Irresponsibility Chapter 2.7

“You… pro, promised… tha, that you would let me co, contact my family.”

“I’ll try.”

“Pl, please try your… ha, hardest.”

Baek Geonhyuk gazed steadily at Joo Yeoun, whose eyes were narrowed with determination. He nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a while longer before he suddenly spoke.

“Ah. I just remembered.”

He said, like someone who had found the answer they had been pondering for a long time.

“You know what you resemble. A leopard cat kitten.”

“……”

A leopard cat? She had never been told she looked like a leopard cat before, not even a regular cat. As Joo Yeoun slightly furrowed her brows, Baek Geonhyuk spoke again.

“The leopard cat is the apex predator on the Korean peninsula.”

“……”

“It can even beat a wild boar.”

His eyes were smiling. Even though they had been in the middle of a serious conversation just a moment ago. So, Joo Yeoun also felt a surge of indignation.

She could guess well enough that he did not mean she looked strong when he said she resembled a leopard cat. Didn’t he say a kitten leopard cat?

“A kitten… a kitten… a kitten…”

Joo Yeoun stuttered out the word. As the same word was repeated, dragging on and on, Baek Geonhyuk’s expression gradually became strange. He asked suspiciously.

“Are you doing that on purpose?”

…A little?

Yeoun continued without letting it show.

“A kitten leopard cat is… ju, just like a regular cat.”

“It’s different from a regular cat. It’s a fierce beast.”

At his nonchalant reply, Joo Yeoun looked up at Baek Geonhyuk with dissatisfaction. In her large eyes, the rims were red and the irises were clear. The image of a young animal she had once encountered overlapped with her.

A small thing that stood alone behind a tree without its mother, glaring at him. Its fur bristled as it stood on guard, looking just like Joo Yeoun.

As Baek Geonhyuk stared at her intently, her round pupils slowly shifted to the side. Rather than a leopard cat kitten…

Looking at her snow-white face, he thought. She’s a bit more harmless.

*

The next day, Joo Yeoun came out to the living room when Baek Geonhyuk was not there. This time, she did not stand by the door listening intently for a long time or silently open the door to peek outside.

It was because, a moment ago, she had heard him say abruptly from outside the door, ‘I’m heading out.’

It had surprised her, and the greeting, something that would be shared between people who were close, felt awkward, but it was not entirely bad. From now on, she would not have to be on edge wondering if he was leaving.

Joo Yeoun quietly stepped onto the cold floor and approached the TV stand.

“Where is it…”

Where was it. I think I saw it somewhere around here.

After opening about two drawers, she finally found what she was looking for. A stack of A4 paper and a bulk box of ballpoint pens.

Her white hands fidgeted, fiddling with the drawer handle for no reason. A furtive glance, her eyes darted over to the camera and back.

Is it okay to use this. After agonizing for a long time, she pulled out just one sheet of paper and took one pen. Then she returned to her room as if fleeing.

After closing the bedroom door securely, Yeoun sat on the floor and placed the paper on the bedside table. It was a little high for writing, but it would be better than writing on the floor.

Tap, tap. Joo Yeoun tapped the pen on the smooth paper, lost in thought. She was careful even in deciding the position of the first word.

Contract Agreement

After neatly writing the words at the top, she hesitated for a moment before writing her name first.

Joo Yeoun. Parenthesis open…

…The ballpoint pen stopped, touching the paper.

Is it okay to write Party A? What if the man sees it and gets offended.

The hesitant Yeoun soon wore a determined expression. Even if they were just words, Party A and Party B had different nuances. To properly get what she wanted, it was right for her to be Party A.

Joo Yeoun pressed her lips firmly together and moved the pen. Because it had been stationary, the ink bled out, creating a large dot at the start of the ‘ㄱ,’ but there was nothing she could do. There was only one sheet of paper.

After writing ‘Joo Yeoun (Party A) and,’ she recalled the voice she had heard a few days ago. With an expressionless face, Yeoun moved the pen.

