By Zephyria 
Late at night, Seo Yi-kyung stirred and sat up from the hospital bed. He had fallen asleep briefly around evening, but since waking up, sleep would not come.
Seo Yi-kyung approached the window, pulled back the curtains, and looked outside. Throughout his stay at the hospital, he had slept whenever he felt sleepy, received treatment from his attending physician when the time came, and eaten good food, so his physical strength was improving more than before. However, staying only within this hospital room was a bit uncomfortable.
Since he had said he wouldn’t go home, Han Seung-jae had truly locked him inside this room. He had even stationed people in front of the door. At first, Yi-kyung thought it was simply out of concern that Seo Dong-hu might visit, but Seo Dong-hu was no longer able to come. Despite that, Han Seung-jae still kept people stationed at the door.
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head and stared at the privacy screen. More accurately, he was looking at the door beyond it. Since he had already visited earlier, Han Seung-jae wouldn’t come today. Perhaps he could go out and get some night air. He felt that a walk might make him feel a bit better.
‘It’ll probably be difficult.’
Having run into Han Seung-jae during the day, there was a high possibility that he wouldn’t allow it this time. Even if he were stubborn about it, the ones who would suffer were the staff.
As if trying to soothe his complicated heart, Seo Yi-kyung opened the window slightly and gazed blankly downward. Perhaps because it was late, there were significantly fewer people coming and going compared to the daytime.
How long had he been like that? Suddenly, Seo Yi-kyung looked back. He heard a sound from beyond the screen.
Seo Yi-kyung blinked. Did he hear wrong?
Seo Yi-kyung took out the pocket watch from his patient gown pocket to check the time. It was nearly midnight. The attending physician had come around dinner time to check the wound and change the bandages before leaving. Therefore, there was no reason for anyone to visit at this hour.
He thought he might have been mistaken. Just as Seo Yi-kyung’s gaze was about to return to the window, the sound of the door opening echoed. Clutching the pocket watch, Seo Yi-kyung’s fingertips stiffened.
From the sound of the footsteps alone, Seo Yi-kyung could tell instantly who had entered the room. A steady yet smooth gait. It was then that the figure of Han Seung-jae loomed before him.
Han Seung-jae’s cold eyes looked at Seo Yi-kyung standing by the window as he stepped forward. Seo Yi-kyung closed the cover of the pocket watch and put it back into his pocket.
‘I thought he wouldn’t come…’
But with every blink, Han Seung-jae was drawing closer. He wore a suit that draped over his broad shoulders, and in his hand, he held a half-folded envelope.
“The light was on.”
Han Seung-jae spoke as if observing the changes in Seo Yi-kyung’s expression. He said something that hadn’t been asked, and then sat on the edge of the bed where Seo Yi-kyung stayed.
“Were you not sleeping?”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae placed the envelope he was holding on the bedside table. Seo Yi-kyung, who had been staring blankly while maintaining a certain distance, noted Han Seung-jae’s cold eyes and asked.
“…Did you drink?”
“A little.”
No matter how he looked at him, it didn’t seem like he had drunk “a little.” Even at home, Han Seung-jae often enjoyed high-proof whiskey. Come to think of it, hadn’t Han Seung-jae said earlier that he was going to see Executive Director Jin? Perhaps they had a gathering at the Ivory Pavilion today.
Han Seung-jae continued nonchalantly.
“Next time, let’s go and eat together.”
“…”
“Well, I’m not necessarily saying we have to drink, so there’s no need to be intimidated in advance.”
It was difficult for Seo Yi-kyung to gauge what his own face looked like. He simply stared at Han Seung-jae without being able to tear his gaze away. However, it was the same for Han Seung-jae.
Han Seung-jae pointed with his finger to the envelope placed by the pillow. Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes slowly moved toward it. On the surface of the slanted, unfolded envelope was the logo of Chaeon Foods.
Han Seung-jae’s low voice resonated.
“How about keeping some distance from Jin Seon-yu?”
For some reason, it sounded as if he were asking for Seo Yi-kyung’s opinion, but in reality, it meant he should not meet Jin Seon-yu. Was that why Seon-yu hadn’t been able to come to the hospital all this time?
Seo Yi-kyung turned his head to look at Han Seung-jae and spoke slowly.
“So, did you stop Seon-yu from coming, Seung-jae?”
“That’s not the case.”
Han Seung-jae’s eyebrows shifted minutely. There was likely only one reason why Jin Seon-yu couldn’t come. It was closer to Jin Tae-won blocking him in advance, fearing that Jin Seon-yu might ruin things since the matter regarding Seo Dong-hu hadn’t been settled yet. It wasn’t hard to guess such a thing.
“…!”
