Irresponsibility Chapter 2.6

What does he even eat to live. Joo Yeoun thought, looking at the empty refrigerator. Inside the refrigerator, there was only a container of kimchi and a few bottles of water. There was no rice either.

Closing the refrigerator door, Yeoun worried a little that she might have been too obvious in her snooping. She had opened all the cupboards, opened the drawers, and opened the refrigerator about twice.

But fortunately, her actions did not seem to have aroused any suspicion.

“I don’t know what kids these days like.”

The man came in that evening holding a large box. The box, big enough for Yeoun to fit inside if she curled up her body, was filled with food. Snacks were piled on the very top, and among them, juices and groceries were visible in a heap.

“……”

Baek Geonhyuk studied the expression on Joo Yeoun’s face as she stared blankly down at the box. He thought she might have been craving a snack since she kept opening the cupboards and the refrigerator, but it seemed that was not the case. With a faint laugh, he spoke.

“I’m telling you this just in case you don’t know, but you don’t keep cell phones in the refrigerator.”

At those words, Joo Yeoun flinched and lifted her head. The way her eyes flew open was such a transparent expression. She can’t lie. Baek Geonhyuk rubbed his eyebrows and said.

“Only food in the refrigerator.”

“…I, I know.”

“You know? That’s amazing.”

Baek Geonhyuk, speaking in a flat tone, bent his knees and sat down to rummage through the box.

“Do you drink coffee? It seems like college students drink coffee every day.”

The places that sell things like Americanos are a bit far. He added.

“……”

His hand, which had gone under the pile of snacks, came out holding a can of coffee. Joo Yeoun quietly watched the hand extending the can, which had water droplets condensed on its surface. Looking up at her, Baek Geonhyuk tilted his head slightly. Joo Yeoun hesitantly opened her mouth.

“Wha, what’s its name?”

“This? I think it’s Letsby.”

He turned the can around and read the letters.

“Oh, no, it’s not. It must be a Letsby knockoff.”

“…Your, you, your name.”

Baek Geonhyuk raised his head. Meeting her clear eyes, he slowly lowered the hand holding the can of coffee.

“My name?”

As he asked back slowly as if mulling it over, Joo Yeoun pressed her lips firmly together and nodded her head. His gaze lingered for a moment on the teeth pressing her pale lips and her slightly furrowed brow before he answered belatedly.

“Baek Geonhyuk.”

“Yes…”

Joo Yeoun, who had spoken in a whisper, turned away as if her business was done. Baek Geonhyuk briefly glanced at her thin ankles moving quickly away before turning his head.

Placing the can that felt light in his hand back in the box, he straightened his knees and stood up. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he pushed the heavy box with his foot.

*

‘I’m telling you this just in case you don’t know, but you don’t keep cell phones in the refrigerator.’

She had intended to ask for her cell phone back from him, but yesterday she had been so flustered that she could not even bring it up.

It was the same this morning. She just watched for an opening and missed her chance. At lunchtime, the doctor had brought her meal, so she only ran into the man in the evening.

Yeoun kept stealing glances at the man as he brought her dinner. The words would not come out. Just because she knew he would not hit her did not mean she was not scared.

“Hmm.”

The man, who had placed the tray on the bedside table, suddenly made a low sound. It was only natural for Yeoun, who had been secretly watching him, to be startled.

“It seems like it would be uncomfortable to eat here. From now on, would you like to eat at the dining table?”

At his sidelong glance, Joo Yeoun clutched the blanket.

“Ye, yes.”

“If you don’t want to, you can eat here.”

Baek Geonhyuk said gently, as if he had just been making a suggestion.

Joo Yeoun shook her head. If the man left the room like this and she put it off until tomorrow morning again, she felt her courage would dwindle. She had to bring up the cell phone again.

“Alright, then.”

Joo Yeoun got up from her spot. And she hesitantly reached her hand toward the tray, but a large hand was faster.

Baek Geonhyuk, holding the tray, glanced at her, and the slender hand that had stopped in midair retreated as if fleeing.

Hesitant footsteps followed behind Baek Geonhyuk as he left the room first. The steps were so light and soft that they made almost no sound, and Baek Geonhyuk glanced at the tray he was holding. A packed meal delivered to his company. He usually ate about three of these for lunch. Because if he got too full while working, he could not concentrate.

But Joo Yeoun could not even finish a single one.

“Don’t you get hungry while you sleep?”

He asked as he placed it on the dining table, and Joo Yeoun shook her head. And at her furtive glance, Baek Geonhyuk said, I’ll be in the living room, and turned away.

Joo Yeoun started her meal. Yesterday, the packed meal had brought back bad memories, but today, her mind was completely preoccupied with worrying about how she should bring up the topic.

Should I try asking politely, like ‘Can you please return my cell phone?’

But it was originally her cell phone. It was a little strange to ask for something of hers back.

