Married For Now-Chapter 49: TEST THE WATER

"HYUNG, do you always cook full breakfast for yourself?"

"Yes," Sohee answered cheerfully while he was having a hearty breakfast with Kim Heedo. "I used to not eat breakfast before. But now that I’m living comfortably, I make sure to have at least three meals a day. And I enjoy cooking, especially since I don’t have to worry about the price of ingredients I’m buying."

That didn’t mean he was splurging every day.

He could eat meat whenever he wanted, but that didn’t mean it had to be every single day. After all, he wanted to stay fit.

If I want to seduce Kim Heedo with my body, I have to take care of myself.

"Why did you ask?" Sohee asked curiously. "Do you feel burdened? Because you think I’m exerting effort to win you over or something?"

To be fair, he just prepared a simple breakfast for today.

The main protein was pork katsu, and then he served several side dishes: kimchi, rolled eggs, kimbap, vegetable stir-fry, and soybean paste stew.

It’s a typical Korean breakfast, so it’s not as fancy as what Heedo is probably used to.

"Hyung, are you teasing me again?" Kim Heedo asked suspiciously. "You’ll probably say that I’m being narcissistic if I think you cooked this hearty breakfast to make me fall for you. That’s your goal, right?"

"Nope, you’re actually right this time."

"What?"

"I want you to see me as a real husband material," Sohee said. He was smiling, and he sounded like he was joking, but he was actually serious. "I can cook, do household chores, and I don’t mind being a stay-at-home husband in the future. Plus, you like having sex with me."

"Hyung, I won’t fall for your trick this time," Kim Heedo said firmly. "I know you’re just provoking me since you like seeing my reactions to your antics."

Well, it was true that Sohee made fun of Kim Heedo too many times.

So, it’s possible that this brat is just being cautious.

That, or...

He’s just pretending that he doesn’t notice I’m being serious this time?

Hence, Sohee decided to test the water.

"What made you think that I’m joking?"

"Hyung, I feel safe with you because you never forced me to do things I don’t want to do," Kim Heedo said, his face beaming. "Even if there are things I’m willing to do, you still make sure I really know what I’m doing by giving me plenty of chances to change my mind."

Ah, so it was Sohee’s own fault.

I spoiled Kim Heedo so much that he believes I’m a good person.

And that pricked his conscience.

Here I am, thinking of using my body to seduce him.

"That’s why even if Hyung falls for me, I know you’d end things neatly instead of forcing your feelings on me," Kim Heedo continued. "And that’s why I feel safe with Hyung even if Hyung claims that there’s a high possibility of us falling in love with each other."

Ah, Sohee had no choice but to accept the fact that his "kindness" backfired on him.

No good deed goes unpunished, indeed.

"Am I wrong, Hyung?"

"Heedo-ya, you don’t see me as a saint, do you? I don’t want to be your role model or something since that will pressure me to act like a perfect adult around you."

Kim Heedo scoffed. "Hyung, I just said I feel safe with you, not that I see you as a saint," he said, and then a glint of playfulness sparked in his eyes. "What kind of saint bullies his dongsaeng just because he finds his reactions funny?"

"Right?" Sohee said, relieved to know that he wasn’t completely a good person in Kim Heedo’s eyes. "Heedo-ya, from now on, I’m going to live like you— selfishly and unapologetically."

"Ouch."

***

"OPPA, please join our club."

Aigoo.

Sohee was weak to good-looking people, so he couldn’t really turn down Hong Sera who was giving him puppy dog eyes.

I may not be attracted to women, but Hong Sera is really beautiful.

Sohee was peacefully having lunch with Cho Euntak in the school cafeteria when the heiress joined them.

Why is she alone? Does she not have friends in her class?

"I’ll give you five minutes to convince me, Sera-ya," Sohee said because he couldn’t really turn down Hong Sera. So, yes, living "selfishly" and "unapologetically" like Kim Heedo ended at that very moment. "I don’t want to look like a pushover, so let’s do this."

Hong Sera laughed softly before she started explaining. "First of all, our club is called ’Webtoon Reading Club.’"

Sohee immediately nodded. "Okay, I’m sold."

Since Hong Sera was from the English Department, Sohee initially thought that the club she was advertising was related to her major.

So, he was surprised that the club was related to Webtoon.

But I shouldn’t have been surprised since Sera’s boyfriend is in my department.

"We usually review successful webcomics that were granted a drama or movie adaptation," Hong Sera continued with her explanation. "But, when there’s a festival, our club holds a webtoon-making competition."

"The YonheeToon Awards..."

Sohee and Hong Sera both turned to Cho Euntak.

Judging by the boy’s blush, it was obvious that he said it out loud.

"I’m sorry," Cho Euntak said shyly. "I didn’t mean to chime in."

"No, it’s alright," Hong Sera said kindly. "Are you Sohee Oppa’s classmate?"

