CH 10.4

3 million. There were only 3 million no matter how hard I raked it. Where should I get the rest? It’s by next week.

If I tell Yeon Woojeong… What will he say? Will he give me money? Or will he drive that person away? What should I do if the creditors come? If Yeon Woojeong also gets involved?

He is a man who makes people sick. My mother left home, and I also left. It was his habit to pick a fight with people passing by, and he often fought with people in the neighborhood. He didn’t know his place and was greedy, so it was clear that if he saw Yeon Woojeong, he would try to mooch him.

I couldn’t guess how Yeon Woojeong would react. And I didn’t want to show this-this side of me to Yeon Woojeong.

It won’t be the end just by giving him money once. I’m not stupid enough to believe him. However, I have to give him the money to go through this crisis. I have to pay the debt so that I can take care of this current situation…

How do I get the money?

My head hurt. I looked at the time. It was already 8 o’clock. Yeon Woojeong would soon come, so I had to sort out my mood if I didn’t want him to find out. I put the money in the bag. The smell of money lingered on my fingertips was fishy.

I put the bag in the closet and changed my clothes. I went to the bathroom, and after washing myself more thoroughly than usual, I looked at my face in the mirror. There was no wound, and nothing out of the ordinary in particular was seen. About my expression… I wasn’t sure about it. I have always been like this, after all.

I dried my hair, then I walked out. It was hard to sit still, so I moved busily, but then I entered Yeon Woojeong’s bedroom. I lay on his bed, and buried my face in his pillow. It seemed like there was a faint smell. Detergent smell? I had no idea. Anyway, I relaxed a bit.

Whether because the sudden mishap was so absurd or because it was not so new anymore, I gradually became numb to it. My mood sank endlessly, but my chest didn’t run wild nor my anger surged. It was just, somehow, it felt like walking the destined path. 

Do I have to tell Yeon Woojeong? I didn’t want to do that. The man was my ground. Even though I didn’t want to acknowledge it, he was my blood and my root.

Can I solve this alone? As if it never happened.

In order to do that, I couldn’t stay here forever. It was dangerous to stay here since the man knew this address. For that reason, I had to stop working in the convenience store, and I had to move. This is a house given by that chairman, so will Yeon Woojeong move? He would surely think it’s strange if I suddenly ask him to move. My head hurt.

I took a deep breath. I rubbed my cheeks on Yeon Woojeong’s pillow, then I got up. As soon as I left the room, I heard the sound of the door opening. Yeon Woojeong, walking inside, raised his brows and smiled as he saw me.

I could breathe again as soon as I saw his face. How did I live without Yeon Woojeong? Ridiculously, I couldn’t think of my life and feelings at that time.

I wanted to approach him and hug him tight. I wanted to bury my lips on his neck and swallow everything. However, he could notice something strange if I acted distinctively, so I pressed down my urge and approached him.

“Have you had dinner?”

“Yeah.”

“But you’ll still eat, right?”

Yeon Woojeong showed what he was holding. It was a paper bag. Sitting on the sofa, I opened the bag. There were walnut cakes inside.

He sat on the sofa and loosened his necktie. I took out a walnut cake and ate it. The outside was well-baked and crispy, and the inside was moist and sweet.

“Tasty?”

Nodding, I looked at Yeon Woojeong. He, with a loose smile on his lips, looked in a good mood. When I held out a walnut cake, he pushed his head and opened his mouth. As I put it inside his mouth, he smiled and chewed the snack.

“Did something good happen?”

“Hmhm, yeah.”

“What is it?”

“My work is going well. We caught their tail for sure this time. When this case is over, I’ll be doing less work for the time being.”

Yeon Woojeong lay down using my thighs as a pillow. He was constantly smiling.

I got an excuse. I didn’t want to ruin his mood. Therefore, I couldn’t tell him.

“When will it end?”

“By next week. Though it will take more time for it to end completely…”

I couldn’t give the man Yeon Woojeong’s money even for a penny because he lived more diligently than anyone else. 

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, that’s good.”

I had to do something to avoid having miscellaneous thoughts. As I thought about what happened today, I remembered the tickets from Seo Jihee.

“Mr. Yeon, do you also go to exhibitions?”

“Exhibitions?”

“Yeah. My coworker gave me tickets. She said it’s being held in an art gallery.”

“She didn’t give it with the intention to go with you?”

“No. She told me to go with a friend. She has gone there.”

Another thought popped out in a corner of my mind. I put a walnut cake in my mouth to step on it. When I chewed something, I felt comfortable because I didn’t have to manage my expression.

“When is it due?”

“April.”

“Is that so? Then should we go this week?”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t on the weekend, so let’s go on Friday. You’re off work that day.”

“Why is the weekend?”

“I have work to do.”

Should I be glad that he’s busy this week? Normally, I only waited for Yeon Woojeong to leave work, but it was funny that I wanted him to come home as late as possible when things became like this.

When I put out a walnut cake and put it in Yeon Woojeong’s mouth, he ate it.

“You’ll become a cow if you eat while lying down.”

“You raise me then.”

Yeon Woojeong laughed and tickled my chin at the words I said for nothing. He also said it without any meaning, but I didn’t think it was bad. Yeon Woojeong only stays at home, and I raise him. But I didn’t think I could take care of him skillfully and perfectly. Still, won’t it work as long as I try my best?

Yeon Woojeong took my hand and played with it. I pondered while looking at him. How should I ask without making it awkward? However, the question itself will be unexpected no matter how I ask it. Still, I couldn’t push it back. There’s only a week left. An impatience arose.

“Mr. Yeon.”

“Mhm.”

“Are you not moving?”

“Move?”

His eyes looked at me for a moment, then moved to the second floor.

“Aha. That’s right. You must be uncomfortable because you don’t have your room.”

I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all, but I didn’t deny him. I brought it up, but in reality, it was surely impracticable. It’s not like it’s easy to buy a house in Seoul, and this is a house given by that chairman.

“Guess we have to move.”

“… huh?”

“Well, an officetel isn’t supposed for two people to live in.”

“Then what about this place?”

“I can just leave it be or sell it.”

“But that old man gave this to you?”

“He won’t accept it even if I give it back. I thought about giving this back someday, but… come to think of it, it might be better to not do it.”

It surprised me because I didn’t expect he would really say we will move. If we move… If we move as soon as possible… I won’t meet that man again. I pressed down the rising expectation.

“I can’t this month, so… next month.”

“That fast? Do you have a lot of money?”

“Why? Do I look poor?”

“But you are a public servant.”

Yeon Woojeong curved his eyes at my words.

“Do you know what a public servant must do to make a lot of money?”

“I don’t know.”

“They have to do something very frightful.”

Yeon Woojeong whispered playfully and pulled my neck. Our lips met. After sucking my lips lightly, he took off his hand. He really seemed to be in a good mood.

I was glad that he was happy. At least he was happy.

“I have a house.”

“Do you?”

“It’s a small apartment, not far from here. There is a park nearby and transportation is good. Ah, but because you’re working here…”

“About my work… my coworker said she will quit in April, so I might quit as well.”

I talked slowly so that I didn’t seem to be impatient. Looking at me, Yeon Woojeong flashed his brows.

“Why?”