Wheeze- Wheeze– With each breath, a hazy mist appeared and disappeared inside the oxygen mask. The person lying in bed was practically a half-corpse of a patient. Bandages wrapped around his face, and his limbs were twisted in a bizarre manner.
As he stared silently at the patient, Kwon So-young entered wearing a white coat.
“Is it because you’re here? He seems to be in better condition today.”
As if. Kim Ha-yoon scoffed. It had been nearly 20 years since he’d been clinging to his mother, who could be declared dead at any moment. No matter how often he disinfected and changed the bandages, he couldn’t get rid of the foul odor that permeated the air. His father had long stopped visiting, and she had been completely forgotten in people’s memories.
As he turned away without a word, Kwon So-young followed him.
“At least say hello before you leave.”
“He can’t hear me anyway.”
“You’re so cold.”
Even though she said that, Kwon So-young understood Kim Ha-yoon. They had been family friends since they were babies, so she knew his situation like the back of her hand. Kim Ha-yoon’s mother had been obsessed with research, and young Kim Ha-yoon had always been raised by others. Perhaps that was why Kim Ha-yoon didn’t cry even when his mother ended up in that state due to an accident. He was only 9 years old.
“Oh, did you ask that kid?”
“He refused.”
“Not his type?”
“Yeah.”
“How picky. Is that what they call being full of himself?”
Kim Ha-yoon smiled pleasantly. He had maintained a stoic expression in front of his mother, but when he talked about Ire, he revealed his emotions without reservation. Kwon So-young found it very strange. On the other hand, she slightly suspected that Kim Ha-yoon might have other feelings for him.
“There are mixed opinions within the lab. Some say we should coax him and secure his genes for sure, while others say we should use him as a test subject before it’s too late. To be honest, there are more people who want to use him as a test subject. But I don’t think so. What if he Awakens? There’s no guarantee that a terrible incident won’t happen again.”
The terrible incident was probably the lab explosion that happened about 20 years ago. Could that kid really have that much power? The other children died at too young an age before they could even be tested, so nothing was revealed.
In other words, there was no accurate data on whether abilities were hereditary. In this situation, it was only natural that there were differing opinions on how to utilize such a valuable resource. In fact, the researchers were in high spirits after Ire appeared.
“I’ll make the decision. Don’t just run your mouths and keep it to yourselves.”
“You always act like a stranger when you say things like that. Well, we are strangers, but still.”
Kwon So-young grumbled but took something out of her car. It was a small box with a cute ribbon tied around it.
“It’s dessert. I promised I’d give it to him before.”
She had said she would give Ire dessert as a passing joke, but she had bought it separately and kept it. At the words to deliver it, Kim Ha-yoon slowly scanned Kwon So-young from head to toe.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Don’t get any funny ideas.”
“What ideas?”
When Kim Ha-yoon stared at her without answering, Kwon So-young clicked her tongue. She’d been caught. If he said he didn’t have a woman he liked, she was planning to try to get involved somehow. Others pointed fingers at Kwon So-young, calling her a woman obsessed with experiments, and Kim Ha-yoon agreed. When he looked at her, he kept seeing his mother overlapping with her. There were few people as sincere about research as she was.
“I warned you.”
“I have a conscience. I’m not one or two years old, and he’s nine years younger. Do you think I would?”
“Oh, you’d do it and still have some left over.”
“You’re talking like you wouldn’t?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t. Only you would.”
In the end, Kwon So-young handed over the dessert. Adding the words to persuade him well. Kim Ha-yoon got into the driver’s seat and tossed the box he was holding onto the passenger seat. Looking closely, there was a small heart on the ribbon. Frowning, he looked ahead and saw Kwon So-young waving goodbye.
***
After finishing his shower, Lieutenant Park, not his colleagues, was waiting in front. His arrival meant that Kim Ha-yoon was looking for him. Without asking any further questions, he changed his clothes and followed him. On the way, he subtly asked why he was being called today, but he kept his mouth shut and didn’t answer.
Knock, knock, he knocked on the door and went inside.
Kim Ha-yoon was sitting at his desk, looking over documents.
“Sit down since you’re here.”
The gaze fixed on the documents moved up and then widened slightly.
“You….”
