[It seems like Jio will hold the event in March next year.]
“Huh? But didn’t they say they were going to do it in May?”
[It’s because of pregnancy. They say the baby grows really fast with dominant Omega. So, there’s really no good in delaying marriage. There are so many places where money needs to go now, but Koo Jong-pil keeps treating us badly… Did you meet Kim-ssi today?]
“No. They said they’re busy, so it got postponed.”
[Let’s make another appointment and meet. That way, Do-hwa, you can also go out to the factory quickly.]
Do-hwa’s complexion hardened more and more in the face of her insistence.
[Oh, Jio. He’s here. I’ll hang up first. I’ll call you back later.]
The call ended. Do-hwa bowed his head like a broken doll and stared at the screen. His eyes were gradually welling up, but after blinking once, he struggled to hold back and stopped himself from crying.
Do-hwa’s expression gradually became indifferent as he started reading and replying to other pending messages. Seeing the warm words and lively conversations from his classmates made him feel slightly better. However, knowing that these conversations would stop if he took a leave of absence, he felt his mood sink again.
“Seonbae.”
After spacing out for a moment, Do-hwa was startled by Min-jun’s voice and looked up abruptly. He hadn’t even heard the door open. When did he come…? He shook off his surprise. But Min-jun maintained silence, staring piercingly into Do-hwa’s eyes. It felt burdensome. Do-hwa subtly shifted his gaze away. Yet Min-jun’s gaze followed immediately. He tried to avoid it again, but Min-jun persisted. After about three attempts, Do-hwa felt defeated.
“Why are you staring like that…?”
“Are you crying?”
“Huh? No.”
“No, there’s just moisture in your eyes.”
Min-jun gently brushed Do-hwa’s cheek with his index finger. After finishing the call with his mother, he had felt a bit down, and his eyes had become moist with emotion. However, he had quickly suppressed his feelings, so there wouldn’t be any traces… His sharpness was also surprising.
“I just yawned a bit.”
Do-hwa gave a vague response, not wanting to confide his feelings to Min-jun, nor did he wish to. However, this time Min-jun’s gaze shifted to Do-hwa’s phone. Messages were still coming in as the screen hadn’t turned off yet. Do-hwa flipped his phone over and looked at Min-jun.
“Does that mean I can be discharged right now?”
“Yes.”
“The process seems to have finished really quickly.”
“Maybe because you were only hospitalized for a day. Just a moment.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Min-jun went back into the dressing room and came out with a sweater and jeans. The colors and design were not the usual style that Do-hwa wore.
“Yt? Cgf atfrf ws mibatfr?”
“Ktfrf jgf atf bcfr sbe erfv ab kfjg boafc yfobgf sbe ibra sbeg wfwbgs.”
“…Ct.”
Lf’r islcu jujlc… Ktfrf jgf mibatfr Gb-tkj mbeivc’a joobgv klat tlr ereji yevufa. Lbkfnfg, tf mbeivc’a gfoerf, ulnfc atf mlgmewrajcmfr. Dea jr tf ibbxfv mibrfis ja atf mibatfr, atfs rffwfv ojwliljg.
About a month ago, while heading towards the bus stop with Min-jun, Do-hwa passed by a luxury store. These clothes were displayed in the store’s window. They were simple yet luxurious in design, and Do-hwa had exclaimed that he wanted them, but then he had checked the price and hesitated, eventually stepping back. At that time, Min-jun had shown an unusual interest in the clothes. But now, to have them in his hands like this… It felt strange.
It felt as if Min-jun deliberately bought the clothes that Do-hwa had liked. But there’s no way that could be true, yet it made his feelings inexplicably complicated. However, it could have just been a misconception, so he stopped thinking about it.
“I’ve always watched over you, seonbae. I wanted to know every little thing about what you like and dislike.”
Do-hwa’s pupils dilated. Min-jun’s statement seemed like an answer to the question Do-hwa was considering as a misconception. He eventually glanced at Do-hwa’s body. His gaze felt somewhat burdensome, causing Do-hwa to instinctively shrink his shoulders.
“Just a moment.”
Min-jun began unbuttoning Do-hwa’s hospital gown, catching Do-hwa off guard. Do-hwa became flustered by his unexpected touch, his expression turning anxious.
“Why… why are you doing this…?”
“I’ve always helped you change your clothes, seonbae. So just accept it naturally.”
“What?”
Do-hwa’s eyes widened at Min-jun’s lie once again. Despite already going this far and showing his naked body, he couldn’t bear the embarrassment.
“Ah… No, I’ll wear it myself…”
Do-hwa quickly grabbed Min-jun’s wrist to stop him. At the same time, silence followed, as if time had stopped. It was a moment where even the floating air felt heavy.
“…”
He soon withdrew his hand.
“Okay. I guess I didn’t consider how confusing it might be for seonbae who lost his memory. It can’t be helped.”
Min-jun sighed and turned his head. Despite always helping Do-hwa change his clothes, there was a sense of disappointment in being rejected. Do-hwa felt a bit uneasy, looking at him like this. If he had truly lost his memory, he might have believed Min-jun’s words and asked for help changing clothes out of guilt.
It kept occurring to him that beneath Min-jun’s calm behavior, there was undoubtedly a frightening individual.
