SMW 34

“What do you mean you weren’t close? You, don’t tell me… Even so, you pretended to be close to the flower boy to trick him and kidnap him?”

“What, trick who! Choi Seol remembers almost everything from the year we were in the same class. He wouldn’t have just let himself be kidnapped so easily.”

“Right, that’s true. Phew, I almost pulled out handcuffs that don’t even exist.”

That noona was being way too sincere. Was I really on the verge of being framed and thrown in jail?

“Wow, that’s really too much. Noona, do I look like such a shameless bastard to you?”

“Sorry, sorry. I was just surprised because you said you weren’t even close.”

“We weren’t friends.”

Since things had already turned out this way, I figured it was better to be honest about this much.

“Even though we were in the same class, the most we did was greet each other and have brief chats when we happened to lock eyes. It wasn’t like we hung out all day or ate together, and we never met up separately outside… Well, unauthorized copythere [unauthorized copy]were a few accidental encounters, and we did Read on Read BL Novelsmeet by appointment exactly once, but anyway, we never really hung out or anything.”

“So, while it’s hurtful that the flower boy said you weren’t friends or anything, it’s only natural?”

“I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s hurtful.”

“Then why did you take such good care of the flower boy even after hearing that?”

“Huh?”

I asked back blankly at the unexpected question. Noona looked at me with pitying eyes.

“You really are… looking at you, you have such a soft heart.”

“…That’s just a fancy way of saying I’m a pushover.”

“I thought so. That’s why you kept trying to run away from the hospital on the first day. If it was that burdensome, why didn’t you just leave him at the house in Seoul this time instead of holding his hand and coming back down?”

“I didn’t hold his hand. And what am I supposed to do when he says he doesn’t want to go?”

“Of course he wouldn’t want to. He must be scared. It’s not easy to go back and unauthorized copylive [Read on Read BL Novels]alone in a [stolen content]house he has no memory of, right? From his perspective, it’s like exploring an unknown world. But what can you do, that’s the original world of the twenty-seven-year-old flower boy.”

Noona searched the front pocket of her work clothes as if frustrated. She seemed to be looking for a cigarette, but since she had confiscated mine while shouting about forest fire prevention on the way up, there was no way she’d find any. In the end, Noona let out a long sigh and continued.

“Actually, if you had just closed your eyes and dropped him off, it would have been hard at first, but he would have adapted quickly. Humans are social animals, after all. Especially him—he’s the kind of species that becomes an ‘insider’ even if he does nothing. He’s the type of person people naturally flock to. Honestly, I don’t understand why no one has looked for him until now, but if he wanted to adapt to that life, there would have been plenty of people to help him. He doesn’t look like the type to get scammed if left alone.”

There wasn’t a single point to refute. I knew it. If it were Choi Seol, he certainly would have managed well even without his memories. And eventually, he would have perfectly adapted to his original life. But why did I do it? Why did I reach out first, even though Choi Seol hadn’t asked for it?

Could it be that I’ve become greedy? A selfish desire, like wanting to be with Choi Seol?

The conversation I started to lighten the burden only made my thoughts more complicated.

“Come to think of it, it is suspicious.”

I turned my gaze back at Noona’s monologue.

“What is?”

“The flower boy. That time, the thing I gave you…”

“What are you two doing just standing there?”

It was then. The village head was approaching, with Choi Seol by his side, both of them carrying loads of things in their hands.

“Let’s talk later over a smoke after work,” Noona whispered, passing me and running toward the village head.

“Why’d you bring so much? Where’s the makgeolli?”

“Here. It’s heavy as hell. Hurry up and take it.”

“Wow, I’ve gotta hand it to my mom, she’s always so generous. Pancakes, and—whoa! There’s boiled pork too. Is today some kind of feast?”

“Shut up and just set up the spot quickly.”

“Got it. Yeo-reum, let’s set the table quickly.”

“Yes, yes.”

Watching Noona excitedly head off to set up the spot, a smile naturally formed on my lips. I felt much lighter now that I had let out a bit of what was on my mind. Of course, nothing had been solved yet, and the true circumstances were still buried deep in my heart.

“Han Yeo-reum.”

It was just as I was about to move toward where Noona was. Choi Seol, who had been standing there like a misplaced sack of barley until then, suddenly strode over and handed me a large basket. Startled, I lifted my arms to embrace it, and the savory scent of pancakes wafted out. As a sudden wave of hunger hit and I swallowed hard, I heard a sound like air leaking.

“Let’s go.”

Choi Seol lightly tapped my head and passed by. My bangs, tangled in his fingers, slid down toward my forehead. My vision was awkwardly obscured. He had tormented me with the hat earlier; his methods of picking a fight were increasing. I wanted to push the hair covering my eyes away, but since I couldn’t use my hands, I just kept shaking my head. Just as I was getting annoyed that the hair wouldn’t budge, perhaps because of the sweat, a breeze blew.

The hair swept back, clearing my vision. Choi Seol, who had already joined the village head, was helping Noona spread out the mat. I could hear laughter from here; he seemed to be enjoying himself. Of course, it was the sound of Noona and the village head. A slight smile was also etched on the lips of Choi Seol, who was blended in with them. That caught my eye for a moment.

I like you, Han Yeo-reum.

