“I think I read about 50 pages before I figured it out…”
Surely he’ll understand what I mean with just this much explanation…?
“So, Woojin-ssi, if I’m being too oblivious… please tell me directly. After all, we have that kind of relationship now…”
“That kind of relationship?”
Baek Woojin raised his eyebrows and stopped walking.
“Ah, you know… employer and employee… You’re letting me and Hyeol stay and eat at your place…”
“……”
“So… I’m okay with whatever you have to say, I promise I won’t argue.”
After saying that much with what I thought was a resolute expression, Baek Woojin let out a small sigh and continued walking. His hand on my shoulder tightened its grip.
“First of all, I don’t find Chae Seungyeon-ssi frustrating.”
If that was true, it was a relief.
“And beating around the bush isn’t my style. Or rather, I didn’t know I had a style until recently. You probably heard that from the professor.”
Style… Among the things Professor Choi said, all I could remember was that Baek Woojin had never dated anyone and that he completely misunderstood the relationship between Baek Woojin and me…
“That’s how my relationships have been until now. If I saw a flaw, I’d cut it out; if something wasn’t bad, I’d maintain it… But now I’m realizing that approach is wrong.”
It was a bit difficult to follow, but I thought I understood what he was trying to say.
“Relationships can’t be clearly defined. Especially when it’s a relationship you really don’t want to end. From the very fact that not all relationships are equal and there’s always someone in a higher position and someone in a lower position… I never thought I’d understand how one could prioritize another person’s wishes over their own. Perhaps the professor made that suggestion to help me realize that…”
Suggestion? Had he made some kind of bet with Professor Choi?
“I don’t want to burden Chae Seungyeon-ssi. But at the same time, I’d like you to care about me.”
Reflecting on Baek Woojin’s serious words, I suddenly had a thought.
“Um… that… sounds just like a cat?”
“……”
Though I’d meant it as a joke, Baek Woojin didn’t respond and just continued walking. I hurried to keep up with him, and we stopped at a traffic light.
While waiting for the signal to change, I became conscious of Baek Woojin’s hand on my shoulder.
“Woojin-ssi, aren’t your hands cold? They’ll freeze like that.”
“Then, would you hold my hand?”
If I had gloves, I could have lent them to him, but there was no helping it.
“Well, if it’s your hand…”
I quickly took Baek Woojin’s hand and tucked it into his coat.
“Oh?”
But I flinched for a moment. Contrary to my expectation, Baek Woojin’s hand wasn’t cold at all.
“Woojin-ssi, your hand seems warmer than mine?”
“I thought I needed to cool it down.”
What does that mean…? In the dead of winter, especially on this cold day with heavy snowfall, it was a truly absurd thing to say.
“Let’s go.”
By then, the signal had changed, and we crossed the crosswalk side by side.
“…?”
Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks. I felt an unsettling gaze on me. When I turned around, I noticed a black Mercedes stopped at the traffic light. The windows were tinted black, so I couldn’t see inside, but somehow, I felt like I was being watched.
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi? The light will change soon, it’s dangerous.”
Baek Woojin spoke with concern as I stood dazed, staring at the Mercedes.
“Ah, yes. Sorry…”
Even as I hurried to finish crossing, I couldn’t take my eyes off the Mercedes that smoothly disappeared among the moving cars.
Chapter 3 (1)
The weather had gotten noticeably colder. The temperature had dropped drastically, probably because it had been snowing without pause for several days, but fortunately, the place I was staying was very warm. Despite the cold weather, staying in this warm house, eating and sleeping well, neither Hyeol nor I caught a cold except for when Kkotsu was sick for a day.
However, the relationship between the two children showed no signs of improvement. Hyeol and Kkotsu were in a cold war since the face-drawing incident.
“Hey.”
“……”
“Hey.”
Hyeol called out to Kkotsu while reading a book on the sofa. These days, he didn’t even use nicknames like “Kkossu” or “Koko,” only calling Kkotsu in this indifferent way when he needed something.
“Hey.”
“……”
After being called repeatedly, Kkotsu looked up. He was sitting at the opposite end of the sofa from Hyeol, drawing pictures.
“Doesn’t your eyes hurt? Close the curtains. The sunlight is harsh.”
When Hyeol spoke with a frown, Kkotsu pouted his lips.
“N-no… Fl-flowers need… s-sun…”
“Flowers?”
“Y-yes.”
Mumbling as if he had something in his mouth, Kkotsu concentrated on drawing again. Hyeol seemed to dislike this attitude even more.
“What do you mean, are you saying you’re a flower?”
“……”
“Hey, then you’re only going to drink water?”
“W-why…?”
“Don’t you know flowers only drink water?”
When Hyeol asked with a mocking tone, Kkotsu’s face froze.
“Hyeol…”
I had been trying not to interfere between them, but finally, I quietly called Hyeol. When he turned to look at me, I slowly shook my head. I meant for him to stop teasing. Hyeol made a small “Tch” sound and concentrated on reading his book again.
Sigh… I couldn’t help but sigh.
I’d already given up on making them close, but I should at least try to prevent them from growing further apart… First, I should try to lighten the mood by feeding them.
“Kkotsu, Hyeol. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? Today, Daddy will make dinner.”
“You, Daddy?”
Hyeol asked with wide, round eyes.
What, is it that surprising? I’ve watched the ajumma cook over her shoulder, so I should be able to do the basics, right?
Tap.
Just as I was thinking that while opening the refrigerator, Kkotsu approached me.
“T-teacher…”
“Yes, Kkotsu.”
“I… I’ll just… d-drink w-water…”
Oh no, I’d suspected as much… Kkotsu seemed to believe what Hyeol said about only drinking water.
“No, Kkotsu. You need to eat.”
“Daddy, no. He says he’s a flower, so he should only drink water.”
I was trying to somehow persuade Kkotsu, but Hyeol spoke firmly. I couldn’t help sighing at the endless stubbornness of children.
“So, Kkotsu, you’re really not going to eat?”
“……”
In response to my question, Kkotsu hesitated for a moment and then nodded. He was surprisingly stubborn, and it didn’t seem like he would change his mind easily.
In that case…
Today, Baek Woojin had a seminar and would be home late, and the ajumma had left early because of personal business, so I was planning to cook anyway…
“Then shall we order delivery for dinner?”
With just me and the children, now was a good opportunity for delivery. Although Baek Woojin disliked ordering delivery food, he’d given permission to do it once a week. Honestly, it was more that I wanted it than the kids.
“Wh-what are we… g-going to eat…?”
At that moment, Kkotsu, who had said he would only drink water, asked curiously.
“Hmm, what would be good… Kkotsu, is there anything you want to eat?”
“Um, n-no… I’ll… j-just drink… w-water…”
I’d asked just in case, but the answer was as expected.
“Then what does Hyeol want to eat?”
“Pizza.”
“Pi… pizza…?”
Kkotsu’s eyes widened at Hyeol’s food selection.
“Then I’ll order right away. Sweet potato pizza is okay, right? I should order spaghetti too.”
“……”
I quickly called the pizza place to place a delivery order. It mustn’t have been a busy time because the pizza arrived in less than 30 minutes. During that time, Kkotsu sat blankly on the sofa without drawing, then jumped up startled when the doorbell rang.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
