At the End of That Memory Chapter 21

I could hear the sound of rain tapping on the quiet car. It was the sound of drizzling rain bouncing off the car window. I placed my hands neatly on my thighs and stared at the rainy scenery in the distance.

On the peaceful road, not a single car passed by. It was late and raining outside. The car headlights were extended out, and the falling rain split up small fragments of light.

Ah, this is very strange.

With that in mind, I glanced at Kwon Yido. He was sitting in the driver’s seat, staring straight ahead in silence. He lightly gripped the steering wheel, showing moderately prominent veins on his hand.

‘…Do you like being in the rain?’

Things that happened with him a little while ago came to mind. Our slow breathing, Kwon Yido’s pheromones hovering at the tip of my nose, and soft lips approaching under the shadow of a tilted umbrella.

How long have you been waiting for me? His lips felt slightly cool. No, maybe it was because he was a person with a low body temperature to begin with. It was the same with the hand that later cupped my cheek.

He rubbed the corners of my cheeks very slowly. He carefully traced the edge of my ear with his index finger, as if he was touching a breakable object. His large hand, large enough to cover his entire face, slowly moved down and caressed the nape of my neck.

It was definitely a cold hand, but I felt hot every time he touched it. Feeling dizzy enough to shake my neck, I grabbed Kwon Yido’s hand as if I were holding a rope. He gently bit my lower lip and pulled his lips away from me as slowly as he came.

‘Let’s go home.’

I couldn’t figure out why I felt so ashamed by his words. Perhaps it was because my body craved Kwon Yido after only one kiss. Perhaps it was because I was filled with remorse for an unspoken conduct.

Regardless, I followed Kwon Yido to his car. There was no one in the car, so Kwon Yido slid into the driver’s seat with ease. When I questioned if he drove himself, he smiled and replied:

‘Sometimes it’s easier to not have a driver.’

I didn’t realize what that meant until I was in the passenger seat. I became unusually conscious of Kwon Yido the instant the car door closed and the sounds outside were muffled.

To clarify, this was not our first kiss. When the heat cycle arrived, we mingled our tongues even more densely. It was an impatient act, like quenching a dry throat, and it was an impatient act that drove me insane.

But why is this trivial kiss more nerve-wracking than the kiss back then?

He started the car and drove down a lonely lane. The atmosphere was so awkward that it was difficult to put into words. Kwon Yido’s pheromones were all over the car, so much so that I was aware of him even when staring out the window.

Yeah, I’m glad there’s no driver. If that were the case, I would have had to worry about not only Kwon Yido but also his innocent driver.

“…It’s late, but thank you for the wine. Thanks to you, I enjoyed it very much.”

I managed to come up with something to talk about to lighten the mood. It wasn’t a bad topic choice, but Kwon Yido wasn’t very proactive.

“Your lips didn’t taste like wine.”

“…”

It took me a moment to understand what he was saying. When I belatedly turned around with a puzzled look on his face, he raised the corner of his mouth cheerfully.

“I’m pulling your leg.”

I thought about it over and over again, but the more I looked at him, the more he was a different person from what I knew. He didn’t have the image to play such a sly joke.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. You can drink whatever you have at home, so choose whatever you like. If you like good liquor, it’s in the cabinet.”

“Yes, well…”

I didn’t enjoy drinking much. I had never eaten enough to get drunk, and I had never even tried it unless it was a simple accompaniment. There was no particular reason, but I just hated the feeling of losing myself when I got drunk.

“Did you have a good conversation with your family?”

At Kwon Yido’s question, I twitched and trembled without notice. I fixed my gaze outside the window and opened my mouth as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, thank you.”

Thank you. Even though I eventually went away from there because I couldn’t take it any longer.

‘Please bring just one document.’

My father’s words stuck deep in my consciousness like a spell. The words that I should listen to because Kwon Yido would abandon you were like mud that could be washed away. The cries of criticism began to regain the sense of reality that Kwon Yido had taken away.

“But why didn’t you spend the night there?”

“…”

Kwon Yido was uncooperative during the conversation. He shouldn’t be that careless. I only chose the portions I didn’t want to discuss or mention. Plus, he said something when I didn’t respond.

“Even though you only came to your small apartment.”

“…The house is not small.”

“It’s small.”

It was a confident voice. Even though he couldn’t even see the inside, he couldn’t help but speak confidently. He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers and spoke quietly.

“At least it wasn’t a good place to run away.”

There was absolutely nothing to refute the expression “run away.” It was true that I ran away, and then I suddenly ran into Kwon Yido. According to him, it was entirely coincidental.

“If it rains there, you’ll catch a cold.”

The tone was blunt, but deep inside he was worried. I leaned against the backrest and calmly opened my mouth.

“I didn’t mean to get caught in the rain.”

