Chapter 46

Naru, who called Gyu-yeon’s name in a seriously subdued tone, clutched his stomach. Then, with a sulky face, he spoke.

“I’m hungry.”

“……”

Caw. Caw. Caw.

Crows flew through Gyu-yeon’s head. He had even gotten a little tense, but the reply was that he was hungry. Well, there was no way he could continue his confession in this atmosphere.

Right, this is Song Naru. This is exactly Song Naru.

Gyu-yeon, laughing hollowly, headed to the kitchen. Well, he must have used up a lot of emotion shouting and all, so it was strange he wasn’t hungry. Naru followed behind Gyu-yeon and stared intently at him cooking.

It had only been a few days, but it felt like months of peace. Naru loved the ordinary everyday life. He’d come to realize how precious trivial things like cooking together and eating a meal were.

“I’ll do this.”

“Do as you like.”

Gyu-yeon, who was chopping vegetables to make fried rice, handed the knife to Naru. As he casually took out a frying pan, a question suddenly occurred to him.

Come to think of it, he had just used polite speech with me.

Naru always switched between polite and casual speech. He didn’t know the exact criteria, but he used polite speech when asking for things, and casual when displeased. Anyway, Gyu-yeon was curious about something else.

It was Naru’s real age. Earlier, after hearing his heavy family story, he hadn’t asked properly, and now he wanted to know. Gyu-yeon, oiling the pan, glanced at Naru who was absorbed in slicing vegetables.

At a glance he looked like he was about twenty, or maybe twenty-one.

“There’s something I couldn’t bring myself to ask earlier.”

“Hmm?”

“How old are you?”

“Age?”

Naru put the knife down and tilted his head as he met Gyu-yeon’s gaze. He’d never told anyone his age, so being asked like this made him a little shy.

“I’m twenty-one.”

Naru, acting shy, revealed his age. It was exactly what Gyu-yeon had guessed. His fresh-faced look fit someone just starting out in society.

Perhaps he was pleased to have introduced himself. Naru turned and asked Gyu-yeon in return.

“Gyu-yeon?”

“Twenty-five.”

Finally they had exchanged introductions. Naru felt proud. On TV he’d seen strangers introduce themselves and shake hands, and it looked cool, so he’d vowed to imitate it someday.

There was exactly a four-year difference between Gyu-yeon and Naru. Not one or two years, but four—Gyu-yeon was clearly the older. But Naru didn’t care and comfortably called him by name.

Well, they’d been like that from the start, so there was no need to change how they addressed each other, but Gyu-yeon teased Naru on purpose.

“I’m the older brother, huh.”

“Yeah.”

“Call me ‘hyung’.”

“No.”

But the response was pretty curt. It had been a joke at night, but Naru’s stance made him stubborn. Determined to hear him call him ‘hyung’ somehow, Gyu-yeon’s eyes gleamed.

“Why not?”

“You call someone ‘hyung’ when they’re the kind of person who deserves it.”

“……”

Naru, in a calm tone, struck at Gyu-yeon’s conscience. “Someone who deserves ‘hyung’.” Gyu-yeon had no reply. Honestly, even he felt he hadn’t acted like someone worthy of being called that. In the end, he gave up on hearing it.

“Yeah, well, I’m not really deserving of being called that.”

Gyu-yeon nodded in agreement and took the chopped vegetables to stir-fry. He’d seemed to want to hear it, but he surprisingly conceded quickly at moments like this.

Watching him quietly, Naru smiled faintly with an unreadable expression. Gyu-yeon admitted he wasn’t very mature. But Naru didn’t think that was entirely true.

The Previous owner never reflected on his brutal actions and instead blamed Naru. That’s why Naru had been trapped and gaslit all this time.

In contrast, Gyu-yeon was clearly different from the Previous owner. He could reflect on his actions, and despite his pride, he knew how to admit his mistakes properly. On top of that, he even apologized to Naru directly.

Gyu-yeon is different from that person. He’s mature. Thoughtful.

While Naru mentally listed praises for Gyu-yeon, the fried rice was finished. Gyu-yeon set two plates on the table and even brought water for Naru.

“Sit.”

“Looks delicious……”

Naru picked up his spoon excitedly. Gyu-yeon wanted to use this chance to lightly continue the conversation he’d planned earlier. It seemed perfect to talk about their relationship now and naturally confess.

As he kept timing it, their eyes met. Gyu-yeon thought now was the moment to start, but Naru was quicker again.

“Thanks for making this.”

“Uh……”

“Hyung.”

“……”

Gyu-yeon began to suspect Naru. He seemed more adept than him. Using that term at a moment like this…?

