He Is That Guy

“What? Yu Ji-han has a fever?”
Kim Daeseok, who’d been watching me and Chae Yu-jeong with a face like, wow, fun show, jolted and looked me over.
“Whoa, Yu Ji-han. What’s with you?”
I, too, got flustered and pressed my forehead to check. Hard to tell.
“We’ve been indoors, so my hand shouldn’t be that cold, but if your forehead’s this hot… I think you’ve got a fever. You had headaches too.”
…When did he figure out I had headaches? Weirdly sharp eye.
“You’ve been grinding on that assignment for days. Better to go home and rest today.”
“It’s not that bad. I’ll just grab something at the convenience store.”
“Hyung, I’ll take you. I brought my car.”
“Oh! Nice. Ask Yu-jeong to drop you off. Car ride’ll be comfy.”
“I’m fine… Since when do you talk to Chae Yu-jeong like that?”
“Since earlier? He said call him however I want. Where’d you park, Yu-jeong?”
“In the paid lot across the street.”
“Yu Ji-han. Just take the ride. He’s offering, be grateful. You’re not well—don’t be stubborn for nothing.”
“It’s fine, I—”
“It’s cold out. What if you catch a worse cold? I’ll take you right to your place. Let’s go home.”
“You only have to wrap up your assignment anyway. It’s due at 5 p.m. tomorrow, plenty of time.”
“……”
Both of them talk way too much. I cupped my throbbing forehead and surrendered.
“Okay, I’ll go. I’ll go, so stop yapping. My head hurts.”
“Y-your head hurts? Should I go buy painkillers? Can you ride in the car?”
“When break starts, you and I are hitting the gym first thing. Can’t watch you being this frail.”
I said stop talking…
Sensing the moment, Kim Daeseok kept teasing me for all he was worth, and Chae Yu-jeong sprinted off to get the car. Not even five minutes later, he was back.
“Hop in, hyung. Is it okay if we skip buying meds and head straight there?”
“It’s basically in front of my place, so whatever. I can take a fever reducer at home.”
“Fragile Mr. Yu Ji-han, go have a nice rest~ Should I bring you vitamins tomorrow?”
“Get lost.”
I flipped him the finger while he grinned and buckled into the passenger seat. Third time in Chae Yu-jeong’s car already; I was getting used to it.
He pulled out fast, heading for my place without a hitch. He must’ve turned on the seat heater—warmth seeped into my frozen body.
‘My head hurts…’
Once I relaxed, the headache really crashed in and cold sweat started to bead. I thought I could manage a moment ago—guess I was wrong.
Unlike usual, he took me right to my building after I explained, instead of stopping by the convenience store. He parked and studied my condition.
“You okay? Your face is really flushed.”
“Yeah, not normal…”
Even when I caught a cold, it usually just meant some coughing. Guess I really pushed it this time.
“Let’s go to a clinic. I’m worried.”

“It’s past eight. What clinic is open now? I’ll just rest at home.”
I got out of the passenger seat, bent at the waist, and spoke through the half-open window.
“But hyung…”
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll text you tomorrow, so don’t worry and head back.”
“…Okay.”
He looked like he had more to say, but seeing me, he drooped and nodded. For once, he listens.
Leaving Chae behind, I went home and blew out a hot breath from deep in my chest. I could feel myself getting worse by the minute.
Still, I wasn’t about to collapse into bed without washing, so I crawled like a zombie into the bathroom. I took a cold shower to knock the heat down a little, then crawled back out and reached for a fever reducer—then paused.
‘I only had an Americano. Can I take meds on an empty stomach?’
Two tablets in my palm suddenly felt like a lot. Better to order porridge.
“What the hell?”
I grabbed the phone I’d tossed on the bed to order porridge and saw a missed call. Caller: Chae Yu-jeong.
Fifteen minutes ago—so while I was showering. I debated answering or ignoring him, then called back. He picked up right away.
—Hyung?
“I was in the shower. What’s up?”
—N-not a big deal.
After a long hesitation, he spoke carefully.
