Chapter 23
After removing the IV needle, Lee Yeon took her wallet out of her bag and headed towards the payment counter.
But she was told that the payment had already been settled.
Just as she was momentarily flustered, a familiar, deep voice flowed leisurely from behind her.
“It’s all taken care of.”
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
“The treatment and medication fees. I handled it.”
Lee Yeon hurriedly bowed her head.
“I should have been the one to do that…”
Her fingers fumbled with her wallet before she quickly stretched out her hand. “Thank you. If you give me your account number, I’ll transfer the money right aw—”
“Forget it. If you don’t want to be indebted, just buy me a meal later.”
“…Only if there are no personal feelings involved.”
“Huh?”
Woo-kyung slightly narrowed his brows.
“If it’s not that, then… I can’t accept that meal.”
“Why, are you worried you’ll be swayed by me?”
Lee Yeon’s startled eyelashes fluttered faintly.
“…That’s not it.”
She tried to hide her embarrassment, but the very end of her voice trembled subtly.
“Yeah? But what can I do?”
Before she could create any distance, Woo-kyung took a large step closer.
“Right now, I’m standing in front of you to sway you.”
Lee Yeon, meeting Woo-kyung’s gaze, drew in a short breath.
“…You shouldn’t say things like that so easily.”
“I didn’t say it easily.”
“If you talk like you are now, anyone would misunderstand.”
“These are words I only say to you, so who would misunderstand?”
Lee Yeon, not knowing what to do, slightly averted her eyes. Then she moved her steps towards the hospital entrance.
The cold night air touched her cheeks.
He nonchalantly walked behind her and asked, “You’re not going to get in the car I’m offering you a ride in anyway, are you?”
Lee Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I’ll hail a taxi for you.”
“I can handle that myself.”
“Lee Yeon.”
Woo-kyung cut her off softly but firmly.
With that one short utterance, Lee Yeon’s heart instantly began to race.
“At least let me do this much.”
The corners of Woo-kyung’s mouth twisted slightly.
“It seems like the most rewarding thing I’ve done all day.”
At those words, Lee Yeon couldn’t say anything. She just nodded her head very slowly.
A taxi smoothly came to a stop by the roadside.
Woo-kyung opened the door for her first.
Lee Yeon carefully got into the back seat.
Woo-kyung, holding the door, looked at Lee Yeon for a moment before speaking.
“Let me know when you arrive.”
Lee Yeon’s lips twitched, but no words came out.
“You haven’t saved my contact info yet, have you?”
“……”
Woo-kyung shrugged nonchalantly.
“Don’t forget, be sure to contact me.”
His hand slowly closed the door.
Along with the sound of the door closing, his scent subtly seeped through the night air.
Although the taxi started moving, the turmoil in Lee Yeon’s chest wouldn’t easily settle down.
***
Waking up late, Lee Yeon blankly stared at the ceiling for a moment before her fingers fumbled over the nightstand, picking up her phone.
When the screen turned on, a faint light spread around her eyes.
11 a.m.
It was much later than she expected.
“…It’s already this late.”
After taking a short breath to compose herself, Lee Yeon scrolled down the screen.
Two missed calls.
One from Song Joo-ho, and the other from Cha Woo-kyung.
She stared at the screen showing the two short names side by side, hesitated for a moment, then quietly covered her phone.
*Let’s not contact anyone today.*
Lee Yeon slowly stretched her arms above her head and stretched lightly.
As the drowsy tension in her muscles released, she felt her body gradually waking up.
Placing her feet on the edge of the bed, her body felt much lighter.
It seemed all the dizziness and slight fever from the previous day had been washed away.
Lee Yeon went to the living room and half-opened the window.
As she lightly rotated her waist to release the tension, Lee Yeon pondered how to spend the sudden day off she’d gotten.
The previous day, Lee Yeon had called the office manager.
Her request for a day off due to not feeling well was easily granted.
*’Okay, take a good rest. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately.’*
Lee Yeon felt her mind finally relaxing a bit.
She herself had forgotten how long it had been since she last welcomed a day with no schedule.
But then, her phone on the table vibrated with a buzz.
“…Who is it?”
The name that appeared on the screen when she checked almost automatically was none other than Yoo-jin.
As soon as Lee Yeon answered, a cheerful voice popped out.
“Hey, where are you?”
Lee Yeon rubbed her half-closed eyes and replied.
“At home. Why?”
“Home? That’s a relief. I’m near your place right now.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yeah, I had some business nearby. Let’s eat together. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
“Now?”
