PO 44

“Hey, this, is it really a good thing? It is, right?”

Seo Junho put his cola cup down and he crumpled the hamburger wrapper as he asked with a grave face. Woojeong looked at him with a similar look and he shook his head.

“I don’t really know.”

“But it’s good you got out of that house. I seriously hate Lee Doyoung so much.” Seo Junho shuddered when he mentioned Lee Doyoung. When Woojeong, who he hadn’t known how he was living, suddenly contacted him, his heart had dropped like a stone. He had worried first, thinking maybe something bad happened again.

Fortunately Woojeong looked fine. Seo Junho, who had quietly listened to what had happened to Woojeong, clapped his hands in joy when he heard that Woojeong was now completely free from that house.

“Don’t care what happens to those people in that family anymore. You don’t need to feel guilty. Think about what you went through all this time.”

“…….”

“People like that will live well on their own without your worry. So you just worry about yourself now.”

“……Yeah. I don’t care anymore either.”

Woojeong spoke as if he had made up his mind, kind Woojeong, Seo Junho let out a small laugh. He might still be busy worrying deep inside, but he at least looked much stronger than before.

Woojeong fiddled with the straw of his cola cup and he glanced around inside the shop, and when the phone on the table vibrated, he looked at it.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh…….”

Woojeong picked up his phone and checked something, and he scratched the back of his neck, he was embarrassed.

“Executive Director said he’s near here, and he asked if I’ll go in together.”

“Hey. Forget it. I gotta head to my part-time job anyway so let’s split here.” Seo Junho teased Woojeong playfully and he cleared his tray as he got ready to leave. He didn’t know what kind of person that Executive Director Han was, but he decided to trust the smile that always showed on Woojeong’s face whenever he talked about him.

•••

After parting with Seo Junho, Woojeong stood on the sidewalk beside the road and he waited for the car. He fiddled uselessly with the outerwear in his hand and he looked around.

None of the cars or people on the street paid him any attention, but Woojeong unconsciously hid himself behind the structure.

It was the first time he had come out alone beyond the Snow Reflection Residence after being discharged, so he felt strange. The anxiety he had briefly forgotten when he was with Seo Junho started to come over him again. Woojeong hoped Han Jaegang’s car would appear soon. To be exact, he hoped Han Jaegang himself would appear.

“…….”

That day, after leaving the house like that, Woojeong had gone straight to the hospital and he was admitted for treatment. The torn wound on the back of his head healed quickly, but Woojeong didn’t immediately recover his strength.

Even if Han Jaegang came late from work, he came without fail every night to the hospital room and he stayed beside Woojeong. Woojeong, who repeated falling asleep and waking up in the daytime while lying in bed, struggled at night because he could hardly fall asleep.

His presence while Woojeong forced his eyes shut and tried to sleep was a huge comfort.

One day, while he was lying on the sofa instead of the comfortable guardian’s bed, as always, he suddenly asked Woojeong.

<Now that they said you can be discharged, tell me what you want to do.>

Woojeong was awake, but he couldn’t immediately answer. Han Jaegang gave stayed silent for a moment to give him time to think, then he continued.

<If you want, I can prepare a place for you to stay separately. You can also stay at the Snow Reflection Residence like before.> Woojeong slowly raised himself and he sat up.

Since Woojeong had lived without protection even from his own family and had gone through such things, once he left the hospital, he would have no place to stay. He of course had no plan about where to go right away.

He wanted to answer immediately that he would take that overly generous offer, but Woojeong had no reason that would let him easily accept his help. The words he wanted to ask lingered on the tip of his tongue.

<Should I stay at the hospital a bit longer?>

<……Why are you so good to me, Executive Director?>

<…….>

<That day, why…… did you come to get me? You could’ve just pretended not to know.> Woojeong cautiously asked as he gathered his courage. Han Jaegang quietly threw off the blanket he had over him and he raised himself up.

The two, sitting on the sofa and the patient bed with a little distance between them, quietly looked at each other. To Woojeong, that short silence while he waited for his answer felt heavy.

<Does an action that you do because you feel drawn need some special reason?>

<…….>

<That day I was impatient so I acted rashly. I thought you would be in that house waiting only for me to come.>

The very fact that there could be someone who came to mind in a moment of urgency was unfamiliar to Woojeong. All the more, the fact that such a person really worried about him and came to him felt almost like a miracle.

