# Chapter 140
“…….”
No sound came from my mouth. It wasn’t that I was speechless because what he said was right, but rather because his angry tone was strange. Wondering if he was truly upset, I quietly observed him as Yoo Wono’s lips began to curve upward.
“What? Are you scared? Seems like I surprised you.”
Then he looked at me with his usual unfocused eyes and spoke dryly, as if nothing was different. The force that had momentarily frozen my body dissipated. In that gap, I rolled my eyes briefly before slowly opening my mouth.
“I’m sorry if I offended you. I jumped straight to questions because I was in a hurry.”
“Hmm…….”
Worried that he might have genuinely been displeased by my words, I apologized, and it must have been the right response because a slight gleam appeared in Yoo Wono’s eyes.
“I didn’t contact you because I had a lot to think about. I’ve been quite troubled lately.”
That was the truth. Although I had seen traces of communication with Yoo Wono the next day, I hadn’t thought to call him because I was so mentally overwhelmed that I didn’t know what to do next. And Moon Seoheon occupied almost all of that mental space.
“So you’re okay now? You look extremely relaxed at the moment.”
Yoo Wono released the arm he had grabbed but instead put his hands in his pockets and spoke with what seemed like a probing tone. Unlike his sideways glance, his voice was bland as water. Perhaps because of that, my answer came a bit slowly.
“…Not at all. I’m burning up inside.”
“Then shouldn’t you have contacted me right away? It doesn’t look like you’ve had any juice either.”
Yoo Wono glanced at the refrigerator in the corner as he spoke. Strangely, his voice sounded sulky.
“That’s because…”
As I failed to continue my sentence, Yoo Wono stared at me intensely as if trying to dig into my inner thoughts. But his eyes looked so empty and hollow that I unconsciously swallowed.
Maybe I should have avoided getting involved with this guy after all? His somewhat precarious state felt more dangerous than usual. My resolve was weakening again, but I made myself focus on observing Yoo Wono instead.
I couldn’t stop now since this was already a decision I’d made. Trying my best to act calm, I racked my brain. Yoo Wono had a look that said to continue if I had something to say.
I briefly recalled the events of the past few days. Telling Moon Seoheon about myself after the presentation, the club members and The Four who visited me whenever they had time, and Moon Seoheon who, despite crying and begging earlier, had treated me as nothing more than a patient since he had bathed me.
I felt like my throat was parched, so I decided to steady my resolve once more.
Several days had passed since Moon Seoheon and The Four all ate at my parents’ restaurant, but I was still wavering about whether to return to where I originally belonged. In my head, I thought I should obviously go back, but something kept nagging at me, so I just let time pass quietly.
Actually, even if the method of returning was dangerous, it was something I could do if I firmly made up my mind to go back. I had already experienced dangerous situations, had my body switched three times, and it would be something that Yoon Taeho, who was living in my body even without my doing anything, would end up doing.
So to get myself to come to my senses, I decided to use a shortcut. In other words, I cowardly thought of using that guy. Of course, even though this might be the only way, I was taking advantage of his offer to help for my own benefit. Thinking about it that way, it seemed like I was the villain, not him.
Swallowing the bitter smile that threatened to burst out, I spoke honestly.
“I accidentally threw away the juice. It wasn’t on purpose—I really just spilled it by mistake, but that’s not important… You said you’d help me. So please tell me what you talked about with Yoon Taeho. Even if I go back, if he doesn’t stop, we won’t switch again. I’ll do whatever you tell me to this time, no matter what you give me.”
Yoo Wono nodded halfheartedly at my words before making a suspicious expression.
“Really? Why suddenly?”
Surprised by Yoo Wono’s attitude—I thought he would immediately say okay and proceed—I shook off my bewilderment and moved my lips. His dark eyes stared at me so intensely that I felt as if my innermost thoughts were exposed. Was that why? I stopped my hesitation and spoke gravely.
“I like Moon Seoheon.”
Yoo Wono’s slightly upturned smile disappeared. I was too shocked by what I had just confessed to be surprised by his expressionless face, which I’d never seen before, and I froze as if nailed to the spot.
That wasn’t what I meant to say—how did it come out? Suddenly remembering when Yoo Wono had asked if I liked Moon Seoheon, I had blurted it out impulsively.
My mind was so confused that I didn’t properly register Yoo Wono staring at me with an intense gaze. Despite finding his changed attitude quite strange, the feeling of wanting to slap my mouth for uttering such nonsense just now took precedence.
“…….”
While I held my breath without realizing it, how many minutes passed as I faced off with Yoo Wono who was staring at me as if trying to gauge my inner thoughts?
Soon, Yoo Wono returned to his indifferent face, tilted his head slightly, and took his hand out of his pocket. Then he twisted my arm with a strength that was on a completely different level from when he had grabbed it earlier.
