“How is it? Does it still hurt a lot?”
The blood flowing from the tip of Hyowoo’s slender left index finger finally stopped.
“Yes, I’m okay…”
To Lee Seohee, who was washing the wound with a worried face, Hyowoo answered in a tiny voice.
Since they ate lunch outside, they decided to eat dinner at home.
The menu selected after much deliberation was butter chicken. As if proving that cooking was his hobby, Lee Seohee prepared the meal with skilled hand movements, handling the ingredients.
Since arriving in London, Hyowoo had always just deliciously eaten the food Lee Seohee made for him when not eating out. Because he always felt sorry about that, this time Hyowoo rolled up his sleeves himself.
It was good that he stood before the cutting board with such enthusiasm, but as soon as he sliced the tomato, he also sliced his fingertip.
In the end, Hyowoo, who had bled, ended up receiving first aid from Lee Seohee.
Though it didn’t hurt as much as the moment he was cut, the wound continued to throb. When he grimaced without realizing it, Pie, who was sitting at his feet, whimpered restlessly.
“…I’m sorry…”
“What are you sorry for? You got hurt trying to help.”
“That’s why… Even though I’m not used to it, I stepped up for no reason and only caused an accident…”
His voice became even smaller with regret.
When he even hung his head low, he said there was no such thing as that and carefully applied antibiotic ointment to Hyowoo’s fingertip and put on a band-aid.
“What accident did Hyowoo-ssi cause? An accident happened, that’s all.”
“But the tomato became inedible. The cutting board and counter are also a mess because of the blood I spilled…”
“There are more tomatoes in the fridge. The cutting board and counter just need to be wiped. The big problem is that Hyowoo-ssi got hurt.”
Lee Seohee lightly stroked Hyowoo’s head as he remained dejected despite the consolation.
“Still, it’s extremely fortunate that you weren’t cut badly.”
Lee Seohee smiled in relief, then roughly rinsed the bloody cutting board and knife in water before putting them in the dishwasher.
“I’ll do the rest, so Hyowoo-ssi, sit and rest.”
“How can I just sit still…”
“What if it gets infected if your hand gets wet now? I can do it alone just fine, so don’t worry.”
“Isn’t there anything I can help with? I can do things that don’t require a knife…”
To Hyowoo, who seemed restless and was about to get up from his seat, Lee Seohee said with sparkling eyes.
“Then so I won’t be bored, will you sing me a song? Preferably a K-Pop girl group song that’s popular these days.”
“…I’ll just sit here.”
When Hyowoo immediately backed down and put his butt back on the bar chair, Lee Seohee chuckled and raised the corners of his mouth.
‘That expression… He was teasing me again…’
Not only him who teased at every opportunity, but Hyowoo was also slightly annoyed at himself for falling for it so easily every time.
Watching Hyowoo, who seemed to sulk and pressed his lips tightly shut, Lee Seohee started handling the ingredients again.
Tap tap, watching the vegetables being sliced rhythmically, Hyowoo suddenly looked down at his hand and opened his mouth.
“Where did such a cute band-aid come from? Is it perhaps Seohee-ssi’s taste?”
He hadn’t noticed earlier in the confusion, but what he’d put on was a pink band-aid with a popular animation character drawn on it.
It was a cute item that didn’t suit an adult man living alone.
“As if. My nieces came to visit before and left it behind.”
“Nieces?”
“My maternal cousin noona’s daughters.”
He explained that while he only had Taeseo as a cousin on his father’s side, he had many cousins on his mother’s side.
“Most of my maternal relatives are in England or Ireland. My nieces who’ve never even been to Korea somehow know about New Year’s money, and come Lunar New Year, they make a fuss asking for money.”
Watching him laugh pleasantly saying kids these days are really shrewd, Hyowoo smiled softly, even forgetting the pain in his fingertip.
Lee Seohee was a member of L Group, famous for never talking about private matters.
Hyowoo was very happy that such a person was openly sharing family stories with him.
“What about Hyowoo-ssi’s family? Do you have many cousins?”
“I also have many maternal cousins. None on my father’s side though.”
“Not even one?”
“My father is an only son. My late grandfather was also an only child, so there are no paternal relatives.”
Hyowoo also didn’t talk much about personal matters.
He was naturally cautious and quiet, so he didn’t talk much.
After experiencing that terrible incident, he shut his mouth even more tightly.
Nevertheless, in front of Lee Seohee, his mouth opened strangely easily.
“By the way, what did you talk about with Rafe?”
At the question of whether he said anything strange, Hyowoo shook his head.
“Nothing special. He told me about a few things that happened with Seohee-ssi before.”
“What kind of stories?”
Recalling the tales of valor from childhood with Lee Seohee that Rafe had told him, Hyowoo burst into giggles without realizing it.
