Product of Misunderstanding (Part 4)
After all, I was also set up on a blind date that night—with one of Ryu Ji-hwan’s high school juniors.
Our tables were only about two inches apart.
And somehow, after every question I answered, Chae Soo would snicker.
We even had a few strange, ill-timed exchanges.
Then—
“Chae Soo, you crazy bastard, have you lost your mind?”
Kang Do-woo appeared out of nowhere, striding towards our table with a scowl.
His presence was so intense that it sent a shiver down my spine, as if I were facing one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
“Are you seriously on a blind date with a woman right now?”
His tone was sharp—like he was catching a cheating girlfriend in the act.
I was already stunned, watching this bizarre scene unfold, but what must Chae Soo’s actual blind date have been thinking?
The woman furrowed her neatly trimmed brows, her lips curving into a cool smile.
“Excuse me, but who are you?”
“If you don’t know, don’t worry about it.”
“And how much do you think you know about him?”
“Enough. We used to strip down and roll around together.”
Oh my.
Naked and rolling around…?
Wait.
Were they really like that?
Before I knew it, I had completely forgotten about my blind date, turning to stare at Chae Soo and Kang Do-woo instead.
Do-woo kicked the leg of Chae Soo’s chair, as if telling him to get up.
I think I heard Chae Soo swear under his breath.
“Come out quietly before I drag you out.”
Kang Do-woo, frowning in annoyance, shoved Chae Soo’s back as he reluctantly stood up. Then, he turned to me—or more accurately, to Ryu Ji-hwan, who was still sitting beside me under the title of matchmaker.
“Ryu Ji-hwan, you too. Stop messing around and get out of here.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Kang Do-woo’s at it again.”
Cursing at Ryu Ji-hwan, Kang Do-woo stormed out of the café, dragging Chae Soo and Ryu Ji-hwan along with him.
It felt like a herd of buffalo had just swept through, leaving nothing but dust and the acrid scent of chaos behind. That’s when I belatedly realized that my blind date had been rambling nonsense.
Since then, Kang Do-woo often visited Chae Soo’s place.
Sometimes, they ran into each other in the elevator, at the recycling center, or at the convenience store in front of their apartment. Other times, Kang Do-woo would show up drunk, slurring words at Chae Soo, refusing to leave him alone.
“Thank you, Chae Soo. There’s no one but you. But there’s no one else for you either. I’ll wash up first. Do you think I’d be bad in bed? I’m sleeping on top today. Did you take your medicine? If you make me come looking for you, I won’t leave you alone. How dare you…”
…Wait. That last part—was that even the same conversation?
Anyway, I simply categorized Kang Do-woo, despite his cold demeanor, as a reckless, crazy bastard.
And that crazy bastard, drunk out of his mind, never hesitated to kiss Chae Soo whenever he wanted to see him.
Whenever that happened, Chae Soo would kick Do-woo’s shin away, seemingly aware of my presence. But to me, Chae Soo’s flustered reaction only seemed… suspicious.
Doesn’t the saying go, A strong denial is a strong affirmation?
So tell me—what were the chances that I wouldn’t suspect Chae Soo, who had literally been naked and rolling around with Do-woo (who, by the way, was rumored to be gay) and kissed him like it was second nature?
If I just chalked all of this up to Do-woo being insane, then sure, maybe the assumption that Chae Soo was gay wouldn’t hold water.
…But even though I was known for being oblivious, weren’t these situations begging to be misunderstood?
Or was I just overthinking it?
…?
It’s not like I could ask anyone about it.
And what would be the point? Even if Chae Soo was gay, it wouldn’t affect me directly.
But if he was using my breakup as an excuse to mess with me, that would be a different story.
So, I ran away to the office, leaving behind his ridiculous request to date me.
This time, he didn’t try to stop me.
Not that it mattered. Even if I ran, I was still stuck in the palm of Chae Soo’s hand.
By the time he returned to the office, he had transformed back into the composed, mature adult he always pretended to be.
What the hell.
Really.
I don’t know who’s playing coy here.
I spent the entire afternoon trying my best to avoid his notice.
