Love Born of Pity Chapter 75

Hwang Gicheol, deliberately making his lip movements and voice large, told the guard that if he wasn’t going to bring it, he would go himself. The guard’s expression was looser than it had been in the morning. Whether it was because of the single drink that had made him feel some sort of familiarity with Kwon Jiho, he said he would do it himself, something he would normally have told him to wait or have Hwang Gicheol bring.

“I’ll bring it to you, so just wait a moment.”

“I could have brought it. Okay, thank you.”

Hwang Gicheol reacted theatrically. He made big gestures and loudly relayed the message to Kwon Jiho.

“He said he’ll bring it.”

“……Thank you.”

The guard, after confirming that Kwon Jiho bowed his head, turned and left the room. It was surprising since he had never once left his post before, but he thought he had to contact Kang Gyumin quickly while his guard was down. As Kwon Jiho was taking out his phone, Hwang Gicheol grabbed his arm. When he raised his gaze, he pointed a finger to his ear.

“Mr. Jiho, you can’t hear, can you.”

“……”

“Yes, I thought it was strange. You can’t hear well?”

I didn’t want to get caught. Or maybe it was a relief, as it might earn him some sympathy. Kwon Jiho stared intently at Hwang Gicheol before nodding his head.

“They say it’s a side effect of the pheromones. I can’t hear or see with my right ear and eye, but the Director doesn’t know. I don’t want to let him know. Please pretend you don’t know. I’m asking you.”

“……”

“I’m okay, I’ve adapted to this. I can hear with my left side. It’s just… not very well.”

It wasn’t a lie, as his left hearing, though hindered by the right side, was still functional. As Kwon Jiho lowered his head and just held the phone blankly, Hwang Gicheol took it and unlocked the screen. With the belated thought of “is this okay,” he opened the messaging app and handed it over.

Kwon Jiho placed his fingers on the unfamiliar keypad. He hesitated, then wrote the message, one character at a time.

<This is Kwon Jiho. Only text is possible. Please contact me at this number now.>

The moment he returned the phone to Hwang Gicheol, the door opened with good timing. The man who had returned quickly held out a piece of paper and a pen. Kwon Jiho, as if to hide his trembling pupils, bowed his head deeply towards him, held the pen in his hand, and quietly muttered, “thank you.”

Kwon Jiho moved to the table in a corner of the room, sat down, and slowly created a list. He filled it densely, focusing on his favorite pieces, and handed it over after a long time. The man photographed it as it was and sent it to Chief Kim.

At the same time, in his office, Chief Kim, who was checking Do Yeonjae’s schedule, confirmed the message that had just arrived. It was the list of piano pieces that Kwon Jiho wanted to listen to. He printed the received photo as it was, but the font size was too small, and the handwriting was very difficult to read.

“Hmm…….”

He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he could take this to Do Yeonjae as it was. Checking the time, he let out a sigh and pressed the dial. The extension didn’t connect right away. Just as he was about to put down the receiver, a voice came through, and he straightened his slouched posture.

“I just received the list that Mr. Kwon Jiho passed over. Yes, as a photo. Shall I organize it and deliver it? Ah, yes. I understand. I will bring it right now.”

At the instruction to bring the photo as it was, Chief Kim stood up lightly. He had been on the verge of a headache, unable to decipher any of the alphabet or Hangul, so it was a relief. Stopping in front of the CEO’s office, Chief Kim straightened his clothes, knocked, waited a little, and then opened the door.

“Is the list long?”

“It is not short.”

“Jiho has bad handwriting.”

The tired face softened gently. Lately, Do Yeonjae had been overworking himself, managing Kwon Jiho’s messes, the breakup with Kang Gyumin, the business partnership agreement with the credit card company, and the loan contract ahead of the apartment sales in the metropolitan area.

He had to show results. His grandfather would surely connect Kwon Jiho with this matter. The old man’s reaction was obvious without even seeing it. If things went well, he would think it was because he brought in a good person, and if they didn’t, it would be because he brought in the wrong person.

“There were some characters that were hard to read.”

Chief Kim put on his most affable smile. In truth, the entire list was at a level that required a translation, but for now, he said that.

Do Yeonjae, who was pressing his eyes and reviewing documents, put them down and took the list that Kwon Jiho had written. The throbbing headache disappeared in an instant. His mind, which had been a jumble of numbers, became clear, and the only thought that filled it was that even a crawling earthworm would leave a prettier trail than this.

“Shall I organize it and bring it back?”

“There’s no need. They’re all songs I know. I’ll do it. It will take a long time if you do it, Chief Kim.”

Since he even looked somewhat proud, he didn’t insist. If, amidst his busy schedule, Kwon Jiho’s request could relieve some of Do Yeonjae’s stress, then so be it.