Dazed, Gyu-yeon eyed Naru suspiciously. Sometimes his clear eyes made him wonder if he was being deceitful—his behavior was suspicious. Could someone inexperienced in romance seduce people that naturally?

Naru, who had dropped a bomb in Gyu-yeon’s heart, acted nonchalantly as if nothing had happened and focused on eating. In the end, Gyu-yeon was the one getting anxious again.

“Song Naru, be honest. How many times have you been in a relationship?”

“Relationships? I haven’t had any.”

He’d been forced into one-sided, unhealthy love, but he’d never had a sweet relationship. Having a pretty romance was one of Naru’s many dreams.

Resigned by his indifferent answer, Gyu-yeon said he understood and pushed the plate closer. Naru, busy eating, had no idea what he was thinking.

Gyu-yeon picked at his food while carefully observing Naru’s behavior. He seemed innocent yet not, silly yet not. Naru’s personality was hard to gauge perfectly. Whenever he predicted something, he exceeded it, so it was bound to be difficult.

Is that why he kept being interested?

He put his spoon down and started watching Naru, smiling slightly. He hadn’t expected to smile like this a few months ago; it was amazing he’d changed because of him.

It would be a shocking change for Gyu-yeon’s family to see. If his father or older brother heard he wasn’t going out partying at night, stayed at home, or focused on work, they’d be noticeably pleased.

Ah, I forgot about this.

Thinking of family, especially his eldest brother Gyu-seong, Gyu-yeon looked at Naru with concern.

If his brother ever found out about Song Naru’s existence later on, would he look upon him favorably?

The day after Naru returned home, Gyu-yeon returned to his ordinary routine. He’d been living oddly for a few days, but he was finally able to go to work neatly dressed after a long time.

Naru, changed into different clothes, stuck close to Gyu-yeon. He had gotten up early to wash and choose pretty clothes to go to work together. In the past they’d bickered over whether she’d come along, but tday it was quiet.

“Let’s go.”

Gyu-yeon grabbed the car keys and opened the front door. Naru naturally stepped out too. Perhaps because it had been a while since they went out together, Naru’s heart bloomed.

Clunk.

Once in the car, Gyu-yeon buckled Naru’s seatbelt first and started the engine. He buckled him in without being told. He’d done it thinking of him, yet acted indifferent about it, which was attractive.

It took less than 20 minutes to get to the Cafe. Naru beamed at the familiar building and sign as he opened the door.

Ding.

“Welcome. This is Cafe Destiny, oh?”

“Hello.”

Seo-yeon, who was standing at the counter greeting customers, covered her mouth when she spotted Naru. He hadn’t been seen for days, so she seemed surprised by his sudden appearance. Naru awkwardly greeted them and sniffed the fragrant smell of bread, looking around.

Mm, as expected, the smell here is the best.

Naru, who was smelling happily, suddenly stiffened his expression.

“……”

“……”

At the end of his gaze was Do-min. Having become accustomed to the Cafe work, he was arranging desserts when he spotted Naru and brusquely turned his head.

Ah, I forgot about him?

Naru’s eyes widened. He’d been so preoccupied with various things he’d completely forgotten about Do-min. He’d always been a bit suspicious and annoying, and seeing him like this felt even stranger.

“Boss, hello.”

“Oh, hi. Come see me for a moment later.”

“Yes? Did I do something wrong?”

“No, the staff name tags and badges just arrived.”

Domin, having ignored Naru, approached and greeted Gyu-yeon amiably. Gyu-yeon, who replied in his characteristically indifferent tone, immediately got to the point: the staff badges and name tags had arrived, so pick them up later.

Eavesdropping on the unfamiliar conversation, Naru pouted. He always came to this Cafe as a guest, and he’d never been treated like that by Gyu-yeon. Perhaps naturally—he wasn’t an employee here.

If I worked here, could I have conversations like that with Gyu-yeon too?

Imagining himself working, Naru took a sip of the bubble tea Seo-yeon handed him. Once the thought started, it kept branching out.

Could I make such delicious drinks myself? Somehow, that’d be cool……

Now that he thought about it, Naru was the only one here without a proper job. Seo-yeon, Do-min, and the patissiers inside were all staff of the Cafe. Gyu-yeon ran the Cafe well as the boss.

Naru suddenly felt pathetic for doing nothing. He felt he should do something, but there was nothing he could do. He felt frustrated.

“What’s with the expression?”

“Just……”

Gyu-yeon, checking Naru’s face, asked worriedly. He handed him a sweet macaron. Naru took the pale sky-blue macaron and shook his head.

Ding.

Just as Gyu-yeon was gently soothing Naru, the Cafe door opened and a customer came in. As always, Seo-yeon’s bright voice greeted them. Gyu-yeon, who had been looking toward the door unconsciously, froze on the spot.