Bring It On! - Chapter 94

Chapter 94.

Cha Yoon, who used to sneak into my house every night like he was infiltrating enemy lines, now roamed around openly without a hint of hesitation. Before I knew it, a pile of his clothes had started to build up in one corner of my wardrobe. 

Not only that, but two pillows had naturally appeared on my bed, and an extra toothbrush had found its way into my bathroom. Looking at Cha Yoon’s traces seeping into every corner of my house, I couldn’t help but feel that something was going wrong. Terribly wrong.

When I pushed the door open and stepped into the living room, I found Cha Yoon sitting side by side with Suho on the couch. The two had their heads bent over a tablet PC, exchanging words with overly serious expressions.

“Hyung, does that mean you’re rich enough to buy me this toy?”

“What do you take me for?”

“Could you buy me four?”

“Your Noona would never buy it for you, right? I’m different.”

“Then buy me a laptop, too.”

“Four of those as well?”

“Yeah.”

The whole conversation was ridiculous. Feeling a stiff ache rise in the back of my neck, I snatched the tablet PC away from them. Four resentful eyes immediately glared up at me for the sudden theft.

“What are you doing?”

I turned to Cha Yoon, demanding an answer. His skin, already good to begin with, seemed even shinier and smoother these days, probably thanks to all the decent sleep he’d been getting.

“Shopping.”

“For what reason—!”

I almost snapped in frustration, but when I caught sight of Suho beside him, I swallowed it back down. Dragging Cha Yoon aside, I pulled him into my room.

“Are you insane? Why are you buying him things without thinking?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Maybe to you! But what if you ruin his spending habits?”

“So what if they get a little ruined? He can live like that.”

“……”

Cha Yoon said it so casually, as if he intended to take full responsibility for Suho’s reckless future. As if he believed we’d still be together in that far-off future.

I don’t get it. Why is he like this lately? Cha Yoon was always such a capricious person, his moods changing like the flip of a hand. Maybe he was just satisfied after finally sleeping well for once. 

He was endlessly generous and forgiving now. The old Cha Yoon would’ve brushed off everything Suho said, coldly staring him down with a sharp “Quit pestering me.”

Either way, getting used to Cha Yoon’s whims was dangerous for both Suho and me. Clenching my fist tightly, I declared firmly,

“Don’t buy Suho anything. No laptops, no toys, no ice cream, nothing! Whatever he needs, I’ll provide.”

“We’ll see.”

“What?”

“You have to keep your promises. Adults shouldn’t lie.”

Of course, Cha Yoon did as he pleased. Not long after, a pile of delivery boxes showed up at our door. Four robot toys and a laptop, just like Suho had asked for.

Overjoyed, Suho tested him again by asking if he could buy more things. This time, I stood my ground, forbidding it outright. When Suho begged one more time, I threatened to confiscate the tablet PC, and only then did he shut his mouth. 

I warned Cha Yoon that if I ever caught him again, I’d throw him out of the house. Though they didn’t purchase any more expensive items, I still kept finding unfamiliar snack wrappers scattered around the house. Things I hadn’t bought.

***

By morning, the warmth that had wrapped around me all night was gone. Reaching out drowsily, I found only the empty blanket, no heavy body beside me. 

As my hazy mind cleared, I lay still on my side and opened my eyes. From beyond the door, I faintly heard the two of them speaking in hushed voices.

“Hyung, you can’t eat cucumbers?”

“It’s not that I can’t. I just don’t.”

“Wow. Even I can eat them, and I’m only nine.”

“Hey, kid. Look at my body. I grew up just fine without cucumbers, didn’t I?”

“You’re too big, it’s scary. My friends say you look scary.”

“That’s because you’re still a brat. Just live another five years, you’ll see.”

“Then I’d better eat cucumbers so I don’t end up like you.”

Clink, clatter, the sound of dishes meeting. What time was it? I squinted at my phone through half-asleep eyes. It’s already eight o’clock. Strange. 

I’ve been sleeping longer these days. I used to always wake up because of Cha Yoon’s restless sleep habits, but lately I’d been dozing straight through, not even realizing when he touched me.

Cha Yoon had woken up earlier than me and was helping Suho prepare breakfast. Rubbing my messy hair with my hands, I shuffled out to the living room. As soon as they noticed me, both of them turned their heads toward me in unison.

“The sleepyhead is finally up.”

Cha Yoon smirked, teasing.

“Noona! Come here quick. Hyung says he doesn’t eat cucumbers.”

“And you tattled, huh? Kid, men are supposed to keep their mouths shut.”

“You always say weird things.”

When I sat at the table, Cha Yoon naturally scooped rice into my bowl. Of course, he hadn’t actually cooked it himself. The side dishes were just leftovers from the fridge that he had transferred onto plates. 

From the burnt, coal-like something on the counter, it was obvious he had tried, and failed, at making something again.

“Noona, grown-ups all eat cucumbers, right?”

“…I don’t either.”

