Chapter 9
As expected from a person with a strong physique, he had incredible resilience.
Dae-gil had said that he would have difficulty walking properly for at least two weeks, but the man walked out of the living room alone a whole week after regaining consciousness.
His quick recovery was a very welcome thing for Haein, but Soo-cheol, who had been helping him with small things like supporting him and even helping him shower, looked a bit disappointed.
Although he always complained that things were hard, he seemed to be secretly feeling proud that he was someone who was essential to him.
Haein still couldn’t figure it out. What on earth was it about that man that Soo-cheol liked so much?
Of course, I asked at some point… .
“It’s just cool.”
The answer was so simple that she felt even more confused.
It was a sunny day and not too cold.
As soon as Dae-gil left for work, Haein grabbed a long broom and went out into the yard. The yard was a mess because she had been cooped up in her room for the past few days due to the ‘patient in the next room.’
Because the sea breeze blew incessantly, if you didn’t sweep even for a day, dust would swirl in the corners.
While she was letting it go, the dust piled up, and eventually Dae-gil, who couldn’t stand to watch any longer, started dancing around in the swirling dust and gave a look.
“Ahh, it’s a feast.”
Although she had been paying a reasonable amount of money regularly, at some point the cleaning and meal preparation became her responsibility.
However, Haein had no complaints at all. In the first place, it was she who had stubbornly settled down in a place that wasn’t even a lodging facility, and it was also she who had rolled up her sleeves and said she would take care of all the housework.
Haein was more than grateful that a stranger she had met for the first time in her life had kindly given her a room.
It was a time when I had to put all my nerves behind me and fight steadfastly.
“1027. You didn’t get call from that no. Right?”
A man who was sitting on the veranda smoking a cigarette finally spoke to her. Haein, who had been intentionally turning her back even though she sensed his presence, was startled for no reason and shook her shoulders.
In fact, I was starting to sweat as I held the broom, so it wasn’t like I was going to talk to him at any moment.
“No. Not yet….”
Sadly, the answer to the man’s question that he had been asking every chance he had for the past few days was the same today as well.
The man’s sigh broke behind her back. Now, I was waiting for the call from ‘1027’ even more. I thought that if anyone could contact him, the man would leave this place as soon as possible.
The man fell silent again. Only the sound of a squeak broke the silence awkwardly. It was several seconds later when another uncomfortable question came.
“Do you know my name by any chance?”
“… … .”
As soon as the question came, Haein unconsciously rolled his name on the tip of her tongue.
Nam Tae-geon.
Even Dae-gil called him ‘You’ and ‘Hey’, so it was quite awkward to say his name.
Haein buried her lips deep inside her thick muffler and answered honestly.
“Yes.”
The vigil that had stopped for a moment began again. He asked in a tone that seemed a little unexpected.
“How did you know?”
Ah.
For a moment, I thought, “Oh no.”
If she said that Yongsun told her, then she might be in trouble, so she was worried belatedly. Moreover, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Yongsun had told her everything about his 32 years of life.
Ah. I should have said I didn’t know.
Haein, who has no ability to hold back spilled water and just muddled with the issue.
“I just heard.”
“Where?”
Oh, what a persistent human being.
I would like him to think that she heard it from Dae-gil, but it seemed that he knew very well that Dae-gil had kept his name secret.
Even so, why did the man ask if I knew his name? Was it to test me in the first place?
Anyway, he was a man with a strange grammar and a quick temper. If you don’t get your act together, you’ll be swayed quickly.
Haein closed her eyes tightly and opened them again, keeping her wits about her and answering vaguely.
“Everyone in the village knows about you, Mr. Nam Tae-geon.”
“…I see.”
Only then did he agree and stopped biting her tail. As I was secretly sighing in relief, he spoke with a voice mixed with laughter.
“That’s unfair… I don’t know your name.”
“… … .”
Haein didn’t stop her squealing. She just became a little slower, like a worn-out spring. She didn’t answer because it wasn’t a question, but then he ended up adding a question mark further.
“What’s your name?”
Haein gripped the broom tightly. She wasn’t as flustered as he had thought because she had guessed the question from the flow of the conversation, but she ended up feeling a little nervous.