ꕥꕥꕥ
After changing into regular clothes and gathering his belongings, Do-hwa left the hospital and got into Min-jun’s car. It appeared to be a different model of supercar from the one he had ridden in when he stayed overnight at Min-jun’s house earlier in the spring. Luxurious hospital rooms, expensive clothes… It was becoming clear again: Min-jun seemed to have a lot of money. He felt like Min-jun belonged to a different world compared to himself. However, he couldn’t understand why Min-jun would involve himself with someone as insignificant as him, calling him a lover, no matter how many times he thought about it.
“Seonbae, please have this.”
Min-jun was sitting in the driver’s seat and handed Do-hwa a small box. Upon opening it, Do-hwa found it filled with square-shaped caramels.
“You always enjoyed these whenever you rode in the car.”
“Wow…”
Do-hwa was surprised as he let out a sigh.
Since childhood, Do-hwa has always used to eat caramels when riding the subway or bus. However, even if he claimed to be close with Min-jun, he had never discussed or eaten such detailed things with him. It was simply a snack to soothe his boredom when he was alone.
How did he know about this…? Do-hwa felt a sense of dread creeping in.
“You don’t like caramels?”
Min-jun asked in confusion. Do-hwa felt perplexed, but since it was a lie he had started, he had no choice but to relent.
“No, I’ll eat it. Th-thank you.”
He awkwardly took the caramel and put it in his mouth. Despite the uncomfortable situation, the caramel tasted really sweet and delicious.
ꕥꕥꕥ
“We’re here.”
The place Min-jun claimed to live together was the same officetel where Do-hwa had stayed for one night earlier this spring. He had suspected it unconsciously. Despite only staying for one day, there were plenty of rooms and space in the apartment, making it suitable for living alone.
Min-jun parked the car and turned off the engine with skilled movements. He got out of the driver’s seat first, then opened the passenger seat door where Do-hwa was seated and elegantly extended his hand. It seemed like a gesture one would offer to a lover, making Do-hwa feel awkward.
“Why aren’t you taking it?”
Min-jun bowed slightly, meeting Do-hwa’s gaze. His blue eyes were affectionate, deep, and gentle. Who would think of him as a madman wielding a steel pipe and throwing a fire extinguisher? As Do-hwa admired Min-jun’s duality, he suddenly realized that his hand was overlapping with Min-jun’s hand. Min-jun held his hand first.
“Oh…”
With a low moan, Do-hwa found himself out of the passenger seat, and Min-jun had slipped his fingers into Do-hwa’s hand. It felt large and warm. However, feeling too close, Do-hwa felt embarrassed and lowered his head. Even though his gaze was down, he could sense Min-jun smiling gently.
“Since it’s cold outside, let’s hold hands tightly.”
He was affectionate, as if handling a child like a kindergarten teacher. Do-hwa felt even more awkward, as if he had become younger at that moment.
ꕥꕥꕥ
After entering the building, they passed through the lobby and took the elevator. Min-jun pressed the button with the number 21 engraved on it. They heard the sound of the conveyor belt moving and felt the sensation of gravity reversing. Perhaps because they were alone in the narrow space, they felt a suffocating tightness, as if they were going to choke.
However, Min-jun’s lips were slightly upturned. It felt like he was somewhere exciting. As if he were enjoying the fact that Do-hwa had lost his memory…
What kind of place could the house be that this crazy man claims they’re living together in?
From what Do-hwa had seen last time, there didn’t seem to be any significant changes in the scenery. In fact, considering that Min-jun had been living alone all this time, there probably wouldn’t be much difference.
When Do-hwa entered the house, he planned to ask why there weren’t any couple items or a single photo taken together. He wondered how this crazy guy would respond. If he received an unsatisfactory answer, he even thought about questioning whether they were really dating. Despite reluctantly choosing the route of amnesia, he wanted to put a stop to Min-jun’s lies about being lovers.
Because of that, even though it hadn’t been a day since he woke up, it felt like he had already ridden three rounds on a roller coaster of emotions.
The elevator smoothly ascended, and the numbers steadily increased. While Do-hwa was contemplating how to confront Min-jun, his phone vibrated in the pocket of his jeans. In the confined space, the sound was quite loud. Do-hwa felt annoyed as he took out his phone. The letters ‘Jio Hyung’ written on the screen caught his eye.
Do-hwa’s face momentarily crumpled. Of all times, why did a call have to come in while Min-jun was standing so close? After a brief hesitation, Do-hwa managed to salvage the situation by turning off his phone.
Shortly after, the elevator arrived at its destination, and the doors opened. The familiar hallway Do-hwa had seen a few months ago unfolded before him. Min-jun stepped out first, and Do-hwa, who had been holding his hand, naturally followed suit. After a few steps, they reached a door with a lake engraved on it.
Just a minute ago, Do-hwa had planned to confront Min-jun for lying, but now that he was faced with the door, his heart felt uneasy.
It felt like entering a prison from which he could never escape.
In the meantime, Min-jun pressed the keypad and opened the door. A spacious and tidy foyer was revealed.
“You go in first.”
Min-jun gently pushed Do-hwa’s back. Although the touch was soft, there was considerable force behind it, causing Do-hwa to be pushed forward. Min-jun promptly closed the door behind them.
I think it’d be funny if Do-hwa did just confront Min-jun about having no pictures together, but knowing Min-jun he probably has pictures already of Do-hwa like the stalker he is 😭😭