By Zephyria 
“I can… still handle it.”
As he spoke, Seo Yi-kyung was biting his lip with all his might. It wouldn’t have been strange if his lower lip burst and blood began to seep out at any moment.
“This sweat, too. I wondered why you weren’t wearing a bandage, but your hand isn’t just slightly injured. Let’s go to the hospital first. Everyone is asleep right now, so we can just slip out quietly.”
Jin Seon-yu carelessly tossed aside his pajamas and changed his clothes. Then, putting on his outerwear, he draped a coat over Seo Yi-kyung’s shoulders.
“Be careful on the stairs.”
Jin Seon-yu lowered his voice and looked back as he led the way down. Instead of answering, Seo Yi-kyung nodded. He felt that if he opened his mouth, a groan of pain would leak out.
The two of them crept down the stairs. Fortunately, they didn’t run into anyone. Jin Seon-yu opened the front door, stepped outside, and headed toward the parked car. Seo Yi-kyung opened the opposite door and sat in the passenger seat.
As Jin Seon-yu drove, he checked on his companion several times.
“Does anything else hurt?”
Hadn’t Jin Seok-young returned home yesterday evening and delivered the message while avoiding Jin Tae-won’s eyes? Seo Yi-kyung must not be in pain. It was even more critical because he was carrying a child.
Because he had cut off Jin Seok-young’s words for fear that the quick-witted Jin Tae-won might notice, he hadn’t heard everything, but he could guess the rest without hearing it.
After all, Jin Seon-yu had already dealt with Han Seung-jae once. When Seo Yi-kyung had lost consciousness at the Alpha Club, Han Seung-jae had looked at Jin Seon-yu with terrifying eyes. Recalling that moment made a chill run down Jin Seon-yu’s spine. Because of this, Jin Seon-yu drove the car even faster.
Since it was early dawn, the roads were clear. Then, after entering the emergency room of Seju Hospital and confirming that Seo Yi-kyung’s arm was fractured, Jin Seon-yu wore a look of utter devastation.
“Has it been like this since you met me yesterday?”
Seo Yi-kyung had been insisting he was fine all along. Even now.
“I’m okay. Don’t worry too much.”
With a pale face, it was hard to tell who was comforting whom. The person who looked like they might collapse at any second was Seo Yi-kyung. Yet, he was worrying about whether Jin Seon-yu was shocked.
Because Seo Yi-kyung said he was fine, Jin Seon-yu had truly believed he was. He shouldn’t have taken those words at face value.
“The pain must have been intense.”
Even at the doctor’s words, Seo Yi-kyung only repeated that he was fine. For Seo Yi-kyung, feeling pain right now was a luxury. Wasn’t he already indebted to Jin Seon-yu enough?
By the time the two left the emergency room, the day was gradually brightening.
Getting into the car, Jin Seon-yu stared at the cast wrapped around Seo Yi-kyung’s left arm.
“From now on, if it hurts, tell me it hurts. I really…”
The words “thought you were fine” crumbled on Jin Seon-yu’s tongue.
“No. I was the one who was oblivious.”
Instead, Jin Seon-yu blamed himself. It wasn’t Seo Yi-kyung’s fault. Who was it that always said that? That Jin Seon-yu lacked tact. To think those words would come to mind now—and that not a single word from Kwon Gwi-jun was wrong.
Jin Seon-yu looked discouraged. He had never been one to suppress things. The problem was that his feelings of liking someone were so obvious that they showed on the surface. Everyone around him noticed. Furthermore, he had always expressed his pain and distress openly; he had never tried to hide them.
“You were surprised because of me, right? Like the sudden phone call.”
Yet, here was Seo Yi-kyung comforting someone else first. Seeing this, Jin Seon-yu’s shoulders slumped naturally.
“No, it’s not like that. And I’m the one who should be saying that.”
Jin Seon-yu felt that something was seriously wrong, yet he felt unable to correct it. It probably wasn’t an illusion that Seo Yi-kyung sometimes felt more mature than he was.
“The Hyungs haven’t left for work yet, so I think we should go back in a bit later. Should we go eat breakfast somewhere? Is there anything you want to eat?”
Seo Yi-kyung seemed to think deeply. However, nothing particularly appealed to him. Just as Seo Yi-kyung was about to speak, Jin Seon-yu, holding the steering wheel, beat him to it.
“Enough with the ‘I’m fine’ talk. You don’t have to say that to me. More importantly, I just had a great idea.”
Seo Yi-kyung looked at him with doubt. Jin Seon-yu, who had been about to start the car, stopped and took out his phone to make a call. As he did, he murmured softly to Seo Yi-kyung.
