PHUW 23

“I can take care of the medicine myself.”

“You?”

Jeong Mok countered. Was that really something to question?

“I need to take it right away if I’m in pain. I’d like to keep it near my bed.”

When Haeri added the obvious explanation, Jeong Mok hesitated for a moment before neatly gathering the prescription bag and handing it over.

“Make sure you take it. Don’t skip doses.”

“Of course.”

Haeri bowed his head slightly without thinking as he took the bag.

“Don’t move your head. You might get another headache.”

With the warning, a large hand came close and touched Haeri’s forehead.

“You’ve a slight fever too.”

Just as the warmth of his palm reached him, a twinge hit Haeri’s temple again. It was the startle more than anything. His face grew hot.

“I hope you’re not catching a cold.”

“I… I’m fine.”

He turned his head away slightly and smiled slightly.

Jeong Mok was kind and attentive, which was good, but… if he had to put it into words, he was a bit too familiar. Even blood siblings wouldn’t fuss over each other this much.

It wasn’t like he just supported him up when he was sick, he had picked him up in both arms like a princess and almost ran barefoot toward the ER. It was mortifying.

“Um, sorry, but… could you not do that?”

Haeri showed a bit of the discomfort he’d been holding in.

“Do what?”

“Well… you touch me too much.”

At the awkwardly spoken words, Jeong Mok pulled his hand back, looking almost shocked.

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

If someone asked you outright whether they’d made you uncomfortable, who would just say, Yes, you did? He hadn’t even signed the employment contract yet, and if Jeong Mok took offense, he could be kicked out of this nice house right away.

“It’s not so much that I’m uncomfortable, just… it feels awkward.” Haeri tried to put it nicely.

“Awkward? Why?”

“Of course, it’s nice that you’re kind and treat me well, but touching me so much is… I mean, I’m an adult. Even if I don’t have my memories, I’m not a child.”

“I see.”

So much for trying to soften the message, only after Haeri spelled it out did Jeong Mok nod as if he finally understood.

“You’re right. It’s too soon.”

“…Sorry? Too soon for what?”

Too soon? Hyung-nim? Ahn Haeri blinked twice at him.

“Let’s take our time getting closer.”

Take our time doing what? Seriously? That sounded like something out of a children’s educational program. Haeri found himself squeezing the prescription bag tightly. His gaze, which had been fixed on the tall man, slowly dropped to the light-colored rug and wandered there.

This hyung-nim was… strange. Very strange. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly how, but he definitely was. Rich, handsome, well-built, yet something was clearly off in his head. Haeri was the one who’d taken the blow to the skull, so why was the other acting like this?

‘Am I totally screwed?’

Maybe he’d made too hasty a choice. Then again, what other choice did he have?

“You’ll still eat dinner with me, right? You barely had lunch.”

Right as dinner was mentioned, Haeri’s stomach growled. Jeong Mok’s lips curved into a small smile.

“I made kimchi stew with lots of pork. I just need to make a rolled omelet and it’s ready, so wait a bit.”

Seeing his back head to the kitchen, Haeri couldn’t bring himself to say he was fine without dinner. Especially not when it was kimchi stew loaded with pork. Even if hospital food had been edible, it was still hospital food.

Now that he thought about it, the smell of the stew drifted over. His mouth watered instantly.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“You’re the patient. Just lie down.”

He’d only asked out of politeness anyway. Haeri rested his still-dizzy head against the sofa arm and slowly lay back.

Chopsticks clinked against dishes, then oil sizzled in a frying pan. The rich scent of kimchi stew mixed with the savory smell of eggs cooking. The fridge door opened and shut, and a knife tapped lightly against the cutting board.

The homely sounds and smells made his dizziness fade.

A strange hyung-nim whose intentions were unknown, but despite everything, neither Jeong Mok nor the atmosphere around him felt entirely unpleasant.

‘If only nothing happened, that would be perfect.’

When Jeong Mok called him over, Ahn Haeri got up and went to the table.

He quickly finished a bowl of well-seasoned, spicy, oily kimchi stew alongside a vegetable-filled rolled omelet. He wanted seconds, but Jeong Mok refused, saying too much salt wasn’t good for a patient.

“Patients shouldn’t eat too much salt.”

Saying he was almost fully recovered wasn’t an option, not after the whole ER argument just earlier.

“I’ll do the dishes.”

