At the End of That Memory Chapter 30

Did he really mean that he was coming now? The question was resolved in exactly 30 minutes. As I hung up the phone and was pacing around the house, I heard that a car had been pulled into the garage. It was a time when the staff only put my share of food on the table.

I went straight out to the front door and waited for Kwon Yido to come in right away. I was planning on asking him what happened when he opened the middle door and came in. It was not that I was lamenting immaturely, I just wanted to make an excuse by saying I said it without meaning.

“…”

But the moment I opened the door and saw him come in, I couldn’t say anything. Not because he rarely looked disheveled, but because he held something completely unexpected in his hand.

“…What is this?”

It was a gorgeous, large bouquet made of bright red roses and gypsophila. It was all fresh flowers, and the moment I got closer, I was immediately struck by the thick scent of flowers. While I was blinking blankly, Kwon Yido held out the bouquet he was holding.

“Why are you out here?”

“…”

I didn’t even think about receiving flowers. He looked unusually disheveled, his tie loosened and his brow furrowed. The atmosphere, which seemed different from usual, was subtle enough to make the area around my chest tingle.

“Is this for me?”

So I asked in a confused voice, and his expression softened. With a faint smile on his face, he made a gentle sound as if a breeze brushed against me. His slightly curled lips drew a soft curve.

“I can’t give it to myself, can I?”

It had a playful tone. The voice that came out next was extremely soft.

“The only person in my house who likes flowers is you, Jung Sejin.”

“…”

As if mesmerized, I accepted the flower he offered. For a split second, the fingertips that brushed against him, tingled as if they had received an electric shock. This was the second bouquet I received from Kwon Yido. Although I didn’t receive the first one in person, it was true that both of them felt fresh and new.

“Well…”

I pursed my lips, but no words could form to express my gratitude. I remember I said thank you in various ways on the engagement day. Right now, I couldn’t find words to express this overwhelming feeling.

“…It’s really pretty.”

The words I barely managed to say were so small that I couldn’t reach him. Kwon Yido looked at me blankly, then agreed in a light voice as if in passing.

“I know, right.”

Why did that single word make me so embarrassed that the back of my neck burned? Was it because Kwon Yido’s gaze was focused on my face, not the flower? He passed me by without a glance, but I had to stand there for a while.

We sat down to a meal together for the first time in a long time. It was after Kwon Yido changed his clothes and came down, and after I asked the staff to put a bouquet in a vase. I had been holding the rose for so long, that even when I sat down at the table, my whole body felt like it smelled like a flower.

The chef prepared a new meal without any signs of hesitation even when Kwon Yido suddenly arrived home without notice. It was a salad of shrimp with citrus sauce and seasoned summer vegetables with slightly early persimmon. I really liked the texture of the duck meat that came as a main dish, probably because the flesh was soft.

“Is your mouth feeling better now?”

When we were halfway through eating, Kwon Yido asked vaguely. It might be because he remembered that on the first day when the inside of my mouth burst, I frowned several times while eating. I nodded, rubbing the injured area with the tip of my tongue.

“It’s gotten a lot better.”

It wasn’t completely healed yet, but I didn’t have any trouble eating. Even when it hurt quite a lot at first, I was fine because I ate only bland foods.

“Thank goodness.”

Kwon Yido answered like that and continued eating in silence. It was nothing special, but the look in his eyes as he said that seemed so relieved that I was speechless. It felt strange when a person who was blunt in everything sometimes showed this side of himself.

“You seem to be very busy these days…”

I chanted slowly and put down my chopsticks. Was I addicted to the scent of flowers? I felt like I was constantly shaking.

“I’m worried that you seem to have overexerted yourself from work.”

It felt like I had called Kwon Yido home in an immature manner. To rationalize that it was just time for him to get off work, anyone could see that he was the one who came back because of me. I could tell from the fact that he even bought a bouquet himself.

“Well, if you know why I’m busy, you’ll realize how useless it is to worry.”

Kwon Yido smiled and put down his spoon. As if he was finished eating, he took a sip of water and stood up.

“If it’s okay, let’s go down together for a moment.”

I felt déjà vu. Once before, Kwon Yido left a meal saying something similar to this. When was it? Was it the day he gave me two car keys?

As soon as I could think about that, he looked at me and shook his head.

“Jung Sejin’s car has arrived.”

* * *

The car that Kwon Yido said he would give me was a pure white sedan newly released by M Company. It was the most popular line, and he said that it was a classic re-release that took full advantage of the company’s strengths. Since it was brought into Korea as a limited edition, Kwon Yido probably brought one of which there were only a few.