In the end, I couldn’t say anything that day. It would be more accurate to say I did nothing. It seemed Choi Seol wanted it that way too.

Shall we go now, since it’s raining?

That was what Choi Seol had said, reaching out to me while I stood frozen like a stone. I responded to it. We shared an umbrella, took the bus side by side, and came back down to the countryside. And we were spending our days in a routine not much different from before.

I looked up at the sky. The cloudless sky was high and blue. Everything in the world was announcing that autumn had arrived. And yet, I was holding on.

I looked at the stems that were still green rather than the rice ears turning golden, and I focused on the hot, intense [visit our site]heat rather than the [unauthorized copy]visit our sitecool loneliness brushing against my hair. I was grateful that the mountains were still green.

It was probably because I was afraid. Because the moment I acknowledged the change, I would have to do something, so perhaps I just wanted to stay as I was. Then, at least, nothing would end. But I also knew that wasn’t possible. The world never leaves those who try to stay still alone.

Soon, the first typhoon would come. And after that, it would be true autumn.

“Ugh, I’m dying.”

As soon as I finished the weeding and entered the house, I sprawled out on the wooden veranda. I hadn’t even fully taken off my shoes, but I didn’t have the energy to lift a single finger.

“Good job.”

I gave a vague nod at Choi Seol’s words as he followed me up.

“You too, good job. Go wash up first. I’m just going to stay like this for a bit.”

“Even if you’re lying down, go inside the room. It’s not summer anymore, isn’t the floor cold?”

“It’s too late. I can’t move anymore.”

Until I came down from the mountain, I had been dying to take a shower, but lying unauthorized copydown first was a mistake. Regardless of the stickiness, I just wanted to fall asleep like this. Read on Read BL NovelsAs I blinked my [Read on Read BL Novels]heavy eyelids, Choi Seol approached my head and looked down at me. He had a somewhat pathetic expression on his face.

“Was it that hard?”

“Of course. With my pathetic stamina, it’s a miracle I did that much.”

“So you do realize your stamina is pathetic.”

That bastard. I glared at Choi Seol, widening my eyes as much as possible.

“You seemed pretty exhausted too when I saw you on the mountain.”

“It was hard because I had to use muscles I don’t normally use. But I’m not dying like some people.”

“Oh, is that so? Must be nice to have plenty of stored-up muscle. The village head’s eyes were sparkling, wanting to make you his farming successor. Why don’t you take this chance to get a job?”

“Actually, he did ask me to help with the harvest in October.”

My upper body instinctively lifted.

“When did that conversation happen?”

“Earlier, while going to get the food.”

“So, did you say you would?”

“Yeah.”

There goes that meddling nature again.

“Farming is way harder than you think.”

“So, you’re telling me not to do it?”

“I’m just saying there’s no need to go looking for hardship.”

“Forget it. I don’t have anything particular to do while I’m here anyway. I’m taking you too.”

“Why me!”

I bolted upright. It seemed that even a [visit our site]person Read on Read BL Novelson the verge of death finds hidden strength when faced with a truly deadly situation.

“You need to exercise.”

“That’s not exercise, that’s labor.”

Just as I was about to retort, asking if he didn’t even know the difference, Choi Seol clicked his tongue.

“Then come out for morning and evening exercises with me.”

Where does this bastard get the nerve to look for a niche market? I flopped back down in a sprawl.

“No. I can’t. I won’t. In my current mood, I want to lie like this forever.”

“Are you serious?”

“Halfway.”

I did think that I needed to exercise. It was the same in Seoul, and this time, I was out of breath after only five steps going up the mountain. Seeing the village head, who was well over seventy, look shocked by that sight made me realize this wasn’t right.

But I didn’t want to put it into practice right now.

“I wonder if I’ll be able to wake up tomorrow. I feel like I’m 100% going to have severe muscle pain.”

“…”

“This is a problem. I have to do the big cleaning and take out all the ancestral tablets to polish them.”

Chuseok was in two days. Since the ancestral rites were held here at the main house, a large number of people from the maternal side were expected to flock in, so preparations had to be made in advance.

At first, I thought I just had to roughly wipe the dust inside the house every month, but who knew there would be so much to do? I was afraid they’d tell me to farm too. They say nothing in this world is free; I felt like I’d become a slave without even a contract document.

“Move a bit further inside and lie down.”

Choi Seol, who had been quietly listening to my venting, moved closer.

“Why?”

“It’s bad for your ankles if you leave them dangling in the air like that.”

As Choi Seol said, my ankles hadn’t yet entered the wooden unauthorized copyveranda. It visit our sitedid feel like [visit our site]they were starting to ache.

I wiggled both feet to take off my shoes. Since I only tried to move my feet, they wouldn’t come off easily, but somehow I managed and crawled like a slug, finally getting my toes onto the floor.

“There. Now stop telling me to do things and go wash up.”

“You really hate moving, don’t you?”

What’s there to say.

Too lazy to respond further, I just closed my eyes. But it was too quiet. I couldn’t even hear the footsteps heading toward the bathroom. Since I could still feel a gaze, he was clearly still standing there. I pretended to sleep, thinking he’d eventually leave if I held out, when I felt a movement.

Finally going, I thought. I waited without even breathing, thinking I just had to wait a bit longer, when suddenly, hands slid under my back and beneath my knees. At the same time, my body was hoisted up.