Love Born of Pity Chapter 51

Even with the lengthy excuses, Do Yeonjae’s furrowed brow didn’t relax.

“You’re acting like this because you’re sick somewhere.”

“I’m not sick. Really, I’m not. Nosebleeds aren’t from being sick. This kind of thing is really okay. Thank you for your concern. Later, if I’m sick, I’ll tell you. I’ll definitely tell you, Director.”

At the pleading voice that didn’t want to go, Do Yeonjae sighed deeply. Kwon Jiho felt like he would be dragged away forcibly if he didn’t speak more firmly, so he opened his mouth again.

“I don’t want to go to the hospital, Director. I’m scared.”

The words of fear were sincere. Due to Kwon Heeyeon’s long hospitalization, the hospital, for Kwon Jiho, was a scary place where his younger sibling might die at any moment. Do Yeonjae, feeling somewhat pity for Kwon Jiho, reached out and tapped his pale cheek.

“Really? Then was it someone else who went to the ophthalmologist, not Mr. Kwon Jiho? Did you get a prescription for someone else?”

“…I went because I was worried it might be contagious. I was worried I might spread it to the children. And… I didn’t want to look messy to you, Director.”

Kwon Jiho cautiously reached out and retrieved the eye drops that Do Yeonjae had taken. Then, after gauging the mood, he carefully snuggled into Do Yeonjae’s embrace. He rested his cheek against Do Yeonjae’s bare chest, clad only in his lower garments, and thanked him once again for his concern. Do Yeonjae found it cute how the foolish Kwon Jiho sometimes acted clever.

“Do you want to wash up? I’m going to prepare breakfast.”

“You?”

“I think I can prepare something like toast. Take your time. Take your time.”

Do Yeonjae missed the timing to stop Kwon Jiho as he left for the dressing room. Only the sweet scent of the shampoo Kwon Jiho used lingered along with the humidity, floating in the suddenly empty space. Do Yeonjae, covering his face with his palm and chuckling to himself, entered the bathroom.

After finishing his shower with cold water, Do Yeonjae, wearing a shirt and the tie Kwon Jiho had chosen for him, adjusted the knot in front of the mirror. It was so far from his taste that he wondered if he even owned such a thing, but since Kwon Jiho wanted to choose something for him, just as he chose Kwon Jiho’s clothes, he had no choice but to endure it.

As he left the bedroom with his jacket, a faint smell of burning filled the house. It seemed like a window had been opened hastily, but apparently not long enough for the air to clear. Do Yeonjae, unaware that his lips were curved into a smile, headed towards the dining room. Kwon Jiho was wrestling with the toaster.

“Why does it keep burning?”

He muttered in a voice that genuinely seemed perplexed, tapping the white body of the appliance. If you hit it like that, would it listen, whether it’s a machine or a person? As Do Yeonjae reached out from behind Kwon Jiho, the startled Kwon Jiho quickly lifted his head.

“I, I’m not done yet.”

“Just how many slices have you burned?”

“…No, it’s not that… It keeps burning. It’s too hot.”

At Kwon Jiho’s tearful expression, Do Yeonjae laughed and adjusted the temperature. Only then did Kwon Jiho realize what he had done wrong.

“Sit down.”

“…I’m sorry.”

He hadn’t expected Kwon Jiho to diligently prepare breakfast from the start, so he simply found the current situation amusing. Do Yeonjae put bread in the toaster, turned around, and smiled softly.

“Our Mr. Kwon Jiho can’t do anything properly, can he?”

Despite the soft and gentle tone, the words were teasing. Kwon Jiho’s face turned bright red in an instant.

After eating the breakfast that Do Yeonjae had finished preparing, they left the house together. Kwon Jiho gratefully accepted Do Yeonjae’s offer to drop him off on his way to work.

“Go in first today without waiting.”

“Will you be late?”

“A little.”

He had arranged to have dinner with Kang Gyumin at his family home. Even though the wedding was still months away, both his family and Kang Gyumin acted as if they were already family. The car, carrying the two of them, quickly reached the familiar main road since the academy wasn’t far from home.

“Eat dinner and rest.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

“Okay.”

Kwon Jiho wondered whether he should turn his head away from the obvious gaze directed at him, or if he should say something else. Usually, Do Yeonjae would be looking at his tablet in the car, but today he was looking at Kwon Jiho’s face much more.

“…It’s hot, so please make sure to eat well.”

“Mr. Kwon Jiho too.”

Do Yeonjae’s gaze didn’t shift. He stared intently at Kwon Jiho with a faint smile playing on his lips. He wished Do Yeonjae would just tell him. Not knowing why Do Yeonjae was acting like this made Kwon Jiho anxious and uneasy.

