#071
A needlessly wistful conversation continued. Perhaps unable to bring himself to say he’d ride along, Ban Hajoon’s face was serious. He let out long sighs several times and trembled his clenched fists. Just looking at his expression, it would have seemed like we were having a serious discussion.
“Oh right. The police station.”
“Ah, right. I was going to tell you about that. I told someone I know about what happened and they said they’d introduce me to a lawyer, so I’m going to ask that person for help. It would be awkward to run into that person again… and I don’t want to worry about it too much either. Thank you, if it hadn’t been for Hajoon-ssi that day, it really would have been terrible.”
“That’s good. It would definitely be better to get help from a professional. If you ever need any help, let me know. I’ll help anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Ban Hajoon smiled with his characteristically gentle face. When I sniffled from the cold wind, he unwrapped the muffler around his neck and put it around mine. Despite my firm refusal, he made unfunny jokes about his hands getting embarrassed and stubbornly tied it securely. Just as we were finishing our brief conversation, Ju Isin approached.
“What are you talking about so seriously?”
“About Ju Isin-ssi’s driving skills. Can I drive on the way there?”
“…Ah, why!!!”
“Why? Why? There’s something I always say to people who drive like this.”
“……”
“If you drive like Ju Isin-ssi, I should rip out the steering wheel so you can never hold it again. Got it? Even bumper cars would be in trouble if driven this way! How did you even get your license? Did someone pretend to be Ju Isin-ssi and take the test for you?”
At my words that came out as they popped into my head, Ju Isin’s face crumpled as if hurt. But I didn’t even say anything wrong, so why is he so hurt? It was strange. I turned to Ban Hajoon seeking sympathy.
“I absolutely think Ranho-ssi is right.”
“Me too, I’m absolutely right.”
I held out my hand toward Ju Isin. Ju Isin’s expression was gloomy as he reluctantly handed over the car keys he was holding.
“I feel wronged.”
“No.”
“That can’t be.”
Ban Hajoon and my answers were firm. As we wished, Ju Isin got into the passenger seat.
“I’ll start driving.”
“Yes…”
“Drive carefully, Ranho-ssi.”
With Ban Hajoon’s concerned voice as the last thing I heard, I pressed down on the accelerator with my right foot. With a low rumbling sound, the car started smoothly. It was a car with such good ride quality, but Ju Isin really…
After dropping Ban Hajoon off in front of the cafe, Ju Isin and I switched seats in front of the flower shop. I looked worriedly at Ju Isin sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Wouldn’t it be better to call a designated driver?”
“No. I drive home well.”
“…I’m worried… Please really be careful driving. When the traffic light turns yellow, stop.”
“I usually go before it changes, but today just happened to be like that.”
“To avoid days like today, slow down in advance.”
At my sincere words, Ju Isin scrunched up his expression. He snorted disdainfully and shifted gears.
“I’m leaving.”
“Drive safely.”
“I’ll come again.”
“Please do come. I’d feel disappointed if you don’t.”
When I waved my hand gently, Ju Isin spouted strange nonsense about how truly bad men are those who don’t know they’re good men, and drove off. What kind of man is bad but good anyway? As expected, he made a sudden start, and the luxury sedan wobbled as it squeezed between the vehicles lined up on the road. Fortunately, since it was an expensive car, other drivers yielded relatively well when he cut in. I watched the car that I could tell Ju Isin was driving even from a distance, then turned to walk away.
After roughly organizing the shop, I stood in front of the showcase and pondered for a long time. I kept looking at the clock, then at the flowers, muttering “why are there so few flowers…”
“Ah… really.”
I need to make something with the flowers I have… I opened the showcase and took out light purple Oxford scabiosa and sweet peas. I also took out a handful of white ranunculus and spray carnations.
“Hmm…”
I also took out a few stems of light pink Piccolini gerberas and a few peach-colored Tinker Bell roses that I had brought in for bouquets. I ended up taking out quite a lot, but I concluded that abundant was better than sparse and arranged them.
Since he likes sweet peas, I put in many of them and filled the empty spaces with ranunculus and Tinker Bell roses. I added spray carnations for fullness and Piccolini gerberas for loveliness, and the bouquet was beautiful even before wrapping.
“Pretty.”
I inserted scabiosa here and there as accent points and gathered and tied the stems. I wrapped the stems with very pale pink tissue paper – so pale you wouldn’t know it was pink unless light shone through it – and white cloud paper, then finished with a light purple ribbon.
What time is it. I checked the time. It was now past 3:45. As I placed the completed bouquet in a vase, I wondered if Woo Dohwan was happy during the time he was waiting for me.
Just like a fox, even when making metaphors, he picked something exactly like himself.
I sat on the sofa and opened a new chocolate box, when a small card fluttered from the lid and landed with a thud on the table.
“Hm…?”
When I flipped over the black card, I immediately saw round handwriting. It wasn’t in the first box, so is this card only in this one among several chocolate boxes? I took out a chocolate from around the middle of the second row and put it in my mouth while reading the short sentence.
