Chapter : 10
Kindhearted? My Foot!
“Shh.”
In the narrow gap between the walls where he had pulled Chowon, Yohan held a finger to his lips, a dead-serious expression on his face. Leaving the bewildered Chowon behind, Yohan peered toward the opening of the alleyway, looking around as if confirming something.
“…What are you doing?” “The reporters are here.” “What?” “Not many, just one or two. I think they’re the ones who wrote those articles about you, Noona.”
Chowon furrowed her brows and craned her neck toward the gap where Yohan was looking. She could see two men loitering near the alleyway leading to her house.
“Those people are reporters?” “Probably.” “How do you know?” “Just a feeling.” “…Are you joking?” “Why? I’m trustworthy. You know—my eyes.”
At Yohan’s fairly serious tone, Chowon tilted her head, looking slightly convinced.
“Can those eyes see things like that, too?” “No way.” “…Hey.” “There was a photo of the journalist under an article about you. I saw it then and memorized it. Just in case.”
Yohan met her eyes and flashed a playful grin as if it were no big deal. Looking at that expression, strangely enough, the anxiety that had been bubbling in her chest seemed to settle.
However, she couldn’t fully embrace that sense of stability. The space between them was simply too close for that. Even standing still, their breaths brushed against each other’s skin.
“Whatever the case, let’s get out of here. We can’t stay like this forever.”
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and shyness, Chowon spoke with forced indifference.
“And what if they snap a photo of your face and it goes straight to print? Those people sold their journalistic integrity a long time ago. Nothing good comes from getting caught by them.” “Then what do you want to do? Just stay here like this?” “Why? Is it too narrow?” “Do you even have to ask?”
Seeing Chowon’s deeply scowling face, Yohan let out a small laugh, as if a string binding his heart had suddenly snapped loose. He hadn’t realized it until then, but Chowon was pressed flat against the wall, stiff as a board.
“…Well, for now, going home seems out of the question.”
Yohan glanced back at the two men in the distance before returning his gaze to Chowon. A hint of mischief danced in his eyes.
“Noona. Want to run away with me?”
How on earth did things escalate to this?
“What are you doing? Eat up.”
Chowon stared blankly at the steaming bowl of udon in front of her before lifting her head to look around. The terminal shops were bustling. People were looking at their phones while waiting for buses, laughing and chatting with companions, or sitting in snack bars and udon shops grabbing a quick bite.
Feeling a bit out of place, Chowon looked back down at her udon.
Have I ever been to a place like this?
No matter how much she racked her brain, no memory surfaced. If she had to find a memory of traveling far by bus, it was only a school retreat in late elementary school.
Yohan stole glances at Chowon as she hesitantly stirred her udon with her chopsticks. It was obvious she felt out of her element. However, Yohan didn’t let on that he noticed. He knew that if he pointed it out, she would only feel more embarrassed or awkward.
“What’s wrong? Why are you barely eating? Not hungry?” “Yeah.” “Did you eat dinner early? There shouldn’t be anything at the house.” “A sandwich.” “……? You ate that just now? I made that this morning.”
Sensing a lecture was imminent, Chowon ignored his words and took a sip of the broth. A common warmth, a common taste. It was her first time being in a scene like this in the middle of the night—especially in the tracksuit she’d just stepped out of the house in, dragging her old sneakers.
She’s finally eating.
Watching Chowon slowly begin to use her chopsticks properly, Yohan allowed a slight smile to form.
“…But hey. Did you already know about the articles regarding my novel?” “Huh?” “I don’t think I ever mentioned it, but you spoke as if you already knew. …Can you see things like that, too?”
Not wanting to reveal how much it bothered her, Chowon spoke nonchalantly without making eye contact. Yohan shook his head.
“No. I can read the anxiety or fear someone holds, but I don’t know exactly what it is. I don’t know what people are thinking or what their story is until they tell me.” “…Then how do you know everything about my situation?” “That’s interest.”
The moment he answered, Chowon’s picking chopsticks stopped. When she looked up, she saw Yohan’s face gazing steadily at her.
Gosh, this is embarrassing.
Feeling an odd sensation, Chowon quickly looked away.
“Hurry up and eat. The bus will be here soon.”
Urging the awkward Chowon, Yohan thought to himself that this moment was a relief. When he had felt ‘his’ energy at the tea house and rushed to her neighborhood, what he saw wasn’t the man himself, but those he had bribed. He could feel it even from a distance. He couldn’t read their thoughts, but he could read the shadow someone had planted within them.
A distorted, blind faith. People who wouldn’t hesitate to harm others for the sake of that belief. It was the same energy he had felt from the truck driver who died yesterday. To be precise, the energy ‘he’ had planted.
