Unrequited Love Thresher-Chapter 27: Why Don’t You Like Me?

Kwon Jongseok had always observed others closely.

So many people approached him with goodwill that it had become second nature to study them—what they wanted, what their intentions were.

Choi Mujin was easy. His emotions showed on his face like an open book. Ha Dohoon, on the other hand, had been hard to read from the very beginning, never betraying much expression.

Then, purely by chance, he noticed a change in Dohoon—when Ha Giyeon was around.

The normally indifferent Ha Dohoon would visibly relax whenever he saw Giyeon cry, laugh, or look troubled.

Ha Dohoon’s younger brother, whose feelings toward him were impossible to decipher—whether it was affection or resentment—was far simpler than Choi Mujin. His emotions showed clearly on his face, making him easy to handle, and even more amusing to watch.

Some days, Kwon Jongseok treated him well. Other days, he played little pranks.

Because when comforted, he would always come running back, wagging his tail. freēwēbnovel.com

So he knew. He knew that every time Ha Giyeon looked at him, his cheeks would flush, his voice would stammer, and his eyes would linger just a little too long.

‘So he likes me, huh?’

Ha Giyeon liked Kwon Jongseok?

Kwon Jongseok couldn’t hold it in and burst into loud laughter. Plenty of people liked him—but Ha Giyeon? That was the most ridiculous of them all. He wasn’t pretty. He wasn’t smart. He didn’t even have a good personality.

A pushover, too stupid to string together a proper sentence, always smiling like an idiot.

That kid liked him?

Know your place.

Naturally, Kwon Jongseok had no intention of accepting Ha Giyeon’s feelings. What would he even gain from dating him? He’d be lucky not to get laughed at behind his back.

He wanted to own Ha Giyeon, but he didn’t want to be in love with him. He was supposed to marry a woman of the appropriate class and inherit his father’s company. Ha Giyeon was more like a keychain dangling off a bag than a real toy.

Sometimes, Kwon Jongseok imagined Ha Giyeon’s future.

Working as his secretary. Once Ha Dohoon went abroad to study, he’d reel Giyeon in and get him hired. The kid was too dumb to be of any real use, so he’d just have him run personal errands.

Ha Giyeon’s parents clearly didn’t care about him, and his father was obviously planning to pass the company to Ha Dohoon. So why not take what had been thrown away and make use of it? Getting a useless kid a job was practically charity.

He would sometimes laugh just imagining it.

Ha Giyeon liked him, so of course he would agree. The kid didn’t have the courage to confess—and even if he did, Jongseok could use that to his advantage.

He had every intention of continuing to use him. As long as Ha Giyeon’s behavior didn’t change.

But the attitude he’d dismissed as childish sulking kept dragging on, and it made him feel... off. Like the emptiness he’d felt after killing a dog that had always been around. Ha Giyeon wasn’t dead, so he figured all he had to do was show a bit of attention and the boy would come running back, tail wagging.

That was why he’d invited him to the vacation house. That was why he’d tried to eat lunch with him. That was why he’d acknowledged him at school.

A boy who’d smile like he’d just won the world when shown even the smallest kindness.

A boy so simple, you could read every emotion on his face.

So when he got found out, Jongseok had been sure what expression he’d see—flushed cheeks, panicked eyes, head hung low. Maybe even tears. Kwon Jongseok could predict his every move, and he found that entertaining.

That’s how it should’ve gone.

Ha Giyeon was supposed to cling to him.

"Me? Like you...?"

Why did his face look so cold?

Jongseok couldn’t understand why his usual composure was slipping in the face of this unexpected reaction.

“I... I like you...”

Ha Giyeon murmured, staring blankly at the floor. It sounded more like he was repeating the words to confirm them for himself, utterly devoid of emotion.

Back before the regression, what had he felt when he saw Kwon Jongseok? Just seeing him had made his heart ache, made it race—hadn’t it?

So why did everything feel so slow now? Was it frustration? Anger? Betrayal? A stack of tangled feelings piled up, impossible to sort. But if there was one thing he could say with certainty, it was that what he felt now was not affection. Not love.

And with that realization, the trembling started to subside.

“Hyung, I think you’ve misunderstood something. I don’t like you.”

“...What?”

Jongseok scoffed.

“I used to like you. But I never wanted to be your lover or anything.”

“Used to? What does that mean?”

“I thought you were a good person. As one human being to another. But now... I don’t know anymore.”

As he replayed the past in his mind, doubts began to arise. Was Kwon Jongseok ever really a good person?

Sure, he used to speak kindly and call him Giyeon-ah, but that was all. That tone, once warm, had started to feel off.

It reminded him of the guy he’d worked with before the regression, the one who used to sweet-talk him just to borrow money. And once he got it, he never paid it back—just hurled abuse and violence like a different person.

