Chapter 84
After meeting Kwon Yuwon, Si-yul regained some vitality. He went from being like a withered plant unable to absorb water even when watered, to a potted plant that had somewhat regained its green color. Even that was a significant improvement compared to before.
His confinement remained unchanged. It was limited freedom. He could walk in the nearby park, but going any further required Woo Hyun-se’s permission.
[Oppa, do you have time this evening?]
[I had plans with a friend, but they canceled]
[I don’t want to waste the reservation since it’s hard to get]
In the midst of this, he received a message from Yang Hye-na, which was more than welcome. If nothing else, Woo Hyun-se was lenient about meeting with people from the store. At first, he was reluctant about Si-yul meeting Hye-na alone.
‘I feel a bit depressed being at home all the time.’
With this one statement from Si-yul, Hyun-se agreed. Having easily obtained permission, Si-yul quickly got ready. Although he was told he could go alone, there was no way Hyun-se would let him go without a guard trailing him like a tail.
‘You said it’s safe now.’
‘Not until everything is over.’
‘Can’t I just go alone? I feel bad for that guy, I mean, the mister.’
‘No.’
Attempts at persuasion failed, so Si-yul left the house sulkily. It was a cold day where visible steam came out with every breath. The day was short, and dusk was already settling when he arrived at the meeting place. Even with a long padded coat, hat, and scarf wrapped around, the cold wind found ways to seep through the gaps.
Si-yul was stamping his feet while waiting when he heard a loud “Oppa!” and looked up. Yang Hye-na was waving her arms widely from across the crosswalk. However, Si-yul’s gaze first went to the unexpected figure standing next to her.
As the green light came on, the crowd crossed the street in a jumble. Yang Hye-na and Woo Tae-joo, who were on the opposite side, mixed in with them and walked towards Si-yul.
“It’s been a while, hyung,” Woo Tae-joo greeted with a bright smile. Despite the unpleasant scene at the concert, he treated Si-yul as if it had never happened. Si-yul, surprised by the unexpected encounter, just blinked and nodded with an “Uh.”
“Actually, Tae-joo set up this appointment… He kept saying he wanted to see you, but he wouldn’t contact you directly. He even told me not to tell you he was coming… I’m not usually the type to go along with such requests. I felt bad for you, oppa. But I’ve been wanting to come to this place for months.”
Yang Hye-na spilled out the unsolicited truth while scratching the back of her head. Woo Tae-joo wasn’t someone Si-yul needed to avoid, and even if he was deceived, it wasn’t something to get upset about. Even as Si-yul waved his hand saying it was okay, Hye-na apologized, bowing her head deeply.
“Anyway, that’s what happened. I’m sorry for lying, oppa.”
“Yes, I asked her to. I wanted to see you, hyung. I told her not to tell you I was coming because I thought you might refuse if you knew.”
“Wait, why would Si-yul oppa refuse if you were coming? Did you do something wrong to him?”
“I borrowed money from him and then ghosted him.”
The lie came out naturally. When Si-yul stared at him, Woo Tae-joo winked discreetly and then turned his gaze away.
“Crazy… In a capitalist society, the most heinous crime is borrowing money and not paying it back. That’s too much. Oppa, you should really give Woo Tae-joo a piece of your mind today.”
“I was planning to pay it back today. I brought plenty of pocket money. Let’s go quickly. I’m freezing to death.”
Their noses, peeking out above their mufflers, were already turning red from the cold. As Si-yul hunched his shoulders, Woo Tae-joo reached out as if to wrap around him, then hesitated and lowered his arm. He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a warm heat pack, offering it to Si-yul.
“You use this, hyung.”
“It’s okay. Give it to Hye-na. She looks cold.”
“There you go again. You speak casually to her but formally to me. I told you not to do that.”
Woo Tae-joo forcibly stuffed the heat pack into Si-yul’s pocket. When Si-yul tried to take it out, Woo Tae-joo furrowed his brow like an adult scolding a child and said, “Ah-ah,” sternly. Si-yul hesitated, then, feeling it would be impolite to return it after such insistence, pushed the half-removed heat pack back into his pocket.
“Wow, is his hand a hand and mine a foot?”
Yang Hye-na, who had been watching, narrowed her eyes and complained. Woo Tae-joo just shrugged it off. Feeling guilty, Si-yul tried to pass the pack to her, but Woo Tae-joo intercepted, shaking his head and insisting that Si-yul should use it.
“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll warm my hands myself.”
Grumbling about being discriminated against, Yang Hye-na shoved her hands into her pockets with dissatisfaction. Her pace quickened as if trying to distance herself from the two.