…Baek Geonhyuk (Party B) enter into the following agreement.

1. Party B shall not lie to Party A.
2. Party B shall not inflict physical or mental harm on Party A under any circumstances.
3. Party B has a duty to protect Party A.

She wrote without hesitation, as these were points she had already thought of. Then, feeling like something was missing, she thought deeply and created a sub-clause. What if he only protected her until the end of this year and then let her die?

3-1) The term is for

“For…ever.”

Muttering, Joo Yeoun stared blankly at the word ‘forever.’ Isn’t it a little childish. There must be a better word, but she could not think of one. The absence of her cell phone suddenly felt frustrating. Since she was writing based only on what she had overheard, it felt somewhat clumsy.

Still, she did not forget to write about her parents. She left space between the numbers of each clause so she could add more if she thought of any later. And at the bottom, she wrote her name.

Joo Yeoun.

Beneath it, she wrote the man’s name.

Baek Geonhyuk.

Her gaze remained there. Theirs was not a relationship where names were important, but now that she actually knew his name, it felt a little… clearer. Everything had been so blurry, which had made it even more frightening.

“Baek… Geon… hyuk.”

Joo Yeoun mumbled slowly. She thought about practicing it a little more but then decided against it. There would likely be no reason for her to call the man’s name.

Putting the pen down, Yeoun carefully read over the contract.

It was a contract written purely for her own benefit. But if Baek Geonhyuk pointed something out, she could just fix it then. There was no need to go out of her way to write a clause that would hold her back.

But that evening, when she was about to show the contract to Baek Geonhyuk, her heart pounded violently. Wouldn’t he think she was being insolent? In a way, he was her savior, and he had been nursing her all this time.

She thought he might get angry. She felt like she would have to face that terrifying expression that gave her goosebumps just by imagining it.

Should I just go back? I’ll just write the contract again tomorrow. A little less insolently.

Peeking at the large man’s back, visible even from the corner of the hallway, Joo Yeoun slowly began to back away. Baek Geonhyuk was sitting on the sofa, so he probably had not seen her.

But.

“Do you have something to say?”

The man turned around.

Startled, the paper in her hand made a fluttering sound. Baek Geonhyuk’s gaze shifted down to it. As he tilted his head slightly, she swallowed a dry gulp.

A confident attitude. Joo Yeoun repeated to herself inwardly and took a step. She slowly approached, stopping near the sofa, and held the paper out to him. For someone handing something over, she was standing far away with only her arm extended. Baek Geonhyuk let out a faint laugh and took the paper.

His gaze, which had been moving slowly from the top, stopped at one place.

Baek Geonhyuk (Party B) is…

His own name, written in neat handwriting. Staring at it blankly, he let out a low, “Ah.”

“So that’s why you asked.”

He muttered, then lowered his eyes and let out a soft laugh.

At the sigh-like laugh, Joo Yeoun observed Baek Geonhyuk keenly. The face, which for a moment seemed to show a hint of disappointment, quickly returned to a stoic expression.

That too was brief, as he glanced at Yeoun with a mischievous look in his eyes.

“You’re Party A?”

“…O, of course. I, I’m Party A.”

Joo Yeoun tried hard not to be intimidated. Even though her words stuttered a bit, she looked straight at Baek Geonhyuk and lifted her chin.

“I was just talking to myself.”

At his brazen attitude, Joo Yeoun hesitated slightly before speaking.

“Yo, you talk to yourself… ve, very loudly…”

A belated burst of laughter escaped from Baek Geonhyuk, who had a dumbfounded expression. “Yeah, it was a bit loud,” he said, his eyes returning to the contract. His eyes were curved and a faint smile played on his lips.

As he read down the clauses of the contract, the smile gradually faded from the man’s face. Joo Yeoun grew nervous and fidgeted with her own fingers. She had thought she disliked his teasing manner, but at times like this, it seemed much better.

