At the answer that came back, Ilkyung nodded. He seemed like he’d be picky anyway, and that probably reflected in his eating habits too.
Director Ha Daehoon didn’t have a fussy-looking face though. But there was something strange about his atmosphere. At 188 centimeters tall and well-built, his features were a bit sharp, giving him a strong impression. But if you examined his features one by one, he was actually beautiful. His face was pale and his lips were red, and with his slightly upturned eye corners, if he had a female sibling who resembled him, she would definitely be gorgeous and pretty.
Ilkyung entered into appreciating the movie while eating popcorn and drinking cola. The movie was a popular romance thriller these days. It was by a director who’d won many awards at foreign film festivals, and his unique mise-en-scène was quite famous, so Ilkyung liked him too. The director was famous for beautiful visuals, so there was enjoyment in watching the screen as much as the story itself.
“Ahem, ahem ahem.”
Whether the popcorn was stuck in his throat or the cold was now starting in earnest, his throat kept tickling. He felt Daehoon, sitting next to him, glance at Ilkyung while drinking coffee, but Ilkyung pretended not to notice and focused on the movie.
Ilkyung admired and admired again while watching the beautiful images and colors. It’s a thought he has every time he watches this director’s movies, but the director is really like a pervert. How could he put so much care into every single shot? But does Director Ha Daehoon like these kinds of movies too? Or did he reserve this because it’s the only thing showing these days?
It was a very beautiful movie, but Ilkyung felt like the fever was gradually consuming his body. Was that it? Was the theater temperature a bit high? His eyes kept getting hazy and trying to close. Ilkyung hugged the popcorn tightly to his chest and repeatedly forced his closing eyes wide open.
* * *
“Ilkyung-ssi.”
He didn’t know when he’d fallen asleep, but since he was sitting still while the ending credits rolled, Daehoon thought he must be someone who watches everything before leaving and was watching along with him. But even after it was all over, he didn’t move, so when he looked to the side, wasn’t he asleep?
At the beginning, he was hugging the popcorn and munching on it, but now he was sleeping while hugging it like a food pouch. The sight was funny, so Daehoon chuckled. If you’re going to sleep, at least sleep comfortably.
“Ilkyung-ssi. …Assistant Manager Woo.”
He brought his hand to touch his body to wake Ilkyung up, but huh? This wasn’t just warm, it was hot. This kid has a fever!
Daehoon touched Ilkyung’s forehead with his large hand. The forehead was boiling hot with fever.
“No, this person is in big trouble. Ilkyung-ssi, wake up.”
Whether they went to the hospital or gave him medicine, he had to wake the kid up and take him out first, so Daehoon moved aside the food pouch—no, the popcorn box—that Ilkyung was hugging, stroked his pale cheek, and kept talking to him.
“Mmm, Directorrr.”
“That’s right, can you get up?”
“I don’t feel well…”
The kid spoke with a tearful face. Look at this foolish thing. Daehoon clicked his tongue with a tsk, then slipped his hand under Ilkyung’s side and lifted him up.
“Huh?”
“Bear with it a little. Let’s go to the hospital.”
“No, that’s not it, *cough cough*, ahem.”
“If you’re sick, you should say let’s go to the hospital—why foolishly follow me to the movie theater?”
At Daehoon’s words, Ilkyung felt upset for no reason and sniffled. Originally, once you show tears once, it becomes easier the next time. That’s why the first time is important…
“I don’t need to go to the hospital. And I can walk.”
“What walking? Anyway, there are no people now, so it’s fine.”
“But it’s embarrassing.”
“Bury your face in my shoulder.”
Daehoon, who had stopped walking abruptly, spoke while holding Ilkyung. But Ilkyung resisted and tried to push away.
“Listen to me.”
At Daehoon’s suddenly lowered voice, Ilkyung reluctantly buried his face deeply in his shoulder.
“Put your arms around my neck too. You’ll fall.”
At Daehoon’s words, Ilkyung hesitated but eventually carefully wrapped his arms around.
“Are you crying?”
“No.”
But Daehoon’s shoulder was damp. Somewhere Ilkyung’s voice lacked strength, so Daehoon didn’t say anything more and hurried his steps.
