Soo Jin had no choice but to swallow it, but not without glaring at Ji Woo.
"What?" Ji Woo asked innocently, smiling.
"Don't act innocent," Soo Jin scolded.
"I'm not. I just fed you. Nothing bad," Ji Woo said.
"But I can eat myself," Soo Jin said, his voice filled with seriousness.
"I know, but why can't I feed you?"
Soo Jin rolled his eyes. "Why would two full-grown adult men feed each other?"
Ji Woo scratched his head, confused. "But I'm just seventeen, still a teenager."
"There is nothing bad about friends feeding each other."
"When did we become friends?" Soo Jin asked, looking confused. He didn't remember giving their interaction a name.
"Since the time we introduced ourselves."
"That's not how friendship works. We have only spent a day with each other; we are nothing more than strangers," Soo Jin explained as he looked at Ji Woo, expecting another counter.
Ji Woo only nodded. He also didn't plan on being just friends with Soo Jin.
So it's better not to have the friend tag.
They both focused on their food.
Minutes later, Soo Jin was done, dropping the chopsticks down.
"I'm done," he said, standing as he walked to the counter and dropped cash. "For the both of us."
Seeing this, Ji Woo stood up with his plate. "It's supposed to be my treat," he pouted.
This wasn't the plan. How was he going to brag to Soo Jin about his money?
"Tell me your aza. I will transfer to you."
Soo Jin just glanced at him with a side look. "Don't worry, I don't need your small money."
He knew high school kids like Ji Woo—pocket money might not reach a quarter of his.
Hearing this, Ji Woo felt aggrieved.
"I have plenty of money."
"How much?"
"800 thousand won," Ji Woo said, shoulders up with pride. It's not every high school student who is given that amount for pocket money every month.
If Soo Jin agrees to be his partner, he can spoil him rotten.
The way to a man's heart is money.
As he looked, expecting admiration…
But what he got…
Uninterested.
Soo Jin looked down at him with an uninterested look.
"Aren't you amazed?" Ji Woo asked.
"About what?"
"My pocket money."
"Oh." Soo Jin nodded. "I'm amazed." He said it with no expression on his face.
Ji Woo did not say anything as he dropped his plate on the counter and walked away without looking back.
"What happened?" Soo Jin asked, his tone filled with surprise.
Is he throwing tantrums?
"Ji Woo."
No response.
Ji Woo fastened his pace to the elevator. If Soo Jin could see his face, he would be shocked at how red it was right now.
He was so embarrassed. The person he wanted to brag to about his allowance did not care.
He turned his face away as Soo Jin stepped into the elevator.
"Are you angry?" Soo Jin asked.
Ji Woo's ears moved, a little shocked at why Soo Jin's voice was calming.
He had never talked to him like this before.
Seeing how unresponsive he was, Soo Jin tapped on his back. "Ji Woo," he called softly.
"Mm." Ji Woo couldn't control himself from humming in response because of how the voice drew him.
"Are you angry?"
"No." Ji Woo shook his head.
"Then why aren't you looking at me?" Soo Jin blurted out, leaving himself shocked.
Why did he care that Ji Woo wasn't looking at him?
Or… feeling unsettled at Ji Woo ignoring him?
Ji Woo could sense the tinge of sadness in the voice. His heart hurt. With a sigh, he raised his head up and flashed a smile.
"I'm not angry," Ji Woo said.
The sudden smile made Soo Jin shocked, averting his gaze. "I don't care," he said, rolling his eyes.
Ji Woo shook his head, smiling, as he pressed the elevator button, which took them up to their floor.
The door opened as they got to their floor.
"See you tomorrow," Ji Woo flashed a smile as he waved at the back view of Soo Jin walking to his room.
Soo Jin ignored him as he got to the front of his door, pulled it open, and entered.
Since it was already late, he went straight to his bed, pulling the duvet over him.
He stared at the wall. A few minutes later, a small, barely noticeable smile was seen on his face.
…
Ji Woo just smiled, not taking Soo Jin ignoring him to heart.
He walked to his room door, pushing it open.
"How was your date, traitor?" Mi Young's voice, filled with sarcasm, was clear in the room.
He sat on his bed, feet on the floor as he looked at Ji Woo.
"It was fine," Ji Woo grinned.
"Are you trying to add more fire to my anger?"
"Who knows?" Ji Woo shrugged as he pulled off his shoes and walked to his bed.
"What did you even see in him?" Mi Young finally asked. "You just met him today, so why be friendly?"
The question brought a smile to Ji Woo's face as he faced Mi Young. "He looks lonely," he said.
Confusion etched on Mi Young's brow. "What do you mean?"
"I can tell by his eyes that he is lonely. Needs love. His aura says so… but he is someone guarded. But I'm someone who likes challenging things."
"But what if there are things that are not meant to be challenged?" Mi Young asked with a raised brow.
"What do you mean?" Ji Woo asked, confused.
"What if you regret it?"
"What's there to regret?"
Mi Young gave him a deep look as he caught the stubbornness in Ji Woo's eyes.
He wasn't ready to back down.
"Nothing," he nodded. "I'm always here to watch over you," Mi Young said.
Ji Woo was just too innocent and stupid.
Ji Woo caught the look of disgust and smirked. "I'm sleeping on your bed today," he said as he stood and took a step in front of Mi Young's bed.
"There is no space for you."