Chapter 127
“Angel. What’s going on?”
It was exactly who I had expected standing on the other side of the door—Angel.
Besides the two in my room, the only people in Angel’s house were Angel, Ivy, and Doshiyu, leaving only Angel as the logical choice to knock on my door.
“You’re still awake?”
Angel’s voice sounded a bit awkward.
“I took a long nap earlier. I also have Lee Chan and Yugyeom inside. Want to come in?”
I gestured toward the inside of the room with my head.
After briefly glancing into the room, Angel’s gaze met with Lee Chan’s, who stood behind me. Without saying a word, Angel shook his head firmly.
“No.”
I pushed Lee Chan forcefully again, who was glaring daggers at Angel. If I left him there any longer, his irritation would boil over.
To avoid further interruptions, I stepped out and firmly closed the door.
“What are you still doing awake? Came here for something, right?”
“…Yes.”
Angel hesitated a few times before responding.
“Ivy said she wanted to go to an amusement park.”
“Amusement park?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
An amusement park. It’s common for kids to beg to go, but for Ivy to ask—something felt… different.
“If she wants to go, I’ll take her. But is it safe?”
“Boss said I could bring a few of the members to make sure nothing happens.”
I nodded thoughtfully at Angel’s explanation.
Since I don’t know exactly what happened with Ivy, it would be better to be prepared for any potential dangers.
“Boss agreed?”
Angel gave a small nod.
Unexpected. I thought someone like him wouldn’t bother with things like that.
I smiled and gave Angel’s shoulder a few encouraging pats.
“That’s good. Ivy will enjoy it. Have fun.”
Angel couldn’t avoid my gaze any longer. His green eyes flickered side to side as he spoke.
“…It’s because the young lady is going too.”
Thud. My heels, which had been slightly raised, dropped flat to the floor.
I blinked my wide eyes, quickly repeating,
“What? Me?”
Angel’s expression was as uncomfortable as ever.
“Why me…?”
This condition set by Baek Hawoon? The reason I had to go with Angel and Ivy to the amusement park made no sense at all.
I racked my brain, but no clear answer emerged.
“I don’t even know the reason.”
Angel glanced at me, perhaps feeling guilty for asking me to come along.
It wasn’t a difficult request, so I wondered why he was acting so cautious.
Trying to maintain a neutral expression, I looked at Angel’s face.
Seeing my expression, perhaps fearing I wouldn’t be happy about going to the amusement park, Angel hurriedly added,
“It’s okay if you don’t want to.”
I quickly shook my head.
“No, let’s go together.”
Angel’s face seemed to light up like a switch had been flipped.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded confidently.
“With people from Boss, it should be safe. I’ve never really gone to an amusement park or zoo for fun, so it might be nice.”
Thinking about it, I had never experienced a normal day at such places.
If Baek Hawoon insists on me going, it should be safe enough.
Though I felt a bit uneasy, I didn’t want Ivy to miss out on an amusement park trip just because of me.
“Then the day after tomorrow?”
“I’m good anytime.”
“Thank you for doing this. I feel bad for bothering you.”
Angel looked genuinely happy, smiling widely.
Had I refused, what would he have done? Seeing Angel’s joyful face made the idea of going to the amusement park unexpectedly enjoyable.
“Actually, Ivy really wanted to go with you.”
“With me?”
“Yes, she said she was grateful for your help at the gallery.”
Suddenly, I almost froze. I involuntarily forced a smile, realizing that this reality—the one I had desperately avoided—was being dragged up again, suffocating me. My stomach churned.
If what I suspected was true, that Doshiyu was behind killing Ivy’s father, and Ivy knew about it at the gallery—
I had thought I was helping Ivy, but it felt like I was complicating her situation even further.
“…Have you found out what happened to Ivy yet?”
“No, not yet.”
Angel sighed deeply, shaking his head slightly.
“All I know is her name. It’s been difficult to gather anything useful. I’m focusing on finding her father, who’s lost.”
It seemed that the only person who knew the full truth was Ivy herself.
Ivy knew Doshiyu’s face, but Doshiyu had no idea who Ivy was. If he had, she wouldn’t have been sent to the orphanage.
I had spent days trying to figure out what to do—whether to confront Doshiyu, speak to someone about it, or let it go.
Killing the casino owner and framing Ivy’s father’s murder could be seen as a move for the organization, but who among the people I knew would dare hold Doshiyu accountable?
And so the question remained: ‘So what? What’s the problem?’
I couldn’t voice those words because I feared the answer would be something I couldn’t handle.
In this seemingly endless situation, I even found a strange comfort in the fact that Doshiyu was lying in a hospital bed, unable to cause any harm for now.
“Isn’t it hard if Ivy doesn’t speak up at all?”
“Yes, it is. That’s why I thought I’d take her to the amusement park, to distract her a bit. You never know if it’s related to anything dangerous.”
Angel replied with a worried expression. I stared at his face and hesitated.
Would it be any different with Angel?