And despite all those efforts, I still ended up leaving work with Chae Soo.
Since we lived in the same apartment complex, it was literally on my way home. There wasn’t a real reason to refuse a ride, so I decided to just enjoy what I could—regardless of my feelings.
Still… I should’ve made it clear.
I know you’re gay, Chae Soo. So don’t even think about using me like this.
But what if he wasn’t?
What if this was all just a misunderstanding?
Should I have asked Ryu Ji-hwan, at least?
“Hey, is it true your two friends are, y’know… in that kind of relationship?”
As I climbed into Chae Soo’s car, I decided to test the waters.
“So, Senior Ryu Ji-hwan isn’t getting married?”
“Why are you suddenly being nosy?”
“Just curious. I checked SNS for the first time in a while yesterday and noticed he’s still with that girl from school. Hasn’t it been, like, ten years?”
“I wouldn’t know. I don’t care about Ryu Ji-hwan.”
“Oh? You don’t think it’s impressive how loyal he is?”
“Every year, Ryu Ji-hwan talks about getting married, so what’s there to say if he doesn’t?”
How was I supposed to know what that meant?
As Chae Soo turned to toss my bag into the backseat, his scent suddenly filled the space between us. Without thinking, I stepped back slightly.
“Well, I guess it’s the same for you. There are a lot of women like that these days.”
“Maybe so.”
His tone was indifferent.
His eyes stayed on the screen of his phone, scrolling through a few notifications. His hand hesitated as he reached for his seatbelt.
“You too?”
The way he glanced down at me, brows slightly furrowed, made me feel like I’d walked into dangerous territory.
I quickly lowered my gaze to my lap, clasping my hands together politely.
“I mean, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to try it out if you wanted to.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Chae Soo scoffed, lightly nodding as if to say, Enough nonsense—just put on your seatbelt.
Maybe it was because I was tired from work, but somehow, he seemed to be in a good mood.
“Don’t just go and come back.”
He muttered something under his breath before clicking his tongue and letting out a long sigh—like he’d just remembered something unpleasant.
“Well, if anyone was going to get married first, it should’ve been Ryu Ji-hwan before Kang Do-woo.”
“…Wait. Who?”
“What.”
“Who’s getting married first?”
“Why? You know Kang Do-woo. He’s getting married this time.”
Oh my god.
That crazy bastard Kang Do-woo—getting married?!
Did he just… abandon Chae Soo?
“Wait. Your boyfriend—you mean your high school friend, Kang Do-woo?”
“Why? Did you like him too? Why are you so shocked?”
“He’s getting married?! Why?”
“Why? Who knows how that lunatic managed to seduce such an innocent woman?”
What was with Chae Soo being so indifferent?
Even though they had broken up, I got goosebumps thinking about how he could be this cool.
“No. For someone like him to get that innocent girl, he’s basically too clever and cunning.”
“…Are you okay, senior? I mean you heard that guy is getting married.”
“Not great.”
Judging by his expression, not great was an understatement.
Chae Soo, who had been glancing at my bewildered face, reached over and fastened my seatbelt without a word.
“I thought I’d get married first.”
“…With Kang Do-woo oppa?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Wait. Hadn’t it only been a few years since same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S.?
“Anyway, that guy’s brain is pickled in sugar these days because he’s getting married. And where the hell did he get such a disgusting picture…?”
Chae Soo muttered as he pulled out his phone, saying he should block Do-woo while he was at it. There was no trace of affection in his voice.
“Show me the picture.”
I snatched the phone from Chae Soo, who looked at me like I was some kind of monster.
Oh my god.
In the photo, Kang Do-woo was wearing a white dress—no, wait, a white one-piece dress—while the bride-to-be stood beside him in a sky-blue suit. The two of them beamed at each other, looking absurdly happy.
…What?
So it was true.
Kang Do-woo was really getting married.
No. Why?
No, seriously—why?
“Did you actually like that guy? Why are you staring at him like that?”
“No… No, it’s just… this guy, and senior…”
Chae Soo stared at me expectantly, waiting for me to finish.
