Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 19: Your House, My House

How is this even possible?

Even after all the strange coincidences, what shocked Ha Giyeon the most was the sight of Son Suhyeon’s house.

This was the very place he had scraped together money like a madman to escape from the nightmare that was the goshiwon. His very first home—this house. And the one who had lived there before him... was Son Suhyeon?

From the school uniform to the cafeteria, the part-time job, the phone sale—and now the house. That made four times. Since the regression, the way things kept changing filled Giyeon with a subtle fear. Take Ha Dohoon, for example: the same guy who had pushed him away was now suddenly pretending to care about his “younger brother.”

He’d locked him out of the house. Now he wanted to eat lunch together.

All of it happened because Giyeon had shown indifference. That one small change had triggered such big reactions. What if, without realizing it, he’d done something that forged this connection with Son Suhyeon?

...To be honest, he liked it.

He didn’t know how Suhyeon felt, but for Giyeon, he was relieved it was him he’d become tied to. He’d helped him so many times already—and now, thanks to him, he was experiencing his first night sleeping away from home.

As he saw the familiar slate roof over the wall, memories from before the regression surged up. The house had always been old, but now he was truly curious—what kind of condition had it been in back then? He felt an urge to go in quickly, his feet twitching forward, when Suhyeon’s low voice stopped him.

“If you want to go back, you can still turn around.”

“...Huh?”

“You saw it. You’re really going to stay here after that?”

Even as he said the words, Suhyeon felt a sting of humiliation. The closer they got to the house, the more anxious he’d become. The moment they turned into the alley, he regretted it. The trash, the smell, the bugs—everything about the grimy alleyway he walked through daily now seemed unbearable. It even felt filthier than usual today. He was mortified.

What the hell was I thinking...

He didn’t even need to look at Giyeon’s face to know the kind of expression he’d be making. Disgust. Contempt. Of course he’d be repulsed. Suhyeon felt like he’d dragged someone here just to expose his shame.

He turned his head, expecting a rejection.

“...Huh?”

But what he saw instead was Giyeon’s stunned face—his wide eyes trembling with emotion. Like he couldn’t understand why Suhyeon was suddenly doing this. Like he was asking, Why are you pushing me away now?

Suhyeon faltered.

Because contrary to his expectations, there wasn’t even a hint of disgust on Giyeon’s face. He looked more confused than anything, like he didn’t get why the person who’d invited him was suddenly telling him to leave. He stared at Suhyeon, bewildered.

“Uh... did I do something wrong? If I made you uncomfortable, I can just—”

“...Come in.”

Suhyeon pulled out the key and opened the door.

Only then did Giyeon visibly relax, following him inside.

They passed a cracked concrete yard, then Suhyeon used another key to open a smaller metal door within the main gate. Creak—rusted hinges groaned as the door opened, revealing the all-too-familiar interior.

Just like he remembered—an entrance barely big enough for one person.

There were a pair of slippers and the shoes Suhyeon had just taken off. Giyeon quietly took off his own and set them beside the others.

“Excuse me...”

The yellowed linoleum floor, the stained wallpaper bearing signs of daily life, a tiny sink cramped into one side.

It wasn’t exactly the same as his past life, but it was close «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» enough to stir memories. Giyeon wanted to look around, to soak in every inch, but he restrained himself. It would be rude. And Suhyeon was watching him too closely—as if bracing for rejection or disgust.

That comment earlier... Is he feeling ashamed?

Giyeon could sense what kind of reaction Suhyeon was expecting. But if he was looking for disgust or discomfort—he wasn’t going to find it from Giyeon.

Because this house—this was the first home he’d ever had after leaving the goshiwon.

Others might laugh at it, but for him, it had meant everything. It meant he could live alone, truly on his own for the first time.

“Do you have clothes to change into?”

“Yes, I... here...”

He rummaged through his bag and found the pajamas the housekeeper had packed.

Wh-what the...?

But the moment he pulled them out, he froze.

They weren’t the usual comfortable shorts and T-shirt he wore. No. They were pajamas covered in little teddy bears. The fact that they were in his bag was shocking enough—where had she even found them?

I don’t remember clearly, but I guess they were in my closet...

He had never actually worn them in front of her, so maybe she just grabbed whatever was available. Still, as grateful as he was, there was no way he could wear this now. Embarrassed, Giyeon shoved the pajamas deep into the bottom of his bag and gave a sheepish smile.

Apparently assuming he didn’t have any, Suhyeon pulled clothes from a drawer and handed them over.

“Wear this. And go wash up first.”

“Thank you.”

Giyeon accepted the clothes and took out his toiletries from his bag, then walked toward the bathroom. As he reached for the doorknob, he suddenly froze.

There were only two rooms in this house. One was a laundry room. The other, the bathroom.

For someone unfamiliar with the house, it would be easy to open the laundry room by mistake. Yet Giyeon had gone straight for the bathroom without hesitation.

A strange sense that Suhyeon was watching him closely prickled at the back of his neck.

His palm was sweating now.

He stood frozen for a few seconds, then slowly turned to ask,

“U-uh... is this the bathroom?”

