CH 7

Eunjae was confused. I had useless regret about wanting to go back to 5 minutes ago when I didn’t hear the story.

I closed my eyes tightly as if I was escaping reality, then opened them again as if I had made up my mind.

“So, I can’t make contact because of mysophobia. Is that what you said?”

As I sorted out my explanation and chewed it over, he nodded his head without answering.

“But I touched it… … No, it was fine when I touched it, is this it?”

Again, no answer, just nodded.

welcome Did you call me here just to hold hands?

“You said you were okay? Why do you want to check it again? Is that even here?”

Unlike Eun-jae, who rolls his eyes and argues fiercely, the man is very calm. So, more anger erupted.

“Because it’s not bad if you make sure of anything. If it was a one-time thing, I would have to act quickly.”

At the end of his speech, the man’s finger pointed to a pill the size of his fingernail.

When Eun-jae found out the identity of the pill that made her nervous, Eun-jae finally felt relieved.

Oh, is that the medicine that calms your mysophobia? Well, if there’s a problem, you’ll have to swallow it as soon as possible.

It was when her gaze, which had been on the pill for a moment, returned to him.

An inexplicable light shone on his face. So I guess I just stared at it for a while.

Does that chandelier make people sparkle?

Why is that man bewitching people with his handsomeness from morning on?

That guy must have been handsome even when he just woke up in the morning.

No, Ji Eun-jae, are you crazy? what the hell are you thinking

Eun-jae furiously flinched at his appearance, which kept blurring his judgment, and returned to reality.

“Is it okay if I check it? Why do you need this to repay the favor?”

“So you can move on to the next step?”

“The next step?”

Nodded again without an answer.

No, it’s frustrating, what do you answer when people ask? I didn’t ask to see you nod.

Eunjae managed to control his anger and asked.

“… … What is it?”

When Eun-jae asked with his teeth clenched, the man moved the medicine and water cup aside with a faint smile on his face. Then he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

“Check that out. It may not be, but there is no need to spend time explaining it.”

With what you say.

Eunjae turned his head away with a disapproving expression.

“Repay the favor, I will, I will,” he said.

He cut off each syllable, further emphasizing his purpose.

His favor is… … Isn’t it boring?

Meanwhile, his hand shook again in front of his eyes. It seemed as if a large, white hand that would make me feel soft just looking at it kept urging me to hold it.

No, it’s at this point, catch it. It’s the same as tempting. What would happen if I held that hand, would I be able to hold it?

In an instant, the man’s hand, which had reached out to his eyes, shone brightly. Maybe that’s why it seemed like a hand came to save me.

He said he would get you out of that rat hole, so catch him.

Did you even get possessed?

“Can I just give you a hand?”

The man nodded wordlessly.

“Oh, how much. 2 seconds? 3 seconds?”

Eunjae looked at him suspiciously and stuttered. To Eun-jae’s question, which continued quickly, the man’s answer fell without waiting for an inch.

“One second is all it takes.”

She didn’t quite believe it, but Eun-jae swallowed dry saliva and carefully placed her hand on top of his.

“… … Really, just one second.”

As if waiting, the man’s fingers dug between the overlapping fingers of Eunjae.

The man’s hand was softer and warmer than expected.

As she felt the man’s grip strength gradually increase, Eun-jae’s heart started beating fast.

It was an instant. The man’s warmth spread from his fingertips to his entire body. The heat even dyed Eunjae’s cheeks red before he knew it.

Recognizing the heat, Eun-jae quickly pulled her hand out of the man’s.

“One second has passed, I am not a pure cheater!”

Embarrassed Eunjae’s eyes hovered in the air. With his left hand, he fiddled with his right hand, which seemed to retain his warmth.

I was definitely caught, but I felt like I was caught.

When was the last time you were holding hands like this?

It’s been a long time indeed. Strangely, it felt warm to the depths of my heart.

Eun-jae, who had managed to calm down the sudden surge of emotions, raised her head and glanced up at him.

His expression seems calm, and the medicine is still the same, so it seems to be okay… … .

Eunjae raised her eyes slightly and looked at him.

“Okay… … Were you okay?”

“Why, why is it that only you are okay?”

As if he doesn’t understand, the man asks for an answer with a puzzled face.

Do I know what you don’t know

Don’t add unnecessary words like that.

what you want from me

“What is the next step?”

“I have something to prepare. See you again at this time tomorrow. Talk to you again then.”

***

Standing in front of the door of his officetel, Eun-jae huffed and glared at the front door.

“Oh! It’s filthy hard to repay the favor once.”

Eun-jae grabbed the throbbing forehead in front of the man’s front door. I turned to the elevator, then back to the man’s front door in resentment.

“I can’t go around like this all the time?”

In my mind, I wanted to kick at the front door, but I replaced it with punches in the air. I felt like I had to do that to relieve my stomach.

“What’s the point of coming or going?”

Then his little alter ego sat on Eunjae’s shoulder and whispered bitterly.

‘What is it? He’s someone who has to repay the favor.’

his grace.

Thanks for saving me, it’s nasty. Thank you even though I hate you. driving me crazy.

“I have registered as a visitor, so come up right away tomorrow.”

Recalling what the man said while seeing her off at the front door, Eun-jae put on a puzzled expression.

“Thank you, thank you. Ah-thank you.”

In the meantime, I was looking down at my hand, which had faithfully taken the 50,000 won note that the man handed me, and I laughed out loud. It was a taxi fare.

