The hand that trailed down his cheek touched his chin and neck, then gripped his shoulder as if embracing it, and shook him. Then that voice was heard.
“Lee Yeonwoo.”
“…”
As soon as Yeonwoo opened his eyes, he gasped for breath like someone who had just emerged from underwater. Panting, he turned his head to find Ho Munbeom where his gaze fell. With one hand on the car, half-leaning into the back seat, he frowned upon seeing Yeonwoo’s labored breathing.
Watching his expression change right before his eyes, Yeonwoo realized where he was and what state he was in. He had chosen to sleep because his motion sickness wouldn’t subside, and it seemed he had experienced sleep paralysis during that brief time. Reflexively rubbing his left cheek with the back of his hand, Yeonwoo mumbled.
“I’m fine.”
Taking a deep breath to steady his breathing between mumbles, Yeonwoo glanced at Ho Munbeom.
“I had sleep paralysis… thanks to you, I’m saved.”
He wanted to explain that his current poor condition was due to that.
Munbeom slightly furrowed his brow and placed his hand on Yeonwoo’s forehead. His large hand covered not only Yeonwoo’s forehead but also half his head. Feeling the warm heat from the small head, Ho Munbeom looked back.
Secretary Kang, standing nearby, explained apologetically:
“He was carsick, but he took medicine and said he was fine…”
“…”
Ho Munbeom turned back to Yeonwoo. Still with his forehead and head held in that large hand, Yeonwoo suddenly tensed his eyes. With reddened cheeks, he was breathing heavily but trying to convince others he was really fine. Finding this response not at all amusing, Ho Munbeom removed his hand from Yeonwoo’s forehead and instead reached inside.
Yeonwoo let out a small “oh” as he felt hands slide under his knees and back. Lifted by Ho Munbeom and brought out of the car, Yeonwoo tightly closed his eyes then opened them as the mountain breeze brushed his face. He froze at the sight of tall trees stretching above Ho Munbeom’s head and the perfectly blue, cloudless sky visible between them.
“…”
Watching Yeonwoo looking up at the sky while being obediently held, Ho Munbeom turned to Secretary Kang.
“Didn’t you explain where we were going today?”
“He started getting carsick as soon as we got on the highway, so I didn’t have a chance to…”
He had planned to explain in a leisurely vacation atmosphere, but the timing hadn’t worked out. Thinking this would also sound like an excuse, Secretary Kang closed his mouth. Ho Munbeom, watching him, lowered his head as Yeonwoo stirred. Yeonwoo’s eyes, which had been staring blankly at the sky, finally met Ho Munbeom’s. Seeing him shrink with a stiff expression, looking awkward and uncomfortable, Ho Munbeom began walking.
He headed toward a Jeep parked nearby. After seating Yeonwoo in the front passenger seat with its door already open, he went to the back seat and pulled out a thick blanket. He had prepared it for potential situations, but this was the first time using it. Holding the soft blanket with one hand and shaking it out a couple of times, Ho Munbeom covered Yeonwoo with it and said briefly:
“Stay seated.”
“…Yes.”
When he nodded, the fluffy blanket touched his chin. While fidgeting with his fingertips, Ho Munbeom’s hand dropped, and the passenger door closed. Ho Munbeom immediately approached Secretary Kang, who was wringing his hands nervously, making him feel uncomfortable.
Why was he like this today? Yesterday had been fine.
He had told Secretary Kang it might be from eating something bad for dinner, but the truth was he’d barely been eating lately. The supermarket incident had probably been the tipping point. Working all day in an uncomfortable atmosphere left him exhausted when he got home. He didn’t want to lift a finger and feared anything he ate would only upset his stomach, so he’d been skipping dinner for quite some time.
He’d thought he should at least work until payday to get his full salary, feeling wronged and frustrated, but maybe it would be better to quit now…
As he let out a small sigh, the blanket slipped. Raising his hand to grasp it, Yeonwoo glanced at Ho Munbeom’s broad shoulders in the distance, then turned his head forward. He checked the text displayed on the navigation system of the idling car: Yangyang, Gangwon Province.
“…Gangwon Province, huh.”
He remembered that his middle school had planned a field trip to Gangwon Province years ago.
Of course, Yeonwoo hadn’t gone.
“…”
Perhaps because it was his first time here, it felt like he’d arrived in a foreign country. Still, he liked how the forest scent came through the breeze, similar to where he used to live. Feeling a sense of stability, Yeonwoo removed his hand from under the blanket and touched his forehead.
Did he have a slight fever? At least he felt better than when he’d just opened his eyes. After touching his forehead for a while, Yeonwoo swept his hair back.
