During this time, a waiter who had prepared the wine mentioned by Kwon Yoojung poured wine into Yigyeom’s glass. Yigyeom continued to watch Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung’s natural actions, making an effort not to make any mistakes.
“This ice wine is not bitter but sweet, so you should be able to enjoy it. Do you like sweet things?”
“Yes… I like sweet things.”
“Taejung doesn’t really like sweet things, but Kijung and I enjoy them. So, do you like desserts? Like cake or chocolate?”
“Yes, I like them all.”
“That’s great. I have a favorite chocolate shop; I’ll send some to Taejung’s house. Try them. Whenever you’re stressed, eating one or two helps you forget why you were upset; it has that kind of taste.”
Yigyeom remembered the chocolate Kwon Taejung had given him. When he went home alone without Kwon Taejung, he ate that chocolate while crying a lot.
“I gave him that chocolate. He really likes sweet things.”
“Oh, really? You tried it. It’s really delicious. I know a lot of places like that. Next time, when I buy mine, I’ll get yours too, Yigyeom. I’ll give it to Taejung or send it to your house.”
With a smile on her face and a teasing laugh, Kwon Yoojung clearly had Kwon Taejung’s face in her appearance. Perhaps because of that, even amid the tension, Yigyeom continued to think that Kwon Yoojung seemed like a very nice person.
As they raised their glasses for a toast, Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung carefully held their glasses and met Yigyeom’s gaze. A clear and transparent sound echoed in the room.
“How is it?”
“It’s really delicious. It doesn’t taste like alcohol; it’s sweet.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Smiling at the warm glances directed at him, Yigyeom cleared the empty plate and looked at the newly served dish. Steak this time; he might be able to enjoy it, but the texture of the sea urchin he had eaten a little earlier continued to haunt him, making his stomach uneasy.
“Yigyeom, have you tried other drinks?”
“I’ve had beer and… a little soju.”
“To be honest, that’s the best. I’m not really into alcohol, but sometimes I crave beer.”
Having answered Kwon Yoojung’s question, Yigyeom struggled to think of the next words to keep the conversation going. Although he tried his best not to let the flow be interrupted, continuing the conversation was not as easy as he thought. As Yigyeom looked somewhat sulky, Kwon Taejung, who noticed, leaned in and whispered something so that only Yigyeom could hear.
“You want the two of us together. Right?”
At the tickling voice reaching his ears, Yigyeom looked back, and Kwon Taejung smiled warmly. The sensation of fingers tightly entwined on his thigh started to make his heart beat faster. It was a different kind of excitement than the tension.
“How about a drive before going home later?”
Slightly nodding his head, Yigyeom’s hair was gently stroked by Kwon Taejung. Kwon Taejung, who sat upright behind the chair, unexpectedly supported his waist and back, making Yigyeom tense.
“Do you like the Mare peach mousse, Noona?”
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“Yes… It was so delicious that I felt like I could eat it every day without getting tired. The ice cream that came with it at that time…? That was also so delicious.”
“Oh, peach sherbet! That’s really delicious too. I sometimes crave it. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind skipping the main course and just having dessert two or three times.”
“…Do you like peaches?”
For the first time, Yigyeom asked the question first, and Kwon Yoojung, smiling with her eyes closed, nodded.
“Yes, peaches are my favorite among fruits. How about you, Yigyeom? What fruits do you like?”
“I like peaches too. And… strawberries, I like them, and, um… grapes too.”
Though he hadn’t had the opportunity to eat a lot due to his circumstances, when Chief gave him a piece of cake with peaches or strawberries on top while working, he thought it tasted really good. And when drinking grape juice or ade at a cafe, he thought grapes were delicious too.
Even if he said he liked them without eating a lot, Yigyeom wondered if it was okay. But still, it felt like they were having a genuine conversation for the first time, and that made him feel relieved throughout the awkwardness.
“You like sweet and sour things. Me too. Yigyeom and I have a lot in common, don’t we? We can go on a dessert tour together, and in spring, we can go to a strawberry buffet together.”
“What about me, Noona?”
“Taejung, you don’t really like desserts.”
“No, I’ve been enjoying sweet things lately. My taste has changed.”
“Oh, really? Is that so?”
“Yeah, it happened.”
Smiling widely, Kwon Taejung slipped his hand under the table and gently squeezed Yigyeom’s thigh. Surprised, Yigyeom lifted his leg.
“I really love peaches.”
Sensing that he was talking about his pheromone scent, Yigyeom bit his lip inside. He felt a bit embarrassed that only he understood the meaning. Recalling Kwon Taejung’s words about the peach flavor lingering on his body, he felt a bit awkward.
“Then let’s all go together. Of course, Kijung will naturally join. He’s the dessert killer.”
“I can’t do my job without dessert these days.”
Laughter echoed all around in response to Kwon Kijung’s words. Looking at Kwon Kijung, who spoke seriously with his head lowered, Yigyeom, who smiled quietly, glanced at the plate Kwon Taejung was offering in front of him.
“Eat this steak.”
On the plate was neatly sliced steak, easy to eat. Kwon Taejung swapped the plate of well-sliced steak with the one in front of Yigyeom.
With the tension caused by the unsettled stomach, it felt like he shouldn’t eat anything more. However, if this harmonious atmosphere, barely established with difficulty, were to be shattered because of him, he truly wouldn’t be able to endure it. Eating the food in front of him, even though he felt like he shouldn’t, was the easiest thing he could do to not disrupt everyone’s natural flow of time.
And he wanted to make a good impression on the family of the person he liked. Knowing that he had even more reasons not to be seen in a positive light, he didn’t want to add more reasons here.