Chief Kim thought as he watched Do Yeonjae’s whole face relax over a single piece of paper. Couldn’t he express his feelings for Kwon Jiho in words so that I could understand? Then their relationship would be better than it is now……. But it was just presumptuous meddling.

“You may leave.”

“Yes, please call me when it’s organized.”

After Chief Kim left, the list Kwon Jiho had written was placed on the messy desk littered with documents. Looking at the handwriting that he must have tried his best to write, Do Yeonjae smiled without realizing it. Really, there’s not a single neat thing about him, he thought, adding the songs to a playlist one by one.

♬⋆.˚

What woke Kwon Jiho from his short nap was the faint sound of a piano. His sleepy eyes were hidden by slowly descending eyelids, then sluggishly revealed, over and over. Even after he was fully awake, he didn’t get up but lay in bed, quietly moving his fingers.

The man guarding the room stood in the same posture as ever, and Hwang Gicheol was not in sight. He wanted to ask where he had gone, but he thought it would be difficult to understand even if he was told, so he clamped his moving lips shut.

It was then. The man’s head turned towards the door. Kwon Jiho’s gaze, which had been watching him intently while pretending not to, naturally turned as well.

“Ah? Oh, you’re awake.”

Hwang Gicheol wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and quickly approached. He conveyed with a gesture that he had eaten dinner early.

“I was going to wake you up a little later, but you must have woken up hearing the piano music, Mr. Jiho.”

He smiled, clapping his hands as if it were amazing. His gaze lingered on the right ear for a long time as he explained that Do Yeonjae had sent the playlist while he was asleep.

“He gave it to me so quickly, I was surprised too.”

Kwon Jiho nodded at the benevolent smiling face. Hoping that the conversation he was having with Hwang Gicheol would not reach anyone else’s ears, he asked him to turn up the volume.

“Turn it up a little more? Will that be okay?”

Hwang Gicheol answered slyly and turned up the music. Then he sat on the edge of a bed and glanced at the guard. A reply had come to the message Kwon Jiho had sent during the meal. He had come up after barely eating in the cafeteria, thinking he had to show it to him quickly.

He secretly took out his phone, turned it on, and placed it subtly so that Kang Gyumin’s message was visible. Kwon Jiho, who checked the contents with just his eyes, nodded slightly.

Kang Gyumin reacted as expected. He added that since he couldn’t contact him freely, if he set a date, he would prepare in his own way.

Kwon Jiho was lost in thought. There was no way to escape on his own. The hospital room was guarded by a man like an impenetrable fortress. If one didn’t normally enjoy classical music, they wouldn’t react much to the performance, which was close to a sleeping pill.

Is it possible to create an opening? Can I make even a tiny crack? Will a moment of laxity ever come? It would be nice if he could just let his guard down for a very short moment, just like when he said he would bring the paper and pen himself.

Kwon Jiho glanced at the man. He thought Friday would be better since Do Yeonjae would be with him all weekend, and tapped the phone screen. He intended to check the day and date.

“Ah.”

Kwon Jiho covered his mouth, as if surprised by the sound he had made unintentionally. Fortunately, it seemed to have been buried by the music, as the guard was still and quiet.

Kwon Jiho closed his eyes and his eyelids trembled. He hadn’t realized so much time had passed. September was almost over. He had been trapped for a good month and more.

He had been deprived of all means of knowing the passing of a day—a clock, a phone. Why was he being isolated to this extent? Does he hate me that much? Is that why he’s being so heartless? It was behavior one would reserve for someone they despised, so he couldn’t even delude himself into thinking this was being done out of affection. Just why…….

“……Mr. Jiho.”

Hwang Gicheol carefully touched Kwon Jiho’s hand. Kwon Jiho, whose eyes were red as if he were about to cry, bit his lip and spread his fingers. In five days. The small muttering voice reached Hwang Gicheol without difficulty.

Kwon Jiho’s gaze dropped at the worried look that seemed to say it was too soon. Hwang Gicheol hesitated, then reached out his hand. He patted the back of the hand that, despite gripping the blanket tightly, still had a faint tremor. How did he end up in such a terrible state?

His eyes, with his eyebrows drawn into an “8” shape, were full of sympathy. Hwang Gicheol, who put the phone in his pocket, turned his body, saying he was going to the bathroom for a moment. The guard who looked this way confirmed that the person who moved was not Kwon Jiho and then stared straight ahead again.

Kwon Jiho, with no expression left on his face, moved only his eyes to stare out the window. His mind, which had been empty of any thoughts, became filled with the desperate wish to escape from Do Yeonjae.