Welcome to Dungeon Hotel Chapter 326 - Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (21) 

Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance (21) 

 

Early morning, as one by one we grew exhausted and fell asleep. 

 

I, too, had been dozing off, and when I opened my eyes, Han Woohyun was sitting against the wall. 

 

“You weren’t asleep?”

 

“I was asleep. I just woke up.”

 

Lie. 

 

Even when I briefly opened my eyes earlier, Han Woohyun had still been in that spot. 

 

I crawled next to Han Woohyun, wrapped tightly in a blanket. 

 

“Whether we were playing go-stop or a raid.”

 

When I muttered that, Han Woo-hyun chuckled softly. 

 

“Thanks to you, we won.”

 

That’s right.

 

Surprisingly, our team ended up taking all the game money.

 

‘…In this game, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies, Uncle.’

 

When I smiled, Aunt Heeyoung across from me smiled too. 

 

The way I won a game I had completely lost was simple. 

 

Aunt Heeyoung turned around. 

 

‘This was the plan from the start—to bring Han Minhyuk down at the very peak.’

 

‘…That’s a terrifying thing to say for a game of go‑stop.’

 

No matter what happened between the two of them, it didn’t matter to me—I had claimed victory. 

 

It was a game of go-stop riddled with tricks.

 

“…Even tricks are a form of skill.”

 

Han Woohyun suddenly bent his head and tucked my blanket in more carefully. 

 

“You knew?”

 

“Just by the vibes… I thought something was off ever since we went to get the beer.”

 

Ha.

 

I was dumbfounded.

 

Fiddling with the blanket pulled up to my head, I leaned on Han Woohyun’s shoulder and grumbled.

 

“You should’ve reported it at the start.”

 

“That wouldn’t have worked. Everything needed to be in plain sight now.” 

 

“…That.”

 

“Mhm?”

 

“When exactly did you put me into your future?”

 

I avoided using the word “marriage” because it felt too direct.

 

“Since we met again.”

 

What?

 

That was before we even started dating.

 

“Just… back then, I thought it would be fine if I died. But after I met you, I came to want to live no matter what. I never imagined a future without you. And then…” 

 

Han Woohyun gently brushed the blanket off my face and carefully kissed my cheek. 

 

Peck.

 

The brief sound of friction echoed loudly in the quiet. 

 

“…!”

 

“My heart has always been ahead—far ahead of yours.”

 

Anyway, this guy is dangerous when he has that look in his eyes. 

 

It’s like he can enchant people.

 

I let out a deep breath and took Han Woohyun’s hand.

 

“Okay.” 

 

Han Woohyun furrowed his brow, then his eyes widened as if he suddenly realized something. 

 

He bit his lip.

 

“This is what it feels like to have a family.”

 

I looked at the affectionately messy BJF family and spoke.

 

“When something happens, you stick together. You might not be there for every single moment, but you can reach out when it looks the most dangerous.”

 

This is a familiar sight to me.

 

At Dad’s funeral, the BJF family stayed by the wake all night exactly like this.

 

I was too out of it to remember exactly what the BJF family said or how they looked, but I could feel what the uncles and aunts, soaked in tears, felt as they held me and slept.

 

They must have resolved to accept me as part of the family. 

 

To be ready to reach out a hand to me at my most dangerous moment.

 

That’s why they stayed by my side for so long. 

 

“Because I want to do that to you.”

 

Han Woohyun’s eyes fluttered.

 

I could feel his breathing growing rough. I pulled him into the blanket with me.

 

“I’ll put you in my future too.”

 

Their breaths mingled, and a damp, muffled sound echoed through the quiet.

 

Clinging to my clouded mind, I pushed Han Woohyun’s shoulder away. 

 

Han Woohyun obediently moved back, then soon buried his face in the nape of my neck. 

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah….”

 

Damn it.

 

I could feel Han Woohyun gently biting the sensitive spot on the nape of my neck. 

 

There’s someone sleeping nearby.

 

“Well, anyway, not this year. I’m going to be busy.”

 

“…”

 

Han Woohyun’s eyes sparkled, then he quickly snuggled into my arms as if sulking. 

 

I could hear Han Woohyun’s breathing as he pressed against my chest.

 

“Hng…” 

 

“I told you not to feel pressured about me, didn’t I? I said to take your time and think it over.” 

 

Even if I were to get married, I was planning to do it after turning thirty.

 

I’ve felt that way for a very long time, and even now, that feeling hasn’t changed. 

 

This answer, for now, simply means that Han Woohyun will become part of my future, and I will become part of his. 

 

“Mhm. Don’t feel pressured. But I’d be fine even living down in Yeongchun-myeon.” 

 

What are you saying?

 

I pushed Han Woohyun’s forehead with my palm.

 

Then I quietly looked into Han Woohyun’s brown eyes, let out a sigh, and held him tightly. 

 

You really do say strange things sometimes.

 

But I like that about you.

 

* * *

 

After staying up all night, Han Woohyun said goodbye to his aunt in front of the bus. 

 

His aunt stood in front of Han Woohyun, her face having grown haggard over the past few days. 

 

“Take care.”

 

With those words, Han Woohyun turned away. 

 

At that moment, his aunt took hold of his hand. 

 

Han Woohyun flinched and turned back around. 

 

What else is she going to say? 

 

He thought that way, but his aunt was simply staring quietly at the hand she was holding.

 

“I won’t contact you again. Never again…”

 

“Of course.” 

 

“And you—never again… don’t ever meet someone like me.”

 

She said it with lips chapped and flaking white.

 

From her rough, parched throat came a voice that was completely hoarse.

 

The word “meet” felt absurd, yet at the same time he understood exactly what she meant—and somehow, it was also relieving.