“Let’s sell the pocket watch necklace first.”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted.
“Would there be anyone who would buy that?”
Given the price and the fact that the pocket watch necklace was strictly speaking an antique, there wouldn’t be many people to buy such a thing unless they were a collector.
Then, as if the call had connected, Jin Seon-yu brightened.
“Gi-jun, you said last time you’d buy me a meal to return the favor for the Christmas gift. Buy it now.”
“…….”
Seo Yi-kyung’s heart pounded. He was surprised that the person Jin Seon-yu called was Kwon Gwi-jun, but seeing how Kwon Gwi-jun’s voice sounded husky over the phone, it seemed he had woken him up from a deep sleep.
[……Do you know what time it is?]
Seo Yi-kyung, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at the time. It was just past 6:00. Kwon Gwi-jun’s voice was cold. Just like someone.
However, he didn’t seem as inscrutable as Han Seung-jae. Seo Yi-kyung understood why Kwon Gwi-jun was in a bad mood. Wasn’t it too early? Moreover, perhaps because he had just woken up, his voice sounded displeased. But Jin Seon-yu replied as if he were used to it.
“It’s six ten.”
Inside the quiet car, the sound of Kwon Gwi-jun’s long sigh spread through the phone. Sigh.
Seo Yi-kyung almost told him that he shouldn’t have asked, but decided against it. There was no malice on Jin Seon-yu’s face. He had checked the time himself before answering.
“Are there no places open at this hour? Then shall we do dinner? I really have something to tell you.”
At Jin Seon-yu’s lighthearted words, Kwon Gwi-jun’s heavy voice followed.
[I’ll text you the address.]
“Got it. Oh, and make a reservation for one more person besides me. Yi-kyung is coming to eat too.”
* * *
Jin Seon-yu got out of the car. Seo Yi-kyung stepped out of the passenger seat slowly, as if the cast on his left hand felt awkward. Adjusting his coat so it wouldn’t slip, he followed Jin Seon-yu into the hanok.
“Welcome. I will guide you to your seats inside.”
Despite the early hour, the staff greeted and guided the two pleasantly, as if they had been notified in advance.
“We will prepare your meal immediately. Head of Department Kwon requested that we have everything ready so you could eat as soon as you arrived.”
Food was immediately set before the two of them. In front of Jin Seon-yu were various dishes that were nearly raw, while in front of Seo Yi-kyung were menus that had been grilled golden brown.
“These are all things I like.”
Holding his chopsticks, Seo Yi-kyung looked beside him. It seemed Kwon Gwi-jun knew exactly what Jin Seon-yu liked. Furthermore, he seemed to have thoughtfully considered the fact that Seo Yi-kyung was pregnant.
“Then, please let us know if there is anything lacking.”
Once the door closed, Jin Seon-yu picked up a piece of sashimi and savored the taste.
“Yi-kyung, you try some too.”
Seo Yi-kyung picked up a piece of golden-brown white fish. He tasted it a little, but found it difficult to eat more. The taste was good, but it didn’t suit his palate.
“What’s wrong? Doesn’t it suit your taste? I’ll ask for something else.”
“I’m eating. It’s just because my arm is uncomfortable. Don’t mind me, just eat.”
He couldn’t cause any more worry for Jin Seon-yu, who must have been exhausted since dawn. Seo Yi-kyung forced the food into his mouth. Jin Seon-yu sorted through the menu items that Seo Yi-kyung could eat and pushed them closer to him, since his arm was hurting. Eat this too. It’s delicious. Shortly after, a presence was felt, and the staff’s voice drifted in.
“The other gentleman has been shown inside.”
The door opened, and Kwon Gwi-jun appeared. Dressed in a neat suit, he sat across from the two of them. He gave Seo Yi-kyung a nod of greeting and then asked Jin Seon-yu.
“What is this thing you have to tell me?”
Seo Yi-kyung tightly gripped the chopsticks he had barely moved. Jin Seon-yu put both hands in his trouser pockets.
“Where did I put it.”
Found it. Soon, Jin Seon-yu pulled the pocket watch necklace from his pocket and held it out. Clink, the chain wrapped around his fingers dangled down, sparkling.
Jin Seon-yu said with a smile.
“This is originally 5 billion won, but I’ll sell it to you for 2 billion.”
“……!”
Seo Yi-kyung’s cast-wrapped arm flinched. Turning his head to look, Jin Seon-yu’s face was still bright. The problem was that there wasn’t a trace of malice to be found.
“You buy it, Gi-jun.”