“I finished the inspection, but it was a little late because I had some personal things to inspect. I can’t have a problem with the car I gave you as a gift.”

He started explaining this and that while holding his car keys in his hands. This time, things like the new technology applied by M or the safety system introduced to protect drivers. As someone who had a hobby of collecting cars, he gave a fluent explanation that a professional dealer would give.

“I chose the options myself, and if you don’t like the interior design, you can tell. I’ll change it accordingly.”

Even as someone who didn’t know much about cars, I think this design was chosen very pretty. Even though I didn’t really like white, I was captivated the moment I saw it. At first glance, the interior seen through the windshield was decorated in a bright beige color, unlike other cars.

“I will use it well. I like it.”

When I said that, Kwon Yido held out his car keys with a satisfied look on his face. The car key with the brand logo in silver was now truly mine and I could not return it to him. Why was it so hard to accept the car? While I was once again filled with emotions, Kwon Yido expressed a similar thought to me.

“It’s so difficult to give away a car.”

“…Haha.”

I slowly avoided his gaze. When I belatedly added my thanks, he extended his hand towards me. He pressed the unlock button on the car key I was holding and pointed to the car with its headlights on.

“Do you want to take a test drive?”

The entire interior of the car was made of beige leather, almost ivory. The steering wheel, console, ceiling, and car seat were all made of the same material, and even the panel beyond the steering wheel had a sophisticated design.

I sat in the driver’s seat, and Kwon Yido naturally climbed into the passenger seat. Since I was the one always sitting in the backseat, it was a truly unfamiliar combination. While I was fastening my seatbelt and adjusting my position on the seat, he quietly looked at me with an unreadable expression.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“It suits you well.”

The answer could not have been more refreshing. He narrowed his eyes and spoke in his characteristic, dignified voice.

“I like the sight of Jung Sejin sitting in the car I chose.”

It was truly an expression without any flattery. I started the car and let out a faint laugh.

“You’re saying all kinds of things. Everything I am wearing and using is given to me by you, Kwon Yido.”

The clothes I was wearing, the shoes I was wearing, and my cell phone. It was all prepared by Kwon Yido for me. Even if I used just one shampoo, it was all his, so what could he like about me having a car?

“You have to like everything, Jung Sejin.”

“That…I don’t think you need to worry.”

From the moment I first entered his house, I felt like I was discovering tastes that I had never known before. For example, I liked bright colors when it came to furniture, and I preferred natural floral scents rather than fruity scents. Or, I liked novels more than essays, especially ones that didn’t cause much conflict in the main character.

“It seemed like you knew my tastes well.”

“Well…If you are interested in someone, you will naturally learn more.”

What he said always felt vague. At first glance, it seemed like a reasonable answer, but in reality, there were many contradictory parts. We first met on the day of our engagement ceremony, and from then on, didn’t Kwon Yido already prepare a room for me to come in?

“At what age did you get your license?”

This also sounded like he was trying to change the topic.

“I got my license when I was 20, and I started driving when I was 25.”

I’d had a car since I was 20, but I didn’t drive my car when I was in college. Even if I had to take the car out in the first place, there would always be a driver and bodyguard following me.

“Just in case, I’m telling you, I’m a good driver.”

First of all, I told him not to worry, and Kwon Yido nodded his head without any hesitation. “I know the fact that you are good at driving.” I unconsciously looked suspiciously at that short answer. He still curled up his mouth with a relaxed and relaxed expression.

“I know that just by looking at how you touch the car.”

“…”

Since nothing was wrong with what he said, I just started the car without saying anything. As expected from a brand-new car, the movement was very smooth from the start. I turned the steering wheel to the right and asked Kwon Yido out of courtesy.

“Is there somewhere you want to go?”

Should we take a walk around the Han River? It looked like there was a place in the middle to park and look around. I’d never been there in person, but I remembered thinking that the night view reflected in the river would be quite beautiful.

“Let’s take a walk around the Han River.”

“…”

The hand holding the steering wheel trembled. It was because Kwon Yido told me exactly the place I thought of. Yes, it was an okay driving course to begin with. At the same time as I was thinking that, I heard a soft voice behind me.

“If you follow the main road, there is a place in the middle where you can park your car and rest for a while.”

“…”

“The night view reflected in the river is pretty, so I think Jung Sejin will like it too.”

Was this a coincidence? Or was it fate? If it was the latter, then how on earth could he have said that?

The sense of déjà vu that came with the feeling of discomfort was something I sometimes felt when talking to him. It would have been nice to ask this question accurately, but I also thought that I was being sensitive.

“…I guess you’ve been there.”

