PHUW 32

“You went through all that trouble, and I went and called you a pervert this morning for no reason.”

Thinking back, Haeri felt guilty. He lowered his gaze and rubbed the tip of one finger with his thumb on the table.

“If I were you, I might have thought the same thing, so there’s nothing to apologize for. That doubt is gone now, right?”

The foreman who had recognized Jeong Mok right away, the workers who even remembered the date of the accident, the way he had checked the blueprints and building like an expert, and even the cafe staff had confirmed his sincerity. He had fed, clothed, and housed him, paid the settlement money immediately, and even put the phone under Haeri’s name without complaint when the time came. To still suspect his intentions or think he was a conman would be pure paranoia.

Haeri nodded hard enough for his fringe to bounce. A large hand reached toward his ear again, almost touching the side of his head this time. His heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t keep shaking your head. You’ll get dizzy.”

His heart skipped again at the gentle concern, and then began racing fast.

“Your face is red. Did you take your lunch medicine?”

“Oh. I forgot. Hold on.”

Haeri fumbled in his pocket, but the new clothes held only his phone.

“I think it’s in the car. Give me the keys and I’ll go get it.”

As he stood, Jeong Mok pressed down on his shoulder.

“I’ll get it. Wait here.”

A couple of long strides and he was already across the room. Haeri sat back down, pressing his hot cheeks with both hands. They were burning. He pulled out his phone and checked with the front camera. The still-sickly cheeks were faintly pink.

“What’s wrong with me?”

Every time Jeong Mok raised his hand, his chest felt tingly, like a sudden drop from a great height. It wasn’t fear. Jeong Mok might be an odd man, but he wasn’t scary. There was no reason to be this startled. Maybe it was from missing his medicine. Or maybe the head surgery had left him weak, making him jump at nothing.

He had injured his head, after all. When you’ve been startled once, even the lid of a pot can make you jump. It must be some unconscious reaction because the injury had come from him. And with his size and presence, anyone in Haeri’s position could be startled.

Besides, it was only inside that he was startled. On the outside, there was no sign. Even Jeong Mok hadn’t noticed.

Bzzzz.

“Ah! You scared me.”

The pager nearly made him jump out of his seat. His heart was pounding.

“Damn. That almost gave me a heart attack.”

All this over a pager? He really must be run-down. He grabbed the vibrating pager, and went to the counter.

Just as he saw the tray ready, Jeong Mok walked in. Spotting him, he came over and gently pushed aside Haeri’s hand as he reached for it.

“You could have waited. Give it to me, I’ll carry it.”

The deep voice sounded close to his ear. The service came so naturally that Haeri instinctively turned to the staff to explain.

“I had brain surgery and only got discharged recently.”

After showing the gauze on the back of his head to the concerned staff, Haeri followed him back.

Setting the tray down, Jeong Mok handed over his medicine along with the bankbook and card he had received that morning, and even brought a cup of lukewarm water.

Haeri took the medicine right away, since he’d been feeling light and strange since earlier.

“You are sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?”

“It’s not that bad. I took the medicine and I’m not dizzy. I think my body just warmed up from moving around after so long.”

He hid the flutter in his chest and gave another excuse.

“Don’t overdo it. If you feel dizzy or anything, tell me.”

At the concerned reminder, Haeri stroked his flushed cheek nodded.

“Here, have some.”

He handed him a fork.

“You eat. I’m fine with coffee.”

As expected, the ice cream and cake were both for him. They both looked good, so Haeri didn’t hold back. He took a big spoonful of ice cream first. The sweet coldness spread in his mouth.

“Good?”

“Yes.”

He smiled and focused on the ice cream, he took smaller bites so he wouldn’t get a brain freeze. Jeong Mok watched with satisfaction.

“Wait. There’s dust here.”

The hand that came close brushed a couple of strands near the top of his head. The long, straight wrist cast a shadow at the edge of his vision. His chest that the ice cream had cooled tightened again.

Don’t get startled over this. There’s nothing to be startled about, idiot. Haeri scolded himself.

“Got it.”

He nodded as thanks and ignored the pounding in his chest and dug into the ice cream again.