So that human could make such an expression. He thought for a moment.
“Why did you become a hedgehog?”
“Is it weird…?”
“No. It’s insanely cute.”
Then he came over and touched his hair. He felt bad because he was giggling and laughing. Was it that strange? Everyone else was saying it was cool. When he tried to avoid it, he covered the back of his head altogether.
“It’s like a well-peeled chestnut. I want to keep touching it?”
Ire couldn’t stand it and got up from his seat and went to the other side because he was subtly touching not only his hair but also his ears. Then Kim Ha-yoon went to the desk, picked something up, and returned to his place. He placed a yellow box on the table.
“Here. Take it. Kwon So-young told me to give it to you.”
“To me? Why…?”
“I think she likes you.”
As soon as the words were finished, Ire’s ears turned red.
Seeing that, Kim Ha-yoon put a cigar in his mouth, leaned back on the sofa, and crossed his legs.
“Even your ears are turning red.”
Ire ignored his words and opened the box. He couldn’t help but feel good that someone had given him a gift. He had never received a gift before, so he was even more excited. However, the moment he opened the box, his expression changed strangely. Kim Ha-yoon asked why? So he tilted the box so he could see it.
“Oh dear.”
Inside the box was a strangely mashed lump. It was called a cake, but the shape looked like someone had eaten it and spit it out.
Still, there was sincerity, so he took a bite with the fork next to him and put it in his mouth, and the taste was amazing. Oh- he exclaimed and was about to take another bite when Kim Ha-yoon slid the box away. Suddenly, the hand holding the fork lost its place in the air.
“Why…?”
“Do you want to eat something that looks like that?”
“What does the shape matter…? It’s good as long as it tastes good.”
“I see. You must have a good stomach because you’re still growing.”
He didn’t know what to do. He gave it to him to eat, but why was he being sarcastic when he ate it deliciously? Before he could argue, Kim Ha-yoon put another box next to him. The luxurious red velvet box was slightly larger than two adult palms put together.
“This is my gift.”
He put down the fork he was holding and stared at Kim Ha-yoon.
With an expression that showed he was dying to know why he was giving him this.
“I’m giving it to you for all your hard work. Open it.”
Ire moved the box in front of him. Even the clasp in the middle was ornately decorated. He couldn’t guess what was inside. He took a deep breath and the moment he opened the box, his eyes widened like lanterns.
“Wow….”
“Do you like it?”
He put his hand in and took out the military knife inside. When he took it out of the scabbard, the sharp blade gleamed. Looking closely, there was a blue gem embedded in the end of the handle. It was the same color as if he had embedded his own eyes there.
He was admiring it with a dazed expression, but he belatedly came to his senses and looked at Kim Ha-yoon.
“Are you really… giving this to me?”
“Do you like it?”
Ire made a rare smile on his face. Yes. I like it. It’s really cool. Then he realized he was showing too much, so he belatedly composed himself. When he looked up, Kim Ha-yoon was looking at him and smiling kindly.
“You know what? You’ve smiled the most since you met me.”
Embarrassed, he rubbed his mouth, and Kim Ha-yoon put out his cigar in the ashtray and got up.
“In that sense, shall we have dinner together?”
“Today?”
“You have until tomorrow off. I’m bored and I don’t have anyone to hang out with.”
He looks so normal, but does he not have any friends? But considering his past actions, it’s not that strange. I think I would want to keep my distance from a friend like that….
“I’ll buy you something delicious. What do you want to eat?”
After thinking for a while, Ire thought of Matteo. He had expressed his intention to invite Kim Ha-yoon, so wouldn’t it be okay to take him along this time?
When he subtly brought up the story, Kim Ha-yoon readily agreed. After setting the time for the appointment, he got up and reached out to take the cake with the knife. But Kim Ha-yoon picked up the cake box and threw it straight into the trash can.
“No, why…”
“If you eat too much sweets, your teeth will rot.”
“…”
“Go on.”
He’s treating me like a kid. It was delicious….
He looked back and forth between the discarded cake and Kim Ha-yoon with resentful eyes before leaving. Holding the gift he gave him tightly in his arms. Even when he went to his dorm, he opened the box and admired the knife for a long time. Then he belatedly realized that his name was engraved on the blade.