“No, I have friends among police officials… I learned the details about the accident circumstances.”
I wondered just how many friends Baek Woojin had. No, he doesn’t look like it on the outside, but maybe he’s actually a popular person.
“I’m really glad Chae Seungyeon-ssi wasn’t hurt.”
“Actually… without the stun gun Woojin-ssi gave me, I wouldn’t have had the courage to do that.”
“Do you think so? From what I can see… even if there hadn’t been an electric shock device, I think Chae Seungyeon-ssi would have escaped from the crisis by some method.”
“What? Me?”
I’d never heard such words in my life. Of course I know that one must somehow escape in moments of crisis, but… wouldn’t it be difficult for an ordinary person?
“Yes, you might not acknowledge it yourself, but… you’re a strong person.”
As if reading my thoughts, Baek Woojin gave me somewhat excessive praise. I felt embarrassed for no reason.
“Aren’t you getting in?”
Just then, Hyeol spoke to us standing outside the car door.
“Oh… Hyeol, did you fasten your seatbelt properly?”
I couldn’t bring myself to respond to Baek Woojin’s words and instead unnecessarily checked Hyeol’s seatbelt in the back seat.
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi.”
“Yes?”
Just as I was about to sit in the passenger seat and fasten my seatbelt, Baek Woojin looked intently into my eyes.
“I hope you won’t feel burdened by what I said earlier. You’re doing well enough now, so from now on just think about yourself and Hyeol.”
“…Yes.”
As expected, Baek Woojin didn’t just let it pass. I answered quietly and nodded.
“After that, you can think about the people close to you.”
As I looked at him wondering what he meant, Hyeol clicked his tongue from behind.
“Let’s go home.”
Baek Woojin started the engine, paying no attention to the reactions around him.
“……?”
But just as the car briefly stopped at the path passing the hospital entrance, I felt someone’s gaze from outside the car window. I didn’t even need to turn my head to look around. I could see some man staring intently at me. The man seemed to have just gotten out of a black Mercedes, with the car door wide open as he stared piercingly at me.
Who is that…?
Could he be someone related to Chae Seungyeon? Just as I was thinking this, the man suddenly turned around and went into the hospital.
Thump thump thump…
Belatedly, cold sweat flowed from my hands and my heart beat fast. I didn’t know why I felt so anxious.
Chapter 2 (1)
A few days later, I finally visited the bank to check Chae Seungyeon’s bankbook. I also organized the bankbook that I hadn’t been able to take care of for a long time and got a separate check card issued. There were no problems with Chae Seungyeon’s credit, but since there had been no income during this time, I was told that only small loans would be difficult.
Just from that, I realized how Chae Seungyeon had been trapped by the Gwak family since he was twenty and couldn’t even have a proper outside life. It was pitiful. Part of me wondered what it would have been like if I hadn’t possessed his body but… had fallen into this novel as Chae Seungyeon’s friend.
Bzzzzzz.
Just then, when I checked my vibrating phone screen, a text message had come in.
[Father! Just now, Hyeol’s enrollment procedures at <Sunshine Kindergarten> are all complete! ^0^* See you tomorrow with an excited, happy face! -From Teacher Jung of Forsythia Class.]
Hyeol had decided to go to the kindergarten that Kkotsu attends. The procedures were completed quickly with Baek Woojin’s help, and starting tomorrow, he would attend the beautifully named Sunshine Kindergarten. A smile appeared on my lips with pride.
“Right, no matter what, the kindergarten name isn’t everything, but Black Stone Kindergarten really wasn’t it…”
I shook my head while recalling the name of the kindergarten that Baek Woojin and Hyeol had attended.
Still, it was somewhat fortunate. After that incident, there had been no contact from the in-laws. I didn’t know if they had given up or were taking their own break, but the young master’s occasional reassuring words not to worry gave me some peace of mind. Such relatively peaceful days continued, allowing us to safely transfer Hyeol’s kindergarten.
But that alone wasn’t enough to feel secure. There were many things I needed to do going forward.
“They took them all already.”
I sighed looking at the completely emptied free newspaper stand in front of the subway station.
My biggest worries right now were finding a house for Hyeol and me to live in, and job hunting.
“Or maybe I should try going to an academy…”
It seemed difficult to work as a licensed kindergarten teacher, which was my original profession, so I was thinking of learning childcare teacher certification or related fields.
Bzzzzzz.
It was while I was wandering the streets with various worries. The phone in my hand vibrated again. This time it was Baek Woojin.
“Hello? Woojin-ssi?”
-Let’s have lunch together.
As soon as I answered, Baek Woojin only explained his business.
“Oh… I’m out for a moment. I asked the ajumma to watch Hyeol briefly…”
-I know. Turn to your side.
“What?”
At his sudden words, I turned my head to the side and saw Baek Woojin standing at the crosswalk. He was definitely taller than other people and had such clear features that he immediately caught the eye.
-Stay there.
Just then, the traffic light changed. Baek Woojin strode across the crosswalk with his long legs.
“How did you know I was here…”
“I had business nearby. It’s a coincidence.”
Baek Woojin, emphasizing it was a coincidence, casually took my hand.
“Your hand is cold.”
The large hands kneading my hand were very warm and soft. And they smelled good.
“Did you put on hand cream?”
I lifted the hand Baek Woojin was holding and sniffed it.
“…I think it’s probably because my rut will come soon.”
“What? Rut?”
I asked wondering what that was, but Baek Woojin just gave a faint smile and changed the subject.
“You don’t need to worry about it. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Woojin-ssi.”
Actually, I was going to ask that question first.
“I’ll pay for lunch.”
I said in what I thought was a determined voice. Since I couldn’t count how much I’d gotten from Baek Woojin so far, I had decided to definitely treat him today. Of course, I did feel briefly like I was secretly using someone else’s money.
*
We had lunch at a pork cutlet restaurant near the station. Actually, I wanted to buy him something more expensive, but no matter what I asked, the answer that came back from Baek Woojin was always the same.
‘Let’s eat what Chae Seungyeon-ssi wants to eat.’
Even when I asked again and again, it was the same, so I had no choice but to choose the pork cutlet I’d been wanting since morning.
“…Huh? You’re already finished eating?”
We had ordered sirloin pork cutlet, udon, and fried shrimp, and it hadn’t been long, but Baek Woojin put down his chopsticks.
“Doesn’t it… taste good?”
“No, it’s delicious.”
“Then why are you eating so little? You can’t just leave it if you don’t want to eat.”
I scolded him while moving several pieces of cut pork cutlet from Baek Woojin’s plate to my side. If he left this much, it would be hard on those who worked to make it, and it would create a lot of food waste…
“I didn’t leave it, I just set it aside for a moment…”
“Oh…”
Thud, at Baek Woojin’s single word, one piece of pork cutlet I was diligently moving with my chopsticks fell. My face flushed hot.
“No, no… then you should have said something, I thought you weren’t eating it…”
In embarrassment, I tried to move the pork cutlet back to Baek Woojin, but he blocked my chopsticks.
“You can eat it all.”
Baek Woojin was moving the pork cutlet I had taken back to me.
“No… no, really, Woojin-ssi, please eat it. You didn’t eat many pieces…”
“It’s fine. Actually, before coming out earlier, an employee gave me almonds.”
“Almonds?”
Aren’t those just like snacks? How many did he eat…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
