Kiss the Scumbag-Chapter 84

“He’s just a clumsy man.”

“Clumsy?”

Yujin barely swallowed the words that had almost escaped his tongue—words that would have accused him outright. Sam gently soothed him again, patting the back of his hand.

“Yujin, if both sides stubbornly refuse to budge, no conversation can happen.”

“I tried to talk many times. It’s him who never listens.”

His tone sharpened involuntarily, and he immediately flinched, but Sam only gave a wry smile. Still, Yujin’s heart did not soften at all.

“If you came all this way just to persuade me to side with Winston...”

“I’m on your side, Yujin. I only want you not to regret.”

As his rough emotions spilled out, Sam shook her head. Yujin fell silent, # Nоvеlight # and she added in a calm, coaxing voice.

“Even if it feels unfair and frustrating now, later you’ll think it was for the best. Tell me, who regrets more—the one who tries to talk first or the stubborn one who just keeps being angry? After you’ve done your best, you won’t have any regrets. Maybe later you’ll even wish you had tried harder. So I’m asking you to try once more so you won’t feel that way.”

Yujin was silent for a moment. Seeing his complicated expression, Sam gently concluded.

“I know you’re a very gentle and kind child. Talk to Mr. Campbell once more. Think of this as the last time.”

The soft persuasion shook Yujin without fail. Opening his mouth as if to say something, then closing it, he looked up at the ceiling once, then finally sighed.

“...What did you talk about with Winston? Did you hear anything? Is that why you’re telling me all this?”

In a softer tone, he asked. Sam answered still quietly.

“It wasn’t much. Just how you’ve been, and what his relationship to you is.”

Winston’s expression at that moment vividly appeared before her eyes. His stumbling, rambling words clearly showed how flustered he was. After confirming twice that the woman before him really was the police officer who helped Yujin back when he committed those crimes, Winston collapsed into a chair, rubbing his face with both hands.

What happened to Yujin?

Sam sighed and did not elaborate. When Yujin asked why she hadn’t asked him directly, Winston hesitated before answering.

He won’t try to talk to me anymore.

“This time he’s probably ready to listen to you.”

Sam’s words echoed in Yujin’s ears with a heavily deflated tone. Doubting her, Yujin looked at her face.

“If you don’t trust me, trust the man you once loved. If he was worth your love, shouldn’t you try one more time?”

Still silent, Yujin was gently tapped on the back of his hand by Sam, who then changed the subject.

“Angie, have you done that much already? Wow, your hands are really fast.”

As if all the serious talk was done, Sam shifted her attention immediately. Watching Sam lavish praise on the child and Angela answering awkwardly but fairly well, Yujin remained seated there for a while.

To avoid regrets.

After putting the child to sleep, Yujin sat alone in the bedroom, lost in thought. Sam left after dinner. She had offered to drive her back to her lodging, but Sam insisted on calling a taxi.

“I only wish for your happiness. If it gets hard, come to me anytime.”

After that last request, she hugged Yujin tightly before getting into the car. Only after he was alone did Yujin mull over her words. Everything Winston had said and done to him was beyond reconsideration. After all, even if he spoke, Winston wouldn’t believe him. Would it only deepen the futility again? He was almost certain, but Sam’s words lingered in his mind. For some reason, she was confident. This time, Winston would listen.

That must be why she was called.

It was definitely different from before. Instead of hope, Yujin recalled Sam’s advice: just try once more. To avoid regrets.

He steeled his heart and waited for Winston’s return. Winston came home just before midnight.

“Didn’t you say you’d come back as soon as possible?”

That was Yujin’s first remark as the door opened. He didn’t intend to scold, but the nuance felt odd to himself. He soon regretted it, feeling like he was provoking a fight. Then Winston spoke.

“This is the best I could do. I had to forcibly clear my schedule; everything got tangled.”

No particular emotion was in Winston’s voice. Watching carefully, Yujin noticed Winston took off his jacket and handed it to the butler with an expression no different from usual. Feeling inward relief, Yujin called the butler just after Winston entered the bathroom connected to the room wearing just his shirt.

“Could you bring some wine, please?”

“Certainly. What kind of wine should I bring?”

Though the voice was indifferent, Yujin hesitated to answer. He knew nothing about wine. After wavering, he gave the safest reply.

“Something Winston would like. Two glasses, please.”

Fortunately, the butler asked no more awkward questions and left the room. Yujin exhaled and relaxed his shoulders. He thought he heard faint running water. While imagining what to say to Winston, he took several deep breaths.

When Winston finished showering, the butler had just set the wine and glasses on the table. Hesitating, Winston heard Yujin speak.

“Um, I thought maybe we could have a drink before bed.”

His nervous voice cracked, and he quickly cleared his throat. Winston silently looked at Yujin and soon moved to sit on the opposite sofa. The butler poured wine into two glasses, checked if anything else was needed, then left discreetly. They were left alone.

Winston moved first. Naturally lifting his glass to his lips, he leaned back on the sofa and drank comfortably. Yujin quietly observed.

“...How is it?”

Hesitating, he asked. Winston replied shortly, “Good.” Yujin raised his glass too and said,

“Cain asked me what to bring, but how would I know? I just told him to bring what you’d like.”

Bringing the glass close, the distinctive aged grape scent was strong. Carefully pursing his lips, Winston spoke.

“If you want, we can have a tasting sometime. ...Right, I should have time next weekend. Shall we do it then?”

“Uh... yeah.”

Not a bad start. Maybe because of the alcohol, the atmosphere felt better, Yujin nodded.

“Yeah, let’s try it. Sounds fun.”

Winston gave a faint smile and took another sip. Yujin swallowed the bit of wine in his mouth and exhaled. His face felt flush suddenly.

“Don’t overdo it. You’re not good with alcohol.”

Winston stopped him gently. That was true. Just one sip and it already felt like the walls around his heart were breaking down.

“...Remember that time?”

After speaking, he realized what he’d said and nervously awaited Winston’s reaction, whose mouth twitched noticeably.

“You mean when you bossed me around? Of course.”

Yujin’s face immediately turned red. Memories of getting embarrassingly drunk on half a can of beer surfaced, and he wanted to hide somewhere out of shame.

But it wasn’t a bad topic to bring up. Soon they were laughing and chatting, reminiscing about past times: when Yujin almost drowned swimming, Winston nearly crashing into a tree while teaching him to drive, and their night alone in the desert.

By then, they’d finished one bottle of wine and were onto their second. Winston remained sober, but Yujin’s brain was already softening. However, thanks to that, the atmosphere became more mellow and it was easier to start conversations.

“You should stop drinking now.”

Winston grabbed the bottle just as Yujin was about to pour another glass. Yujin sighed in disappointment and sank into the sofa. The world seemed pleasantly spinning. All the worries that had tormented him so much felt trivial now. Well, it wasn’t a big deal. Feeling warmth flood through his body, he finally spoke.

“Whether you listen or not, I have to tell you.”