I couldn’t understand what he was talking about at all. What circumstances? Why was it difficult…?
No, I shouldn’t be fooled twice.
I decided to steel myself.
“Look, I have nothing more to say. Tell my mother-in-law too. Stop acting so forcefully… if you do this, even Hyeol will…”
“You seem to be mistaken, but we are not employed by that side.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
“There’s not enough time to explain everything. For now, I wanted to let you know that there is someone protecting Chae Seungyeon-ssi. And if anything happens or if you sense something unusual, please contact me.”
Someone protecting me…?
While I was dumbfounded at this unfamiliar concept, Chief Seok went so far as to personally place his business card in my hand.
“Whatever else, never mention this to anyone from the Gwak family. That’s also for your own good. Well then.”
After saying that, Chief Seok and his subordinates hurriedly moved outside the lobby.
“No, wait…! Suddenly appearing like this…!”
I belatedly got up and headed outside the lobby. In the wind where snowflakes were flying, I grabbed Chief Seok’s collar. He then told his subordinates to get in the car first, before gripping my shoulder firmly and speaking.
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi, we’ve been commissioned to protect you.”
“Commissioned…?”
I wondered who had commissioned them.
“I can’t reveal that now. Just know that we are protecting you from behind the scenes.”
Did that mean these people were behind the strange gazes that had been following me all this time? But something seemed…
“Just remember that you’re not struggling alone. And you must absolutely not tell anyone about today’s incident.”
Chief Seok repeatedly told me not to tell anyone else as he removed his hand from my shoulder.
“The same goes for Baek Woojin-ssi, as it could become dangerous.”
“……!”
“Well then.”
Chief Seok gave me a brief bow, then got in the car and disappeared down the street where snowflakes were flying.
*
I don’t know how I made it back home. The words that Chief Seok had said were stuck in my mind and wouldn’t fade. It was also because too much information had been input at once. The mysterious existence of these people and the fact that there was a client who ordered them to protect me. And above all…
‘The same goes for Baek Woojin-ssi, as it could become dangerous.’
That statement didn’t seem like a simple warning, which made it all the more concerning.
“Daddy? Did something happen?”
“…Huh?”
As soon as I arrived home in an exhausted state, Hyeol, who had noticed my condition, asked. Kkotsu also looked at me with teary eyes, seeming worried.
“D-did you… l-lose… the j-jump rope?”
“Huh…?”
Oh, I forgot. I was so frantic with all the commotion that I didn’t bring back the pheromone deodorizer and jump rope that Hyeol and Kkotsu had given me for self-defense.
“What should I do, I must have dropped them. I’ll go back and get them right away.”
I quickly got up and prepared to go outside again. But maybe it was because I stood up suddenly, but for a moment my vision blurred and my head spun.
“Daddy…!”
I heard Hyeol calling me urgently from far away. I tried to focus and quickly steadied myself against the wall with my hand. Fortunately, I didn’t fall.
“Daddy, are you okay?”
“T-teacher…!”
I focused on the children’s urgent voices calling me.
What’s this, why am I so dizzy…?
“I’m fine, just… just a moment… I’m too dizzy…”
“Daddy, hold my hand.”
“K-Kkotsu, h-hand too…”
Eventually, I moved with what could barely be called support from the children and leaned against the sofa. Thankfully, my blurry vision cleared up shortly.
“T-teacher, are you… in a lot of… p-pain?”
Kkotsu, who was practically clinging to my side, asked tearfully.
“No… Kkotsu… Just a moment, I’ll be fine after I rest…”
Looking at the worried faces of the children made me feel sorry, so I tried to get up again, but I couldn’t muster much strength. I could clearly feel that my condition was rapidly deteriorating compared to before.
“Hyeol… could you get Daddy’s medicine…”
“Yes…!”
At my request, Hyeol quickly ran to the guest room. Just as I was about to ask Kkotsu to bring me a glass of water, I noticed that somehow Kkotsu had gotten my phone and was fidgeting with it.
“Kkotsu…? What are you…”
“C-calling D-daddy… f-found it.”
I could see Kkotsu moving his small fingers to call Baek Woojin.
