TTOA Chapter 36

“After stirring everything, we’ll add milk and cream. When using dairy products, you must first check the expiration date. Look at the date on the package to check if it’s fresh.”

“Hmm… the date is plenty good.”

“Then that’s good. Let’s add them. One cup of milk, and just a little cream.”

“I understand one cup, but how little is ‘just a little’?”

“Just eyeball it… about this much.”

Kwon Jae-jin squeezed whipped cream into the glass bowl. The contents inside surged out, getting a little on his hand. He nonchalantly licked the cream off his hand, and then felt a gaze from above. Seo Eui-woo was staring intently.

His gaze met Seo Eui-woo’s glossy gray eyes, and for some reason, Jae-jin felt a tickle inside. Deep inside his ribs, the inside of his chest felt uncomfortable.

“That’s, dripping.”

Cream was running down his finger. Kwon Jae-jin slightly frowned, feeling like he had become the female lead in some B-grade drama.

Carelessly getting cream on himself, getting caught licking it, getting called out. Isn’t this a common drama cliché? This isn’t a role that Kwon Jae-jin, a sturdy, age-appropriate, always expressionless, world-weary office worker, should be playing.

Jae-jin acted as if nothing was wrong, pulled out a paper towel, and calmly wiped his hand.

“Things like this often happen when you’re cooking. You can wipe it with a paper towel or wash it in the sink.”

“I see. It happens often, huh.”

“Now that all the ingredients are in, let’s mix it. Stir it like before. And then put it in that sieve over there, the one hanging on the wall, and strain it.”

“Jae-jin, you often lick things while cooking, huh.”

Oh, jeez.

“Should I lick too? I got some on my hand.”

Seo Eui-woo stopped stirring with the whisk. A few drops of milky egg mixture were on the back of his hand. Jae-jin ripped off a paper towel and scrubbed Seo Eui-woo’s hand roughly.

“You don’t even eat, Seo Eui-woo, so why, what are you going to lick? That’s enough.”

“That’s right, I don’t eat. Then will Jae-jin lick my hand?”

“Don’t talk nonsense and quickly strain it. We’ll strain it twice. The more times you strain it, the softer and more delicious the eggs become.”

“Jae-jin.”

“What?”

“I don’t quite understand. Did I really not cook even once for the past four years? Why didn’t I, when it’s so fun?”

“……”

“Hmm, there are many kinds of sieves too. I wonder if this size is right… It’s my kitchen, but I completely forgot I had these tools.”

Seo Eui-woo picked up a sieve and strained the egg mixture. He diligently strained it twice, just as Kwon Jae-jin had instructed. He looked up with a bright smile, saying he was done, but Kwon Jae-jin couldn’t give him a proper reaction.

It felt like his chest was being squeezed, like his heart was being seared with an iron.

‘Is this okay.’

Seo Eui-woo…

He hadn’t even said goodbye to the 1st timeline’s Seo Eui-woo yet, but was it okay to be smiling and spending time with the 2nd timeline’s Seo Eui-woo like this without a care?

There’s no particular reason why it shouldn’t be, but still, something felt off. It was frustrating. Like a soybean crushed under a giant weight.

“Jae-jin? I’m all done here.”

“Ah… yes. Good job. Now, put that in the frying pan and make scrambled eggs.”

“Frying pan, frying pan, found it. I can use this one.”

“Put the pan on and adjust it to a weak flame that’s about to go out. Pour in some olive oil… Now, use a wooden spatula. Oh, you must use a wooden one. Otherwise, the coating on the frying pan will come off. Stir slowly and gently.”

“Okay.”

After roughly giving instructions, Kwon Jae-jin crossed his arms.

Even though he’d only taught him once, Seo Eui-woo did everything he was told quite well.

The scrambled eggs, gently cooked over low heat, clumped together nicely and cooked through. Jae-jin didn’t even tell him to turn off the heat, but Seo Eui-woo turned off the gas, thinking it was enough.

“Wow, it’s done. I did it. Cooking. Will this be delicious? Huh?”

Seo Eui-woo, excited, brought over a plate with a thrilled look. Using his Esper ability, the white and large plate flew to him on its own. After even plating it, he slid the appetizing scrambled eggs in front of Jae-jin.

“Here you go.”

He seemed to be very happy, his fair and innocent face flushed like a large puppy.

It was strange to see Seo Eui-woo, the hero of the masses, revered and admired, make a plate of food for Kwon Jae-jin and look at him with eyes waiting for evaluation.

Who on earth is the Seo Eui-woo in front of him?

