At the End of That Memory Chapter 13

It was a strange suggestion. I didn’t expect such a proposal to come up, so I looked at him in confusion for a moment. Kwon Yido shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

“Since you don’t want to say what you want, I have no choice but to give you what you want.”

So, why do you want to give that to me?

“…Does it have to be the kind that doesn’t stain Kwon Yido’s reputation again?”

He shook his head vigorously. This was because the proposal given by Kwon Yido was worth considering. Instead of him receiving two things like cars, it was easier to handle the postprocessing if I received just one thing I needed.

“Not really, but you should at least be able to explain why you want it.”

“Is the amount of money completely irrelevant?”

“If it were someone else, their eyes would be on something expensive, but…Jung Sejin, you are aiming too low.”

He nodded his head wordlessly. As if he knew that would happen, Kwon Yido burst out laughing.

“It’s irrelevant.”

It was a time to rejoice. I don’t know why he went to such lengths to give me something, but since the opportunity arose, he had to take it.

“Then instead….”

“Instead?”

“Can’t you just give what you want to give instead of me mulling on it?”

“…”

Kwon Yido frowned for a moment with an expression that caught him off guard. ‘I’ll think again about the car keys.’ It wasn’t a statement that I would take them but I gave him the room for questions. I wasn’t a business man but I knew how to play with my words.

“You are sharp.”

Kwon Yido put his hands in his pockets and smiled slightly. The way his beautiful eyes were gently folded was similar to what I saw on his engagement day. It would be better if he could laugh like this on TV. Your smile is so pretty, isn’t it a waste to not show it?

“Let me ask you one thing. Why do you hate cars so much?”

“…It’s not that I don’t like it.”

When it came to cars, I liked it simple. I wasn’t a collector like Kwon Yido but I had my tastes.

“I don’t think there’s a need for that many cars.”

“What do you mean many…Do you think two is a lot?”

To Kwon Yido’s standard. I guess he didn’t know but having more than three cars is considered a lot.

“Don’t be like this. Okay, I’ll do as you say. If you pick the car you like, I’ll take back the car keys.”

“…You have to promise me.”

“Should we wrap our fingers?”

He frowned and held out his little finger. Anyone could see that it was a joke, but for some reason, I felt like I wanted to go along with it. When I hooked my little finger around his long finger, Kwon Yido blinked in surprise.

“…”

“…There is no contract to stamp so this would do.”

The slightly entangled fingers were released only after the pinky fingers were tightly interlocked. Kwon Yido did not withdraw his hand and stayed like that for a while. Shouldn’t I have done that? Only when that thought occurred to him did he smile ever more softly?

“This is what we will do when I make promises in the future.”

“…”

No way, it must be a joke.

“Anyway, let’s use this car temporarily for a week. You must need a car if you have appointments outside.”

“Yes, well…”

It occurred to me that he didn’t use what others used but I nodded my head. I also swallowed the useless words down my throat. If I needed a car, I could bring my car from my parents’ house. It had no use so I left it behind.

“Oh, and…”

Kwon Yido checked the time again and frowned slightly. As if it was time to leave, a person who appeared to be a secretary gave a sign at the garage entrance. Kwon Yido roughly raised one hand and instructed him to wait, then he nodded at me.

“You will get a test from a doctor soon.”

“A test?”

“Yes, pheromone test.”

Kwon Yido added casually.

“Changes in your body are not a very positive sign. If the inhibitor doesn’t work, you’ll be in trouble in many ways, so you need to know the reason why the heat cycle period has changed. If you stay at home, we need to prepare for just such an emergency.”

“…”

“I’ll call my doctor, so he’ll just take a few simple tests related to pheromones. You can go to the hospital if it is convenient for you. What do you want to do?”

He wasn’t wrong. I was already thinking about meeting my doctor, Professor Choi, someday. But, I was surprised that Kwon Yido said it first, and I was embarrassed that he assumed that I would not stay at home.

“…Please do what is more convenient for you.”

“Let’s do it at home. It must be inconvenient for you to go back and forth to the hospital.”

“Yes, then, at home…”

Now that I think about it, there were more than one or two strange things. He said home but he never suggested that I shouldn’t go out. When he gave me a car, didn’t he make it clear that I needed it to go out?

“…I have one question.”

“Yes?”

Kwon Yido checked his watch again. At first glance, it seemed like normally it would have been time to get in the car and go out. Nonetheless, he looked at me as if asking me to speak.

“Am I free to leave the house?”

“…?”

He made a puzzled expression as if asking what that meant. It must have been such an unexpected question that he even tilted my head. Kwon Yido paused for a moment before speaking in a somewhat subdued voice.

