Irresponsibility Chapter 3.3

My head felt fuzzy. It also felt a little warm. Rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand, Yeoun followed the huge man standing in front of the sink with his eyes. He had no thoughts until the man took out an instant porridge from the cupboard, where they were lined up in a row, and put it in the microwave.

However, the sight of him fanning the steaming porridge stirred a different feeling. He looked very familiar with it. The container, and the lid too, looked just like miniature toys in his hands, but it was strange that it seemed so natural.

“I didn’t know you were supposed to eat before taking medicine.”

He placed a tray in front of Yeoun. It was a familiar setup.

The temperature of the porridge was also familiar. Swallowing the lukewarm porridge that didn’t even need to be blown on, Joo Yeoun gave Baek Geonhyuk a furtive glance. He was standing behind the dining chair, watching him.

“Ah. I’m not monitoring you, I’m just curious if you’re eating well.”

“……”

“It’s true.”

Baek Geonhyuk, who was speaking as if he were innocent, said, “Alright, I won’t look,” and turned his head. Joo Yeoun abruptly opened his mouth.

“Lunch…. did you, d-did you eat lunch?”

“Huh?”

Baek Geonhyuk, who asked back, stared intently at Joo Yeoun. Joo Yeoun, his cheeks red from the fever, bowed his head deeply and fiddled with his spoon.

“I’m about to eat now.”

“Yes….”

“You’re all grown up. Looking out for your hyung’s meals too.”

Yeoun was already all grown up, and he didn’t think of Baek Geonhyuk as a hyung. It wasn’t an act of looking out for him either. This was just common courtesy.

“Should I eat the same thing?”

…I wasn’t suggesting we eat together. Seeing him open the cupboard, Yeoun became anxious and scooped up a large spoonful of porridge. He was planning to finish it quickly and return to his room before the man sat down in front of him.

But then, a voice laced with laughter was heard.

“Eat slowly. I’ll eat after you go in.”

When he raised his head, Baek Geonhyuk was leaning against the sink, looking at him. At the smiling face that seemed to know everything, Joo Yeoun flinched and readjusted his grip on the spoon. He seemed to glance at his hand for a moment, and then he went into his own room.

A low voice could be heard, as if he were on the phone. So he does have a cell phone. Yeoun occasionally glanced behind him as he emptied his bowl.

After returning to his room and lying down again, he was able to fall asleep much more comfortably. His stomach was full, and his body ached less. He slept quite deeply, and it seemed he had even sweated.

In the evening, he felt a shivery chill again, so he ate porridge and took his medicine one more time. After that, perhaps due to the medicine’s effect, he was able to sleep straight through until the next morning.

When he opened his eyes, feeling the bright surroundings, Joo Yeoun’s eyes met Baek Geonhyuk’s, who was opening the door. At that, he stopped in his tracks and knocked lightly on the door. He seemed to open the door without knocking when he was asleep, so his brow furrowed slightly.

The man, who was carefully examining his face, soon approached nonchalantly.

“Let me check your temperature.”

The thermometer dug into his ear. Joo Yeoun reflexively flinched his shoulders and rubbed his eyes. His body, which had been repeating the cycle of getting hot, then cold, then sweating, felt sticky and unpleasant.

“Yeah, there’s almost no fever.”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had been bending his waist, sat down on the floor. After putting the thermometer away and watching Joo Yeoun blankly, he suddenly opened his mouth.

“You get grimy pretty easily.”

“……”

“Is it because you’re pale?”

Baek Geonhyuk muttered seriously.

Joo Yeoun glared at him without making it obvious and got up. At that, the gaze of the man sitting on the floor followed him. He wondered what he was going to say next, but he spoke in a low voice.

“Tell me if you’re even a little bit sick.”

Yeoun blinked his eyes and looked down at him. What was the point of telling him about being a little sick. As if reading his thoughts, Baek Geonhyuk lightly raised his eyebrows.

“I’m not just saying this, so tell me everything, even the smallest things.”

“Yes….”

The answer was easy.

“If you hide being sick next time too….”

As Baek Geonhyuk trailed off, Joo Yeoun bit his lip with a tense expression. With a glance, he gave a look at the squashed lips and continued.

“I’m going to sleep with you every night.”

“……”

“If we sleep right next to each other, I’ll know right away whether you’re sick or not.”

“……”

An expression gradually appeared on the pale face that was blinking its eyes.

“You really hate that.”

Baek Geonhyuk burst into a small laugh.

“If I’m sick, I’ll, I’ll tell you.”

For sure…. At the one word he added, Baek Geonhyuk pressed his forehead to the bed as if collapsing. Joo Yeoun looked down blankly at the broad shoulders that were shaking.

What’s so funny. Hearing the low laughter, Joo Yeoun shifted his eyes for no reason. The corners of his mouth, which had been somewhat tense, relaxed loosely.

