Chapter 32: What about underwear?

 

“Um... I’ll bring you some clothes to change into, so go ahead and take a shower!”

 

“Thanks. I’m fine with anything comfortable. Then, I’ll go use the bathroom.”

 

“Sure. Towels and loofah are in there, so feel free to use them. Take your time.”

 

“Alright, alright.”

 

The moment Han-gyeol put down his bag and went into the bathroom, I was faced with a dilemma.

 

Was it a divine punishment for lying about not having an umbrella?

 

Or did the heavens push this opportunity towards me?

 

Whatever it was, my thoughts were far from organized.

 

The guy I like was taking a shower in our bathroom.

 

That fact alone filled my head to the brim.

 

What should I do while he’s showering?

 

Ah, right! First, I need to bring him some clothes to change into.

 

I threw my bag into my room and quickly headed into my brother’s room.

 

I opened the closet and pulled out a tracksuit that would fit Han-gyeol.

 

Just as I was about to leave the room with the tracksuit in my arms, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

 

“Do I... also need to give him underwear?”

 

There was no time to clutch my chest, which had suddenly dropped.

 

In movies and dramas, they usually just give the outer clothes to change into.

 

Why was there no mention of underwear? Are they waterproof or something?

 

Ah, no way.

 

I paced back and forth in my brother’s room, utterly indecisive.

 

Should I really give him underwear?

 

No, wait. His underwear might not even be wet, right? But what if it is?

 

Han-gyeol is kind and considerate, so he might not even bring it up.

 

Still, it was difficult to ask Han-gyeol, who was currently showering, if he needed underwear.

 

Asking the guy I liked if he needed underwear was, well, a bit embarrassing.

 

I only intended to invite him in for a shower, but now I had run into a significant hurdle.

 

The first clothes I ever gave to the guy I liked could be underwear.

 

People might think I’m a pervert if they heared about it.

 

But I had decided to muster the courage and asked anyway.

 

Han-gyeol is a kind guy who tends to take my words as they are!

 

I stood in front of the bathroom door, swallowing my dry saliva.

 

The sound of the shower was audible, and I felt my face flush unintentionally.

 

My trembling hands clenched, I cautiously knocked twice.

 

“Ha...Han-gyeol!”

 

As soon as I called his name, the sound of water inside the bathroom stopped.

 

“Yeah, Eun-ha, what’s up?”

 

His voice came from beyond the door, and I responded assertively.

 

That’s right. Underwear is just another piece of clothing; there’s no need to be this embarrassed.

 

“I’m leaving some clothes for you to change into out here. Uh—do you need underwear too?”

 

“…”

 

I asked with my face burning red, but Han-gyeol couldn’t see my expression from the other side of the door.

 

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds in response to my question.

 

I wanted to scream—AAAAAAAH—but there was no taking back what had already been said.

 

Finally, after a brief silence, Han-gyeol’s voice carried over the door.

 

“Um...yeah, please.”

 

“Alright, alright. My brother should have some new ones. I’ll leave them out here for you.”

 

I quickly headed back into my brother’s room.

 

I had to leave underwear at the door before Han-gyeol finished his shower.

 

But the problem was, I had no idea where the new men’s underwear was.

 

For this reason, I called my brother.

 

After several rings, my brother picked up.

 

- “What is it? I’m in the middle of a game. Spit it out.”

 

“Listen without jumping to conclusions.”

 

- “Fine, just say it quickly.”

 

“Where is the underwear you’ve never worn?”

 

- “What the hell? Why are you curious about the whereabouts of my new underwear?”

 

“Quiet. I don’t care about your underwear. I just need a pair that’s never been worn.”

 

- “Don’t you think this is still a weird request?”

 

“Enough! Do you have it or not? It’s urgent.”

 

- “What in the world? Why do you even need a new underwear of a grown man?”

 

“I have to give it to Han-gyeol! You’re driving me nuts!”

 

- “Are you insane?! What are you doing?! This is really crazy?”

 

“It’s not like that! Han-gyeol got wet in the rain and needs it!”

 

My annoying brother finally seemed convinced.

 

- “If that’s the case, why didn’t you say so earlier? You made me misunderstand.”

 

“Just tell me where the new underwear is.”

 

- “Open the drawer in my bed. There should be a box. You’ll probably find a pair that’s never been worn. Take that.”

 

“Okay. Thanks. Bye.”

 

I hung up abruptly and immediately opened the drawer my brother had mentioned.

 

Upon opening the large box my brother had indicated, I realized I had to call him again.

 

- “Why are you calling again?”

 

“Oppa, don’t you have another color?”

 

-“There’s probably nothing else in there. What color is left?”

 

“Why does it have to be red?”

