The saying that hospital food tastes bad is a complete lie. Eunchan thought this as he mixed the remaining rice into his dried pollack seaweed soup. Even the side dishes were on another level. There were various types of kimchi, meat skewers, meatballs packed with seafood, and many vegetable side dishes he’d never seen before. Eunchan continued his admiration as he took a big bite of the salad tossed in yuzu sauce.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“I-I am eating.”
Even though it would have been fine to eat on the bed, Miro specifically wanted to eat together at the table. Eunchan transferred side dishes into Miro’s rice bowl with his chopsticks. Since the injured hand happened to be his right hand, Miro was only holding a spoon.
“How long can you stay?”
“One week…?”
“Mm.”
Miro answered after gauging his reaction. Eunchan chewed the tender meat while recalling the text message he’d just received.
[It’d be better if you did it instead of Hyungsik, but you need to work well with the lawyer, can you do it? Did you go on the business trip?]
The problem was not knowing when that busy Han Inju-ssi would have time. Eunchan poured water into his cup after finishing his portion of rice. Seeing that he’d finished eating, Miro also hurriedly put down his utensils.
“Are you done? Eat more.”
“I’m full.”
His brightly smiling face looked forlorn. Eunchan stood up, found a notepad and ballpoint pen, and returned to the sofa. He clicked the pen tip on and off, making clicking sounds, then soon wrote ‘stalker’ on the notepad.
“Yesterday you said that stalker was male, and he’s been following you for about one or two years, right?”
“Yees.”
Miro, who had quietly placed his hands on his knees, nodded. Eunchan picked up an apple that came with dessert and handed it to Miro first. Miro received it with his left hand and took a small bite of the apple.
“Is he big? Have you seen his face?”
“Uh… moderately big, and, uh, I don’t know his face.”
“Did it just start suddenly? Is there anyone you suspect?”
“No.”
This is bad. This is similar to a lawyer’s work. Eunchan scrunched up his eyes as he drew circles on the notepad for no reason.
“Have you checked the CCTV?”
“Th-there is some, but he wasn’t caught on it…”
“You said it happened near your house, right? There’s probably some there. I’ll check it later.”
Since yesterday was the 21st, if I go and ask for it… First, I need to secure the footage and identify his face or build. He was attacked this severely, yet nothing had been done? Eunchan looked at Miro, who was still biting into the apple.
“You haven’t written a contract with the boss yet, right?”
“Noo.”
“Then let’s write one now with me.”
Eunchan tore off the top page of the memo pad, put it in his pocket, and wrote letters on a new page. Contract. He needed to resolve this before the boss unfairly blamed him.
“First, let’s make catching the stalker the primary objective.”
“…”
“I’ll be by your side the whole time, but is there any condition you want?”
“Really?”
“Huh? Yes.”
I feel like we had a similar conversation yesterday. However, Miro confirmed Eunchan’s answer again. Eunchan nodded. He could even stake out in the area. Eunchan wrote Miro’s name under Party A and his own name under Party B.
The items could be modified later, and the most important part was the amount. He didn’t know yet how long it would take, but as long as they secured the footage, catching him was only a matter of time, so it was fine. He was worried about confronting the stalker, but there was still a working stun gun left in the office storage.
“I’ll catch him in a week. Especially fast in times like these.”
“O-one week?”
“Yes. First, let’s set the base at one hundred. Well, there might be additional costs, but we’ll see about that then.”
Eunchan created a signature line and held it out to Miro. Only then did Miro, who had finished eating the apple, hesitantly accept the memo paper.
“Is there a problem?”
I really made it one million won prepared to get cursed out by the boss. Eunchan looked at Miro’s gloomy face and asked.
“One week…”
“Is it too long? I’ll do it faster for you.”
Since he’d be hospitalized for a week anyway, it would be perfect if he resolved it within that time. There was the obstacle of Han Inju, but if necessary, he was thinking of sending Hyungsik on the business trip instead. He just needs to come back and tell me about it. I don’t need to go to my hometown anyway.
“…Yes.”
A small affirmation leaked out from between Miro’s beautiful lips. Eunchan gulped down cold water and stretched big. I should go home, quickly change clothes, and head right out.
“Tell me your home address. So I can check the footage.”
Work starts now. Eunchan pushed the plate with the apple in front of Miro and stood up.
“Let’s go, together.”
“I’ll go alone and come back quickly.”
Since he hadn’t brought any luggage, there was nothing to pack but his body. Eunchan stopped Miro from saying he’d go together too. What the doctor said this morning with a frown, that the wound was severe, bothered him. It didn’t look that bad, but maybe it actually was. His complexion was as pale as a corpse, looking like he’d easily collapse even in the summer sunlight.
“B-but…”
Miro stammered, grinding his roughly peeling lips with his front teeth. Eunchan tried to wait for the slow-speaking Miro, but at the timely ringing bell sound, he shifted his gaze to his phone.
