Completely baffling.
Seo Minjae really couldn't understand the logic behind Jiho's mindset.
This brat must've used up all his brain cells on designing because he clearly had none left for normal human interaction.
Minjae stared across the living room, chopsticks hanging loosely between his fingers.
Logically speaking, he would be thanked, right?
After eating the dinner he cooked with his own two precious hands, lovingly seasoned with tender feelings, that kid didn't even have the decency to say thank you.
Jiho didn't even glance at him, just poking around his tablet, fully absorbed in his work. "Can you get me another bottle of water?"
"... What?"
"Water. I'm thirsty." Jiho said without looking up.
Haah.
This was the third bottle already.
What was he, a walking rice cake soaking up water?
"Hey," Minjae said while he grabbed a bottle from the fridge but refusing to hand it over just yet. "Do you take me as your caregiver or something?"
Jiho looked up at Minjae with puzzled eyes. "Isn't the owner supposed to meet the guest's needs?"
Minjae nearly choked.
Right...
This was his house!
Who made him the owner and Jiho the precious guest?!
Still grumbling under his breath, Minjae stomped over, tossing the damn water bottle at Jiho with more force than necessary.
This punk still had the audacity to looked displeased.
Ungrateful brat.
Seo Minjae squinted unhappily.
He wasn't asking for a standing ovation, just a simple, "Thanks, Sunbae," Was that too much?
"You know..." Minjae started, forcing a smile. "Normally, people say thank you after being fed and watered like a stray cat."
Yun Jiho raised an eyebrow and then nodded. "Thank you."
Huh?
That easily?
"But comparing me to a stray cat," Jiho said, frowning. "That's rude, Sunbae."
"Do you even know the meaning of rude?"
"I'm not dumb." Jiho stated plainly while twisting the cap off the bottle. "Why don't you drop it already?"
Tch.
Seo Minjae clicked his tongue sharply after he heard what Jiho said.
Just when I thought he wasn't that bad.
Without thinking more, he threw an empty ramen packet at Jiho for good measure. "Repeat that, you punk."
"Oops. Did I say that out loud?"
Jiho hid swiftly then added. "My mistake."
Heh.
The nerve of this brat.
Minjae wasn't about to let it slide.
He crossed the counter and walked towards Jiho, menacingly.
"Yun Jiho." He said, stepping closer. "I must've been way too tolerant of you."
Enough for you to forget who's being generous here.
Jiho lifted his gaze lazily, tapping his fingers against the tablet like he couldn't care less.
"Are we friends? Huh?" Minjae leaned in until their faces were almost level, hands braced on the back of the couch. "Oh, we're not. Since, you know, we're not 'familiar', right?"
Minjae narrowed his eyes.
The kind that would make someone lowered their eyes involuntarily.
"Isn't that what you said?"
He was really tolerant enough.
***
Familiar.
Jiho shut his eyes briefly, patience hanging by a thread.
Not this crap again.
When was Seo Minjae gonna let this shit go?
He calmly leaned back against the couch, letting his tablet rest on his knees and said dryly. "You're really holding onto that?"
Jiho exhaled a sighed. "Sunbae... Why are you being so petty?"
The result was immediate, Minjae's expression twisted.
Without warning, he snatched up Jiho's sketchbook right off his lap like he was demonstrating pettiness in real time.
Minjae grinned without warmth. That smug expression of 'So what if I am?'.
Right...
Jiho pursed his lips, brows knitted together in silence.
He concluded quietly.
God is fair. A pretty face with a grudging personality.
How did I provoke him again?
He felt like he was discovering a new species of human just sitting here.
Jiho pinched the bridge of his nose. He should've ignored him.
Here we go.
"...About that time," Jiho muttered, reluctantly assembling the words in his mouth. "I didn't mean to ignore you. But everyone's been constantly squirming in my ears lately so I think I took it out on you without meaning to."
"It wasn't about you. I apologised if I come off as ignorant and rude." Jiho tried to avoid looking at him and continued, grimacing. "And earlier today... I wasn't thinking properly. It was stupid, please forget that."
There.
That should've been enough, right?
Jiho shifted his gaze at the silence and immediately regretted it.
Minjae frozed. "So you do know that you're stupid?"
Was that the freaking point?!
Haah.
"... Did I hear you right?" Minjae asked skeptically, like he'd just heard something incredible.
No way, I'm repeating that.
Jiho grunted. "Forget it, if you didn't get it."
"Why? Say it again." Minjae grinned now, looking impossibly smug. "I didn't get to film it the first time. After all, it was my Jiho's precious moment."
Oh.
So he did heard it.
And who is your Jiho?!
Stop calling me like I'm your pet.
"Sunbae..." Jiho said, reaching a hand out stiffly. "Will you give it back now?"
Meaning the sketchbook Minjae took, ofcourse.
Not his dignity. That ship had sailed.
"Okay." Minjae chuckled then shoved the sketchbook into Jiho's hand without ceremony.
He didn't forget to add with that snide little smile. "You're welcome."
Jiho took a deep breath.
Crazy bastard.
He silently drank the remaining water in the bottle at one go and crumpled the empty plastic with restraint.
Whatever.
Being in the same space with Seo Minjae was draining his energy faster than any all-nighter he'd ever pulled.
Fortunately, salvation came soon after.
Jiho's phone buzzed. It was a call from the apartment manager.
"Hello?"
"Oh, Hey. I ended my business a little earlier than expected and there wasn't much traffic. Where should I find you?"
Jiho raised his eyes. It was still early.
"You're fast," Jiho comment and added. "I'm next door. Should be 30...1?"
Jiho stared at Minjae for confirmation. Who surprisingly didn't act like a jerk and nodded.
"Um. I'm in 301. You can just ring the intercom when you arrived."
"Alright, I'll be there in an hour or so."
Okay.
So now he just gotta wait.
Jiho sat down on the couch quietly hoping Minjae doesn't bother acting up again.