Simmering Heat Chapter 3.1

Turn a crisis into an opportunity?

Yeah, right.

Taeun muttered every curse he could think of in his head. Whoever came up with that saying clearly hadn’t experienced the crisis of living with an unrequited crush. If there was any opportunity to be gained from this mess, it’d probably just be the chance to get properly rejected this time. Without realizing it, his legs started trembling uncontrollably.

Do I still like him?

The ridiculous question he’d pondered while lying in bed a while back flashed through his empty head, mocking him. Bitterness over an awkward old friend? What a joke. Taeun wanted to beat the smug past version of himself to a pulp. He shouldn’t have rationalized it back then. He should’ve found a way—any way—to live separately. He was certain today alone had shaved a decade off his lifespan. If he died of illness someday, the cause would undoubtedly be heart disease. He could almost see himself lying in a hospital bed with a doctor standing beside him.

What’s wrong with this patient’s heart? Well, it’s been torn to shreds from living with his unrequited crush. Oh, how pitiful…

“Hey.”

A low voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him out of his reverie—it wasn’t the imagined doctor’s voice. Taeun jerked his bowed head up.

“Huh, what?”

As soon as he looked up, his eyes met those of the man across from him. A familiar yet slightly unfamiliar face filled Taeun’s vision. His heart started pounding like crazy. Unable to hold the other’s gaze, Taeun shifted his eyes to the man’s eyebrows.

“You didn’t hear a word, did you?”

“No, I heard you. So… uh, doing it that way, I’m fine with it.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

“…”

Is he messing with me?

Taeun awkwardly closed his mouth. A strange silence hung between the two sitting across from each other at the small dining table.

The man opposite him, Cha Jinhyun, let out a short sigh. Feeling embarrassed, Taeun rubbed the back of his neck. His gaze, which had been lingering on Jinhyun’s eyebrows, couldn’t hold and dropped to the wooden surface of the table.

Do I still like him? To answer that question more accurately, it wasn’t just that he still liked him…

“Looks like we’re mostly done unpacking, so let’s talk.”

“…Okay…”

It was that he had a terribly dangerous feeling he might end up liking him even more.

This was an unexpected side effect for Taeun.

The awkward greeting after such a long time stirred up tension, and the stilted flow of conversation left his mouth dry. It was a feeling he’d never experienced, even during the days when he was head over heels for Jinhyun. After all, with years spent together, awkward tension was an ill-fitting word for their relationship.

But not anymore.

The power of time was truly remarkable—it could dismantle a relationship in less than half the years they’d shared, with just a brief gap. The uneasy, clumsy atmosphere was a hair’s breadth from excitement. Taeun took a short breath to steady himself, worried that the strange thrill he felt might leak out. And there was another thing tormenting him: Cha Jinhyun’s face, which he was seeing up close for the first time in ages.

…He’s ridiculously good-looking.

Three years ago, Jinhyun had been on the cusp between boyhood and manhood, but now there was no trace of that youthfulness left. His features were sharper, more refined, and polished. It sounded like some nonsense about being “glamorous yet simple,” but it was true. Taeun swallowed his resentment toward that perfect face. Two years in high school, two in college, plus the time he’d spent avoiding him—seven years total of this unrequited love had its reasons.

“Read it.”

Yeah, damn it, that face of his…

“Face?”

“…What?”

As Jinhyun’s eyebrow twitched, Taeun bit his lip in dismay. He’d meant to say, What? but some random word had slipped out without passing through his brain.

“Uh, I misspoke.”

“…”

“What is it? I’ll read it.”

Taeun tried to sound casual, raising his voice slightly. He stammered from lingering embarrassment, but there was nothing he could do about it. Jinhyun didn’t press further and handed him a sheet of paper. The large text at the top caught his eye.

<Chore Schedule and House Rules>

The title, printed in a stiff Gothic font, was as rigid as its owner. Taeun scanned the neatly listed items below. Watching his eyes roll over the paper, Jinhyun spoke lightly.

“I thought setting rules would make things easier for both of us.”

Taeun, who’d only read the first line, nodded for now.

1. Chore Schedule

1. Cleaning of shared spaces (bathroom, living room, balcony, and entrance) will be done once a week, alternating every other week.
2. General trash and food waste will be taken out twice a week on designated pickup days by the assigned person. (If Person A is responsible for 01, Person B will handle 02.)
3. Laundry will be done twice a week by the person assigned to 02, with each person responsible for folding their own dried clothes.
4. Meals and dishwashing will be handled individually.
5. Shared household items and other expenses will be settled once a month.

