Chapter 45. The Sound Youth Makes When It Drowns (1)

For over an hour now, one-liter glass bottles had been steadily filling up with espresso. After grinding the beans and tamping them down, attaching the portafilter to the machine, the thick espresso poured out like honey.

Once one bottle was sealed to the brim, Haeda handed over the next empty one. Eunkyo accepted it with a look of disbelief.

“Another one?”

“Yeah. Hey, they said it might be over a hundred people. We’re getting paid well for this gig, so let’s sell all this and take a week off. Sound good?”

“Wow… Kim Haeda, you’re totally nuts over money.”

As Eunkyo sneered, Haeda ruffled her hair, then turned to open the oven. Still, she didn’t complain and continued pulling espresso shots.

The ice was packed separately in a cooler, and disposable cups and holders had already been loaded up in bulk.

The location for today’s job, as it turned out, was right behind the stage at Korea University’s festival—just her luck. Somehow, Haeda seemed to know everyone: the event company staff, the celebrities attending—he claimed they were all acquaintances.

Yeah, when your head’s all over the place, simple labor is the best.

“You’re right… I lump you in with them to make myself feel better.”

“Are you sure I’ll actually feel better if I date younger girls?”

It had been stubborn pride.

She’d nodded her head just to protect her ego. Jaeheon had looked at her for a moment, then kissed her gently and said okay. He’d seemed completely unfazed, even casually walking her out of the workshop and driving her back to the café.

And yet, Eunkyo couldn’t settle.

“Haaah.”

She couldn’t stop thinking about it.

As she exhaled deeply and turned abruptly, removing the basket full of used coffee grounds—

“Kyaa!”

“Hey!”

Haeda dropped the oven tray in his hands, and Eunkyo, having burned the back of her hand, instinctively grabbed her wrist in shock.

“Damn it!”

Haeda shouted, then quickly grabbed her hand and ran cold water over it at the sink, hugging her from behind as he did. The sting began to ease as the water poured over the burn. Cold sweat trickled down her spine from the shock.

“You okay?”

Clicking his tongue, Haeda asked with concern. Eunkyo looked up at his flustered face, then gently leaned her forehead against his chest.

Her heart didn’t race at all.

When Jaeheon held her like this, it was almost suffocating. But with Haeda, it was oddly comforting—she felt like even if he hugged her tightly, her heart wouldn’t so much as flutter.

It was strange. They were both men, and yet it was so different.

“Kim Haeda, are you seeing anyone? You’ve been quiet lately.”

Lowering the water pressure, he glanced down at her resting against his chest and answered with an exasperated look.

“Don’t poke around in my love life. Would you like it if I did that to you?”

“So that’s a no, huh?”

“Boring now.”

“Then should we just get married?”

“What?”

His grip on her wrist suddenly tightened. Eunkyo carefully slipped her hand out and pulled a few hand towels from the dispenser.

“I mean, it’s dumb, but if we both end up single at fifty, we could take care of each other. Cook meals, help each other out. What do you think?”

“God, you’re insane. Why the hell would I marry you?”

“What? What’s wrong with me?”

Spinning around, Eunkyo asked indignantly. As she wrapped the towel around her burn, the pain came rushing back. At the counter, Haeda opened the bottom drawer and started rummaging for ointment.

“I’m gonna marry someone I can have sex with. Live all sweet and cozy with a woman I can suck and lick morning, noon, and night.”

“Ugh, hey! I’m a woman too, you know. Or am I not?”

“Nope. You’re not a woman—you’re a friend. Can’t even have sex with you. I can’t even imagine doing anything like that with you.”

Finding an ointment labeled as being good for burns and made with natural herbs, he walked over, grabbed her hand, and squeezed some of the translucent gel onto the reddened skin.

“I mean… yeah. I can’t imagine it either. But still, stay by my side. I won’t bug you about marrying me.”

As she laughed brightly, the inside of Haeda’s mouth went dry.

He pressed gently on her forehead once she’d calmed down, then carefully applied a bandage. But the burn was worse than he thought. If left like this, it would probably hurt more later.

“Get a burn-specific bandage tomorrow and put it on.”

“I’ll buy it. Don’t worry.”

His method may have been extreme, but thankfully, the name “Lee Jaeheon” that had been occupying Eunkyo’s head all morning vanished in an instant.

That was a relief.

***