Whether they were truly reporters, Yohan didn’t actually know for sure. But it wasn’t a complete lie. The articles and the threats against Chowon were likely all the work of ‘that side.’ Even if they weren’t real journalists, they were certainly dangerous people for Chowon. They had approached her much closer than he’d realized.
Actually, suggesting they run away had been very impulsive. If he had acted more calculatedly, it might have been better to pretend he didn’t know. There was no benefit to prematurely provoking them.
But in that moment, he just wanted to. Looking down at Chowon as she grumbled about the narrow space, the words had just slipped out. Let’s run away.
“…Let’s get going. If you’re done eating, too.”
After picking at her food for a bit, Chowon spoke while glancing at Yohan. She wasn’t particularly hungry, and eating in a crowded place felt unfamiliar. Yohan readily followed her lead and stood up.
Leaving the shop and walking toward the waiting area, Chowon looked like a lost child in a strange neighborhood. The prickly attitude she had at home was gone; she looked around cautiously, appearing somewhat vulnerable. Following quietly behind her, Yohan’s heart ached a little.
Come to think of it, is this the first time she’s been this far in twelve years?
“Noona.” “What?” “Hold my hand.” “……?”
Turning around to see what he was talking about, she found Yohan standing there with his large hand outstretched. Chowon looked back and forth between his hand and his face with an absurd expression.
“We can’t get lost. There are a lot of people here.” “…Are you a kid?”
Look who’s talking.
A playful retort rose to his throat, but Yohan swallowed it and simply shook his outstretched hand as if urging her. As if pleading for her to take it.
Letting out a huff of disbelief, Chowon stood there awkwardly for a moment before hesitantly reaching out. Before their hands could even meet, Yohan firmly grasped hers as she drew near.
“Shall we sit over there?”
Yohan’s hand was larger than she expected—large enough to wrap entirely around hers.
Perhaps because of that sensation, a sense of relief began to fill her heart alongside the slight bashfulness. She didn’t know why, but the moment they held hands, she felt safe. The thought crossed her mind that maybe he had taken away her anxiety, but no wounds appeared on the back of his hand or his arm.
…So, I just feel at ease because we’re holding hands?
Chowon quietly looked up at Yohan’s profile as he led her along. Feeling her gaze, Yohan looked back at her and gave his usual bright smile. The way the corners of his lips curled up looked… pretty, somehow.
What is this feeling?
Chowon’s mind became complicated in a way that was different from before.
“They didn’t go inside the house, you say?” “Yes.” “…Understood. Good work.”
As Seol gave a gentle smile, the man bowed politely and left the room. Seol leaned back in his chair, eyes darting as if in deep thought, before curling one side of his mouth into a smirk.
I only wanted to observe their movements, and yet they fled? So obviously.
Leaning his head back and closing his eyes, he recalled yesterday’s events. The truck driver had fallen, and Chowon was nearby. It was good timing. The only thing that hadn’t gone according to plan was that Chowon had seen his face.
I intended to watch a bit longer before appearing.
However, even if the encounter had deviated from the plan, the result was quite satisfying. He had felt Chowon’s confusion the moment their eyes met. Seeing her run toward the building after spotting him had made his heart swell.
Yes, you haven’t forgotten me either. You remembered. That we were there together.
The only nuisance was… that boy standing behind her. That gaze that lingered on the rooftop after losing Chowon’s hand. The hostility evident in the brief moment their eyes locked.
To think he still can’t hide his emotions to that extent.
A scoff escaped his lips involuntarily. As expected, that boy was still far too young and naive.
“…Fine. Play a little longer, kid.”
Because in the end, the one by Chowon’s side won’t be you.
The bus traveled for a long time. Sitting in the window seat, Chowon stared out the window with her back straightened, looking slightly tense. Yohan, sitting in the aisle seat, pretended to be asleep while leaning deep into his chair, then peeked his eyes open to look at her from behind.
Her thick hair tied back tightly—it was a familiar sight. Even back then, when she was much shorter and her heart was younger, Chowon’s back looked just like this.
‘Even if you’re out of breath, don’t stop. Just a little, just a little further.’
Chowon’s voice, which he had never forgotten, suddenly flashed through his mind. Along with the image of her back then—much younger and knowing how to smile much more brightly than now.
Was it because her hand felt so small today? For some reason, Yohan kept seeing the image of Chowon holding his hand and running through the snow in that cold winter, only to eventually let go and disappear into the distance.
Back then, your hand was too cold, and mine was too small.
Chowon’s shoulders, fixed on the view outside, looked so fragile. Silently watching those shoulders from behind, Yohan thought to himself:
This time, I will never let you go alone like that.
End Of Chapter : 10