1. House Rules

1. Do not invade each other’s personal space. (If necessary, ask for permission first.)
2. The bathroom is free to use, but morning usage should not exceed 20 minutes.
3. If outside guests are expected, inform the housemate in advance. (This is a courtesy notice; permission is required if they stay in shared spaces.)
4. Deliveries and mail are each person’s responsibility, and the housemate is not accountable for them.

…Right, he’s always been like this.

Taeun was floored by the rules, detailed down to weekly frequencies. Cha Jinhyun had never been one to let things slide carelessly. Though his appearance had changed, this part of him hadn’t budged an inch, Taeun thought.

“Anything you want to add or remove?”

“Uh… no.”

“Anything I should be mindful of while living here?”

“…Nothing, I guess?”

“Alright.”

The rules, divided into two main categories, were clean and left no room for additions. The cleaning schedule seemed a bit frequent, but… Taeun didn’t bother mentioning it.

“Then, to the main point.”

With that, Jinhyun relaxed his upright posture. He leaned forward on the table, resting his chin on his palm. The atmosphere shifted instantly. Cha Jinhyun, with his slouched stance, looked like a thug collecting debts in an alley.

That wasn’t the main point already?

Taeun’s eyebrows narrowed slightly, and his head tilted a bit. What other main point could there be… A tired, languid gaze settled on him. Taeun instinctively swallowed hard.

“Got anything to say to me?”

“…”

Cha Jinhyun’s main point wasn’t exactly friendly.

It was a vague question. Things Taeun wanted to say to Cha Jinhyun? He had plenty. But they were all things he shouldn’t say. And Jinhyun likely hadn’t asked with that in mind either.

“Not really…?”

That was the best answer Taeun could muster. At it, Jinhyun’s expression twisted oddly.

“Oh… nothing, huh.”

Jinhyun fidgeted with his lips, still resting his chin on his hand. His red, pretty lips opened and closed, pursing slightly. His face was much stiffer than before, as if he were someone who desperately needed to hear something from Lee Taeun. Sensing this, Taeun hurriedly spoke before the mood grew weirder.

“Uh… it’s been a while…?”

“…”

“…Did you get taller?”

Was the earlier greeting not enough? The distance time had carved was considerable, and Taeun found it hard to act chummy with Jinhyun. He rolled his eyes, hoping his response was the right one. Jinhyun let out a deflated chuckle, but the tension didn’t ease. If anything, it thickened.

“Guess there really is nothing.”

Cha Jinhyun released the hand propping his face and ran it through his hair. Ha, his sigh made his chest heave. He looked like he was suppressing anger.

“Alright. It’s been a while. I grew two centimeters taller. You noticing right away means we haven’t seen each other in a long time, huh.”

“It’s not like it’s that long…”

“Thanks to someone completely ignoring me, right?”

“…Cough.”

Taeun, who’d been babbling to deflect, clamped his mouth shut. Only then did he realize what Jinhyun meant by asking if he had anything to say. In other words, “Go ahead, try explaining yourself.”

Having been unilaterally ignored, Jinhyun’s personality guaranteed he’d be pissed, but since he hadn’t said much, Taeun had carelessly assumed it was fine. He bit his lip at his own naivety.

From morning till now, Cha Jinhyun had acted as if nothing was wrong, talking and behaving normally. But that was only because he’d been holding back his anger, planning to confront Taeun once the moving was done. Jinhyun wasn’t the type to let things slide without a word anyway. Unable to find a proper response, Taeun just chewed his lip.

“You got nothing to say, so I’ll talk.”

And Cha Jinhyun didn’t wait any longer. He uncrossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. Veins popped faintly on the back of his hand as it rested on the table.

“Two years ago—oh, it’s three years now since the year changed.”

His voice, recounting the past, was as calm as ever. Taeun could only guess from the occasional irritated sighs that he was very angry.

“At first, I thought, We’ve been friends for years—cutting contact without a word means I must’ve really screwed up. That’s why I went to your house.”

“…”

“But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure it out. So I changed my assumption. Maybe you weren’t mad at me—maybe something happened. Like, you lost your phone or something.”

