Episode 5
“Gastric cramps.”
That was the diagnosis that fell in front of Lee Hyun as Liam held her hand and led her to a nearby clinic. The doctor added that it most often occurs due to stress and advised her to take care of her condition.
Having rushed out, Lee Hyun had forgotten her wallet, so she awkwardly used Liam’s card to pay.
[I’ll pay you back when we get home.]
[Don’t worry about it.]
As expected, the conversation was in English. She remembered him standing there in the consultation room as if it were the most natural thing.
All the stress she had experienced recently traced back to Liam. She knew he must be aware of that, yet the brazen expression he wore as he stood beside her made her blood boil.
In the consultation room, Lee Hyun felt like confessing to the doctor right then and there that this man was the source of her stress.
Her face grew increasingly red from anger, and she lowered her head silently. Liam, curiously staring at her flushed ears, subtly diverted his gaze toward the busy pharmacist.
A quiet stillness hung between them as they waited for the prescription at the pharmacy. At a loss, Lee Hyun began picking at her fingernail, only for Liam’s hand to casually rest over hers. Startled, Lee Hyun’s ears burned even redder.
Ignoring her flustered reaction, Liam spoke nonchalantly.
[It’s bleeding.]
Only then did she notice fresh blood seeping from her index finger. She couldn’t understand his sudden attempt at being “nice.” He wasn’t the type to take someone to the hospital just because they were sick. Clenching her fist to hide her finger, Lee Hyun muttered awkwardly.
“But earlier…”
When she glanced up, she saw him looking down at her. Perhaps this was her chance. The most appropriate moment to ask if what she had heard was real. Lowering her gaze to the floor again, she muttered.
[You didn’t speak to Jiwoo in Korean, did you?]
As soon as she finished speaking, Liam wrinkled the bridge of his nose. Just as he was about to say something, the pharmacist called her name.
“Jin Lee Hyun, your prescription is ready.”
Liam stood and, as if giving advice, said:
[There should be an ENT somewhere in this building. Why don’t you go? Seems like you’ve decided to do whatever you want with listening now.]
Annoyance flared instantly. She had spoken in Korean herself, so why was he treating her like she was strange? Rising with an angry expression, Lee Hyun pressed her lips tightly together and held out her hand toward him.
Liam stared at her, silently asking what she wanted. Lee Hyun said confidently:
[Give me the card, I don’t have my wallet.]
She was boldly extorting him. Liam, exasperated, pulled the card from his wallet. Lee Hyun, still huffing, wandered near the counter, grabbed a bottle of children’s vitamins, and handed it over as well. Then, with a proud expression, she added:
[You said I didn’t have to pay. Thanks.]
The pharmacist quickly finished the transaction, and at the same time, Liam’s phone dinged with a confirmation message. It wasn’t just a payment notification.
It was the bell signaling a fierce battle between them.
Thanks to the children complaining that the teacher would die, Lee Hyun had been allowed to go straight home from the hospital by the strict director. She knew she would get scolded at work tomorrow, but her health came first.
Even after returning home, her uneasy feelings didn’t subside. She had clearly heard Liam speak fluent Korean. It was too clear a memory to dismiss as a mishearing caused by being unwell.
Yet claiming it outright felt awkward. Looking back at Liam’s behavior, he seemed genuinely unable to speak Korean.
The kindergarten children often teased him for it, and he would always look bewildered, clearly not understanding why.
Moreover, even when the director and teachers spoke in Korean in private, he didn’t seem to understand at all. Though he could manage basic communication, perhaps it was only in that context.
Lee Hyun forced herself to push the thoughts away and fell asleep without washing up, thanks to the IV fluids and medication. She woke at kindergarten dismissal time. Even though she had left work early for once, her body’s precise reaction made her chuckle bitterly.
“So, did I really get off work… or not…”
Stretching stiffly, Lee Hyun surveyed her small studio apartment. She hadn’t cleaned due to her busy schedule, and it was a mess. Ignoring the pile of laundry that had spilled out from the built-in washing machine, she muttered:
“I’m sick today… I can’t do it…”
Justifying herself, Lee Hyun got out of bed and opened the fridge. Since she had been told to eat porridge for now, she planned to make a simple egg porridge. She could also use up some vegetables that were going bad.
But her plan went awry. While the vegetables lay in the corner, wilting as if to mock her, there wasn’t a single egg left. She remembered—she had used them all recently to make keto kimbap.
Lee Hyun stared at the fridge, conflicted. Going out seemed so bothersome. It was hot, and the supermarket was far.
Ordering delivery felt impractical, and judging by the state of the vegetables, they wouldn’t last long. After much hesitation, Lee Hyun grabbed her hat and slipped into her slippers.
She didn’t need to go to a big supermarket—just buying eggs at the nearby market would suffice. Normally, she avoided cash-only shops, but buying only eggs today wasn’t a burden.
She had no idea yet what ripple effect this decision would bring.
By the time Lee Hyun reached the market, her hands were growing heavy. The aroma of roasted sesame oil captivated her, and she bought a bottle. She wandered past a puffed rice seller and impulsively bought a bag. Looking at her now heavy hands, Lee Hyun muttered:
“Just eggs this time, for real.”
Dragging her slippers, she noticed a fish stall. The owner called out quickly:
“Just caught today! Take it cheap!”
The mackerel on display looked especially fresh and blue. Lee Hyun hesitated by the stall, when someone came up beside her and asked:
“How much for the mackerel?”
The vendor pointed to the price, and the man replied nonchalantly:
“Can you give a discount if I pay in cash?”
“It’s a market, we only take cash!”
“It’s almost closing time, can’t you give a discount?”
His tone was assertive. Lee Hyun lingered, intending to buy at the same discounted price if he got it cheaper. The vendor frowned again, and the man said indifferently:
“Fine, just give it to me.”
He pulled out his wallet—and Lee Hyun’s body stiffened. That wallet was familiar. It was the same one she had borrowed at the pharmacy earlier today.
Trembling, Lee Hyun looked up and made eye contact with Liam as he pulled out ten thousand won. Liam, equally frozen in surprise, shared the moment of shock.
Only the oblivious vendor handed him the mackerel bag with the change. The puffed rice bag in Lee Hyun’s hand slipped to the ground.
She pointed at Liam, trying to speak but couldn’t, muttering to herself:
“You can speak Korean, right? Really well, even!”
Still flustered, Lee Hyun took a deep breath and bolted away. Slippers scraped rapidly across the ground. Watching her retreat, Liam muttered irritably:
“Huh.”
Her lie had been exposed. To a woman who wasn’t in her right mind.