 

- “Who cares? It’s underwear, and no one’s going to see it. Bye.”

 

This time, my brother was the one to hang up abruptly.

 

In the end, I had no choice but to sandwich the red underwear between the tracksuit at the door.

 

Giving red underwear as a gift to the guy I like... I really want to hide in a mouse hole.

 

But with my fist clenched tightly, I knocked on the bathroom door.

 

“Han-gyeol! I’ve left the underwear along with the tracksuit. You can use it! I’ll be in my room.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“I’ll leave this next to the paper bag, just put your school uniform in it for now.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

I dashed into my room as if I were escaping.

 

Quickly changing my clothes, I also tidied up my room.

 

Ugh, I should’ve listened to Mom and kept things organized regularly.

 

I shoved all the clothes hanging on the chair into my closet and closed the door.

 

I sat in the chair, waiting for Han-gyeol, unable to do anything.

 

My face was flushed...ears perked up, I sat there until Han-gyeol came out.

 

Soon, I heard the faint sound of the bathroom door opening.

 

As Han-gyeol’s footsteps grew closer to my door, my heart began to flutter.

 

I needed to calm down. I didn’t want to make things awkward.

 

Knock, knock-

 

“Eun-ha, I’m done showering. Can I use the washing machine?”

 

“Uh, of course! The washing machine and dryer are in the utility room!”

 

“Alright, thanks.”

 

Normally, I would do it for him, but he probably needed to wash his underwear too.

 

Underwear…wait, underwear?! I bolted out of my room.

 

My own underwear was in the utility room!

 

“Han-gyeol, wait!”

 

“Whoa! You startled me! Why?”

 

“I can take care of the laundry! Just give it to me.”

 

I grabbed the paper bag Han-gyeol was holding.

 

“No, it’s okay. I can do it myself.”

 

“Wait a sec...!”

 

I rushed into the utility room and covered the laundry basket.

 

After hurriedly hiding my own underwear, I let Han-gyeol in.

 

“Feel free to use it! I’ll be in the living room!”

 

“Yes, yes. It’s my laundry, so don’t bother.”

 

“Sure, sure!”

 

I nodded repeatedly and sat down on the living room sofa.

 

Han-gyeol put his laundry into the washing machine and came out to the living room.

 

Seeing Han-gyeol’s damp hair, my heart fluttered a little.

 

It was the first time I saw Han-gyeol not organized.

 

It felt a bit embarrassing.

 

“I’m causing a lot of trouble, huh? I’m sorry.”

 

“No, don’t worry about it. Oh, you need to dry your hair, right?”

 

“Yeah, where’s the hairdryer?”

 

“Just wait a moment. I’ll go get it for you.”

 

I got up from the sofa and brought the hairdryer from my room.

 

After plugging it into the power strip next to the sofa, I handed it to Han-gyeol.

 

“Ah, thanks.”

 

“Sure. Is it uncomfortable to dry your hair standing? You can sit on the sofa to do it.”

 

“Nah, it’s better not to get the sofa wet. I’ll do it standing.”

 

Han-gyeol lifted the hairdryer to his head and started drying his hair.

 

The situation felt so couple-like that my heart started fluttering again.

 

We both used the same shampoo, and the same body wash—our bodies would smell the same.

 

If Han-gyeol were my husband... I would be incredibly happy.

 

Am I getting ahead of myself, considering we’re not even dating?

 

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Han-gyeol quickly finished drying his hair, revealing his forehead.

 

Being a guy, it didn’t take him long.

 

After unplugging it, he handed the hairdryer back to me.

 

“Thanks, it was useful.”

 

“Yep. Do you need a comb?”

 

“I don’t think it’s necessary.”

 

“Ah, I see. When you are done, come sit on the sofa.”

 

I patted the space next to me.

 

As soon as Han-gyeol sat down beside me, the scent of shampoo filled my nostrils.

 

“We’ll have to stay until the washer and dryer finish their cycles.”

 

“Yep. Do you want to watch TV or something?”

 

“Might as well, better than just waiting.”

 

I turned on the TV and scrolled through the channels, finally stopping at a dating reality show.

 

I glanced at Han-gyeol to gauge his reaction.

 

“There’s nothing else on... shall we watch this?”

 

“Sure, I occasionally watch this too.”

 

“Oh, you do? Then let’s stick with this.”

 

Watching a dating show with the guy I like.

 

It can’t be a bad thing, right?

 

Plus, I was curious to find out what kind of relationship Han-gyeol aspires to.

 

This seemed like a good excuse to ask him.

 

Just then, Han-gyeol took the initiative.

 

“Are you interested in dating, Eun-ha?”

 

He threw the question I was about to ask right back at me.

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

 

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