#39
“It’s all healed.”
Yeoul looked at his hands. Until yesterday, they had been wrapped tightly in bandages, but now there was nothing. It was because he had fully recovered now. His fingers were also completely clean without a single scar. Feeling refreshed, he lifted his head and saw the mirror positioned in front of him. His appearance in casual clothes came into view.
Actually, today was the day he was being discharged from the hospital, and currently Eun Sajun had gone to handle the discharge procedures. The mansion had also finished its repairs, so the timing was perfect.
Time had flown by so quickly that a week had already passed since he met Shin Taeon.
During that time, he had repeated a life of eating and sleeping in the hospital room. Of course, Eun Sajun was with him too. He who had said he would pretend not to know about his brother’s hospital if he pretended to have a heat cycle really didn’t ask any more questions. Since it was a contractual relationship, he seemed to have no intention of digging deeper.
And as time had passed, the time to meet Shin Taeon had come again. Yeoul felt as hopeless as if he were facing dark clouds. How should he escape this time?
“Hah. This is too difficult….”
He was at his wit’s end with the deadline that came every week. Once he went back into the mansion, it would be really difficult to come out again, which made him feel hopeless.
He wished someone would pick a fight with Eun Sajun during the discharge process and cause a fight. Then his attention would be diverted from Yeoul and he wouldn’t notice if he disappeared. Sadly, the possibility of that was almost zero. Above all, yearning and pleading for situations impossible in reality only added to his sense of deprivation.
Why did Uncle borrow more money from Shin Taeon to make him suffer like this? He felt resentful.
While he was embracing his gloomy feelings, the door opened and Eun Sajun entered.
“Are you all dressed?”
“Yes….”
Yeoul managed his expression to not show his complicated feelings. But Eun Sajun stared intently at Yeoul’s face. Managing his facial muscles like ironing them was already overwhelming, so he didn’t know why he was looking at him like that.
“Why are you doing that? Is there something on my face?”
Feeling burdened, Yeoul asked, hoping he would stop looking.
“I was looking because you’re pretty.”
“What?”
At the ticklish answer that struck like an ambush, Yeoul was very flustered. Subsequently, Eun Sajun’s eyes curved beautifully.
“Baby doesn’t know how cute you are, do you?”
“I’m not cute though….”
I’m just ordinary…. I don’t know why he’s giving such compliments. The ticklish feeling was strange, so he touched his cheek.
“That looks cute too.”
After whispering affectionately once more, he firmly grasped Yeoul’s hand.
“Let’s go out now.”
“Yes…….”
For a moment, he had the illusion that they had become lovers, but Yeoul shook his head, thinking he shouldn’t have such illusions.
* * *
The sedan that Yeoul rode with Eun Sajun drove smoothly on the road.
Yeoul’s mind was full of worries about how he should meet Shin Taeon. When would these troubles ever end?
“What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
Eun Sajun caressed Yeoul’s cheek. That touch was full of affection. Suddenly, Yeoul thought he was being more friendly than usual today. So he felt like he would grant any request. Yeoul thought of a scheme and answered.
“Actually, I was only in the hospital, you know. I felt a bit stuffy. But now you’re saying we’re going straight back to the mansion, so I’m worried. Can’t we take a walk or something?”
First, he wanted to delay going into the mansion filled with bodyguards as much as possible. Also, being outdoors would give him more opportunities to escape.
At Yeoul’s suggestion, Eun Sajun’s eyes widened as if he had encountered something unexpected.
“Really?”
“Ah, but it’s not like it’s extremely difficult.”
He changed his words, thinking that if he pushed his scheme too hard, he might find it strange.
“…….”
Eun Sajun seemed lost in thought for a moment without speaking, but soon his face brightened.
“Then, shall we go on a date today?”
“Huh?”
At the sudden mention of a date, Yeoul’s pupils dilated. Eun Sajun seemed even more excited as a smile hung on his lips.
“We’ve never had a proper date until now.”
“Ah….”
“Emotional communion is important, but I’ve been busy with this and that so I postponed it. Then let’s play together today to commemorate your discharge.”
Eun Sajun affectionately held Yeoul’s hand. For some reason, that touch felt more like shackles than gentle.
“Let’s start with lunch.”
* * *
So Yeoul had a meal at a Korean traditional restaurant made by renovating a hanok. He ate a lavish course meal that would break the table legs. Eun Sajun kept offering him food, saying Yeoul was too thin. Honestly, he felt like his stomach would burst, but food kept coming, which was bewildering.
Even in this gorging situation, Yeoul racked his brains about when to escape.