<Did I misunderstand?>

<……No. You didn’t. I thought you would come, Executive Director, so I waited.> At Woojeong’s cautious answer, Han Jaegang quietly stood up and he stepped to the bed. Holding the rail at the foot of the bed, he spoke clearly with a face that showed no sign of fatigue.

<If it’s like that, then come stay at the Snow Reflection Residence. It’s partly my responsibility that you can’t return home, so don’t feel burdened.>

<…….>

<Instead, you must not contact your family behind my back. You must not try to stop me no matter what I do to those people. Can you promise that?>

The recollection ended with Han Jaegang’s words, and a black sedan stopped in front of Woojeong. Soon the passenger-side window rolled down, and Joo Yeongmo leaned his head out.

“Please get in.”

Woojeong quickly got in the car, and after hesitating for a moment, he gave a greeting.

“……I’m back.”

At the rather out-of-place greeting to say right after getting in the car, Han Jaegang turned to look at him, and Joo Yeongmo in the passenger seat smiled.

“I’m glad you came back safely.”

While Woojeong stayed at the Snow Reflection Residence, the short spring had already passed, and summer was closet. The inside of the car was cool enough, but the heat that his body still felt hot, so Woojeong unconsciously fanned himself with his hand.

“Was it hot?”

“A little. I only stayed at home so I didn’t realize it had already gotten this hot. Now it really feels like summer.” Woojeong answered with a small laugh as he felt relief after getting in the car. Han Jaegang, who quietly observed that look, took out his phone and called somewhere.

“……It’s me. Yeah. If your schedule’s fine, I’d like you to stop by today…….Alright. I’ll be there within thirty minutes.” After ending the call briefly, he informed Secretary Joo of the changed destination, then he lowered the temperature in the back seat a little more.

As the cooler air spread, Woojeong’s flushed cheeks slowly returned to their usual color.

•••

The car stopped along a roadside, and Han Jaegang got out first. He waited for Woojeong to get out, and after Woojeong did, he closed the door and immediately headed toward the shop in sight.

He opened the entrance door, and he let Woojeong go in first. There was no one in the high-ceilinged shop. As Han Jaegang came to stand beside Woojeong, a tall man came out as the curtain inside was drawn back.

“You came. Why did it take so long?”

A man who looked a little younger than Han Jaegang greeted the two warmly.

Under the warm lighting, the shop looked unusual at a glance. It seemed like a clothing store, but there weren’t many clothes hanging, and instead there were various items displayed such as shoes and bags.

Even to Woojeong, who didn’t know much, the atmosphere felt imposing, it seemed they only dealt with luxurious and expensive goods.

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s fine. I finished all the preparations yesterday so it didn’t matter anyway. Ah. Is this person today’s main character? Nice to meet you. I’m Ji Cheonho.”

“Hello. I’m Lee Woojeong.”

“Your name matches your looks well¹. Let me check quickly.” Ji Cheonho held Woojeong’s arm and he naturally led him. He stood Woojeong in front of a full-length mirror, and as if he was measuring his size, he touched and examined his shoulders, arms, and waist one after another.

“Your arms and legs are really long. You don’t have any extra flesh either. Since your skin’s so fair, you can try a wide range of clothing colors too.”

Woojeong blushed awkwardly. Ji Cheonho began to explain briefly to Han Jaegang, who was sitting on the sofa.

“First, I prepared two kinds of styles, a formal one and a casual one, based on the photos Executive Director sent me. I think it’ll be best to try on the clothes I prepared and see how they feel.”

“……The style looks fine, so dress him appropriately. Don’t tire him out needlessly.”

“Since the vibe’s completely different from Executive Director, I’m really looking forward to this. Honestly, he has a face that will suit whatever he wears though.”

The man appeared pushing a rack full of clothes, and after he held them up against Woojeong, he recommended that Woojeong try on several of them.

Most of what he brought were clothes Woojeong had never worn before. While he kept changing in and out of classic styles and casual suits, light jackets, and soft shirts, sweat began to form on Woojeong’s forehead.

“Wow, this suits you so perfectly.”

Ji Cheonho, who had dressed him in pants and an ivory knit with a unique collar decoration, fussed as he admired.

“Executive Director. How is it?”

As if it wasn’t enough to marvel on his own, he pulled Woojeong forward and stood him in front of Han Jaegang. Han Jaegang, who had been sitting with his legs crossed and flipping through a magazine without interest, lifted his head.