Therefore, Yigyeom, still sitting upright with a stiff back and waist, continued to move his fork diligently, hiding his trembling heart and unsettled stomach.
For Taejung. The reason was still just that.
After a long meal, having dessert as well, Yigyeom continued to engage in conversation a bit more until well past nine o’clock before leaving the restaurant. In the parking lot, Yigyeom looked at Kwon Yoojung and Kwon Kijung, who approached him with smiles.
“Thank you so much for coming out today. I had a really great time.”
“I’m also really thankful today… Thank you so much for being so kind to me. I really enjoyed it too.”
“Next time, let’s meet more comfortably. We must go on a dessert tour. And I hope Taejung had a really good time too.”
“…Yes. Thank you very much. Take care on your way back.”
Yigyeom bowed politely to Kwon Yoo-jeong, who patted his back gently, and exchanged greetings with Kwon Kijung. Soon, the car the two of them were in left the parking lot first. Only then did Yigyeom, who had been tensed up all along, let out a sigh of relief as he exhaled the breath that had been stuck in his mouth. He felt as if all the strength had drained from his body, and he just wanted to collapse anywhere.
“Let’s go home now too. Ah, I don’t even know how time has passed. Today was tiring.”
“No, both of you seem really nice. Thank you so much for being so good to me… ”
“I told you at home that I was the worst. And who wouldn’t like you, Yigyeom? You’re so kind and pretty. You did really well today. Thank you.”
Kwon Taejung, who had his arm around Yigyeom’s shoulders, pulled him in and planted a kiss on his cheek with a kissing sound. Then, he got into the driver’s seat after inviting Yigyeom to the passenger seat, and they set off.
As soon as Yigyeom got into the passenger seat, he slumped down into the seat as if his body was melting. The waist and back that had been kept stiff with tension all along were a bit sore now.
“Let’s go for a drive. How about having a warm drink somewhere?”
Kwon Taejung, sitting in the driver’s seat, looked briefly at the passenger seat after pulling the seatbelt. Lowering his gaze away from the seatbelt buckle to the side, Kwon Taejung was surprised and quickly looked back at Yigyeom after realizing that Yigyeom, who seemed a bit gloomy just now, had caught his attention.
“Yigyeom-ah. What’s wrong?”
“…I’m sorry, Chief.”
Surprised by Yigyeom’s apology, Kwon Taejung left the seatbelt buckle undone again and leaned a bit more towards Yigyeom.
“Why? What are you sorry for? There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
“I wanted to do better today… I didn’t say much other than asking you what they wanted to know because I didn’t know what to say… I thought you might be embarrassed because of me.”
“Yigyeom-ah. What are you talking about? You did so well today. Don’t think like that. Okay?”
Extending his hand towards the passenger seat, Kwon Taejung held Yigyeom’s hand on his thigh. Feeling that there was no strength in his hand at all, Yigyeom felt a bit uneasy.
Even though his sister and brother were nice people, this situation was difficult and uncomfortable for Yigyeom. Knowing that made Kwon Taejung appreciate how well Yigyeom spent this time today. Besides, Yigyeom managed to answer the questions well despite the tension, made them laugh, and melted into the presence of his sister and brother. Kwon Taejung found it cute and endearing why Yigyeom was so worried.
“Even if I say to be comfortable, I know it was uncomfortable today. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s not just a meeting with a stranger; it’s the first time meeting the family of the person you love.”
“…….”
“You did really well today. How grateful and happy I felt watching you talk and laugh with our sister and brother. Don’t apologize, okay? There’s nothing to be sorry about. You did so well.”
Leaning almost completely towards the passenger seat, Kwon Taejung gently embraced Yigyeom’s cheek, as if telling him not to say such things. With their faces getting closer, Yigyeom’s eyes closed lightly as their lips touched briefly, causing a shiver down his spine as they parted.
“…Next time, I’ll do even better when we meet again.”
Although he knew Yigyeom was nervous, it felt pitiful to realize that Yigyeom was more concerned than he thought. Rather than telling Yigyeom to do better, it seemed better to comfort him for now, so Kwon Taejung nodded.
“Next time, we’ll be able to see each other more comfortably. Still, it’s the first time meeting someone we’ve seen once.”
While comforting, Kwon Taejung’s gaze touched Yigyeom’s pale face, almost white. Startled by the dampness on Yigyeom’s forehead where his hand had touched, Kwon Taejung looked at Yigyeom, who was pale, with concern.
“Why are you sweating like this? Does something hurt?”
“I’m a bit tense… I think that’s why. It’ll get better.”
“No, your hands seem colder than usual… Is it a chill?”
Considering how nervous he was, eating couldn’t have been comfortable either. Kwon Taejung touched Yigyeom’s forehead and hands alternately, then quickly fastened his seatbelt again and started the engine.
“Let’s skip the drive for now and go home today. No, should we go to the hospital? I should call Hyunjoon.”
Grabbing Kwon Taejung’s arm, who was looking for his phone, Yigyeom shook his head. Although he felt a bit weak, it wasn’t necessary to go to the hospital.
“We don’t need to go to the hospital. It’s just because I’m tense, so it’ll be fine after I sleep at home….”
“But you never know.”
“I’m really okay, Chief…. I just want to go home.”
“Alright. Let’s go home quickly. There might be some medicine at home too. If it gets tough on the way, let me know, okay?”
“…Yes.”
Yigyeom, nodding slightly, leaned his tired body against the backrest again. Throughout the way home, he kept glancing at Kwon Taejung, who was looking straight ahead. Having Kwon Taejung by his side was a comfort that seemed to be imprinted on him.
