Most people use induction cooktops, so they might be clumsy with gas ranges. Hyedam also used induction at his monthly-rent place in Seoul. But not knowing how to use a microwave? Honestly, he did manage to use the gas range.
He had figured out how to turn it on, and whether from surprise or whatever reason, he forgot to turn it off, but still.
With retort food packages placed on the table with their corners slightly opened as instructed, Hyedam saw the long fingers fumbling with the buttons in front of the microwave, and went to his side, nudging him with his body.
“I’m asking this seriously, do you know how to operate a washing machine?”
At least he managed to open the microwave door properly. After checking the ingredients inside the microwave, Hyedam quickly pressed the buttons to start it and stepped back, looking up at Ondal who was standing with his chin propped.
Ondal had been hesitating in front of the microwave, not knowing that he just needed to put the food in and press the button. He can read, so how could he not know how to use it? Does losing memory make you forget such simple things? Hyedam briefly wondered.
“There’s no dryer in this house either, so what about hanging laundry outside? Of course, after some time when the laundry is dry, you need to collect and fold it, what about that?”
Watching his eyebrows twitch here and there each time he spoke, Hyedam shifted his gaze to the large, long fingers touching his chin and shook his head. Had he forgotten what he knew? Or did he truly not know? But it didn’t make sense that he wouldn’t know how to use basic appliances.
When he saw him taking a shower in the morning, he hadn’t asked how to use the showerhead or such things.
Perhaps he lived as his appearance suggested?
His appearance was nothing short of a young aristocrat from somewhere in Europe. He looked like he was born with a silver spoon—no, a diamond spoon? Or even something beyond that in his mouth.
His face was white without a single blemish, as if he received special skin care, and his hands looked like those of someone who had never done any rough work. From the powerful gaze with which he looked at people to the way he spoke casually to Hyedam from their first meeting and used a commanding tone, it seemed natural that such a person wouldn’t know how to do these trivial tasks.
Perhaps in your childhood, you had at least three or four nannies taking care of you, never prepared food with your own hands, including using the microwave. For laundry, you’d just put it in the bathroom basket and that’s it. Did you live such a life?
When you went to school, a driver would escort you, and for shopping, instead of going to stores directly or clicking online, personal shoppers would bring items to your home or department store for you to choose from, that kind of life of the top 0.00001% or higher. When you went out, bodyguards would surround you front and back, and you would fly around in private jets…
Lost in his own random thoughts while scrutinizing the handsome appearance, Hyedam opened the microwave when the alarm signaled that the cooking was done. With a slight smile at the corner of his mouth at the delicious smell that came with the hot steam, Hyedam turned to get a kitchen towel when he heard a sound he shouldn’t have.
“Aht…”
“Haah.”
Fortunately, he managed to place it on the table without spilling it on the floor, but seeing Ondal’s surprised look as if it was very hot, Hyedam thought he had really given him a fitting name. Is this how Princess Pyeonggang felt? He only looks decent on the outside. His actions…
Should I just call 112 now? Hyedam briefly looked at the watch on his wrist.
If we take him to the police station and his identity can’t be verified, what would happen? Since he looks like a foreigner, would he be treated as an illegal immigrant or something like that? This person who seems to know nothing would be handed over from the police station to the police headquarters, and then he’d stay in a holding cell.
And then after that…
As if he could learn immediately after seeing something once, Ondal put the opened retort food into the microwave and pressed the cooking button.
Seeing his displeased expression, which might have been self-reproach for the attempted arson followed by not being able to heat food properly, Hyedam felt concerned.
“If there’s anything you don’t know or are curious about, just tell me. I’ll teach you, since you said you forgot your name and everything. Well, you might have forgotten other things too.”
“I don’t think I’ve done these kinds of things before.”
As he honestly spoke while scratching above his eyebrow with his index finger, Hyedam silently moved to find utensils. He couldn’t urge him to remember, and given his personality, he also didn’t think he could watch him being led away by the police.
“Let’s go to the hospital tomorrow.”
How much would it cost to get medical treatment without health insurance? I think I heard that treatment without insurance is very expensive, but for now, he had injured his head and it was quite uncomfortable to see him hesitate when walking, as if his leg was really bothering him.
This is why people call me a pushover.
Still, it seemed better to provide as much help as possible rather than kicking someone out and living with an uncomfortable conscience. They say good deeds bring blessings. Who knows, maybe I’ll receive some blessings too.
Hyedam seated Ondal, who was standing with one leg crossed in front of the microwave, at the table and took out a beer can from the refrigerator.
“You don’t like hospitals either?”
He wasn’t sure if it was okay to give alcohol to someone who was sick, but having heated retort makchang (intestines), he didn’t want to eat without alcohol.
