Only Bad for Me (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12

[Eddie.]

Seeing the name on her phone screen, Yeon Kyung shook her head.

“How can you have such perfect timing?”

[Have you been waiting for my call?]

“No way! Not at all—I’ve got something I’m curious about too, just like you, but I’m busy right now. Later, okay?”

After hanging up, Yeon Kyung pressed her fingers to her forehead. Now that they’d been moved upstairs, the boxes looked even bigger.

With no labels on the outside, there was no choice but to open each one individually. She realized it might take another full day to finish tidying everything neatly.

“Unnie, who’s that woman? She’s totally my type.”

“Ji Seob, you’re completely drenched in sweat right now.”

“Doesn’t that make me even sexier?”

“Ugh—why is everyone around me nothing but these dumb rocks?”

“What do you mean ‘dumb’? Who is she, anyway?”

“Who do you think? Right now, that slender-necked, sad deer has wandered into some predator’s territory.”

“Whoa—Hyung Jae Ha? Is he cheating on his fiancée? Openly? Or secretly? How do you even know?”

“Quit being noisy. Just go find a box with workout clothes or T-shirts.”

.

.

Eun Jo was clearing away an empty cup when Yeon Kyung reappeared.

She’d disappeared upstairs with the men following the boxes and now returned holding a gray T-shirt.

“Please wear this instead of your pretty blouse.”

“This? Where did this even come from…?”

“This is exactly the kind of thing you can throw away.”

“…….”

“Eun Jo. It’s just… Kwon Jae Ha has way too many clothes. Not just clothes—even shoes, watches… like he’s some model or something. Ugh, anyway, that’s why….”

She’d been grumbling the whole time but suddenly trailed off mid-sentence. Eun Jo found her both adorable and kindhearted, so she smiled brightly.

“I’m actually really good at organizing. Don’t worry, and thank you for the shirt.”

“Ah, whatever. I’ll leave it with you for now and go.”

Yeon Kyung briefly bit her lip as if holding back something she wanted to say, then left quickly.

.

.

Eun Jo stood in a walk-in closet so large it felt like six of her apartment living rooms combined.

[Eun Jo. It’s just… Kwon Jae Ha has way too many clothes. Not just clothes—even shoes and accessories.]

“…It really is huge.”

After saying that, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

It really was huge.

She remembered saying the exact same thing at age 21, right before summer vacation of her sophomore year in college, when she first stepped into Kwon Jae Ha’s apartment.

“…….”

Eun Jo slowly blinked, gazing down at the box filled with round pastries. How unlike her own heart—colorless and scentless.

Yeon Kyung returned again in a hurry, this time speaking in a strangely calm and composed voice.

[I can’t possibly finish all this alone today. You understand what I mean, right? And—this is seriously delicious. I wanted to give it to you before leaving. Well then… I’m really going now.]

Guess I must’ve looked pitiful. Eun Jo smiled faintly and placed the fancy pastry box on the display shelf.

“Ugh… where should I even start?”

All the boxes were already open, and right beside her, several suits hung neatly in the storage cabinet.

Though well-packed, the clothes were slightly wrinkled—likely shipped straight from the U.S.

[Blazer, trousers.] [Dress shirts.] [Just hang the ties on the hooks.] [Casual shirts, casual pants.] [Knitwear, denim jeans.] [As you can see, here’s the shoe section.][Yes, shoes go here too. There are way too many.] [Just do it however!] [The suitcase with watches, accessories, and other valuables has a password: 1111.]

Yeon Kyung had left behind plenty of thoughtful notes. Eun Jo kept glancing back and forth between the gray short-sleeve T-shirt in her hand and her reflection in the mirror.

She’d need to unpack every single item from the boxes and steam them all.

She really wanted to swap her tight skirt—completely useless right now—for comfortable pants, but figured at least having free use of her arms was something, so she unbuttoned her blouse.

.

.

For a long while afterward, she kept moving diligently, silently repeating to herself, “Yoon Eun Jo, your mental strength is seriously impressive.”

“Ahh!”

Her slender wrist suddenly went limp, nearly dropping the handle of the steamer.

Instinctively trying to catch it, Eun Jo jumped backward instead.

So stupid!

She switched off the hissing machine—snakelike in its swift motion—and frowned at her already reddening hand.

But at least now, she felt like taking a short break.

So… maybe start with the easy stuff first.

Eun Jo walked over to the shoe boxes across from her.

For quite a while after that, she carefully lined up each pair of expensive, shiny shoes—handsome and polished, just like their owner—onto the shelves.

Then she placed the casual clothes, skipping the steaming step, into their proper spots.

“Phew….”

Finally, the last suitcase.

The items wrapped in bubble wrap were clearly expensive.

Eun Jo gently lifted them out and placed them temporarily on the glass display.

Judging by their size, they must be watches, tie pins, cufflinks—things like that. Was it really okay for her to handle them so freely?

As she pondered this, her eyes landed on a box of macarons.

“Ahh… my legs.”

She plopped down on the floor and bit her lip, staring for a while at the colorful, pretty little treats.

Might as well say something out loud… we’re friends, after all. She reached for her phone nearby.

“So Ra.”

[Eun Jo! Where are you?]

“Still… working. Is it okay to talk?”

[Hey, why did you ignore my message the other day?]

“Sorry—I meant to reply a bit later and just forgot. I’ve been out of it.”

