The Timing of Escape (3)
After rustling around in the kitchen for a while preparing an early dinner, Sa Hae-geon soon came out to the living room. Before entering his room, he stared at me with a somewhat wistful gaze. It seemed like he was deliberately showing how much he disliked and felt upset about leaving me to go to his family home, but I pretended not to notice and asked, “What? Do you want an apple?”
“…No,” Hae-geon replied in a gloomy voice as he slowly entered his room. It seemed he was probably going to wash up.
Left alone in the spacious living room, I started to review the plan I had prepared beforehand, wracking my brain. Since the escape was suddenly decided two days ago, there were still some uncertain aspects.
The first problem to solve was the shackle, and the next was the whereabouts of Cream and me. As for the shackle, I put it aside since I didn’t know how it would turn out yet, and started thinking about Cream and myself first. I made eye contact with Cream, who was lying on her back on the rug in the living room, exposing her belly.
The soft-furred cat tilted her head, seemingly puzzled by my intense gaze, and then opened her mouth wide in a yawn.
“Cream.”
At my call, Cream slowly closed and opened her eyes. She seemed to be in a good mood today, as the pig-like cat made a purring sound and stretched her body.
The easiest way would be to move to my house right next door with Cream, but Hae-geon already knew the passcode for the front door. I had even told him myself, so this method wasn’t appropriate.
Moreover, returning to my house would be like asking to be captured again. I had considered going to my family home, but there was a problem. Would Hae-geon, who knows me so well, really not know about my family home? As soon as he realizes I’ve run away, he’ll surely rush to my family home first.
Then how about leaving Cream with my parents and leaving Seoul for a while?
‘Is that… okay?’
It seemed fine to leave Cream with my parents, ask them to find a new place for me to stay, and then leave Seoul for about a week. Of course, this was assuming I could move secretly without catching Hae-geon’s eye.
Alternatively, instead of finding a new house, I could enter the Center’s dormitory. It was a fairly safe place as people not affiliated with the Center weren’t allowed entry at all, and Espers from the Central Center were in the building right next door.
Both were not bad options, so I was torn, but for a more comfortable stay with Cream, it seemed better to find a new residence. No matter how spacious and pleasant the Center’s dormitory might be, it accommodates many people, and if unfamiliar sounds come irregularly, the sensitive Cream might become anxious.
While I was pondering, Hae-geon, having finished his preparations, came out of the room. He quickly checked how much of the rabbit-shaped apple he had carved had diminished, then came towards me. Dressed in a black turtleneck under a navy coat, Hae-geon looked quite mature.
I looked Hae-geon up and down in his neat attire. He certainly has a good figure, so he looks good in whatever he wears. Especially with Hae-geon’s tall stature and good build, he looked particularly striking in a long coat.
“It suits you well.”
At those words, Hae-geon’s face flushed red. He looked at me with bewildered eyes and then mumbled with a reddened face, “…You look good in what you’re wearing too.”
Are you mocking me after I just complimented you? After all, the pajamas I was wearing now had that tiresome prisoner uniform design. Complimenting that these pajamas suit me well, doesn’t that mean I look like a prisoner? I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t say anything. Even though I wanted to say goodbye nicely since it was our last day together, Hae-geon really has a knack for pushing my buttons.
Hae-geon, who had somehow come to my side, took my right hand and started fiddling with it. He wasn’t seasoning vegetables or kneading flour dough, so I didn’t understand why he was doing this.
“What are you doing?”
“Just… I don’t want to leave you behind.”
Is it really such a heartbreaking situation? It’s not like we’re lovers parting ways. Of course, today was indeed the last day, but that was a fact only I knew.
“Come on now. Your parents will be waiting. You should get going.”
“Yes…”
Hae-geon nodded and responded, but he couldn’t take his eyes off me, his gaze dripping with lingering attachment.
“Oh, Hae-geon.”
“…Yes?”
“This shackle, should I keep wearing it?”
I asked about the shackle in a casual tone. Only then did Hae-geon stare at the shackle wrapped around my ankle. He seemed to be deeply contemplating something as he glared at the shackle. Seeing him considering it quite seriously, I slightly hinted at my discomfort, careful not to make it too obvious.
“Actually, when you were preparing food in the kitchen, I almost fell a few times while getting off the bed.”
“…Really?”
“Well, it’s not a big deal if I’m careful, so you don’t have to worry about it… Anyway, I’m just saying.”
Hae-geon’s expression changed immediately at my subtle hint. He looked at the shackle with sharp eyes and then spoke.
“Since you might fall when I’m not around… it would be better to remove the shackle.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
I carefully asked Hae-geon, who seemed to have made a firm decision. He looked at me and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. There was a faint warmth in his cold-colored eyes that only I could perceive.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I’d rather have my mind be uneasy than have you get hurt.”
I opened my eyes wide, forgetting even to breathe at Hae-geon’s strange words. What on earth is he saying? Has he completely forgotten about putting the shackle on me when he was startled by my casual mention of going out clothes? Or does he trust me this much?
While I remained frozen in my sitting position, Hae-geon went to his room and came back with the key. Then, without hesitation, he unlocked the shackle that was binding my ankle.
He looked at me, who was just blinking, smiled slightly, and said goodbye.
“I’ll be back soon. Enjoy your dinner. Cream, play well with him too.”
“Meow~”
Cream gently wagged her tail in response and then flopped over onto her back again. I watched Hae-geon heading towards the front door without even waiting for my reply, and belatedly got up from my seat to follow him. Seeing Hae-geon putting on his shoes, I felt I should at least say a brief farewell.
“…Take care.”
“I will. You can go to sleep first if you get sleepy. Rest well.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah.”
As Hae-geon opened the front door after tidying up the shoe horn, I impulsively opened my mouth.
“Goodbye.”
“Yeah. I’ll be back.”
What kind of goodbye was that? It’s not like I’m showing that we’ll never see each other again. As soon as I said it, I thought that the sensitive and meticulous Hae-geon might have noticed something, but fortunately, he seemed to think it was just a formal greeting. He waved his hand with a bright smile and went out through the wide-open front door.
Finally, the front door closed, and I was completely alone.
“…”
I should be excited and happy, but I just felt strange. Maybe it’s because Hae-geon’s smiling face, briefly visible between the firmly closing front door, kept flashing in my mind. I felt a bit uncomfortable, thinking I might be doing something I shouldn’t.
After standing still in front of the entrance for quite some time, I was finally able to snap out of it when I heard Cream’s meow.
“Meow!”
“Oh, oh. Cream, what’s wrong?”
Cream, who seemed to have belatedly noticed that Hae-geon had left, glared at me with dissatisfied eyes and then turned her body around. As I blankly watched the plump cat gracefully heading towards the sofa, I also moved to check the clock.
2:13 PM. It was just the right time. It would be better in many ways to leave after putting some distance between Hae-geon and myself.
“First, I should wash up…”
I stopped speaking mid-sentence and tightly closed my mouth. It’s a bit ridiculous, but given Hae-geon’s thoroughness, I thought he might have set up listening devices. He’s extraordinary in many ways, so it’s entirely possible.
Anyway, after washing up, I should go to my house and pack some things. Then I need to find my work phone, which should be somewhere in the house, and contact my parents.
I headed to the bathroom, going over the order of tasks one by one in my head.
