Salt Society Chapter 82

The frying pan, which had been slammed against the sink several times, was a cheap four-thousand-won item bought from a general store in the town center. Its durability was a mess, and soon the handle and the pan separated, falling to the floor with a metallic clang. As Kihyun looked on expressionlessly at the disc-like pan rolling around like a coin, Cho Yeonoh spoke in a low, sunken voice.

“So, you’re saying those fuckers who broke your ankle were just playing around with you, and I’m the one tormenting you after I went through all that hellish shit to find a bastard who suddenly went missing?”

…He hadn’t expected him to think that way, but Kihyun didn’t exactly deny it. Denying it now would only make him look pathetic.

However, that wasn’t what Kihyun wanted to say. Kihyun wanted to tell Yeonoh that they should stop invading each other’s lives now. He wanted to say he would apologize for living idly in his territory and then running away on a whim, so he should stop this and go back.

If he dragged this out, it would become a frequent occurrence to climb into the same bed and fall asleep holding each other like last night. As time passed, he might not be able to reject Cho Yeonoh. He might even feel glad to be touched by him.

But if that happened, it would make him look quite ridiculous—the self who had made up his mind on the hospital rooftop that day to leave Cho Yeonoh.

Kihyun wanted to stop being broken. Shouldn’t he at least cherish himself a little?

When he closed his mouth with a sigh, Cho Yeonoh—who had veins bulging on his forehead yet managed to take a few deep breaths—spoke in a soft and quiet tone.

“My pheromones will be better than the supplements. You know that. I’m telling you to make that rational judgment you’re so good at.”

Unlike before, his tone seemed to be trying to persuade Kihyun, but the jugular vein standing out on his neck and the lingering tension only served to remind Kihyun that he was merely pretending not to be angry.

Kihyun suddenly got the feeling that Cho Yeonoh was struggling to push something through. Otherwise, why would a guy with such a foul temper suppress it and say such things? Exhaling a sigh, Kihyun opened his mouth.

“Stop playing tricks and just say what you want to say. You’re going to keep acting like this until you say it anyway.”

“…You know me well.”

Cho Yeonoh spoke in a voice that barely managed to squeeze through his throat, turning thick. It was a rare moment where Kihyun couldn’t read Yeonoh’s expression, but he seemed almost bitter. But what on earth would a guy like him be thinking that about? Just as he was about to brush it off as a mistake.

“I’m going to take responsibility for that.”

He couldn’t help but make a strange face naturally. He’s going to do what? As he just stared blankly with a confused face like someone who had heard something incomprehensible, Cho Yeonoh rolled his eyes upward with a face that looked relieved now that he’d said it, pushed his inner cheek slightly with his tongue, and let out a hollow laugh.

“Fuck, that feels refreshing. I should have said it sooner. I should have started with this yesterday when I was driving a nail into that bastard’s ankle.”

“…What?”

“You understood everything, so stop asking and just eat.”

Picking up the fallen frying pan, Cho Yeonoh muttered, “It’s damn hot,” yet he didn’t even think about cooling his hand and immediately scooped the rice. Because Kihyun, out of laziness, had only brought out one bowl for the rice, Cho Yeonoh scooped a heap of rice onto a front plate and finished setting the table.

Feeling frustrated by those fluid actions, Kihyun asked with a frown.

“What do you mean by taking responsibility.”

“I mean I’m taking responsibility for that kid. No, I should use proper words. I’m saying I’ll take responsibility for the bloodline of whatever jerk is inside your belly.”

He was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure whether to say, ‘That jerk is you, you crazy bastard,’ or to point out that his version of “proper words” was even more foul, or to ask more about what he meant by taking responsibility. Kihyun kicked the shin of Cho Yeonoh, who was looking at the legs of the dining table placed in the corner because he didn’t know how to unfold them.

“I told you to stop acting up. And stop trying to bewitch people with your silver tongue.”

It was annoying because it felt like he was being drawn in. After getting hit, Cho Yeonoh rubbed his shin, saying, “Fuck, Kihyun. You should have been a soccer player,” but he didn’t take his eyes off the structure of the table. Finally, as if he had figured out the mechanism, Cho Yeonoh properly unfolded and fixed the legs, then carried the side dishes onto it. Then, he picked up the table and placed it in front of Kihyun.

“Eat first, then talk.”

He was about to tell him he didn’t need it and to please just go. Cho Yeonoh, who had forced a spoon into his hand, spoke gloomily.

“If you don’t eat this right now, I’m going to report the greenhouse immediately, so suit yourself.”

“…You’ve really gone crazy.”