Really, I didn’t mean to get caught in the rain. I impulsively put down my umbrella, but wasn’t Kwon Yido himself there to block the rain? If it weren’t for him, I would have calmly gone home and stayed the night, and made up my mind.

Of course, there was one reason why I couldn’t get out of the rain.

“These are the clothes that Mr. Kwon Yido gave me, so I can’t ruin them.”

“…”

He looked at me silently and then his face became slightly blank. As our eyes met, I saw exactly how his eyes were shaking. Finally, he looked straight ahead again and muttered in an audible voice.

“…Thank God.”

Was he glad I didn’t get caught in the rain, or was he glad I didn’t ruin his clothes? Two reasons came to mind, but for some reason, I thought they were neither. It was just an insignificant reason, but Kwon Yido, seen from the side, had an overly sentimental expression.

“I will be heading to America.”

I blinked blankly at the words I suddenly heard. The streetlight passed by, illuminating the bridge of his high nose at an angle. He placed his wrists on the steering wheel and moved his lips in a slow motion.

“There’s a CitiGroup shareholders’ meeting.”

How could a person look like that? Even though I saw this face almost every day, I couldn’t get used to it at times like this.

“…How many days will you be here?”

CitiGroup was where Kwon Yido was an outside director. It would be a customary attendance, but due to the distance, it would take some time.

“I’m leaving tomorrow…”

Kwon Yido trailed off his words and slightly moved his eyebrows. Then, as if thinking about something, his eyes became long and narrow.

“For about a week.”

“…”

One week. It meant that I had to stay alone in that large house from tomorrow until a week later. To be exact, it would be with the staff there.

“I’ll bring you a gift when I come.”

He spoke lightly and gently twisted his steering wheel. Before we knew it, we had reached Kwon Yido’s house.

“What do you want?”

Should I ask for some information? If I had to receive it anyway, it would be better to receive it directly from Kwon Yido.

“…There’s nothing like that.”

But it was just like a dream. He mentioned the terms of the engagement, discussed it with my father, and then asked what his opinion was. There were too many things lacking between Kwon Yido and me for that to happen.

“Think about it for a week. If there’s nothing you want after that, I think I’ll want you to give me the car keys again.”

“…Are you threatening me?”

“Maybe so.”

The car keys were still sitting in my room. It stayed on the table without being used once.

“I really…it’s okay.”

Kwon Yido told him to take everything he gave me, but I didn’t know if my stomach would explode if I took it all. I had a strong feeling that three light cars by his standards would one day become three houses.

“You’re already giving me everything I need.”

Meanwhile, Kwon Yido entered the garage and skillfully stopped the car. He showed no reaction until he shifted his gear and turned off the engine. I wondered if he really got offended this time. Only when I was thinking about that did he quietly open his mouth.

“I know, you don’t need anything.”

The pheromone-laden voice was monotonous rather than angry. After saying dryly, he unbuckled his seatbelt and extended his hand towards me.

“I know that Jung Sejin is a person without greed, and I also know that you are a person who can have anything for yourself without me having to give it to you.”

Suddenly, Kwon Yido’s left hand unfastened my seat belt. As the belt slowly rolled up, he gradually tilted his upper body towards me. From a short distance away, he chanted in a low voice.

“This is just my greed.”

“…Greed?”

“I hope Jung Sejin thinks about me at least for a week while choosing the gifts.”

It was close enough that I was conscious of breathing. It seemed as if his intermittently trembling breath would reach Kwon Yido. The two eyes, lowered by a span of space, slowly made eye contact with me.

“I hope that you will be conscious of me as a person while using that item.”

The hand that had let go of the belt passed by my ear. It moved along my jawline, barely touching, and stopped at the nape of my neck, where my tie was. He traced the knotted part as if checking its shape and neatly folded the collar of my shirt.

“For example, just like how you couldn’t get out of the rain today because of the clothes I gave you as a gift.”

“That is…”

“I hope that those small changes will happen.”

The last words were so soft that they were barely audible. It was a voice like a breath as if it would disappear in the wind. As my eyes twitched at the tickling sensation in my ears, he whispered.

“I’m going to kiss you…Why don’t you close your eyes?”

As if casting a spell, my eyelids lowered as soon as I heard those words. The lips gently touching each other were as weightless as a feather falling. After staying like that for a moment, Kwon Yido slightly cupped my chin and tilted his head.

“…”

It was cold because I was standing in the rain earlier. It was so warm and cozy now.

A gentle tongue invaded the space between my lips. It remained in that position as if waiting for my permission, but when I didn’t object, it expanded its area a bit farther. The sensation inside my mouth was so strong that it sent shivers down my spine.