“Eat plenty.”

The warm, low voice came with the touch of Jeong Mok’s fingers against him again. His spoon froze midair. The firm yet warm touch brushed the side of his head five times, drawing small arcs over his scalp and gently stirring his hair.

It stayed well clear of the gauze, fingertips rubbing carefully. The movement could only be called one thing. It was petting.

Jeong Mok was stroking his hair. Haeri forced his stiff neck to turn and look at him. Resting his chin on one hand, the man had his other hand stretched toward him, his sharp eyes curved softly, just like the corners of his mouth.

That tingly feeling came again, and Haeri’s heart dropped. It was like a warm breeze brushing over something hot between his ribs. This was different from the scare from the pager. It wasn’t just surprise. It wasn’t because he was weak either. This was…

‘No way… was this fluttering?’

Crazy!

The moment he realized, his face heated instantly. Startled by his own reaction, his hands shook. His pupils trembled even more, and Jeong Mok’s expression changed.

“You.”

The hint of a smile was gone as his eyes studied Haeri closely. He placed his hand over Haeri’s hand that held the spoon. The way he took the small spoon and set it down on the table was without intent, but contact was still contact. Invisible sparks bloomed along the path his warm skin had brushed. The heat on his skin made Haeri’s throat dry.

“You’re pale. I think we should go to the hospital.”

Looking serious, Jeong Mok reached for the drink he hadn’t touched.

“No, it’s fine. Wait.”

Haeri quickly grabbed the glass of mint sparkling water.

“Hold on.”

Jeong Mok steadied the heavy glass in case he dropped it. Even while drinking, his throat felt parched. He drained half the glass in seconds.

The ice clinked as he set it back on the table. He slowly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The lingering cold on his lips cooled the heat on his hand like splattered oil meeting water.

“Phew. That’s better.”

Looking at Jeong Mok’s frown, Haeri deliberately spoke loudly.

“…..”

His silence alone pressed for an explanation.

“I almost choked. It scared me.”

“You choke on ice cream?”

He wasn’t letting that flimsy excuse slide. But going to the hospital would be overkill. At this hour, he wouldn’t even get an outpatient appointment, only the ER. Going to the ER just because he got flustered was ridiculous.

“I got startled from the cold.”

“Stop eating the ice cream.”

He pushed the entire bowl away. It had tasted better than expected. Resigned, Haeri just kept drinking the mint sparkling water.

“Isn’t that cold too? Let’s get you some hot tea.”

When Jeong Mok stood to order more, Haeri instinctively grabbed his arm to stop him. The solid muscle under the thin T-shirt startled him, but only for a moment. With his arm still caught, Jeong Mok froze, and Haeri shook his head.

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll just have the cake.”

“You’re sure?”

He didn’t easily take Haeri at his word. It wasn’t about trust, just excessive worry. Even after only two days together, Haeri could tell the difference.

“I’m twenty-four. I’m an adult. If something’s wrong, I’ll be the first to run to the hospital.”

“But your injury isn’t minor.”

“Of course, compared to you, I’m smaller and younger. But if you worry about me like I’m some baby, it’s a little… I mean, kind of…”

What could he say without offending him? Burdensome? Too cold. Annoying? Too rude. Embarrassing? That was just rejection. Awkward? Better, but maybe there was something else.

While Haeri frowned and searched for the right word, warmth settled over his hand. It was Jeong Mok’s hand. His mind, which had been clanking along, stopped entirely.

Why is he doing this? What is a handsome, rich man missing that he’s acting like this toward another man? He said he wasn’t gay, not a pervert. Then why? Don’t lead astray an innocent amnesia patient. It’s bad for my health.

His silent scream turned to heat, reddening his ears and spreading to his cheeks.

“Your face is red again.”

This time, there was no other excuse. If he tried, they’d just circle back to the same point.

“I’m not sick. I’m embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed? About what?”

“Because you… keep touching and grabbing me.”

“And?”

Jeong Mok sounded genuinely puzzled.

“Usually, guys don’t do this with each other.”

Haeri pressed the back of his free hand to his flushed face as he answered.