VSP 50

What surprised the twins even more was that Cha Dogyeong did not push away Seo Sejun, who came into his arms, but instead held him.

They suddenly heard a muffled sob. Cha Dogyeong, who had been gently patting Sejun’s upper body as it began to tremble glared at the twins who were staring at them blankly.

“What are you looking at?”

Choi Yerin could not hide the displeased look on her face. What was this situation? Were those two originally this close? No? Since when did this happen?

She turned her eyes to her twin to seek agreement, but she had to face another strange scene.

Choi Hangyeol was staring at the two with wide, trembling eyes. Especially his gaze was fixed on Dogyeong’s hand that was holding Sejun’s waist.

Cha Dogyeong, who could not fail to notice that look, snorted. “Well.”

Dogyeong, who was practically lifting Sejun in his arms, tried to leave, but Hangyeol blocked his way.

“Where are you taking him?”

It was as if a thug was dragging Sejun away, so Dogyeong clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“What does it matter to you?”

“It does matter, more than to you. I was with him on the mission until just now. We also have to write the report.”

It was a childish tone like, “I was just hanging out with him,” but Hangyeol did not realize that.

Of course, what he said was partly correct, writing the report was a good reason.

But to Dogyeong it had no effect at all. He did not even bother to sneer.

“Do it later.”

“Hey, Cha Dogyeong.”

“He’s crying.”

That line was powerful enough that Hangyeol, who had been blocking his way like he would never step aside, lost momentum.

Dogyeong left while holding Sejun without hesitation.

Only the twins were left in the Association lobby. Yerin blinked several times.

It was like an unavoidable storm had blown past. She still felt dazed. What on earth had just happened?

“So, why was he here?”

Had he been waiting?

Yerin asked, but after a long silence Hangyeol scratched the back of his head irritably.

“How would I know?”

There was something unusually irritable about his attitude, and Yerin was about to ask why he was annoyed, but when she saw his expression she unknowingly closed her mouth.

Then she patted his shoulder lightly without thinking. It looked like a gesture of comfort.

Hangyeol immediately got angry, but his irritation had nowhere to go.

•••

He was depressed.

He had been digging into the ground, so to speak.

Normally he did not get consumed by depression in this way, and Sejun knew that was one of his few strengths. But sometimes even he could not withstand when a wave of depression washed over him.

But even so, “I came to my senses and found myself in Cha Dogyeong’s house~”? That was a bit much, right?

Sejun stood inside Dogyeong’s house, which he was visiting for the second time, with his mouth hanging open.

Cha Dogyeong’s house. Cha Dogyeong’s house.

The last time he had come in, it had been so difficult. He had had to fuss about cooking, go grocery shopping, and only then had he barely been allowed in.

But this time, for some reason, he entered so easily it felt strange. He had been led in by Dogyeong’s hand.

“Why am I here…”

Unable to understand the situation, Sejun pointed around the living room hesitantly, but Dogyeong asked back as if nothing was strange.

“Then what, should I have let you go home alone?”

“……”

He had always been alone, so what was new about that?

Sejun’s face was sullen, but Dogyeong’s words were not without reason.

If he had gone back alone, surely even if the system comforted him he would have dug into the ground in his depression for a long time.

But why was Dogyeong caring about that? Why was he interfering in something that had nothing to do with him?

Everyone else always ignored him, and Dogyeong had too until now. Why?

What had changed between them?

“Anyway, it’s good for you.”

Sejun flinched at those words, Dogyeong was right. Since there was a huge main mission, it was better to get closer to Dogyeong.

But Dogyeong couldn’t possibly know that.

[Of course, there’s no chance he knows.]

The system said firmly. Sejun’s face looked even more puzzled. Then what did that mean?

From Dogyeong’s side, the meaning was simply, “You like me, so isn’t it good for you to be with me?” But Sejun, who had no way of knowing Dogyeong’s misunderstanding, he only felt confused.

“This.”

While Sejun was lost in thought, Dogyeong, who had gone into his room, tossed him a new gown, new underwear, and a new toothbrush.

Sejun took them all reflexively, his face full of more confusion.

…This was a “stay the night” setup.

It was too obvious to even misinterpret. All the items were things for someone sleeping over.

[…Looks like it.]

Even the system had to acknowledge it. For Sejun, who had no friends, staying over at someone else’s house had only happened when he was little and visited relatives.

And that had been in childhood. Since becoming an adult, he had had no one close enough for that, and since he had no experience of spending the night with someone, he had no memory to compare with. So everything about this only felt strange to him.

Sejun was simply someone who had never left home, born to be a homebody. Even if he was half forced by circumstance.

Sejun stared at the packaged new gown and underwear in his hands. If he was going to refuse, he should refuse now.

Why should I sleep at your house? I will go to my house. Of course, since he had come in Dogyeong’s car, he would have to go back to the Association to pick it up, which was annoying, but it wasn’t far, so he could just take a taxi.

But after hesitating, Sejun ended up taking everything Dogyeong had handed him and went to the bathroom.

It was true that he didn’t want to be alone. He had never even thought of someone who would stay with him in times like this, and even if he had, he never would have thought someone not close to him like Cha Dogyeong would. That was ridiculous

[What a waste.]

In the spotless bathroom, so clean it was hard to believe it had ever been used, Sejun undressed and adjusted the water temperature inside the shower booth. He asked the system.

“What is?”

[The mission cooldown isn’t over yet.]

“Ah.”

Now that he thought about it, that was true. If there had been a mission now, it would have been perfect timing for a sub-mission about flirting with Dogyeong.

And now they weren’t even on the same team anymore, so if not for coincidences like this, it would be difficult to see his face…

Was it a coincidence?

Sejun blinked. Even as he thought that, his body moved mechanically, pouring the water, now at the perfect temperature, over himself.

“Haa.”

As the hot water drenched his body, his muscles loosened. With the thought of washing properly, he let the water soak his hair and stood blankly as his head filled with thoughts.

…No matter how he thought about it, wasn’t it too much to say Cha Dogyeong being there was coincidence? What was Dogyeong doing at the Association at that hour? Even though Busan was in chaos, most people would have gone home by then, so it wasn’t really the time to be doing other work.

If he hadn’t been waiting for Sejun, then instead of taking him away right away, he should have had something to do there. But he hadn’t.

It was as if waiting for Sejun and taking him away had been his only reason for being there, and he had pulled him away just to bring him home.

There was too much evidence that this was no coincidence for Sejun to ignore.

Cha Dogyeong had waited for Seo Sejun. And Cha Dogyeong had taken Seo Sejun to his home.

Why?

Because Seo Sejun was depressed.

Ssshhh

Sejun did not move for a time and let the water pour over his head. His mind was a mess.

Maybe it was nothing much, and he was overthinking it. But he couldn’t help wondering, are we the kind of people who would do that?

He should have been able to say confidently, no.

But what came to mind instead were Dogyeong’s hand holding his tightly when he said he was scared, Dogyeong’s hand patting his back silently when Sejun blamed him after he came to save him, Dogyeong waiting to tell him “I don’t dislike you” when Sejun asked if he did.

“……”

Sejun bit his lip.

Maybe in the past it hadn’t been so. But at least recently, Cha Dogyeong and Seo Sejun seemed to have become the kind of people who would.

He couldn’t be sure yet, but that was how Sejun felt.