Just what was the book Lee Jiwoo was reading? Was it really that interesting? Was he the type to become absorbed in ecstasy once he started reading?
Just how interesting would it have to be for him not to have time to send a single text?
“Hyung, you know President Gu?”
Regardless of my complicated feelings, my daily life continued moving. I came to the park early in the morning to take a walk with Seogong. After walking for a bit, it was now break time. Seogong, sitting on a bench drinking water, asked.
“That QTube you watched before? The one who had stomach cancer?”
“Yeah, President Gu said it’s been about 5 years since his surgery now, right? But he eats everything. Spicy and oily things too. Just like someone who was never sick.”
After Seogong received his cancer diagnosis, I also searched and looked up articles in various ways. But the management afterward varied greatly from person to person.
Especially things like eating habits—even if you came back from the brink of death, changing them wasn’t an easy thing.
“Once I’m fully recovered, I can eat like that too, right?”
“……”
If I had my way, I’d want to feed Seogong only healthy temple food until he dies. But that couldn’t be possible. I sighed inwardly and said.
“Of course you can eat like that once you’re better. Not every day, but occasionally.”
“I really want to eat pork kimchi stew lately. With well-fermented kimchi and green onion kimchi, and pork belly…. Ha, even when I was in the hospital, I wanted to eat white rice and kimchi stew so badly…. Oh, right. Hyung. What work are you doing now?”
Seogong, who had been talking while drooling, suddenly asked. I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“Suddenly after talking about kimchi stew?”
“I was thinking about kimchi stew back then too when I met hyung’s company president. I kept forgetting to ask. Is it office work or something?”
Although I’d matched my story with hyungnim, I still hoped Seogong wouldn’t ask. I hesitated for a moment before saying.
“Hardware store.”
“Huh? Hardware store?”
Seogong raised his voice in surprise, more than necessary. I was rather more surprised because he reacted too excessively. I was puzzled why he was like that, but I understood after hearing the next words.
“But why do you always go out wearing a suit?”
“……”
Right, fuck…. Right. I can’t wear a suit working at a hardware store….
Having realized it belatedly, I turned my head while smiling, trying not to show my flustered state.
“Just because.”
“Huh?”
“Just, since it’s the first month…. I wanted to show my will to work hard or something like that. That’s it. I won’t wear it from next month.”
“Ah….”
Good Seogong, who looked at me dazedly as I spouted nonsense, seemed to notice I was in a difficult position and changed the subject with a smile.
“Then are you learning skills? That’s awesome, skills are solid.”
Seogong sometimes used dialect like this these days. Probably President Gu’s speech pattern had rubbed off on him.
“They say if you learn a skill, you don’t have to worry about starving to death. Can you get certifications and things later too?”
“If I keep learning, probably?”
“But what skills do you learn at a hardware store?”
“Electrical work and…. I don’t really know yet.”
I felt so uncomfortable lying. After talking about this and that and getting up from the bench, my back was completely soaked. Deceiving others, especially deceiving close people, really wasn’t an easy thing.
“Be patient just a little. They said you can slowly start regular food from as early as 3 months or at most around 6 months.”
On the way home after finishing the walk, I told Seogong.
“Right, well, everyone eats well like before they got sick.”
Seogong muttered and glanced at me. It felt like he had something to say but was hesitating.
“Hyung, you know. You haven’t gone there even once yet, right? Since I got sick.”
“There? Where?”
“Grandma’s house.”
At the voice that flowed out quietly, I nodded.
“Yeah, it’s been quite a while since I went. Why, do you want to go? Should we make time to go soon? Let’s go once your stamina comes up a bit more. Since the weather has gotten warm, we can get some fresh air and change our mood.”
The grandma’s house Seogong was talking about meant our paternal side. Grandma and Grandpa had passed away, and that house was originally managed by Uncle. And now that Uncle has also passed away, it was inherited to Seogong.
At my words, Seogong only smiled awkwardly and didn’t give any particular answer. I didn’t say anything more because I felt like I knew what he was thinking now. Whatever I said right now would all feel like a burden.
