Chapter 49

“What do I do. A business trip came up suddenly…….”

“Business trip?”

Next month’s menu theme was blueberry. Gyu-yeon wanted to use fresh blueberries and planned to visit blueberry farms in person over the weekend. He had already finished making the phone calls.

But a call just came from the blueberry farm. The couple who run the farm said they had to go see their son who was suddenly hospitalized over the weekend, and apologetically asked if he could come tomorrow. Gyu-yeon had no choice but to agree, and was coordinating the schedule with the staff who were supposed to go with him.

Naru had a rough idea of what a business trip meant. When he lived in the basement, Naru used to be almost overjoyed whenever the Previous owner said he was going on a trip. On the days he went away, he wouldn’t come home, so he could be comfortable for a little while.

But now the word “business trip” didn’t feel pleasant. He wanted to be with Gyu-yeon all day, and he was just disappointed that he couldn’t.

Gyu-yeon considered taking Naru with him, but quickly dropped the idea. Since the farm mentioned the hospital, it would be impossible to move at a relaxed pace. If he took Naru, his concentration would drop and he wouldn’t be able to inspect the farms thoroughly in the short time.

“First, both of you leave work early today, prepare for the trip tomorrow, and we’ll meet early in the morning.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Having hurriedly ended the call, Gyu-yeon took Naru’s hand and left the cafe. Judging by the fact he even grabbed his diary, it seemed he intended to go home.

Walking obediently behind Gyu-yeon, Naru stuck out his lips in a pout. He felt it was a shame to go home like this when he hadn’t properly helped with the cafe work yet.

Gyu-yeon was worried about something else. If he went on the trip, he’d have to be away from home for a day. From tomorrow through the weekend his schedule was packed without a break.

He would stop by the blueberry farm that had called in a hurry, then swing by nearby cafes, and by the time evening came he’d inevitably need to stay overnight. In other words, he’d have to leave Naru alone for a day.

He’s not a child, it should be fine.

“If I go on the trip tomorrow, you’ll be alone at home. Will that be okay?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

Gyu-yeon, who had opened the passenger door for him, asked if he’d be okay being alone. Naru answered a beat late, nodded vigorously, and got into the car.

Gyu-yeon’s expression darkened subtly at how easily he agreed. He returned to the driver’s seat, gripped the wheel, and stared intently at Naru sitting beside him, as if he hoped for something.

“Are you okay being apart from me?”

“Yeah. It’s not like we’re separated forever.”

“You, I….”

You really like me, don’t you.

He barely held back the words that threatened to spill out. He almost became a man blinded by jealousy. Instead of saying it, Gyu-yeon swallowed and let out a short sigh. Since Naru seemed unbothered, he felt a bit bitter, you could say.

Unlike Gyu-yeon’s bitter feelings, Naru’s mind was already in chaos.

I don’t want to be apart. Yu Gyu-yeon, where are you going. Yu Gyu-yeon can’t go. Can’t you stay with me? Please don’t go?

Naru, who was mentally clinging to Gyu-yeon’s ankle, abruptly turned his head. If he kept looking at him, he felt he might actually grab him, so he decided not to meet his gaze at all.

Clinging is childish behavior.

Though he pretended otherwise, Naru was bothered by what Do-min had said earlier. “Don’t show you’re a puppy Beastkin, acting like a kid is how brats behave here.” In a way, it was true.

Naru decided to slowly correct his behavior. He would hold back from leaning on Gyu-yeon and reduce the bratty actions Do-min mentioned.

He showed no awareness that such behavior might make Gyu-yeon feel hurt.

“What were you going to say?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Mm.”

“Aren’t you at all sad to be apart from me?”

“……”

At the blunt remark, the corner of Naru’s mouth tugged up into a small smile. Harsh but affectionate tone. Gyu-yeon was more saddened by being apart from Naru than anyone; he felt the same way as Naru.

Excited by Gyu-yeon’s reaction and wiggling his hips, Naru cleared his throat on purpose to compose himself. Gyu-yeon, unaware of Naru’s state, was focused on driving.

Staring quietly at his profile, Naru shook his head. “Not sad” my foot—he was very sad.

“I’m sad.”

“……”

“If Gyu-yeon isn’t here, there’s no one to make my meals.”

“That’s really…….”

In the awkward atmosphere, Naru made a joke and giggled. Gyu-yeon glared at him in mock annoyance before bursting into laughter as well—though it was out of disbelief.

I’ll have to make a lot of food when we get home.

Worried that Naru might go hungry for just one day, Gyu-yeon ran through meal ideas in his head. Breakfast would be ready-to-eat sandwiches, lunch something simple to heat up…….

Although he’d spoken jokingly, Gyu-yeon took everything Naru said seriously. If someone else had said that, he’d have thought they were crazy, but coming from Naru it felt possible.

Especially since she’s not talented at cooking.