At my quiet confession, Suho’s eyes widened with betrayal. He dropped his spoon in shock, and Cha Yoon burst into uncontrollable laughter, while I bit my lower lip in embarrassment.

“You’re lying. Noona… you’re lying, right?”

“Kid, just accept it. You’re the only cucumber fan here.”

“They taste good with doenjang, though!”

Suho picked up a piece of stuffed cucumber kimchi he had bought from the side-dish shop and offered it to me. I pulled my head back and refused to open my mouth. 

Even if I forced myself to eat it, the distinct smell would only make me gag and spit it out right away. Horrified by my reaction, Suho covered his own mouth.

With an ally on his side now, Jay looked triumphant, while Suho vehemently denied being the odd one out and launched into a whole speech praising cucumbers. 

By the time we finished bickering, it was almost time for Suho’s academy bus. Cha Yoon went out to see him off, and I headed to the bathroom.

Brushing my teeth in front of the mirror, I suddenly felt a strange sense of dissonance. I was getting used to this life with Cha Yoon. These days, his sharp edges had softened, and he was acting almost like “Jay.”

No way… could his memories be slowly returning?

The hand holding the toothbrush lowered slowly. I had sworn never to hope again, and yet here I was, foolishly searching for traces of Jay in him. But it was only for a fleeting moment. 

Gripping my wavering heart, I turned on the faucet. Switching the water to the coldest setting, I rinsed my mouth. The icy sting seeped into every corner of my mouth, clearing my head.

Don’t try to find Jay in Cha Yoon. He’s just Cha Yoon.

And yet, even when I stripped away Jay from the picture, I couldn’t help but feel drawn to Cha Yoon’s actions. He was seeping into my daily life at an unhurried pace, and before I realized it, I was already soaked through. Almost as if it was only natural for him to stay in my house.

Cha Yoon went to work from my place and often returned earlier than I did to take care of Suho. From his perspective, Suho was just a strange little boy, but he accepted all of Suho’s cheeky pranks. 

The very same ones Suho used to pull on Jay. This was the same Cha Yoon who was notoriously short-tempered and irritable.

No wonder Suho believed so firmly that Cha Yoon was Jay. No matter how much I steeled myself, it was hard to bar Cha Yoon’s visits when Suho liked and trusted him as if he were family. Even though I knew this fleeting bond would only poison us in the end.

But Suho wasn’t the only reason I couldn’t completely push Cha Uoon away. I had to admit. My own heart was softening too.

There had been a turning point. Not long ago, a bag appeared silently in my closet. It was the very bag Cha Yoon had once snatched away. 

Back then, he ignored me when I asked for it back and even claimed he had thrown it out, yet somehow it ended up back with me. What kind of change of heart had led him to return it? I couldn’t tell.

Still, seeing that bag eased something inside me. As much as it had been hard on me, things probably hadn’t been any easier for Cha Yoon either.

“I got the bag back.”

I texted him. Not even a minute passed before the “1” mark disappeared, but his reply came much later.

[Cha Yoon: Just like that? No thank-you?]

I let out a disbelieving laugh.

“It was mine to begin with—”

[Cha Yoon: Say, ‘Thanks for keeping it safe, oppa.’]

What kind of bastard…? It wasn’t even worth answering, so I left him on read.

[Cha Yoon: Sorry.]

[Cha Yoon: I didn’t mean that.]

[Cha Yoon: I really am sorry.]

Even after his barrage of messages, I stayed silent until he finally called. I thought about ignoring it, but knowing his stubbornness, I ended up answering.

– You really made a habit of ignoring me, huh?

“You’re the one saying weird things.”

– Honestly… I didn’t want to give that bag back.

“……”

That bag held a lot of meaning for me, but for Cha Yoon it should’ve been nothing more than a shabby scrap of fabric. Yet he acted like it was his sworn enemy.

– I gave it back because it’s important to you.

“You say as if you did something amazing.”

– It tore me up inside.

“If you’re going to spout nonsense, I’m hanging up—”

– Wait. Are you free this weekend?

It happened to be the day Suho would be away. The laptop and toys Cha Yoon had impulsively bought for him had been gifted to Suho’s friends. 

They were way too expensive for kids to exchange, so the parents had even called in shock. But after hearing Suho had multiples of the same things, they reluctantly accepted. 

One of them even promised to take Suho and the others camping over the weekend as thanks.

Cha Yoon had overheard all of this when I took the call.

“…Why?”

– I need to spend some time with you.

He was throwing back the very words I had once said to him.

“What for?”

– To rest. You know I can’t sleep without you.

I could have said no, but that bag he returned kept nagging at me. After a moment’s hesitation, I finally muttered a brief “Fine” and ended the call.

That conversation with Cha Yoon had been days ago. As the weekend approached, I wondered if I had agreed too hastily. But sooner or later, I had to talk to him seriously about us.

We both had to feel the fragile comfort between us, knowing it could shatter at any moment. We couldn’t just keep sweeping things under the rug. 

I wanted to know what it was that Cha Yoon truly wanted. And I needed to face my own heart, too. The heart that couldn’t bring itself to be cruel only to him.