Chapter 52
Baek I-hae first sent a text message to Ye Eun-seol about the current situation, avoiding the eyes of her family members.
She figured Ye Eun-seol would catch on to why she couldn’t make a phone call.
Though she could imagine her friend’s surprised expression, resolving the immediate situation took priority.
“I-hae, are you done? If you need help, should I call a nurse?”
Seo Do-gyeom, who had been waiting outside the door, asked in a worried voice.
From beside him came Seo I-heum’s scolding, telling him not to rush her.
Baek I-hae quickly changed into the hospital gown and opened the door.
“I’m fine! Thanks for worrying. Anyway, if it’s just tests, you don’t all have to stay here with me.”
Before she knew it, not only Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol were there, but even Old Man Oh, who looked on the verge of tears. And behind them, two organization members guarding the hospital room door.
Seeing the other patients subtly avoiding them, Baek I-hae could only smile awkwardly.
‘At least it’s a private room, so we’re not bothering anyone else. …Though it feels a bit uncomfortable knowing it’s probably thanks to Uncle’s extravagant spending.’
But with so much on her mind, she decided to lightly ignore Seo I-heum’s wallet situation. If he said it was fine, then it must be.
“Having so many people here makes me uncomfortable too.”
At Baek I-hae’s added words, Seo I-heum slowly looked around. Then he nodded.
It was a distinctly different attitude from the Seo-yeol and Seo Do-gyeom brothers, who tilted their heads as if they didn’t understand.
“Alright. Then I’ll leave Old Man Oh here and go….”
“I’ll stay.”
Someone interrupted Seo I-heum, who had been pointing out Old Man Oh as the reliable one to leave behind.
It was Seo Do-gyeom, standing beside her. And as if that weren’t enough, he boldly took Baek I-hae’s hand.
Baek I-hae’s face flushed red, contrasting with the wide-eyed stares of the group looking at the two of them.
Amid it all, only Seo Do-gyeom maintained his composure.
“Because I’m her boyfriend.”
No backing down at all.
Baek I-hae inwardly admired Seo Do-gyeom’s boldness. The shocked expressions on Old Man Oh and the organization members’ faces, Seo-yeol’s oddly stricken look.
Seo I-heum seemed momentarily surprised but soon slowly broke into a smile. Somehow, his face looked strangely satisfied.
“Well, if you’re here, it’ll be fine. There’s also the Baek faction business, so don’t stray from her side.”
“Yes.”
“And don’t stick too close to I-hae either.”
“……”
“Seo Do-gyeom, answer me.”
Seo Do-gyeom subtly averted his gaze, pretending not to hear.
At his cheeky attitude, Seo I-heum let out a sigh, like a huff. He had always been a stoic son who listened well, after all.
“It’s okay, I can handle him.”
Baek I-hae grinned at Seo I-heum and shook her fist playfully.
It was a small, cute little fist.
Perhaps reading the looks from Seo I-heum and the others, Baek I-hae continued with an embarrassed expression.
“To be precise, Do-gyeom lets me win. He promised to treat me kindly.”
“……Hyung?”
Seo-yeol opened his mouth as if he’d heard something unbelievable.
“The young master……?”
The dubious gazes of Old Man Oh and the organization members turned toward Seo Do-gyeom.
But when Seo Do-gyeom stared back at Baek I-hae with a faintly reddened face, they shut their mouths.
Seo I-heum also nodded this time, his face saying he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.
“I’ll give you the card, so call me when the tests are done, Do-gyeom. I’ll come pick you up when you’re discharged.”
“Yes.”
“I-hae, don’t worry too much and just focus on the tests. If anything feels uncomfortable or hurts, tell them right away.”
Seo I-heum stroked Baek I-hae’s hair. His touch was rough yet quite affectionate.
Somehow, it made her feel a little less anxious, so she lowered her eyes and smiled brightly.
Perhaps because she’d asked them to do every possible test that could be done.
“I’m exhausted.”
Even though they’d only done tests that didn’t require fasting, she felt completely drained.
As soon as they returned, Baek I-hae sprawled out on the bed, and Seo Do-gyeom asked her with concern.
“They said today’s tests are over, so if you’re tired, do you want to sleep right away?”
“What about you?”
“I’ll sleep on the extra bed. Even if it’s uncomfortable, bear with it for just one day. Nothing you’re worried about will happen, I promise.”
He probably couldn’t leave her alone in case someone targeted her again, like in the kidnapping incident.
It was a shame she couldn’t call Ye Eun-seol, but she understood Seo Do-gyeom’s concern. Baek I-hae nodded as if to say it was fine.
After all, they’d napped together a few times before.
‘Ah, but now that we’re dating, maybe we shouldn’t?’
Baek I-hae pondered for a moment but soon thought, since they weren’t sharing the same bed, what did it matter?
