Chapter 43
Pushing her bicycle along, Yeonwoo was headed somewhere.
“Teacher Ryu is really pretty. Doesn’t she look like one of those models for Pocari Sweat ads?”
Chanwoo’s voice held a note of admiration.
“She’s even prettier than that,” Sajun replied, his eyes never leaving Yeonwoo as he closely observed her every move.
The town wasn’t large. No matter where she went, she couldn’t escape Sajun’s gaze.
With his hands tucked into the pockets of his suit trousers, he followed her with his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to go talk to her instead of just standing around like a stalker?”
“If you’re done here, go. I’m staying a bit longer.”
“Don’t act like some jealous freak. Go home. Do you know what kind of guy women hate the most? The clingy, possessive types—like you’re acting right now.”
“You’re still here?”
“Aren’t you giving me a ride home? You’re seriously telling me to walk?”
“Yeah. Walk.”
“Ugh, come on. Be nice and drive me.”
“….”
Sajun just glared silently. Finally, Chanwoo threw up his hands in exaggerated annoyance.
“Fine! I’m going!”
He stomped off, huffing dramatically.
Left alone, Sajun remained rooted to the spot like he was nailed there, eyes fixed on Yeonwoo.
Where was she going?
Yeonwoo disappeared into a shop called Sisters’ General Goods.
Judging by the name, it looked like a women’s clothing store.
About five minutes passed.
Yeonwoo emerged, holding a small black plastic bag, and walked off toward another location.
Sajun slowly followed behind her.
As he passed the store, he glanced at the display window and realized it sold women’s underwear.
Clears throat.
Feeling awkward, he quickly walked past.
A few minutes later, he saw her go into a cosmetics store.
She came out about five minutes later, then rode her bike toward the 25-Hour Convenience Store in the distance.
She was in there for about two minutes.
Then she exited and made her way to the pharmacy.
Three minutes later, she was back outside again.
This time, Yeonwoo mounted her bicycle with an air of finality, as if she had completed all her errands, and began heading back—toward his direction.
Sajun slipped into the crowd gathered for the festival, subtly hiding himself.
Yeonwoo passed right by him, pedaling leisurely toward her home.
She looked so pleased, wearing a proud little smile.
If he wanted to, he could’ve easily caught up by car. But he decided to leave her be.
He really would look like a stalker with a jealousy complex if he chased her down now.
Guess I’ll just pick up a few things myself while I’m out.
Sajun turned toward the convenience store.
No harm in being prepared ahead of time. He figured he might as well buy them now.
Though he wasn’t sure they’d have his size.
If not, he’d need to place an online order—ASAP.
Ding.
He pushed open the door and headed straight for the aisle where they kept condoms.
Scanning the shelf, he found them arranged by size—Small Fit, Standard Fit, Large Fit—but none that looked like they’d work for him.
Should he ask?
As he hesitated, a store employee emerged from the storeroom with a box and approached his section.
“Looking for something?”
“I don’t see any XXL fit,” Sajun said.
The employee gave him a once-over and mumbled, almost to himself,
“That’s strange. Why are so many people looking for XXL today? We just sold out a few minutes ago. I mean, XL should be plenty for most Korean guys…”
“When exactly is ‘a few minutes ago’?”
Sajun asked, one hand resting on his hip, suddenly recalling Yeonwoo’s unusually flushed face when she exited earlier.
“Five minutes? Maybe less. Sorry, we’re all out. You could try another store.”
So Yeonwoo had bought them.
Had her “errands” all been in preparation for their night together?
Am I jumping to conclusions?
But no—he was pretty sure he was right.
His princess was more meticulous and prepared than she appeared.
But how did she know his size?
Maybe as a doctor she was just well-informed about anatomy, but still—it was ridiculous.
How on earth was he supposed to handle someone like Yeonwoo?
A smile crept across Sajun’s face and, despite trying to suppress it, he ended up laughing aloud.