His voice cracked. It wasn’t just shaky—it was completely off. Even his tone was suspiciously awkward. Suhyeon stared at him silently for a moment, then replied slowly.

“...Yeah. Towels are inside.”

“Y-yes, okay...”

Giyeon darted into the bathroom and immediately crouched to the floor, burying his face in the borrowed clothes. In the mirror, his bright red face said everything about how mortified he was.

He thought he heard a faint chuckle from outside the door.

***

Even after they entered the house, Suhyeon kept subtly watching Giyeon’s reactions.

He tried not to stare, but his eyes kept drifting back. If Giyeon had just shown a bit of revulsion, it might have been easier. But instead, his expression was one of awe—like he was moved.

It was baffling.

Still, he was curious if that expression would hold up once he saw the bathroom.

Cracked tiles. A rusted faucet and toilet. A mirror with a split down the middle. Thin walls so cold you could hear the wind whispering.

He figured Giyeon might run out the moment he stepped in.

But then—

What the...?

He looked... refreshed?

Drying his face with a towel, Giyeon looked so at ease, he could’ve been in his own home. He even fit in naturally.

That shirt’s huge on him...

Suhyeon had loaned him clothes as pajamas, but with the difference in height and build, Giyeon had to fold the waistband and cuffs. The T-shirt hung down past his hips. Suhyeon had noticed he was thin before, but now it was obvious—he looked like skin and bones.

...How can someone be so strange?

It might sound offensive if Giyeon ever heard it, but somehow, he looked like he belonged here. Even the bathroom he used had been tidied up after.

In Suhyeon’s twenty years of life—

Ha Giyeon had become the biggest enigma.

After washing up, Suhyeon laid out a blanket. Giyeon, who’d been unpacking his bag, quickly helped hold the comforter. It wasn’t thick, just a fall quilt, so Suhyeon turned the boiler up higher than usual.

He could sleep through the cold, but Giyeon probably couldn’t. With his small frame and frail appearance, he’d catch a cold for sure. Which meant he’d miss work.

And that would just be a pain.

“I’ll sleep on this side.”

“No, let me—”

“It’s fine.”

Before Giyeon could argue, Suhyeon took the spot closer to the door—where the cold wind came in.

“...Thank you.”

Seeing him act so indifferent while still being considerate, Giyeon smiled faintly.

Click—the light went out, and the room filled with darkness.

“...!”

Giyeon held his breath.

He always left a nightlight on when he slept. He wasn’t used to this pitch-black silence. He couldn’t just ask to turn the light back on, so he gripped his phone tightly instead. The only sounds were their breathing and the ticking of a clock.

Once he calmed down, he tried to sleep. He’d walked a lot today. It was late. He figured he’d pass out easily.

But maybe it was the unfamiliar presence next to him. Or maybe he’d missed the sleep window. Sleep just wouldn’t come.

He shifted to lie on his back.

Still... somehow, I feel calm.

It was his first night staying somewhere after the regression, but he wasn’t scared. Actually, it felt safer than his current house. Maybe because he used to live here.

Aside from school trips, he’d never shared a bed with anyone. Not even his parents.

Once, as a child, he had gone to their room in the middle of the night, scared of thunder. Clutching his pillow, he knocked on the door. His mother had opened it, frowning.

‘Uh... Mom...’

‘Stop wandering. Go back to your room.’

Thunk. The door had closed—and it was scarier than the thunder itself. He’d gone back to his room and cried silently under the covers all night.

The memory came back so vividly that he chuckled.

Not out of sadness or grief. Just—thinking of the pillow with tear stains the next morning brought a wry smile. Startled by his own laugh, he quickly covered his mouth. But Suhyeon was already glancing over with a sharp look.

“You can’t sleep?”

Those wide-open eyes made him blurt an apology.

“S-sorry...”

“It’s fine. I wasn’t asleep yet.”

Giyeon peeked over at him. Strangely, he didn’t feel scared or awkward lying next to Suhyeon. Not like when he used to sleep in the goshiwon. Giyeon tugged the blanket down a bit. What had been so cold earlier was now warm.

He’s a good person...

From the day he gave him that gym uniform, Suhyeon had been kind in ways he didn’t always notice. Even when he acted indifferent, there was care behind it.

Then—

“Why do you work part-time?”

The question came from the stillness.

Giyeon was startled, but Suhyeon looked like he genuinely wanted an answer.

“Um... because I need money.”

“...”

“The more, the better... You never know what might happen.”

Like finding out you’re not really their child and getting kicked out like in some drama. He held back the rest and gave a small smile.

Suhyeon was quiet for a bit, then said,

“You think like an adult.”

“R-really...? Haha...”

His awkward laugh echoed through the room.

As the atmosphere grew a little heavier, Suhyeon asked,

“So... what were you thinking about just now? Why’d you laugh?”

“Ah...”

He couldn’t exactly bring up his past, so Giyeon scrambled for an answer.

Something to cover with...

A random post he’d seen online popped into his head.

“Hey, do you know why the scarecrow won an award?”

“Why?”

“Because he was outstanding in his field.”

“...”

“...”

“...Please go to sleep.”

Ha Giyeon really shouldn’t try to tell jokes.