“Ungh.”
“So? If you like him, then why are you saying you want to go back?”
“…Because… I can’t handle it!”
As a groan involuntarily escaped due to the pressure on my arm, I shouted loudly while struggling. It was like a confession that came out unrefined and unfiltered.
Only then did I realize that the words that had come out without passing through my head were the reality deeply buried in my heart. As soon as I recognized this, even through the pain of my captured arm, I thought not so much that it was embarrassing but rather, why on earth was this happening?
Foolishly, I had thought that I could easily sort out what I vaguely knew if I just made up my mind. Was it arrogance? Even now, I had tried to entice Yoo Wono, but instead triggered my hidden instincts and received their provocation.
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Yoo Wono made a strange sound and dragged out his words as he released the pressure on my hand. I took that opportunity to shake off my arm and escape from his grasp. Yoo Wono, who had let go easily, instead stepped back and looked behind him.
“Strange. He should have arrived by now.”
“What?”
After repeatedly stretching and bending my aching arm for a moment, I quickly raised my head at his words that didn’t fit the situation. A strange uneasiness crept in, and when I turned around slightly, everything looked the same as when I had closed the door and entered.
I looked up at Yoo Wono after unnecessarily looking around to find the situation unchanged. Seeing him still looking at the door behind us, I frowned.
“What are you looking at?”
Without answering my question, Yoo Wono straightened his body and turned his steps toward the door. During the time it took him to quickly reach the door and open it rapidly before I could stop him, I just sat still.
As the door swung open with a bang, my lips parted in astonishment. When someone’s shoulder became visible through the door crack, my body froze stiff.
His face, illuminated by the incandescent light hanging from the ceiling, looked even paler. His calm eyes flickered beneath his lowered eyelashes, and his high, straight nose appeared even more prominent due to the shadows. His lips were firmly closed as if he were deep in thought, making him look stubborn.
The shopping bags in both of Moon Seoheon’s hands swayed slightly. No, maybe it just looked that way because my pupils were trembling finely.
How long had he been there? Could he have heard all the conversation between me and Yoo Wono? My heart sank, and I stared blankly at him.
His gaze was directed at neither me nor Yoo Wono but somewhere in the empty space. Yoo Wono pulled Moon Seoheon, who was just standing there without entering the wide-open door, and smiled as he lifted the corners of his mouth.
“You’re late? I saw you coming.”
At his casual words, I glared at Yoo Wono with a shocked expression. When he arrived at the hospital room, he had been looking out the window—he must have seen Moon Seoheon coming then. Did he come today knowing in advance? Whatever the case, it was still disconcerting, and my lips trembled.
Despite my accusing look, Yoo Wono just smiled broadly and snatched the shopping bags from Moon Seoheon’s hands as if this place were his own home, and looked inside.
“Side dishes? There’s a lot.”
Side dishes? At the word that came out of Yoo Wono’s mouth, I was puzzled for a moment before remembering that lately, he had been bringing side dishes instead of my family, and I swallowed. It seems he came instead of Yoon Taean again, but the timing couldn’t have been worse.
While I was just biting my lip, Yoo Wono placed the shopping bags on top of the drawer and bent his upper body to bring his face close to my ear. Just then, Moon Seoheon turned his head to look at me.
“You asked me to teach you what I talked about with Yoon Taeho, right?”
His tone was secretive as he whispered. It wasn’t a quiet voice, so Moon Seoheon, who was standing at a distance, could hear it well. As if deliberately, Yoo Wono pulled his face away slightly and spoke in a higher tone as if telling an amusing story.
“It wasn’t much. I just asked if he could help move me to a different hospital. Without anyone knowing.”
He asked for such a thing? Before I could voice my question about why, Yoo Wono continued. His voice was quiet enough that only I could hear.
“Think about it. You’re going to be moved to a mental hospital soon, right? Then I won’t be able to visit you either. Are you going to stay locked up like this?”
“…….”
I had briefly thought that he was acting more forcefully than when he had burst into the hospital room last time, but it seems it was all because of Yoon Taeho’s words. I recalled those who visited but left without explaining in detail, just passing the time. Had I not wanted to be conscious of it? Even as I was shocked at myself for not being particularly surprised, my senses gradually returned.
I met Moon Seoheon’s gaze as he quietly observed me. Though he appeared normal, the fact that he was just standing there silently suggested he might also be flustered. I probably wouldn’t know what he was thinking unless I dug into his thoughts.
I swallowed once and managed to say:
“Tomorrow… I’ll call you tomorrow.”
The words that came out from beyond my Adam’s apple were faint, but judging by the way Yoo Wono glanced at me and twisted his lips upward, he must have heard them properly.