Han Seung-jae, who had been sitting on the bed, stood up. He walked slowly toward Seo Yi-kyung, who was keeping his distance. Seo Yi-kyung’s back was practically touching the window. There was nowhere to retreat.
Han Seung-jae reached out his long arm. Seo Yi-kyung thought his fingertips were approaching him. However, Han Seung-jae simply closed the open window.
This was because the cold night wind was blowing through the hair of Seo Yi-kyung, who was wearing only a thin patient gown.
“If the room feels suffocating, wouldn’t it be better to just return home now?”
Han Seung-jae seemed to have guessed everything—that Seo Yi-kyung had been walking the hospital corridors and that he had been opening the window to look outside.
Seo Yi-kyung felt Han Seung-jae’s refined features drawing closer. As he leaned his upper body in, a somewhat low voice sounded right in front of him.
“You can paint in the painting studio, drink tea in the study, or walk in the garden.”
A faint shadow formed under Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes as his long eyelashes cast a shade. Han Seung-jae seemed to be genuinely trying to persuade him. He had never seen him list several options for someone even in the original work.
From Han Seung-jae, who was now closer than before, Seo Yi-kyung smelled the scent of sandalwood mixed with a sweet aroma of alcohol.
“Wouldn’t it be better than this place?”
“At home…”
Seo Yi-kyung’s lips parted slightly. Han Seung-jae’s gaze landed on him as he continued to speak. Seo Yi-kyung’s voice flowed out as if breaking.
“…there is…”
It wasn’t that Seo Yi-kyung didn’t want to paint in the painting studio, look at the rare items in the study, or walk in the garden where flowers bloomed and trees grew.
Setting all that aside, wasn’t Min Ra-hyeon at Han Seung-jae’s house? Therefore, Seo Yi-kyung could not be comfortable anywhere there.
“…”
An inexplicable silence flowed between the two. Seo Yi-kyung judged that Han Seung-jae probably hadn’t heard him, as his voice had come out trembling.
Revealing his inner thoughts hadn’t been intentional. It was just that, as if momentarily enchanted by Han Seung-jae’s words, the words he had pushed deep into his heart, suppressed, and cherished had slipped out unconsciously.
Perhaps his rationality had faded since Han Seung-jae’s sudden visit at this hour. He didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
He felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but it wasn’t hard to lie on the bed, close his eyes, and pretend to sleep. Then Han Seung-jae would leave too. To that house where Min Ra-hyeon was.
Seo Yi-kyung moved to step away. However, Han Seung-jae grabbed Seo Yi-kyung’s arm before slowly loosening his grip. Yet, he never let Seo Yi-kyung leave his side.
Looking up, Seo Yi-kyung’s fingers curled. A strange light flickered in Han Seung-jae’s eyes. Perhaps he was thinking of Min Ra-hyeon. But as if cutting off Seo Yi-kyung’s thoughts, Han Seung-jae spoke. If that was the case.
“Let’s go home.”
* * *
Seo Yi-kyung looked at Secretary Park, who had opened the hospital room door and entered. Han Seung-jae received clothes for Seo Yi-kyung to change into from him.
“Have the car waiting.”
Secretary Park replied that he understood and left the room. Han Seung-jae placed the clothes in the shopping bag on the bed.
“…?”
Seo Yi-kyung didn’t understand Han Seung-jae’s actions. However, Han Seung-jae was not the type of person to kindly explain the situation.
As Seo Yi-kyung stood hesitating, Han Seung-jae used both hands to undo the buttons of Seo Yi-kyung’s patient gown. Seo Yi-kyung tried to raise his hands to stop him, but it ended up looking as if he were clutching the back of Han Seung-jae’s hand. Seo Yi-kyung felt that Han Seung-jae’s hand, with its prominent bones, was cool.
As the buttons were undone, the bandages wrapped around Seo Yi-kyung’s chest were revealed. Han Seung-jae’s cold gaze seemed to linger for a moment before he helped Seo Yi-kyung into a knit sweater.
The hospital room door opened, and Seo Yi-kyung stepped outside with a jacket draped over his shoulders. The men who had been in front of the door were gone.
As he walked through the quiet hospital corridor, a sense of anxiety crept into a corner of Seo Yi-kyung’s heart. Throughout the ride up the elevator and the arrival on the first floor, Han Seung-jae said nothing. He only felt the weight of the hand touching his back.
As soon as Seo Yi-kyung stepped outside Haseon Hospital, Secretary Park opened the rear door of the sedan as if he had been waiting. With eyes full of hesitation, Seo Yi-kyung got into the car. He then glanced sideways at Han Seung-jae, who sat beside him. Sensing the gaze, Han Seung-jae turned his head and spoke.
“Go and see for yourself.”