He thought about going to the bathroom to run away and went in. But it was a closed type without even a window, and although he looked for other methods, it was useless. Reluctantly eating even dessert, the meal time finally ended.
The next place they moved to was a large shopping mall called Baby World that specialized in baby products. Yeoul, who had expected they would watch a movie or go to a park since they said they were going on a date, faced the sign with bewilderment.
“No, why did we come to a place like this?”
Isn’t this mostly a place married couples come when they’re pregnant? It was just a contractual relationship, so he didn’t think it was a place worth coming to, which was absurd.
“I thought it would be good for baby to receive energy from a place like this to be born safely. Why? Don’t you like it?”
Eun Sajun’s cheek hardened.
“Ah, no.”
Yeoul shook his head. Honestly, he didn’t understand, but first he wanted to humor him for an easy escape.
“I…. I also wanted to look at baby clothes.”
“Good. That’s a relief.”
Eun Sajun slightly raised his arm to create space.
“Want to link arms?”
“What?”
At his suggestion, Yeoul was even more flustered. Eun Sajun seemed disappointed by Yeoul’s reaction as awkwardness lingered on his face.
“There are a lot of people here, so it’s chaotic. I’m worried our baby might get lost.”
Get lost? Yeoul got goosebumps all over his body. What crazy talk was he saying to a full-grown adult?
“So hurry up and link arms.”
Saying such things seemed somewhat embarrassing as his cheeks appeared to flush with a pinkish blush. Yeoul was confused about why he was acting like this, but in the end, he had to link arms with him.
* * *
Even from the exterior, he thought it was a very fancy place, but the interior was wider than expected. There were more various brands than most department stores. Even Yeoul, who was clueless about babies, recognized some brands he had seen in advertisements.
As Eun Sajun had said, there were also a lot of people. Most were alphas and omegas, or male betas paired with female betas walking around. There were also those accompanied by children.
Looking at the small children, Yeoul felt heavy-hearted as if he had glimpsed a fragment of a world he could never have.
“Want to look around here?”
Eun Sajun entered a brand shop. It was a space selling baby clothes in pastel colors, decorated cutely. Eun Sajun was looking at the clothes with interested eyes. To anyone watching, he would look like a married expectant father.
“How about this?”
What he picked up were two sets of little formal wear with apple-shaped berets as points. One was shorts, one was a skirt. At a glance, they were of luxurious material and sophisticated design.
“Wow! They’re really pretty.”
“Both the shorts and skirt are pretty, so I hope we have twins.”
“What? Twins?”
Even though it was already just a hollow contractual relationship, mentioning twins made it feel even more burdensome.
“Yes. If there are two, the cuteness would be doubled and the joy would be doubled too.”
“Ah…. Yes….”
Since Yeoul was also a twin, he felt awkward for no reason.
“Oh my, do you like these clothes?”
A friendly-looking employee approached. She smiled while alternately looking at Eun Sajun and Yeoul.
“These are very popular these days. You know the actor couple Joo Hanwoo and Kang Mira, right? They prefer these too, so they’re even more talked about.”
The employee explained the material and design of the clothes. Her strong will to sell at least one item was clearly felt.
“And the bride looks so gentle and pretty. Since the baby will be pretty taking after mom, I think this formal wear would suit the babies when they’re born too?”
“Ah…. No.”
Yeoul scratched the back of his head bashfully. Eun Sajun also had a smile hanging on his lips. Being in a place like this together with Eun Sajun made him feel strange, as if they had really become newlyweds. In the midst of this, a couple nearby moved busily.
“Honey, it’s almost time for the movie. Let’s go now.”
“What, is it already 4 o’clock?”
“No, it’s still 3:40, but let’s go early.”
“Okay, got it.”
Soon the couple left the store. At the same time, Yeoul’s heart sank. The time to meet Shin Taeon was suddenly approaching. What should he do….
Yeoul felt breathless and took quick steps. He had to get out of here…. What should he do?
If the meeting with Shin Taeon would end this time, he would have run out thinking he’d never see Eun Sajun again. But since Shin Taeon might say the code verification wasn’t finished yet and tell him to stay by Eun Sajun’s side longer, he had to be careful.
“Hah, I’m going crazy. Really.”
Overwhelmed by pressure, tears welled up in Yeoul’s eyes from anxiety. Then Eun Sajun took out his phone from his pocket and looked at the screen.
“Ah, the company called. Will you wait for a moment?”
“Yes…. Yes….”
An unexpected escape opportunity unfolded before his eyes, but Yeoul’s heart was heavy.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
