Midday Guest Chapter 57

Standing alone in the empty room, Yiwon muttered to himself.

Is he an idiot?

Kim Sunwoo, Park Junseo… Yiwon had been just as determined to strike back if push came to shove, but it seemed Cha Seokjoo was unaware of that.

☼

As the redevelopment project began in earnest, Yiwon received his cash settlement and cleared out Haeundang. Immediately after handing over the rights to the construction company, he headed straight to the hospital where his mother, Lee Aeran, was admitted. He wanted to quickly share the joyful news that the liquidation of assets and the repayment of debts had been successfully completed.

The moment she saw Yiwon, Lee Aeran poured out her worries as if she had been waiting.

“Yiwon, Mom really doesn’t need such a nice hospital room. It must be expensive.”

“Again, worrying about money again.”

“How can I not worry?”

Having moved to a private room at Korea University Hospital, Lee Aeran held onto Yiwon’s hand, looking distressed.

“You, did you perhaps use the compensation money…”

“I put it all away for you without spending a single penny. Don’t worry.”

“Is that true?”

“Of course. Why would I lie to you, Mom?”

“Then what happened with this hospital room?”

“A sponsor appeared.”

“A sponsor?”

Yiwon spoke while looking away, pretending to adjust Lee Aeran’s duvet.

“Yeah. They heard about my situation and said they wanted to help me so I can focus on my studies…”

“There is such a person?”

“Yes.”

When Yiwon had gone to the administration office to pay the medical bills, someone had already paid the hospital fees for both Yiwon and Lee Aeran. Furthermore, Lee Aeran’s room had been upgraded to a private room, and he was told a caregiver had been assigned. The administration office did not disclose who had made the payment, but Yiwon knew.

“Our Yiwon has met such a wonderful person.”

“…I guess so.”

What makes a good person, anyway? If they treat me well, adore me, and worry about me, then they are a good person.

“He seems like a good person.”

Yiwon answered briefly and turned his head. Outside the window, the season was already looking toward winter.

“You’ll have to work hard, my son.”

“Yeah.”

“Go back to school, too.”

“…School?”

Now that the problem of making a living was resolved, Lee Aeran’s worries shifted elsewhere.

“Aren’t you going to return to school?”

“Ah, I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? You still have to graduate.”

“I suppose so.”

Perhaps because he had gone through major events back-to-back, he couldn’t quite imagine returning to campus; it felt only foreign. It was a place he had wanted to go so badly when he was tied down to Haeundang. He felt amazed at how much a person’s heart could change.

“You can use the compensation money to get a room to stay in and pay your tuition.”

Even though the compensation for Haeundang had come in, life hadn’t become that abundant. After paying off the private loans and bank debts, the remaining money was just enough to find a single house for Lee Aeran to live in.

“Yes.”

Even so, Yiwon nodded. For now, it was more important for Lee Aeran to focus on her rehabilitation with a peaceful mind.

“Mom, don’t come out.”

“I’ll just go as far as the elevator.”

Lee Aeran came out into the hallway to see Yiwon off. She was dressed in a hospital gown and a cardigan, but her complexion looked healthy.

Lee Aeran’s discharge was not far off. Two months at most, one month at shortest. By then, they would be able to forget all the memories of Yonggung-ri and make a fresh start.

The two of them smiled brightly, imagining that day.

“I’ll come again.”

“Okay. Mom will call often too.”

Lee Aeran waved the cell phone in her hand. Having cast off all her shackles, Aeran was slowly but surely returning to her original place.

The elevator doors closed. Tightening his coat and wrapping his scarf. Yiwon, finished with his preparations to face the winter wind, crossed the hospital lobby.

Large snowflakes were falling outside. The white snow that had just begun to fall was softly covering the whole world. Yiwon stood there for a moment, watching the snow fall.

Now that the days of being constantly pushed around had ended and he was about to make a fresh start, he couldn’t easily decide where to move his steps.

Still, I have to go.

As he took a deep breath in and out, a pale mist of breath flowed out before him. Just as he was trying to muster the strength to move, he saw a black sedan entering from a distance.

The large, gleaming black car drove over the white snowy path and stopped in front of Yiwon.

A person got out from the passenger seat and opened the rear door.

A scent that matched the cold winter wind came rushing out. Yiwon quietly closed his eyes and thought, Please let me see that person when I open my eyes.

“I’m not late, am I?”

A low, echoing voice made him lift his head. It made his eyes follow the inside of the car.

Yiwon discovered Cha Seokjoo waiting deep in the backseat and let out a burst of breath.

“…You’re late.”

“Get in anyway.”

He would have gotten in even if told not to. Yiwon hopped into the backseat. Cha Seokjoo pulled Yiwon by the wrist to make him sit close.

