FLPR 1.3

“How did you get here?”

“Well…”

Doyul started to explain but stopped, worried about causing trouble for Woohyun. He was trying to figure out how to answer when a voice piped up beside him.

“I asked him to come.”

“Woohyun, you did? ”

“Yes.”

“I told you no visitors for now.”

Her voice was filled with frustration. She sighed deeply, making Doyul feel as if he were the one at fault. Now he understood why Woohyun felt like a bad adult.

Hyobin looked at her son, whose eyes were red from crying. She had to keep his condition a secret. They still didn’t know who had caused the accident, and if Woohyun’s current state became public, his half-brother would likely seize the opportunity to claim the position of heir.

From Hyobin’s perspective, Doyul was an unwelcome guest. She spoke to him with a warning tone.

“I expect discretion.”

“Yes, ma’am. I won’t tell a soul,” Doyul replied, but his anxiety remained. Hyobin sighed again and turned to Sooyeon.

“Have you found someone to care for Woohyun yet? ”

“I’m still looking.”

“Alright.”

He understood why finding someone was proving difficult. Even with a generous salary, caring for a large, adult man wasn’t easy. Such jobs were typically filled by women, who might struggle with the physical demands. They’d tried to find a male caregiver, but many applicants submitted suspicious resumes, with fabricated work histories or fake degrees. They couldn’t keep Woohyun confined to the hospital indefinitely. They needed someone trustworthy and capable.

Listening to their conversation, Doyul tentatively spoke up.

“Um… about the caregiver…”

Hyobin and Sooyeon turned to look at him. Under their scrutiny, Doyul’s voice dropped to a near whisper.

“I was thinking… maybe I could do it…”

Hyobin’s mind raced. Sending Doyul home without a resolution felt uneasy. Employing Doyul as a caregiver would keep him close, and under her control, minimizing the risk of Woohyun’s condition being leaked. Although smaller than Woohyun, Doyul was male, and he seemed physically capable. Moreover, Woohyun had clung to Doyul earlier. Even in his childlike state, he seemed to have an affinity for him.

“Will Doyul play with me all the time?” Woohyun asked hopefully. His eagerness sealed Hyobin’s decision.

Doyul immediately regretted his impulsive offer. He realized he’d overstepped. Seeing Woohyun’s obvious affection for him, and being unable to ignore his fear and confusion, he spoke without thinking. Judging by Hyobin and Sooyeon’s reactions, he’d made a mistake.

‘Maybe I’m the one with the head injury,’ he thought, wishing he could take back his words. He anxiously watched their faces. Oblivious to the tension, Woohyun asked again if Doyul would play with him.

Hyobin leaned back against the sofa, arms crossed, her gaze sweeping over Doyul appraisingly. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back. Should he retract his offer? If he claimed he’d misspoken, maybe they could just pretend it never happened. As he hesitated, Hyobin spoke.

“Secretary Lee, bring me the contract.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Sooyeon stood and left the room. Hyobin turned to Doyul, who was frozen in surprise.

“I’ll explain the details when the contract arrives, but the most important thing is confidentiality.”

“Are you sure about this?” Doyul asked, his voice uncertain. Hyobin answered without hesitation.

“I wasn’t comfortable sending you home without addressing this. It’s better to have you where I can see you. We’re not strangers, and Woohyun seems to like you. Have you ever cared for someone before?”

“Yes, I have.” Doyul nodded. His grandfather had collapsed six months before his death, becoming bedridden. They couldn’t afford long-term hospitalization, and his grandfather had refused to stay in the hospital anyway. They couldn’t afford a private nurse, so Doyul had become his caregiver. He’d bathed him, changed his clothes, and even handled his toileting needs.

Hyobin looked surprised for a moment before realizing who Doyul must have cared for. She continued,

“We have a house prepared in the countryside. If you accept the contract, you’ll move there and care for Woohyun 24/7. The compensation will be generous. The duration of the contract is until Woohyun recovers.”

As she explained the terms, Doyul realized the magnitude of what he’d offered to do. Moving to the countryside and providing 24-hour care meant quitting his part-time job. He wanted to kick himself for speaking without thinking.

