions while pretending not to care.

Fortunately the tears stopped quickly. Wiping his eyes with the napkin, Naru smiled brightly again, and Gyu-yeon’s expression finally relaxed.

Before they knew it, the air between them had become awkward. Gyu-yeon cleared his throat a couple of times and picked up the fork he had put down, to hide his embarrassment by finishing the dessert.

When the fork touched the remaining roll cake, Naru, who had momentarily looked away, cruelly slapped Gyu-yeon’s hand away.

What’s going on? Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?

Startled, Gyu-yeon instinctively watched Naru and gave him a look as if asking why. Naru, with a determined attitude, pulled the plate toward himself.

“You shouldn’t live taking losses. I’m going to eat this.”

Ah, damn. He’s so fucking cute.

With a determined, grape-like expression, Naru guarded the remaining roll cake. Anyway, he learned faster than anyone.

While Naru finished the roll cake, Gyu-yeon gritted his teeth and turned his gaze away. The feelings he’d been suppressing kept surfacing, making him feel like he was going crazy.

But this time he couldn’t deny it.

So, Song Naru was cute. Even cuter than those bunny kids sitting outside the Cafe.

He was cuter. Fuck.