“Really… this is driving me crazy.”
You’re the one, the one I’ve been looking for.
The sentence I read with my eyes several times created tickling, fluffy emotions around my heart each time I read it. I stared at the pretty handwriting that was as beautiful as its appearance for a long time, then without realizing it, I flopped face down on the table. I couldn’t lift my head until my flushed face calmed down.
Really, it’s bad for the heart. It was an afternoon where I couldn’t believe the thump thump thump sound echoing in my ears was coming from my own heart.
Just as I had emptied an entire row of chocolates and was reaching for the next row, the wind chime rang with a ding-a-ling. At the clear sound, I straightened my upper body and turned my head, and the face of the man I had been waiting for so much filled my vision.
“Hello.”
“Welcome.”
Woo Dohwan’s eyes curved gently as he greeted me while pushing the entrance door. The door slid closed with a swoosh and pleasant little bell sounds rang out, followed by the approaching tap, tap, tap of his dress shoes.
Woo Dohwan, who had brought the cold wind with him, naturally bent his waist. His lips landed precisely on my lifted head, touching softly before pulling away.
“Uh-.”
“In foreign countries, this is often done as a greeting.”
“Isn’t that too natural?”
“Can I do it naturally one more time?”
Looking at his grinning lips, I almost nodded my head. When I covered my mouth with my hand and shook my head, Woo Dohwan shrugged. After looking around inside, he focused on the bouquet in the vase on the table and asked if more customers were coming.
“Oh, no.”
“That. Who reserved it?”
“Um…”
“……?”
“I made it to give to Woo Dohwan-ssi. There weren’t many flowers so it’s a bit disappointing, but I still put in a lot of pretty flowers.”
At my answer, his curious face melted away.
“I like it here.”
“I know.”
“I like you too.”
“That too.”
***
We moved in Woo Dohwan’s car. I was holding the bouquet in my arms and looking straight ahead, but Woo Dohwan kept turning his head at random times to check on me and the flowers.
“You don’t need to check like that, we’re not going anywhere.”
“I was looking because it’s pretty.”
“Pretty things are only pretty when they’re alive, so focus on driving.”
“I like it when you’re occasionally aggressive.”
Despite my exasperated sigh, Woo Dohwan continued his smooth talk. But after I pointed it out once, he stopped turning his head busily and watched the road ahead. I was looking at the road that had become somewhat familiar after going once, when sudden drowsiness hit me and I blinked my eyes.
When I rested my head against the window, my eyes reflexively closed. Right, it’s not far, so I’ll sleep a little…
I thought I’d wake up. I definitely thought that before falling asleep, but where is this? The bedding that seemed like I could sink into it and the subtle fragrance tickling my nose were quite familiar. This place with the lighting dimmed to the lowest setting was definitely a bedroom, I guessed.
Every time I moved, the sheets made crinkling sounds. Ah, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had slept too deeply. Actually, I shamelessly thought I wanted to sleep like this until morning, but I came to my senses since this was someone else’s house. At a speed that would be faster than a crawling turtle, I straightened my upper body and looked around. My eyes, accustomed to the darkness, confirmed the bedroom that had virtually nothing in it. There’s nothing here. Isn’t there too much of nothing?
It’s a bedroom with only a bed. Oh, there’s also a lamp. I reflexively turned my head to check the bedside. Under the soft light, a single Aurora rose was placed.
It’s really here. I carefully caressed the petals that were beginning to wilt and dropped my legs below the bed. Let’s go out first.
While feeling for the door, I realized it wasn’t a door that pushed forward and carefully tried sliding it to the side. With a sliding sound, the door smoothly slid in, and through the gap, the living room scene was revealed. Without even going out, I slowly rolled my eyes.
The empty living room and the house where no noise could be heard seemed as if everything had stopped. When I took one step forward, I finally began to hear sounds little by little from the space that had seemed stopped. The tick-tick of the clock’s second hand, the crackling of something burning, the rustling of slowly turning pages… The gentle sounds that consecutively penetrated my ears harmonized like music, peacefully calming my heart.
When I naturally turned my head, through the living room window where one entire wall was glass, I could see early winter rain falling with quite heavy moisture. The very faint tok-tok sound I heard must have been raindrops tapping the glass window. After staring outside blankly, I turned my head and saw a fireplace like those in movies burning bright red. I thought that would be decorative, but it was interesting that it actually burned wood.
I moved my still feet. I looked around in all directions, searching for the sound of turning pages. When I crossed the living room, the rustling sound of pages being turned came from beyond an open door, as if it had been waiting for me to find it.
Standing outside, I peeked inside as if stealing a glance. Woo Dohwan was sitting loosely in an armchair that looked cozy, reading a quite thick book. When his elegant hand grabbed the thick paper and smoothly turned it, a rustling sound rang out.
“Honey.”
Does he have eyes on the back of his head too? My startled body jumped.
“If you’re awake, come in. Nothing bad will happen just because you come in here.”
The face that turned only his head back to check on me was gentle, and
“Did you sleep well?”
The voice asking was infinitely tender.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