Actually, after Uncle and Aunt passed away, I tried to give up the inheritance to pay off the debts. Then naturally, it would have automatically passed over to Grandma’s house in the countryside as well.
That place was where many childhood memories remained. Our father, whose face I don’t even remember, also lived there since childhood and went to school.
Even so, I tried to give it up, but Seogong was so distressed he couldn’t let go of the last remaining trace, enough to get sick.
“I’m sorry.”
Then suddenly Seogong muttered in a voice as quiet as an ant crawling.
“For what?”
“Just, everything…. I threw a tantrum when I didn’t have a single penny. I said a lot of harsh things to you back then too….”
It wasn’t just empty words—honestly, I was also out of my mind back then, so I’d almost forgotten everything Seogong said to me. It seemed like I heard harsh words, but now I really didn’t care at all. In a situation where both parents passed away in a big accident, how could anyone consider others’ feelings? It was completely understandable.
“Didn’t you say you’d earn money and pay it all back?”
When I narrowed my eyes and spoke, Seogong nodded in surprise.
“Of course. I’ll get a job later and pay it all back. I’ll buy you a car and a house too, hyung!”
It was a tone like a child making a promise to their parents. It was so funny that I burst into loud laughter in the middle of the street.
“Okay, do that.”
“I’m not joking. I’m really serious. Really.”
“I know. But make sure to take care of your health. Health is absolutely priority number one.”
At my words, Seogong nodded with a much better expression. He’d lost a lot of weight and somehow felt even shorter, which made me feel bad for no reason.
No matter how desperately you earn money, if you get sick, you end up squandering it all on hospital bills in the end. So both Seogong and I absolutely must stay healthy as long as we live.
Thinking such thoughts while walking, my phone vibrated. Casually taking my phone out of my pocket and checking the screen, I hesitated.
What are you doing, babe?
“……”
It was Lee Jiwoo. Not a single contact from yesterday until now, and only now. And what’s with “babe”? So we really are in a relationship, huh.
I thought all that stuff about today being day 1 was just talk.
I was annoyed for no reason and thought about ignoring it for a moment, but I remembered that I was working right now.
I’m taking a walk with my younger brother. About to go home now.
I sent the text and said to Seogong.
“What do you want to eat when we get back? There’s chicken breast, shrimp, and fish. Tofu and eggs too.”
“Meat? They said I need to eat a lot of protein for wound healing.”
“Okay, let’s have chicken breast.”
When we arrived home, a reply came from Lee Jiwoo.
I miss you.
Me too. Want to meet for a bit later? I have to do something right now, so I’ll contact you in about an hour.
After sending a rough reply, I prepared food for Seogong to eat. Because the portion was too small, it didn’t take very long to make. Seogong, who slowly finished his meal, walked around the living room for a bit and then fell asleep, probably tired.
Looking at my phone again, there was no reply after that. I touched the phone screen with my fingertips, then grabbed my outerwear and put it on. Then I went outside, entered an alley with no people, and called Lee Jiwoo.
After listening to the dial tone for 50 seconds, I finally heard Lee Jiwoo’s voice.
-Hello.
“Lee Jiwoo. It’s me.”
-I know.
I couldn’t help but be flustered at the short, curt answer. Earlier he called me “babe” so I thought his mood had improved a bit, but I guess not.
“What were you doing? Should we meet for a bit? The weather is really nice today. I guess it’s completely spring now.”
I spoke cheerfully without showing my flustered state, but no answer came. After waiting a bit more, I spoke again just in case.
“Hello? Lee Jiwoo?”
-Yeah.
“Are you busy by any chance? Should we talk a bit later?”
-No, I’m not busy.
“Ah….”
-……
“……”
No, what…. So what now? Why isn’t he saying anything?
As if representing my absurd feelings, a cold wind blew. The moment I shivered without realizing it, Lee Jiwoo’s voice was finally heard.
-I miss you, so come to my house.
And the call abruptly ended.