[More out of it than me? Whatever. Just give me some time this weekend, okay? Come dress shopping with me.]

“I do miss you, but shouldn’t you go with your fiancé for that?”

[Ugh, I’ve been feeling really down lately. I keep wondering if I’m even doing this right. I’m so scared I can’t sleep! And you’re always busy. I don’t even have anyone else to talk to.]

In the end, So Ra started sniffling before Eun Jo could even get her own tears out.

So this was her “pre-wedding blues.” She used to say she’d literally die without her boyfriend—so what on earth was she anxious about now?

Eun Jo, who’d briefly worried So Ra might ask to borrow money, couldn’t even bring herself to speak.

This really wasn’t easy. Even best friends weren’t exempt.

She blew softly on her stinging hand.

“…It’s gotten even redder.”

Ding—

[Unnie, where are you? If you don’t come in soon, we’ll eat dinner without you.]

—I’ll eat after I get in. Don’t forget to brush Da On’s teeth.

[Who are you eating with and where? Is it that Kwon Jae Ha guy?]

—Don’t just leave him alone. Make sure you brush every last tooth—back molars included! Got it?

[That crazy neat-freak. Good luck trying to talk sense into you about anything. Just go enjoy your date.]

“A date… I haven’t even had dinner yet.”

Eun Jo checked the time and picked up a pink macaron, taking a bite.

Gotta finish fast and go home. If I run into him now—ughh—

Ugh—

The moment the wild rose scent gently spread through her mouth, her throat suddenly tightened, and her eyes stung.

“…….”

Why did the pink pastry half, now fallen to the floor with crumbs scattered, look so pitiful?

Just as she tapped her chest to ease the tightness, she noticed a pair of black dress shoes.

“What are you sneaking to eat?”

“Wah! Hup—”

“It’s okay. Chew slowly and swallow.”

Jae Ha lowered himself onto one knee so their eyes met at the same level.

He looked at her like she was some helpless little creature—eyebrows furrowed in concern, gaze steady—then suddenly reached out his hand.

“…!”

In an instant, his thumb softly brushed against Eun Jo’s lower lip.

Then, with complete nonchalance, he slid that same thumb briefly between her lips and pulled it out again, offering her a calm, faint smile.

“Sweet.”

“What… are you doing? And I didn’t sneak anything! Someone—I can’t remember who—gave it to me to eat.”

Eun Jo quickly wiped her mouth and stood up. She wanted to stand tall and confident, but her stomach fluttered, and her legs felt weak.

“You didn’t sneak food, but you did sneak clothes.”

“Huh?”

That’s mine. Jae Ha stood too and nodded toward Eun Jo’s chest.

Eun Jo looked back and forth between the T-shirt she was wearing and Jae Ha’s own dress-shirt-clad shoulders.

“I—I didn’t know! Lee Yeon Kyung told me to wear it while working…”

“Who’s the little thief-cat here, hmm?”

“Don’t call me that.”

During their time living together, Jae Ha had often teased Eun Jo as a “thief-cat” for tiptoeing around him quietly.

Yet this same man, who labeled her a freeloader, had stubbornly refused any material compensation from her.

[Use that money to buy books. Books, not clothes.]

What weird things he said.

“You don’t… care about this shirt, do you? You have tons of them. I haven’t even sweated in it, but I can wash it if—”

“Eun Jo, today must’ve been tough for you.”

Eun Jo gave a slight nod—but immediately took a step back, watching Jae Ha like a cat caught stealing, unsure what to do next.

Dangerous. She didn’t know exactly why, but her heart was warning her. Run—fast.

“Can’t we just finish the rest tomorrow?”

“Sure. Tomorrow.”

As Eun Jo let out a quiet sigh of relief, an unwittingly lovely smile formed at the corners of her lips—just as Jae Ha mirrored it with a gentle smile of his own.

“Tomorrow, the day after, then the next day, and the one after that.”

“…….”

Eun Jo quickly bit her lips and lifted her chin, glaring pointedly at the man’s slightly parted, red lips.

If she raised her eyes any higher, she’d surely meet those dark, mocking eyes—the same ones that had coldly gleamed in the gray twilight of the police station parking lot.

For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she might actually slap this annoying creditor’s cheek.

Maybe it was a small mercy that she knew him well enough to be certain—if she hit him once, he’d return it tenfold, a hundredfold.

Why did something like this have to happen to our Min Ah? And why did this man have to show up again?

Her gaze, now lowered, settled on his crisp, perfectly tied necktie.

“I said I’d do anything—that includes tasks like this—as a way of saying how grateful I am. I clearly told you I’d repay you in money.”

Even as the words left her mouth, they sounded hollow. When? How?

“Eun Jo, there are many easy ways to earn money.”

“I don’t want to hear that kind of lecture right now.”

“If your one minute—no, even just thirty seconds—was worth a million won,”

—would you still refuse? Jae Ha stood straight, hands clasped behind his back, not looking like he was trying to teach her anything.

“Even if I told you I was willing to pay.”

It was an arrogant, utterly rude proposition.

“In exchange for just one proper greeting.”

Before she could react, he’d already pulled her into his arms.

“…!”

“Nice to see you again, Yoon Eun Jo.”

Holding the stiff, frozen Eun Jo close, Jae Ha whispered gently,

“Welcome home.”