Chapter 64
After dinner time had passed somewhat, the NI family, who I thought would be resting, all took time for tea. They chatted quietly while getting some fresh air in the garden on the first floor. Han Taekyung seemed to have smiled a few times during that time. It was reassuring to think that no matter how much he had changed after his accident, becoming colder than before, his love for his family remained unchanged. On the other hand, all the security guards were on high alert. Though they said, “Surely no one would be stupid enough to attack,” they still needed to be careful. Fortunately, even though it was a garden, it was surrounded by bulletproof glass walls rather than being completely outdoors, so unless a missile came flying in from somewhere, there shouldn’t be a major problem. Of course, they wouldn’t be drinking tea outside without adequate preparation.
“Igeon.”
Igeon looked at Kang Yuhan who called his name but didn’t answer. Even though Han Taekyung was protected by bulletproof glass, Igeon couldn’t take his eyes off him. He didn’t want to make the same stupid mistake as before. He was now Han Taekyung’s bodyguard, not Kang Yuhan’s junior.
“Hmm, right. You’re working. Then I’ll just talk by myself. That’s okay, right?”
Without waiting for Igeon’s answer, Kang Yuhan quickly stood beside him and looked at Han Taekyung’s family who were smiling and talking. Why was he here? Wasn’t he with those people just now?
“Don’t I seem like I’m on the outside looking in? I’m doing my best to fit in with them, but I wonder how it looks to a third party.”
…He’s showing Igeon yet another side different from what he saw during dinner. So weak and fragile… He was speaking to Igeon as the senior he used to know, which was confusing. What is this person’s true self?
“Did you hear what I said during dinner? No, you must have heard. There’s no way you couldn’t have heard from that distance. I said those things knowing you would hear. I’m sorry if it hurt you. But… I was sincerely begging. If I didn’t beg like that, those people wouldn’t listen to me. They’re the heads of NI. Do you know how extraordinary the people in there are? So I… I’ve actually been looked down upon and had a hard time. So… I have no choice but to act like that. Otherwise, they won’t acknowledge me. They won’t look at me. Can you believe it? Taekyung and I are engaged in name only. I begged him. I even threatened that since the imprinting couldn’t be undone, Han Taekyung would die without me… After that, he doesn’t even look at me. Did you see the way he looks at me? Like I’m a bug.”
Kang Yuhan’s voice gradually trembled, and eventually he spoke with a voice wet with tears. Why is he telling me this? There’s nothing I can do for him right now.
“Haa… what am I doing, being so foolish.”
Kang Yuhan, who had been sniffling for a while, wiped his tears and looked at Igeon.
“I should go back now.”
“It’s dark, so watch your step.”
That was the most Igeon could say. At those words, Kang Yuhan, who had been moving forward, turned back with a slight smile to look at Igeon.
“You’re really kind. It would have been good if I could have chosen you. Listen, Igeon. It wasn’t just a whim when I asked those people for you. I meant it. So I wish at least you would stay by my side. Then I think I could survive a little. Think about it. Han Taekyung will probably listen if you ask.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve already refused.”
Though he hadn’t wanted to speak, Igeon had to. If he didn’t cut this off here, someone would likely end up hurt. Kang Yuhan’s smile disappeared. Then he looked straight at Igeon.
“You… refused?”
“Yes, to begin with, I don’t yet have the skills to protect Yuhan-nim. The same goes for Taekyung… nim too, actually. It’s just that Taekyung-nim has senior guards like Instructor Kim helping him, so I’m barely earning my salary. If I were to independently protect Yuhan-nim, you might actually be in more danger.”
“That’s not true. I can assign people to help you too.”
“Also, it’s impossible because of my remaining contract period. I’m afraid of NI’s legal team.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. So please think about it more. Taekyung has many people to protect him, so he doesn’t need you, but I do need you.”
Watching Kang Yuhan’s back as he quickly turned and walked away, Igeon once again felt the same sense of déjà vu as before. The senior who had been sniffling beside him just a moment ago had vanished like an act.
â—†
While Han Taekyung was washing up, Igeon was checking the time and discussing future action guidelines, tasks, security concerns, and current positioning with Instructor Kim over the radio. Just then, he heard someone coming up to the second floor, so he ended his conversation with Instructor Kim and looked over to see Han Taekyung’s second father, Park Jaekyung, who had given birth to him, coming up with warm tea. Feeling he should help, Igeon quickly ran over and took the tray from him.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Where should I put this?”