 

Yeah. We met.

 

Then, after a brief crossing of paths, we drift apart once more.

 

He bit his lip.

 

Unable to find the right words to reply, he simply nodded and turned away.

 

It was really strange.

 

That I—someone who had always been afraid of being abandoned—was now moving away from the past on my own two feet. 

 

Han Woohyun stopped in front of a bench tucked away in a corner of the parking lot. 

 

Lee Semyung, who had been sipping a canned coffee, lifted his head when Han Woohyun approached. 

 

Then he took another can out of the plastic bag and held it out to him.

 

“Did you say your goodbyes properly?”

 

“…Yes.” 

 

Tak.

 

Han Woohyun brought the coffee, which had popped open with a crisp sound, to his lips.

 

It’s lukewarm.

 

“You know, you have a knack for speaking with your eyes—even without saying a word.”

 

“Yes?” 

 

“Do I really have to serve you warm coffee too? Just drink it as it is—even if it’s gone cold.”

 

Ah.

 

Only then did Han Woohyun realize that Lee Semyung had read his feelings, and he gave a small nod. 

 

He hadn’t intended to complain in the first place.

 

“Do you still think like that?”

 

Then, out of the blue, Lee Semyung spoke up.

 

Lee Semyung had been overworking himself at the hotel, and on top of that had poured all his energy into playing go-stop here, so his skin looked quite rough and dry.

 

Normally, he had skin so good that you could believe he was the same age as Han Woohyun.

 

“What are you thinking….”

 

“You know, that thing. The conversation we had back then, at Han Minhyuk’s place.”

 

Lee Semyung said it, scratching the back of his head as if he felt awkward. 

 

“You know—back then, at Han Minhyuk’s place. When you said that nonsense about how you were an orphan, uneducated, lacking in so many ways, and that you’d never dare to want Junghyo.” 

 

“….”

 

That was when—just as Han Woohyun was about to speak, regretting his past.

 

Lee Semyung spoke first.

 

“I had thoughts like that too. When I was young, though.”

 

“Yes?” 

 

“Well, I had a lot of shortcomings too. So I never even dared to think I’d end up marrying Junghyo’s mom.” 

 

Han Woohyun was taken aback by the suddenly blurted-out, deeply personal confession.

 

And he looked at Lee Semyung’s profile.

 

His profile didn’t look as sad as he had expected.

 

But it was a face filled with deep longing.

 

“But you know… becoming a family isn’t about who’s better or who’s lacking. It’s just kind of….”

 

You have to be considerate.

 

Otherwise, you have to give in.

 

The moment he wait for these words to continue—

 

“You just have to like it.”

 

“….”

 

“If you care that much, almost everything else just falls into place. And you—”

 

Lee Semyung scrunched up his face and pointed at Han Woohyun.

 

“It’s too obvious. The way you like her.”

 

Han Woohyun looked at Lee Semyung’s face as he spoke and suddenly realized something.

 

So this is..

 

“…So, that’s your permission.”

 

“….”

 

Tsk.

 

Lee Semyung let out a sigh.

 

“Honestly, I still see our Junghyo as an elementary school kid. Can you understand how much I disliked you?”

 

Even if she doesn’t look like an elementary school kid, he understands. 

 

Han Woohyun watched Junghyo in the distance, leaving the funeral home with the other BJF members. 

 

Shielding her eyes from the sunlight, she descended the stairs with nimble steps.

 

Then she carefully lowered her hand and let the sunlight fall on her face.

 

She feels the warm sunlight, keeping herself unnoticed by others.

 

Even from a distance, Han Woohyun could read Junghyo’s feelings. 

 

So cute. 

 

She was so precious that even I couldn’t dare to covet her recklessly.

 

That’s what Han Woohyun had always believed.

 

“Still… I want to do it together.”

 

But after going through all those events, he thought.

 

Especially as he sat here in the funeral hall, he kept thinking.

 

Not only does he love cute, precious, radiant Junghyo, but if she has a hard time, he wants to be with her through it.

 

That the only way to naturally pass through that time together is marriage.

 

Although it’s just an excuse.

 

“I’m sorry.” 

 

“I won’t listen to any apologies. That….”

 

Lee Semyung clicked his tongue and asked without looking toward Han Woohyun.

 

“Come get some side dishes.”

 

“I still have too much of what you gave me last time.”

 

“Then eat a lot. That’s the only way it’ll get used up.” 

 

It was twisted logic, but Han Woohyun nodded.

 

Han Woohyun and Lee Semyung were similar in this kind of situation.

 

That they think if you like something, you have to put something in your mouth.

 

Han Woohyun smiled faintly.

 

“Why are you smiling?”

 

“Just… um….”

 

“….?”

 

“Because I thought that someday he might care for me.”

 

“….!”

 

Han Woohyun left those words behind and walked over to Junghyo. 

 

Lee Semyung stood for a moment, dumbfounded, watching Woohyun’s back like that.

 

“Th, that… sly fox.” 

 

Lee Semyung sat there for a moment, feeling defeated, before finally getting up.

 

Today, he had to return to Yeongchun-myeon with Junghyo. 

 

Starting tomorrow, it will be Junghyo’s first day of regular work.

 

Junghyo’s vacation was over, and— 

 

“Um….”

 

Lee Semyung let out a low groan, watching like a dog meeting its owner as Han Woohyun approached Junghyo and immediately took her hand.

 

A long period of caregiving had finally come to an end.

 

From now on, only truly being together remained.

 

Lee Semyung thought so and smiled.

 

A little bit empty, and a little bit happy.

 

Welcome to Dungeon Hotel

 

<Side Story 1. An Ordinary Romance> completed