CH 47

The last thing Yiyoung could recall from last night was getting into Muyeol’s car. After that, she passed out… and she must have snored so much.

‘H-he probably heard everything.’ Her face grew warm from the embarrassment. But what concerned her more was how she got into the house. Was Muyeol the one who took off her sock as well? 

‘So what? We were friends for a long time,’ she tried comforting herself. She looked around, hoping she would run into Muyeol as she could just get rid of the awkwardness.

“Cha Muyeol,” she called out as walked around the house, “Cha—”

A door opened, and out walked Muyeol, dressed casually. “You’re awake?”

His wet hair gleamed under the sunshine filtering in through the window in the living room; it seemed like he had just gotten out of the shower. Wearing a black shirt paired with light colored jeans, and his bare feet pressed against the marbled floor… This Muyeol did not look like the person Yiyoung knew.

The Muyeol she knew wore formal clothes without a single wrinkle, as if he had been born wearing a suit. But now… he seemed so normal.

Muyeol noticed her stare. “Why are you looking at me like that? Are you still not sober?”

“No,” Yiyoung trailed off, “it’s because you look so different.”

Muyeol drew closer to her. “What do you mean?”

“Um… You look like a person.”

“That confirms it. You’re still not sober.” Muyeol passed by her and walked to the kitchen. “Come here and explain your drinking habit. It’s completely different from what you told me.”

Yiyoung instantly regretted thinking he seemed like a normal person. He hadn’t changed a bit! She followed him to the kitchen, all the while glaring at his back. “I’m sorry for being so annoying last night.”

“You’d already warned me, and we’re about to get married, so it’s fine. But I’d like to know more about it.”

Yiyoung shrugged as she explained it. 

“Sometimes when I’m too tired and still can’t sleep, I drink a few cups of alcohol because it helps me fall asleep. Alcohol works as my sleeping aid.” Muyeol turned around and stared at her. Feeling a tad awkward, Yiyoung continued, “I can’t sleep well. Even if I’m exhausted, I just can’t.”

“Why?” 

“I don’t really know.”

“Is it because your shift time changes often?”

“The other doctors who work at the ER have the same work conditions, but none of them experience this.”

“Then, why?”

“If I knew the reason, I would have fixed it already.”

Muyeol turned around and opened the fridge. “It’s your fault.”

Yiyoung was left speechless by his confident declaration. Muyeol took a pack of juice from the fridge; it was the extracted juice of oriental raisin trees. “Just drink only when you’re at home, then you would be fine.”

“Yeah, right,” said Yiyoung sarcastically. 

“Don’t drink when you’re outside, okay?”

“Okay.” 

Muyeol poured the juice into a glass and pushed it toward Yiyoung. “Drink this.”

“But last night, I got drunk because of you. You showed up out of nowhere and asked me to marry you, so how could I not get shocked?”

“I get it. Now, drink.”

His curt answer didn’t discourage her. She took the glass and drank the juice. 

Muyeol put away the empty glass. “I’ll stock up the fridge with juice packs, so drink one everyday. Your liver can’t handle the alcohol.”

Yiyoung stared at him, unable to figure how to feel about his kindness. He seemed like a different person in so many ways today.

Muyeol noticed her eyes on him and asked, “Are you hungry?”

Yiyoung shook her head. “No. You just seem different today.”

“I’m not different.” Muyeol leaned against the sink and looked at her. “Since we agreed to get married yesterday, I think we should sign the marriage certificate by the end of this week.”

Yiyoung stared at him for a moment. “A guy like you doesn’t necessarily need me for marriage.”

“A guy like me?”

“Yeah. You’re young and are financially secure. You could have a contractual marriage with anyone you like. It could be someone from the same background as you, and if you end up liking her, then you can just have a real wife.”

Muyeol scoffed at her. “You’re not smart.”

“What?” Yiyoung couldn’t believe he was mocking her.

“No, you’re an idiot.”

“Are you serious?” Yiyoung began to simmer with anger. “Are you going to keep going on?”

“Are you not an idiot then?”

“What are you—”

“I knew you were like this when you were young, but you’re still the same.” Muyeol pointed at his head. “You’re only book smart. Other than that, you’re only good at picking fights.”

“What are you talking about…” She looked at him with a frown. His words had upset her a lot. “So that’s what you think of me, huh?”

She had been striving to survive back then, and hearing him voice his thoughts about it made her feel unpleasant. Yet Muyeol kept going on, his voice calm, “But if you weren’t good at picking fights, do you think you would have been able to survive? You were in a situation where even if just one person attacked you, your school life would have been over. I’m not saying anything against you. It is completely normal for you to be this way. What I mean is, you survived well.”

Yiyoung blinked, trying to comprehend what he meant. “…What?”

“You never ran away from a fight, perhaps because you were trying to find a way to fit in the environment… It doesn’t matter.” 

‘A way to fit in…’ Yiyoung repeated in her head, appalled by his words. “I-I don’t think you’re talking about me. Are you talking about yourself?”

“The most important thing is to not lose. You’re the strongest person I know. No one but you could survive next to me,” he said with a cold laugh.