This isn’t good… If I keep bothering a busy person like this…
“K-Kkotsu… don’t call Daddy… Teacher is fine…”
“A-are you o-okay…!”
“No… Really, I’ll be fine after I take some medicine…”
I reached out to Kkotsu, trying to take the phone from him.
Slap!
“I’m g-going to c-call him…!”
But Kkotsu blocked me by hitting the back of my hand.
“Dad, take this medicine.”
Meanwhile, Hyeol brought me medicine. Without being asked, he also brought water and helped me take the medicine by supporting me.
“Y-your d-dad… said he’s c-coming right a-away…”
After finishing his call with his father, Kkotsu spoke while gently blowing on the back of my hand. He seemed to feel bad about hitting me so harshly just now.
To me, it felt like being swatted by a kitten’s paw…
“I’m s-sorry…”
“It’s okay… really, it’s fine… It didn’t hurt at all… it’s fine…”
Feeling both sorry and grateful for his concern, I found myself mumbling the same words over and over without realizing it.
“Dad, are you in a lot of pain? Should we call an ambulance?”
Hyeol asked while wiping the sweat from my forehead with a dry towel.
Our Hyeol has grown up so much…
I was touched by how calmly he was acting despite his concern, and with what little strength I had left, I managed to raise my hand to pat his head.
“Dad…”
The way he called me with a furrowed brow—still just a child, but in my eyes, he looked so dependable and handsome. I hope this handsome Hyeol becomes truly happy, different from the original story… together with our Kkotsu…
I looked back and forth between Kkotsu and Hyeol.
The always lovable Kkotsu and the handsome Hyeol make such a perfectly matched pair that anyone would see…
“T-teacher…?”
Kkotsu noticed my gaze and blinked his large eyes.
“Hyeol… Kkotsu…”
“Yes.”
“Y-yes.”
I firmly held the hands of the two who had responded so well.
“You two… must get married…”
Maybe it was the fever, but those words suddenly popped out of my mouth in front of the children without me realizing it.
“Married?”
They must have been surprised by such an out-of-nowhere mention of marriage. Hyeol and Kkotsu both stared at me with wide eyes. But since I’d already blurted it out, I decided to continue.
“Yes… Dad will definitely… get you two… married… So you need to… get along well…”
I meant it sincerely. That’s why I wanted their relationship to improve quickly.
“Dad’s sick right now, so I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“T-teacher… m-marriage isn’t… s-something you m-make people d-do… it’s s-something I… do m-myself…”
Hyeol and Kkotsu both responded firmly.
They were both right. That’s why it was more troubling. Maybe they already knew they weren’t compatible and wouldn’t even try to get closer…
Of course, even if that’s the case now, things might change later when their traits manifest.
Then Hyeol won’t say dad anymore, but will keep saying he only likes Kkotsu…
“Ugh…”
My head felt too heavy and feverish to think properly beyond that point.
“Hey, you…”
As my condition showed no signs of improving, Hyeol gave some instructions to Kkotsu. But he never stopped taking care of me.
Hyeol…
Or maybe it was because I kept calling Hyeol’s name in my feverish state.
Splash…!
“…!”
I don’t know how long I had my eyes tightly shut. I felt the sensation of a soaking wet towel on my forehead. Startled, I opened my eyes to see Kkotsu looking at me with a flustered expression.
“I-is it t-too c-cold…?”
“Hey, did you wring it out properly?”
“Y-yes… l-like this…”
At Hyeol’s criticism, Kkotsu took the towel back and pressed it firmly with his hands like a cat kneading. Water did drip out, but the towel was still soaking wet. Kkotsu didn’t know how to properly wring out a towel.
“Let me see.”
Seeing Kkotsu’s clumsy hand movements, Hyeol stepped in. But Kkotsu also seemed to want to help wring out the towel, so he held onto the end and wrung it together with Hyeol.
Drip…
Before I knew it, the floor was flooded, and the towel was completely wrung out.
“D-done…!”
Kkotsu happily placed the thoroughly dried towel on my forehead. I wasn’t sure if the dry towel would help bring down my fever, but maybe because of watching the children just now, I felt more at ease.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
