Chapter 60. The Sound Youth Makes When It Drowns (16)

When Seungjoo tried to serve her some of the nicely charred seafood, Haeda smacked his chopsticks away with the tongs.

“She’s allergic to seafood, hyung.”

“What? Why didn’t you say something sooner!”

“She’s the type who never says anything ‘unnecessary.’ We’ll eat the seafood. No need to force it.”

Haeda looked down at Eunkyo as if fishing for praise. She simply shrugged and began eating the meat he’d served, bite after bite.

“You know me too well. It’s annoying.”

“You mean scary.”

“Are you my stalker or something?”

“Yeah, sure I am.”

The meal wrapped up without a major incident. Seungjoo, now tipsy, kept locking eyes with Eunkyo and saying things like, “You really are beautiful, you know.” Then he’d point at Haeda and say, “You’ve got a girlfriend, don’t you?”

Meanwhile, Jaeheon’s group finished their meal and got up to leave. Most of them were buzzed, and they thanked Seungjoo warmly before heading out.

“…He really can’t take his eyes off you.”

Haeda pinched Eunkyo’s cheek.

“What are you talking about?”

“You… are you dating that guy?”

“Who?”

“The tenant kid. Are you two dating?”

“No. It’s not like that.”

“What is it then? You just gave up on everything?”

“Hmm… something like that.”

It wasn’t that she’d “given up.” She’d just decided to stop resisting her feelings and accept them.

They weren’t officially dating—but they were living as if they were.

If there ever came a day when they lost interest in each other, there wouldn’t be any drawn-out explanations or messy breakups—just a simple “goodbye” would be enough to end things. That’s the kind of clean, unentangled relationship they had agreed on.

“So for now, just pretend you don’t notice, okay? It’s kind of embarrassing, having to explain everything or be too self-aware.”

“Do you even know who he is?”

“Why? What is it that I need to know?”

The alcohol was settling in. Matching drinks with Park Seungjoo had brought her close to tipsy, and the restaurant was nearing closing time.

“Haeda, lately… I’ve been kind of excited. I know what you’re worried about, but I’m not some naive kid. This’ll probably pass soon… it won’t last long.”

Eunkyo grabbed her purse. As she stood, Park Seungjoo, flushed from the wine, got up to walk her out.

Still lost in thought, Haeda reached out and pulled Seungjoo back down, and Eunkyo left the restaurant on her own.

The warm night air felt like it wrapped her in a thin film of grease. Even though it was late, the streets were packed with people, and the sounds of buskers layered over each other.

She hurried in the direction opposite the nightlife, putting distance between herself and the noise. But the farther she got from it, the more her mind filled with thoughts.

Why had Kim Seontae, who had always been so cheerful and competent, suddenly quit? And what was she supposed to do with this impromptu vacation? She felt overwhelmed.

‘Maybe I should just go down to Mungyeong for a bit…’

In spring, her parents would call and tell her to come get fresh greens. In summer, they’d urge her to eat chicken soup even if she hated it. In autumn, they’d make fresh apple juice from their harvest and ask when she was coming. And in winter, they’d just say they missed her.

They weren’t the most affectionate or warm, but four times a year, they were purely parents who thought of their daughter.

But since last year, she had made excuse after excuse not to visit. The reason was Lee Dohyun. Her parents still hadn’t come to terms with the breakup. They’d been together a long time, and Dohyun had always been good to them.

‘If I marry Eunkyo, will I get to be the son-in-law of the best apple farm in Mungyeong?’

‘All apples here taste good.’

‘But I think yours are the best, sir.’

‘Heh. Just marry her. I’d do anything for my only daughter.’

She should’ve never introduced him. Never took him to Mungyeong.

When she told them they’d broken up—someone they naturally assumed would become family—her parents actually resented her. Maybe it was the pressure from neighbors, or maybe they just thought the breakup was her fault. It left her hurt and angry.

So she distanced herself. She didn’t want to see the sighs on her father’s face, or hear her mother subtly asking how Dohyun was doing.

But enough time had passed. Her parents no longer mentioned Dohyun. Maybe it was her turn to change.

When she reached her home, Eunkyo saw light seeping from the basement studio. The moment she realized Jaeheon was down there, the city sounds around her seemed to sharpen in clarity.

She paused at the top of the stairs, then sniffed at her clothes and skin—still clinging with the smell of grilled meat and smoke. After a moment’s hesitation, she pulled out her phone and sent him a message.

「Aren’t you going to shower?」

She laughed softly, already knowing what kind of reaction she’d get from him. Almost immediately, her phone buzzed with a notification.

But as she moved to tap the answer button, her face froze and her steps slowed.

An all-too-familiar, unwanted number stared back at her.

And behind her, heavy footsteps began to close in.