Chapter : 11
The bandages were still wrapped around him, but even with a light touch she could tell most of the swelling had gone down.
Still, this wasn’t nearly enough.
“Want me to take the bandages off and show you?”
As Jaehyuk stepped closer, she felt his breath again, just like before.
Hyun wasn’t used to this feeling.
She’d seen plenty of men with their shirts off. But she had never been this close—close enough to share breath, close enough to run her hand over bare skin.
“Did you wash up?”
When a faintly familiar scent drifted from him, the question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it. The smell of the shampoo she used tickled her nose.
“Just washed my hair.”
There was no way Jaehyuk wouldn’t know he couldn’t let water touch his wound.
No matter how dense he might be.
No wonder he’d looked oddly fresh earlier—he’d even washed his hair.
“There was a toothbrush, so I just used it.”
Hyun’s room had an attached bathroom, and Jaehyuk must have used the one in the living room. She remembered the toothbrush she’d taken out beforehand after bringing him in. Seeing that he’d used it on his own, it seemed she hadn’t needed to mention it.
“It’s yours. Good job.”
“Yeah.”
“But do we have to keep standing like this?”
He was still holding her hand against his abdomen, showing it off. Come to think of it, it was impressive that he’d managed to wash his hair and cook with that bandaged hand.
So that’s why he’d been wearing plastic gloves.
When Hyun looked up at him blankly, Jaehyuk finally released her hand.
“Don’t wash the dishes. You can’t get your hand wet.”
“Then are you going to do them?”
“As if.”
Seeing him still hovering around the sink, she warned him just in case.
Instead of answering, she pointed with her eyes to the dishwasher under the counter.
Hyun, who had never really done housework herself, found modern appliances admirable. Why get your hands wet when there was such a good machine?
“So I’m stuck at home until I heal?”
Why was he nitpicking like this?
As Hyun tried to leave the kitchen, Jaehyuk grabbed her again.
“Yeah. You need to heal quickly, don’t you? Or are you planning to go out like that?”
Irritation crept into her voice.
He hadn’t moved from his room at all until yesterday.
Judging by his tone, he must be hurting less.
When no answer came after her sharp reply, she wondered if she’d been too harsh. She hadn’t shouted, but her annoyance had been obvious.
Her voice had risen, and her expression had hardened. It made sense that he didn’t respond.
“Within a week. We’ll check your condition and go back to work together. Okay?”
This time she lowered her voice and soothed him gently.
Apparently satisfied, Jaehyuk stopped pressing the issue.
Content with his silence, Hyun headed toward her room.
As she walked down the hallway, she caught sight of him standing alone in the kitchen.
She paused and turned her head.
“There are clothes in the closet. Don’t walk around naked—put something on.”
With that, she went into her room and shut the door.
She had a morning routine.
Today was supposed to be a running day, but she’d eaten too much breakfast and couldn’t keep it. Hyun had never been the type to neglect training, but ever since letting Jaehyuk into her house, she couldn’t just step outside whenever she wanted.
I’m like this because of him.
From what she’d seen, he wasn’t exactly cooperative.
She could already foresee difficulties in working a case together.
Still, the food was good.
The heavy sense of fullness was pleasant for a change. That was why she couldn’t resist the drowsiness that overtook her as she lay down on the bed.
Vrrrr—
Hyun wasn’t used to taking naps, so when she woke up, she felt slightly flustered.
She distinctly remembered waking up in the morning, yet the sun was already setting outside the window.
Once again, it was noise from the living room that had woken her.
She knew all too well what the source must be. Rubbing her forehead, she shook her head.
Living with someone really is uncomfortable.
A strange combination of unusual refreshment and inexplicable irritation filled her.
What is he doing now?
She wanted to march out immediately and check.
But she couldn’t face Jaehyuk again in a defenseless state like before.
After straightening her messy hair and clothes in the mirror, Hyun opened the door.
Vrrrr—
The noise grew louder as she stepped out.
“What the—”
Heart pounding with needless tension, she opened the door wider and was met with an even more absurd sight than before.
Jaehyuk had somehow found the vacuum cleaner and was cleaning the floor.
“What are you doing?”
Because of the noise, he didn’t notice her presence. His gaze remained fixed on the floor.
“Ahn Jaehyuk!”
She called his name again, louder.
Still no response.
She walked closer and tapped his shoulder. Only then did Jaehyuk, who’d been battling the floor as if determined to eliminate every speck of dust, notice her.
“I asked what you’re doing.”
He turned off the vacuum.
As the noise died down, the clear afternoon air flowing in through the open windows became noticeable. He must have opened them to air the place out.
“Are you bored?”
Hands on her hips, Hyun looked up at him with an incredulous expression.
After staring into her eyes for a moment, Jaehyuk gave a single-word answer.
“Yeah.”
Her mouth fell open.
She hadn’t expected him to actually admit it.
Looking him over in disbelief, he resembled a dog desperate for a walk.
A very large dog.
He had followed her instructions and taken clothes from the closet, but he’d misjudged the size—they were too small. The muscles bulging under the tight T-shirt, paired with the image of him pushing a vacuum cleaner, made the sight ridiculous.
“Pfft—hahaha.”
He looked so much like a dog—and so absurd—that she burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
Tilting his head, unable to understand, Jaehyuk glanced around. The only thing visible was a now spotless floor.
“It’s nothing. Keep going.”
Seeing him tilt his head in confusion only made it funnier.
Still grinning, Hyun walked into the kitchen.
The floor was noticeably cleaner.
As she took water from the fridge, Jaehyuk finished vacuuming. It was nearly done anyway, so the noise stopped quickly.
He even cleaned out the dust from the filter thoroughly.
Leaning against the dining table, Hyun watched him busily moving about, then made up her mind.
“If you’re that bored, let’s go back to work tomorrow. But we’ll hand the investigation over to someone else.”
Jaehyuk’s face brightened instantly as he returned the vacuum to its place. He was so transparent it was almost amusing.
“Tomorrow? You’re coming too?”
The brightness faded as he thought for a moment, then asked seriously.
His expression was so transparent that Hyun almost felt offended.
Why does he look so openly reluctant?
Instead of answering, she gestured for him to wait and went into her room.
She returned holding car keys and handed them to him.
“Yes, I’m coming. But we commute separately. Your car got completely wrecked that day, so use this for now.”
“But this is—”
The car Jaehyuk had originally driven was a domestic sedan issued by police headquarters.
The key in his hand now clearly belonged to an expensive imported car.
“What, are you overwhelmed? We don’t really have any other kind.”
Reading his hesitation, Hyun shrugged.
Jaehyuk scoffed.
“How are we supposed to stake out suspects in a car like this? You said you’d follow my method, didn’t you? Get a decent used car by tomorrow. It’s not like I don’t drive one because I can’t.