Not the first S-rank Esper. Not the omnipotent Seo Eui-woo whom no one can follow,

Not the crazy bastard Kwon Jae-jin knew well, the guy crazy for Guiding,

Even less so, the pitiful and unfortunate, harsh 24-year-old Seo Eui-woo who clung to Kwon Jae-jin, crying and begging for forgiveness.

“What are you doing? Try it, Jae-jin.”

“……”

“Don’t want to eat it? Does it look bad… Did I make something wrong?”

“……”

“Not eating it…?”

Jae-jin let out a small breath.

He lightly shook his head, then sprinkled a little salt and pepper on the steaming scrambled eggs. He picked up a spoon, took a large spoonful, and put it in his mouth.

The savory and simple taste of eggs. The texture that melted softly on his tongue. The warm temperature, everything was just right. It was delicious.

“It… it’s delicious… Seo Eui-woo, you seem to have a talent for cooking…”

Surprised by the unexpected result, Kwon Jae-jin unintentionally spoke his true feelings. Seo Eui-woo widened his eyes as if even more pleased at Kwon Jae-jin’s honest, raw reaction, which was unlike him.

“Really? Should I make you more? I think I can make the second one even more delicious than this.”

“No, this is enough…”

Kwon Jae-jin picked up the spoon again.

After eating several spoonfuls in a row, he couldn’t break his old habit and held out the spoonful of scrambled eggs to Seo Eui-woo’s lips.

He came to his senses right before feeding him. He blinked blankly.

“It’s a mistake. It’s become a habit of mine.”

He clearly knows he won’t eat it, tsk.

Awkward, Kwon Jae-jin tried to pull his arm back. However, because Seo Eui-woo grabbed Jae-jin’s wrist, he couldn’t remove the offered spoon and had to keep holding it out.

“Jae-jin… you’ve been like this from the start.”

Seo Eui-woo slowly scanned the fluffy eggs neatly placed on the spoon and Kwon Jae-jin with his glossy, clear gray eyes.

His gaze wasn’t very calm. The subtle swaying was ominous.

“You keep trying to feed me things. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, well…”

“Will I eventually eat meals too? Will I eat with Jae-jin…?”

Now these kinds of questions aren’t hard to answer.

Kwon Jae-jin slowly nodded. His wrist was still being held.

It seemed like he could shake him off if he wanted to, but if he did, the eggs neatly placed on the spoon would all spill, so he was just staying still.

“Yes, just like you’ve been sleeping well recently, you’ll start eating well soon too.”

“I see. Then I’ll eat.”

Abruptly, Seo Eui-woo lowered his head and opened his mouth.

Before he could even say anything, Seo Eui-woo ate the yellow scrambled eggs piled high on the spoon.

He neatly put it all in his mouth in one bite and chewed it thoroughly.

Kwon Jae-jin stared at Seo Eui-woo with unfocused black eyes, his mind blank. What the hell is that bastard doing again? He couldn’t understand his psychology at all.

“Seo Eui-woo, you don’t have to force yourself to eat. You still don’t seem to have an appetite, so why are you doing this?”

“Umm… it’s soft. Warm, but it smells a bit eggy. And there are burnt parts too.”

“No, what…”

“It’s not good. Jae-jin, did you really eat this and think it was delicious? I made it so badly, I did.”

“……”

“I need to practice. I’ll make you something more delicious next time.”

Seo Eui-woo released his wrist.

Kwon Jae-jin pondered, wondering what this was, what Seo Eui-woo was trying to do, feeling uneasy as he used the spoon. He said it wasn’t good, but it tasted delicious enough to Jae-jin.

Kwon Jae-jin ate the scrambled eggs in silence until the plate was empty, and Seo Eui-woo watched Jae-jin eat next to him.

From the tip of his hair to the tip of his toes. He watched the lips that opened every time Kwon Jae-jin put the spoon in his mouth, and he watched the jaw muscles move every time he tasted and chewed. The angle of his arm when he lifted the spoon, the shape of his hand holding the plate, even the chest and shoulders that rose and fell slightly with each breath, he watched everything.

The gaze that poured out without even trying to hide it was more blatant and persistent than ever before.

For the first time in a long time, Kwon Jae-jin felt the urge to avoid Seo Eui-woo’s gaze. He subtly tucked his toes in a little and lowered his head slightly.

Seo Eui-woo was strange.

To be certain, definitely, he had changed in some seriously strange way.

But why…

For some reason…

‘This kind of thing, this kind of relationship, might not be so bad…’