By Zephyria 
“I think it’s all wiped.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s heart pounded. He was overly conscious of Han Seung-jae’s hand, which was wrapped around his waist. The large palm held his waist firmly to keep him from falling.
Seo Yi-kyung raised his hand, grabbed the towel covering his face, and pulled it down. Despite the very slight force, the towel Han Seung-jae had been holding was simply handed over.
The white towel dangled from the tips of Seo Yi-kyung’s fingers.
“……!”
Han Seung-jae eventually walked toward the bed, practically embracing Seo Yi-kyung from behind. Seo Yi-kyung staggered as he struggled to keep his balance, but he never actually fell.
Seo Yi-kyung settled onto the bed. Although he had only moved a few steps, it felt as if he had traveled a great distance.
Exhaling a long breath, Seo Yi-kyung placed the towel he was holding on the bedside table. Secretary Park set up a table and placed the food that the chef had personally prepared upon it.
The patient meals from the previous day were incomparable. It was arranged with things Seo Yi-kyung enjoyed eating, making it look even more appetizing.
Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze lingered on the various types of fruit—apples, oranges, melons—and the sweet desserts. Looking at the glossy, shimmering pudding, Seo Yi-kyung unconsciously swallowed hard.
There was no need to guess the taste of the food.
It was a familiar taste. After all, these were things he had always eaten. Seo Yi-kyung stole a glance at Han Seung-jae. He was drying his damp hands.
Having changed into a clean suit, it seemed Han Seung-jae intended to head to work as he was.
“I will be at the door.”
Having finished his task, Secretary Park left the room. Han Seung-jae, having set down the towel used to dry his hands, turned around and perched on the chair by the bedside. He crossed his long legs.
When Seo Yi-kyung looked at him with suspicion, Han Seung-jae picked up a tablet PC. It was an object he hadn’t seen until just before falling asleep yesterday. He wondered if Han Seung-jae had brought it in during the night to work.
Han Seung-jae gestured toward Seo Yi-kyung.
“Eat.”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae looked down at his wristwatch out of habit. Seo Yi-kyung watched him check the time and peer into the tablet PC before picking up his chopsticks.
He thought Han Seung-jae would leave for work immediately; did he intend to stay until all of this was eaten?
However, it wasn’t an amount Seo Yi-kyung could finish in one go. It seemed the fruit and desserts would have to be eaten after Han Seung-jae left. But he couldn’t ignore the possibility that Secretary Park might clear away all the remaining food, just as he had yesterday. After some deliberation, Seo Yi-kyung picked up an apple and brought it to his lips.
It was then that he heard the voice of Han Seung-jae, who had been looking down at the tablet PC the entire time.
“Once you finish all that.”
Seo Yi-kyung, having taken a bite of the apple, turned his head. Han Seung-jae remained in the same posture. With his seamless suit and straight tie, an untouchable dignity emanated from him even without any particular movement.
Suddenly, Han Seung-jae shifted his gaze to look at Seo Yi-kyung.
“Let’s go home.”
“…….”
As Seo Yi-kyung remained silent, Han Seung-jae added another suggestion.
“If necessary, I can have the attending physician reside at my house.”
Of course, only until Seo Yi-kyung’s wounds healed.
Furthermore, Seo Yi-kyung had felt that while his movements were slow, he didn’t have much difficulty moving his body a moment ago. The reason he hadn’t fallen earlier wasn’t solely because Han Seung-jae had supported his waist.
If the only reasons he had to stay in the hospital were the wound near his chest and the cast on his left hand, bringing the attending physician home would be the better choice.
Seo Yi-kyung more than understood what Han Seung-jae meant. It might be better in many ways to receive treatment while resting at home. Even if this place seemed to lack nothing, it was still a hospital. In a cozy home that was beyond comparison, there would be a chef and helpers to ensure everything from what he ate to how he slept was comfortable.
Listening to Han Seung-jae, Seo Yi-kyung lifted his eyelids. Just as he was about to open his lips, Han Seung-jae tilted the tablet PC.
“That’s enough. Eat that first.”
* * *
Han Seung-jae entered the sedan waiting in front of Haseon Hospital. After Secretary Park closed the door, he sat in the passenger seat.
As the car glided away, Han Seung-jae’s meaningful eyes reached the hospital building. He recalled the moment Seo Yi-kyung had been about to speak.
