KFPCA 10

Chapter 10

Above the mirror was an iron wrought-iron decorative trim, and Kim Seung-hyun had hung a small plush toy there, along with a few photos of herself and Kwon Ji-yong.

Kwon Ji-yong stared at those photos for a long time, looking at the youthful versions of the two of them in the pictures. He was deeply moved, but still couldn’t help teasing, “You didn’t just put these up because I was coming, did you?”

“What are you saying! Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”

Across from the shoe cabinet were the washing machine and dryer. Further ahead was a small open kitchen, only about 1.5 meters long.

But though it was small, it had everything it needed.

Kwon Ji-yong pointed at the rice cooker, knives, pots and pans, and various seasonings on the countertop. “Wuli Sparkle really has learned how to cook!”

“An essential skill for every international student.” Kim Seung-hyun complained. “Although I don’t have very high standards for food, I still can’t accept eating tasteless Western food all the time, so I had to learn to cook for myself.”

“You’ve worked hard, wuli Sparkle.”

Kim Seung-hyun was similar to Kwon Ji-yong in that she didn’t have high standards for food—as long as it was edible.

She could have a boiled egg with a little soy sauce and rice, and that would be a meal.

Back in Korea, she was too busy with schoolwork to have many opportunities to learn cooking.

But after coming to the US, after living in the dorms for four years and eating Western food for four years, the first thing she did after renting her own place was to learn to cook.

She really couldn’t eat it anymore. If she had to eat it for another five years, she might choose to evolve out of needing food altogether.

Past the kitchen was the living room. It wasn’t large, but because it faced the entrance directly and the entire area had no partitions, it looked relatively spacious.

Just like the entryway, there was a light-colored rug on the floor. Against the wall was a light-colored two-seater sofa, with a small rectangular coffee table in front of it.

Across from the coffee table was a three-tiered natural wood shelf, and the items on it were all familiar to Kwon Ji-yong.

Because ninety percent of the things on it were gifts from him.

A set of speakers sat at either end, with a record player in the middle—this was something Kwon Ji-yong had sent over when she first moved.

“Although you say you’re a music idiot, music can relax your mind and adjust your mood. When you feel tired or in a bad mood, try listening to some music—using the speakers and record player I gave you.”

The vinyl records next to it were also sent by Kwon Ji-yong along with the record player at the time.

On the second shelf down were some of Kim Seung-hyun’s frequently used perfumes. Besides the ones she bought herself and two bottles given as gifts from friends, most of the rest were also sent by Kwon Ji-yong over time.

When it came to friends, Kwon Ji-yong had always been generous—especially with Kim Seung-hyun.

Whenever he went shopping and saw something that suited her, he would buy it.

He didn’t care how expensive international shipping was; once he had accumulated enough, he would send them to her.

Kim Seung-hyun showed them off proudly. “See? I’ve been using all the things you gave me!”

Kwon Ji-yong looked at the few bottles of perfume he had given her—they were clearly more used than the others—and nodded with satisfaction.

In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, Kim Seung-hyun had placed a dining table and chairs.

Though called a dining set, it was actually quite small.

The table was round, about half a meter in diameter, with two dining chairs facing each other.

Looking closer, the floor-to-ceiling window was actually two balcony doors.

Pulling open the balcony door revealed a small balcony, where Kim Seung-hyun had placed some easy-to-maintain green plants and a rocking chair.

“On the rare day off, lying here soaking up the sun is seriously blissful.”

After saying that, Kim Seung-hyun led Kwon Ji-yong to the other side of the living room.

“Come on, let me show you your bedroom.”

Kim Seung-hyun pushed open the door, and the first thing they saw was a large 1.8-meter bed, already made up with fluffy bedding.

“I changed the sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcases just before I left today.” Kim Seung-hyun opened the closet by the bed. “I cleared out some space yesterday—it should be enough to hang your clothes.”

“You can arrange the desk however you like. You’ll be staying here from now on.” Kim Seung-hyun added, “I don’t know if you brought any, but I’ve prepared a bath towel and face towel for you. I put your toothbrush in the bathroom.”

Kwon Ji-yong looked around this apartment that, starting from the entryway, had traces of him in every corner. He pressed his foot firmly into the soft slippers, looked at this friend who had so carefully arranged his stay, and his eyes, which had been holding a smile all along, now glistened with moisture.

He stepped forward and wrapped his arms tightly around the small, fragrant, soft Kim Seung-hyun.

Kim Seung-hyun first froze, then wrapped one arm around Kwon Ji-yong’s waist and gently patted his back with the other, speaking softly, “Jalhaesseo, wuli Ji-yong jalhaesseo!”

Kwon Ji-yong, who had been suppressing his emotions all along, only daring to quietly cry alone in his dark room, now let out unrestrained sobs in the gentle comfort of his friend.

From quiet sobbing to full-on crying, Kwon Ji-yong’s tears slowly soaked through Kim Seung-hyun’s thin down jacket, wetting her shoulder and also aching her heart.

Hearing Kwon Ji-yong’s cries, Kim Seung-hyun’s nose also started to sting, and her vision began to blur.

