Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 17

Thump... thump... thump...

In contrast to the silence of the room, Yujin’s heartbeat sounded so loud it felt as though it echoed throughout the study.

He didn’t want Winston to notice how shaken he was, but he had no idea how successful he was at hiding it.

For now, he could only keep his face as blank as possible and pray that Winston wouldn’t pick up on it.

Since returning to Delight, this was the third time he had faced Winston.

But this was the first time they were truly facing each other head-on under such bright light.

The first time had been in the dark, and the second he had avoided looking directly while the will was being read.

Only now could Yujin finally study his face carefully.

His thick, abundant hair was neatly combed without a single strand out of place.

Beneath the heavy brows were deep-set, long eyes.

Following the sharp bridge of his nose down led to his tightly pressed lips and a strong, defined jaw.

Ah...

Barely holding back a sigh, Yujin realized.

Standing there was no longer the boy who had once whispered sweet words to him.

He had become a fully grown man.

Gone was the boy who had always spoken to him kindly.

The unfamiliar face before him now watched Yujin coldly, yet there was a wounded look buried in those eyes.

How absurd.

Wasn’t Yujin the one who should feel wounded?

Winston said nothing and simply stared at him.

Yujin, too, remained silent.

The tense stillness felt like it might last forever, but surprisingly, Winston was the first to speak.

"Why don’t you sit down?"

Following his casual gesture, Yujin hesitated for a moment before moving.

It annoyed him to obey so easily, but he couldn’t just stand there forever.

Hadn’t he resolved to accept whatever proposal came his way?

Refusing something this minor would only make everything harder later.

His pride didn’t matter. His current situation did.

Not again. Never again.

He sternly reminded himself.

He had to be rational and adapt.

Winston wouldn't make any unreasonable demands.

After all, they were both troubled by the will.

He should be prepared to tolerate at least a little humiliation.

Yujin sat in the same wingback chair he had used during the will reading and straightened his back, locking eyes with Winston.

As he did, Winston narrowed his eyes slightly, watching him sit right in that spot where he had once imagined humiliating him.

The air thickened.

Even Winston himself seemed aware of the stronger pheromone scent spreading around them.

Yet Yujin remained indifferent.

Suppressing his irritation, Winston finally pushed away from the desk and asked.

"Tea. Is that alright?"

"Ah... yeah..."

Before Yujin could even finish responding, Winston was already reaching for the pot on the desk.

Lifting the tea cozy, he poured the still-hot tea into a cup.

Then he picked up a brandy bottle.

Ah—

Yujin almost spoke but held his tongue.

Would drinking be better?

He knew this situation required a clear head.

But his nerves were stretched so thin that he felt on the verge of a migraine.

A little relaxation might help.

Just a few drops of brandy wasn’t much anyway.

He silently watched Winston add a spoonful of honey and stir lightly.

Tap... tap...

Suddenly, Winston’s footsteps echoed as he began to walk.

His shoes clicked rhythmically against the herringbone floor, filling the quiet room with an eerie sound.

Step by step, he closed the distance.

Yujin tensed, shrinking back instinctively as Winston approached.

Without realizing, he held his breath and pressed against the chair as if trying to melt into it.

Winston stopped.

Ah.

Standing with his back to the only exit, Winston looked down at him.

Yujin’s face paled the moment he realized his retreat was blocked.

His anxious gaze kept darting to the door behind Winston, but Winston pretended not to notice.

Instead, he handed over the cup casually.

"Here."

His attitude was composed, but Yujin’s throat was painfully dry.

"Th-thanks."

He accepted the cup with both hands, saucer and all.

His voice cracked miserably, forcing him to clear his throat in embarrassment.

As he brought the tea to his lips to moisten his parched mouth, Winston silently observed.

"How’s the aroma?"

"...It’s nice."

Yujin answered carefully.

Silence fell again.

What is he thinking?

Yujin couldn’t read anything from his blank expression, which only made him more anxious.

Sluurp.

Without meaning to, he slurped.

The sound echoed awkwardly in the quiet room.

Flustered, Yujin quickly lowered the cup onto his lap.

His own clumsy behavior frustrated him.

What’s wrong with me? I’m not a teenager anymore. Pull yourself together!

How was he supposed to protect Angela like this?

Scolding himself harshly, Yujin took a deep breath and decided to speak first.

"Um—"

"How’s your stay here?"

Winston interrupted him, throwing out the question first.

Caught off guard, Yujin fumbled before managing a reply.

"It’s... fine. But..."

"Good. If there’s anything uncomfortable, let me know. I’ll see what I can do."

Before Yujin could finish, Winston cut him off again.

Yujin stared in disbelief, but Winston continued casually.

"As long as you’re not thinking of going back to where you used to live."

That was when Yujin realized.

By here, Winston didn’t mean Delight as a whole, but specifically the outbuilding — the annex he had once lived in.

"...I wasn’t thinking about it."

The place he was staying now wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it wasn’t unbearable either.

He hadn’t thought he’d be here for long anyway.

After hearing the will, he had assumed he’d get some money and leave soon.

But now?

The bitter and uneasy feeling inside him only grew.

"...It’s not even my home."

Trailing off, he lowered his head.

This was why he hadn’t wanted to come back.

There were too many memories here.

More than the painful and shameful memories, it was the happy ones that hurt more.

He didn’t have many happy memories to begin with.

That made them precious.

And all the more impossible to forget.

The flood of old memories weakened him.

Cautiously, Yujin asked.

"...Who’s living there now?"

Still unable to raise his head, he asked quietly.

Winston answered in a flat tone.

"No one."

Yujin slowly lifted his gaze.

"No one... lives there?"

His voice trembled slightly.

He knew he sounded small and uncertain.

"It hasn’t been used in a long time."

"...I see."

Left with nothing more to say, Yujin closed his mouth.

Memories he thought he had buried resurfaced far too easily.

He felt distant and dazed, as if hearing laughter from those old days echo faintly ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) in his ears.

Those radiant days when he had once imagined a different future.

But they had all been illusions.

"...So you never went back there either."

Yujin muttered as if talking to himself.

That place where no one ever came.

How terrifyingly lonely it had been.

But after Winston had found him there that day, everything had changed.

Yujin had thought he’d live and die alone.

Yet now, that lonely outbuilding was something he missed so desperately.

The bright, youthful face of that boy overlapped with the man in front of him.

Caught in a haze of memories, Yujin became absent-minded.

Yujin.

That cheerful voice echoed clearly in his mind.

Soft kisses. Sweet whispers.

I love you.

...Ah.