“…”

“Then a month later, I heard you were happily drinking with other guys, so I stopped looking for you.”

Taeun, listening quietly, twitched his lips. He wanted to correct the error in Jinhyun’s rapid-fire words.

First, he wasn’t happily drinking. Afraid he’d give in and contact Jinhyun, or call him out to confess again, he’d turned to alcohol like an addict, but to others, it must’ve looked like he was joyfully bar-hopping. Whoever relayed that to Cha Jinhyun got it dead wrong.

“I was going to refuse living together at first. I’m not exactly the best at sharing space. And Lee Taeun? Live with a guy who ghosted me out of nowhere?”

But the guilty have no voice. So Taeun didn’t explain. Jinhyun continued in a low, monotonous tone, its sharpness too piercing for Taeun to interrupt.

“But then I thought, This is so damn unfair.”

“…”

“And, like I first thought, maybe I did wrong you somehow without knowing. I figured I’d at least hear you out, but…”

Jinhyun’s relentless voice cut off abruptly. It wasn’t because he was overwhelmed or couldn’t control his emotions. If anything, it seemed the opposite. He was so angry that even expressing it felt pointless.

“Fuck, you got nothing to say.”

Funny. Jinhyun said it with a face that showed no trace of amusement. Taeun silently laced his fingers together. Excuses were only possible with something to say, and Lee Taeun had no reason that could convince him.

…It was because liking you was too hard. He couldn’t say that.

By now, the sky had darkened. The two sat in silence as streetlights below the balcony flickered on one by one. Each second felt like an eternity. Should I just apologize and grovel now? Taeun, twitching his hips as if ready to prostrate himself, repeated that thought about five thousand times when—

“You said you had no issues with these rules, right?”

“…”

Cha Jinhyun suddenly brought up the paper he’d presented—specifically, the house rules written on it. Had he calmed down a bit? Taeun cautiously nodded, gauging his mood.

“I think I need to add a clause.”

It wasn’t a suggestion for discussion with his housemate. It was as good as saying, Your opinion doesn’t matter, just follow it. Jinhyun began writing something at the bottom of the section with the pen in his hand. Once done, he slid the paper toward Taeun like he was tossing it and got up without hesitation.

Taeun slowly picked up the paper and read Jinhyun’s scrawled words, one by one.

“Except when absolutely necessary, the two shall not engage in any personal interaction.”

It was a decree, a declaration to completely sever their already broken ties. In a way, it might’ve been similar to what Lee Taeun had done three years ago.

“Stick to it.”

Bang. The loud sound of the door closing slammed into the back of Taeun’s head. His hand, clutching the paper, trembled faintly.

🔥

Click.

The sound of the fluorescent light turning on was unusually crisp. In contrast, Taeun’s mood sank even deeper. Bright light flooded the pristine room, still smelling of new furniture. Taeun shuffled toward the bed under the large window. His movements, like a worn-out machine, were steeped in gloom. He crawled into the blankets, pulling them over his head and curling up. His hunched back looked as pitiful and frail as a pill bug under attack.

…This sucks.

Jinhyun’s cold voice wouldn’t leave his mind. Taeun closed his eyes. Then, the sharp gaze that had glared at him popped up unbidden. He shook his head.

Fuck! This sucks!

He could almost hear that dry laugh, as if being cussed out would’ve been better. Next came Jinhyun’s handwriting, which he’d always thought was cool. It was a warning. I don’t want anything to do with you anymore, so stay away.

Sniff. Taeun sniffled. His eyes stung with moisture. He pulled the blankets tighter around him. He didn’t want to think about anything. All he wanted was to pass out and sleep.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Somewhere between early spring and late winter, the harsh wind rattled the window at regular intervals. Taeun planned to use it as a lullaby to fall asleep.

“Damn, it’s cold…”

But the world rarely went as planned. Sniff. He sniffled again. Even wrapped in thick blankets, goosebumps prickled his arms.

Too cold to sleep. Yeah, only the prepared get to wallow in misery… Lamenting his lack of preparation, Taeun sat up. The electric blanket he’d hurriedly ordered a couple of days ago was still in transit. As his feet touched the floor, the icy chill crept up his body. He rubbed his eyes roughly and headed to the living room. Everything felt unfair.

…But can I just turn it on?

Taeun paused in front of the boiler, set to “away” mode, and hesitated.