In hindsight, Jongseok wasn’t much different. He didn’t raise his fists, but he still ignored you once he got what he wanted. So now was the time to draw the line. No more clinging to memories.

Ha Giyeon turned away, without a shred of hesitation, as if daring Jongseok to say something—anything.

Just then, a large hand seized both his arms and shoved him back.

“...!!”

Thud. His back slammed against the door.

He didn’t even have time to register the pain—Kwon Jongseok was already closing in, forcing Ha Giyeon to stare at him in shock. The usual gentle smile was gone. His eyes glittered with something menacing.

The glint in them didn’t look sane.

“Why don’t you like me?”

“......”

“I just don’t get it, Giyeon. Are you still just playing hard to get?”

The way Jongseok tilted his head, the way he asked—like he was demanding a confession—felt threatening. Ha Giyeon winced as Jongseok’s grip tightened around his arms, the pain sharp enough to feel like his bones might snap.

Jongseok’s eyes narrowed.

“Why are you making that face?”

“...Hyung.”

“You can just say it. Say you like me. I wouldn’t be upset, you know? You don’t have to hide it. Besides...”

“Stop it!”

With a firm voice, Ha Giyeon pushed Jongseok away. Surprisingly, despite the tension, Jongseok’s shoulders gave way without resistance.

The sudden physicality of the encounter brought back memories of being beaten at work before the regression, and Giyeon’s body trembled instinctively. But he forced himself to speak.

“You’re not acting like yourself right now. You’re... you’re acting weird.”

“...Weird? Me? What’s weird about me?”

“You’re acting like I have to like you. Like it doesn’t even matter if I don’t. But it should matter, right? Because you don’t like me. So why are you doing this?”

“......”

Kwon Jongseok fell silent, lips frozen mid-word. His wide eyes blinked slowly, like he’d heard something he never expected.

While he stood frozen, Ha Giyeon swiftly opened the door.

Jongseok only snapped to when he saw Giyeon stepping out. He reached for him, but it was already too late—Ha Giyeon was gone, already out in the hallway.

The moment his foot hit the hallway floor, Ha Giyeon began to run.

“Giyeon!”

A voice called from behind, and then an arm wrapped around his shoulder. He hadn’t even turned around, but he already knew who it was. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and turned.

Sure enough—Nam Taekyung.

“What are you doing here? I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Taekyung pouted, sounding hurt. He must’ve finished lunch early—his usual crew of friends wasn’t with him. He glanced at the supply room behind Giyeon and asked,

“Why were you coming out of there?”

“Ah... I-I had an errand...”

“Really? Ah, whatever! Hey, let’s go up to the third-year floor!”

“What for?”

“I saw Dohoon sunbae in the cafeteria. He looked like he was looking for you? Let’s go get a drink for him from the snack bar and take it up!”

Before Giyeon could protest—why would I go out of my way to do that?—Taekyung grabbed his wrist and started pulling.

Just as Giyeon was about to resist, the door to the supply room creaked open again.

Kwon Jongseok stepped out.

Taekyung stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened, and when he saw Jongseok, his face lit up with excitement.

“Jongseok sunbae, hello!”

He bent forward in a polite bow. Jongseok barely glanced at him as he walked past.

“Giyeon.”

“......”

Ha Giyeon turned his head away to avoid eye contact, gently prying his hand from Taekyung’s loosened grip.

“I’ve got an errand. I’m going ahead.”

“Huh? Oh... okay...”

He quickly turned and ran down the hallway. Jongseok stood there, watching him go with a hardened expression.

Even after Ha Giyeon disappeared from view, Jongseok didn’t move.

Then, he shifted his gaze.

To Nam Taekyung—an annoying presence in his line of sight.

As soon as their eyes met, Taekyung flinched. Then, trying to recover, he flashed a wide smile, dimples showing.

‘Well, well.’

Jongseok’s stiff face softened. He smiled, gently creasing his eyes.

Taekyung swallowed hard and stared at him, frozen.

“Are you Giyeon’s friend?”

“...Ah! Yes, yes! I’m Nam Taekyung!”

“Mmm... are you close with him?”

“Yes! Super close!”

Taekyung nodded enthusiastically, face flushed.

“Are you interested in the debate club, by any chance?”

“Debate club? Wait—you’re in—”

“Haha, that’s right. It’s technically a debate club, but really we just hang out and talk. The advisor barely ever shows.”

“Wow...”

“I’d love for you to join with Giyeon. What do you think? Interested?”

“Yes, absolutely! I’ve wanted to join since I first enrolled!”

Jongseok turned and waved.

“Then I’ll see you at the club. Come with Giyeon, Taekyung.”

“Ah... yes! I’ll definitely come!”