“That, that’s… um… what kind of relationship was that…?”
I should’ve just asked outright, That wasn’t the case, was it? But my lips wouldn’t move.
Chae Soo didn’t take his eyes off me, as if waiting for me to say it myself.
If it weren’t for the phone call that suddenly came in, we probably would have stayed like that for a while.
After hanging up, Chae Soo started the car as if nothing had happened.
Silence filled the space between us.
I was more confused now than when I first suspected Chae Soo was gay.
How many people would casually show their ex-lover’s wedding photos like this?
Was he just putting up a smokescreen?
Just like how Chae Soo had used me?
But Kang Do-woo looked too happy for that to be the case. And Chae Soo had called the bride so naturally, without a hint of awkwardness.
I turned to look at him again.
The Chae Soo I had known for nearly ten years suddenly felt like a stranger, as if he had gone through some kind of biological transformation.
If he wasn’t gay…
If this wasn’t a smokescreen…
Then what the hell was he trying to say earlier today?
“What did you mean when you said you wanted to live an ordinary life?”
“I meant exactly that.”
Just a normal life.
With a girlfriend.
With his girlfriend, just normal…
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but living an ordinary life is the hardest thing. Everyone struggles to live an ordinary life.”
I never thought the word ordinary could sound so foreign coming from his mouth.
“If someone like you said that somewhere, you’d probably get stoned for being so unlucky.”
“Good.”
“…Do you like getting hit with rocks?”
“It’s fine. I already have a girlfriend who worries about me.”
Oh my god.
This was insane.
Why is he so selfish?
“I haven’t answered your question about dating yet! Who said I was your girlfriend?”
“Just say you’re my boyfriend instead. Your hair is short, and you look good.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?! And stop talking about my hair!”
He was nitpicking, as always.
I turned to look outside the window, running my fingers through my hair. It was getting long, tangling between my fingers—it was probably time for a trim.
“Why don’t you grow it out?”
“Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? You know I’ve always had this hairstyle.”
“I just got curious. Now that I think about it, you’ve been like this since middle school…”
“Since middle school, what?”
“Your hair. It’s always been that short.”
“Well, yeah. Schools had hair-length regulations back then.”
“What was the limit?
“Fifteen centimeters below the ears, so it wasn’t a big deal.”
It wasn’t like I kept my hair short for any particular reason. I just got used to it over the years—less hassle, less time spent washing it.
“Still, this style suits me.”
“What kind of a guy said you that?”
“…My dad.”
…and Me too.
How long had it been since I last said the word dad out loud?
A cold breeze suddenly brushed against my face.
“What the—it’s freezing! Why are you opening the door?”
“Hold on. I feel suffocated.”
Suffocated?
What was so suffocating about this?
Chae Soo shook his head violently as if trying to shake off something dirty.
And then I saw it—that expression.
The same twisted look he had when he was trapped in the elevator.
“Do you feel stuffy in the car? Is it hard to breathe?”
“No.”
“Are you fainting again? Is it a panic attack or something?”
“No.”
“You can unbutton your collar.”
“Han Yeon-doo, you’re good at this.”
Oh, look at this guy. Even when I am thinking for him, this is how he acts. Can’t even say thank you for worrying about him.
His gaze, which had been on me, softened, as if his worries had eased.
“I’m driving. So it’s fine.”
Chae Soo’s sharp voice became calmer, as if he was embarrassed. Not even funny. He should have done that a long time ago.
“If driving is hard for you, should I take over?”
“Sure. I’ll let you drive, and we’ll spend the whole day stuck on the road.”
“Hey, I might not be the best, but I’m good at everything else now.”
“What a surprise.”
“That’s because I got my license when the test was too easy. And I also have a dresser license!”
Chae Soo rolled his eyes, then smirked. “Great excuse.”
The city lights reflected off him, casting a glow across his face before scattering. A breeze from the slightly open car window ruffled his hair.
“People like you, who drive nice cars and don’t get ignored on the road, wouldn’t understand my struggles.”
“It’s not that I ignore you. It’s that I’m afraid for you.”