By the time she concluded it was more fitting to demand it confidently, she was full. It was when she had eaten nearly half of the packed meal.

Joo Yeoun put down her spoon and glanced at the living room. But wasn’t the man looking at her?

“Do you have something to say?”

She almost screamed.

As she covered her mouth, his expression turned blank and he quickly approached her.

“What. Are you not feeling well? Does your stomach hurt?”

“…N, no.”

Baek Geonhyuk, standing in front of the dining table, stared intently at Yeoun’s face as if to judge his words. It’s true…. He only let go of his suspicion after Yeoun stammered.

“Okay. Then go ahead and say it.”

He said, resting his elbow on the dining table chair.

“Uh, ce, ce, cell phone…”

Can you please return it?

Because of her nervousness, it took a long while to finish the sentence. Joo Yeoun bit the soft flesh inside her mouth hard. She was frustrated with herself.

On top of that, because she had spoken without being mentally prepared, it came out as a request. She had intended to demand it confidently.

“I can’t.”

As he uttered the calm words, Baek Geonhyuk’s gaze fell on Joo Yeoun’s lips. The area around her lips, which were slightly drawn inward, was white.

“Wh, why?”

“You could call the police, or you could contact your family.”

“I, I won’t report it to the po, police. Re, really.”

Joo Yeoun’s eyes widened as she waved her hands. As if she would be the one at a disadvantage if she reported it to the police. For a moment, Baek Geonhyuk’s gaze took on a sharp glint.

“T, to my family, if I te, tell them well not to say a, anything…”

“Yeoun.”

The words that had been tumbling out in a stutter came to a halt at the low call. Looking into her anxious eyes, Baek Geonhyuk asked quietly.

“Do you think it won’t be obvious if you ‘tell them well’?”

Joo Yeoun hesitantly nodded her head.

“If they go from frantically searching for their missing son to suddenly going quiet, do you really think it won’t seem strange?”

“A, are my parents, loo, looking for me?”

Joo Yeoun asked with a gasp. Silently watching as her large eyes reddened in an instant, Baek Geonhyuk nodded his head.

Joo Yeoun’s face crumpled as if she were about to cry. Baek Geonhyuk’s hand, gripping the back of the chair, tightened.

“Don’t forget what I said about you and your family possibly dying.”

“……”

“Think carefully about what’s more important.”

At the cold voice, Yeoun bowed her head deeply. Her hands trembled slightly. It was not just because she was frightened by the man’s chilly demeanor. She was afraid her family might die because of her.

Was it better for her parents to live each day with worry gnawing at their hearts, or for them to be endangered by learning a secret they should never know. It was difficult, but the answer was clear.

“And whether you contact them or not, you can’t use your phone. It’s going to be tracked.”

“Ah…”

She had not thought of that.

Watching her blank face with her mouth agape, Baek Geonhyuk’s lips twitched slightly. He then let out a deep sigh and said.

“Not yet, but once they let their guard down a little, let’s also think of a way to contact your parents.”

By then, they probably would not be monitoring all the time. Joo Yeoun stared dazedly at the muttering man. Just a moment ago, he had been acting so coldly. His attitude had suddenly changed.

“You can’t do it alone.”

Joo Yeoun nodded her head at the added words that were like a warning. Baek Geonhyuk glanced at the corners of her moist eyes and spoke again.

“The cell phone later. I can’t give you yours, I’ll buy you a new one.”

…Isn’t it better if he buys me a new one? Her cell phone was over three years old.

In any case, it was right not to use her own phone. If she had insisted on getting her phone back and used it, it could have been a disaster. Things could have gotten even more complicated.

The man acted coldly and then changed his attitude. It was puzzling and unsettling, but it was not a bad thing for her. Joo Yeoun clenched her fists under the table and asked.

“La, later when?”

“When we can trust each other. Right now, you don’t trust me, and I don’t trust you either.”

He was right. Yeoun did not trust him, and he did not trust Yeoun. In a situation like this, a cell phone would be a big risk.

But would a day ever come when he and she could completely trust each other. As Yeoun was thinking that, Baek Geonhyuk opened his mouth again.

“If you follow my control well, a certain degree of freedom is guaranteed.”

A sense of defiance suddenly welled up in Yeoun at the man’s words. It might have been because he was now acting placatingly after being as impenetrable as a wall just moments before.

“I, i, isn’t that a violation of h, human rights?”

A violation of human rights? The man repeated, then let out a scoffing laugh.

“Sure. Let’s violate some human rights.”

“……”

“What’s so important about things like that.”

The man’s face, as he let out a laugh into the air, looked chilling for a moment.

“Yeoun. I have to protect you.”

Baek Geonhyuk stared straight at Joo Yeoun. Joo Yeoun averted her gaze slightly before looking back at him. Then, she quickly put on a determined expression.