Chapter 122
“I tend to listen well, but just in case,” Angel said with a concerned expression.
It seemed like he had grown attached quite quickly, considering we hadn’t known each other for long. The outburst he had in the alley earlier must have been out of worry. He mentioned that Ivy reminded him of his younger sibling.
“Has he told you anything more?”
“No, he hasn’t mentioned anything.”
I tilted my head in confusion. Afraid of young men? Something must have happened, yet he wasn’t sharing any details.
“Alright. I’ll meet her. It won’t be much different from what I can do.”
Nodding in agreement, I saw a bright smile cross Angel’s face.
“But your place is really nice.”
We were at Angel’s residence. It had the necessary equipment for treatment, and it was conveniently close to a club where Doshiyu had been moved.
“Don’t hackers usually stay hidden?”
I scanned the exterior of the house, noting the two-story countryside mansion with its neatly trimmed green lawn—quite far from the typical image of a hacker.
Angel looked at the same direction as me, the sun slowly rising.
“I’ve spent my whole life hiding, so now I want to live differently.”
A faint smile lingered on Angel’s lips, making him seem more at ease compared to his earlier tense demeanor.
“You look much better,” I said with a smile. It was a relief to see him living a life free from pain.
“Can you meet Doshiyu now?”
“Hmm, he should regain consciousness sometime by tonight.”
Hearing Angel’s response, I mentally planned my day: I could visit Ivy now and then go see Doshiyu in the evening. Just as I was about to ask Angel for Ivy’s room, Yugyeom spoke from behind me, wrapping his arms around me.
“You’ll be seeing them both later, right?”
I turned to face Yugyeom.
“But I was going to meet Ivy now.”
“He needs to rest.”
“Ah, right. Ivy is probably asleep right now.”
Without a word, Yugyeom simply stared at me, his mischievous gaze unsettling. I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“Wait… you?”
The smile deepened on Yugyeom’s face.
“You’ve been up all night. It’s time to sleep now.”
I quickly shook my head in rejection.
“But the sun’s about to rise. Missing a night of sleep won’t cause any harm.”
“No, you’ll make me too anxious. Are you going to make me anxious?”
His voice took on a pleading tone, and even though I knew it was absurd, his earnest expression made it hard to resist.
I glanced away, trying to find an answer.
“Then you should sleep too.”
It wasn’t fair for me to take all the rest.
I eagerly waited for Yugyeom’s reaction, a playful glint in my eyes. Smiling, I added, “After all, we’re only two years apart. If it’s my bedtime, it’s yours too.”
“I didn’t realize you knew we’re only two years apart.”
Yugyeom’s voice was soft, amused.
“Don’t you know who’s older?”
He tilted his head slightly, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. I responded confidently.
“Do you want me to call you ‘oppa’?”
Yugyeom’s face held a mysterious smile, watching me carefully.
“Well, if I go to sleep, my younger sibling will too.”
I grinned at him, playfully teasing.
Eyes wide, I observed Yugyeom closely. Yet, the reaction I expected never came. Instead, Yugyeom lowered his gaze, a lazy smile still present.
“Then we’ll sleep in the same room.”
I stiffened, a slight shiver running down my spine.
“…What?”
The sound of my voice rose unconsciously. Yugyeom, observing my reaction, let a faint smile curl at the corners of his lips.
“Really, whether you’re sleeping or pretending to sleep, I need to keep an eye on you, right?”
“That… uh, maybe?”
Without thinking, I nodded to his sweet whisper.
Yugyeom laughed softly, holding my hand. His cold touch sent a shiver down my spine, making my senses even sharper.
“But now that I think about it, it’s a bit strange to sleep in someone else’s house,” Yugyeom said, shaking his head slightly and pulling me along.
Unable to resist, I allowed him to guide me as he wished.
“Angel gave us each our own rooms to rest comfortably,” Yugyeom added.
***
It was long past morning when the sun rose, hidden behind clouds, leaving only the soft blue light of early morning filling the room.