It had been a full six months. He had thought he would say all the words he had put off saying when they met, but he was flustered because, in reality, no words would come out. Instead, he gripped his hand tightly. At that, Cha Seokjoo intertwined their fingers and pulled Yiwon’s hand onto his thigh. Yiwon also gripped that hand firmly.

Oh Taesik, who had climbed into the passenger seat, looked back and smiled.

“Wow, little boss, it’s been a long time.”

“I know. Have you been well?”

“Well, my foot! Don’t even get me started. Knives were flying from all directions so I couldn’t even sleep…”

Cha Seokjoo cut off Oh Taesik just as he was about to start spinning a yarn while wiggling the scar on his face.

“Taesik.”

“Yes.”

“Seatbelt.”

“Ah, yes. Understood. So then, dammit… Ow!”

Even then, he tried to keep talking without reading the room, but he fell silent after a kick from Cha Seokjoo. Realizing it late, he let out a hearty laugh.

“I just got so excited to see the little boss.”

“Why are you excited to see him?”

“Of course I’m excited, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Look forward. You’ve gotten soft.”

Oh Taesik said, “Yes, Director,” while still grinning slyly.

“Anyway, little boss, is your hand okay?”

“Ah, yes. It’s fine. The treatment went well.”

Yiwon released the hand he had been holding with Cha Seokjoo and showed his palm. Cha Seokjoo stroked near the scar with his thumb, and Oh Taesik glanced back.

“Wow, you could even become a member of our organization now.”

“…Excuse me?”

Yiwon looked at Oh Taesik at the nonsensical remark. After pointing to the scar on his own temple, Oh Taesik gestured toward Cha Seokjoo’s palm. Ma Haeyoung, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, turned his collar over to show his neck area.

Isn’t that near where the artery passes… While he was blinking, Oh Taesik continued in a much higher tone.

“Since the shop is gone, just come right in. I’ll teach you well. Seeing as the little boss has some grit, I reckon you’ll do the job well.”

Hearing that, Cha Seokjoo gave a quiet warning.

“Oh Taesik.”

“…Oh, is it not that?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then why are you taking the little boss with you…”

Oh Taesik asked again with a bewildered expression.

“Where shall I take you?”

Cha Seokjoo stared quietly at Yiwon and whispered softly.

“Of all things, I’m even picking up a person.”

“…”

“What do you mean ‘where shall I take you’? Go home. Stop by Haeundang before we go, though.”

Oh Taesik, who stuttered for a moment, sat up straight and said, “Yes, understood,” while glancing at the rearview mirror with eyes that still held a lingering sense of doubt.

“Am I going to the Director’s house too?”

“Why, do you hate it?”

“…No.”

“Then let’s go.”

Is that really okay? As he hesitated, Cha Seokjoo pulled the hand he was holding with Yiwon even deeper into his lap.

“You don’t have anywhere else to go anyway.”

“That’s true, but…”

“What do you mean ‘that’s true, but’? The sun is about to set. Are you going to sleep on the street?”

Yiwon blinked quietly, unable to believe what Cha Seokjoo was saying. At that, Cha Seokjoo frowned and met Yiwon’s eyes.

“How did you know?”

“I have ears that hear news about Haeundang too.”

“Ah.”

He kept forgetting the fact that this man was a Director of Cheongun Construction. Yiwon turned his head with a faint smile. He thought that if he had known the man would show up as soon as he handed over the rights to Haeundang, he would have closed the business a bit sooner.

“Why? Have you already found a house?”

“I haven’t found one yet.”

“Then.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m asking what a person without a house was planning to do.”

“I was going to look for one slowly starting now.”

“Where are you going to sleep right now?”

“Stay at a friend’s house for a few days, or if it takes longer, stay at a goshiwon or a motel for a bit, or, you know…”

Cha Seokjoo muttered as if chewing over the words.

“Friend’s house, goshiwon, motel.”

“Yes, since it’s just for a bit…”

It wouldn’t be as comfortable as home, but he could endure a few days. It was just as he was thinking that. The grip on his intertwined hand tightened increasingly. Ah. Yiwon met Cha Seokjoo’s chilling gaze and finished his sentence.

“I… thought it would be okay.”

“Like hell it would be okay. In a place where all sorts of bastards swarm to get laid.”

“There were also the friend’s house and goshiwon options.”

Cha Seokjoo clicked his tongue. He looked completely displeased.

“You, what was it. Weren’t you going to return to school?”

“I was.”

“Can you study in a place like that?”

Probably not. But there’s no other choice, is there? When he looked at Cha Seokjoo with those eyes, Cha Seokjoo immediately offered an alternative.

“That’s why. If you’re going to go to a place like that, just stay at my house.”

“…”