Seeing Baek I-hae’s carefree demeanor as she casually prepared for bed without any sense of caution, Seo Do-gyeom looked like he had a lot to say but forced himself to hold it in, then asked.
“Aren’t you hungry? You have to fast until tomorrow.”
“I’m a bit hungry, but I can endure it. What about you?”
“I’m fine too. I don’t want to eat alone if you’re not eating.”
“Are you the type who becomes devoted when you’re in a relationship? You say embarrassing things without batting an eye.”
Baek I-hae asked, as if puzzled. Then Seo Do-gyeom, who had approached her side, pulled up a chair and sat down.
He took Baek I-hae’s hand as she perched on the edge of the bed and fiddled with her nails.
“I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve ever liked someone.”
Baek I-hae looked down at Seo Do-gyeom’s fingers touching her hand. The subtle tremor in his touch.
Sensing the anxiety in that trembling, Baek I-hae asked cautiously.
“…Were you really shocked earlier?”
“Yeah. I was shocked thinking I might lose you too.”
“You too?”
Seo Do-gyeom fell silent. It seemed like he didn’t want to talk about it, but somehow, it felt like she had to hear it.
So, instead of pretending not to notice, she stared at him intently, and eventually, unable to withstand her gaze, Seo Do-gyeom opened his mouth.
“…It’s about my mother. She passed away when I was young, and I remember her vomiting blood just like you did.”
Baek I-hae thought, Oh no. Only then did she recall the story Seo I-heum had told her.
That Seo Do-gyeom’s mother had been murdered. And that Baek I-hae’s parents were involved in the cause.
Did Seo Do-gyeom know?
“It was when I was little. We were out together when some man approached my mother. She seemed to know him and greeted him warmly.”
As if the memory was still vivid, Seo Do-gyeom spoke without stumbling. Then, facing Baek I-hae’s face, he smiled bitterly.
‘He knows.’
Whether from hearing it from Seo I-heum or because he couldn’t forget her father’s face.
“I heard it from Uncle too. …That she died because of my dad. You knew, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. Your face resembles that man, so I asked about it once.”
“So you knew from the beginning. Then why were you nice to me and developed feelings for me?”
It would be right to resent her.
She couldn’t bring herself to say to Seo Do-gyeom what she had said to Seo I-heum. Why not?
The idea of Seo Do-gyeom resenting her. Maybe because she didn’t even want to imagine it.
Even though it wasn’t a wrong she had committed herself, Baek I-hae squeezed her eyes shut. A headache came on, furrowing her brow involuntarily.
“Who knows.”
Seo Do-gyeom’s large hand covered Baek I-hae’s eyes.
Startled by the sudden darkness in her vision, she felt his breathing draw nearer.
Seo Do-gyeom’s voice tickled her ear.
“By the time I realized, I didn’t know how to stop.”
Baek I-hae didn’t know. That as Seo Do-gyeom whispered that, he pressed his lips to the back of his own hand covering her eyes.
“Do-gyeom?”
Baek I-hae, unaware of anything, simply called his name.
It felt like eyes were on her. Somehow, it was a slightly eerie sensation.
“What’s important now is that I like you. I have no intention of resenting you.”
Perhaps realizing that Baek I-hae found the silence uncomfortable, Seo Do-gyeom spoke.
It was a tender thing to say. It might seem obvious, but it couldn’t have been easy for him to think that way.
Feeling like she could set aside a bit of her guilt toward Seo Do-gyeom, Baek I-hae let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank you for saying that. I was worried you might hate me.”
“That’s a needless worry.”
Seo Do-gyeom removed his hand. Baek I-hae grimaced at the sudden brightness, and gradually, he came into focus in her eyes.
Seo Do-gyeom’s pitch-black pupils were directed at Baek I-hae. Somehow, she thought inwardly that he seemed like a beast feeling thirst.
As Baek I-hae quietly looked up at only Seo Do-gyeom, suddenly he smiled.
“So don’t worry about anything else and just keep looking at me like this, feeling your heart flutter.”
Baek I-hae’s face flushed red. Inwardly grumbling that Seo Do-gyeom’s behavior was getting more and more shameless.
She felt good, but at the same time, there was a nagging unease. She couldn’t pinpoint why.
It seemed like his actions were him restraining himself to ensure she wouldn’t get startled and run away.
That suspicion had taken root because she knew the original story.
‘Don’t doubt him. Do-gyeom is good to me and kind. It’s different from the original.’
But Baek I-hae didn’t know. That the standard of kindness varies from person to person.
Though she wasn’t aware of it, to Seo Do-gyeom, Baek I-hae—the first person he’d ever felt affection for—was special. So special that he never wanted to let her go for the rest of his life.
Creating an environment where she wouldn’t even think of running away.
That was Seo Do-gyeom’s version of kindness.
