Love Born of Pity Chapter 22

The sound of Kang Gyumin’s voice from that day floated in his mind, but he felt that any help Gyumin could offer would be less than the favors Do Yeonjae bestowed upon him. Would Gyumin take responsibility for Kwon Heeyeon? Rehabilitation wouldn’t be quick, and there was no telling how long it would take.

“……No.”

Kang Gyumin wasn’t the answer for him. He realized back at the restaurant that Gyumin couldn’t be his escape. The atmosphere between the two of them, whom he had imagined sharing their daily lives as a matter of course, wasn’t that of a couple about to get married. There was no interest, no affection. At least not from Do Yeonjae.

So… just like Kang Gyumin had said, it wasn’t a bad thing. Not yet.

♬⋆.˚

After school, the children arrived at the academy one by one and became concerned upon seeing Kwon Jiho’s face covered with a mask. He was dressed similarly to that other time, but today his eyes were also red.

“Isn’t he sick? You had pink eye that time too, didn’t you?”

“That’s right! I had pink eye. That’s why I wore an eye patch. Like Captain Hook! Argh!”

Despite Mihong’s boisterous actions, complete with a hook-shaped hand, Dabin scratched her cheek with a serious expression.

“But the teacher is wearing a mask. If it’s pink eye, he should wear an eye patch like Cha Mihong.”

“Is that so…? He said he had a cold. I think that’s right. His voice wasn’t as pretty as usual.”

At Eunsol’s worried words, the faces of the children huddled together grew gloomy. The three put their heads together and observed Jiho’s movements. They wondered what they could do for their teacher, who seemed particularly weak today.

“Let’s go to the convenience store and buy him coffee! Coffee!”

“Yeah! My dad always drinks coffee after he fights with my mom. He says his stomach is on fire!”

“What does ‘stomach on fire’ mean?”

“You, you don’t need to know! Anyway, in a cup this big, filled with ice.”

“Then let’s buy iced coffee too! Iced coffee! And let’s get ice cream!”

Mihong, jumping up and down as if she had found the solution, pulled a small coin purse from her bag.

“Hey! How much do you guys have? I have ten thousand won!”

Mihong proudly displayed her bill, then gasped and gave a thumbs-up at the five-thousand won bill Eunsol pulled out.

“I have this much.”

“I have two thousand won.”

“Then let’s go! Let’s tell the teacher we’re going to the bathroom.”

The children gathered at the table rushed over to Jiho, who was tidying up the practice room, and shouted that they were going to the bathroom. Their excitement made Jiho smile and tell them to be careful and not to run.

“You’ll get hurt if you fall, okay?”

“Okay!”

“Take your time. Or should I go with you?”

At his kind offer, the three simultaneously formed X’s with their fingers and arms, refusing. Their loud “No!” echoed through the academy. Jiho watched them rush out, then suddenly covered his mask with his hand.

Perhaps because he had been crouching with his head down for so long, his nosebleed seemed to have started again. He felt a stinging sensation. Feeling the blood trickle down, he went straight to the sink and checked the mirror as he removed his mask.

“……Ah.”

Just as he thought. He was glad the children had left. He washed his face with cold water and pinched his nostrils. He hoped the bleeding would stop soon. He didn’t want anyone to see his still-swollen, red cheek.

His gloomy gaze fell on his cheek, swollen as if he’d had a wisdom tooth pulled. It was a first. Do Yeonjae had gotten angry before, but he had never laid a hand on him like this. Cupping his cheek with his wet hand, Jiho felt the need to clear up the misunderstanding.

He had gone to the hospital, and he had tried to answer the phone, but he dropped it and couldn’t. And… the reason he got into that car was… Just organizing his thoughts brought tears to his eyes.

“Sniffle, no. Ah…”

Muttering that he shouldn’t cry, Jiho rubbed his eyes and checked if his nosebleed had stopped. Thankfully, it had. He wiped his face and went into the counseling room. He had just put on a new mask when the children returned, perfect timing.

“Teacher! Teacher!”

“You’re back?”

“Teacher! Huh?”

The children burst into the counseling room and tilted their heads, noticing Jiho’s damp hair. It’s wet! they whispered among themselves. Jiho awkwardly brushed his bangs back.

“I washed my face. Because it was hot.”

“Your eyes are red too!”