Ho Munbeom’s hand earlier had been large enough to cover not only his forehead but his entire head. Thinking that large people were simply large everywhere, Yeonwoo swallowed unnecessarily.
Just then, the passenger door opened, and Ho Munbeom appeared.
Caught off guard, Yeonwoo flinched at the sudden face before him. Ho Munbeom raised one eyebrow, brushed Yeonwoo’s hair from his forehead, and asked:
“Why are you touching your head? Does it hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t.”
He had merely touched it because he recalled Ho Munbeom feeling his forehead just moments ago. Though Yeonwoo shook his head and removed his hand, Ho Munbeom’s hand remained on his forehead. Seeing his serious expression, as if detecting a fever, Yeonwoo grew concerned. For some reason, he felt they might return with Secretary Kang without even spending one night.
Leaning forward, Yeonwoo began, “Um…”
Growl.
“…”
Startled by the loud sound, Yeonwoo held his breath. Ho Munbeom was equally surprised. His gaze, which had been on Yeonwoo’s face, moved downward at the clear, loud sound that reached his ears.
Yeonwoo’s face instantly turned bright red as he covered his stomach with both hands in surprise. Seeing even the slight trembling of his wide eyes as he bit his lip, a thin wrinkle formed between Ho Munbeom’s brows before his mouth corners turned up. But turning his head, Ho Munbeom cleared his throat with a “hmm.” After clearing it several more times, he looked at Yeonwoo again and asked:
“Didn’t you eat breakfast?”
Secretary Kang answered instead:
“He felt unwell midway…”
Though he trailed off, it meant Yeonwoo had thrown up.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Yeonwoo’s stomach growled again. Embarrassed by the loud sound resonating from his small body, Yeonwoo pressed his lower abdomen with both hands, though that wouldn’t stop the noise.
While Yeonwoo was flustered and at a loss, Ho Munbeom carefully examined his complexion. If someone was unwell, you could tell immediately from their pheromones. But Yeonwoo’s pheromones were barely detectable. If he could still control them, it meant there wasn’t much to worry about.
Checking his wristwatch and confirming it wasn’t yet 11 o’clock, Ho Munbeom told Secretary Kang to move Yeonwoo’s bag. When Secretary Kang brought Yeonwoo’s backpack, Ho Munbeom took it and placed it in the back seat.
“We’ll go to the villa, so Secretary Kang, you can head back now.”
Though Secretary Kang wondered if they should take Yeonwoo to a hospital, he assumed Ho Munbeom knew what he was doing. He bowed behind Ho Munbeom, who was closing the passenger door and moving to the driver’s seat. Knowing his bow wouldn’t be acknowledged, he quickly straightened up and gave a slight nod to Yeonwoo sitting in the passenger seat.
After confirming Secretary Kang’s departure through the window, Yeonwoo looked at Ho Munbeom in the driver’s seat. He hadn’t noticed earlier due to the commotion, but today Ho Munbeom was wearing jeans and an ivory sweater. With his bangs down, he looked different from usual—younger and more relaxed. As Yeonwoo observed this appearance, he rubbed his lower abdomen.
“Let’s fill your stomach first, then check your condition.”
“…”
At these words, spoken just as he placed his hand on his lower abdomen, Yeonwoo looked at Ho Munbeom. Facing the profile that was focused only on driving, Yeonwoo said, “I’m fine.” His head tilted slightly to the side, perhaps having heard the small murmur.
“You might be fine, but from my perspective, you’re not.”
After such a statement, there was nothing more to say.
But he was just a little hungry, not as uncomfortable as before. He figured the motion sickness was simply due to an empty stomach combined with nervousness that upset his stomach. Though he had been excited while packing, Ho Munbeom wasn’t entirely a comfortable presence for Yeonwoo. This was separate from having waited for his contact.
“Is working at the supermarket very difficult?”
“…Pardon?”
“Does Yeonwoo need to continue working there?”
He seemed to think Yeonwoo was unwell because the supermarket job was too demanding.
If last year’s Yeonwoo had been asked, he might have said it wasn’t difficult at all. But this year had been eventful in various ways. Yeonwoo, who had been thinking of quitting, hesitated before speaking.
“Actually, I’m planning to work only until the end of this month.”
“…”
“I think it might not be bad to rest a bit and then look for something else to do.”
Unlike his statement about quitting the supermarket, Ho Munbeom’s eyebrow twitched at the mention of finding something else to do. Tapping the steering wheel with his finger, he said casually:
“Is it really necessary for Yeonwoo to continue working at all?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