“It’s strange that you didn’t know.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Cho Yeonoh pushed the radish soup—which had fresh green onions floating in it, whenever he had chopped them in—toward him. Kihyun felt a headache and thought he should just get the meal over with.

The two men ate for a while without saying a word. Even in the midst of this, Kihyun found it fascinating that food was actually going into his mouth. It wasn’t just going in; it was delicious. He didn’t know if it was because he was eating it after a long time or if he had just become accustomed to it over the years, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t replicate this taste, so he ate even better.

At first, he thought he should just eat it quickly and be done with it, but perhaps because his appetite had increased lately, after a bit, he was focused only on the meal. It was only later that he realized Cho Yeonoh was looking at him as if he found him absurd.

“…Are you living while starving yourself? Did that bastard work you to the bone and not even give you money?”

“What are you talking about? …It’s just that my portion size has increased.”

At those words, Cho Yeonoh glanced at Kihyun’s lower abdomen. When he unconsciously covered it with his hand upon feeling the gaze, it was absurd to see his expression turn cold and his eyes turn rebellious.

“Why are you looking at a person like that?”

“…Just finish eating.”

He seemed quite angry, so Kihyun resumed his meal without paying him any mind. The egg roll was soft and seasoned just right with a moderate saltiness, and looking closer, it had pollock roe in it, though he didn’t know where he had gotten it. It was to the point he wondered if he had gone grocery shopping in the morning. Since it wasn’t something he needed to resolve his curiosity by asking, Kihyun focused on finishing his meal just as Cho Yeonoh said.

When the meal was over, it was time to go to work. As Kihyun stood up to clear the table, Cho Yeonoh waved his hand as if shooing a fly, then picked up the dining table, set it down next to the sink, and cleared it by himself. The sight of him immediately starting the dishes was no different from when they were in Seoul, which gave Kihyun a strange feeling.

The apron draped over his bare back wasn’t even funny. Kihyun, with his face devoid of emotion like someone whose laughter center had vanished, swallowed his sigh. Even though he didn’t want to put such feelings into the belly where the child was, he couldn’t help it. It was to keep his true feelings from being discovered by the sensitive Cho Yeonoh.

The sound of rushing water was pouring into the sink. He blankly watched the muscles, split along their grain, moving as he did the dishes.

Suddenly, everything felt futile. He hadn’t put an immense amount of effort into running away, but Kihyun had been able to learn what it meant for his heart to be at peace after coming here. This was because there was a peace here that he hadn’t felt in the military, after his discharge, or even by Yeonoh’s side.

Loving Cho Yeonoh was like having a typhoon inside that only decreased in strength but never completely disappeared. Kihyun knew well enough that some days it blew violently and some days it was a bit calmer, but it never went away entirely.

But since coming here, there wasn’t even a trace of wind. There wasn’t even a breeze weaker than a zephyr, so Kihyun’s heart had truly been at peace for the first time in a long while. But seeing him again, it’s uncomfortable. It was just heavy.

Eventually, Kihyun turned his gaze away, went into the bathroom, and finished brushing his teeth and washing his face. Looking out, it seemed the dishes were all finished, as Cho Yeonoh was wiping every single drop of water off the sink with a dry towel. After glancing at him, Kihyun took his clothes into the bathroom and changed. It was unavoidable since the room was small.

Having finished dressing, Kihyun picked up his scooter keys and headed out without a word.

“Wait.”

Ignoring Yeonoh who spoke to him while taking off his apron. As soon as the front door closed behind him, the door lock engaged with a beeping sound. Kihyun walked away without even looking back.

He thought he would be chased immediately, but surprisingly, Cho Yeonoh didn’t come. Letting out a low sigh, he started the scooter and set off.

Since the rainy season had just ended and the sweltering heat had begun, he could feel the asphalt sizzling. Even while riding the scooter, only lukewarm wind blew past. Still, it was much better than the humid, hot air of Seoul. When the nutmeg trees planted in a row along the two-lane road cast shadows on the ground, it would be cool for a moment before turning hot again.

After riding for a while, the greenhouse he arrived at was clean, as if yesterday’s events were a lie.

Feeling bad that he hadn’t been able to contact Yang Jisu at all, he finally opened his phone. Sure enough, there was a message from Yang Jisu. It was nothing special, just a message saying he didn’t have to come to work today.

When he moved down here, he had only briefly informed him of the fact that he had become an Omega and was pregnant, but Yang Jisu didn’t ask further. He was originally a person without prejudice. It also seemed to be because his interest in others was thin.

For Kihyun, that was a very thankful part. He hoped he wouldn’t ask anything, but if he did, out of gratitude to Yang Jisu, he would have shared everything that had happened.