The lease for this place was fully covered by Cha Jinhyun’s family, so it was agreed that Lee Taeun would handle the utility bills. Recalling his mom’s earnest advice to “treat Cha Jinhyun like royalty since we owe them big time” was, perhaps, a natural train of thought.

Plus, the guy in that room was someone who handled heat better than cold. Taeun still vividly remembered Jinhyun lying around in the dead of winter, playing phone games without a heater.

Well, asking isn’t hard… and he said necessary conversations were fine, right?

So, Taeun lifted his hand from the “heat” button and stood in front of Jinhyun’s door. He concluded that asking about this was a perfectly normal and minor courtesy for roommates.

No sound came from Cha Jinhyun’s room, hinting at what he was doing. Taeun shrugged with unnecessary tension. Fair enough—about two hours ago, he’d been told to “fuck off and don’t talk to me,” so acting unfazed would’ve been weirder. Sure, Jinhyun hadn’t said it exactly like that, but the emotional impact was hefty… Taeun peeled his cheek off the door he’d been pressing against, lost in his own thoughts.

Knock, knock. He steadied his nerves and tapped lightly. Knocking at this guy’s door… No laughter came from comparing now to the days he’d breezily hung out at Jinhyun’s place. A rustling sound came from inside, and the door cracked open slightly.

“What.”

As if a chain were on it, Cha Jinhyun allowed only a tiny gap. The single word tossed through was colder than the winter wind rattling the window. …I shouldn’t have bothered! Regret hit Taeun the moment the door opened, but it was too late to pretend nothing happened and slink back to his room.

“What is it?”

A voice as icy as his expression struck Taeun’s head again. Taeun chewed his lips hesitantly before finally speaking. A dumb voice came out.

“…Is it okay if I turn on the boiler?”

“…”

As a silence as cold as the night air settled between them, Taeun sighed inwardly. Just yell at me to do whatever. He desperately wished Jinhyun’s tightly closed lips would open.

Thud.

But Jinhyun didn’t answer and simply shut the door.

🔥

Traces of snow mixed with dirt clung to the bases of the trees lining the street. As if heralding the start of March, where the chill hadn’t fully faded, birds chirped busily. Freshmen, likely just out of high school and still used to their uniforms, were already roaming the campus in groups. Spring had arrived. Warm sunlight wrapped around every corner of the buildings, and people walked with gentle smiles, savoring the season’s charm.

Amid it all, Cha Jinhyun sat with a face as cold as a northern blizzard.

His mood, which had been declining since morning, continued its downward spiral halfway through the day. It was a predictable outcome from waking up restless in the stuffy air.

Jinhyun recalled the boiler panel he’d seen in the living room at dawn as the darkness receded. Set to 58 degrees, it must’ve been humming all night. The indoor temperature was a whopping 38 degrees. Fifty-eight. Thirty-eight. …Fuck.

He’d gotten ready early and turned off the boiler. As he left the apartment, planning to hole up in a study room or somewhere, he thought he heard a loud sneeze from behind. Should’ve just left the windows open. Sitting on the campus café’s terrace, Jinhyun bit his straw, regretting not getting even for that morning, and sipped.

The iced Americano flowing into his mouth was diluted from melted ice, tasting flat and out of place on the March campus. Jinhyun checked the watch on his left wrist. It was already three minutes past the agreed time, and he was getting tired of sitting idly, watching people. Two more minutes, then I’m gone. That’s what he was thinking when—

“Hey, been waiting long?”

A guy appeared with a playful greeting and sat across from Jinhyun. His brightly dyed hair, slicked back with wax, suited him well.

“You’re fucking late.”

“Don’t you know Korean time? What, did you miss me?”

“I’m already pissed, so don’t you start too.”

Jinhyun spat out the straw and furrowed his brow. Lines creased his forehead, and irritation seeped into his stern face. He looked thoroughly displeased.

“Whoa, why so prickly?”

“Don’t ask. Get to the point. Why’d you want to meet?”

“Damn, cold bastard… It’s been a while, and no greeting?”

“If you’ve got nothing to say, I’m out.”

“Hey, wait!”

The guy grabbed Jinhyun’s sleeve as he started to stand. Jinhyun shook it off irritably but sat back down. He’d always been impatient and hated dawdling. Dragging out pointless conversations around the main point was the worst. The yellow-haired guy clicked his tongue, shaking his head as if fed up.