[Han Inju]
At the three characters filling the screen, Eunchan eventually adjusted his sneakers.
“I have to go. Text me the address.”
It’s not a difficult call, but no, it is a difficult call. Eunchan looked at the screen and stepped out of the hospital room. After closing the thick door, walking down the quiet corridor, Eunchan sighed at the persistent call.
“Hello.”
– Kim Eunchan-ssi?
“Yes. It’s Kim Eunchan.”
– Are you busy? You’re answering the phone late.
“I suppose so.”
I’ve been incredibly busy since yesterday. Eunchan brought the phone to his left ear and answered. As he came out of the corridor, the staff waiting in the central lobby bowed their heads in greeting.
“Good work.”
– Yes.
That wasn’t meant for you. Eunchan let out a hollow laugh at Inju’s response. Eunchan’s worn sneakers left dirt footprints on the well-polished, shiny floor. Embarrassed, he walked quickly toward the elevator.
“Where are you going? You still need to rest!”
Then a nurse wearing a name tag blocked Eunchan’s path with a flustered face.
“Huh? Me?”
“You still need to rest—”
With the nurse stretching out both hands to block him, Eunchan insisted he wasn’t a patient. Anyone could see he had a healthy face. When the nurse blocked him, the other staff members gathered behind also approached him. As soon as he realized these people were blocking someone other than himself, Eunchan turned around.
“Jang Miro-ssi.”
Miro, who had followed Eunchan wearing thin patient clothes and barefoot without even shoes on, smiled.
“…Where are you going?”
In absurdity, Eunchan also smiled as he asked Miro.
“H-home.”
– I’m not going anywhere though.
Along with that, the two men answered. Eunchan let out an audible sigh.
* * *
– Since I postponed last time, I’ll set it for a day that’s convenient for Eunchan-ssi.
“I don’t have any convenient days, I’m busy these days.”
– Weekends are fine too.
“Can I send someone else I work with instead of me? I’ll hear about it later.”
– That won’t work.
In the pouring sunlight, Eunchan first shoved Miro under the shade of a tree. Both Eunchan and the hospital people tried to stop Miro from going out, but Miro ultimately followed behind Eunchan. Since he couldn’t take him out wearing patient clothes, Eunchan instead took off his own clothes and gave them to Miro.
Of course, there were the clothes Miro had worn before coming to the hospital, but they were so covered in blood that he couldn’t wear them even for the sake of public appearance. The hospital room manager said if he waited, they’d get new clothes right away, but he didn’t want to trouble someone for no reason, and he also didn’t want to waste more time, so he declined.
Unlike his appearance, Miro had a larger build than average, bigger than himself. So Eunchan’s short-sleeved shirt fit roughly, but the pants rode up above Miro’s ankles, looking short. Eunchan looked at Miro, who was grinning under the shade, with resentful eyes. What’s so good that he’s smiling like that? Thanks to Miro, he was now dressed in patient clothes.
“I can’t do it either.”
I’m working while even wearing patient clothes right now, do you know how busy I am? Eunchan answered Inju in a firm tone.
– Think about it more and let me know the date. I’d like it to be within this month.
“Yes.”
Eunchan hung up and turned his gaze to Miro. In the bright sunlight, just in case, he put the black ball cap he’d borrowed on Miro. He himself had tough skin so he went around without even applying sunscreen, but this person’s skin looked delicate, so he couldn’t let him go around like himself.
“You don’t have a car, right?”
“Noo.”
Miro obediently wore the cap Eunchan put on him and held Eunchan’s hand. Eunchan wondered whether to pull his hand away, then just left it. It was better than losing him for no reason.
“Let’s take a taxi.”
If he were alone, he would have taken the bus, but since there was a patient and he had something called pride, Eunchan chose a taxi. The hot wind tickled the side of his forehead. He wanted to feel the air conditioning quickly.
* * *
They got into a taxi waiting in line in front of the hospital lobby and headed to Miro’s house. When Miro stated his home address, both the driver and Eunchan looked at Miro in surprise. A crowded downtown area, and moreover, a high-end residential community where only a few lived. To meet someone who actually lived in a place said to be inhabited only by celebrities and financial figures.
Eunchan held back his desire to ask Miro whether the property values and various rumors circulating on the internet were true. And soon after, Eunchan recalled his first meeting with Miro again.
“Didn’t you have a driver?”
He remembered riding in a nice car and having a driver. He probably didn’t come to the hospital alone either.
“Ah, we’re not close.”
“Even if you’re not close, don’t you still do what needs to be done?”
It’s not like he worked with the boss because they were close. Ah, did I make it one million won for nothing? Eunchan looked at Miro, who was fidgeting with his fingers, with suspicious eyes.