“…….”

The moment their eyes met, Woojeong, worn out from changing clothes, unconsciously sent him a pleading look. Han Jaegang, who carelessly put the magazine down on the table, nodded.

“Yeah, it’s fine. The clothes are enough at that, so show the shoes.”

“Already?”

Ji Cheonho complained that there were still many outfits he wanted to try on Woojeong, but Han Jaegang refused.

Unable to hide his regret, Ji Cheonho managed to get a promise to come by the shop again soon, then he left, saying he would bring the shoes.

“Even if it’s troublesome, you must try on all the shoes. You know that, right?” Shoes of various colors and designs, both dress shoes and sneakers, were placed in front of Woojeong.

“Here. Shall we try them on?”

Ji Cheonho picked up a pair of dress shoes with gleaming toes, and he knelt on one knee in front of Woojeong. Woojeong, burdened by his posture, tried to stop him, but the man paid no mind and put the shoes on Woojeong, then he carefully checked the size and the fit.

While Woojeong suffered under Ji Cheonho’s fuss, Han Jaegang comfortably leaned back and he quietly observed. Whenever Ji Cheonho brought out a pair that looked uncomfortable, Han Jaegang briefly told him those were no good.

Only after a long time did Woojeong come out of the shop, holding a shopping bag with a few comfortable clothes to change into immediately. The rest, too much to carry, were set to be delivered directly to the house from the shop.

Woojeong wiggled his toes awkwardly in the new sneakers he had just put on.

“Like you said, since the season has changed, you need new clothes. Now you can stop wearing my clothes that don’t even fit you anymore.”

Woojeong, who had been picking out the less oversized clothes from Han Jaegang’s to borrow and wear, smiled shyly.

“Thank you. ……But I think we bought too much.”

“There’s no time to come out again, so it’s efficient. Next time, you can take your time and choose directly.”

Since they had already bought enough clothes for a lifetime, Woojeong only nodded.

“If there’s anything else you need, say it now. Since we came out, we can buy it together and take it back.” Woojeong thought for a moment if there was anything else needed, then one thing came to mind.

“Uh….. I need underwear.”

Clothes he could somehow manage, but underwear slipping down was a problem he had no way to fix. Han Jaegang immediately looked around the street shops.

Not far from the select shop they had just left, there was an underwear store.

“Is there something you’re looking for?”

The shop staff spread out underwear of various colors and materials in front of Woojeong and eagerly explained.

Woojeong chose only three pieces with the most simple design.

“Ten each of the same style, please.”

Han Jaegang, who had been watching, stepped in and ordered a generous number instead. Woojeong lowered his voice and whispered to him.

“Executive Director. I don’t need this many.”

“Take them home and pick the ones you like. You handle the payment.” Han Jaegang pulled out his wallet from inside his jacket and he handed a card to Woojeong.

“I’ll assist with the payment.”

After finishing the payment, Woojeong handed the card and receipt back to Han Jaegang. But Han Jaegang, who had already put away his wallet, pushed back Woojeong’s hand that held the card.

“Keep it.”

“The card?”

“You can’t go around with no money.”

“I don’t need money. And if I work part-time…….” Han Jaegang, who took the shopping bag the staff offered, walked out of the store without answering. He looked at Woojeong who followed him out, and he shook his head.

“I can’t allow part-time work. Rest fully for now, and when your health is better, you can go back to the gallery.”

“…….”

“Even if you do that, you need money to use until you get your salary. So keep it.” Han Jaegang gave the reason for him to have the card in an instant, and then he walked toward the car that was approaching slowly. He opened the backseat door and he gestured to Woojeong to get in quickly.

Woojeong quickly went over, and Han Jaegang smiled as he stood beside him to escort him in comfortably.

When he had first left the hospital and come into the Snow Reflection Residence, everything had felt cautious and difficult for Woojeong. He had been so nervous.

But as long as he was beside Han Jaegang, those feelings naturally settled down. Han Jaegang was already giving him much, but that was not what mattered to Woojeong.

Woojeong felt relaxed only when he was beside him. The belief that Han Jaegang would stay at his side as he was now gave him a relief beyond words. By seeing him, feeling him, and relying on him, Woojeong gradually found peace of mind.

1. His name means friendship ↩︎