Lee Yeon asked, checking the clock in the living room.
“Yep, get ready and come out. Let’s meet at the cafe in the alley.”
“Okay.”
After hanging up, Lee Yeon slowly moved her steps towards the bathroom.
***
Lee Yeon was sitting by the window, slowly tracing the rim of her water glass, when a familiar voice came from the entrance.
“Lee Yeon!”
Yoo-jin approached, waving her hand.
Yoo-jin, with her neat bob haircut and wearing a tidy dress, had a slight ‘married woman’ vibe but still possessed her unique liveliness.
“Long time no see.”
Lee Yeon smiled warmly.
“I almost forgot what you looked like.”
As soon as Yoo-jin sat down, she gulped down some water hastily.
“Hey, your face looks good? Taking a break shows immediately.”
“It’s just one day off.”
“That one day is important.”
Yoo-jin laughed and shook her head.
“You get too immersed in work, that’s the problem. You’ll age quickly like that.”
Lee Yeon let out a soft laugh.
“You’re still the same. Your nagging hasn’t changed.”
“Once you get married, the nagging gets upgraded.”
Yoo-jin wiggled her eyebrows playfully.
“My kid doesn’t listen these days, I’m getting all these wrinkles.”
“Well, you’re a real mom now.”
“Being a mom… it still doesn’t feel real.”
Yoo-jin smiled with a slightly awkward expression, sweeping her hair back.
“Taking a leave of absence, ending up having a kid, and living like this.”
Lee Yeon burst out laughing.
“But you look happy though?”
“I am happy. It’s tiring, but.”
Yoo-jin crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
“But, you and that guy… it’s really over, right?”
Yoo-jin’s face automatically scrunched up.
“It’s not something I need to worry about anymore.”
“It’s completely over?”
“Yeah. There’s no reason for our paths to cross again now.”
Yoo-jin tilted her head, then laughed and muttered.
“But still, it’s a waste for you to be alone.”
While their conversation, which had picked up after so long, was busily continuing, their food arrived.
Yoo-jin twirled her fork and continued speaking.
“Hey, should I introduce you to a really nice guy?”
“A blind date?”
“Yeah. He’s really great. Normal, and we communicate well.”
Lee Yeon, who had been shaking her head, waved her hands in refusal.
“I’m a bit busy right now.”
“Go to clear your head. It wouldn’t be bad, right?”
“No, I’m really fine.”
“What do you mean fine? Your expression isn’t the same as before. You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
Lee Yeon let out a soft laugh.
“Actually, that person came back.”
At those words, Yoo-jin’s eyes grew wide.
“Don’t tell me, Cha Woo-kyung?”
“Yeah. That’s how it turned out.”
Yoo-jin was speechless for a moment, just looking at Lee Yeon, then asked cautiously with a worried expression.
“Are you okay?”
Lee Yeon let out a short breath.
“Yeah. It’s not like we’ll be doing anything but work anyway.”
Yoo-jin’s eyebrows furrowed.
“But that’s not like you. Just… go on the blind date.”
“I said I’m fine.”
“Isn’t that more reason to meet a good person? You’re still young, you can start over.”
“I said it’s fine.”
Lee Yeon quietly cut Yoo-jin off.
“Thanks for your concern.”
Yoo-jin let out a sigh and put down her fork.
“You’ve always been like this, ever since before. Trying to handle everything alone.”
“I’m fine. Really, this time.”
Yoo-jin looked at Lee Yeon quietly as if she didn’t believe those words, then finally smiled wryly.
“Well, if you change your mind, let me know right away.”
“Okay.”
Yoo-jin smiled and nodded.
Just then, Lee Yeon’s phone, placed on the table, vibrated.
Lee Yeon, checking her phone, looked puzzled at the name on the screen.
“Is it a work call?”
Yoo-jin, who had been staring, asked.
“Yeah, just a moment.”
Lee Yeon answered the phone.
“Yes, Manager.”
– Lee Yeon, are you feeling okay?
“Yes, thanks to you. I’m feeling much better after some rest.”
– That’s good to hear. But, I’m so sorry about this. Something urgent came up this afternoon. So, I was wondering if you could spare an hour or two?
“What is it about?”
– You’ll understand once you get here.
Lee Yeon took a moment to steady her breath before answering shortly.
“I understand.”
– Thank you.
“Okay. I’ll be there soon.”
After hanging up, Lee Yeon put down her phone and let out a short sigh.
And so, Lee Yeon’s short, very short, day off came to an end.