“Senior, try driving my car just once. How can a person with a car that has a trident emblem possibly understand the life of a compact car?”
His dark eyes, absorbing all the remaining light, stared at me as if trying to swallow me whole. I bit my lip and whispered quietly.
“Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
“Why? Keep talking.”
“No. I already know what you’ll say later.”
If this keeps up, I might end up as the unfortunate victim of a spontaneous wedding. I needed to get a grip.
Gay or not—though it was starting to seem certain that he wasn’t—it wasn’t any of my business.
Even though we were heading home together tonight, tomorrow was the weekend. And coming Monday, we’d go back to normal. Whatever Chae Soo’s intentions were, I just had to make sure I didn’t fall for his tricks.
Steeling myself, I nodded slightly and turned to stare outside the car window. The road ahead was unfamiliar.
“Where are we going? This isn’t the way home.”
“Dinner.”
“Oh, so you’re just deciding things on your own now? Why don’t you ever ask me?”
“We’re having beef.”
“…?”
“At Hanwoo. I already made reservation.”
Oh, for god’s sake. This is infuriating.
So planned, so calculated.
Somewhere nearby, the scent of grilled meat wafted through the air, like a 4D movie theater filled with stale perfume.
“Should we just go home?”
“You’re already making excuses?”
“It’s called being polite.”
“It’s more like not being polite to the Hanwoo.”
That was it. I knew it. He was going to feed me expensive beef and then say something outrageous.
The thought sent a jolt through me, and I suddenly shook my head.
“I know this might sound rude, but… do you have a terminal illness?”
“What?”
“No, seriously. You keep acting nice to me. You’re not asking my opinion. You just keep feeding me. It’s weird.”
“Even though I’ve unintentionally collapsed in front of you twice, all my internal organs are perfectly fine.”
Great. So now he’s bragging about his long-term survival.
“As you can see, everything’s working fine. I’m as good as a boyfriend.”
“Who the hell trusts a guy just because he says so? Words mean nothing.”
“Want proof?”
For a second, I could swear that Chae Soo’s eyes were radiating some kind of overpowering energy.
“Why are you suddenly changing lanes?”
“Going to a hotel. I’ll prove it to you.”
“What?! No, no, no! I’m not mentally ready for that yet!”
What the hell?!
As Chae Soo’s car swung back onto the main road, headlights flashed, and a horn blared behind us.
“Who the hell prepares for sex? It just happens when your eyes meet.”
“Excuse me?! When did our eyes—wait, when did we ever have a moment like that?!”
“Oh. Guess I was the only one who felt it.”
Oh, god. What was he even saying?!
If I had just shut up…!
I instinctively grabbed his right arm before pulling back in shock. His body was burning. The heat from my fingertips shot up to my face like I had touched fire.
“No, wait. Are you serious? This isn’t a joke?”
“What’s with you today? Do I look like I’m joking?”
“That’s not it… No, I mean… I—I’m not even wearing matching underwear today!”
Why.
Why did I say that?!
That was not going to stop him.
I bit my lip, cursing my own mouth for betraying me once again.
“Why does that matter? You’re just going to take it off anyway.”
“Wait—what is suddenly making you come to your senses now?!”
“Aren’t you curious too?”
Chae Soo looked at me like a predator eyeing its prey. Then he licked his lower lip.
Oh my god.
He was serious.
“Curious about what?”
“What kind of face would you make under me. What kind of sound would I make above you.”
“I’M GOING CRAZY. THERE’S NOTHING I CAN HEAR NOW.”
“I wonder what you smell like. What you taste like. I’m really curious.”
The man I once thought was gay had apparently decided to come out to me as a full-fledged pervert.
Chae Soo didn’t seem rough around the edges anymore.
Not in the slightest.
And at that moment, out of all the phrases that could have come to mind, the ones that did were birds of a feather flock together and one plus one is just a crazy guy plus another crazy guy.
That was when I finally understood.
Chae Soo wasn’t gay.
He wasn’t anything like that.
He was just a lunatic.
A lunatic who happened to be best friends with another lunatic named Kang Do-woo.