Still feeling awkward about being alone with Woo Tae-joo, Si-yul’s steps also sped up. “Hyung, let’s go together!” Woo Tae-joo called out loudly, not to be outdone, and followed closely behind.
As soon as they entered the store, Yang Hye-na held out her phone. The walls were densely packed with CDs and records, soft lighting, and an open kitchen – it looked like a place often featured on social media.
When asked to take a picture, Si-yul bent his knees and diligently took several shots. He thought she might ask for retakes due to his amateur skills, but thanks to the lighting, a few good shots were captured among the many taken.
“Should I take one of you too, oppa?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Aw, why not? This place is famous, you’d get a lot of likes if you posted it.”
“I don’t use social media.”
Yang Hye-na looked at Si-yul with shock written all over her face. Her expression was like seeing a primitive human using a stone axe next to an electric saw. She made a fuss, saying how could that be possible and that she’d never met someone like that before.
“Why don’t you start now? You’d get tons of followers just by posting selfies, oppa. Let me have an influencer acquaintance for once.”
That comment inevitably brought back memories. Of Woo Hyun-se, who had rushed to the store despite his work when Si-yul sent an awkward photo. Si-yul quietly shook his head.
It was a modest restaurant with only a few tables. They only open for dinner, not lunch. No wonder reservations are so hard to get. Even after sitting down, Si-yul kept looking around for a while.
He had rarely been to places like this, and he kept showing his inexperience. At least living with Woo Hyun-se, he had been able to set foot in expensive restaurants he never thought he’d visit in his lifetime.
The menu was full of unfamiliar names. There were descriptions, but even the ingredients were unfamiliar. What was ragu, and what was enduja? In contrast, Yang Hye-na and Woo Tae-joo were reading through the alien menu fluently, engaged in a heated discussion about what’s delicious and what’s famous.
“What do you like, oppa?”
“I don’t really know. Everything’s fine.”
“Tomato, cream, or oil – which do you prefer, hyung? How about meat doneness?”
“Tomato. I’m not sure about meat doneness.”
The pasta Woo Hyun-se had made also had tomatoes in it. Woo Tae-joo, who had explained at Si-yul’s level, smiled contentedly and pointed to a few menu items, saying “Let’s go with these.”
Si-yul only took pictures when the food arrived. Before reuniting with Kwon Yuwon, he would often skip meals when bored, so Woo Hyun-se had given him the task of taking pictures of what he ate. Even when Si-yul complained it was bothersome, Hyun-se insisted, saying he was worried.
Even if he took a quick, careless photo, Hyun-se would praise him for doing well. If it looked inadequate, he’d call immediately. He’d ask if the food wasn’t to Si-yul’s liking, if there was anything he wanted to eat, and say he’d buy it on his way home, gently coaxing Si-yul.
Maybe that’s why he’s still alive now. There was a time when even drinking a sip of water was a struggle. His appetite had completely disappeared, and he didn’t want to swallow even a single grain of rice, like someone with their days numbered. He wished he could just disappear from the world. Something scarier than death had appeared, and the fear was that it was approaching him step by step.
Woo Hyun-se gives both the disease and the cure. Is there anyone more duplicitous in the world?
The food suited Si-yul’s taste. But he couldn’t eat much. Perhaps his stomach had shrunk over time; he felt full after just a few twirls of pasta. He sipped the accompanying wine without really tasting it.
By the time the dessert was over and wine snacks were being served, Yang Hye-na’s face was already flushed red. She was talking to herself and giggling, then insisting she wasn’t drunk with a serious face. She would point at the air and stubbornly claim she wasn’t drunk at all.
“Do I look like someone who would get drunk on this measly wine?!”
Her face and neck were red, and her eyes were unfocused. After mumbling this typical drunk person’s claim, Yang Hye-na suddenly slumped her head onto the table. Si-yul quickly reached out to support her forehead. Woo Tae-joo chuckled at the sight.
“Hyung, want to take Hye-na home and go for round two? There’s a time limit here. We have about 30 minutes left.”
“That’s a bit…”
It was getting late, and the idea of drinking alone with Woo Tae-joo already made Si-yul uncomfortable about how to explain it to Woo Hyun-se. As he hesitated, Woo Tae-joo leaned towards Si-yul, crossing his arms on the table.
“Then hyung, let’s drink a bit more before we go. We were supposed to have drinks last time but couldn’t. You can let go of Hye-na now. Your hand must hurt.”
True to his words, Si-yul’s hand that had hit the table was sore. He carefully withdrew his hand. There wasn’t much time left, but there was still some. The newly ordered wine was still half full, and it seemed a shame to leave just like that.