Seo Yi-kyung had clearly intended to refuse. Han Seung-jae could see right through the words the boy was trying to form while turning that small head of his. He simply didn’t know the reason why Seo Yi-kyung didn’t want to return home so badly.
No, he thought he might actually know. There was no need to look far for a reason. It seemed Seo Yi-kyung’s heart hadn’t changed one bit from before. Not that it changed anything. Would it be better to wait until he realized it himself, or to make him realize it?
The fact that he was even contemplating such things was likely because it was Seo Yi-kyung. Originally, Han Seung-jae had no interest in what others thought. If there was something he needed, he simply took it, regardless of what it was.
As Han Seung-jae entered the Myung-jun Financial Group building, people bowed their waists toward him. Han Seung-jae stepped into the elevator first, followed by Secretary Park.
“Executive Director Jin Tae-won of Chae-eon Foods is requesting a meeting. How should we handle this?”
It wasn’t hard to guess the reason. It was likely to settle the matter regarding Seo Dong-hu. It seemed Jin Tae-won intended to step forward personally.
“Head of department Jin Seok-young has already called several times.”
As if to prove Secretary Park’s words weren’t a lie, he pulled out a phone from his inner pocket that was ringing repeatedly. The caller this time was also Head of department Jin Seok-young.
Ding. With a clear sound, the elevator doors opened. As Han Seung-jae stepped out, he spoke coldly.
“Tell them to wait longer.”
Because I am doing the same. Secretary Park looked at the back of Han Seung-jae as he walked ahead. For some reason, the latter part sounded like a self-deprecating murmur. It wasn’t merely an illusion. Han Seung-jae’s atmosphere had changed noticeably since leaving the hospital room.
Buzz— Secretary Park put the phone to his ear.
* * *
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been sitting on the hospital bed, pulled back the blanket, lowered his legs, and put on his slippers. He approached the window where the sunlight stretched long due to the good weather and looked outside. As he opened the window slightly, a warm breeze brushed against the tip of his nose. His slender hair fluttered in the wind.
Several days had passed since he entered the hospital.
Over his patient gown, Seo Yi-kyung slowly felt the area around his chest. As long as he didn’t run or make large movements, the pain wasn’t as severe as before.
Seeing as the attending physician, who meticulously checked his wounds every morning and evening, repeatedly said he had improved significantly, it seemed the day he could leave the room was not far off.
That meant the excuses he could use against Han Seung-jae were disappearing. Leaning against the window, Seo Yi-kyung took out the pocket watch he had kept in his gown pocket. It was just past 4 PM. After checking the time, he pulled his back away from the window.
Staying inside the room all the time was starting to feel suffocating. When he was at Han Seung-jae’s house, there was a garden, and walking there would relieve that feeling. Then he would sit at a table and drink tea. While recalling the past, Seo Yi-kyung stared at the privacy screen. Soon, he approached the entrance and opened the door.
At that, a large man leaning against the wall looked down at the open door in surprise. Originally, there were always two people, but one was missing. Had he stepped away for a moment? That meant he could leave if he could just persuade this one person.
As Seo Yi-kyung took a step forward, the man predictably extended his long arm to block him and discourage him. However, he didn’t touch Seo Yi-kyung’s body at all.
“You are not allowed to come out. I will call the attending physician for you.”
The man looked around, searching for his missing colleague, then gave up and pulled a phone from his inner pocket. Watching this, Seo Yi-kyung extended a finger and pointed toward the distance.
“I just want to walk to the end of the hall and come back. Is that not allowed either?”
The man’s gaze followed Seo Yi-kyung’s fingertip to the end of the hospital corridor.
“I just want to walk a little; as you can see, the room is suffocating.”
The end of the corridor was some distance away, but it was still within sight. Moreover, since Seo Yi-kyung’s body wasn’t fully healed, he couldn’t run, and even if he did, the man would have no trouble catching him. Nevertheless, the man shook his head as if it were impossible.
Step. Seo Yi-kyung took another step forward. At that, the man pulled back the hand he had used to block him and stepped backward by the same amount. From any angle, he seemed to be struggling desperately to avoid touching Seo Yi-kyung’s body.
“If you go back inside, I will bring the attending physician immediately.”
“Let’s just walk to the end together.”
Toward the man who kept repeating the same words like a machine with programmed commands, Seo Yi-kyung spoke and turned his body.