After making a fuss at the door, the teddy bear keychain hanging from the fanny bag fell to the floor. The ring seemed to have come loose.

“What the hell do you want from me?”

At this point, I think it would be nice to have them clean, do the laundry, or wash the dishes.

Thinking that it might be better, Eun-jae nervously picked up the key chain and took a quick step back with a huff.

***

Inside the dark study.

When I opened the curtains, the entrance of the officetel was clearly visible. Seonwoo looked down at the entrance for a while as if waiting for someone.

Time passed, and a familiar black figure passed the entrance and walked at a quick pace, wary of this and that. Seeing that, I let out a peek-a-thon laugh.

Viewed from the 31st floor, she was as small as an ant passing by the roadside. Even so, it was clear as if I was looking at it right in front of my eyes.

Eyes that doubled in size when surprised, and cheeks that turned peach when embarrassed.

The insignificant expression on her face strangely tickled her heart.

It was the first feeling I felt when I saw someone. Seonwoo squeezed my aching chest and rubbed it in a circular motion.

“Do you believe that?”

How do I know where their offices are?

When I heard that the loan shark’s office was nearby, I remembered the image of him running into the officetel, completely blue, and a smile leaked out involuntarily.

The day we first met, when the woman’s hand touched him and he didn’t feel anything, Seonwoo thought.

I want to try it.

He said he wanted to see if the woman’s touch would be okay even if he didn’t take medicine.

So I wanted to talk safely inside the house. So it was a lie.

I didn’t expect to believe it all at once.

“Or, are you usually the type of gullible person?”

If so, that’s a big deal. I feel like I want to play with you again and again.

Seonwoo stretched out his hand that had been touched by hers. The orange light of the setting sun leaked in between the fingers.

In the meantime, as she turned the corner and completely disappeared, Seonwoo drew the curtains without hesitation.

Darkness descended into the study again.

Seonwu frowned as he fidgeted with the hand she had touched.

Looking back, it was because his somewhat impulsive actions were not understood at all.

What made it so easy to let go of the guard against women?

He looked down at the slippers he was wearing.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t believe that he, who had been reluctant to let even his close friends into the house, brought the first woman he had met into the house himself.

“So absurd.”

I am curious about a woman who brings out her embarrassing yet unfamiliar self.

Why is only that woman okay?

Curious as to why, I was drawn to it.

As soon as the woman’s eyes, which had been shining brightly in the midst of her wary eyes, came to mind again, the corner of Sunwoo’s mouth rose slightly.

It seems that her warmth is still intact in her hands.

Will the girl come tomorrow?

“I want to catch it again.”

The sweet and warm hand that smelled of flowers.

Is it deja vu?

This emotional feeling, as if the same thing as yesterday is repeating itself.

Standing in front of the door of his officetel, Eun-jae burst into laughter. It was so absurd that it burst out with laughter.

Those who ask to come to repay the favor, or those who come to come.

“ah… … Should I just run away?”

The moneylenders found out where I was staying anyway, and running away is no business for me.

“If you run away, will I stay still?”

“I’m good at hide and seek.”

“I have a knack for tagging too.”

After recalling the words the man had said for a moment, Eunjae smiled faintly as she looked down at the cell phone in her hand.

“I won’t run away, I won’t go.”

It definitely looked odd.

Where is the person who even buys a cell phone to repay the favor?

Eunjae took a deep breath and took a step closer to the doorbell.

Maybe it’s because I heard that the loan shark’s office is nearby, so I took a taxi today with an uneasy mind.

I shouldn’t be running around like this often, but how long will I have to run away? Maybe someday I’ll get caught What if you get caught? What will happen then?

Not too long ago, when I remembered the images of the lions following me after I died, Eun-jae bit her soft lips.

I closed my eyes and took a moment to organize my thoughts. Then he reached out and pressed the doorbell.

It’s been a while since I rang the doorbell, but there was no sign.

The house is large, so it will take a while to walk out. I’m not a person who will excel… … .

Even so, does this take too long?

As I reached out to ring the doorbell again, the door burst open.

open very quickly

I thought so and said hello.

“hi-“

The greetings did not end.

Before he could lower his head, his moist eyes met in the air.

Drops of water dangled weakly from his soaked hair and fell slowly to the floor like in slow motion.

Along with the falling water droplets, Eunjae’s gaze fell to the man’s toes. His gaze passed through the lower body, which was draped precariously in a towel, and reached the tightly knit upper body.

Facing the man’s body, which was like a work of art, Eun-jae took a step back with a frightened face.

The man lazily leaned against the front door and smiled lightly.

“Okay, hello.”

The man whose eyes met greeted him, and his face seemed to heat up in an instant.

As if she wanted to pretend she didn’t see it, Eun-jae quickly turned around, covering her blushing face with both hands.

Seeing the woman’s unnatural behavior, Seonwoo glanced at me.

A snort of laughter came out.

What’s so urgent and ran out.

It was as if he could see the expression on the woman’s face as he turned around. It was clear that both cheeks were blushing. Makes me want to be mischievous all the time.

Seonwoo lifted the corner of his mouth and slowly brushed his hair.

“I was washing.”

thump thump.

At the man’s voice, Eunjae’s heart raced wildly.

“I have a habit of rushing unnecessarily.”

At the man’s drowsy voice, Eun-jae turned around and shouted urgently.

“Bar, I’ll be waiting for you outside. Please dress slowly and come out.”

The body of the man I saw earlier shimmers like an afterimage, and the nape of my neck feels warm.

“Why are you running away again?”