“Jung Sejin, you are not imprisoned here.”

“… … .”

Why? The moment I heard those words, a part of my heart felt numb and painful. I felt a strange sense of déjà vu as if someone had said something similar. Kwon Yido lowered his eyes slightly and added in a low voice.

“I have no intention of limiting the scope of Jung Sejin’s actions.”

I wanted to ask. Why did he ask me to come to his house?What benefit is there for me coming to his house?

“…Okay. All right.”

There were many reasons why I couldn’t ask that question. Firstly, it seemed like it was time for Kwon Yido to go to work, and secondly, it seemed like a part of my mind was warning me not to do so.

“I guess I should go out soon. I am going to be very late today, so please have your meals and rest properly.”

Kwon Yido said that and walked ahead of me. I walked after him and barely managed to calm my irritated stomach. The keys in my hand made a loud noise.

* * *

It was late afternoon, after lunchtime, when someone brought me my phone. It was around this time that I locked myself in my room and read a book, thinking that I should be careful until today. The tall, well-built man bowed to me as I came out the front door, holding out a new phone.

“Lee Taeseong, the executive director’s bodyguard.”

The phone was the latest model of the brand I was using. I thought he would give me a product from Seonho Electronics, but it seemed like he respected my taste. The shiny appearance was truly burdensome.

“It’s Saturday, sorry for giving you such a hard time.”

Not a secretary but a bodyguard? I had that question, but out of courtesy, I answered with a gentle smile. The man who introduced himself as Lee Taeseong looked at me unimpressed and answered, ‘Nothing like that.’ It wasn’t a particularly special reaction, but I could tell it instinctively.

This person didn’t like me very much.

“I’ve installed the backup, so please check and let me know if anything is strange. This is the phone you were originally using, and I also fixed the screen just in case.”

“Ah…Thank you.”

“No, these are all instructions from the executive director.”

It happened, sometimes. People who felt uncomfortable around me.

When he said the word ‘executive director,’ he had a very proud look in his eyes. I think he had a lot of respect for Kwon Yido, but I guess he didn’t like me as his fiancé.

Well, since he was the bodyguard of a well-respected person but had to run errands like this, it was no wonder that he was displeased with this situation.

“Please tell Kwon Yido that I’m grateful.”

I said that and gave him a slight eye greeting. I did this because I knew he would leave right away, but he hesitated, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. When we made eye contact, Lee Taeseong reluctantly opened his mouth.

“…He asked me to remain as an attendant until the executive director leaves for work.”

“Attendant?”

“Yes, like driving or running errands…”

“…”

His expression got worse and worse. Not only Lee Taeseong’s but also mine who was listening to the story.

“…If you’re a bodyguard, shouldn’t you be protecting Kwon Yido?”

“There are many people to protect him besides me.”

Well, he was right. A person in Kwon Yido’s position would not have more than one bodyguard. When I worked as the Director, I had several bodyguards, but I thought it was a hassle, so I only took a few with me.

“So you’re still next to me at home…?”

Lee Taeseong kept his mouth shut at the hint of a question. It wasn’t a positive silence, but this time I felt like he didn’t want to speak out loud. Soon, he subtly avoided eye contact and spoke politely.

“He told me to wait nearby and come in only when necessary.”

“… Lee Taeseong, what is your exact job?”

“Driving, running errands, and security. If you have anything else to say to the executive director, you can convey it through me.”

In short, he was truly an errand boy. To the point where I didn’t understand why he called himself a bodyguard.

Kwon Yido’s house has over ten security systems installed. Armed police were dispatched at the touch of a button, and CCTV was managed without blind spots. How many security personnel are deployed inside right now, so why waste personal security guards?

“Just for a moment… I’ll just make a phone call.”

I took my new cell phone and walked a few steps away, leaving Lee Taeseong where he was. Even though I was moving away, he was still standing with his back to me. I felt like I was becoming uncomfortable for no reason.

“It’s the same…”

The new cell phone he bought was the same as the one I was using. Not only wallpapers but also phone books and message records. I dialed the number saved as ‘Kwon Yido’ and waited for the call to connect with him.

A soft voice came from the other end of the phone along with a familiar beeping sound.

– Yes, this is Kwon Yido.

It was a blunt voice. There was also a rustling sound as if he was doing some work. It was my first time making a phone call. At the sound of bustles heard through the receiver, my back was tense.

“This is Jung Sejin…Can you talk to me now?”

– …

There was silence for a moment. Was he busy? I thought for a moment. Kwon Yido’s voice was heard again from across the street.

