Chapter 334
Titles are delicate.
At first glance, they might seem trivial, nothing important at all, but in reality, they’re far from that.
Especially since there’s no simpler and more effective way to express a relationship with someone than through titles.
For example, when Dogun calls Yoonseo, he often uses “Hey” or “Yoonseo” as his address, right?
It may come off as very casual, but within that, you can tell there’s a decade’s worth of friendship built up between them.
How do I know that?
Because… Yoonseo is the only person Dogun calls like that.
That’s why I couldn’t help but be conscious of that part.
When calling Yoonseo, it’s “Hey” or “Yoonseo,” when calling Bora, it’s “Bora-yah,” and with Chae-rim, it’s “Noona.”
But for me, it’s always “Senior.”
Considering how long we’ve known each other, it wouldn’t be strange to call her “Noona” like I do with Chae-rim, but I’m the only one who doesn’t.
Lately, that specific part has started bothering me more and more.
I couldn’t help but think about this because there’s nothing more ambiguous than the title “Senior.”
Why is it “Senior,” of all things?
I’m not as reliable as Chae-rim, nor am I close enough to be compared with Yoonseo, and I can’t call her by name since she’s older than me.
So is that why I have to call her “Senior”?
Regardless of reality, those thoughts kept popping into my head, which is why I wanted to take this opportunity to ask.
Why do I get called “Senior” alone?
That kind of distance feels uncomfortable, so can’t you call me something else instead of “Senior”?
I had been waiting for a chance to bring that up since morning… only to end up seeing it right then.
Dogun and Yoonseo cuddling up to each other.
While someone is busy fretting over just a title, these two are getting cozy.
I genuinely envied their ability to relax like that.
Truly.
It was also the reason I had unnecessarily gotten into trouble with Yoonseo.
Those feelings of envy mixed with a dark, sticky emotion bubbling up from within me left me no choice but to act.
And the outcome of letting myself fall into such fleeting emotions was… quite disastrous.
No, it might have been an understatement to call it disastrous.
After all, I didn’t even get the chance to ask what I had been holding back, and instead, I was chased out of the room.
Sigh…
I should have held it together there…
It was regrettable that I didn’t even think of such a thing at that moment.
So now, what should I do?
“Should I… apologize to Yoonseo?”
Of course… I know.
If I want to solve this situation, that approach is likely the best option.
I know that, but… it seems I’ll need a bit more time to turn that into action.
If I invest just five minutes, things could get a lot better, so I was leaning against the wall, taking a deep breath—
Knock knock—
At that moment, someone knocked on the door.
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Phew…
If I kept the two together, it wouldn’t be surprising if they started growling at each other again, so I hurriedly sent them both outside the kitchen.
The problem now, of course, is what to do next.
After all, having a party like this without resolving things would hardly go smoothly.
What sort of enjoyment could there be at a party in such a chaotic atmosphere?
That’s why, even after sending them out of the kitchen, my mind kept drifting towards Yoonseo and Senior.
“What if they’re fighting again…”
What am I to say?
I had opened the door connecting the entrance and the kitchen wide and even positioned myself nearby out of concern for that.
Fortunately, it seemed neither of them was in the mood to get back into a fight after receiving a stern word from me since I didn’t hear anything particularly alarming.
But still, just in case, I kept focusing my attention over there, and with a creak, the door connecting to the living room opened, revealing Chae-rim.
And without a moment’s pause, Chae-rim threw me a line—
“Hm, seeing as Yoonseo and Baeksulhwa are both absent, it looks like they indeed had a spat.”
That was it.
I thought I had managed to deceive her since she had stepped back quite smoothly earlier, but it seems it was too flimsy a justification to convince her.
“So why did they fight again?”
“Just… got playful and it escalated, you know…”
“Hm, is that so?”
If I had to name one lucky aspect, it would be this… judging by that deadpan expression on Chae-rim’s face, she didn’t seem to have any thoughts of getting involved just yet.
“They really chose the worst time to fight. Because of that, it’s all on you, Dogun.”
“Haha…”
“If it’s too hard to handle alone, would you like me to help a bit, Noona?”
“If you could, I’d be grateful, but… what about the living room?”
If starting is half the battle, then we hadn’t even begun here, yet the living room was already all set.
“There’s still a bit left to do…”
I wasn’t too worried since it was Chae-rim, but just to check, I asked whether she might have dumped all her work on Bora.
“Right now is break time, so I can’t help much in a serious way, but I can assist with some simpler tasks.”
With those words, Chae-rim nestled closer to me.
“And for instance…”
Seeing as filling the menu with basic options wouldn’t give off a proper party vibe, I had put extra effort into preparing some canapés, where her gaze was fixed.
“Maybe tasting them?”
“Are you sure you’re not just feeling peckish, Noona?”
“Well… that too.”
Honestly, since I skipped breakfast today unlike usual.
For Chae-rim, who had gotten used to having breakfast since we all started living together, it was only natural to feel hungry after skipping it.
“Then since it’s come to this, could I ask you for a favor?”
“Of course.”
Chae-rim replied with a smile and then closed her eyes gently, slightly parting her lips.
As if… saying that this was the moment to put it in.
Does she mean she wants me to feed her?
To be completely honest, I couldn’t say there was no hesitation at all.
So I was slightly reluctant when she uttered—
“I’m too lazy to wash my hands.”
As if she had read my thoughts, those words slipped from Chae-rim’s mouth.
What else could I do?
I had no choice but to feed her as she wished.
So, with the mindset of dropping a coin into a piggy bank, I picked one of the canapés laid out on the tray and popped it into Chae-rim’s mouth.
With her eyes still shut, she started chewing enthusiastically, and then declared her verdict.
“Hmm… the seasoning is perfect.”
“What about the taste?”
“All three are delicious, but… my preference is definitely…”
“It’s the one with ham, right?”
“Yeah.”
She really can’t get enough of meat, can she?
Considering her level of activity, it makes sense.
“In that sense, could you give me one more?”
Despite finishing off three in an instant, Chae-rim didn’t stop there and asked for one more, leading to a brief struggle before we finally agreed to include even one for Bora, bringing the total to four.
“Oh, and just in case you’re wondering… about Baeksulhwa and Yoonseo, don’t worry too much.”
Chae-rim, with a look of satisfaction as if she could hum a tune, unexpectedly said something unexpected.
“…?”
“If my prediction is correct… it should turn out fine.”
Thanks to that, I raised an eyebrow in confusion, and Chae-rim briefly darted a glance at the ceiling before smiling and adding those words.
When I first heard that?
If it could go as Chae-rim said, I thought I wouldn’t want anything more.
However, I believed it wouldn’t be as easy as merely saying it.
I thought that at that time… but to put it in a nutshell, Chae-rim’s assumption turned out to be precisely right.
Sure enough, it was only a short while after Chae-rim stepped back that they both showed up.
And what’s more—
“U-Um…”
“Um…”
They both stammered in unison.