My brain felt like it was dissolving. The pheromones in the saliva relieved the tension in my entire body. Kwon Yido’s tongue became entwined in mine, while the right hand supporting the chair reached for the back of my head.

The sensation of lengthy fingers pulling through my hair was unusual no matter when I felt it. Back of my head, nape of my neck, behind my ears, and even my outer ear. One by one, delicate hands caressed everything they could reach. He shifted his gaze and traced the area around my eyes with his other hand.

It seemed like an affirmation of who I was. Kwon Yido concentrated his whole attention on me at all times, as though recalling everything that had affected me. The pouring pheromones and the occasional trembling breath told him.

“…”

I clutched Kwon Yido’s wrist, my eyelids twitching slightly. If I didn’t do this, I felt like I’d fall somewhere because of the satisfaction he offered me. Instead of pulling me away, Kwon Yido tightened his lips even more.

I never imagined I could be so content with only one kiss. I would have approached him sooner if I had known this was going to happen.

Joy welled up like a flood from deep within my stomach. It felt like the back of my neck was coated with fluff every time he brushed my tongue.

He only touched the nape of my neck and separated his lips after generously kissing me. I gently lifted my glance to meet Kwon Yido’s hot gaze. His black eyes twinkled with anticipation.

“Jung Sejin.”

The voice became more subdued than usual. Still, it was clear, and yet as elegant as ever.

“I am a person who can give you more than you think.”

The pheromone, which was always as heavy as a wet tree, was now bright as if a flower had bloomed. It was so sweet that it made my head dizzy as if it was emitting a scent to attract insects.

“You have to get my money’s worth, so wouldn’t it be better to say anything.”

“…I have no wish for anything.”

I spoke with as much sincerity as I could, but it felt like I could tell my heart was shaking. Kwon Yido, who was looking at me calmly, opened his eyes and smiled.

“Well…Then, let’s hear it in a week.”

He replied and immediately straightened his body. He took something from the backseat and held out the shopping bag.

“Take it. This is the perfume you were talking about.”

The cosmetics brand he talked about was written on the shopping bag tied with a white ribbon. When I took a quick peek inside, I saw a similarly pure white box. I didn’t realize it because it was covered by Kwon Yido’s pheromones, but I could feel the fragrant scent coming from the shopping bag.

“Thank you. I will use it well.”

As for perfume, all I did was occasionally use the ones that Chief Kim brought me. It was usually something that clumsily imitated a pheromone, and the sole purpose of spraying it was to ‘pretend to be an omega.’ Although it probably had no effect.

“Every time I use it, I will think of you.”

“…”

As I spoke without thinking, Kwon Yido stopped moving for a moment. He exhaled softly and blinked his eyes slowly. Soon, he burst into laughter and muttered to himself.

“I wonder if you did it on purpose…”

It was a pleasant face. There was a faint smile on his face, so much so that even I, watching it, felt better.

“Let’s go in. You must be tired.”

I didn’t take out the perfume. I was planning on going back to my room and opening it, so I followed Kwon Yido out of the car. His pheromones would be more helpful in remembering him than the perfume. I didn’t necessarily say those words out loud.

* * *

The perfume that Kwon Yido gave as a gift was a transparent, grass-colored bottle with flower petals and cubic beads made of drop cloth. The lid was made of round beads, and the ribbon wrapped around the spout looked like translucent wings. As expected from a product with the lily of the valley as a motif, the design was truly neat.

The scent, which was refreshing at first, gradually changed into a watery floral scent over time. The lingering scent that remained without being overwhelming seemed to resemble the scent of jasmine and roses, like the bath bomb I had used recently. After enjoying this scent to the fullest, after some deliberation, I shared some of the perfume in the empty bottle that came with it.

The next morning, I said this to Kwon Yido as he left home.

“Please give me your hand for a moment.”

“Hand?”

Even today, Kwon Yido was perfectly dressed, wearing a plain suit and a two-button vest. The tie was slightly gray, but if you looked closely, the brand logo was visible in a very small way.

“Why are you asking for my hands suddenly…”

He had a puzzled expression on his face but held out his hand to me without saying anything. The hand he held out with his palm facing up was about an inch bigger than me. As I carefully held his hand, he quietly watched what I was doing.

“…Are you spraying perfume?”

“Yes, the one Mr. Kwon Yido gave me yesterday.”

The top of the hand, not the wrist. I put some perfume on him and extended my free hand. He extended his second hand to me like a well-trained puppy, which may appear regretful. I softly pressed the backs of our palms together and curled the corners of my mouth slightly.

“People with office jobs say that spraying perfume on the back of their hands rather than their wrists makes it last longer.”

Kwon Yido looked at my face intently. ‘So?’ as if asking that. I gave Kwon Yido a small bottle of perfume and raised my head to make eye contact.

“Now you will think about me until this scent disappears.”