Love Born of Pity Chapter 124

An elegant man, entirely out of place in a snack bar, picked up a thick slice of kimbap and popped it into his mouth. He only opened his mouth to speak after cleanly swallowing the contents. His table manners were impeccable, regardless of the time or place.

“When I’m busy.”

“Still, this must be your first time in a place like this.”

“It is. But it’s tasty, and it’s not bad. It’s good enough that I’m looking forward to the other dishes we ordered.”

Honestly, Kwon Jiho was a bit surprised. He had expected Do Yeonjae to be reluctant to eat the food, but half a roll of kimbap had already disappeared into his mouth.

“I was worried. I didn’t know what I’d do if you hated it.”

“I don’t think there’s ever been anything I didn’t like when doing it with you. Why would you worry about that?”

Do Yeonjae shrugged his shoulders as if puzzled. Just then, the chewy noodles were placed on the table. Kwon Jiho’s gaze was fixed on the noodles tossed in the bright red sauce. Half a boiled egg was placed appetizingly on top.

“Eat, go ahead.”

“I’ll eat well.”

Before his words had even faded, his chopsticks were moving. In truth, Kwon Jiho couldn’t remember what conversation they had from that moment on, or what he had said himself. It was simply too delicious. He was captivated by the spicy and tart flavor. It tasted much better now than when Kwon Heeyeon was hospitalized. Although the other ordered dishes were placed on the table one after another, Kwon Jiho’s utensils didn’t reach them.

Do Yeonjae quietly asked for the food Kwon Jiho wasn’t eating to be cleared away. He made sure there wouldn’t be a pause in the meal by ordering another bowl of chewy noodles just for him.

“This is really delicious.”

“Eat a lot.”

As the bottom of the bowl began to show, Do Yeonjae ordered a fresh one and swapped it out, making Kwon Jiho’s eyes widen. Perhaps moved, he moved his chopsticks with watery, glistening eyes.

“I wanted to eat more… thank you.”

“We should come here often.”

“Yes, here. I used to come almost every day. Whenever I had a little extra money from my part-time job, I’d buy pork cutlet, and when I was short even a few thousand won, I’d just get by with a roll of kimbap. There isn’t much difference, but back then basic kimbap was 1,500 won, so if I saved just a little, I could somehow manage not to starve.”

Kwon Jiho spoke of that time, those days, in a calm tone while swallowing the chewy noodles that filled his mouth.

“On the days I ate pork cutlet, I felt sorry because I was eating something so delicious all by myself while my sister was lying in the hospital. My solar plexus hurt as if I had indigestion, but I couldn’t throw it up because the money was too precious. But thinking about it now… I think that was guilt.”

“You are so kind.”

“…Heeyeon isn’t a bad person. Since she’s my sister, I know her best. We don’t look alike because we have different fathers, but if you look closely, she looks a lot like me.”

It was an earnest request for him not to hate her. Do Yeonjae poked a piece of pork cutlet and put it into Kwon Jiho’s mouth.

“Yes. I don’t think she’s a bad person, either.”

She’s just crafty and rude compared to how stupid she is. Anyway, since he wasn’t going to tell Kwon Jiho the truth that she wasn’t his biological sister, there was no need to insist they didn’t look alike at all.

“Please… look at her favorably.”

“I will. Because she’s your sister.”

Do Yeonjae asserted that his decision to send Kwon Heeyeon overseas was the best choice he had made this year. He encouraged Kwon Jiho, who had flushed cheeks and a soft expression as if he were about to cry, to finish his meal.

“After we finish this, we’ll cut your hair, and then we’ll watch a movie.”

“…Yes.”

“Should I order more?”

“No, this is plenty.”

Kwon Jiho smiled shyly and again picked up a large portion of noodles. He felt good thinking that Do Yeonjae wouldn’t look at his sister in only a bad light anymore. It was a perfect meal, enough to finally feel satiated after a long time.

After leaving the snack bar, the two headed straight to the hair salon. It was also a place Kwon Jiho visited often. Do Yeonjae responded vaguely to the hairstylist’s greeting as she welcomed them, noting it had been a while.

Kwon Jiho also fidgeted and bowed his head slightly. Although he had been following Do Yeonjae to the salon for years, he still felt awkward and didn’t quite adapt to it every time he came.

Do Yeonjae stood beside Kwon Jiho, who was wearing a cutting cape, and explained how and how much he wanted his hair cut. The hairstylist listened to his picky demands, shared enough opinions, and began the cut.

With a crisp sound, the hair was trimmed away. Since he was a client who didn’t like small talk, there was no conversation throughout the cut. Quietly, neatly, and quickly finishing the cut, the two swiftly left the hair salon.

♬⋆.˚

Do Yeonjae was in a hurry. The drive-in theater wasn’t far, but there wasn’t much time left until the movie started.

“I think my hair is too short.”

“It’s pretty. You look like a baby.”

