Ian smiled awkwardly. He felt sorry for only making them worry. He hadn’t even thought to contact the two quickly.
Each day passed just by constantly reminding himself that he was safe and soothing his anxiety. Perhaps because his body was so worn down, he slept more than fifteen hours a day, which made it even more so.
When he dodged with words about being sick rather than honestly telling them what had happened, worried that Okjeong and Soyeon would be more upset, both their eyes reddened.
“Did your heart get bad again?”
Okjeong asked subtly. Soyeon let out a small sigh beside her.
“Store work isn’t easy. Especially the food business. You can’t rest even when there are no customers. You have to open the store early, and when it ends, the cleanup is a mountain.”
Watching from the side, Ian had some frustrating aspects. Since he’d decided to meet with Ganghyuk anyway, he could rely on him and live comfortably, but watching him work hard saying he’d repay the favor even a little made her feel sorry.
How heartbroken would old man Yeon, who closed his eyes first, be if he saw this? His grandson, raised like gold and jade, continuing to suffer unnecessarily because of his son.
“My heart is fine. I guess I overdid it. I’ll be okay now. I received treatment diligently at the hospital. The doctor said I can be discharged soon too.”
Ian soothed them while holding Okjeong and Soyeon’s hands. He realized that facing each other and talking like this was also a precious daily routine.
Seeing the two reminded him of his grandfather and emotions welled up, but he held back. If he cried here, the two sharp-witted people would certainly notice right away that something was wrong.
“What about the store, how did you come?”
“When you’re sick, what does the store matter? I left it to my son and came out. And I’m thinking of closing the store soon anyway. I received compensation, so I need to move somewhere else.”
“I’m planning to rest today. And I think I’ll be going down to my hometown soon. Seoul has such expensive rent and housing prices. Hyoseong-dong was really nice.”
Though she’d heard from Ganghyuk, it seemed the redevelopment project was progressing rapidly as if swept up in rapids.
“Ian, you’re going to follow that person, right?”
Okjeong caressed the back of Ian’s hand, which she held with her wrinkled hands. Though they weren’t blood relatives, sometimes she felt more affection for Ian than for her own children.
“Yes.”
Ian nodded and smiled faintly. Now it was harder to imagine life without Ganghyuk. Even now, he felt a little anxious.
This was the first time they’d been apart for so long since being hospitalized. If he contacted him with the phone Ganghyuk had left behind, he could hear his voice right away, but the mere fact that he wasn’t by his side made him a little tense.
Even though he was with these two people who were like a real grandmother and real older sister. He knew it was dangerous to depend on one person this much, but he couldn’t help it.
“……We won’t be able to see each other often from now on.”
Still, it was regrettable that he wouldn’t be able to see the two of them as often as before. Of course, the building hadn’t been demolished yet, and there were still compensation issues to be gradually resolved, so they wouldn’t be parting immediately, but his heart felt heavy in one corner at the anticipated separation.
“You’re saying such gloomy things. We can just contact each other every day. It’s not like we’re living in a time when we didn’t have cell phones, and with just a phone we can even see each other’s faces through video calls. And my hometown is just Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province. It’s not a far place like Jeolla Province or Jeju Island, so don’t worry.”
“Right. I’m also moving nearby because of my son’s workplace, so it’s still Seoul. Whenever you say you miss Ian, we can meet anytime. Same goes for when I miss you. You’re not saying that guy won’t let us meet, right?”
At Okjeong’s question as she narrowed her eyes, Ian shook his head in surprise. His words also stuttered in his flustered state.
“N-no. It was the Executive Director who contacted you two. I hadn’t even thought of it.”
At the honest words, Soyeon pinched Ian’s nose gently.
“This is why old sayings are never wrong. They say there’s no use raising children. Of course, you’re not my child, Ian.”
When Soyeon deliberately joked to brighten the atmosphere, Okjeong clicked her tongue but soon laughed.
“I also know now how much that guy cherishes you. I was just joking. But I keep worrying. Do you know how shocked I was when the store was closed for days, couldn’t contact you, and then heard you were hospitalized?”
“……I’m sorry.”
No matter how many times he apologized, it wasn’t enough. Feeling like Okjeong’s eye wrinkles had deepened because of him, Ian hung his head low, and Soyeon tapped Okjeong’s side with her elbow.
“We didn’t come to hear apologies. We saw you’re doing well, so that’s enough. Since it’s come to this, stick close to Executive Director Tae. He doesn’t look like someone who’d go back on his word, so he’ll protect you well from now on too.”
Okjeong had noticed there were things Ian hadn’t told her. That’s because traces of violence faintly remained on Ian’s neck and wrists. Since it couldn’t have been Ganghyuk, he must have been in danger again.
Since it already seemed difficult for him to live an ordinary life, she thought it would be better for Ian to live under the shadow of someone scary like Ganghyuk.
“Though there’s quite an age gap, he doesn’t look his age, and above all, Executive Director Tae is handsome.”
Soyeon also added. At her face smiling lewdly while looking at him, Ian relaxed his gloomy expression. He agreed with Soyeon’s words too. In his life, Ian had never seen anyone more handsome than Ganghyuk.
Not just his looks, but his body was also very impressive, and his atmosphere was amazing. Just thinking about his broad embrace that seemed like it would protect him from all the world’s hardships made his cheeks redden.
After that, Ian continued to share countless stories with Okjeong and Soyeon. Most were about the Hyoseong-dong redevelopment and Ian’s health.
After the two left, he emptied a water bottle in one go. After chatting for the first time in a while when he’d only been talking with Ganghyuk, his throat was very dry.
As if the noisy atmosphere had been a lie, Ian pulled the blanket over his body in the now quiet space. He searched for his phone and sent a message to Ganghyuk.
Two large men dressed in black suits were standing guard in front of the hospital room door. Though they must have been informed that Okjeong and Soyeon had left, he wanted to contact him. He was also curious about when Ganghyuk would come.
Not long after sending the message, the phone rang. When he quickly answered, he heard the voice he’d missed. His eyes grew hot and flushed. It hadn’t even been half a day since they parted, and he was severely afflicted.
-Did you talk a lot?
“Yes. It was nice seeing them after a long time. They worried about me a lot. I should have contacted them earlier…… If it weren’t for you, Executive Director, I would have kept making them worry. Thank you.”
-Your voice sounds a bit hoarse.
“Ah, ahem. I guess it’s because I talked a lot after a long time.”
Ian’s cheeks flushed pink as he cleared his throat. Ganghyuk’s words, not missing even the smallest change, made his heart flutter.
Hearing his voice eased a bit of the anxiety that had been clinging to his skin. On the other hand, his desire to see Ganghyuk’s face grew even stronger.
“By any chance, when are you coming today?”
He asked carefully, worried it might sound like he was rushing him. The fact that Ganghyuk was a busy person was something he’d come to know well while living together. And recently, he’d squeezed out non-existent time to rescue him and stay with him in the hospital room.
Though he didn’t want to be like this, his chest tightened when Ganghyuk wasn’t beside him, as if he had separation anxiety. Cold sweat formed on the hand gripping the phone. He switched to his other hand and rubbed his slippery palm on his pants to wipe it.
-Mm. I think it’ll take about two hours. It looks like you’ll have to eat dinner alone. Is that okay?
When he checked the clock on the bedside table, it was already 5 PM. Pushing aside his disappointed feelings, Ian tried to sound bright.
“Of course. I’ll eat without leaving anything and chew thoroughly. You should eat dinner too, Executive Director.”
-Yeah. I’ll buy you something delicious tomorrow. Let’s eat together.
“Sounds good.”