Lying stiffly on the bed, I blinked slowly. The thick duvet was comforting, and the quiet stillness was soothing.
After a while of aimlessly staring at the plain white ceiling, I couldn’t tell how much time had passed.
The quiet tension kept me from even shifting to check the time.
After blinking a few more times, I opened my parched lips.
“…Are you sleeping?”
The answer came with a slight delay.
“I’m not.”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted that answer or if I’d rather have had no response at all.
The corners of my mouth involuntarily lifted. Maybe it was because I hoped you were like me, unable to sleep.
Curiosity drew me to wonder what Yugyeom was doing—what position he had, what expression he held lying beneath the bed.
“What about you?”
Yugyeom’s voice broke the silence. I chuckled softly.
“You can’t talk while you’re asleep.”
A low, amused laugh echoed from beneath the bed. It eased the tension I didn’t realize I had been holding.
“True.”
His soft, soothing voice made me relax further. Turning my body, I lay sideways, facing Yugyeom’s direction. Barely visible beneath the bed, I caught a glimpse of Yugyeom.
“Why are you still awake?”
“Really, you don’t know?”
With a fluffy pillow hugged against my chest, I shifted my body. Peeking my face out from the edge of the bed, I met Yugyeom’s gaze. Our eyes locked briefly, the rhythm of my heartbeat quickened irregularly.
“There’s no way I can sleep when I’m with you,” I said, smiling sweetly with narrowed eyes. Yugyeom’s transparent eyes seemed to flicker slightly in response.
Perching precariously at the edge of the bed, I reached my hand towards Yugyeom.
“We both seem unable to sleep right now.”
My fingertips barely brushed near Yugyeom before my words were abruptly cut off. Yugyeom suddenly sat up and climbed onto the bed.
“Wha—what are you doing?”
Before I could finish my stammering, Yugyeom settled beside me, pulling me into his arms and exhaling deeply.
“This way, I might be able to sleep,” Yugyeom murmured, holding me close.
Raising my head slightly, I met his gaze. His eyes, softly lowered, curved gracefully.
“Is that okay?”
“Just like this, you always smile beautifully.”
I narrowed my brows but still embraced Yugyeom. Pressing my face into his firm chest, the sound of his heartbeat filled my ears.
“Don’t try to use your charm on me.”
“I thought you’d be weak to my face,” Yugyeom said softly.
The low laughter mixed with the steady rhythm of his heartbeat calmed me, like a lullaby. It felt like I was already drifting into a dream.
“Go to sleep quickly. If you don’t, I’ll push you away.”
Burrowing deeper into his arms, I snapped back playfully. Yugyeom laughed aloud once more.
“Don’t push me away. I’ve never really slept properly on nights like this, so I’m trying to sleep now.”
His words, woven between the laughter, lingered in my ears.
“…Nights like this?”
I tried to pull back slightly to look at Yugyeom, but he gently held me tighter, resting his head on mine.
“When it feels like rain could pour at any moment, I think of the lady standing in that forest,” Yugyeom said.
I immediately recognized the memory he was referring to.
Under the gloomy sky, drenched by the rain, in the forest where I had run from him that day—when I finally unleashed the sharp words meant to pierce his heart.
“If I fall asleep on those days, I always see you in my dreams.”
“…”
“You, falling under a bullet.”
His nonchalant voice carried more weight than I anticipated. It felt as though cold rain was pouring over me.
Unable to find the words, I simply held him tighter.
“I shouldn’t have brought you to that forest.”
The self-reproach was clear in my whispered tone.
For a long time, he remained silent against me, not uttering a word.
The only sound in my world was his breath. I closed my eyes and listened to it quietly.
A short yet endless time passed, and Yugyeom loosened his embrace slightly. He smiled faintly as our faces met.
“I’m going to find out soon who shot at you that day. Lee Chan is looking into it again.”
A cold sensation gripped my heart suddenly. I slowly shut and opened my eyes.
“…What did you just say?”
The feeling of shattered pieces falling beneath my feet made everything feel surreal.
“You weren’t the one who shot me back then?”