“I got soap in my eyes. I thought my eyes were stinging, and they turned red.”

The made-up excuses flowed smoothly. Fortunately, the children seemed to believe him. Jiho, touching his stinging eyes, smiled slightly and expressed curiosity about the bags in the children’s hands.

“Ah! This!”

“This is for you, Teacher!”

“Wow.”

“Coffee, jelly, and chocolate!”

He looked at the snacks they spread out on the desk and gazed at their faces. Their innocent expressions, mouths wide open in smiles, lifted his spirits a little.

Being told he could get pregnant meant that he could have children like these. He couldn’t quite imagine it. He still couldn’t believe his body was capable of carrying a child.

If he had a baby, if… by some extremely small chance, he had Do Yeonjae’s baby… Ah, what am I even thinking? Jiho shook his head slightly.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy them.”

“This…”

Eunsol pulled something out of her pocket and held it out to Jiho as he thanked them.

“This is my favorite, but I’ll give it to you, Teacher.”

It was a photo card of a celebrity Jiho had never seen before. Eunsol’s expression was serious as she offered the photo, carefully encased in a clear plastic sleeve.

“…Wow.”

“It’s my lucky charm. Good things happen when you have it. Really.”

“You’re giving me something so precious? Thank you, Eunsol.”

He stroked Eunsol’s round head as she shook it vigorously, and she shyly smiled and slipped out of the counseling room. Dabin and Mihong, who had been standing next to her, also rummaged through their pockets and placed small, cherished items on the desk.

“Take this too, Teacher.”

“And this.”

A crumpled game card and a small, worn figurine. Jiho chuckled, and the children, giggling as if embarrassed, quickly left the counseling room. Then, without being told, they went into the practice room and began playing the piano.

Jiho’s hand gently caressed the gifts the children had given him. Was this what it meant to cover bad memories with good ones? His chest, which had been aching all day, felt like it was filling with soap bubbles.

♬⋆.˚

Soap bubbles burst easily. And so, the moment Kwon Jiho saw Do Yeonjae’s face, a sharp pain shot through his chest.

“Come here.”

Do Yeonjae, who had locked the academy door and was waiting outside, spotted Jiho and called out to him without approaching. Although Jiho’s entire face was covered by a mask, making it impossible to read his expression, Yeonjae could tell he was feeling down.

Jiho quickly walked towards Yeonjae, who was standing a few steps away from his car. As soon as he stopped, Yeonjae reached out. Although it didn’t seem like he was going to hit him, Jiho instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, and a curse word ripped from Yeonjae’s lips.

“Anyone would think you get hit regularly.”

Do Yeonjae immediately removed Jiho’s mask and examined his face. He could finally see the cheek that had been hidden every time he checked the CCTV footage. The redness had been alarming, and now the cheek was swollen. He figured a bluish bruise would likely appear tomorrow.

“Get in.”

Jiho gave a small nod to Yeonjae, who opened the passenger door for him, and quickly buckled his seatbelt once inside. He wanted to see his brother, but he was hesitant because of his appearance.

Should he say he had a cold and couldn’t go to the hospital? Thinking that Yeonjae might just tell him to go home again today, he postponed his worries for a moment. He was at least thankful that the swelling around his eyes had subsided, so it didn’t look like he had been crying. He rubbed at the dryness under his eyelids when he heard Yeonjae’s voice.

“We’re going to the hospital, right?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes.”

Usually, Yeonjae would stubbornly prevent him from going, but not today. Jiho, watching Yeonjae drive as if it were the most natural thing in the world, thought he was truly an unpredictable person. Scratching the bridge of his nose, he looked around for the mask Yeonjae had removed. It wasn’t in Yeonjae’s hand or on the car floor. Had he thrown it away? That would be troublesome.

“…Director.”

“What?”

“My mask… Did you throw it away?”

At the quiet question, Yeonjae’s gaze shifted to Jiho. Even though it was a trivial matter, Jiho spoke with a subdued tone and an awkward smile, as if deeply apologetic. With his bruised face and cautious demeanor, he looked utterly pitiful.

“I think so.”

Yeonjae didn’t really remember what had happened to the mask. Whether it had fallen to the floor when he pulled it off or if he’d put it in his pocket. He didn’t want to bother checking, so he indifferently looked away.

“I don’t have a spare… It’s okay. I can buy a new one at the convenience store.”