– What’s wrong?

For some reason, I felt he was impatient. If I said something, he was going to run to come to me. I glanced at Lee Taesong, lowered my voice, and opened my mouth.

“It’s not like something is wrong…A person named Lee Taeseong brought me my phone. After listening to him, I heard you appointed him as my attendant.”

– … Ah.

The soft gasp contained both relief and realization. Only then did the tension ease, and his voice became softer.

– If you don’t like him, I can send someone else.

“No, he’s not the problem…”

I almost stuttered for a moment. If you don’t like him, I can send someone else. Was it that easy to do?

“I think you misunderstood me, but there is no need for a driver. I don’t need anyone to run errands.”

– Didn’t you decide to take everything I gave you?

“…People are not things.”

It was fortunate that Kwon Yido was not in front of me. If he had been in front of me, I would have caught the absurd expression on his face right now. Although he didn’t mean to, it was obvious that he would have been staring at me with puzzled eyes.

“Anyway, there is no need. If I need something, I will call you.”

– Call me…If I hadn’t sent my bodyguard today, would you have ever called me?

“…”

The answer, without a doubt, was ‘no’. There was no way I would have something happen, while I was at home, to me that would need me to call someone at work.

– I told them not to bother you so keep him by your side. The more secretaries and security guards you have, the better.

“… I never needed more than two secretaries.”

– So the only one you brought with you was ‘Chief Kim’?

The voice became darkly low. As I closed my mouth due to the sudden change in emotions, Kwon Yido spoke in a slightly softened tone.

– Originally, Lee Taeseong was the head of the security team. He is a former member of the national judo team and a good driver.

He looked like someone who worked out and was athletic. Moreover, he even held the title of team leader. Why did you assign such a good talent to me?

“He was appointed to you so how can I…”

– I can do whatever I want with the people I hire so I don’t see any problem with assigning him to you.

He wasn’t communicating with me at all. Someone should give up, but I had no intention of giving in. I already knew from long experience how uncomfortable it was to be around people.

“Kwon Yido, I don’t need an attendant. If you want to keep me under surveillance, CCTVs are enough…”

– Surveillance?

“…”

Ah, I didn’t mean to say it like this.

– If you think that way, I have nothing to say.

“…No, that was a slip of the tongue.”

– No. I understand your feelings.

Damn it. That was what I thought. Even though he said he understood, the nuance in his words did not feel like that at all.

“Kwon Yido, I…”

– I should have been watching you. If that were the case, you wouldn’t have been in the greenhouse for so long.

My mouth was completely shut. Although it was a cold voice, it felt subtle rather than something awful. It became clearer the moment I listened to Kwon Yido’s words afterward.

– When I told you to call me if anything happened, you didn’t keep your part of the promise. If I hadn’t gone to the greenhouse, what would have happened to you? If you were in the garden instead of the greenhouse, do you think you could have called me?

The soft voice was peaceful, without any pitch. It caught my ear even more, and that was why I thought about it a little more.

– I don’t expect much, so you can take him once you leave the house.

… Why is this person so worried about me?

– I’m sorry, but I had no idea you would call me.

It was true that it was a difficult situation, but I shouldn’t have been so sensitive about it. Even more so, because it was between Kwon Yido and me. Our relationship was…

‘We’re not in a business relationship, so there’s no need to be formal.’

“…Kwon Yido.”

– Yes.

“Are you worried about me?”

– …

A question suddenly popped out. The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and only the sound of breathing came through the receiver. The slight rustling noise also stopped as if the stop button had been pressed.

How much time has passed? Only then did Kwon Yido mutter with a shallow sigh.

– You’re pretty good. I didn’t know you would ask me something like this.

It was a surprising answer. Maybe I was nervous without realizing it, but the back of my neck stiffened. Kwon Yido roughly finished the conversation while awkwardly massaging his shoulder.

– I guess I should hang up. Let’s talk at home in detail. First, you will take the attendant with you. As I said before, it won’t be a hindrance.

“…Yes, well.”

In that short period, my stubbornness completely cooled down. It was common. I could get liberated even if I get riled up. I had no right to refuse anyway. The moment I was about to hang up the phone with that thought in mind, Kwon Yido began to say slowly.

– I’m saying this out of fear of your misunderstanding…

Even after saying his words, he hesitated to continue for a moment. As I listened to hear what he wanted to say, a soft voice pierced my ears.

– You’re right. I’m worried about you.

Suddenly, the phone hung up. I checked my phone belatedly, but I couldn’t hear Kwon Yido’s voice. The beeping sound that followed rang in my dazed ears.