So I gave the most acceptable response. When I actually said it, I was worried that it might seem like I was jealous of his past. Kwon Yido slowly opened his mouth at very small intervals.

“I’ve been there once before.”

Who did you go with? I didn’t even ask that question. I thought that if I even brought up that question, I would look like a really narrow-minded lover. Of course, we weren’t lovers, but whatever.

As soon as I got out of the garage and onto the road, I started to realize what a great car this was. I heard that the 100 km/h range was much shorter than that of existing sedans, but the difference was even in the feeling of stepping on the brakes. The steering wheel turned smoothly, and there was little shaking inside the car.

Even though I had never driven a bad car, the ride quality was by far the best. If it were a sports car, I would never have felt this way.

“…The car is really nice.”

It was the first admiration that came from deep within my heart since I received the car from him. After all, it wasn’t for nothing that he had an eye for insight.

He looked at my side face and spoke calmly without raising or lowering.

“From my perspective, it’s not that Jung Sejin isn’t interested in cars, it’s that he hasn’t found a car he likes.”

I couldn’t turn to look at him because I was driving, but I think he was probably smiling with satisfaction. He must have folded his eyes and raised the corners of his mouth in a cool way. Even without seeing it with my eyes, it was clearly expressed as if it was right in front of my nose.

Driving was fun so it was easy to reach the Han River. The sunset sky was covered in darkness, but to me, everything felt like a fleeting moment.

It was a voluntary outing for the first time in a very long time. I always went places whenever my father asked for me; however this time, I could go wherever I wanted to go. It was a passing moment, but the moment I saw the open road, I felt refreshed.

‘I am not imposing you here, Jung Sejin.’

I didn’t know why Kwon Yido’s words came to mind right now. I never once thought it was uncomfortable, but it seemed like my daily life of staying at home was a little frustrating.

Kwon Yido, who was sitting in the passenger seat, did not take his eyes off me the entire time the car was moving. His gaze was persistent enough to make my face tingle, but I never looked back at him. When I parked the car by the riverside and turned off the engine, I slowly turned my head towards him.

“…”

“…”

Our eyes met. Kwon Yido stayed still, but it felt like he was tying me up. The particularly dark eyes made even the street lamplit look like a scene from a movie. Like a slow winding tape, he began to rhyme slowly.

“I felt it a while ago…”

In the quiet car, only Kwon Yido’s voice was heard. A space where all surrounding noise could not be heard, a space just for him and me. All I felt was pheromones that resembled him.

“This is what it feels like to see you focused.”

He unfastened his seatbelt. His slow, extended hand touched the right, not the swollen left cheek. He gently touched the corner of my eye with his thumb, then naturally moved his hand to the back of my head and dug into my hair.

“…Can I?”

There was no need to ask what permission it was for. Before I could answer, he slowly approached me. For a long time, long enough to make me thirsty, I waited quietly for Kwon Yido, keeping eye contact with him.

“…”

“…”

I gently lowered my eyelids. Pheromones began to mix thickly with our breath. The smell of trees that didn’t fit the season, a cold but friendly scent that resembled him. All of those things made me feel tingly and intoxicated.

His hand, which had been holding the back of my head, carefully moved down to the nape of my neck. He slightly twisted his head and tickled the gap between my lips with his tongue. His lips hovered at the entrance as if asking for permission, and when I didn’t resist, it dug a little deeper inside.

He traced the wound on my cheek with his tongue as if he wanted to check it. When I flinched and the corners of my eyes trembled, he comforted me by brushing the back of my neck as if trying to comfort me. He gently rubbed his tongue with mine and released pheromones through his lips.

“…”

It wasn’t my intention to be excited. Just a show of affection, or him marking his territory. The act of him leaving his traces and artificially imprinting on me.

Kwon Yido was a good kisser. This was the conclusion I came to after several kisses. Otherwise, there would be no way for such a quiet kiss to cause my lower abdomen to heat up.

“Hm, wait a minute…”

I gently pulled my lips away from him. It felt like if a little more time passed, my eyes would roll upwards without even knowing where I was. My heat cycle had already ended, but my body which had recognized the pleasure he was giving was already waiting for him.

“Hm?”

Kwon Yido did not move far away and spoke with our lips pressed together. After kissing me softly a couple of times, he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and brushed it behind my ear. The sensation of his little finger rubbing the hollow area below my ear was so tickling that my shoulders shrank.

“You want to?”

“…”

Without a doubt, it was the correct answer. He looked at me with a persistent gaze, as if he was looking into my heart. A similar desire was emerging in the eyes of two people, which met at a close range.