He fidgeted with his hand resting on his thigh and finally reached out to grab the hem of Do Yeonjae’s clothes. Do Yeonjae tilted his head as if encouraging him to do more, and waited for his next move.

Kwon Jiho glanced at how much further it was to the academy. He gauged the distance and then lifted his head. He closed his eyes as he saw Do Yeonjae’s lips curve into a smile as their faces drew closer. A light, ticklish sound rang out. peck

“Good job.”

With the words of praise, Do Yeonjae’s hand cupped Kwon Jiho’s cheek and pulled him closer. Their lips touched lightly once more before parting. The kiss didn’t deepen. Just then, the car arrived in front of the academy and stopped smoothly. Do Yeonjae pressed his lips to Kwon Jiho’s cheek a few more times before releasing him.

“Don’t follow strangers, and try not to leave the academy.”

It was as if he was talking to a small child, but Kwon Jiho obediently nodded. He meekly replied that he would do as told and bowed his head. Even after opening the car door and getting out, Kwon Jiho didn’t move right away. He waited until the car carrying Do Yeonjae drove away.

♬⋆.˚

Kwon Jiho arrived at the academy earlier than usual, and with nothing to do, he sat blankly before slowly starting to tidy up. He swept the floor and dusted the shelves. He meticulously wiped the cute little decorations, rearranged them, and after he had done all that, he slumped back against his chair.

Did he take his supplements this morning? He remembered putting in his eye drops, but couldn’t recall taking his supplements. Kwon Jiho, nervously intertwining his fingers on the table, rummaged through his bag and pulled out the supplements. He swallowed them without water and paced around the academy before suddenly leaving with only his card in hand.

Kwon Jiho rubbed his right eye habitually as he headed towards the cafe. He hadn’t locked the door, intending to return quickly. Taking the supplements made him feel like his ears were finally opening. The noise from the street gradually started to penetrate his ears.

As soon as he entered the cafe, he ordered an Americano with two extra shots and stood quietly near the pick-up counter. Kwon Jiho, who had grabbed a straw beforehand, checked the weather through the clear glass window. It had been sunny when he left the house, but now dark clouds covered the sky.

“They said it would be clear…”

Was there a forecast for rain? A tall man stopped abruptly in front of Kwon Jiho, who was blinking slowly. Looking up, he saw a man he only recognized by face standing with a grumpy expression.

“…Oh?”

“You recognize me. Well, hello.”

“Hello…?”

“Yes, it seems like you want to ask what I’m doing here. I stopped by by chance on my way. It’s not like I came here because I thought I might run into Mr. Kwon Jiho. I come here every day these days. To buy coffee. I come here at this time, even though this place is further than the one near the hospital, because the coffee tastes better here. But I have to come at this time to see Mr. Kwon Jiho, huh?”

He spoke so much at once, pouring out his words, that Kwon Jiho couldn’t quite understand him. Kwon Jiho opened his mouth slightly and wore a blank expression.

“Your eyes still look the same. How’s your hearing?”

“Ah, just… I think it’s okay because I took my medicine.”

“You’re covered in pheromones, absolutely covered. Haven’t you told your partner yet? You’re going to be in big trouble, you know.”

Ch… Ch… Kwon Jiho, trying to recall the man’s name, smiled awkwardly and lowered his gaze. He wished his coffee would hurry up and be ready, but today it was taking especially long. The shop wasn’t even busy. The man easily noticed Kwon Jiho’s unease and leaned in slightly.

“You forgot, didn’t you?”

“…Yes?”

“My name. Well, okay. What does it matter? It’s enough that you remember that I’m a doctor.”

Choi Suhyeok, smiling brightly, slowly told Kwon Jiho his name. He playfully suggested that Kwon Jiho try saying it, but Kwon Jiho never ended up calling his name.

“That day, you were going into this building too. What do you do?”

“…”

“I thought you ran some kind of studio, like painting or crafting, because your hands are really clean and pretty. Your nails are well-kept too. And you don’t smell of paint.”

Kwon Jiho scratched his cheek, then, seeing his coffee being brought over by the cafe owner, he reached out for it. At Kwon Jiho’s words of thanks, the owner carefully observed Choi Suhyeok before bowing his head in return. Having heard the conversation between the two from a close distance, he planned to contact Manager Kim as soon as Kwon Jiho left the shop.

He wiped the spotless glass again, focusing on Kwon Jiho’s voice. Was this also part of being an informant? He stole glances at Kwon Jiho’s innocent face and quickly smiled when their eyes met.

Wasn’t this just information sharing? He didn’t know what the relationship was between the building owner and Kwon Jiho, but he didn’t feel the need to refuse a 10% reduction in rent. Regretting that he’d turned the music up too loud, he stretched his arm to the side. He moved little by little, wiping the coffee machine, trying not to make it obvious he was eavesdropping.