“Fine, fuck it. I’ve got two points, okay? Sit down, I’ll talk.”

“What is it? I’m fucking tired.”

“Point one: let’s catch up. How’s the move going?”

“Fine.”

“And him?”

The vague “him” was crystal clear to the two at this table. Jinhyun didn’t answer right away, thinking of “him” for a moment.

Childhood friend, son of his mom’s friend, the jerk who ghosted him for no reason, and now his roommate. Lee Taeun. That pale face was so unchanged from three years ago it felt oddly jarring.

The voice asking at his door if it was okay to turn on the boiler replayed in his head. Whether nervous or mocking, the way it cracked was hardly funny. Thinking about it pisses me off again… He popped the lid off his plastic cup and downed the Americano with the ice. The crunch of ice breaking sounded vicious.

“So, what happened?”

The guy across from him pressed for an answer. His yellow hair swayed with his fidgety head movements.

“Dunno.”

“Whoa, what’s that about?”

“I said I don’t know. Don’t bring him up.”

“Jinhyun… you said something shitty, didn’t you? I told you to follow my advice.”

“Crazy bastard. That was advice?”

At Jinhyun’s disgusted retort, the guy, Kim Sunghyun, started cackling. About a week ago, Sunghyun had shown keen interest when Jinhyun casually mentioned the situation with Lee Taeun. Not content with that, he’d offered bizarre advice and kept asking for updates. Cha Jinhyun regretted ever mentioning it, and the reason was simple.

“I’m telling you, that guy likes you. If I thought a straight guy liked me, I’d ghost him too.”

The so-called advice was all this kind of nonsense. Jinhyun picked at his ear with his pinky, dismissing it as worthless. Kim Sunghyun had a knack for interpreting everything through his own lens. Upon hearing the story, he’d immediately declared, “That guy’s into you,” making a fuss and spouting crap about “gay intuition.”

Back in high school, Lee Taeun had spent over a year memorizing girl group chants. In middle school, Jinhyun had seen him pine over a high school girl on the same bus. Jinhyun blew air through his pinky and scoffed. That guy? No way. He couldn’t even fathom the logic behind that conclusion, nor did he want to.

“If you’re gonna talk bullshit, let me leave. I need rest.”

“No, I’m serious. My gut’s telling me.”

“Is he you?”

“Huh? I don’t like you. Being gay doesn’t mean I’m into every guy. I prefer someone more innocent than a hothead like you…”

“I’m gone.”

He’d heard enough. Jinhyun grabbed his bag from the chair and stood. He’d spent all day yesterday moving and unpacking, and the stiffness in his shoulders and neck still lingered. As Jinhyun walked off without hesitation, Kim Sunghyun scrambled to grab his stuff and followed.

“Hey! I haven’t gotten to point two!”

“Later.”

“No, it’s gotta be today.”

“Then talk before we hit the main gate.”

“Fuck, that’s like ten seconds away! Hey!”

Jinhyun’s long legs moved faster, showing no intent to listen. Ugh, what a jerk. Sunghyun trailed behind, complaining, but Jinhyun had no plans to stop. No more classes today, just a desire to crash and rest.

“Fine, let’s go! I’m following you to your place. You’re throwing a housewarming, right?”

Falling a bit behind, Sunghyun overtook Jinhyun and raised his voice. Cha Jinhyun ignored him and sidestepped to pass.

“I’ll meet your friend too, yeah? Perfect. I’ll order jajangmyeon. It’ll taste amazing with the three of us. Right?”

Sunghyun didn’t give up. As if serious about tagging along, he stuck close even past the main gate, matching Jinhyun’s pace. Kim Sunghyun rambled endlessly, and Jinhyun steadfastly ignored him.

“Goddamn it.”

But with the house just ahead, Jinhyun couldn’t ignore him anymore. He stopped, turned, and spoke.

“What’s your deal with me?”

“I’m hurt, man. You’re so nice to the department guys.”

“Change majors then.”

“Such a temper… No wonder he ghosted you.”

“Hey.”

“Alright, alright.”

Sunghyun quickly backed off. His sly eyes curved mischievously, knowing not to cross the line. Jinhyun shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head, signaling to get to point two. Sunghyun rummaged through his bag.

“Let’s do something together.”

“University IT Startup Club DDP, 7th Recruitment.” That’s what was written on the top sheet of the stack he pulled out.