She gently patted Kwon Ji-yong’s back, repeating tirelessly, “Jalhaesseo, wuli Ji-yong jalhaesseo…”

In the quiet living room, the two sat side by side on the two-seater sofa.

Kwon Ji-yong secretly moved the warm towel covering his eyes and glanced at Kim Seung-hyun out of the corner of his eye.

Meeting her eyes as she also moved her towel aside, pretending to be looking at him casually, they both burst out laughing.

“Laugh, laugh, laugh!” Kim Seung-hyun said in mock anger. “You’ll be happy going out with eyes like a frog’s later.”

“I don’t mind!” Kwon Ji-yong leaned back against the sofa in complete relaxation. “After all, there’s no one here who knows me.”

“Hmph! Then I’ll take a picture and send it to Yongbae Oppa.” With that, Kim Seung-hyun actually pulled out her phone.

“Ah!” Kwon Ji-yong sat up and reached for Kim Seung-hyun’s phone. “No, Sparkle!”

“Why not?” Kim Seung-hyun turned her back to Kwon Ji-yong and looked at the photo she had just taken from within her grasp. “Didn’t you say you didn’t mind?”

“Ah… it’s just not allowed.” Kwon Ji-yong reached from behind to grab the phone again.

Thanks to the physical disparity between them, the phone ended up in Kwon Ji-yong’s hands.

The screen was still on the photo album, and Kwon Ji-yong immediately spotted his own picture. After a casual glance, he handed the phone back to Kim Seung-hyun.

“I’m the oppa here, so I’ll be generous and not delete the photo. I’ll leave it for you as a keepsake.”

Kim Seung-hyun took her phone back, looking at Kwon Ji-yong’s magnanimous expression, and was utterly speechless. “A keepsake for what? To commemorate October 8, 2011, the first time you cried?”

Before Kwon Ji-yong could respond, Kim Seung-hyun cut him off with another line.

“Oh, never mind, that’s not necessary. After all, wuli Ji-yong is Tear Ji-yong—I’ve seen you cry plenty of times!”

“…”

Kwon Ji-yong was left speechless, because it was true—he had indeed cried in front of Kim Seung-hyun many times.

He cried over breakups, cried when it was confirmed he would debut, cried when he won his first award, cried when he was falsely accused of plagiarism, cried when his concert was criticized as 19+…

Unable to win the argument, Kwon Ji-yong gave up and flopped back into the sofa, looking at Kim Seung-hyun with dissatisfaction. “Ya! Kim Sparkle, why do you always pick on me? Didn’t you say you were going to support me? Sure enough, the one asking for handouts is always the one who gets bullied!”

“…” Kim Seung-hyun suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. “Kwon Ji-yong, watch fewer TV dramas! Isn’t Bigbang busy enough? How do you always have time to watch dramas?”

“Busy is busy, but I still need to watch dramas.” Kwon Ji-yong pouted. “After all, they’re a source of inspiration for me too.”

“Oh, so the great GD-ssi’s inspiration comes from TV dramas?”

This was indeed something Kim Seung-hyun knew little about, just as Kwon Ji-yong never asked where she got material for her papers.

“Not just that—also movies, books, or scenes and passersby I see on the street.”

“Artists really are different. Anything and anyone can give you inspiration.”

Kwon Ji-yong was about to speak when the clock hanging directly across from the sofa chimed “ding-dong,” startling him.

“Oh! What’s that?” Kwon Ji-yong grabbed Kim Seung-hyun’s arm. “That scared me.”

“It’s six o’clock. It’s chiming the hour.”

“But doesn’t it startle you when it suddenly rings like that?”

“You can adjust it.” Kim Seung-hyun stood up and pressed a button next to the clock, and the chiming stopped. “Sometimes when I’m home alone, I easily lose track of time, so it reminds me to eat.”

“But now that you’re here, I won’t need this anymore.” Kim Seung-hyun looked at Kwon Ji-yong seriously, as if entrusting him with the most important mission. “This task should be a piece of cake for you, right, Ji-yong?”

“Of course!” Kwon Ji-yong puffed out his chest, reassuring her. “So it’s about time to eat, right? What are we having for dinner?”

“Let’s eat out. I heard there are several good restaurants nearby, but I haven’t tried them yet.”

“You haven’t tried them?” Kwon Ji-yong asked. “Seems like every time I ask what you ate, you say you had cafeteria food. You haven’t been eating at the cafeteria for four years, have you?”

“How is that possible!” Kim Seung-hyun denied it. “I definitely eat out with friends too. But I eat at the cafeteria more often—it’s convenient.”

“That’s true. You’re not picky about food anyway.”

“You’re not picky either.” Kim Seung-hyun refused to back down. “If I had to pick someone to go to a deserted island with, I’d definitely choose you.”

“Why? Because I’m not picky about food?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Just because I’m not picky?” Kwon Ji-yong grabbed Kim Seung-hyun’s shoulders and shook her a little, trying to shake some sense into her. “Sparkle-ah! Oppa is great in other ways too!”

“But not being picky is really important.” Kim Seung-hyun explained seriously. “Being hungry makes people irritable and releases negative emotions. Since Ji-yong eats everything, you won’t get negative emotions as easily. That’s really important.”