Before arriving home, Gyu-yeon stopped the car in the supermarket parking lot and came back carrying a heap of groceries. Naru took a banana out of a bag and ate it while watching him. Leaving the bag in the back seat, Gyu-yeon stepped on the gas all the way home.

Once home they were even busier. For some reason in a hurry, Gyu-yeon unpacked the groceries and filled the fridge. Naru sat on a dining chair, picked at a snack and clicked his tongue.

Yu Gyu-yeon, you dummy. I was just joking…….

“Are you really going to make my meals?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because if I leave you alone I worry you’ll again bury your face in a bowl and eat cereal.”

“…I don’t do that anymore.”

Gyu-yeon brought up old incidents and worried about Naru. Not long after he came here, there was a time he buried his face in a bowl and ate cereal frantically. Back then he thought the cereal was Pet food / cereal. Thinking about it now, it was a really dog-like thing to do. Woof woof.

Maybe that incident had been a big shock to Gyu-yeon. Worried he might again eat cereal in the wrong way, he made curry for him.

“If you’re hungry tomorrow, heat this up and eat it.”

“Okay.”

“Here.”

“What? This is money.”

“Use this to buy dinner. Order delivery.”

A card was placed in Naru’s hand. Sandwiches for breakfast, curry for lunch, and money to buy whatever he wanted for dinner. It was paradise. Even if he had the same dish all three meals made by Gyu-yeon, he wouldn’t get tired of it, so being treated like this moved her.

Nodding without answering, Naru suddenly lunged at Gyu-yeon. He expressed his thanks rather aggressively. When he hugged his back tightly, his body flinched slightly.

“Doing this again.”

“But where are you going tomorrow?”

“The blueberry farm.”

“Do you work at the farm?”

“No, not to work — just to see it.”

The word “farm” piqued Naru’s curiosity. A blueberry farm. Is it similar to the kind of farm where I dug up potatoes? For a moment he recalled working on a farm and smiled contentedly.

It was hard, but it was okay. I wonder if Geon-hu is doing well.

“Why are you smiling, Song Naru.”

“When I worked on the farm I made a friend. His name was Geon-hu.”

“Why did that story suddenly come up here?”

“You talked about farms, so Geon-hu suddenly came to mind.”

Gyu-yeon felt hurt. Very, very hurt. From the moment he announced the trip his reaction had been off, and now Naru was talking about another guy, which made him resentful.

Gyu-yeon grabbed Naru’s lips and shook them gently, openly showing his jealousy.

“Whether it’s Geon-hu or whatever isn’t important — I’m the important one.”

“Pfft…….”

“Huh? You’re laughing? Are you laughing?”

“Gyu-yeon is more important.”

It was an answer extracted by force. Why ask something so obvious? Naru, who had been laughing, answered with a serious face. The hand that had been covering his mouth finally dropped away.

Thanks to Naru’s pointless friend-bragging, Gyu-yeon’s worries increased. He imagined all sorts of things — what if he ran out alone and went to meet that friend? All sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.

“Consider this a pre-warning.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t cause trouble. Please.”

“I don’t cause trouble.”

As if that were true. Every time Naru said he wouldn’t cause trouble, he ended up causing a huge incident. That made him even more uneasy. He wasn’t some little pup — he was at a level where he could wreck the house.

Gyu-yeon looked at Naru with suspicious eyes and turned his head. Unable to refute him, Naru pretended not to know and looked away on purpose. Honestly, even he felt uneasy. He tried to suppress his puppy-like behavior, but his habits kept slipping out when he let him guard down.

No, still I must hold back. I’m just a person here. A person!

Could he hold back while Gyu-yeon was gone? Really?

Naru wavered between instinct and reason. If Gyu-yeon wasn’t home…….

Playing with water possible. Eating cereal like Pet food possible. Pulling out toilet paper possible. Slapping bugs with her hands possible.

Gulp.

Naru, who was steadily checking Gyu-yeon’s mood, swallowed dryly.

Oh, maybe this could be okay. I’m fine when I’m alone, right? When I’m alone no one looks at me strangely…….

Having made up her mind, Naru lightly pushed Gyu-yeon’s shoulder. One hand swung cheerfully left and right.

“Have a good trip, Gyu-yeon!”

Naru unintentionally played hard-to-get. This time he pushed away rather than pulling in as usual. A very cold push away.

Though being unable to stick together was sad, maybe a day would be okay.

Gyu-yeon, who had been pushed away off-guard, felt like his soul had left his body.

Why is he acting like this today of all days. Is it like “I’m going on a trip, so feel regret”?

“Hey Song Naru, before I go, a kiss—”

“You have to make the sandwiches tasty for tomorrow before you go.”

“…Uh, fine. Damn.”

A kiss my foot — even that line was eaten. Gyu-yeon, resigned, answered with empty eyes. He had never disliked going on a trip this much before.