He was willing to commit, but one thing bothered him. He looked at Woohyun, whose face was alight with anticipation.

Woohyun, in his current state, had forgotten Doyul’s confession and his rejection. He simply liked Doyul because he seemed to know him and had called him a wonderful person. But what would happen if Woohyun regained his memories? Would he be disgusted with Doyul for taking advantage of his amnesia? If so, they could never go back to being just friends.

‘I can’t do this. I have to tell them I can’t,’ Doyul decided. Just then, Woohyun leaned against him, resting his head on Doyul’s shoulder and wrapping his arms around his waist. In a bright voice, he asked,

“So, will we be together every day, Doyul?”

Before Doyul could stammer out a reply, Hyobin answered for him.

“If Doyul agrees, you’ll be together every day.”

“You’ll do it, won’t you?”

Woohyun’s hopeful question erased Doyul’s resolve. He couldn’t bear to disappoint him.

“Well…”

“You can decide after you’ve read the contract.”

Hyobin understood his hesitation. Caring for a grown man, even a close friend, wasn’t a small task. But she knew Doyul wasn’t financially well-off. She was confident the proposed salary would sway him.

Sensing Doyul’s hesitation, Woohyun asked in a small voice,

“Don’t you want to be with me, Doyul?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then why won’t you answer me?”

Doyul felt like a terrible person. He hated people who got his hopes up only to dash them, and now he was about to do the same thing. He forced a smile.

“Do you want to be with me, Hyung?”

“Yes!”

“But you just met me today. Are you sure?”

Hyobin was also curious. If Woohyun had his memories, it would be understandable, but right now, Doyul was a stranger to him. She wondered why he was so attached.

Woohyun tilted his head.

“I like Doyul because you don’t frown at me.”

“You like me because I don’t frown?”

“Yes! Everyone else sighs or does this with their eyebrows.” Woohyun demonstrated, pulling down his eyebrows with his fingers. Doyul realized they were probably expressions of pity and concern, but to Woohyun, they must have seemed like disapproval.

“But Doyul smiled at me and said I was cool, so I like you.”

“Well, you are cool…” Doyul blushed at the compliment.

Just then, the door opened, and Sooyeon returned, holding out a contract to Doyul. It was several pages long, intimidatingly thick compared to the simple contracts he’d signed for part-time jobs. Doyul glanced at Hyobin, who smiled gently.

“Read it through first.”

“Okay.”

Doyul started to read, his nerves on edge. He hadn’t gotten more than a few lines in when he looked up, his voice trembling.

“Um… I think there’s a mistake with the amount…”

“The amount is correct,” Sooyeon replied firmly. Doyul’s eyes darted back to the contract, rereading the line.

[Monthly salary will be paid on the 25th of each month, with the amount of 8,000,000 won deposited into the designated account of the second party.]

Eight million won! That was more than he’d earn in six months at his current job. Hyobin said casually,

“It’s a 24/7 job.”

“Haha…” Doyul chuckled nervously and continued reading. Confidentiality was paramount. He had to submit weekly reports and inform Sooyeon immediately of any unusual occurrences. Due to the confidentiality clause, he couldn’t discuss anything that happened while caring for Woohyun, and taking photos was also prohibited. Hospital visits were limited to once a month. There were legal repercussions for harming Woohyun, and several other detailed clauses. The contract was valid until Woohyun’s full recovery, and even afterward, he was bound by the confidentiality agreement. There was also a clause stating that upon Woohyun’s recovery, Doyul was to leave and never contact him again. Doyul frowned at that particular clause, and Sooyeon explained,

“Is there something you don’t understand?”

“Not exactly… Does this mean I can’t stay in Korea after Hyung recovers?”

“No, that’s not what it means.” Sooyeon clarified calmly.

“It’s a precautionary measure to prevent any future attempts at extortion. You can live wherever you like, as long as you adhere to the terms of the contract.”

The mention of extortion pain a little, but Doyul understood the reasoning and nodded, continuing to read. There was a clause outlining penalties for breaching the contract. Doyul paused, considering his options.

If he accepted, he could spend a significant amount of time with Woohyun, but he’d have to disappear from his life completely once he recovered. If he refused, he’d still be able to see Woohyun occasionally, although not very often.