“It’s all good, but, Yeoun.”

As he started to speak, she swallowed a dry gulp.

“There’s nothing about compensation.”

Baek Geonhyuk looked up at Joo Yeoun. Their eyes met, and Joo Yeoun’s eyes widened as she shook her head.

“Tha, that’s not, ne, necessary…”

“You’re young so you don’t know any better. You need to take care of these things properly.”

At her innocent face, Baek Geonhyuk frowned slightly.

“……”

Whether he knew Yeoun was making a peculiar face or not, Baek Geonhyuk took a pen out of his front pocket and sat down below the sofa. Placing the paper on the coffee table, he glanced behind him and said.

“It’s okay to add a clause, right? You wrote here that clauses can be amended or added upon mutual agreement.”

“Ah! No…”

Startled that he was about to write immediately, Yeoun fumbled and lightly grabbed the tip of the pen. But Baek Geonhyuk made a sharp ‘tsk’ sound, which made her jump in surprise, release the pen, and fidget nervously.

Baek Geonhyuk insisted on adding the clause.

1. Party B shall compensate Party A under the conditions desired by Party A, within the limits of Party B’s assets and capabilities.

Yeoun silently stared at the scribbled sentence.

The person who had to compensate her was not him. Yeoun knew that too.

She found herself wondering why this man was going this far. Wasn’t his sense of responsibility excessive? How did he know how much she would ask for.

Joo Yeoun stole a glance at Baek Geonhyuk.

Perhaps because he ran hot, he was in a short-sleeved shirt again today. His elbow was propped on the table, making his large bicep prominent.

“Hmm. What else could there be.”

As he lightly twirled the ballpoint pen, the veins on the back of his hand twitched. Yeoun looked away as if she had seen something she should not have.

Her gaze, which had been wandering in the air, soon landed on the man’s face. His straight nose was unexpected, but he also had faint double eyelids. She had only thought of him as having a scary impression, but looking closely, he had delicate features.

“For now, let’s sign and we can add more slowly.”

Just then, Baek Geonhyuk raised his head. Their eyes met directly, and Joo Yeoun’s eyes widened. As she nodded with her lips pressed firmly together, he gave an inscrutable smile.

Baek Geonhyuk seemed to be reviewing the contract again for a while, then asked out of the blue.

“Yeoun. Do you know someone named Lee Hyunkyu?”

“……”

Fear suddenly appeared on her face, which had been blinking blankly. Joo Yeoun shook her head repeatedly and shrank back.

“N, n, n, no. I, I really don’t know him…”

“No, that’s not it.”

Baek Geonhyuk waved his hand at her frightened reaction. But Joo Yeoun became even more terrified and let out a small gasp. He lowered the hand he had been waving in the air and hid it under the table before speaking again.

“The doctor’s name. Yeoun, that’s the doctor’s name.”

As he repeated it for her, Joo Yeoun, whose lips had been trembling, stared intently at Baek Geonhyuk. Her reddened eyes blinked several times.

“Ah…”

Joo Yeoun made a small sound and winced under her eyes. With a face mixed with relief, gloom, and bewilderment, she spoke awkwardly.

“The, the doctor’s name is… Lee Hyung…?”

She could not remember the name she had heard once, so her words trailed off.

But Baek Geonhyuk did not answer.

“We should keep this safe. Shall we put it in the living room?”

Waving the contract, he seemed to be changing the subject completely. Joo Yeoun thought for a moment, ‘Lee Hyung… what was it,’ then gave up. The doctor’s name was not important, and if she needed it, she could ask him directly.

Would he refuse to answer too? They were a group with many secrets, so they would probably be cautious.

Suddenly, the thought occurred to her that the name ‘Baek Geonhyuk’ could be fake.

Joo Yeoun, who had been glancing suspiciously at Baek Geonhyuk as he opened a drawer, quickly looked away when he turned around.