TBE 14

chapter 14

Yoona absentmindedly glanced at Youngwon, but his expression wasn’t good.

“Since it’s supposed to be a housewarming, I can’t really use someone else’s house…”

Just as Yoona looked back at Gitae, hesitating, he spoke up.

“You can use it.”

“…Huh?”

“Don’t worry about me. Just use it.”

“Uh…”

Was this really my housewarming? Surprisingly, permission was granted immediately, but considering a housewarming is supposed to celebrate moving in, it felt a little strange. As Yoona pondered, Gitae spoke again.

“The kitchen is spacious, so wouldn’t that be more convenient? Youngwon hasn’t had a housewarming either, so just think of it as a joint one, boss.”

“The kitchen…”

At the mention of a spacious kitchen, Yoona’s expression softened a little. A small kitchen made cooking for four people quite challenging. Plus, since they lived in the same officetel building, moving the dishes wouldn’t be much trouble.

“Then… I’ll just be using it for Sunday, Youngwon.”

“Sure.”

When he responded, Yoona smiled with a grateful tilt of her eyes. Youngwon awkwardly looked down.

Time passed faster than expected. After school, she went to the café to finish the evening shift, cleaned up, and returned home—it was already late, and the week seemed to have flown by. Before she realized it, it was Saturday.

The café had been busy all day since it was the weekend, but with Seoyeon helping with some simple tasks, making the apple syrup went smoothly. The three bottles she made today were meant as gifts for the guests attending the housewarming tomorrow.

Yoona returned home and prepared the cooking tools she needed. As she removed the polishing agent from the large stew pot delivered by overnight shipping, Youngwon suddenly came to mind. She probably had to go to his place before the other friends arrived.

“Does Youngwon like salty food…?”

Even recalling their notes from visiting the student cafeteria, she couldn’t be sure. Most of his ratings were just two stars. She could almost hear his voice saying he wasn’t sure.

Even so, Youngwon tended not to leave food behind. Unlike her husband, who would often critique the food she spent all day making, Youngwon would finish it all.

“He’s really easygoing.”

Yoona found herself smiling unconsciously at the thought of him. Then she suddenly remembered something important, and her face turned pale.

“Wait… does Youngwon have a portable gas burner at home?”

In the chaos, she’d forgotten the most crucial detail. To enjoy the seafood hot pot properly, she needed a gas burner.

It was too late to change the menu—all the ingredients had already been delivered. After a brief internal debate, Yoona decided she couldn’t just eat it all herself.

Since everyone except Gitae lived alone, it was clear they hardly had opportunities to eat freshly made seasonal dishes. She really wanted to prepare this.

A few days ago, she vaguely remembered hearing Gitae and Youngwon mention that Youngwon had a burner used during a school trip. Something about taking responsibility because his place was spacious. Or was it Gitae, not Youngwon? She was getting confused.

After washing her hands, Yoona grabbed her phone. Not having Gitae’s contact, she texted Youngwon to ask if he had a burner at home.

She went about other tasks while waiting for a reply. Even after removing all the polishing agent and finishing the dishes, there was no response.

“It’s already twelve…”

Yoona wondered if she should call. Maybe she should just go early in the morning to buy one? But then she realized she’d have to get to Youngwon’s place even earlier than a store would open, since she needed to prepare the food.

And leaving it to Youngwon while staying alone at his house seemed awkward.

Seoyeon had insisted in the morning not to call him early and left all the housewarming decisions to the hosts.

To ask Gitae for help, she had to go through Youngwon.

Finally, Yoona decided to call, but he didn’t pick up.

“Is he sleeping? What should I do…”

She suddenly remembered him saying that he usually stayed up until dawn. Clinging to that hope, Yoona decided to visit. Youngwon’s apartment was only two floors up.

“While I’m at it, I can lighten the load for tomorrow.”

Yoona took a jar of apple syrup from the fridge. Wearing her apron and loosely slipped-on slippers, she headed upstairs.

She found Youngwon’s apartment by checking the unit numbers. It was a spacious area.

Thinking about it, being alone at a man’s apartment late at night made Yoona nervous. She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.

Fortunately, she heard movement inside shortly after. The door opened.

“…”

“…”

A tense silence filled the air. Youngwon was only wearing shorts and had a towel draped over his shoulder.

Yoona’s eyes unintentionally scanned the large figure almost filling the doorway. She knew he was big, but she never imagined he’d be this well-built.

His post-shower body radiated heat like a trainer in a gym advertisement. Every muscle was so defined that there was no fat to spare.

Were his thighs always this thick? She had never paid attention before, and it was astonishing.

Realizing she had just thoroughly ogled a man’s body, Yoona snapped back to herself. Her face burned red as she awkwardly opened her mouth, but Youngwon spoke first.

“S-S-Sorry…”

“I… I thought you were Gitae. Sorry, boss.”

For some reason, Youngwon’s smooth bare skin carried a familiar scent. She’d smelled it somewhere before, though much stronger. Yoona furrowed her brows.

“…What was it…?”

It didn’t take long to recall. It was the scent that had lingered in her bed for some time. Though it had seemed slightly new, she had dismissed it as a promotional fabric deodorizer. She liked the clean, refreshing scent.

Now looking back, she realized it was unmistakably Youngwon’s scent. She even remembered the scent mixing with coffee at the café but hadn’t identified it clearly.

“….”

Her whole body began trembling. Memories of why Youngwon’s scent had permeated her bed replayed in her mind.

It all started on the freshman welcome day. She had been unconscious and ended up in Youngwon’s arms all the way home. She vividly remembered him gently laying her down on the bed.

Let’s say, generously, that was fine. The bigger problem came next. She had pinned Youngwon down, who tried to escape, climbed on top of him, and even tore off his shirt in the dark.

And to make matters worse, her senses had suddenly awakened.

Could a drunk person’s memory really replay in 4D? She remembered the warm hill beneath her—Youngwon’s body.

Any man seeing a woman lifting clothes while straddling him like that would naturally react.

“You’re crazy, Yoona.”

As Youngwon opened the door wider and brushed past her to step on the doorstop, Yoona flinched, dropping the jar of apple syrup. It shattered.

Youngwon stopped mid-step and turned back. Yoona’s feet were covered in broken glass and spilled syrup. Among it, Youngwon noticed her bare feet covered in shards.

“N-Next time….”

Yoona stepped back, crunching on the glass. She didn’t know if there were fragments in her slippers. As she thought this, Youngwon moved.

He tried to approach, but Yoona instinctively backed away. Calmly, he reassured her.

“Stay still. Don’t run.”

“….”

Youngwon’s deep, gentle voice had a magical calming effect. Yoona froze, and he stepped closer.

Seeing her still blushing and unable to look up, Youngwon realized there was no other way but to carry her. And that he was nearly naked.

After a brief hesitation, he moved the towel from his neck to his shoulder and apologized first.

“…I’m sorry, boss.”