The store clerk took a step back, eyeing him like he was crazy.
No wonder—who laughs in front of the condom display?
“We really don’t have any,” the employee said, abandoning his polite tone for a regional dialect, now clearly wary.
“Right. Thanks,” Sajun replied, wiping his mouth and exiting the store.
Time to go.
Time to return to the house where Yeonwoo was waiting.
Even if it wasn’t his house—just the one next door.
***
Screech.
Panting from the uphill pedaling, Yeonwoo finally reached home—only to freeze at the sight in front of the gate.
Sitting atop her suitcase, munching on a sausage with glee, was her best friend, Jung Seyoung.
She looked like a plump little bear cub, adorable and carefree—but really? So soon?
“…Huh? Yeonwoo! It’s really you! Why are you so late?”
Because she had errands to run in town. Preparations, let’s say.
Seyoung sprang up and ran toward her.
“Jung Seyoung! You just text me and then show up without warning?”
“Surprise! I quit the hospital. For real.”
Seyoung’s bright smile left Yeonwoo’s mouth slightly agape.
“Seriously?”
“Yup! Proud of me, right? I even sent my resume to Cheongbong Clinic.”
Even a resume…
She’d said she would try to survive at Korea University Hospital no matter what.
“Why do you look like that? You don’t want me here?”
“No! I’m really happy. Seriously—welcome!”
Yeonwoo spread her arms and pulled Seyoung in for a hug.
She decided to just accept it. This was bound to happen eventually.
And really, wasn’t it for the best? At least Seyoung escaped the clutches of Ryu Segwon.
That womanizer had no business going near someone like Seyoung.
“I can live here, right? I’ll even pay half the rent.”
“Of course. But let’s not talk out here—come inside. You must’ve waited long.”
“Nah, I just got here. Took a cab, though, and it cost a fortune. There goes a month’s worth of groceries.”
“Really?”
Yeonwoo entered the passcode and opened the gate wide.
“Wow, this place hasn’t changed. Every time I come, I’m struck by how romantic it is.”
Seyoung had visited when Yeonwoo first found the place.
Back then she’d called it some backwoods shack.
Clearly, she was now mentally readjusting to her new reality.
Struggling with her suitcase, Seyoung stepped through the gate.
“Hey, where’s the nearest grocery store? I looked around but didn’t see one. Sure, I can order stuff online, but you never know. They probably don’t do dawn delivery here, right?”
“Worry about that later. Let’s get you inside first.”
“Mmkay.”
Yeonwoo took her hand and led her to the front door.
Her chubby fingers were icy cold.
She must’ve been more nervous than she let on.
No matter how confident she acted, Yeonwoo could imagine how hard this decision must’ve been.
As they entered the living room, Seyoung pointed toward the small room near the entrance.
“Yeonwoo, can I take that room?”
“Sure. I cleaned it out, so it should be comfortable.”
“Feels like a hotel room to me.”
It was the same guest room that Ryu Ikwon had used not long ago.
Usually reserved for visitors, it would now belong to Seyoung.
“You haven’t eaten, right?”
Yeonwoo asked, figuring she should feed her first.
Seyoung nodded.
“Hang tight. I’ll make us dinner.”
“You cook now?”
“Not always. Just sometimes. You must be tired. Take a rest on the couch. Dinner’s gonna take a little while.”
“Then I might just nap a bit. I haven’t slept in two days.”
“Go ahead.”
Seyoung rested her head on the arm of the sofa and closed her eyes.
Back in Seoul, they’d need the AC on full blast. But here, just opening the windows brought in a cool breeze.
Yeonwoo opened both the front and back windows, then headed to the garden to pick some lettuce and chili peppers.
“These peppers are looking good.”
Murmuring nonsense to herself, she set about making dinner with care—for her friend who had made such a brave, painful choice.
She just hoped Seyoung’s heart hadn’t been hurt too deeply.