When he handed over a beer can, Ondal opened it skillfully without hesitation, making Hyedam wonder if he had selective amnesia, but rather than thinking too deeply, Hyedam also tried to open his beer can. However, when Ondal took the can he was trying to open and gave him the one he had just opened, Hyedam’s hand remained in mid-air.
He’s not a child, so why is he opening the beer can for me? Maybe he does have some manners?
“That’s spicy…”
“It looks strange, but it tastes good?”
He was truly a person beyond expectations. In contrast to his clumsiness with essential appliances, he was skilled with chopsticks and even ate spicy food well. Seeing the makchang disappearing quickly while he was hesitating, Hyedam also moved his chopsticks, not wanting to fall behind.
It started with makchang, but next, Hyedam took out retort buldakbal (spicy chicken feet), followed by sundaeguk (blood sausage soup) which he put in the microwave, and then brought out instant rice as well.
“This might sound strange, but I don’t think we need to contact or visit other places. I feel like either my memory will return or someone will come looking for me. My leg is just slightly sprained, not seriously injured. Besides, is there anything I can do around here?”
Though usually Hyedam spoke first, Ondal seemed to have thought a lot during his absence and spoke carefully, to which Hyedam focused and shook his head instead of answering.
Who would hire someone whose identity isn’t even clear?
“Let’s make a few assumptions. First, you don’t seem like an ordinary person. You don’t seem Korean, yet you speak Korean well and eat food that even Koreans have divided opinions on. So let’s assume you’ve lived with good knowledge of Korea.”
Sitting up straight, Hyedam spoke quickly while carefully examining Ondal sitting across from him.
“Next, looking at your appearance, your hands, and your actions, you don’t seem like someone who worked in physical labor. If we assume you’re in modeling or entertainment, that would make sense, but if someone with your face worked in that field, why wouldn’t I know you? I might not be interested in that area, but given your appearance, I should have seen you at least once in magazines or advertisements, but that’s not the case either.”
Until now, his speech had been an awkward mix of casual and formal, but perhaps because he’d had a drink, casual speech now came more naturally. After speaking casually at length, Hyedam heard the microwave alarm and got up to place the heated sundaeguk between them. Leaving the beer can they had been drinking, he now took out soju from the refrigerator.
“No wallet, no mobile phone, and the only accessories are clothes and a watch without any brand…”
After drinking all the water from a cup that was being used instead of a soju glass, Hyedam filled it with soju and continued talking, while the other just listened.
“A person from the underworld?”
“For that, there were no special injuries on your fists or body.”
“Ah! Then. What could it be?”
“By the way, is there really no bread?”
What’s with the bread talk while eating sundaeguk with soju? And what’s with the coffee smell at this time? I’ve been going crazy with the coffee scent since yesterday.
Shrugging his shoulders to indicate there was none, Hyedam stared at the man drinking soju by himself. He knew the man was coming closer to his side, yet he remained still. Rather than wondering why he was coming closer, the thought of delicious coffee filled his mind.
“The smell of freshly baked bread is coming from you.”
“Come on. What bread… Oh right, I didn’t ask this. Alpha? You look exactly like an alpha, but I’m a beta so how would I know? Well, that’s not related to losing memory or the current situation, but I’m curious.”
“I’m not an alpha. I am an alpha, but I said I’m not. And the scent from earlier is definitely bread.”
As he moved to Hyedam’s side and whispered close to his nape, Ondal’s voice and actions sent chills all over Hyedam’s body. He was saying it was bread, but Hyedam wanted to shout that it was coffee.
But what does it mean to be an alpha but not an alpha? And you remember that? What’s going on? Is your memory intermittent?
“I want to eat it.”
His body, which had stiffened in surprise, froze like ice at the unfamiliar sensation touching his neck. The coffee scent that had been gently lingering at the tip of his nose suddenly intensified. While the guy next to him was going on about bread, Hyedam felt as if a heavy, dense coffee aroma was creeping up his body from the ground.
In his bewildered state, unable to even swallow the saliva pooled in his mouth, Hyedam tried to move his feet to shake off the coffee scent that seemed to be drawing him in like a swamp.
Does it make sense to be bound by a scent? Just as he thought about removing the scent attached to his legs, the coffee aroma fiercely enveloped his entire body.
“It looks delicious.”
With the warm yet soft sensation felt on his nape and the damp air filled with coffee scent, Hyedam couldn’t move an inch, like an insect caught in a spider web.
Hyedam’s heart sank as he tried to somehow detach himself from this strange situation as if he were enchanted and say something. The sensation that had been felt on his nape disappeared, and a green jewel appeared before his eyes.
“Delicious.”
The jewel shone beautifully, and a sensation similar to what had been felt on his nape was now being felt on his lips.