*

Joo Yeoun decided to start with things he could do slowly without overdoing it. Today, just the vacuuming, tomorrow, just the laundry. He didn’t try to do everything at once and divided the work into small parts to conserve his energy.

Baek Geonhyuk didn’t say much about him doing housework when he was out of the house. However, when he was there, he couldn’t stand to see Yeoun move.

“I’ll do it, so don’t set the table.”

“…Yes.”

Baek Geonhyuk is quick-witted. He had been planning to head to the kitchen as soon as he went into the bathroom.

When he wasn’t in his right mind, he had accepted everything he did for him, but now it was uncomfortable. He also needed to maintain a more professional relationship.

But it was not at all easy to express his intentions.

‘I, I’ll, I’ll do it.’

‘No. Children should rest.’

When he heard the teasing words spoken in a calm tone, the desire to help with the housework completely vanished in that moment.

Joo Yeoun saw Baek Geonhyuk take off his shirt in front of the bathroom and quickly turned his head. There were a few scars on his large back, and even with a passing glance, it was not the body of an ordinary person.

What reason would an ordinary person have for getting scars like that. It’s not like he had been to a battlefield.

Is he a real soldier? Or something like a killer? A gangster…. Joo Yeoun, continuing his deep thoughts, fixed his gaze on the TV.

These days, he also watches TV when the man is not around. He didn’t have a cell phone, and with nothing to do, he had to watch TV for time to pass. Though he often got lost in other thoughts.

Yeoun’s gaze, which had been on the TV, soon turned toward the bathroom door. Yeoun, who was looking at the clothes that had been taken off for a moment, got up.

He didn’t say not to do the laundry.

Swoooosh—.

Listening to the sound of the water, Joo Yeoun picked up the clothes placed in front of the door. They were a little heavy, so he felt the pants pocket and found a wallet.

He glanced toward the door and then searched the other pocket as well. He had hoped, but there was no cell phone. Baek Geonhyuk, while seeming careless, was not careless.

Since the matter was settled before, he wouldn’t have used the cell phone even if he had it, but he still could have learned about Baek Geonhyuk through that cell phone.

Hadn’t he been unable to verify his identity? Unlike Baek Geonhyuk, who knew all of his information, he knew nothing about him.

Baek Geonhyuk. Just three characters of a name, and even that could be false. Yeoun knew well how cunning and cruel people could be.

“……”

His ID would be in the wallet. Yeoun stared intently at the leather wallet in his hand.

No matter what, opening someone else’s wallet is a bit…. without even asking for permission.

But if he were given time, couldn’t he show a forged ID? Come to think of it, he should have checked the ID properly when he wrote the contract.

If his name wasn’t Baek Geonhyuk, couldn’t he later claim that the contract was invalid? It would be enough for him to deny that he had written it.

After pondering for a long time, Joo Yeoun realized that the sound of water was no longer coming from the bathroom.

The palm-sized wallet, if he just opened it, he would see the ID. Joo Yeoun, who was anxiously glancing at the door, soon opened the wallet with a determined face.

As expected, a driver’s license was tucked behind the transparent plastic. Joo Yeoun immediately checked the photo and name.

His hair was shorter than now and he looked a little younger, but it was definitely the man’s face. The name was also Baek Geonhyuk. And his age was….

“Need some pocket money?”

“Aack!”

At the voice that came from close by, Joo Yeoun was startled, his body trembling. His hands trembled so much that the wallet he was holding dropped to the floor with a thud.

“Heo, euh….”

After a glance at Joo Yeoun, who was breathing with his chest heaving, Baek Geonhyuk bent his waist to pick up the wallet. Then, he took out a 50,000 won bill from his wallet.

“Here.”

“……”

It hadn’t been long since the sound of water had stopped, but he hadn’t expected him to come out already. On top of that, he had gotten fully dressed inside.

Joo Yeoun, frozen, just stared at the large hand holding out the bill to him. What should I do. What excuse should I make. His heart was pounding like crazy.

“Take it.”

Baek Geonhyuk poked the back of the pale hand, stiffly frozen in mid-air, with the edge of the bill. When he carefully took the money, he said, “Good boy.”

Since I was going to get caught anyway, I should have just confidently asked to see it. He regretted it, but he couldn’t turn back what had already happened.

“I, I’m sorry.”

For what? Baek Geonhyuk, tilting his head, started walking first. It was a cool attitude, as if he didn’t care at all about him touching his wallet.

“Let’s eat, Yeoun-ah.”

Yeoun stared blankly at the large back.

Come to think of it, he had done many wrong things to him. Before, he had thrown a cup and even aimed a knife at him.

But every time that happened, he was very mature… huh?

“……?”

Joo Yeoun suddenly widened his eyes. A few numbers he had seen in passing came to mind. Baek Geonhyuk’s ID, his date of birth.

“But ar, are you twenty-four?”

“…Me?”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had turned around, asked. Joo Yeoun read the expression with a slightly raised eyebrow as bewilderment.