Every time they walked, Ilkyung’s head spun. If he’d known it would be like this, he should have just taken a day off today. No, taking a day off on Family Day would be a waste, so he should have at least told Director Ha the truth and suggested postponing today’s appointment to next time.
“Watch your head.”
They must already be at the parking lot because he heard the sound of a door opening. Ilkyung raised his face suddenly and tried to get down from his arms, but Daehoon had already bent his upper body for him.
“I can do it.”
“Who said you couldn’t? Watch your hands and feet.”
Ilkyung obediently sat as Daehoon seated him and pulled his hands and feet inside. Thunk, the door closed indifferently.
Daehoon got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and looked at Ilkyung.
“Should I fasten your belt too?”
At those words, Ilkyung hurriedly pulled and fastened his belt.
“Since when have you been sick?”
Daehoon asked while smoothly moving the car.
“I’m fi— *cough cough*. Ahem.”
As Ilkyung tried to stop the escaping coughs, Daehoon took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Ilkyung. When Ilkyung just stared blankly, he extended it a bit more and said.
“Take it quickly. I have to drive. And anyway, it’s already obvious you have a cold, so why are you struggling like that?”
“Still, *cough cough*, ahem.”
The fever kept rising and his throat kept stinging. His eyelids also flushed red.
Daehoon confirmed that Ilkyung’s condition was getting worse and worse and started to speed up a bit more.
“Ah! That’s right. The cola. I didn’t finish it.”
Even in this situation, Ilkyung was talking about cola. The dumbfounded Daehoon shook his head.
“Why would you drink something that’s not even good for your body?”
“But it’s delicious. *Cough cough*. Ah, speaking of which. *Cough*.”
Ilkyung kept spitting out coughs. Daehoon narrowed his brow, glanced at Ilkyung, and cut off those words.
“You seem to have difficulty talking now, so let’s talk later.”
“No, that’s not it, next time don’t show off being a chaebol like that. It’s burden— *cough* —I almost died *cough cough*.”
“I told you to stop talking, so stubborn. Well, Woo Ilkyung-ssi originally doesn’t listen. Then let’s make today the last day of showing off being a chaebol.”
Daehoon said that and when he was briefly caught at a signal, sent a message to someone.
“Get some sleep.”
“I’m fine.”
“Still, close your eyes for a bit.”
Ilkyung thought he was fine, but he fell asleep before he knew it. And when he opened his eyes.
“Whe-where is this…?”
“Yes, it’s home as you’re thinking.”
“What? *Cough*, *cough cough*, why, *cough*.”
The coughs burst out very sporadically.
Now it hurt to the point where his chest ached.
Entering the home parking lot, Daehoon replied leisurely.
“I thought about going to the hospital, but that seemed like it would be more burdensome for Ilkyung-ssi. Anyway, since Ilkyung-ssi told me not to show off being a chaebol, I restrained myself as much as possible. Honestly, I don’t really know what showing off being a chaebol is, but when I just guessed, this side seemed better.”
Ilkyung couldn’t follow this person’s train of thought at all. If private clinics are closed at this hour, you can go to the emergency room—why is the next option home?
“Get out first.”
“Even now, the emergen— *cough* —cy room.”
“You’re almost dead but you really talk endlessly. Should I carry you up? You must have liked it when I carried you earlier?”
At the conversation that jumped all over the place, Ilkyung quickly shook his head. The moment Director Ha got out of the driver’s seat and flung open the passenger door, Ilkyung waved his hands wildly as if having a fit.
“No, no. I said I can go! *Cough cough cough*.”
With the coughs continuously pouring out, his stomach hurt like crazy. Director Ha sighed and bent down.
“No, no!”
“Stop it. I’m just trying to unbuckle your belt. You really talk a lot and don’t listen. You need to be scolded a bit to come to your senses.”
Daehoon quickly unfastened the seatbelt and just pulled Ilkyung’s wrist. Then, as soon as Ilkyung pulled half his body out of the car, he just lifted him up. If earlier he’d held him facing each other like holding a child, this time he just carried him like carrying luggage and placed him on his shoulder.