"Yes, sunbae-nim. My name is Cho Euntak."

"Don’t be too formal with me and just call me ’noona,’ Euntak-ssi."

"Then you can just call me by my name, Sera Noona."

"Alright, Euntak-ah. Since you’re also in the Webtoon Animation Department, I assume you’ve already heard about the YonheeToon Awards?"

Cho Euntak nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Noona. That’s actually the reason I chose Yonhee University."

"You made a good choice," Hong Sera said, smiling. And then she continued with her explanation. "The club welcomes both writers and artists for the YonheeToon Awards. But, of course, an artist has the choice to work on their own entry."

"Does it mean you’re accepting entries now?"

"We will start this week," Hong Sera said. "Are you interested in joining, Oppa?"

"What are the mechanics?"

"The contestants have to submit a three-Chapter short story webcomics, with each Chapter having a minimum of forty and a maximum of seventy panels, before the deadline," Hong Sera explained. "Registration starts next week, and the deadline for the submission will be three days before the festival. Then our club will post all the successful entries at the same time— on the first day of the festival— on our club’s personal website called YonheeToon."

"How do we determine the winner?"

"By votes from the readers," Hong Sera said cheerfully. "We will post the entries without the names of the contestants. Of course, that means the contestants aren’t allowed to tell people which work is theirs. If they are caught, they’ll be disqualified."

Sohee chuckled. "How strict."

"We know it doesn’t work 100%, but the club has to set rules to make the contest as fair as possible."

"Right."

"Oppa, you may not know it because this is your first year here at Yonhee. But our contest is really popular even among non-webtoon readers," Hong Sera said, her eyes sparkling. "You won’t regret joining our club, Sohee Oppa."

"Fine, I’m already sold anyway," Sohee said, smiling. "I’ll join your club."

"M-Me, too," Cho Euntak said shyly. "I’d like to join the club, too."

"Sure," Hong Sera said cheerfully while clapping her hands softly. "Let’s go to the club room if you have free time, Sohee Oppa and Euntak-ah."

***

"HEEDO-YA, are you still upset that I didn’t tell you that we invited Kosmos to perform at our university festival?"

Kim Heedo frowned at Kang Dohwa— the Student Council President.

He’s also a good hyung to me, Gaon, and Jaewon.

The three of them looked up to Kang Dohwa so much that they agreed to help the Student Council from time to time. Yes, the three of them were just honorary members. But they were still recognized by the Student Council because, well, Alpha Privilege was a real thing.

So, I felt betrayed when Dohwa Hyung didn’t tell me they invited Kosmos.

Heedo got mad at Kang Dohwa a few days ago.

But since the Student Council had been busy lately, this was the first time the two of them got the chance to talk face-to-face.

That was how Heedo ended up in a coffee shop with Kang Dohwa.

"I’m sorry for keeping it a secret from you," Kang Dohwa said, offering Heedo a cup of iced coffee. "To be fair, we haven’t heard from Kosmos’ management yet when Lee Junsu told you that his group will perform at our festival. In fact, his management had just sent us a reply when you confronted me about it."

So, Heedo heard the news first?

That was plausible.

It was already past midnight when Heedo met up with Lee Junsu, so maybe their management had only confirmed Kosmos’ attendance at the university festival in the evening.

But it wouldn’t be polite to send a reply past office hours.

Hence, it made sense that the Student Council only received the call in the morning.

"It’s alright, Hyung," Heedo said, taking a sip of the coffee before speaking again. "I’m over it anyway."

"You should be," Kang Dohwa said teasingly. "It’s been a few days since then."

"Hyung, are you really sorry?"

Kang Dohwa chuckled while shaking his head, and then he instantly got serious. "I have something else to confess, Heedo-ya."

"You’re making me nervous, Hyung."

"We also invited another group, and they just confirmed their attendance earlier."

"Hyung, don’t tell me..."

"Yes, we invited Antiheroes, too," Kang Dohwa said. "I’m sorry, but your ex-boyfriend’s new boyfriend’s group will also perform at the festival."

Heedo shut his eyes tight.

He was annoyed, but for some reason, Park Sohee’s grinning face suddenly flashed in his mind.

I’m sure Sohee Hyung will enjoy this "drama" again.

***

SOHEE liked drama, but he never liked love triangles.

It’s a trope I avoid the most since I don’t like it when the main character is torn between two potential lovers. I mean, if you can’t choose one because you like them both, then just date the two of them? Poly relationships exist. It’s not for everyone, but it’s an option.

Unfortunately, he got to witness an unfolding love triangle right before his very eyes.

Hong Sera.

Han Raehyun.

And the guy named ’Jin Minki.’

Short context: Hong Sera and Jin Minki both wanted Han Raehyun.

For the long context...

Well, Sohee had to start the story from the time he visited the Webtoon Reading Club.

***

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