Chapter 28

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

“What’s your ideal type?”

“Gah, cough…!”

Naru, who had echoed the woman’s words exactly, looked bewildered. Startled by the sudden noise, Gyu-yeon choked and coughed; Naru pushed the water toward him. The clueless look on Naru’s face, as if he had no idea why Gyu-yeon was coughing, was ridiculous.

After drinking and calming himself, Gyu-yeon patted his chest and breathed deeply. When he finally looked at Naru, it was clear he didn’t 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 shifted, crossed his other leg, and gathered himself. He couldn’t get mad at a kid who didn’t know, so he had to explain properly.

As Gyu-yeon began, Naru pulled his chair closer, leaning forward with his ears practically perked—ridiculously cute. Gyu-yeon forced himself not to look, 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 want them to be gentle, or rather handsome—stuff like that.”

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

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

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

“Why do you ask that?”

“B-because I’m curious.”

Naru, terrified his 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…”

Despite being popular in many ways, Gyu-yeon hated being pestered above all. People who came on to him at first meeting were especially off-putting. In the past he’d answer about looks, but as he’d grown up his answers had become more practical.

This time, giving his habitual reply, Gyu-yeon glanced at Naru. Naru pouted as if disappointed—woeful and cute, his eyebrows drooping like a sad puppy.

Gyu-yeon accidentally added something new—an answer he hadn’t given 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!

Too late. The words were already out, and Naru’s ears were wide open. Hearing “someone cute” while Gyu-yeon stared at him made Naru feel strange.

Awkwardly chewing his straw, Naru idly stirred the ice in his cup as the clinking 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’d 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, crunched the ice with a serious look.

Gyu-yeon watched quietly, waiting for the right moment. He felt oddly curious—pride pricked, but he wanted to ask more.

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

“Hmm…”

Naru rolled his eyes in thought, then suddenly opened them wide as if he’d remembered something. Gyu-yeon swallowed nervously.

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

Kind? Nice? Angelic? All those fit Gyu-yeon. He was reasonably kind and patient with Naru. The fact that he tolerated the kid spreading bad rumors about him practically made him an angel.

Yeah, who’s as nice as me? I let things slide when people gossip, I even give my place up. Look, I 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?”

Naru, who’d stopped mid-sentence, stared off into the distance like it was nothing.

“What? Say it again.”

At Gyu-yeon’s prompt, Naru shook his head and muttered under his breath—things like “so what” and “crazy.” Gyu-yeon was dumbfounded by his ridiculous attitude.

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

Off-track, Gyu-yeon picked 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, scolding him like a parent. Naru blinked his round eyes and 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 went wrong or when Naru did something odd, he’d curse without thinking. He could say it, but telling 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 teased, exasperated. It was a question he’d asked before. Usually Naru would shake his head, but this time he didn’t answer; he just stared at Gyu-yeon.

Naru really did only act this way toward Gyu-yeon—getting annoyed, doing as he pleased. He didn’t behave like this with others.

Staring intently with clear eyes, Naru quietly nodded. For some reason his cheeks were red.

“Yeah, only with you.”

“…!”

Why did he say that with that look? For a moment, Gyu-yeon’s heart dropped like a roller coaster. Then it raced. The faster it thudded, the more his thoughts scattered.

What’s wrong with you, Yu Gyu-yeon? Get a grip. Why is my stomach queasy?

Did he eat too many sweets? Gyu-yeon downed the remaining Americano and slammed the empty cup down. His gaze, already sharp, turned particularly fierce.

Meanwhile, Naru sank into a deep misunderstanding. Maybe Gyu-yeon would lose affection if I don’t act quiet. What if Gyu-yeon stopped caring for me? As the misunderstanding deepened, his mood tunneled downward.

Fidgeting his fingers under the table, Naru glanced at Gyu-yeon and asked in a small, sullen voice:

“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’d 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 cut through. That single sentence dragged Naru back out of the darkness he was crawling into.

He continued in a prickly tone—scolding, but warmer than it sounded.

“Hey, you’ll lose out in life 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 hard. Had anyone ever given him that advice before? Definitely not.

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

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

After living such a stupid life, he’d only just started to loosen up and run free. Gyu-yeon was giving him permission to be even freer instead of repressing him.

Moved, the tears Naru had been holding back fell. When he 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 looked mournful and pretty—one of those faces that tugged at anyone’s heart. Gyu-yeon casually handed him a napkin and pretended not to care as he watched Naru dab his eyes.

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

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

When the fork touched the remaining roll cake, Naru, who’d 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 watched Naru and gave him a look asking why. Naru, with determined seriousness, 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. He learned fast.

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.