“Chocolate?”
Her curious eyes darted around. He pulled out a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates from a paper bag. Even without opening the lid, the sweet aroma wafted out, and she licked her lips.
“They smell delicious.”
“Do you want some?”
Hyun-ho tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. She nodded eagerly.
“But to have these, you need to eat some porridge first. Eating chocolate on an empty stomach will make you feel worse.”
Tae-eun’s smile faded. She seemed reluctant to eat anything.
“Are you afraid you’ll throw up?”
“Yeah.”
“You won’t if I’m here.”
“Why?”
Leaning in close, he whispered in her ear as if sharing a secret.
“Because I can cast a spell. I can make sure you won’t throw up.”
Her lips pouted, and she squinted at him, almost looking like her usual self.
“You said you put a spell on the camellia flower.”
‘I cast a spell on it to keep you safe at night.’
He had once joked about it. He couldn’t tell her the real reason why the flower didn’t wither – that he was a ghost and it held his spirit.
“But the flower withered, and I threw it away.”
“What?”
His gaze shot to the nightstand. Despite visiting her frequently, he hadn’t noticed the flower was gone, so focused he’d been on her.
“I touched it, and it suddenly withered.”
“And that’s when the nightmares started.”
She recounted the events with difficulty, her lips trembling as if she might cry.
As she continued, the warm light in his light brown eyes dimmed. His true nature was at risk of being exposed, but he couldn’t worry about her fear right now.
With a fierce expression, he recalled the night he banished the malicious spirits. They had passionately kissed after his visit to the temple. He hadn’t sensed any residual negative energy from her then.
But the next day, she vomited at the café. After that, the camellia flower, imbued with his energy, withered, and the ghost first appeared.
It had been there from the start.
He squeezed his eyes shut in frustration at his foolish mistake. Lee Ye-jin had clung to Song Tae-eun since her death two years ago. The malicious spirits were just a smokescreen to hide the ghost’s presence.
And he had naively thought removing the lesser spirits would solve everything.
“Hyun-ho.”
She called his name with a worried expression. Her wide eyes were filled with fear again. He quickly plastered on a gentle smile.
“Sorry. I should have cast a stronger spell.”
But she couldn’t hide her anxious look and just stared at him.
“Let’s eat the porridge and then try the chocolate. This time, I’ll cast a stronger spell. Everything will be fine.”
He adopted his caring persona again, gently stroking her rough cheek with the back of his hand. He whispered soothing words until she seemed calmer.
“Let’s try just one piece of chocolate. If you feel okay in an hour, we can have another. How about that?”
Tae-eun was persuaded by his gentle coaxing and agreed. He went out to retrieve the bowl of porridge from Boo Yun-hwa and returned to feed her spoonful by spoonful as she sat on the bed.
Her parents watched with bated breath as their daughter swallowed. They had seen her vomit everything she ate for days.
But this time, she finished the bowl without any issues and reached for the chocolate box. Her arm trembled as if even that small effort was too much.
“Let me help.”
Hyun-ho opened the box and fed her a piece of the homemade chocolate. She didn’t mind the chocolate powder on her lips as she eagerly savored the sweetness, a faint smile appearing.
“Can I have another?”
“Let’s see if you digest this one first.”
Her face fell at his firm response. She licked the powder from her lips, unable to take her eyes off the box.
“Poor thing…”
Boo Yun-hwa wiped her tears and turned away. Song Ki-seok gently patted his wife’s back, trying to comfort her.
Tae-eun looked at her weary parents, her eyes filled with sadness. Then she turned back to him.
“Can you help me wash my hair?”
Smiling warmly, he nodded. He took her hand and helped her up from the bed, guiding her to the bathroom. Determined, she picked up her toothbrush first.
“Don’t push it too far. Be gentle when you brush your tongue.”
Standing there in his socks, he frowned and nagged as she brushed her teeth carefully under his watchful eye.
He scrutinized her as she washed her face. When she looked up, her freshly cleaned face meeting his, he reached out to cup her nose.
“Blow.”
“Huh?”
“Blow your nose. Come on.”
Embarrassed, she shook her head to escape his grip.
“No, I can do it myself.”
“Hurry up. Blow.”
He didn’t relent, and she reluctantly pretended to blow her nose. But he wasn’t fooled.
“Do it properly.”
She looked miserable as she closed her eyes and blew hard until her face turned red. Finally, he let go.
“Want to take a shower too?”
He asked quietly. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“My parents are outside.”
“They’ll think you’re just washing your hair. It’s better to do everything while I’m here.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the discomfort of not having bathed for days won over. Even as she undressed, she couldn’t shake off her distrustful look.
“I’ll just help you wash.”
He smiled gently and carefully wet her long hair. She held onto his shirt, her head bowed.
“I was too scared… to wash my hair.”
His eyes darkened with understanding. He could imagine what she must have thought of, seeing her own long hair falling like a curtain as she bent over.
“I know. Anytime you want to wash your hair, just tell me. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you.”
Tae-eun’s murmured thanks made his heart tighten. He didn’t know how to define the ache he felt.
Song Tae-eun was the first truly special person he had met in his long life, and the emotions she evoked in him were all new and unfamiliar. Despite his vast knowledge, lately, he felt as though he was stepping into uncharted territory.
One thing he did know for sure was that she was in immense pain, and he felt that pain too.
Hyun-ho gently rubbed her shoulders with the foamy shower scrub. When his hand moved to her chest, she glanced at him, her expression so cute that he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No reason…”
“Want a kiss?”
“Yeah.”
Tae-eun nodded quickly, her clear eyes revealing her true feelings.
“I wanted to earlier, but I couldn’t say it with my parents around.”
“You should have told me right away.”
He grumbled in mock annoyance. His large hands brushed her skin through the thin towel.
He nibbled on her plump lower lip, sucking gently. He wanted to be more forceful, but she had only eaten a small bowl of porridge and a piece of chocolate. Even standing was likely taxing for her.
As his hand moved lower, his tongue teased her palate and the inside of her cheeks, making her shiver and clutch his arm.
She trembled with stimulation, his fingers finding her wetness between her legs.
He paused, then changed his mind.
“Spread your legs.”
When he pulled away and whispered, she covered her mouth with both hands. He knelt on the bathroom floor, pressing his face between her thighs. The shower foam moved to her hips as his lips and tongue cleaned her intimately.
“Mmm…”
Tae-eun bit back a moan, waves of pleasure crashing over her. Though her energy was drained, she focused on the sensation, reminding herself it was proof he was there. Tears leaked from her closed eyes as her face contorted.
After a moment, her legs quivered weakly. He rose, licking her tear-streaked cheek, offering comfort. He hoped this would help her forget her fear, if only for a moment.
After drying her hair, Tae-eun ate another piece of chocolate and fell asleep. Hyun-ho listened to her breathing before quietly leaving the room.
Her parents, looking grim, greeted him in the living room. The helplessness of not being able to do anything for their sick daughter weighed heavily on them.
“I’ve made an appointment with a renowned shaman,” he said softly, glancing back at Tae-eun’s room. He wasn’t the only one feeling powerless.
“Let’s go there tonight.”
🍉🍉🍉