Feeling the back of his neck bare, Kwon Jiho’s hand brushed the area repeatedly. The bangs felt short, too. It felt light, but he was embarrassed because it felt like his face was too exposed.

“You’re cute.”

It reached the point where he wanted to kiss every exposed spot, but he kept his mouth shut, thinking Kwon Jiho would be surprised if he confessed that honestly. Every time they were stuck at a signal, Do Yeonjae turned his head to stare longingly at his pretty ears, his cheeks flushed with heat, and the nape of his neck. Even while in a rush, Kwon Jiho was a sight to behold.

Perhaps burdened by his intense gaze, Kwon Jiho covered his face with his hands and asked.

“…W-what kind of movie is it?”

“A hero movie.”

“A hero…?”

“I can’t help but think about the prenatal care. If there’s bad language or cruel scenes, it would probably be bad for the baby.”

At the word “prenatal care” from Do Yeonjae’s mouth, Kwon Jiho stopped moving for an instant. He lowered the hands covering his face, revealing the corners of his eyes, and looked toward the driver’s seat. In truth, he had always been reluctant to talk about the baby with him.

He had told him to give birth to the baby, but he hadn’t wanted it. His pregnancy was merely a means for him to hold onto him when he tried to leave. Since he knew that fact, he assumed the affection for the baby belonged solely to himself.

“And the prenatal nickname, for that matter. Shouldn’t we start calling it that now? It’s still small, but they say it can hear you around the fifth month.”

“Ah…”

“Have you thought of one?”

“No, I haven’t… haven’t thought about that.”

Do Yeonjae nodded. He turned the steering wheel to take a U-turn signal while saying they should think about it slowly. They followed the guidance lights at the entrance of the drive-in theater.

Kwon Jiho suddenly found it cute how the cars were parking one by one in the spots designated by the staff while following the rules. Do Yeonjae also slowed down following the staff’s hand signals and finished parking. Turning off the lights and unbuckling his seatbelt, he suddenly leaned in.

Chu, their lips met unexpectedly. Kwon Jiho, who rubbed his lips still as if in surprise, blushed immediately.

“Shall we get some popcorn?”

“…Anything is fine.”

“Shall we go out together?”

After some thought, Kwon Jiho nodded. Do Yeonjae’s hand reached out naturally to stroke Kwon Jiho’s hair. His face was visible now that the length was just trimmed. Is it because the bangs got shorter? It made him look even more youthful, revealing his nicely shaped eyebrows.

“Why are you doing that?”

“You’re so pretty that I don’t want to take you out. You’re this pretty in my eyes, so I wonder how pretty you must be in the eyes of other… people.”

“What does that mean…”

Kwon Jiho scratched his cheek while watching Do Yeonjae say strange things. Objectively or subjectively, it was he who was excellent in appearance. His own looks weren’t anything for Do Yeonjae to worry about.

“We should have brought a muffler at least.”

“…It’s not that much.”

“You don’t even know how much… you drive me crazy.”

At the low voice, Kwon Jiho didn’t answer and opened the door. His face was hot, flushed with embarrassment. While he waited, rubbing his cheeks, Do Yeonjae rushed over and held his hand.

“Let’s go.”

Kwon Jiho, heading toward the brightly lit snack bar, stopped his feet at the savory smell of popcorn. He felt a bit nauseous.

“Ah… Director.”

“Yeah?”

“I think it’s better if I stay in the car. Because of the popcorn smell… my stomach doesn’t feel good.”

Do Yeonjae immediately wrapped his arm around Kwon Jiho’s shoulder with a serious expression. He took a handkerchief out of his jacket to cover Kwon Jiho’s mouth and hurried his pace. Even while walking quickly, he asked him several times to be careful since the floor was dark. After opening the passenger door and seating Kwon Jiho, he was about to head back immediately, but Kwon Jiho stopped him.

“Director.”

“Let’s go home. You ate well for the first time in a while.”

“No, it’s just a little nauseous. I’m really fine. Instead, I want to drink lemonade. Sour jelly would be good, too. If there are lemon-flavored candies or something like that, I think it would help with the nausea.”

Because he didn’t want to go home just like this, he told him one by one what he needed. Do Yeonjae examined Kwon Jiho’s face with a serious expression throughout, then let out a sigh.

“If you feel even a little strange, tell me. Don’t hold it in.”

“Then… what you’re wearing. I think it would be good if you gave me that before you go.”

To think the thing he requested after hesitating was his jacket. Do Yeonjae took off his clothes immediately. Kwon Jiho, who pulled up the collar as soon as he covered him with it, inhaled deeply.

“Now it’s okay.”

Do Yeonjae gazed at Kwon Jiho, whose face was half-covered with his clothes, and fell into thought for a moment. Perhaps, he wondered, it wouldn’t be okay to expose him to his pheromones little by little. But not in such a cramped space. And it certainly wasn’t something to talk about right now.

“Stay here for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

“…Chocolate, too.”

“I’ll buy it for you.”