“… Its Lee Soon-Jeong”
It was a name that everyone in the town knew. Even those who hadn’t already noticed her were pretending not to know and were covering it up.
She had no doubt that if she went outside the gate and asked anyone, everyone in Songdae Village would say that her name was, “Lee Soon-Jeong.”
But I didn’t know why I felt uneasy in a corner of my heart. Even though I had been shamelessly saying, “I’m innocent,” all this time.
As expected, this man is difficult, uncomfortable, and scary.
“Lee Soon-Jeong… .”
He slowly whispered her name, which was not really hers.
“It seems like it suits you… .”
I don’t think so.
I feel like the words that came out as if swallowing were lodged even louder in my ears… I guess it’s just my imagination.
He didn’t say anything more. Judging from the fact that the smell of cigarette smoke had completely disappeared, it seemed like it had been a while since he had turned it off. But there was no movement, not even the slightest sound, as if he hadn’t moved a single finger.
From the back of my head, down my spine, to my heels, every part of my body was exposed to his gaze and it felt tingly.
It was at that moment when she, who had been sweeping the same spot for some time, was about to quietly move her feet.
“Ms. Lee Soon-Jeong.”
The name that sounded particularly unfamiliar struck the back of her neck. Haein answered with a slightly awkward feeling.
“…Yes, go ahead.”
“… … .”
But for some reason, no further comment followed. It seemed like at least ten seconds had passed in silence, with only the light squeaking sound reaching my ears.
When I finally turned my head out of curiosity, the man smiled with satisfaction as if he had won a bet.
Ah.
Since I was only showing my back the whole time, I was sure he was deliberately keeping silent to divert my gaze.
This is so mean….
Even though she had guessed what was going on, Haein couldn’t turn her eyes away. The sight of the man leaning against the pillar with only one leg raised on the floor and his knee raised was what had infuriatingly stolen her gaze.
I can’t even tell him how surprised I was a few days ago when he walked out of the room on his own two feet.
The man who was already impressive enough when he was just lying still, standing tall in front of me with his long legs, really took my breath away. I knew he was tall and had broad shoulders, but when we stood face to face, it felt different.
But my goodness. Even the blue tracksuit that Soo-cheol bought for him from the town last night looks like a luxury item.
Indeed, his beauty isn’t a joke.
“At a glance, you seem younger than me.”
He stared at Haein’s mask with a different meaning from hers, and then suddenly spoke lightly.
“Can we speak more comfortably now? I feel a little uncomfortable with formality.”
The focus that had been lost in the moment due to the picturesque appearance suddenly regained its composure. Haein felt strangely uncomfortable as she replayed the man’s words that she had unintentionally overheard in her head.
What kind of symbol is it to ask for consent when the speech is already short?
“No.”
Haein said that bluntly and turned around. It was the most resolute and blunt response she had ever shown him.
He asked with a laugh in his voice, perhaps because it was an unexpected iron wall.
“Why?”
Evil- man. Haein answered stiffly, putting more force into her voice.
“I like it this way because it’s awkward.”
Even if it was only one-sided, if honorifics disappeared from human relationships, the distance would quickly narrow. Isn’t that the case just in the relationship between him and Soo-cheol?
Although less than a week had passed since the man regained consciousness, Soo-cheol and he had become rapidly close, as if they had been living together for years.
Of course, it seemed like Soo-cheol was serving him with a thorough attitude, but it was obvious that the man was also secretly taking care of Soo-cheol and was very comfortable with him.
Haein never wanted to get close to him. Even if it wasn’t because of her dubious job, a new relationship would be an enormous luxury and burden to her now.
Of course, the biggest reason is that he’s still a little scary.
“Awkward, but good….”
He slowly chewed on her words as if they were amusing. A faint laugh rang out from behind Haein.
“Okay, then.”
He returned to his usual polite manners and opened the lighter cap with a loud crack. It seemed to be some sort of habit.
“You keep being awkward then, Lee Soon-Jeong.”
The sound of a lighter closing sharply struck the back of my neck.
The man’s voice, still filled with laughter, seemed to be floating through the swirling dust.
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