"From the time we met until now, you seem to have been holding an apologetic attitude. It's not just you, but also Jung so-jung and Kim Taeyeon. You're all the same, you always feel like I don't care, and you always feel like you owe me something. I've asked this question many times...... I said, are you going to be friends with me all the time with guilt? Or is it that some of the so-called feelings between us are maintained because of regret? ”

The chopsticks that I had just lifted were put down by me after a while. This is the beginning of the drinking game, a very cold, heavy beginning. I'm not speaking in a joking tone.

The last sentence, in particular, has been seriously cold to the point where there is nothing to add.

However, despite my stiff attitude, Jiang Xijun on the other side still put on a casual look, and he raised his arms and leaned back, as if he had already guessed that I would have such a reaction.

"A friend is a friend, and an apology is an apology. In Tokyo, if you were to be completely eliminated from that matter, if you hadn't been to Tokyo with me that day. So Kim Taeyeon is definitely not the only one who has been hurt. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to stay calm after knowing what is going on. I don't think I could keep it at that time, I probably would have brought all the men I could with me, and had a ferocious, bloody fight. ”

Jiang Xijun, who was in a relaxed posture, leaned on after saying this. He moved his shoulders, then leaned forward abruptly, his gaze pressed at me.

"It is because of your procrastination that all of our lives can continue as normal. And this time, you're the only one with the bloody pay. So. It cannot be said that because you are our friend, we accept all your help. Or as you say. It is simple and natural for friends to give shoulders and support. There is no need to seek returns. So good, I said what I'm giving you now, not in return. How you helped her help me in the first place, I am helping you now. ”

Jiang Xijun's words almost blocked the source of all my reasons for refusal. But refusal, sometimes doesn't need a reason at all. After being silent for a while, I turned my head to look at the warm and elegant rooms, and my eyes were clear.

"Even if you say it's a help, it's not a return. But these are a few sets of rooms. In my eyes, it's still too heavy. Personally, I don't think there is so much estrangement between me and you after all the sinister things I've been through. Even though I've gotten a lot out of you, I still feel like we're more attached to each other. But the house is different, it is not a small position, nor is it a car that is no more than seventeen million (one hundred thousand). I still know the housing prices in Seoul, and in Banpo, it is about 27 million (140,000) per square meter. If now. I took the house you gave, then............ I don't know what I'm going to become. Will I still have the heart to go on desperately and the motivation to do something? I will not be like this, and I will try to minimize the exchange of interests with you. To keep your peace of mind? I don't think I can do it. ”

The tone of his voice was still serious, but his cold attitude was no longer there, and I just explained why I couldn't accept the house he offered.

After listening to what I said. Kang Seok-joon withdrew his body and sat up straight on the bench. I thought about it for a long time. He then pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket. He took out two of them, one for me, and one on the tip of his mouth. After lighting it for himself, he placed the lighter on the table.

The lungs contracted once, the spark drifted a few centimeters, and the smoke spit out a few points: "Did I tell you just now that this house is not considered compensation, nor is it considered a return...... Actually, I lied. ”

Jiang Xijun, who finished taking a puff, held a cigarette between his fingertips. He leaned sideways and looked at the couple at the table on his right, his gaze unfocused.

"The reason why I took out these houses for you to choose from today is actually because I have my own purpose."

As soon as I stared at the cigarette on the table, I pursed my lips. "For what purpose?"

The short question sentence was spoken by me, but there was no taste of doubt at all. In response to this question mark of my curiosity, which was not strong, Jiang Xijun took a second puff of cigarette and spoke again. Suddenly, though, he changed the subject and began to say something that I didn't know at all.

"Well, now, after all the things I've been through, I suddenly find that I don't have the confidence to say that I know Kim Taeyeon better than you. But there is one thing, I think I should still see it more thoroughly............"

After the new topic of jumping out of the way was opened, Jiang Xijun, who was talking more and more slowly, propped his right elbow on the table, raised his wrist, and naturally lowered his palm.

After saying the above words, he paused for a moment, and his gaze drifted to the empty space, as if he was in a daze. Then, he raised his index and middle fingers and pushed aside the glass of wine in front of him.