—I actually bought porridge and some meds. Could you come down for a second?
“What? You bought porridge?”
—I figured you might be on an empty stomach… If you don’t need it, you don’t have to come.
“You called fifteen minutes ago. You’ve been waiting this whole time?”
—Yup.
“……”
My mind went distant all of a sudden. What is he, seriously? Why go this far for me?
I clutched my head, wrestled with a mess of thoughts, and sighed.
“Punch 6782 and star on the building keypad and come up. 302.”
—Can I come in?
“Yeah.”
—Okay!
He hung up, sounding thrilled. Maybe a minute later, there was a knock at the door.
“Hyung!”
I staggered over and opened up. Chae Yu-jeong stood there flushed and panting, holding a paper bag with a porridge shop logo.
Did he run the stairs instead of taking the elevator? Grinning when he saw me, he handed me the bag.
“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I got abalone porridge. And I bought a fever reducer, painkillers, and cold medicine too.”
His fingertips brushed mine as I took the bag—they were way too cold.
“You waited outside the whole time? Not in the car?”
“Ah, yeah. I wanted to come up right away when you called, so I waited in front of the building.”
“…Sigh. Come in.”
Unbelievable. I caught his wrist, tugged him into me, and shut the door behind him. His shoulders went rigid in an instant.
“C-can I come in? I only meant to drop off the porridge. You’re sick, so…”
“Yes. Please stop babbling and come in.”
I answered in mock formal speech and set the bag on the table. With his cheeks and ears pink, he hesitated and followed me in.
“It’s small. I live alone. Toss your coat anywhere and sit however you want.”
“No. It’s not small.”
That line made me think of his place. Compared to that, this has to be tiny.
“Thanks for the porridge. I was about to order. I should take meds, but my stomach’s empty.”
“I figured you might’ve missed a meal meeting that Kim Ui-chan guy, so… Abalone porridge okay?”
“Yeah. But this is a lot. Isn’t this two servings?”
“Whatever’s left, put it in the fridge and heat it up later.”
I don’t really want porridge again tomorrow… Better to split it now with him.
I took out the packaged porridge and med boxes and set them on the /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ table. Suddenly, a cold touch grazed the back of my neck.
“…?”
“Ah, sorry. Your hair’s wet.”
He’d been absentmindedly touching my hair; when he met my eyes, he jolted and pulled his hand back. The awkward, self-conscious move made me narrow my eyes.
‘Don’t tell me…’
I swept over his embarrassed face, lost eyes, and blood-red ears, then spoke slowly.
“Eat half before you go. Sit. I’ll get spoons.”
I slid one of the porridge packs to him. He sat quietly across from me. I handed him a spoon and took a bite myself.
Nutty aroma, soft texture—my mouth filled up. The warm porridge soothed the gnawing emptiness that hurt.
“Is it good?”
“It’s good.”
After finishing about half, I propped my chin on my hand and watched him for a moment as he pushed the side dishes toward me.
“…What?”
Under the stare, he couldn’t take it and asked first. No need to drag it out; I answered plainly.
“Chae Yu-jeong. I’m asking just in case.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to date me?”
“Cough!”
The words barely left my mouth before he doubled over, hacking.
He wheezed for a long time like it went down the wrong pipe, then, face and neck blazing scarlet, he shouted:
“W-why… all of a sudden… why…!”
“If you make it that obvious, I’m not an idiot. How would I not notice?”
“…No? That’s not it.”
“Come on. Yes it is.”
“No, seriously, it’s not!”
“If you’re going to deny it, then don’t fuss over me like this. Who the hell goes to all this trouble buying porridge for someone they don’t plan to date?”
I said it flatly, and he started trembling, face red, eyes crumpling. Moisture gathered in both eyes.
‘What the.’
Is he… crying? Bigger reaction than I expected; it threw me off too.
“Hyung, you’re really too much…”
Hand over his mouth, he glared at me, wounded, and muttered. Seeing him that hurt, my words jammed in my throat.
I mean, what did I even do?