Haeri stood quickly to follow as Jeong Mok picked up the empty dishes.

“I’ll be faster. And there’s a dishwasher.”

So that was what the mysterious appliance next to the oven microwave was. He’d never seen one before, so there was no way he’d know. He didn’t know how to use it either, Haeri sat obediently at the table as instructed.

Just as he’d set the table with ease, Jeong Mok cleared it just as quickly. Haeri stayed put, watching him the whole time.

“Do you want some ice cream?”

As he put the leftovers in the fridge, Jeong Mok looked over.

“Thank you.”

Before Haeri had even finished speaking, a small paper cup of ice cream was placed in front of him. It was the brand he’d once seen in a convenience store while wandering the hospital, the price so high he’d thought an extra zero had been printed by mistake.

“Hyung-nim, you’re not having any?”

As Haeri popped the lid open, Jeong Mok handed him a small spoon with a smile and shook his head.

“No. I don’t like sweets.”

If he didn’t like sweets, why have such expensive ice cream at home?

“By any chance…”

“That’s right. I bought it for you.”

Haeri smiled sheepishly in return for the grin aimed at him. Somehow, the ice cream tasted a little less sweet.

While Haeri ate the now slightly bittersweet dessert, Jeong Mok brewed himself a cup of coffee. It wasn’t as lethal as the one from earlier that day, but it was still strong. While the coffee dripped, he left briefly, then returned with a paper bag.

On the bag was the logo of a major telecom company. Inside was a box of fine, sturdy material with a printed image of the latest smartphone. Haeri looked at him with the spoon still in his mouth.

Jeong Mok pulled the white box from the bag, the phone printed on it life-size, and slid it across.

“It’s a welcome gift.”

Haeri’s mouth dropped in surprise, and the spoon slipped from his fingers. He caught it quickly before it hit the marble table, just as Jeong Mok opened the box to reveal the phone, still with its protective film.

“When we went to the store earlier, I wanted to ask if you wanted any snacks you like, but I couldn’t reach you. I’m sure that was inconvenient for you too.”

Holding down the side button, he powered it on. The dark screen lit up with colorful graphics.

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I got the model most popular with people in their twenties these days. Use it for now, and if you find something you like better later, we can switch it.”

Was he serious? This was the latest model with the apple logo, easily over a million won, and he was saying Haeri could change it later if he wanted? Every part of him wanted to grab it immediately. But should he accept it? Taking such an expensive device felt wrong.

No matter how kind and nice someone seemed, this was going too far. And without knowing exactly what Jeong Mok did for a living, accepting a phone like this could be risky.

From the endless news reports he’d binged after his brain surgery, he knew that in serious crime cases, the victim often had no one to come looking for them. In Haeri’s case, if anything happened now, there’d be no one to check. If anyone was going to find him, they’d have done it when the hospital requested a police ID check.

The reality was, he was vulnerable to scams.

But for now, he was eating well and resting comfortably. He didn’t know much about Jeong Mok, but the man had saved his life twice, paid his hospital bills, and offered a highly suspicious, high-paying live-in job.

Sure, he’d said it was because Haeri was cute and he cared, but there was no way to take that at face value. Who knew what the bait was for?

Either way, the expensive phone was a no.

“This is way too expensive. You’ve already done so much for me.”

Haeri pushed the phone back toward him. Jeong Mok frowned slightly, tilting his head.

“Don’t you need a phone?”

“I do. I also need to check if my messenger accounts are still active.”

“Then why?”

“Because it’s too expensive. Honestly, it makes me uncomfortable.”

This time, Haeri refused firmly. Maybe he’d look like a pushover otherwise. He even felt a little confident for handling it politely but clearly.

“It’s not even that expensive.”

“Maybe not for someone living in a house like this, but for me, it is. If you kicked me out right now, I’d have nowhere to go.”

“Why would I kick you out?”

Jeong Mok’s brow furrowed. Haeri felt a little nervous but didn’t show it.

“It’s just a figure of speech.”

“I injured you and made you lose your memory. I’ll take responsibility until you’re fully recovered. And honestly, this phone is as much for me as it is for you. We’ll be living together from now on, and not being able to contact each other would be a problem. I can’t just follow you around everywhere.”

He slid the phone toward Haeri again.

“Ahn Haeri-ssi, do you know how to drive?”

He must be upset that he suddenly switched to formal speech. This time, Haeri couldn’t help but feel intimidated.