“The story about when you were at the academy, you incited the kids saying you didn’t want to practice because it was hot in summer, and you all ran away as a group and got scolded by the coach. Also, the time at Rafe’s wedding when Seohee-ssi lost the grooms’ rings and there was almost a stabbing.”
“…So he did say strange things.”
“It didn’t sound strange to me. It was fun.”
When he added a small rebuke asking what he would have done if he’d lost such an important item, Lee Seohee protested saying it was unfair.
“I didn’t lose the ring, I just momentarily mistook where I put it.”
“People usually call that losing it.”
“Really, it was just for a very brief moment. Even though I found it before the wedding started, that guy Rafe has no patience so he made a fuss over nothing.”
His appearance, grumbling softly saying he deliberately picked out only embarrassing stories to tell, felt somehow refreshing.
‘Even the mature Seohee-ssi acts like an elementary schooler with close friends.’
Learning new sides of Lee Seohee one by one like this was also a small happiness for Hyowoo.
“I wondered why he only called Hyowoo-ssi out, and it was to tell you my embarrassing past. That guy calls himself my best friend but is really too much.”
“He also said a lot of good things.”
He, who had been grumbling until just before, suddenly brightened his face like a child ready to be praised.
“Oh, what kind?”
At that sight, Hyowoo burst into laughter again.
“He said you’re an amazing player. So the team members and coaching staff also trust and rely on you.”
“Haha, really?”
“He was very grateful, saying he was able to achieve good records and retire thanks to Seohee-ssi.”
Perhaps embarrassed to hear his friend’s high praise, he awkwardly scratched the bridge of his nose.
“Soccer isn’t even a sport you play alone. That bastard must have tried to save face for me in front of Hyowoo-ssi.”
“Rafe didn’t seem to be saying empty words. It must have been sincere.”
Watching Hyowoo, who was happy as if he himself had been praised, Lee Seohee showed a gentle smile.
“That guy who absolutely won’t give compliments even with a knife to his throat must have had a hard time saying things that don’t suit him.”
Toward him, saying he should give thanks after dinner and opening the cabinet, Hyowoo quietly added.
“…I heard Seohee-ssi also said things that don’t suit you.”
For a moment, Lee Seohee’s hand, which had been taking out spice bottles, stopped.
“Me?”
When their eyes met as he asked back with his head slightly tilted, Hyowoo spoke while smiling and pretending to be nonchalant.
“He said you told him you fell in love with me at first sight…”
“Why doesn’t that suit me?”
“He said he never imagined such words would come out of the mouth of someone as rational as Seohee-ssi.”
Though the corners of his mouth rose, Hyowoo’s eyes were faintly colored with complex and bitter emotions.
“Isn’t being rational and falling for someone separate issues?”
“Rafe-ssi must have felt it was strange because Seohee-ssi had never said such things before. Actually, I… think so too.”
At Hyowoo’s voice gradually losing confidence, Lee Seohee still couldn’t erase his puzzlement.
“Really? I think it would be stranger not to fall for such a cute and pretty person.”
“What?”
“I keep saying this, but I’ve never seen anyone as cute as Hyowoo-ssi in my life.”
Belated regret washed over him. That he spoke for no reason.
‘How can he say such cringeworthy things as if it’s nothing? Being shameless is really a talent too.’
He cupped his flushed cheeks with both hands. He could feel even his ears getting hot through his palms.
At the same time, his sunken mood also disappeared, pushed away by embarrassment.
“Seohee-ssi, please I’m begging you, don’t say such things to other people…”
“Such things?”
“L-like cute… and such…”
“Why? Hyowoo-ssi is cute.”
Though he was about to burst from embarrassment, Lee Seohee didn’t care and continued with even more embarrassing words.
“You’re really pretty and cute like a rabbit.”
“…If a rabbit heard such words, it would be angry.”
“Why?”
“W-well, because…”
“Even if I grab any random person on the street and ask, they’ll all say the same thing, you know? That Hyowoo-ssi is cute.”
At him laughing confidently saying ‘I only speak the truth,’ Hyowoo was at a loss for words.
It was impossible to win against Lee Seohee with words anyway. In times like this, not responding further was the best policy.
Pressing his warm cheeks, Hyowoo quietly watched him cook.
Lee Seohee handled the remaining ingredients and marinated the chicken in a sauce made with Greek yogurt, garlic, ginger, and spices. Following that, he skillfully made a salad with colorful cherry tomatoes, red onions, and basil.
Silently watching those unhesitating hand movements, his embarrassment quickly subsided.
Taking his hands off his cheeks, Hyowoo, who had been fiddling with the band-aid on his fingertip, hesitantly and carefully spoke up.
“Seohee-ssi, have you heard of the term ‘destined mate’?”