“Ah, in the room next to Taekyung’s.”
Not Han Taekyung’s room but the one next to it?
Igeon opened the door, entered the room, and placed the tea on a small table inside. Jaekyung, who had entered the room, checked the bedding once and looked at the room’s temperature.
“I’ve adjusted the room temperature, so you won’t be cold when sleeping. So fold your clothes neatly in the closet and sleep comfortably. I’ve prepared pajamas here too. I’m worried whether the size will fit…”
When he opened the closet door, there were two sets of pajamas and a robe inside. As if they had been prepared. Jaekyung took a pajama set from the hanger and held it up in front of Igeon.
“It seems like it will fit. The length might be a bit short though.”
“Ah, no. I probably won’t be able to sleep deeply enough to wear pajamas…”
“Ah… I suppose that’s true.”
Jaekyung hung the hanger back regretfully and closed the closet door.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am that Athlete Seo Igeon is staying in this room. I was quite surprised earlier when Taekyung said that Athlete Seo Igeon must stay here. I wondered if his memory had returned.”
“His memory…?”
“Yes, actually, this room… Taekyung wanted to give it to Athlete Seo Igeon.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“…After Athlete Igeon’s father passed away, Taekyung stayed at your house once, right?”
Though it was a long time ago, that day came vividly to mind as if it were yesterday, and Igeon nodded in response.
“The next day, when he came home… he asked if someone could come and live with us. I was so surprised. You have no idea how desperately he begged his father and me. So I wanted to hear what had happened, and I listened to Taekyung’s story… He talked about Athlete Igeon. He said he hated leaving you alone in that house… that you would be lonely, and he wanted to stay with you, but he was still too young to do so. So since our house was spacious with many rooms, he asked if we could bring you to live together. Since you would be entering the same dormitory once you got into university anyway. He wanted to live together in this house until then.”
Good heavens. Han Taekyung… what on earth…
“It was an unreasonable request. A reckless request that could be considered absurd. I knew that Taekyung really liked Athlete Seo Igeon, but I thought that wasn’t right. But we love Taekyung very much, and we decided to love the people Taekyung loves too. So we accepted. However, there was a condition. We told him he had to get Athlete Seo Igeon’s consent, and that he must never act on his own. And after that day, Taekyung began preparing everything one by one. The furniture in this room, the bed… so that Athlete Igeon wouldn’t be uncomfortable. We even did a bit of remodeling. It was like he was preparing a newlywed home.”
Jaekyung smiled slightly.
“He prepared everything so meticulously. And he pondered many times about what to say to you. How he could avoid hurting Athlete Seo Igeon’s feelings… Knowing that if he failed, your connection might be completely severed, Taekyung really worried a lot. And when he had made up his mind, there was an incident where an intruder broke into this house.”
“An… intruder?”
“Yes. It turned out to be one of the bodyguards who was supposed to be protecting Taekyung… They weren’t the security team led by Instructor Kim now, but a different private security team. Fortunately, Taekyung wasn’t harmed or injured, but… that day, he sat in this room all day and wouldn’t come out. When I came in to check on him because I was worried, he was sitting blankly on the bed, shaking his head. He said he didn’t think he should bring Athlete Igeon here. Knowing how hard he had worked to prepare, my heart ached so much. And since I also knew why he made that choice, I couldn’t tell him to bring you anyway. Since then, this room has remained empty. I thought Taekyung had lost his memory and forgotten about this room… I was so surprised when he mentioned it today. But it doesn’t seem like his memory has returned. He just said it because it’s empty….”
Jaekyung’s voice gradually faded. Soon, he took a deep breath and smiled at Igeon.
“Thank you for protecting Taekyung, Athlete Seo Igeon. He’s a lacking child, but please take good care of him.”
“No, I should be thanking you.”
Jaekyung held Igeon’s hand firmly and patted it.
“Well then, get some rest.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After Jaekyung left the room, Igeon scanned it with his eyes. Looking closely, the layout of the room was identical to Igeon’s own room. His heart fluttered a bit, and he wished he could see the Han Taekyung from back then.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