But even if it were, it would be a problem. If Angel, fueled by anger, sought revenge on Doshiyu for Ivy’s sake, he wouldn’t survive.
“Please let me know if you discover anything, no matter how unclear it is.”
“…Okay.”
In the end, I couldn’t say a word to Angel.
***
I sat at my desk, fiddling with the alphabet-engraved gun in my hand. I had spent the whole day lost in thought, not stepping outside my room once.
After visiting the amusement park with Angel and Ivy, I’d have to get them away from here. I couldn’t think of a better way to handle this.
When should I meet Doshiyu? I heard he was improving. Soon, he’d be out of the hospital and on his feet again.
I had to ask him—’Did you really kill him?’
But if Doshiyu calmly said, ‘Yes’, I wasn’t sure if I could keep my composure.
Why? Why did you do it?
How could you shatter an innocent person’s life so easily, with such a casual expression?
When Cha Yeonbyeol curses and hates Doshiyu, holding onto her resentment in this world—
Would it be justified?
Just then, strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
“It’s already tomorrow.”
The low whisper tickled my ear.
I swept my hair back and turned my head. A sweet scent brushed against my nose.
“What?”
Yugyeom looked down at me, his smile deep and knowing.
“The day you’re leaving me behind to go out.”
Only then did I realize what Yugyeom was talking about, and I sighed softly.
Tomorrow was the day Angel and Ivy and I would go to the amusement park.
I had been stuck inside all day, and the day had slipped by so quickly I hadn’t realized it until now.
“I’d like to go with you, but I can’t help it.”
I gently ran my fingers along Yugyeom’s hair, catching the strands glinting in the moonlight beyond the window.
“What if Ivy sees you again and gets scared?”
Yugyeom’s smile lingered lazily, a sleepy, languid expression.
“I know.”
Yugyeom gently wrapped my hand in his, lowering his body to one knee in front of me.
“I know with my head, but I don’t want to be apart.”
He held my hand tightly, resting his face on his knee, and spoke in a soft, sweet whisper that held a touch of longing.
“It’s not like I’m going to sleep; it’s only a few hours before I’m back.”
I smiled softly, lowering my eyes as I chuckled lightly.
I understood what Yugyeom was saying. I felt the same way— I didn’t want to leave him alone.
Even without anything special happening, just having him beside me felt more comforting than I had ever imagined.
Even if this isn’t the final page of a storybook, or a perfect happy ending, it was enough.
But when Yugyeom’s eyes disappear, it leaves this hollow feeling as if it were all just a dream. Maybe Yugyeom felt the same way.
Still, I couldn’t break my promise to Angel, so I decided to change the subject.
“What about Lee Chan? Is he still trying to figure out who shot at me back then?”
Yugyeom lifted his face from his resting spot on my knee.
“Yes, we need to find out. He might still be looking. They found CCTV footage we hadn’t seen before, so we’re hopeful we can track them down soon.”
“Seriously, he’s still not given up? That was months ago.”
The thought of someone still targeting me gave me chills, and I instinctively brushed down my arms.
“You never know. They might be waiting for the right moment. But don’t worry, Princess, you’re safe with me.”
Yugyeom smiled faintly.
“Then you don’t worry either.”
Yugyeom lowered his gaze. Moonlight gently settled on his lowered lashes.
“I’m not worried. You’re not the kind of person who easily gets hurt.”
His eyes flicked back up to meet mine with a smile, but there was something different—a slight tension behind his gaze.
“But that makes me more scared.”
“…?”
“The thought of you rushing off alone, where I can’t protect you.”
My heart thumped wildly, suddenly heavier, and I instinctively tried to steady my breath.
“Don’t try to handle everything on your own.”
Yugyeom tightened his grip on my hand.
It feels as if you can see right into my thoughts. You only speak the words I want to hear.
“I’ll be wherever you need me.”
But that makes me even more scared.
“So don’t get lost. Come to me.”
The burden I carry alone—fearful that it might strangle your breath.
My throat tightened, and I couldn’t form a response. Yugyeom smiled gently and stood up.
“It’s getting late. I should go.”
I rose from my chair to follow Yugyeom. As I stood, he turned to the door, his hand on the doorknob.
“See you tomorrow.”
I hesitated for a moment, then gave him a short farewell.
Yugyeom didn’t turn back to look at me. I sat down again, expecting him to leave without another word.
But a few seconds passed, and the doorknob remained still.
“…?”
Time seemed to stand still as Yugyeom didn’t move.
Suddenly, Yugyeom turned around. Without a word, he walked purposefully back to me.
Taken aback by his sudden closeness, I instinctively pushed back, gripping the table edge.
“I didn’t expect you to grab hold of me too…”
His shadowed eyes descended slowly.
Though his voice had a hint of amusement, his lowered gaze revealed a crack beneath the surface.
“I don’t even want to be apart like this,”
Yugyeom folded his body slightly, lowering to my level. His outstretched arm covered my hand resting on the table.
His clear eyes seemed to pierce through me, bending softly around their target.
“I just don’t want to let you go like this.”