"Taeyeon, she actually has a lot of ordinary people's side. For example, when you are staying at home, for example, when you sleep until noon and are too lazy to go out and call for fried noodles, for example, when you are in a daze after sleeping and eating, and then when you have nothing to do after being in a daze, when you have nothing to do nail painting. In the midst of her busy schedule, she always chooses to live the life she wants for a short time with such a casual attitude. In this state, she doesn't fight for anything. Most of the time, it's soft like a small grass. Occasionally annoyed, at most, it is a nagging Aunt Jin who incarnates for a few minutes. ”

The tone of voice, which had been slow and heavy a few minutes ago, suddenly became a little lively and cheerful again. As soon as Kim Taeyeon was mentioned, the corners of Kang Seok-joon's mouth began to rise gradually. Although his gaze was still looking into the empty space, there was already some more energy inside.

A table is no more than fifty wide, and I looked at Jiang Xijun opposite and clearly calculated all his curvatures. This is the first time he has told me through and through: Kim Taeyeon in his eyes. Listening intently, I took a glass of wine and drank it without speaking, because I knew he was not done yet.

"At first, what I liked was the milk-skinned soul singer Kim Tae-yeon who was funny and cute on the stage, but also took on everything, faced all the messages, and became strong. I guess when you first came to Korea, you should have been the same as me, and you liked her in such a state. But now, what I like is the one who stays at home, and that's the only two sides of her that I can see. And when she shifted between those two sides, when she pretended to be strong and stood in front of the curtain...... You should be able to understand the feeling, as if someone punched you. ”

The wine glass belonging to Jiang Xijun on the table had not been lifted for a long time, and he withdrew his hand that was empty in the air, and continued to point to the left side of his chest with the tips of his index and middle fingers. Then he raised his hand again and pressed his thumb down one of his cheekbones.

"So, I want to stay with her...... You also know that she likes to sing, and you also know that no matter how tired she is, she will still choose to persevere on stage to the end. So, she had to stay with me. In this way, when she is tired or sleepy, I can give her a shoulder to lean on and let her rest well. ”

The wine glasses that were fixed on the table were finally picked up after the loud words landed. Jiang Xijun, who still had a warm smile on the corner of his mouth, handed the wine glass to me, and I stared at him for three seconds. Then fill yourself with wine, pick up your glass, and drink it all.

There were two soft knocks, and the cup fell empty and fell back to the spot.

"Hey, didn't you just say that you only see a little bit clearly about Taeyeon? But it seems like you've spent twelve minutes talking about everything she has to do with her. Also, why are you suddenly telling me this, aren't you talking about the special purpose of sending me a house? ”

With a spicy soju aftertaste in the mellow, and still stuck in the last throat, I raised my chin at Kang Seok-jun with a little sneer, and then picked up a piece of fried rice cake and stuffed it into my mouth.

Jiang Xijun, who saw my smile, wiped the tip of his nose indifferently: "What I said earlier is just foreshadowing, as for what I want to tell you, what I have seen through, I should probably tell you in a serious tone." In the past, I always joked with you, and you have been unhappy with me for a long time. But now, there is no need for the game to continue, let's be sincere. ”

"The ordinary Kim Taeyeon I like must have a certain longing for the plot of the white horse to a greater or lesser extent. But she's no ordinary guy after all. So what I see through is ............ She didn't like you so quickly, but at least for now, her mind must be beautiful. ”

The smile that had been on my lips for a long time finally disappeared, and Jiang Xijun stared at me, his eyes pressed tightly. He's saying, oh no, it's speculating on how Kim Taeyeon feels about me, and he uses a very advanced word - Gi-li.

Seeing that I immediately showed impatience and helplessness because of his words, Kang Seok-jun immediately waved his hand to interrupt my prepared rebuttal.

"You don't have to rush to refute anything, although this reality makes me a little frustrated, and I don't want to face it. But unfortunately, this is the reality. I've been talking about Taeyeon's character for a long time, so you, who also know her, don't need to lie to yourself anymore and hide from this relationship that is too pink. I am not trying to get any attitude or answer from you, nor am I trying to force you to quit. I'm just saying what I think, and what I'm determined to do. (To be continued......)